National’s bad day in the house

Written By: - Date published: 7:28 am, May 2nd, 2019 - 70 comments
Categories: national, nz first, Parliament, Politics, Simon Bridges, winston peters, you couldn't make this shit up - Tags:

Yesterday was possibly the first time ever when the Government side moved to allow the opposition leader more time to speak in Parliament than he originally had.

The context was the general debate, which is an hour of open debate where MPs get to talk about whatever they want.

For the leader of the opposition it is a chance to criticise the Government and lay out what the opposition will do if they get into Government.  What their vision is, and what they would do differently to the incumbents.

So Simon took the opportunity.  But it was pretty awful.  All that I can remember of it is him shouting “slushies” and laughing wildly.

Peters, cad that he is, asked for Bridges to be given a further five minutes. After some discussion about should someone else seek leave for him or should he seek leave Bridges sought the leave and it was granted.

Every Labour, Green and NZ First MP agreed to allow him more time to speak.  I have never seen anything like it.

Bridges spent his time abusing others.  I would question his ability to have effective control of a local board or community board, let alone the country.

Here is the video.

And here is the transcript

And here is the victor.

70 comments on “National’s bad day in the house ”

  1. Chris T 1

    Think you have the wrong end of the stick there

    It related to a question a few seconds before (last one, with Shaw on the census), where Mallard ruled Shaw was answering to long and the Nat's asked Mallard to allow him to continue.

    He did, to much laughter from Labour.

    It wasn't some awesome political statement from Mr Sleepy. It was a joke.

    Edit: Link to question

    Nat’s made a bit of hash of it

    https://vimeo.com/333477687

    • mickysavage 1.1

      Not sure I am getting your point. Peters did seek further time for Bridges, he replied by seeking leave and everyone agreed.

      • Chris T 1.1.1

        Sorry

        Was just putting the context behind it

        The Nat’s had just done the same thing

    • That comment from Shaw was pure gold: "The issue here seems to be that the National Party are trying to weaponise their own incompetence."

      The way he repeatedly takes the piss out of Brownlee is good too – makes Brownlee look a complete idiot without getting angry or getting anywhere close to personal abuse. He really is very sharp.

      • roy cartland 1.2.1

        "weaponise their own incompetence"

        Indeed, pure gold.

      • Jimmy 1.2.2

        I don't think Shaw came across well at all. He could only disagree with all the "experts" who have said the census is a mess, but did not give any reason as to why.

        • Psycho Milt 1.2.2.1

          He did explain why, and even elaborated on the explanation in response to a further question from Yiang – a question that prompted Mallard to suggest most members would regret Yiang asking that, presumably because he knew a complicated explanation would follow.

          He was also careful to distinguish the problems as relating to the census "inputs," thus leaving himself plenty of room later on to refer to the previous government's responsibility for approving that problematic process. It was very nicely done.

      • Chris T 1.2.3

        He is surprising quick witted for an ex-banking dude who comes across like a boring economics teacher.

        He is actually quicker than Winston, mind you that might be Winston's age now and him trying to keep awake

  2. Peter 2

    You can saySimon took the opportunity and it was pretty awful. We can remember him shouting “slushies” and laughing wildly.

    But I know if his episode were put on TV every night for a week just before Prancing with the Stars or Aussie Spatula, his ratings would shoot up to at least 17%.

  3. Wayne 3

    Micky,

    The whole thing is being reported in the media as a success for Simon Bridges. Coming back strong from a difficult week.

    Now if you want to believe the opposite, well I guess thats your privilege.

    • Cinny 3.1

      His behaviour would only appeal to true blues.

    • Drowsy M. Kram 3.2

      As a lefty Green voter, I support Bridges and acknowledge his reported 'success'.

      May his shadow grow as long as Key's…

      • ankerawshark 3.2.1

        Yes Wayne, very glad of Simon's "successes" at the moment. #lets keep Simon.

        He is so very helpful to the left.

    • marty mars 3.3

      Yeah lol it's another home run lol

    • One Two 3.4

      Nz politics along with the NZ media are in a symbiotic relationship which is beyond farcical…

      Use of the word success in any context regarding either of those to establishment entities, is to be party to the farce…

    • Gabby 3.5

      You know I couldn't tell whether Sniggering Guyno approved or was taking the piss when he backgrounded the fairly long excerpts this morning wayney. It didn't sound very impressive.

    • Stuart Munro. 3.6

      Yeah well – the media are probably the only group in the country with less credibility than your former colleagues. You should be grateful for their sacrifice – but the public should not be.

    • Jilly Bee 3.7

      Wayne – to coin a phrase from that tennis brat/prat John McEnroe, 'You Cannot Be Serious'. Honestly, after watching the clip on Newshub last evening I didn't know whether to laugh, scream or cry. I finally managed to mutter to Mr Jilly Bee 'Wow, Just Wow'. Hang in there Soimun, you're comedy gold (if you don't blow a gasket first).cheeky

      • solkta 3.7.1

        Blowing a gasket, yes that is all i could think watching his performance, that he was getting close. Very funny it was.

    • bwaghorn 3.8

      They where laughing at him on the am show . Even the nat stooge Richardson was joining in on running him down.

  4. Cinny 4

    " Bridges spent his time abusing others. I would question his ability to have effective control of a local board or community board, let alone the country. "

    Well said, totally agree with you Micky.

    simon was like some kind of rabid name calling bully yesterday, such behaviour would not win over any new voters, cringe worthy stuff.

  5. Dennis Frank 5

    Politicians increase their influence when they learn how to make people laugh. Simon did entertain for a change, right? So seems to me he deserves credit for the change of tack.

    The new style makes him seem more like a typical kiwi male. Sure to boost his ratings with that demographic if he keeps it up. Actually, that performance made him look like a serious contender for leadership of NZFirst – wouldn't surprise me if it got Shane Jones worried. Too bad pollsters don't measure the redneck vote.

    • Rapunzel 5.1

      A "new" style" that appeals to your version of typical kiwi males"? You think? What about the rest of NZ?

      Is that it? Is that good enough that it wasn't his worst attempt?

      It's an insult to NZ that because the National Party can't get their house in order and can't offer up other than a person who refuses to front upon inquiries he ordered, plus a long list of behind the scenes derision of others, as leader that's also "good enough".

      He should never have been allowed to nudge out English. The thing keeping him there is his dogged personal ego and the lack of an obvious replacement.

      • Dennis Frank 5.1.1

        Hard to disagree with any of that. Clowns can be politically effective. Rulers centuries ago used their fool to entertain the court, and many a courtier got marginalised by the cutting wit that ensued. Not saying that Simon is operating at that rarified level of expertise, just that he's having a go.

        Flat-lining at 5%, the switch in tactics could get him a boost if kiwi jokers start seeing him as a goer, rather than floundering as usual. Like a batsman slashing at every ball, mostly missing, with hits going in all directions. Guys like that kind of simple fun. If his performance improves, could easily lift his poll rating a crucial few per cent – enough to survive awhile.

        • woodart 5.1.1.1

          who remembers bill english in the boxing ring, looking for votes. the same year I was at baypark speedway and english got pummeled in a stock car looking for votes. thumbs up for the courage in both attempts, but yeah nah, not a good look for an aspiring leader ……

      • Panda 5.1.2

        I fear it is all that the National Party have left. Abuse and histrionics. Someone may like to point it out to them that just because it is not directed at their own party still does not make it ok.

  6. cleangreen 6

    Bridges was told to emulate the "Donald Trump style of attack" and he did very actively and the media called it as "Simon Bridges being an attack dog".

    The best ever result was when he looked like a real attack dog" I thought he was on 'P' or meths actually.

    The worst National performance came from the new Hastings MP 'Lawrence Yule' who was attacking Labour in the same vicious manner saying labour has done nothing right, but was roundly put back in his box when the long leaving excellence of Ruth Dyson who ripped into yule saying "it is incredible hearing Lawrence Yule criticising the labour coalition Government when this MP as mayor of Hastings allowed many people to become poisoned by contaminated water"

    Master stoke by Ruth Dyson" thank you very much Ruth for telling the truth about this errant MP.Lawrence Yule.

    • woodart 6.1

      yule covered himself in the opposite of clean water while mayor, and still got his arse into parliament. he also ran hastings broke and desperatley tried to con the rest of the bay into forming a super council to pick up hastings tab. amazing that after all that he is one of our elected (?) representatives…the bar is fairly low, it seems. still ,he minds his manners in restarants and doesnt tape his workers…..

      • cleangreen 6.1.1

        Woodart

        Thanks for telling the truth to power about this man Lawrence Yule as he is clearly just an agent for the global cabal.

        Lawrence Yule has no idea of making our lives better as he will sell us to the highest bidder now that he is a National party Politician.

    • Hotstepper 6.2

      Genuine question: why do you think Bridges has been told to "emulate the Donald Trump style of attack"?

      Is that information you have, or is it just speculation?

  7. mac1 7

    I listened to Bridges yesterday while bottling a home brew. While he did not drive me to actually sample my 8.8% barley wine, I thought that he did not handle the extra five minutes well, as the additional time would have taken him away from his notes and into the kind of material where he has to rely on his general political knowledge and savvy.

    I recall some pretty pointless abuse in that period. I think Peter's move was a clever one. it showed plainly that the government does not respect Bridge's ability to score as a debater.

    I have heard Bridges speak in a public meeting. He was not impressive, and again did resort a little to some demeaning personal abuse. He did not connect.

    After that speech, he joined a College jazz student band to play drums in a jazz standard. To my one time jazz bass player's ear, Bridges played on time but not in the style required – more poppy, and heavy on the offbeat. A bit like his speech-making, really…….

    I have now watched Bridge's speech which confirmed my aural recollection. Seeing it though shows how much time he spends talking to his side and how much finger pointing he does actually indulge in when he addresses the government directly. Other mannerisms are revealing. He has a habit of invading his benchmate's space with his awkwardly placed right arm, masking Paula Bennett. There was also a nervous swipe at his collar, an indicator of discomfort and pressure.

    • peterlepaysan 7.1

      Astute observation. Watching Bridges has been puzzling.

      His media reported statements appear to be about him, rather than his party.

      The most laughable (pre slushie) was his claim that "his" opposition to the proposed cgt embarassed and made Labour drop it. Of course NZ First had absolutely no influence in a coalition govt.

      Who are his PR spinners? Does he have any?

      He is safe. Who wants his job?

  8. Sanctuary 8

    Behaviour in the house is invisible for Joe and Jane Public. The reporting of Bridge's attacks have to be seen with the context of an ambient right wing MSM who run a dumbed down, personality focussed, horse race narrative where currently Jacinda's star is deemed fully ascendant and there fore requiring some pulling down (Key, on the other hand, got an armchair ride from most MSM political journalists)

    The cynical, rating driven asshats who run our MSM are contemptuous of the average persons ability to absorb nuanced information and petrified that asking anyone to think about anything will cause their ratings to drop.

  9. AB 9

    Getting a bit bored with the mocking of Bridges.

    Sure – his relative hopelessness shows that a party whose raison d'etre is protecting the economic interests of the rich end of town, depends on a carefully manufactured packaging that deflects from their real purpose. Key was that packaging taken to near-perfection. But we've known this forever. Much better for Labour to be thinking about those areas where Collins' rabid 'commonsense' will cause trouble – and eliminating mistakes .

    • greywarshark 9.1

      Yes commenting so much on Bridges apparent ineptness, is time off from watching and attempting to guide NZ into better policies and government. I put up relevant things discussed on Radionz – no discussion on NZ impacting matters. Lots of gleeful and often childish remarks about Bridges, and this is repetitive. All of it was said before probably a year ago.

      There is the thing that people picked on enough can earn a wave of sympathetic sentiment. By throwing metaphorical eggs at him the commenters here are giving him oxygen and possibly encouraging a protective feeling towards him. Think on that.

  10. michelle 10

    smart move giving him more time to make a fool of himself

  11. Kat 11

    As Michele Boag said on radio earlier this week "Simon Bridges just has to learn to be a leader". Well that's all well and good, is she prepared to front up with some formal instructions because Mr bridges is getting very very very painful to watch .

    • Peter 11.1

      I wrote on here yesterday: "He's 42 years old, he's been in politics for more than 20 years and he's got to learn to be a leader?"

      Someone who is 42 years, who's been in the places Bridges has been in, and done the things he's done, who has to 'learn to be a leader,' is never going to be a leader of any worth.

      One thing mitigating against him even learning is the environment he is in. Someone leaking after their caucus this week shows that given the best will and intentions in the world, someone(s) there has decided he is not a leader, is not wanted as a leader or is not capable of being a leader.

    • greywarshark 11.2

      Lessons from Michelle B would leave him all of a dither. She would probably punctuate each point with a whip.

    • Shadrach 11.3

      1. In my experience, leadership cannot be 'learned'. Leadership is an inate part of us, or not – we either have or we don't.
      2. If I was in the position of advising Simon Bridges, the last person on the planet I would be listening to would be Michele Boag.

      • rod 11.3.1

        @ 2 Why ?

        • Shadrach 11.3.1.1

          Because she is toxic. Because she was so closely associated with Bill English's first term as leader of the Nats. And because I don't have much time for people who have little experience outside of politics and 'PR'.

          • cleangreen 11.3.1.1.1

            Shadrack; Michelle Boag was also closely associated to "Mr fix it" Steven Joyce too.

            • Shadrach 11.3.1.1.1.1

              I wasn't critiquing Bill English, I was commenting on his disastrous election campaign. Joyce was an is a very good operator. Why he would want anything to do with Boag is beyond me.

              • peterlepaysan

                C'mon, Shadrach, Michelle knows everything, and knows all the answers.

                Be fair. (smirk).

  12. My experience over the last 66 years is when someone is cornered and down to their lowest mentally, they ATTACK with gusto and make the most utter mess of their self-worth.

    I saw that in Simon yesterday.

  13. Darien Fenton 13

    Pointy, shouty couldnt get past this.

  14. roy cartland 14

    Anyone remember the "get some guts" speech? This was worse.

  15. Fireblade 15

    The more the public get to know Simon, the less popular he becomes.

    Simon's try-hard ramblings were an attempt to demonstrate that he's got bigger balls than Judith.

  16. mac1 16

    One thing that Bridges did was to laugh at Winston Peters quoting National's own polling which put Peters at 1% in the preferred PM stakes.

    Not speaking from notes, he pointed the finger and jeered.

    Of course, silly man, he's firstly referring to the deputy PM in a government led by a very popular woman. It is good that the actual PM should be well preferred above the deputy PM.

    Secondly, Bridge's own 5% support from an electorate that still polls at 40% for the party he leads is not that much higher than Peters, and proportionately lower.

    • Enough is Enough 16.1

      Winston is a moron. He looks at the popularity of the government (AKA Jacinda) and firmly believes he and his basket case of a political party is part of that popularity.

      Nothing could be further from the truth. The numbers he quotes shows how terribly he is. We can only hope that the current numbers hold up until the . Then he will be gone forever.

      • McFlock 16.1.1

        Many of his political opponents have thought that, and are now just footnotes in parliamentary history.

      • woodart 16.1.2

        winston may be many things , but not a moron .very sharp survivor .

        • mac1 16.1.2.1

          He has done more than survive. He has been a cabinet minister, a king-maker, a party leader and is now deputy PM. Tahat's more than survival. He is part of the government's popularity. Not a major part, but part. Some of us are grateful that he carried over into the post election coalition discussions what he had been saying before the election excoriating that corporation-favouring and corrupt former government.

      • cleangreen 16.1.3

        Enough is Enough.

        No Winston is definitely not a moron. Labour has still got the 'right wing fringe embedded in them with several high flying in their cabinet so Jacinda needs to clean their house out this year.

  17. gsays 17

    That explains Mrs Collins highlighting Bridges performance in the house when she was interviewed on RNZ this morning.

    • Wensleydale 17.1

      That's Collins for you. Caress with one hand, punch with the other. She's as cunning as a really cunning thing.

  18. Exkiwiforces 18

    Hey that lady in pink next to what’s his name, is that Don Kings Grand daughter?

  19. observer 19

    It doesn't much matter what political partisans think (on either side). Or what commentators spout. It's the voting millions that count.

    I watched the 6 pm news with relatives who are basically non-political, and certainly not "lefties". They just shook their heads and said "What on earth is wrong with him?".

    I bet the vast majority of viewers felt the same.

  20. Jenny - How to get there? 20

    It's striking how similar these two maniacal images are.

    https://int.search.myway.com/search/AJimage.jhtml?&n=784865ef&p2=%5EBXZ%5Exdm012%5ETTAB02%5Enz&pg=AJimage&pn=1&ptb=588D7DF5-9CD5-495D-8989-307886F67516&qs=&searchfor=heath+ledger+as+the+joker+images&si=google_engremarketing&ss=sub&st=tab&tpr=hpsb&trs=wtt&imgs=1p&filter=on&imgDetail=true

    Yes one is holding up a coffee cup and the other is holding up a playing card.

    But the biggest difference is that one them is only acting.

    • Jimmy 20.1

      Very good! This has made my morning.
      One is an evil scheming person who cannot be trusted, and the other is the Joker!

  21. NZJester 21

    When the opposition agrees to let your leader speak longer you should never accept. Ever the fool he put his foot in his mouth and asked for more time to show just how incompetent he is while in his own mind he was doing great.

  22. Rae 22

    Ever wondered what "enough rope" looks like.

    As for Collins, if NZ accepts her as a possible PM then it says as much about us as it does her, and none of it is good. She is tainted and self serving, I won't go over her history, I'm no-one here needs reminding of it, but not everyone is aware of a response she made when questioned about Oravida's involvement with the destruction of wetlands and the whole swamp kauri, snub your nose at the rules, exporting. Her reply was that she didn't care, they were swamps, and she didn't like swamps. She appeared on TV1s Breakfast a week or so ago claiming the Nats were maybe more green than the Greens.

    Vile woman.

  23. michelle 23

    she is vile and toxic alright and she obviously doesnt care about our natural environments cause her and her greedy husband are pillaging our swamp kauri and they are selling our water of to the chinese when are dumb Nzders gonna wake up to people like her

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    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 ...
    2 days 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
    5 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
    5 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

  • 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
    5 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
    7 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
    8 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
    21 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
    1 day 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
    6 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
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  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
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