National refuses to rule out coalition with Destiny

Written By: - Date published: 7:31 am, June 11th, 2019 - 124 comments
Categories: Coalition NZ, national, same old national, Simon Bridges - Tags: ,

Brian Tamaki, recent victim of self/God?-inflicted burns. Don't be like Brian.

So yesterday this happened:

Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki has laid into New Zealand’s Islamic community in an interview with Middle Eastern broadcaster Al Jazeera.

Tamaki courted controversy soon after the attacks on two Christchurch mosques where 51 people died, when he tweeted his anger at the Islamic call to prayer being broadcast during a ceremony to remember victims.

In April, Finance Minister Grant Robertson ridiculed Tamaki on Twitter, saying: “He [Tamaki] literally spends his entire time telling people (gays, Muslims et al) who they can’t be.”

In an interview with Al Jazeera’s 101 East, Tamaki doubled down on the anti-Islam rhetoric.

“You’re coming to my country, and therefore you respect the host country,” he said.

“After a term in being here, you run your life and your values and your religion like you did where you came from – that’s disingenuous to the foundations of the countries that have been built over [the] years.”

Tamaki blamed a clash of cultures for the alleged shooter’s actions.

“I think it’s naive to think different cultures could happily and harmoniously live together,” he told 101 East. “I think that’s a bit naive and almost ignorant.

He also said that white supremacists have been “hurt” and become bitter.  

“Clash of cultures”, white supremacists being hurt and becoming bitter, sounds like he is after the rabid right vote which is a strange position for someone with self professed deeply held christian beliefs to take.

And attacking multiculturalism and expressing sympathy for white supremacists are not the things that you would expect a MMP savvy prospective political operator to do either.

Because based on this you would expect every main stream party to attack Tamaki’s views and rule out instantly the remote possibility of working with him.

But wait:

Even National operatives get it:

https://twitter.com/MatthewHootonNZ/status/1137989859581153280

There is a National caucus meeting this morning. I understand there will be a push for Curia polling to be presented to the meeting so that MPs can assess which public poll is more accurate and how bad to the party is.

I had thought that Bridges was safe until the next election. But this sort of clunky disastrous response is going to make his caucus question the utility of this.

124 comments on “National refuses to rule out coalition with Destiny ”

  1. Tuppence Shrewsbury 1

    Has labour categorically ruled out working with destiny? Can’t see any mention of that above either. All parties should declare openly who they can and can’t work with if in government.

    Take some of the bullshit horse trading out of the whole process

    • Incognito 1.1

      Did you miss the two most recent polls?

      • Tuppence Shrewsbury 1.1.1

        so labour would only rule out working with destiny if their own polling was high enough to not need them?

        thats a conditional refusal dumb dumb, not a categorical one.

        But thanks for highlighting the fact labour wouldn’t rule it out if their retention of power depended on it

        [lprent: I find that that putting words into someone else mouth means that the perpetrator is a serial killer. That is about as logical as your statement.

        Banned for 2 months as a consequence – just in case I’m being too generous..

        FFS that is an idiotic troll tactic. ]

        • mickysavage 1.1.1.1

          Labour has not ruled out working with the Nazi Party either. But I am pretty confident that if asked they will confirm that this is not an option.

          • Gosman 1.1.1.1.1

            The Destiny church party is a long, long way from being anywhere like the Nazi party.

            I am not entirely sure what the major difference between the Destiny church party and other Christian conservative political movements is other than the personalities involved.

            Given National is on the right of the polituical spectrum I think it is entirely appropriate to be willing to negotiate with conservative political parties.

            • marty mars 1.1.1.1.1.1

              awesome – is their ANY potential or actual party of the right that you think the gnats should never work with?

            • Marcus Morris 1.1.1.1.1.2

              "The Destiny church party is a long, long way from being anywhere like the Nazi party." Can't help feeling you have missed the point here Gosman. Not that I wish to put words into Mickeysavages mouth, but his remark didn't suggest to me that he was comparing like with like. I think he was just suggesting that it would be fairly safe to say that a Labour Party would would not not sign up with a Nazi party. You could say that with 99.99% certainty. As usual Simon is being coy but it would be interesting to learn what his constituency would make of an alliance with Destiny.

              • patricia bremner

                What Party? They, Destiny haven't registered last I heard. The Coalition? Of what? When do we get some Policy?

            • michelle 1.1.1.1.1.3

              when your desperate you should not count out anyone and national are desperate hooray !

            • Lucy 1.1.1.1.1.4

              Actually many of their utterances mean the gap between the Nazi Party and Destiny Church is small. The claim that Muslims need to abandon their religion as they are coming to a "Christian country" is not a million miles away from telling Jews to abandon Judaism. If we kept that logic whatever religious beliefs the Maori's had prior to European settlement, European settlers should have converted to as we were coming to their land.

              • woodart

                nazi party, destiny party, and the nats have more in common than differences. on this basis, gosman is correct, the nats WILL be expected to work (crawl) with other right wing parties. along with whats left of act, it will be a fascinating case study to observe all of these similar but different right wing troglodytes getting along. anybody with a brain can see right wing parties all round the planet splintering into smaller and more single issue cults. brexit party…what a joke

              • Gosman

                The Nazi party never called on Jews to abandon Judaism. Secular or even Christianised Jews were treated as badly as the religious ones. It was an ethnic not religious persecution.

                • McFlock

                  Excellent point there, Gosman. Density's demand for religious homogeneity/putiry is totes different to the nazi's fixation on "racial" (in their concept) homogeneity/purity.

                  One is ideological, the other is racial.

                  After ten years of Ayatolla Tamaki's party in government, what do you think the legal position of homosexuality will be?

                  • Gosman

                    Not that I agree with either but there is a big difference. It is like the Communist party in the Soviet Union persecuting counter-revolutionaries and sending people who disagreed with them to re-education camps. It is seriously bad thing to do but it is not the same as promoting racial purity and eliminating those that do not meet your racial standards.

                    • McFlock

                      ISTR Stalin killed more people than Hitler.

                      Racial, ideological, religious, sexual. Those are the details. Fripperies.

                      The problem is the desire for homogeneity/purity. That always raises the problem of "what do we do with the ones already here"? Be they Jewish, political opponents, or gay.

                      That problem only has one solution.

                    • It is seriously bad thing to do but it is not the same as promoting racial purity and eliminating those that do not meet your racial standards.

                      To expand on McFlock's point immediately above (not that it needs expanding on, but my buttons have been pushed):

                      From the perspective of the people the Soviets were shooting into mass graves for belonging to the wrong class or whatever, the difference between that and the Nazis shooting people into mass graves for being Jewish wasn't a particularly significant one. It shouldn't be a very significant one for us either.

                  • feijoa

                    LOL McFlock above

                    DENSITY church…

                • lprent

                  It was an ethnic not religious persecution.

                  Yep. Much like the way that the Israeli’s treat the Palestinians and Arab Israelis today.

                  If you want to look at the religious persecutions of Jews for religious reasons, then the most extreme example would probably be Spain at the height of the Inquisitional period..

            • OnceWasTim 1.1.1.1.1.5

              Such a great Drag Queen name eh? Destiny Church. I see the same fashion advisers have been dressing many gNatz 'members' (Jennie the Ship, Jude, Pulla et al) for years.

              They should probably spare a thought for that retiree, tragedy on the hill in the Eastern suburbs of Wellington and design him a smoking jacket in paisley- that or give him a knighthood

              • WeTheBleeple

                Such a great Drag Queen name eh? Destiny Church.

                enlightened

                Aint that a sketch just waiting to happen. A totally conflicted religious drag queen.

            • Visubversa 1.1.1.1.1.6

              Well – perhaps "Bishop" Tamaki would like to have a little chat with the Jewish community about his demands that people give up their religion and their cultures when they come to "his" country.

        • Robert Guyton 1.1.1.2

          "But thanks for highlighting the fact labour wouldn’t rule it out if their retention of power depended on it"

          What a weird thing to claim, Tuppence; who exactly, "highlighted the fact" blah, blah, blah? Is there an authoritative Labour Party spokesperson here who can make such claims?? Who were you thanking? You seems quite misguided…

        • Robert Guyton 1.1.1.3

          2 months! For a serial killer???

          Softy.

          • lprent 1.1.1.3.1

            Potential SK… It is but a precautionary measure.

            But if they're obnoxious enough to treat Incognito as an official Labour Party spokesperson – then who knows what they're capable of?

        • greywarshark 1.1.1.4

          Pity this didn't work out like the Pied Piper of Hamelin story He attracted a following and they all went through a gap in the mountains which closed up and they Were Never Seen Again. Toot toot, toot sweet.

        • Matthew Hooton 1.1.1.5

          I don't think Labour even needs to say it would never work with Destiny, or vice versa, which is why National doesn't need to take Destiny seriously either. If Destiny ever had the balance of power, they'd just have to passively allow National to govern. They would be much less influential than Act or the Greens: more like some of the right-wing nutters in the Australian Senate.

          • Robert Guyton 1.1.1.5.1

            ” If Destiny ever had the balance of power, they’d just have to passively allow National to govern”
            Tell that to the Bish.

          • Incognito 1.1.1.5.2

            <sigh, again>

            Labour and National are not in the same position and unlikely to end up in the same position come the Election in 2020. To put it differently, National has no friends and needs them, badly, whilst Labour has choice(s).

            • Enough is Enough 1.1.1.5.2.1

              It might have choices now but debatable whether that will be the case after the election

              The last round of polls don't tell us much, but the trend over the past 12 months is NZ First failing to get back in and the Greens with their heads just above water.

              NZ First traditionally polls better on election day and the green traditionally poll worse than opinion polls.

              In the MMP era, minor parties in government rarely survive unless they win an electorate seat Think Jim Anderton, Peter Dunne, Tariana Turia, David Seymour etc.

              So don't sigh to loudly because Labour's "friends" will be in a fight for survival next year as neither of them will win electorate seats.

              Labour will still probably win in a head to head to race but I don't expect they will have both of their current partners in government next term.

              • Incognito

                I agree that anything is possible and nothing can or should be taken for granted not even the latest poll results. Labour’s choice also includes how it plays its card before the Election. It seems to me that the Coalition is working for all partners, by and large, and I’d like to think that they’d like to continue the partnership into a next Government. If so, they will work constructively with each other and in good faith to increase the chances of that happening. The way I see it is that they shouldn’t work to keep National out but to keep the current Coalition in. I think that’s the plan, anyway. But I could be wrong, of course.

    • lprent 1.2

      Ask Kate B to ask the question. I am confident what result she would get.

  2. mickysavage 2

    Gee so far we have had Dotcom referred to and a claim that because Labour has not ruled it out they would think of it too.

    Do I sense a degree of sensitivity?

    [lprent: The Dotcom comment is now in OpenMike. Either an obsessed un-fan or someone who can’t read legal decisions (and the government’s interesting legal position) . Either way it was diversionary and a false equivalence. ]

  3. Robert Guyton 3

    I think Simon's Destiny doesn't involve being in Government at all.

    • greywarshark 3.1

      I think Simon should be called Someone; he is fading like the Cheshire Cat.

      Alice in Wonderland is a rich field for analogies to politicians and their doings and not-ings.

      It is also through the Cheshire Cat that we learn the essential secret of Wonderland: it's mad!
      https://www.carleton.edu/departments/ENGL/Alice/FootCcat.html

      "How are you getting on?" said the Cat, as soon as there was mouth enough for it to speak with….Alice put down her flamingo, and began an account of the game, feeling very glad she had someone to listen to her…"

      The above, for instance. So open to interpretation!

      • Robert Guyton 3.1.1

        Judith Collins as the Red Queen?

        • greywarshark 3.1.1.1

          You're sparky. Have you had the Big Meeting?

          • Robert Guyton 3.1.1.1.1

            Tomorrow. My daughter's arrived back home from her peregrinations around the organic farms of the South Island and we're having fun around the table, discussing ideas in a lively fashion, whist I tap away here, hence the spark.

            • greywarshark 3.1.1.1.1.1

              Well I hope after the talk there is some grin left over for the meeting where you can continue to be sparky with a confident grin that will win the majority.

  4. Have a scroll through a Kiwiblog general debate thread on any given day and you'll find there's a significant level of support for the things Tamaki is saying among National's constituency. Why would you rule out working with a party when its views are reflected among your own supporters? Sounds like they're made for each other.

    • Robert Guyton 4.1

      "Have a scroll through a Kiwiblog general debate thread on any given day"

      Or enjoy a warm cup of DrainO, a Rolfing session, bamboo slivers under your fingernails or a bowl of junket garnished with finely-cut leopard-whiskers.

      • Gosman 4.1.1

        I like that you think the general level of debate here is much different. It isn't. It is just that you probably agree with the general thrust of topics here.

        • Robert Guyton 4.1.1.1

          You like that? Good. I have other similar views, such as; your view about the similarity between comments here and comments at Kiwiblog, is pish!

          • Robert Guyton 4.1.1.1.1

            Plus, Tuppence the serial killer is over there now; that can't help your claimed equivalency one bit!

        • Marcus Morris 4.1.1.2

          On the rare occasions that I have mistakenly drifted onto Kiwiblog I have been appalled at the level of pure vitriol and inane comment. Not saying that this blog is immune to that but for the most part the debate remains on topic.

          • woodart 4.1.1.2.1

            yes, the hate and misogyny that is allowed to fester on right wing sites is appalling.

        • greywarshark 4.1.1.3

          Gosman You obviously prefer us to Kiwiblog because you think we have more interesting discussions that you fasten on to like a leech, and even aim to fertilise so they grooooww. Good on you for finding a purpose to fill your dull life.

        • Psycho Milt 4.1.1.4

          … you think the general level of debate here is much different. It isn't.

          The difference has reduced since moderation was introduced over there, but is still substantial. I guess whether you notice that difference or not comes down to your level of tolerance for egregious racism, misogyny and general bigotry.

          • lprent 4.1.1.4.1

            The difference has reduced since moderation was introduced over there, but is still substantial.

            Yeah, it is amazing what a simple bit of moderation can do.

            Because the moderation has been so poor there, the struggle to get to a real moderated system will take some time. However it will be somewhat easier because of the tighter control about logins. This also allows for more moderate moderation than my usual insult efforts (designed to discourage re-offenders from just using a new handle).

            The usual issue on a social media system with a login is balancing the intent of the moderation against losing the feel of the site. It is really easy to discourage people from returning with better behaviour if their access can really be permanently barred. TDB was classic for that issue.

            On the other hand, it is a hell of a lot easier to comment here because we don’t have logins or a requirement for real emails. You’re therefore less likely to have police level issues or get on the curia/national email system (we don’t insist on real emails). And you can get back any time provided that the moderators don’t get irritated by repeated behaviours.

            On the other hand – acting up here typically gets a lot of stick from other commenters because we let a wide range in here without a filtering bully tick system.

            ‘Bullying’ tends to be restricted to moderators if they choose to exercise it, and there is always the random style with which we can (and I usually do) toss people out when they walk over the behavioural bounds. I literally toss a random number to decide just how much damage to inflict. It makes the risk taking so much more pleasant for all gamblers.

        • Incognito 4.1.1.5

          I’d like to think that the behaviour of commenters here is generally good to very good and they seem to understand the concept of self-moderation. I’d also think that commenters who are not receptive to self-moderation tend to be poor debaters. Robust debate is encouraged here but bad behaviour is not.

          Edit: I had not seen Lynn’s response @ 4.1.1.4.1.

      • greywarshark 4.1.2

        RG

        Your cuisine is so cute and exotic.

      • WeTheBleeple 4.1.3

        I prefer to masturbate with a cheese grater.

    • michelle 4.2

      national and destiny are made for each other like two pees in one pod aye

  5. WeTheBleeple 5

    But… It is their density.

    • greywarshark 5.1

      Aye Back to the Future. Wouldn't it be good to go back to some tipping point in time and do something different, we would all be just a bit higher up in the evolution of human beings from then instead of descending now. Someone was writing furiously in The Press this morning about all the things we should be doing after giving up plastic bags, and one was breeding. Bugger that, I am not going quietly into the night and leaving the world to machine minds and their Robot Controllers.

      • WeTheBleeple 5.1.1

        I was wondering who'd pick up the reference.

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqKmb7SSpTE

        Unless the globe is on-board, nobody has the power to control it. Just look at the debates that rage over sound facts… People wont wear inconvenient truths let alone a yoke. Power hungry muppets will get pushed back every time, but every time they cause damage.

        Coporate psychology needs to be called out and taken to task. Bending human minds to consume and conform mindlessly is a crime against humanity and nature. Live in a lie, you will eventually snap.

        Time for the people to wrest back control of the narrative. Daunting though that may be. It's for the good of all.

        • greywarshark 5.1.1.1

          I fear that's your density. But I mean that in the old way really – they used to say I fear meaning I doubt or I wonder.

  6. Stuart Munro. 6

    The Gnats would do better to retread the Maori party – wonder why they don't 🙂 .

    • lprent 6.1

      I suspect that the Maori (and the party members) have long memories about being shafted by political parties.

      After all you just have to look at the origins of that party.

      • Robert Guyton 6.1.1

        Their social conservatism held them prisoner to National and alienated them from the Left.

      • Stuart Munro. 6.1.2

        Quite – but after all they're grasping at every other straw – can't help feeling there may be some Gnat antipathy there too.

      • Gosman 6.1.3

        How were the Maori party shafted?

        • Robert Guyton 6.1.3.1

          Convincingly.

        • lprent 6.1.3.2

          Perhaps you should not look at the PR as being fact and have a look at statistics..

          You should look at the Doone report from 2000 and the Borrows report this year

          https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/government-responds-doone-report

          He addresses the causes of Maori offending and proposes practical steps to reduce Maori crime."The Report highlights the fact that Maori are over-represented at every stage of the criminal justice process. They are over 3 times more likely to be apprehended for a criminal offence than non-Maori and make up 51 percent of the prison population while being only 14 percent of the general population."However, the Report says that ethnicity itself is not a factor causing crime. The cause lies in Maori being over-represented in the social risk factors that contribute to criminal behaviour."Programmes effective in changing the behaviour of offenders or potential offenders need to address the risk factors.

          And

          https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12238664

          "Far too many New Zealanders feel the system has not dealt with them fairly, compassionately or with respect – and in many cases has caused more harm."

          He said Māori – who make up 51 per cent of those in prisons but only about 15 per cent of the population – bore the brunt of the legacy of colonisation.

          "This legacy is actually a gross unfairness and something we should not tolerate in New Zealand.

          "There is widespread recognition that at every point in their lives, and over generations, Māori experience disadvantage that increases the risk they will come into contact with the criminal justice system."

          Borrows said those who enter the justice system should not just be thought of as innocent or guilty, but also as offenders are often victims of social circumstances.

          Even with dressing up parts of the latter report with the usual bullshit that is the National parties base’s basic attitudes about crime (and barely concealed racism) , can’t conceal what the numbers show.

          It doesn't matter what area of the overall picture with Maori you look at (apart from the few at the top of the Iwi corporates), the picture worsened or barely kept pace with previous stats over the years that the Maori party were in coalition with National

          Ultimately that was what cost them their base of support. It isn't hard to find this out. Talk to just about any Maori voters who aren't part of iwi corporates about the fate of the Maori party.

          Perhaps you’d like to find some stats that counter-act this. Although you can see why National appear to have deliberately screwed up the census several times over their reign

        • michelle 6.1.3.3

          We all voted for labour cause we got sick of watching them ( the maori party ) licking national boots

          • I feel love 6.1.3.3.1

            Yep, I was a Maori Party voter/supporter until they joined National, closest I ever got to voting National, yech.

            • WeTheBleeple 6.1.3.3.1.1

              I know right. They had some great ideas that all got squashed. Shame about that.

          • marty mars 6.1.3.3.2

            I went to Mana and then gave Met two ticks last time. Frankly all seems a waste at the moment.

            • McFlock 6.1.3.3.2.1

              I get a little bit of hope that the bullshitters are bullshitting "solutions" to problems they denied existing five years ago.

              And that real solutions are entering the political discourse, and beginning to be adopted.

              And we wouldn't be in even that position now if we hadn't walked the path we've walked. Sure, there might be a better path, but nobody else seems to know how to get onto it if it's there.

    • michelle 6.2

      you can only tread on someone for so long mr munroe

      • Stuart Munro. 6.2.1

        I think the Gnat logic – that you can fool most of the people some of the time – suffers from diminishing returns. The more they do it, the less it works.

  7. WeTheBleeple 7

    Let's see if this joke causes outrage or humor, I'm not so good at reading a room I use others to gauge the acceptability of stuff that's likely a bit 'edgy'.

    Hannah: Brian, does this dress make me look fat?

    Brian: No, but it makes you look like a WHORE!

    • The Al1en 7.1

      In equally poor taste…

      Hannah: Do these Doc Martens go well with these dungarees?

      Brian: Earthquake

    • greywarshark 7.2

      I don't think it would be politically wise, and we should never forget about perceptions, as it would draw the ire of many women and make them feel that she needs support.

      And she does look smaller and vulnerable next to Brain, who could match the Don – almost like twins who have a common parent and been separated at birth. There is a film in this – or maybe a cartoon vid. Their coming together would make a great media event wouldn't it. Now that's a bad joke.

      • WeTheBleeple 7.2.1

        It's a tough game playing the edge within an environment of faux outrage. While the joke is aimed at antiquated sexist views aka biblical women bashing, some would take it as sexist and be outraged as a matter of convenience – finding something more to be upset about. I'm interested if the initial reaction gets a smile or a snarl from women, but not the permanently angry ones…

        I have reason to be permanently angry, but it's simply exhausting.

        I like the Alien's joke too: had to think about it for a tick.

        • greywarshark 7.2.1.1

          I think you two are closer to the zeitgeist of today's young.

          What about – No but it makes you look like a WHORE. Drop to your knees.

          • WeTheBleeple 7.2.1.1.1

            I was just out (electric) whicker snickering some garden edges. Bunch of schoolkids went past. Nice garden! Next thing we're talking climate change and food miles.

            Still in touch, despite the grey moving in on the chin.

            – on the joke, I’d be more inclined to extend it with a biblical rant of biblical proportions 😀

        • Robert Guyton 7.2.1.2

          Think Chch.
          I’d have written, Earthquake!!

    • KJT 7.3

      "Simon, I am your father".

      "Judith, it is your destiny".

      Sorry. Couldn't resist.

  8. Shadrach 8

    "There is a National caucus meeting this morning. I understand there will be a push for Curia polling to be presented to the meeting so that MPs can assess which public poll is more accurate and how bad to the party is."

    Now that is more interesting than the musings about the Bishop. If I was an MP in a political party led by someone with Bridges apparent level of support, I would be demanding to see the Curia poll every week.

    • greywarshark 8.1

      I wonder if Bridges being Maori and National RW being racist at base, is part of the scenario. If he fails, it doesn't bounce back on the basic National planners who can say they gave Maori a chance in an equality step, but they feel Maori are not quite up to handling the rigours of leadership for the country, and at this late stage of the three year cycle they have to build up and prepare someone pakeha and that it should be a man.

      • Shadrach 8.1.1

        Lot of assumptions there. Do you have anyone in mind? National seem to have exactly the same problem Labour had for 9 years – up against a popular PM with no-one near capable of matching him/her. Except, perhaps, one smiling chesire cat!

    • Incognito 8.2

      Have you tried the search function on the National Party website?

  9. Robert Guyton 9

    "There is a National caucus meeting this morning. I understand there will be a push"

    'kay.

  10. infused 10

    labour wouldnt rule them out in the same position. no one does. key was the only person to rule someone out.

    • infused 10.1

      not that I wouldn't rule them out. bunch of fucking idiots.

    • McFlock 10.2

      OK, let's game it.

      Labour need density to be in government, grn/nz1/lab insufficient. Do Lab go with density, and if so what do you think happens to lab support given their current support base?

      Nat/dens only option for nats to govern, do they go with density and if so what would happen to their support given their current support base?

      Seems to me that Lab don't need to rule out electoral suicide.

  11. Ken 11

    National might as well lie down with dogs…….it's already got fleas.

  12. AB 12

    I don't think National will be stupid enough to get too close to Destiny. Colin Craig and Graham Capill should be sufficient warning. They need to find social conservatives where the religious element is more subdued and in the background – such as United Future. Is the bouffant exemplar of 'common sense' due for a comeback?

    Other than that, I do find it interesting that National's natural partners come from the most socially regressive corners of society with a taste for hierarchy and authoritarian control. Fascism is essentially capitalism under threat – and we do know historically that capital will align itself with such regressive forces when it has to – even if it also has to hold its nose while doing so. Though I guess we are a long way from that yet.

  13. Rae 13

    Simon Bridges is reminding me more of Colin Craig everyday, a man with what seems like a complete lack of self awareness.

  14. Observer Tokoroa 14

    I have a feeling…

    that Brian Tamaki has run out of money

    might have to sell the bikes and stuff …

    That's why he has changed his mind about the lesbians and gays. All of whom he despised a week or two ago.

  15. swordfish 15

    Micky

    There is a National caucus meeting this morning. I understand there will be a push for Curia polling to be presented to the meeting so that MPs can assess which public poll is more accurate and how bad to the party is.

    HDPA (Newstalk ZB) yesterday:

    I have a reasonable idea of what the political parties own internal polling is showing, or what they are prepared to say it’s showing, and both sides seem to be saying roughly the same thing, which is that neither of these polls are totally right.

    It’s not the case of one of them being rogue and one of them being right, it’s a case that neither of them got it right.

    From what I’m hearing, the polling is more like this. Labour is sitting at 46 per cent or thereabouts. National is floating around between the 40 per cent and 44 per cent mark, depending on what kind of day they are having. That has not been reflected in either of these polls.

    But, then, UMR's Stephen Mills (Politics, Nine to Noon, RNZ) also yesterday … suggests the Nats are doing a little poorer than this in Labour's Internal polling:

    But I think we've had National sort of at high 30s for a while and Labour kind of mid to high 40s, not 50 as the Reid Research one did.

    • Pat 15.1

      and theyre still polls and face all the same problems with methodology as the public ones.

      • swordfish 15.1.1

        Da, Comrade, Da …

        … but it's been speculated by one Master Matthew Hooton (yesterday on RNZ Nine to Noon Politics & UMR's Stephen Mills appeared to concur) that the Public Polls are cheaper & less innovative in their methodology (Media companies being skint)… with significantly more money being lavished on premium, cutting-edge methodologies in the Internals.

        Mills went on to suggest the Internals use a larger sample … but I strongly doubt that. Both Colmar Brunton & Reid Research use a sample of around 1000, UMR has traditionally used 750. Have no idea about Curia, though.

        • ankerawshark 15.1.1.1

          I was surveyed by Curia last night. They first spoke with my husband who didn't want to do the poll, so it seemed I would do. They didn't gather any demographic details which surprized me (other than asking if I had children under 18 living at home)…………I was turned down to do another poll some months back because they asked me some demographic questions first and eliminated me, cause they had too many in the sample who were my age, gender etc.

        • Pat 15.1.1.2

          yes, i heard Hootens rant…cutting edge, the mind boggles.

    • swordfish 15.2

      So … to head down the precarious road of informed speculation

      I'm gonna guess that, on average over the last few months,

      Curia (National Internals) have been somewhere around:

      Lab 46%, Nat 42%, Green+NZF 9% (Govt 55% / Oppo 43%)

      And UMR (Labour Internals) something in the region of:

      Lab 47%, Nat 38%, Green+NZF 12% (Govt 59% / Oppo 39%)

      Speculative Internal Average:

      Lab 46.5%, Nat 40%, Green+NZF 10.5 (Govt 57% / Oppo 41%)

      And now the Average of the two newly-released Public Polls:

      Lab 46.4%, Nat 40.7%, Green+NZF 10% (Govt 56.4% / Oppo 41.6%)

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Misremembering Justinian’s Taxes.
    Tax Lawyer Barbara Edmonds vs Emperor Justinian I - Nolo Contendere: False historical explanations of pivotal events are very far from being inconsequential.WHEN BARBARA EDMONDS made reference to the Roman Empire, my ears pricked up. It is, lamentably, very rare to hear a politician admit to any kind of familiarity ...
    32 mins ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Scoring 4.6 out of 10, the new Government is struggling in the polls
    It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support for the various parties in ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    1 hour ago
  • Bishop scores headlines with crackdown on unwelcome tenants – but Peters scores, too, as tub-thump...
    Buzz from the Beehive Housing Minister Chris Bishop delivered news – packed with the ingredients to enflame political passions – worthy of supplanting Winston Peters in headline writers’ priorities. He popped up at the post-Cabinet press conference to promise a crackdown on unruly and antisocial state housing tenants. His ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 hours ago
  • Will it make the boat go faster?
    Ele Ludemann writes – The Reserve Bank is advertising for a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion advisor. The Bank has one mandate – to keep inflation between one and three percent. It has failed in that and is only slowly getting inflation back down to the upper limit. Will it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi The fact that a ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    5 hours ago
  • Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Bryce Edwards writes – Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 hours ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' at 10:10am on Tuesday, March 19
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Gavin Jacobson talks to Thomas Piketty 10 years on from Capital in the 21st Century The SalvoLocal scoop: Green MP’s business being investigated over migrant exploitation claims Stuff Steve KilgallonLocal deep-dive: The commercial contractors making money from School ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 hours ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things on Tuesday, March 19
    It’s a home - but Kāinga Ora tenants accused of “abusing the privilege” may lose it. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Government announced a crackdown on Kāinga Ora tenants who were unruly and/or behind on their rent, with Housing Minister Chris Bishop saying a place in a state ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    7 hours ago
  • New Life for Light Rail
    This is a guest post by Connor Sharp of Surface Light Rail  Light rail in Auckland: A way forward sooner than you think With the coup de grâce of Auckland Light Rail (ALR) earlier this year, and the shift of the government’s priorities to roads, roads, and more roads, it ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    8 hours ago
  • Why Are Bosses Nearly All Buffoons?
    Note: As a paid-up Webworm member, I’ve recorded this Webworm as a mini-podcast for you as well. Some of you said you liked this option - so I aim to provide it when I get a chance to record! Read more ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    10 hours ago
  • Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6.06 pm on March 18
    TL;DR: In my ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Monday, March 18:IKEA is accused of planting big forests in New Zealand to green-wash; REDD-MonitorA City for People takes a well-deserved victory lap over Wellington’s pro-YIMBY District Plan votes; A City for PeopleSteven Anastasiou takes a close look at the sticky ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    22 hours ago
  • Peters holds his ground on co-governance, but Willis wriggles on those tax cuts and SNA suspension l...
    Buzz from the Beehive Here’s hoping for a lively post-cabinet press conference when the PM and – perhaps – some of his ministers tell us what was discussed at their meeting today. Until then, Point of Order has precious little Beehive news to report after its latest monitoring of the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • Labour’s final report card
    David Farrar writes –  We now have almost all 2023 data in, which has allowed me to update my annual table of how  went against its promises. This is basically their final report card. The promise The result Build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • “Drunk Uncle at a Wedding”
    I’m a bit worried that I’ve started a previous newsletter with the words “just when you think they couldn’t get any worse…” Seems lately that I could begin pretty much every issue with that opening. Such is the nature of our coalition government that they seem to be outdoing each ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Geoffrey Miller writes – Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on Dune 2, and images of Islam
    Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture ...
    1 day ago
  • New Rail Operations Centre Promises Better Train Services
    Last week Transport Minster Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre. The new train control centre will see teams from KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Auckland One Rail working more closely together to improve train services across the city. The Auckland Rail Operations Centre in ...
    1 day ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things at 6.36am on Monday, March 18
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in an exit interview with Q+A yesterday the Government can and should sustain more debt to invest in infrastructure for future generations. Elsewhere in the news in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 6:36am: Read more ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than just a happy ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    1 day ago
  • The Kaka’s diary for the week to March 25 and beyond
    TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Bitter and angry; Winston First
    New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    1 day ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    1 day ago
  • Out of Touch.
    “I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The bewildering world of Chris Luxon – Guns for all, not no lunch for kids
    .“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    3 days ago
  • Expert Opinion: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
    3 days ago
  • Manufacturing The Truth.
    Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet –  is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
    3 days ago
  • A Powerful Sensation of Déjà Vu.
    Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
    3 days ago
  • Can you guess where world attention is focussed (according to Greenpeace)? It’s focussed on an EPA...
    Bob Edlin writes –  And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Further integrity problems for the Greens in suspending MP Darleen Tana
    Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Greens’ transparency missing in action
    For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    4 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    5 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    5 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • There’s a name for this
    Every year, in the Budget, Parliament forks out money to government agencies to do certain things. And every year, as part of the annual review cycle, those agencies are meant to report on whether they have done the things Parliament gave them that money for. Agencies which consistently fail to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Echoes of 1968 in 2024?  Pocock on the repetitive problems of the New Left
    Mike Grimshaw writes – Recent events in American universities point to an underlying crisis of coherent thinking, an issue that increasingly affects the progressive left across the Western world. This of course is nothing new as anyone who can either remember or has read of the late ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Two bar blues
    The thing about life’s little victories is that they can be followed by a defeat.Reader Darryl told me on Monday night:Test again Dave. My “head cold” last week became COVID within 24 hours, and is still with me. I hear the new variants take a bit longer to show up ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 13
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Angus Deaton on rethinking his economics IMFLocal scoop: The people behind Tamarind, the firm that left a $500m cleanup bill for taxpayers at Taranaki’s Tui oil well, are back operating in Taranaki under a different company name. Jonathan ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • AT Need To Lift Their Game
    Normally when we talk about accessing public transport it’s about improving how easy it is to get to, such as how easy is it to cross roads in a station/stop’s walking catchment, is it possible to cycle to safely, do bus connections work, or even if are there new routes/connections ...
    6 days ago
  • Christopher's Whopper.
    Politicians are not renowned for telling the truth. Some tell us things that are verifiably not true. They offer statements that omit critical pieces of information. Gloss over risks, preferring to offer the best case scenario.Some not truths are quite small, others amusing in their transparency. There are those repeated ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    24 hours ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
    Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024.  “Lower fruit and vege ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government backs rural led catchment projects
    The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction.   Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
    Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government lowering building costs
    The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Trustee tax change welcomed
    Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister’s Ramadan message
    Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness.  It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister appoints new NZTA Chair
    Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
    Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology.  It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Progress continues apace on water storage
    Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government agrees to restore interest deductions
    Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
    Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity
    This year’s Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity and the contribution of Pacific communities to New Zealand culture, says Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti.  Dr Reti announced dates for the 2024 Pacific Language Weeks during a visit to the Pasifika festival in Auckland today and says there’s so ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-03-19T02:55:25+00:00