National still has a culture problem

Written By: - Date published: 7:45 am, April 3rd, 2022 - 37 comments
Categories: feminism, national, same old national, violence against women - Tags:

This week National found itself the centre of media suggesting that its treatment of women is still not acceptable.

A couple of Young Nats were outed as being behind the trolling of Christchurch left wing female politicians.

Christchurch city councillor Sara Templeton was on the receiving end of the trolling.  She did the very wise thing of requiring Facebook through an application under the Harmful Digital Communications Act to provide the IP address of the fake user account used to troll her and other female Christchurch politicians.

The address was traced to Young Nat Bryce Beattie.  He denied responsibility saying that he had a lot of flatmates.  Another Young Nat Jessee MacKenzie then admitted it was him.

From Tina Law at Stuff:

A Young Nat has outed himself as the person responsible for mysoginistic trolling of female politicians, saying his community board hopeful flatmate had nothing to do with it.

Jessee MacKenzie made the admission after the courts unmasked his Christchurch flatmate, fellow Young Nat Bryce Beattie, as the owner of the computer IP address linked to the harassment.

The pair have since resigned from the National Party and Beattie is also no longer running for a seat on a Christchurch community board.

Beattie denies any involvement in or knowledge of the harassment, but says he resigned because “it felt like the right thing to do”.

MacKenzie said, via a statement on Thursday, that last year was particularly bad for him mentally following a rough break up.

“I directed my energy the wrong way in the hopes of feeling better. I’ve taken steps to seek help. While I know this is no excuse I just wanted to add some insight into my thought process during the time.

It is interesting how both MacKenzie and Beattie spontaneously resigned from the party without any apparent prompting.  And Beattie did so even though his initial explanation, that he had no idea who it was or what was happening, was on the face of it a plausible defence.

This is not an isolated event.  Remember how three years ago then leader Simon Bridges conducted a major review of the culture of National Caucus after the Jami Lee Ross allegations were made public?

At the time Jason Wells reported on the details:

National leader Simon Bridges is ordering an internal review to ensure a culture in the party where women feel safe – and has spoken to his deputy Paula Bennett about outing Jami-Lee Ross’ extra-marital affairs.

Bridges also said the party was unlikely to consider using the waka-jumping law to remove Ross from Parliament as long as he is was unwell.

Speaking to media this morning, Bridges said he would talk to Parliamentary Service this week to “make sure women feel absolutely safe in the workplace and feel they can confidently come forward on all matters”.

Bridges said he wanted to make sure the same is happening within the party, with volunteers, candidates and staff.

He has ordered an review into this.

The move comes after Newsroom revealed at least four women had come forward and accused Ross of harassment.

“We are getting independent advice to make sure we have got the best systems and process so women do feel safe.”

Bridges did not think there is a cultural issue within the National Party – “but the reality is several women have been affected by what has happened”.

He said he wanted to make sure National can do the best for its future.

Strangely enough National’s female MPs including the two most affected, Sarah Dowie and Maureen Pugh, were not interviewed as part of the review.

It is not only female National MPs and staff who were targets.  Labour MP Clare Curran received particularly unsavory attacks in the house.

There have been attempts to say that this sort of thing happens “on both sides”.

Some left wingers can get pretty ropy.  But targeting females in the hope they will then break is a something that the vast majority of left wingers would not tolerate.

37 comments on “National still has a culture problem ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Tony Veitch (not etc.) 1
    3 April 2022 at 7:59 am

    And this prick still has a senior position in the party! Says it all!

    https://twitter.com/rugbyintel/status/1509577874700832769

    • Belladonna 1.1
      3 April 2022 at 9:45 am

      Not really seeing the equivalence here. National was attacking a poorly performing Minister (politically inept, a proven liar, and, at best, seriously unaware of her Ministerial responsibilities) – to her face, in the House.

      That's the job of Parliament, to hold Ministers to account. And that's what I would hope to see any future Left opposition doing to a Right Minister.

      A very different scenario from a personal hit organized anonymously on social media. Which is disgraceful, and will hopefully be prosecuted.

      • Incognito 1.1.1
        3 April 2022 at 11:17 am

        Why do you comment here if you don’t even read the OP?

        Are you one of three monkeys or an apologist for politics masquerading as DP and a personal hit job?

        https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/labour-mp-clare-curran-reveals-traumatised-impact-of-dirty-politics-campaign/OV76BLKZ7WUDPNH5SLL7CNHPFY/

        • Belladonna 1.1.1.1
          3 April 2022 at 3:11 pm

          I did indeed read the OP.
          I was replying to the comment from Tony Veitch which equated this with the Clare Curran saga. And pointing out there is a significant difference.

          I am not excusing this current behaviour – as is made very clear in my final paragraph.

          • Incognito 1.1.1.1.1
            3 April 2022 at 3:22 pm

            <sigh>

            What you call the Clare Curran saga is actually in the OP. The saga is continuing although some of the characters have different names.

            Like that other delusional commenter further below you see no equivalence or only false equivalence, but you don’t address the topic.

            • Belladonna 1.1.1.1.1.1
              3 April 2022 at 3:37 pm

              [sigh]

              I guess we'll just agree to disagree then.

              I perceive a significant difference between an attack on extremely poor ministerial behaviour in the House, and an anonymous social media campaign.

              You don't.

              I'll stop commenting now.

      • Tony Veitch (not etc.) 1.1.2
        3 April 2022 at 4:44 pm

        Wow! When is misognyistic behaviour not misognystic? (How the hell you spell this word?)

        Woodlouse behaved in a disgraceful manner towards Curran, and that's all there is too it! His actions typify the whole attitude of the Natz!

        • Incognito 1.1.2.1
          3 April 2022 at 7:07 pm

          This culture problem is not limited to only members of the National Party.

    • tc 1.2
      3 April 2022 at 10:26 am

      Sure does tony v.

      It's that culture of getting caught they've gotta sort as the rest appears business as usual.

  2. Bearded Git 2
    3 April 2022 at 9:10 am

    I was having a bad year so I thought a bit of casual misogyny would make me feel better. Yeah right.

    More lies. This was a calculated attack on a female labour member

    • Mike the Lefty 2.1
      3 April 2022 at 9:35 am

      Yes, "having a bad day" must be just about the lamest excuse you could come up with.

      National always did have a culture problem from the very start. The problem was that it was formed in the image of the pakeha rich country squire who imagined that his wealth and prestige gave him political entitlement and cultural superiority to everyone else.

      Not a hell of a lot has changed in 90 odd years, so it seems.

    • Incognito 2.2
      3 April 2022 at 9:38 am

      I was having a bad year so I thought a bit of casual misogyny would make me feel better.

      Bollocks! This kind of behaviour doesn’t come out of the blue. Most people are self-adjusting and self-correcting when they grow up, but it depends on the environment they’re in, e.g. peers, friends, colleagues, and family.

      • arkie 2.2.1
        3 April 2022 at 9:42 am

        Exactly, the behaviour they see modelled around them informs their own actions.

        It’s a gross example of the failure of the ‘Culture Review’.

        • Incognito 2.2.1.1
          3 April 2022 at 10:00 am

          Modelled, encouraged, tolerated, or whatever. The result is more or less the same.

          Life for many is a relatively limited bunch of relatively small and confined silos, groups, clubs, or tribes with little to no exposure to others. I think in old texts they used to coin this class structure.

          • arkie 2.2.1.1.1
            3 April 2022 at 10:14 am

            Agreed. With the advent of the internet many hoped the increased connectedness and visibility of diversity would encourage a more empathetic and tolerant public, however some people seem to cling harder to their club or class, rejecting other's realities to the point of epistemological nihilism. We can all be guilty of initially dismissing something that contradicts our biases, being able to have the time and space to critically reconsider things is perhaps too rare a luxury.

            • Incognito 2.2.1.1.1.1
              3 April 2022 at 11:06 am

              Indeed, the whole internet and social media phenomenon is an enormous extension of the same cultures and ‘cultural principles’, IMO.

              I’m as guilty of bias as any and because I cannot critically examine & review everything as much as I’d like or rather as much as is required I have to rely on trustworthy (re)sources. But mostly I sit on the fence, which is often considered worse than taking a position, let alone a stand. I will not get bullied in picking a side without and before knowing what I’m getting myself into; life has given me enough experience and taught me enough lessons to know how stupid I can be in falling for this or caving in to pressure. In other words, you live and learn.

    • mpledger 2.3
      3 April 2022 at 9:56 am

      This American Life did a segment on a women finding her troll. (https://www.thisamericanlife.org/545/if-you-dont-have-anything-nice-to-say-say-it-in-all-caps **) . And the trolls excuse was much the same, he was feeling bad, he didn't like the women because she was happy in her life in a way he wasn't so he trolled her to make her feel bad and himself feel good.

      So, I don't think it was just one thing because if it was just one thing it would be easier to stop.

      • Incognito 2.3.1
        3 April 2022 at 10:10 am

        So, I don't think it was just one thing because if it was just one thing it would be easier to stop.

        QFT

        It almost never is “just one thing”; the underlying causes are multi-factorial and complex. If it were that simple then the reductionist approaches and ‘solutions’ proffered by well-meaning simpletons would solve many of our problems, e.g. ‘anti-socials’ in motels, social & emergency housing, gangs, and in prison.

    • SPC 2.4
      3 April 2022 at 10:52 am

      A young Nat living with a Young Nat, the behaviour was tribal.

      A prospect seeking to join a gang and aiming to obtain their approval with attacks on their enemies.

      • Patricia Bremner 2.4.1
        3 April 2022 at 12:21 pm

        yes Yes SPC, approval and affirmation. Look at Woodhouse, his behaviour should have him barred from the house. He has been a messenger an instigator and a "person in the know" and a fabricator of tales. He is still there. I wonder what size Luxon thinks his brain is? There is a pattern of predatory behaviour coupled with misogyny of the worst kind. So many have behaved badly, and they still belong or are employed.

    • mac1 2.5
      3 April 2022 at 1:44 pm

      What Mckenzie was reported as saying "that last year was particularly bad for him mentally following a rough break up."

      People are missing the possible/probable cause of his misogyny- his 'rough break up" -as some men do not handle rejection well. It's also possible that his misogyny led to the break up in the first place.

      It's not always pleasant to be in public office, especially when mass media allow wider audiences and subsequent harm

      I have experienced this form of abuse. I stood locally for various positions. I was asked whether I came from the area (no newcomers welcome), and was accused of having two traffic tickets, two convictions for dope dealing and being supportive of paedophilia. It was not pleasant.

      We ask why National has a culture problem, and rightly. We should also ask whether we have a wider social problem with how we view, treat and select politicians.

      How often have we heard, "Don't vote, it only encourages them"? How often have we referred to our politicians as 'troughers'? How often do we reveal ourselves when we use certain terms to describe motivations and actions of politicians?

      Like the rethink that Covid has called on us to make about how we live our lives, so too we should be evaluating how we treat each other, our politicians and our 'enemies' as well.

  3. joe90 3
    3 April 2022 at 10:36 am

    Online harassment is stalking. National, the natural party of stalkers!

    The person responsible for all this suffering? A 30-year-old unemployed man from Northwich, Cheshire, called Matthew Hardy. For more than a decade, Hardy behaved with near impunity. “Every time his name comes up, I hear other names,” says Zoe Jade Hallam, 31, a model and mechanical operative from Lincolnshire who survived Hardy’s stalking. One force alone, Cheshire constabulary, was contacted about Hardy more than 100 times by 62 victims over an 11-year period. During Hardy’s years of stalking, he was arrested 10 times. But the police and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) appeared unable to put a stop to his offending.

    https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/mar/30/11-years-10-arrests-at-least-62-women-how-did-britains-worst-cyberstalker-evade-justice-for-so-long

  4. Pataua4life 4
    3 April 2022 at 12:30 pm

    Shall we go back in history and look at what was said about Paula Bennett on this very site?

    What about Ruth Richardson?

    These young Nat dicks should be ashamed of themselves and have been reprimanded as such.

    Do we really want to go down the track of keyboard warriors because the left are just as guilty as the right.

    • Incognito 4.1
      3 April 2022 at 12:45 pm

      Yes, what about those abouts? You seem to want [us] to go down that track, don’t you?

      Do you want to address anything in particular of the OP?

    • AB 4.2
      3 April 2022 at 12:50 pm

      There is a difference between vigorously disagreeing in public with what women politicians say, and deliberately setting out to privately scare them.

      There is a distasteful space in the middle too, where women politicians are publicly ridiculed for their appearance. If it occurs on this site I believe our excellent moderators and other commenters show disapproval.

    • Joe90 4.3
      3 April 2022 at 3:52 pm

      Shall we go back in history and look at what was said about Paula Bennett on this very site?

      Please do.

    • Hanswurst 4.4
      3 April 2022 at 4:01 pm

      Let's have some quotes then. I'm sure you habe some specific instances in mind.

    • Dean Reynolds 4.5
      3 April 2022 at 5:35 pm

      Nicky Hager's books, 'The Hollow Men' & 'Dirty Politics' provide factual evidence of National & Act's vile, sustained, organised, personal attacks on their political opponents. I challenge Pataua4life to produce written evidence of equivalent Labour & Green actions.

      Right wing parties are infested with arrogant, entitled shits.

  5. Tiger Mountain 5
    3 April 2022 at 3:44 pm

    Well with the Natzos–where do we begin when it comes to dodgy behaviour?

    Look at recent leaderships for example Sirkey–John Philip Key–was pony puller in chief and had a thing for fondling young females hair, and one in particular, a service worker in his regular cafe. Amanda Bailey whose locks he persisted in tugging at after her requests not to. A then Herald reporter with Natzo links, Rachel Glamuzina met with Ms Bailey under false pretences to try and fix the situation.

    Role models and all that is what I am alluding to. Young Nats have behaved liked prize pillocks forever, have known a few over the years going back to the Muldoon era. “Don’t you know who I am” is merely their starting position.

  6. Melanie Scott 6
    3 April 2022 at 5:14 pm

    Please can someone advise how to go about remorselessly trolling stupid little xxxx Jessee MacKenzie. Asking for a friend.

  7. Dean Reynolds 7
    3 April 2022 at 5:24 pm

    Because the National Party's driving philosophy of greed, self interest & entitlement pervades everything they do, anything is justifiable. National & Act are the only NZ parties with a long time record of lying, slander & personal abuse towards their political opponents – refer to 'The Hollow Men' & 'Dirty Politics' for the facts.

    If Labour or the Greens had organised vile, abusive campaigns against their opponents, some right wing journo would have made a book out of, but nothing's appeared. Pataua4life's accusation that the left are bad as the right, is bullshit.

  8. Stuart Munro 8
    3 April 2022 at 6:50 pm

    National have a problem with their culture?

    Tell us rather what thing do they not have a problem with.

    No plausible policy, nfi what to do if they got power, no idea what people want or what would best serve the public interest – I've seen better directed headless chickens.

    But it does beg the question – what cultural deficits within the government are allowing these egregious wastes of space to poll above the margin of error?

    • peter sim 8.1
      3 April 2022 at 8:06 pm

      /Polls? This far out of an election? How many polls? Voter distractions, like covid mandates, climate change, Ukraine, methodology? The poll that counts is some way a way.

      • Stuart Munro 8.1.1
        3 April 2022 at 8:14 pm

        True – but the Gnats are faring much better than they deserve.

        Part of that can be attributed to a Murdoched media, and some to lack of education. But the government has made missteps too.

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    4 days ago
  • Government celebrates fact that New Zealand’s healthcare is so good people are queuing up for it a...

    At yesterday’s post-cabinet press conference, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, flanked by his Health Minister Shane Reti and someone we can’t independently verify was a real sign language interpreter, announced that he had some positive news for the country. “Alright team, I’m just going to hand over to uh, Dr. Shane, ...
    The CivilianBy Ben Uffindell
    4 days ago
  • Heartwarming: Thoughtful driver uses indicator to tell you what they’ve just done

    It’s 4:10pm in the morning, and you’re in the middle lane heading north on the great southern motorway of our nation’s capital, Auckland. There are no cars directly in front of you, but quite a few in the lane to your left. Suddenly, without warning, a black ute enters your ...
    The CivilianBy Ben Uffindell
    4 days ago
  • NPC teams will now be allowed to actually use the Ranfurly Shield in play

    Following decades of controversy, the governing body of New Zealand rugby, New Zealand Rugby, has ruled that the team currently holding the Ranfurly Shield may once again use it in play during the National Provincial Championship (NPC). The ruling restores the utility of a prize that for many years was ...
    The CivilianBy Ben Uffindell
    4 days ago
  • Climbing out of the hamster wheel

    I arrived home with a head full of fresh ideas about mindfulness and curbing impulsive aspects in my character.On the second night home I grabbed a piece of ginger and began swiftly slicing it on our industrial strength mandolin, the one I have learned through painful experience to treat with ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • More Notes From Stinky Town

    Good morning, folks. Another wee note from a chilly Rotorua morning that looks much clearer than yesterday. As I write, the pink glow in the east is slowly growing, and soon, the palest of blue skies should become a bit more royal.A couple of people mentioned yesterday that I should ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Make it make sense: why axe valuable local projects?

    Last week, Matt looked at how the government wants to pour a huge chunk of civic infrastructure funding for a generation  into one mega-road up North, at huge cost and huge opportunity cost. A smaller but no less important feature of the National Land Transport Plan devised by Minister of Transport ...
    Greater AucklandBy Jolisa
    4 days ago
  • Driving blind at higher speeds

    An open letter by experts about plans to raise speed limits warns the “tragic consequence will be more New Zealanders losing their lives or suffering severe injury, along with a substantial burden on the nation's healthcare and rehabilitation services”. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāKia ora. Long stories short, here’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • 2024’s unusually persistent warmth

    This is a re-post from The Climate Brink My inaugural post on The Climate Brink 18 months ago looked at the year 2024, and found that it was likely to be the warmest year on record on the back of a (than forecast) El Nino event. I suggested “there is a real chance ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago
  • National plan for 2000 more Kiwis a year in prison

    Open for allYesterday, Luxon congratulated his government on a job well done with emergency housing numbers, but advocates have been saying it‘s likely many are on the streets and sleeping in cars.Q&A featured some of the folks this weekend - homeless and in cars. Yes.The government’s also confirmed they stopped ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • I Found a Note in a Tree

    Hi,On most days I try to go on a walk through nature to clear my head from the horrors of life. Because as much as I like people, I also think it’s incredibly important to get very far away from them. To be reminded that there are also birds, lizards, ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    4 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Politicians need to lift their game

    Declining trust in New Zealand politicians should be a warning to them to lift their game. Results from the New Zealand Election Study for the 2023 election show that the level of trust in politicians has once again declined. Perhaps it is not surprising that the results, shared as part ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    5 days ago
  • Police say they won’t respond to bomb threats anymore as ‘it’s never anything’

    Police Commissioner Andrew Coster says that New Zealand’s police force will no longer respond to bomb threats, in an attempt to cut costs and redirect police resources to less boring activities. Coster said that threat response and bomb disposal was a “fairly obvious” area for downsizing, as bomb threats are ...
    The CivilianBy Ben Uffindell
    5 days ago
  • A dysfunctional watchdog

    The reality of any right depends on how well it is enforced. But as The Post points out this morning, our right to official information isn't being enforced very well at all: More than a quarter of complaints about access to official information languish for more than a year, ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Climate Change: The threat of a good example

    Since taking office, the climate-denier National government has gutted agricultural emissions pricing, ended the clean car discount, repealed water quality standards which would have reduced agricultural emissions, gutted the clean car standard, killed the GIDI scheme, and reversed efforts to reduce pollution subsidies in the ETS - basically every significant ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Vegas Baby

    Good morning, lovely people. Don’t worry. This isn’t really a newsletter, just a quick note. I’m sitting in our lounge, looking out over a gloomy sky. Although being Rotorua, the view is periodically interrupted by steam bursting from pipes and dispersing—like an Eastern European industrial hellscape during the Cold War.Drinking ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Why Entrust Needs New Leadership

    I am part of a new team running in the Entrust election in October. Entrust is a community electricity trust representing a significant part of Auckland, set up to serve the community. It is governed by five trustees are elected every three years in an election the trust itself oversees. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    5 days ago
  • London Bridge is falling down

    In the UK, London is the latest of council groups to signal potential bankruptcy.That’s after Birmingham, Britain’s second largest city, went bankrupt in June, resulting in reduced sanitation services, libraries cut, and dimmed streetlights.Some in the city described things as “Dickens” like.Please, Sir, Can I have some more?For families with ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Govt may kick elderly out of hospitals

    The Government is considering how to shunt elderly people out of hospitals, and also how to cut their access to other support. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Monday, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Getting the nephs off the couch

    The so-called “Prince of the Provinces”, Shane Jones, went home last Friday. Perhaps not quite literally home, more like 20 kilometres down the road from his house on the outskirts of Kerikeri. With its airport, its rapidly growing (mostly retired) population, and a commercial centre with all the big retail ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • De moralibus orcorum: Sargon of Akkad, Rings of Power, Evil, and George R.R. Martin

    I have noted before that The Rings of Power has attracted its unfortunate share of culture war obsessives. Essentially, for a certain type of individual, railing on about the Wokery of Modern Media is a means of making themselves a online livelihood. Clicks and views and advertising revenue, and all ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    6 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #37

    A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, September 8, 2024 thru Sat, September 14, 2024. Story of the week From time to time we like to make our Story of the Week all about us— and ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago
  • Salvation For Us All

    Yesterday, I ruminated about the effects of being a political follower.And, within politics, David Seymour was smart enough on Friday to divert attention from “race blind” policies [what about gender blind I thought - thinking of maternity wards] and cutting school lunches by throwing meat to the media. Teachers were ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A warm embrace

    Far, far away from here lives our King. Some of his subjects can be quite the forelock tuggers, but plenty of us are not like that, and why don't I wheel out my favourite old story once more about Kiwi soldiers in the North African desert?Field Marshal Montgomery takes offence ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Literal clowns are running the place, we must put a timeout on this stupidity… right Aotearoa?

    These people are inept on every level. They’re inept to the detriment of our internal politics, cohesion and increasingly our international reputation. And they are reveling in the fact they are getting away with it. We cannot even have “respectful debate” with a government that clearly rejects the very ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    7 days ago
  • Fact brief – Does manmade CO2 have any detectable fingerprint?

    Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park from the Gigafact team in collaboration with John Mason. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Does manmade CO2 have any ...
    Skeptical Science
    7 days ago
  • Judge Not.

    Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. Matthew 7:1-2FOUR HUNDRED AND FORTY men and women professing the Christian faith would appear to have imperilled their immortal souls. ...
    Bowalley Road
    7 days ago
  • Managed Democracy: Letting The People Decide, But Only When They Can Be Relied Upon To Give the Righ...

    Uh-uh! Not So Fast, Citizens! The power to initiate systemic change remains where it has always been in New Zealand’s representative democracy – in Parliament. To order a binding referendum, the House of Representatives must first to be persuaded that, on the question proposed, sharing its decision-making power with the people ...
    Bowalley Road
    7 days ago
  • Looking For Labour’s Vital Signs.

    Flatlining: With no evidence of a genuine policy disruptor at work in Labour’s ranks, New Zealand’s wealthiest citizens can sleep easy.PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN has walked a picket-line. Presidential candidate Kamala Harris has threatened “price-gauging” grocery retailers with price control. The Democratic Party’s 2024 platform situates it well to the left of Sir ...
    Bowalley Road
    7 days ago
  • Forty Years Of Remembering To Forget.

    The Beginning of the End: Rogernomics became the short-hand descriptor for all the radical changes that swept away New Zealand’s social-democratic economy and society between 1984 and 1990. In the bitterest of ironies, those changes were introduced by the very same party which had entrenched New Zealand social-democracy 50 years earlier. ...
    Bowalley Road
    7 days ago
  • Kōrero Mai – Speak to Me.

    Good morning all you lovely people. 🙂I woke up this morning, and it felt a bit like the last day of school. You might recall from earlier in the week that I’m heading home to Rotorua to see an old friend who doesn’t have much time. A sad journey, but ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Winning ways

    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on anything you may have missed. Street architecture adjustment, KolkataShare Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago
  • 48 seconds on a plan that would reverberate for a million years

    Despite fears that Trump presidency would be disastrous for progress on climate change, the topic barely rated a mention in the Presidential debate. Photo: Getty ImagesLong stories short, here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Using blunt instruments and magical thinking to ignore evidence of harm

    The abrupt cancellations and suspensions of Government spending also caused private sector hiring, spending, and investment to freeze up for the first six months of the year. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāThis week we learned:The new National/ACT/NZ First Coalition Government ignored advice from Treasury that it didn’t have to ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Is This A Dagger Which I See Before Me: A Review and Analysis of The Rings of Power Episode 5 (Seaso...

    Another week of The Rings of Power, season two, and another confirmation that things are definitely coming together for the show. The fifth Episode of season one represented the nadir of the series. Now? Amid the firmer footing of 2024, Episode Five represents further a further step towards excellent Tolkien ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • In Open Seas; A Book

    The background to In Open Seas: How the New Zealand Labour Government Went Wrong:2017-2023Not in Narrow Seas: The Economic History of Aotearoa New Zealand, published in 2020, proved more successful than either I or the publisher (VUP, now Te Herenga Waka University Press) expected. I had expected that it would ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • The Hoon around the week to Sept 13

    The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts and talking about the week’s news with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on the latest climate science on rising temperatures and the climate implications of the US Presidential elections; and special guests Janet ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Do or do not. There is no try

    1. Upon receiving evidence that school lunches were doing a marvellous job of improving outcomes for students, David Seymour did what?a. Declared we need much more of this sort of good news and poured extra resources and funding into them b. Emailed Atlas network to ask what to do next c. Cut ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago
  • Dangerous ground

    The Waitangi Tribunal has reported back on National's proposed changes to gut the Marine and Coastal Area Act and steal the foreshore and seabed for its greedy fishing-industry donors, and declared it to be another huge violation of ti Tiriti: The Waitangi Tribunal has found government changes to the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago
  • Climate Change: National wants to cheat on Paris

    In 2016, the then-National government signed the Paris Agreement, committing Aotearoa to a 30 (later 50) percent reduction in emissions by 2030. When questioned about how they intended to meet that target with their complete absence of effective climate policy, they made a lot of noise about how it was ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago
  • Treasury warned Govt lower debt limits meant less ‘productivity-enhancing investment’

    Treasury’s advice to Cabinet was that the new Government could actually prudently carry net core Crown debt of up to 50% of GDP. But Luxon and Willis instead chose to portray the Government’s finances as in such a mess they had no choice but to carve 6.5% to 7.5% off ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • Tourism on the table for Pacific Ministers’ meet-up

    Tourism and Hospitality Minister Matt Doocey will meet with Trade and Tourism Minister of Australia Don Farrell and Fiji Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica in Rotorua this weekend for a trilateral tourism discussion. “Like in New Zealand, tourism plays a significant role in Australia and Fiji’s economy, contributing massively to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Young people report on family and sexual violence

    The Te Puna Aonui Expert Advisory Group for Children and Young People has presented its report today on improving family and sexual violence outcomes for young people, to the Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence, Karen Chhour.  The presentation at the Auckland event was an opportunity for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • $18 million being invested in the victims of crime

    The Government is putting more than $18 million towards improving the experience of the criminal justice system for victims, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Minister for Children Karen Chhour say. “No one should experience crime, but for those who through no fault of their own become victims, they need to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago
  • Landmark phonics check in te reo Māori

    For the first time, schools can use a purpose-built tool to check how a child is progressing in reading through te reo Māori. “Around 45 schools are trialling a New Zealand first te reo Māori phonics check, known as Hihira Weteoro. It will help kaiako (teachers) focus on what ākonga ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • New sea walls safeguard Ōpōtiki’s transformation

    Two new breakwater walls at Pākihikura (Ōpōtiki) Harbour will provide boats with safe harbour access to support the continued growth of aquaculture in Bay of Plenty, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters and Regional Development Minister Shane Jones say. The Ministers and leaders from Tē Tāwharau o Te Whakatōhea and other ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Kitmap to improve access to science infrastructure

    Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins today announced an online platform to optimise the use of New Zealand’s science and technology research infrastructure and to link the public and private sector. “This country is home to world-class science, technology, and engineering expertise. Kitmap is set to empower Kiwi innovators, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Driving the uptake of low emission heavy vehicles

    The Government has launched the Low Emissions Heavy Vehicle Fund (LEHVF) to promote innovation and offset the cost of hundreds of heavy vehicles powered by clean technologies, Energy Minister Simeon Brown and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts say. “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech on replacing the Resource Management Act

    Replacing the RMA Hon Chris Bishop: Good morning, it is great to be with you. Can I first acknowledge the Resource Management Law Association for hosting us here today. Can I also acknowledge my Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Simon Court, who is on stage with me. He has assisted me in establishing the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Replacement for the Resource Management Act takes shape

    Two new laws will be developed to replace the Resource Management Act (RMA), with the enjoyment of property rights as their guiding principle, RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Parliamentary Under-Secretary Simon Court say. “The RMA was passed with good intentions in 1991 but has proved a failure in practice. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Tough laws pass to make gang life uncomfortable

    Legislation passed through Parliament today will provide police and the courts with additional tools to crack down on gangs that peddle misery and intimidation throughout New Zealand, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “From November 21, gang insignia will be banned in all public places, courts will be able to issue non-consorting orders, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • New levy rates set to ensure continued funding of FENZ

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government has agreed to the rates for the redesigned levy that will fund Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) from July 2026.  “Earlier this year FENZ consulted publicly on a 5.2 percent increase to the levy. I was not convinced that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Police allocate Officers to Beat and Gang Units

    The Coalition Government welcomes Police’s announcement today to deploy more police on the beat and staff to Gang Disruption Units.  An additional 70 officers will be allocated to Community Beat Teams across towns and regional centres.  This builds on the deployment of beat officers in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch CBDs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Consultation begins on significant updates to the biosecurity system

    Proposals to strengthen the country’s vital biosecurity system, including higher fines for passengers bringing in undeclared high-risk goods, greater flexibility around importing requirements, and fairer cost sharing for biosecurity responses have been released today for public consultation. Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says “The future is about resilience and the 30-year-old ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Wānaka community to benefit from new overnight health service

    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says an Overnight Acute Care Service opening in October will provide people in Wānaka and the surrounding area with the assurance of quality overnight care closer to home.  “When I was in Wānaka earlier this year, I announced funding for an overnight health service – ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Preventing potholes with data-driven technology

    The Government is rolling out data collection vans across the country to better understand the condition of our road network to prevent potholes from forming in the first place, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Increasing productivity to help rebuild our economy is a key priority for the Government and increasing ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • GDP data shows effect of high interest rates

    Gross Domestic Product (GDP) data for the quarter to June 2024 reinforces how an extended period of high interest rates has meant tough times for families, businesses, and communities, but recent indications show the economy is starting to bounce back, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ data released today ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • NZ to host first Fiji, Australia trilateral trade Ministers’ meeting in Rotorua

    Trade Minister Todd McClay will host Fijian Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica and Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell for trilateral trade talks in Rotorua this weekend. “Fiji is one of the largest economies in the Pacific and is a respected partner for Australia and New Zealand,” Mr McClay says. Australia and New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • NZ hosts Annual CER Trade Ministers’ meeting in Rotorua

    Trade Minister Todd McClay will meet with Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell for the annual Closer Economic Relations (CER) Trade Ministers’ meeting in Rotorua this weekend.  “CER is our most comprehensive agreement covering trade, labour mobility, harmonisation of standards and political cooperation. It underpins an important trading relationship worth $32 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government proposing changes to jury trials

    The Government is seeking the public’s feedback on two major changes to jury trials in order to improve court timeliness, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “The first proposal would increase the offence threshold at which a defendant can decide to have their case heard by a jury. “The second is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Business key to regional economic dialogue

    Local businesses and industries need to be front and centre in conversations about how regions plan to grow their economies, Regional Development Shane Jones says. The nationwide series of summits aims to facilitate conversations about regional economic growth and opportunities to drive productivity, prosperity and resilience through the Coalition Government’s Regional ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • More funding for Growing Up in New Zealand study

    The Government is investing $16.8 million over the next four years to extend the Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) Longitudinal Study. GUiNZ is New Zealand’s largest longitudinal study of child health and wellbeing and has followed the lives of more than 6000 children born in 2009 and 2010, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Tough targets for charter schools will raise achievement

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour says that Charter Schools will face a combination of minimum performance thresholds and stretch targets for achievement, attendance and financial sustainability. “Charter schools will be given greater freedom to respond to diverse student needs in innovative ways, but they will be held to a much ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • NZ votes for Middle East resolution at UN

    New Zealand has voted for a United Nations resolution on Israel’s presence in occupied Palestinian Territory with some caveats, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “New Zealand’s yes vote is fundamentally a signal of our strong support for international law and the need for a two-state solution,” Mr Peters says.    “The Israel-Palestine ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Honouring the legacy of New Zealand’s suffragists

    Suffrage Day is an opportunity to reaffirm New Zealand’s commitment to ensuring we continue to be a world leader in gender equality, Minister for Women Nicola Grigg says. “On 19 September, 131 years ago, New Zealand became the first nation in the world where women gained the right to vote. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Foreign Minister to travel to New York, French Polynesia

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters is travelling to New York next week to attend the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, followed by a visit to French Polynesia. “In the context of the myriad regional and global crises, our engagements in New York will demonstrate New Zealand’s strong support for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Thanking social workers on their national day

    “Today, on Aotearoa New Zealand Social Workers’ Day, I would like to recognise the tremendous effort social workers make not just today, but every day,” Children’s Minister and Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence Karen Chhour says. “I thank all those working on the front line for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Minister of State for Trade heads to Laos for ASEAN meetings

    Minister of State for Trade Nicola Grigg will travel to Laos this week to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Economic Ministers’ Meetings in Vientiane.   “The Government is committed to strengthening our relationship with ASEAN,” Ms Grigg says. “With next year marking 50 years since New Zealand became ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Members appointed to retail crime MAG

    The Government has appointed four members to the Ministerial Advisory Group for victims of retail crime, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee say. “I am delighted to appoint Michael Hill’s national retail manager Michael Bell to the group, as well as Waikato community advocate and business ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Speech to the New Zealand Nurses Organisation AGM and Conference 2024

    It’s my pleasure to be here to join the opening of the NZNO AGM and Conference for 2024.  First, I’d like to thank NZNO Kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku, NZNO President, Anne Daniels, and Chief Execuitve Paul Gaulter for inviting me to speak today.  Thank you also to all the NZNO members ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Improvements for New Zealand authors

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says changes to the Public Lending Right [PLR] scheme will help benefit both the National Library and authors who have books available in New Zealand libraries. “I am amending the regulations so that eligible authors will no longer have to reapply every year ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister commends Police for gang operation

    Police Minister Mark Mitchell congratulates Police for the outstanding result of their most recent operation, targeting the Comancheros. “That Police have been able to round up the majority of the Comancheros leadership, and many of their patched members and prospects, shows not only the capability of Police, but also shows ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • New appointments to the EPA board

    Environment Minister Penny Simmonds has announced a major refresh of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) board with four new appointments and one reappointment.   The new board members are Barry O’Neil, Jennifer Scoular, Alison Stewart and Nancy Tuaine, who have been appointed for a three-year term ending in August 2027.  “I would ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Enabling rural recovery works in Hawke’s Bay

    Cabinet has approved an Order in Council to enable severe weather recovery works to continue in the Hawke’s Bay, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds and Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery Mark Mitchell say. “Cyclone Gabrielle and the other severe weather events in early 2023 caused significant loss and damage to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • FamilyBoost childcare payment registrations open

    From today, low-to-middle-income families with young children can register for the new FamilyBoost payment, to help them meet early childhood education (ECE) costs. The scheme was introduced as part of the Government’s tax relief plan to help Kiwis who are doing it tough. “FamilyBoost is one of the ways we ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Prioritising victims with tougher sentences

    The Government has today agreed to introduce sentencing reforms to Parliament this week that will ensure criminals face real consequences for crime and victims are prioritised, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. "In recent years, there has been a concerning trend where the courts have imposed fewer and shorter prison sentences ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Targets data confirms rise in violent crime

    The first quarterly report on progress against the nine public service targets show promising results in some areas and the scale of the challenge in others, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says. “Our Government reinstated targets to focus our public sector on driving better results for New Zealanders in health, education, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Asia Foundation Board appointments announced

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced the appointments of Hone McGregor, Professor David Capie, and John Boswell to the Board of the Asia New Zealand Foundation.  Bede Corry, Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade, has also been appointed as an ex-officio member. The new trustees join Dame Fran Wilde (Chair), ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Endeavour Fund projects for economic growth

    New Zealand’s largest contestable science fund is investing in 72 new projects to address challenges, develop new technology and support communities, Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins says. “This Endeavour Fund round being funded is focused on economic growth and commercial outputs,” Ms Collins says. “It involves funding of more ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
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  • Social Services Providers Whakamanawa National Conference 16 September 2024

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