National’s caucus reshuffle

Written By: - Date published: 7:49 am, December 7th, 2021 - 140 comments
Categories: chris bishop, Christopher Luxon, Judith Collins, national, nicola willis, paul goldsmith, same old national, Shane Reti, Simon Bridges, todd muller - Tags:

The deckchairs have been reshuffled.  And Chris Luxon is confident that reorganising the pecking order of a deeply dysfunctional caucus will make all the difference.

The winners are:

  • The liberal faction.  All three of them have received significant boosts, with Nicola Willis being confirmed at number two, Chris Bishop at four and Erica Stanford leaping 18 places to number seven.
  • Simon Bridges who shock horror goes to number three and takes over finance.  This was not part of the deal that cemented the leadership for Luxon and saw Bridges withdraw.  Nosiree there was no deal, there may have been a mutual exchange of promises which both parties then adhered to but this is not a deal.
  • Simeon Brown who somehow jumped ten places and takes over Transport.  Surely he has not forsaken camp Judith for personal gain?
  • Todd Muller who is back in caucus and is now making noises about staying on.

And the losers are:

  • Judith Collins who drops 18 positions and loses her coveted Pacific Peoples role to Dr Shane Reti.  Talofa Judith.
  • Paora Goldsmith whose comprehension and logic fail at the last election has seen him lose the Education spokesperson role.
  • Andrew Bayley whose inability to score any points against Grant Robertson has seen him drop 12 positions.
  • Todd McClay whose inability to score any points against anyone has seen him drop 15 positions.
  • Michael Woodhouse who loses the shadow leader of the house role and drops 14 places.  Clare Curran will be grinning from ear to ear.

I am sure that they will settle down and behave, at least until the new year.  And I would not be surprised if their polling goes up.

But there is still a sense that the National caucus is a deeply divided mess of contesting egos and factions with a topping of born to rulism to complete the picture.  Making them appear to be semi coherent will take all of Luxon’s abilities.

140 comments on “National’s caucus reshuffle ”

  1. Treetop 1

    Luxon showed empathy towards Collin's placing her at no 19.

    Will Collin's go up the ranking order?

    Will Muller change his mind and stay?

    • Dennis Frank 1.1

      Careful, the pc police may have a go at you for inserting that apostrophe twice into her name. They're always dead keen to target subtle insinuations, particularly when used against women. I realise you probably did not intend to slight her but they may not.

      • ghostwhowalksnz 1.1.1

        So much for the 'Great Reset' where bygones are bygones.

        Shes been punished along with her acolytes by been given nonsense portfolios.

        By some 'delicious coincidence' the same portfolios as he a newby MP was given by Collins. She is of course been an MP since 2002 and a Minister

      • In Vino 1.1.2

        Exactly. I think it is a possessive apostrophe, rudely implying excessive greed.

      • Treetop 1.1.3

        Was it incorrect spelling to use an apostrophe?

        I thought an apostrophe was used when it belongs to the person. E.g. Treetop's pencil

        • Shanreagh 1.1.3.1

          Luxon showed empathy towards Collin's/Collins (by) placing her at no 19.

          Will Collin's/Collins go up the ranking order?

          Will Muller change his mind and stay?

          Collins' name already has an 's' at the end.

          To make the possessive about the pencil you can either, in my view,

          say ‘This is Mrs Collins's pencil’ or ‘This is Mrs Collins' pencil’. I am not sure whether, when speaking, we, in NZ, pronounce the doubled up 's' or not. The link below has different ways of doing this depending on the spoken version.

          'Personal names that end in –s

          With personal names that end in –s: add an apostrophe plus s when you would naturally pronounce an extra s if you said the word out loud:

          He joined Charles’s army in 1642.

          Dickens's novels provide a wonderful insight into Victorian England.

          Thomas's brother was injured in the accident.

          Note that there are some exceptions to this rule, especially in names of places or organizations, for example:

          St Thomas’ Hospital

          If you aren’t sure about how to spell a name, look it up in an official place such as the organization’s website.

          With personal names that end in –s but are not spoken with an extra s: just add an apostrophe after the –s:

          The court dismissed Bridges' appeal.

          Connors' finest performance was in 1991.'

          https://www.lexico.com/grammar/apostrophe

          • Treetop 1.1.3.1.1

            Thank you for this I will copy it out for my future use. If in doubt I will not use an apostrophe.

            • Shanreagh 1.1.3.1.1.1

              Cheers Treetop. When in doubt don't use an apostrophe and be very careful when suddenly you feel compelled to use an apostrophe to make a plural. You can still use an apostrophe to signal a contraction ie where you have left out a letter eg ‘don’t, can’t, won’t’ for ‘do not, cannot, will not’. I try, if confronted with a desire to add an apostrophe in dubious circumstances, to think of it as a signal to reword the sentence.

              eg the plural of a yacht is not yacht's but yachts

              I once saw a large ad outside a liquor store for 'Beers, liqueur's, spirits including a large range of whiskey's'. A 'rule' of some sort for making plurals was being followed by someone.

              Look up the grocer's apostrophe. Lynne Truss wrote a couple of light hearted books on punctuation and grammar 'Eats, shoots and leaves' and 'Talk to the hand'.

        • Gezza 1.1.3.2

          Her surname is Collins.

          You haven’t used her surname in a way that requires a possesive apostrophe.

          If you’d said something about Collins’ placement at No. 19, that would require a possessive apostrophe, but it would go after the ‘s’ because her surname is Collins, not Collin.

          • Treetop 1.1.3.2.1

            I was not aware of the term possessive apostrophe until I saw it here yesterday as I have always used belongs to. I will copy this out for my future use.

            • Gezza 1.1.3.2.1.1

              Good on you, Treetop.

              English is my native language & I like to see it used properly, just like I try to use te reo Māori properly & am grateful when someone with much better knowledge of it than my very, very limited ability points out that I have erred & tells me the correct way to say or write what I was attempting to say.

              Although English is a complicated, muddlesome language, because it has a huge vocabulary borrowed from multiple sources including other languages, and it has many grammatical rules (some of which are prissy & can be ignored), it’s extremely adaptable & it’s possible to communicate reasonably clearly using very basic words & very simple syntax.

    • fender 1.2

      She's no.19 due to being as unwanted as covid 19

    • georgecom 1.3

      must have been quite difficult for him to find new 'talent' to promote.

      recycle mps, fairly easy

  2. Robert Guyton 2

    Logically, deadwood would float to the surface, no?

  3. Well, considering my (tongue in cheek) predictions of yesterday, I scored some hits.

    Simeon did get some long pants,

    Barbara didn't get animal welfare but she did get agriculture so she can still call for the abuse of animals for profit,

    Mark the mercenary got police which is as good as calling for them to all drive humvees and pack glocks,

    Stuart Smith didn't get Climate Denial, but his clone did.

    But I am disappointed that Maureen didn't feature in the top 20. Being, to quote a Natz No. 3 politician, 'fucking useless,' surely she qualifies for a higher ranking?

    • I should have added a qualifier for Simeon: if his long trousers fit him.

      At least his message will be simple enough for him to grasp: build more RONS, build more RONS, build . . .

      Michael Wood must be grinning from ear to ear.

      • Ad 3.1.1

        Michael Wood's performance is measured by the Sanitarium stool size criteria:

        solid, regular, and unsurprising.

  4. Dennis Frank 4

    Graham Adams:

    three influential broadcasters — Ryan Bridge (The AM Show), Lisa Owen (Checkpoint) and Jenna Lynch (Newshub) — asked the new Leader of the Opposition whether he viewed abortion as murder.

    https://democracyproject.nz/2021/12/06/graham-adams-chris-luxon-abortion-and-the-gender-divide/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=graham-adams-chris-luxon-abortion-and-the-gender-divide

    So why the sudden forensic probing into Luxon’s views on abortion? Especially when — as he rightly pointed out — it isn’t a live political issue. Abortion was decriminalised last year, classifying it as a health issue rather than a crime.

    Columnist and former Dominion editor Karl du Fresne sees it as the benchmark of progressive political values: “The truth is that abortion is an ideological shibboleth — a test of Luxon’s acceptability to the left-wing media elite.” Du Fresne added: “It seems beyond coincidental that all three [interviewers] asked the same question… If you were of a conspiratorial mindset, you couldn’t help but wonder whether this was a co-ordinated set-up. It certainly looked that way.”

    So the ole media/leftist conspiracy theory gets another rerun. Sceptics will need to point out that three media reps using the same attack line on the same day is just a coincidence, as usual. Important to be robotic consistently.

    I agree with Tony that it's unfair to discriminate against Maureen when other fucking useless contenders got ranked, such as the woodlouse…

    • Blazer 4.1

      So that is the left wing media elite!

      Unbelievable ,here's me thinking the media is dominated by pro right wing shills like-Hosking,McIvor,Russell,O'Sullivan,Trevett,Young,Du Plessis,Mora,…..etc,etc…

      • Patricia Bremner 4.1.1

        Those right wing elite press are not a problem though, they will ask Chris patsy flattering questions which enhance qualities and direction of travel akshually.

      • Gezza 4.1.2

        Classing Ryan Bridge as left wing made me smile. He, his predecessor Duncan Garner, (& the AM Show in general) always seemed to me to favour the right & National more than Labour & the Greens.

        I saw a few of his interviews with Collins where he gave her an easy ride & even then she managed to make herself look stupid by burbling some kind of nonsense.

        I’m not really a fan of breakfast tv shows. Can’t stand John Campbell’s unctuous wokeness. If forced to choose, I’d rather watch 10 mins of the AM show, where they occssionally feature Labour & National guests together, than tv1’s Breakfast, but these days I rarely watch either.

        Lisa Owen’s such a constant interrupter I gave up listening to her on Checkpoint. She was just as bad on Newshub’s The Nation.

        • bwaghorn 4.1.2.1

          Bridge has vehemently defended luxon on a couple of things this week, house ownership, and his lack of caucus diversity, which I'd be ok with but I'm yet to witness him defend Ardern on anything, ever, and for my sins I watch most mornings.

    • observer 4.2

      It's not based on his beliefs/opinions. It's based on his actual votes in Parliament.

      The only guide voters have to an MP's real views is how s/he votes when it is not a party vote. Luxon does not want to discuss or defend the votes he cast. That is an entirely legitimate area of inquiry.

      In case we've forgotten … Abortion reform happened because Ardern put it on the agenda in 2017, when she was leader of the opposition. This is when it happened:

      https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/election/2017/09/ardern-abortion-shouldn-t-be-in-the-crimes-act.html

      The contrast between the 2 leaders is stark. One stood up, the other runs away.

    • observer 4.3

      And I've now read Adams' feeble piece and he does not even mention Luxon's votes on abortion. The most relevant fact in the debate … and he avoids it. Pathetic.

    • ghostwhowalksnz 4.4

      " Especially when — as he rightly pointed out — it isn’t a live political issue."

      Not correct, there is currently Abortion related legislation before the house.

      Luxon is recorded as a NO, to the legislation proceeeding

      hes just wanting to avoid questions he doesnt like. Hes going to get a lot of that.

      Contraception, Sterilisation, and Abortion (Safe Areas) Amendment Bill — First Reading

      https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/combined/HansDeb_20210310_20210310_40

      • Gezza 4.4.1

        “Christopher Luxon says he will vote to create safe zones outside abortion clinics, after opposing the initial reading of the bill.

        Luxon voted against the bill at first reading along with 14 other socially conservative MPs.

        But he said the changes made to the bill at select committee – which have now allowed the Attorney General to say it does not breach the Bill of Rights Act – have convinced him the bill is worth supporting.”

        https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300467250/christopher-luxon-says-he-will-vote-for-safe-zones-outside-abortion-clinics-at-second-reading

        Deft footwork?

        • ghostwhowalksnz 4.4.1.1

          Really ?

          How come Mallard had to make of point of asking for an MP opposed to the Bill to make a contribution as it was all very one sided.

          Even Barbara Kuriger made a very good point for those 'concerned' about the right to protest.

          'BARBARA KURIGER (National—Taranaki – King Country): Thank you, Mr Speaker. I am a proponent of free speech and freedom of speech, but I support this bill, because I draw the line at targeted protest against individuals. You know, would anyone get away with this sort of behaviour anywhere else, targeting individual people? There is a place for protests at Parliament. ….

          Luxon never made a peep about his problems with the bill and how it could be fixed. Not in any of the debates.

          Sounds to me like John Key is his Richelieu

          • Gezza 4.4.1.1.1

            How come Mallard had to make of point of asking for an MP opposed to the Bill to make a contribution as it was all very one sided.

            Dunno. Haven’t been following this issue in Parliament. Other more pressing priorities on the domestic front.

            Luxon’s certainly looking to me like Sir John Key’s glove puppet. I get the distinct impression Key is driving him in the background, advising him what to say & do.

            I suspect Key has been worried that the Nats are falling apart & have lost their way. That could see them out of power for too long for his liking. He’ll be looking for opportunities for the top end of town ( his end) to benefit that a Labour govt probably won’t give them.

  5. AB 5

    Judith is "passionate" about "innovation", the "team" is "engaged", those with an "outstanding work ethic" have been "recognised", the mood is "positive" and people have been selected for their "competence".

    This is buffoonery, a sludge of corporate waffle. Our trivial media ingest and recycle it, speculating on who's up and who's down, and why. The public discussion of politics is a soap opera that excludes the core of politics – ideology and intent.

    • alwyn 5.1

      Why don't we get the really important question answered.

      Can they serve up a scoop of chips?

      • Blazer 5.1.1

        Is that what you want with your…flounder?

        • Patricia Bremner 5.1.1.1

          devil Clever Blazer

        • mac1 5.1.1.2

          My guess is that the chips are to go with the corporate waffles. I'd add mussels for a true Brussels treat.

          • ghostwhowalksnz 5.1.1.2.1

            Luxton says he worked at McDonalds… Linkedin time line suggests final year of high school or 1st year university

            • mac1 5.1.1.2.1.1

              I suspect alwyn was having a crack at the PM who worked once in a fish and chip shop. Great places to work are shops where you can meet all of humanity. My dad was a grocer and I met the customers and then sometimes got dad's evaluation of them later…. I learned about poverty, about people, about economics. I learned to count accurately, give proper change, be civil and polite, to listen and to serve, and to be generous.

              Great training for public life.

              • ghostwhowalksnz

                Holiday job for students.

                Collins made a big deal of her time at Farmers Shoe dept.

                Luxon was at McDonalds

                I worked in a flour processing plant and another holiday job was workshop that made farm pumps ( back when we did such things, including a foundry)

            • Blazer 5.1.1.2.1.2

              Yes he invented the Happy Clapper Meal at …maccas.

    • Tiger Mountain 5.2

      Good points “going forward” there AB. The language and framing is so important in political debate and the media generally get away with it.

      Initial reaction around Baldrick was questioning–the black Merc, 7 gaffs and all–but the rose water and hot towels that John Phillip Key was accustomed to appear to be on offer again.

    • Gezza 5.3

      Tru dat.

      A lot of media reporting on politics these fits most neatly into the Entertainment or Lifstyle media categories & is bereft of serious policy or political performance analysis.

      Some of it is just churnalism; dross hastily cobbled together to get something online in a hurry before the competitor paper or another churnalist does.

      1 ewes at 6 is notorious for the shortness of its video clips. They might show 3-5 seconds of a politician saying something in an interview that was 10 minutes or longer.

  6. ghostwhowalksnz 6

    Interesting that Nicola Willis has the same sort of 'communications' quals as Jacinda Ardern. ….a BA in English and a Dip Journalism, but she went to work as a party cadre for Bill English ( alongside Chris Bishop and David Farrar)

    There is apparently a photo in the parliament Media rooms of the 'gallery journalists' around 1981 and the only woman in the picture was Nicolas mother( Shona Valentine) and she was pregnant with her at the time

    I wonder if that is another connection to the right wing journo Mike Valentine ?

    • Ad 6.1

      The one to watch is her deep background with Fonterra.

      Fonterra and MPI are our government within government.

      • Blazer 6.1.1

        Didn't help Todd Muller too much.

        • Ad 6.1.1.1

          Her relationship is deeper and longer. Goes back to her relationships inside MoRST, then MBIE, then to her time in Key's office.

          • ghostwhowalksnz 6.1.1.1.1

            What ? She worked for the National party in various positions including being literally a spin doctor for Key.

            Then a shift to Fonterra where she was hired by Todd Muller to work in the government 'relations' division he heading and when he left there was a bit of detour to the head spin doctor in Fonterras effluent management section. ( all spin , all the time)

            Then the week Key resigned she quit and headed back to Wellington to secure a list position.

            Never worked for a government department, as she says on Linkedin.

  7. Ad 7

    Luxon is smart to hammer the message of "moderation" and staying above the fray.

    Ardern is highly vulnerable to charges of a gaping divide between Ardern's professed 'conservative' view of policy action versus the exceptionally strong set of social and economic interventions that Labour and Ardern have put on us all.

    "Moderation" is National's response to that chasm of ideology v reality.

    If Labour continues its likely polling fall into the mid-30s, and Luxon pushes a polling rise into the mid-30s, then we get National and Labour back to neck and neck …

    … at which point the scale of Ardern's complacency (outside of COVID) finally gets revealed to mean we really have an alternative government on our hands.

    • Hanswurst 7.1

      'Moderation' is National's retort to everything Labour has done, ever.

    • Patricia Bremner 7.2

      So you think Luxon will have the self control to be "above the fray"

      Have a look at the picture in Cooke's write up in Stuff on Question time.

      Someone able to put that photo up will see absolute hatred and frustration…on day one.

      You have said two or three times the PM is complacent…how? when?

    • Sacha 7.3

      the exceptionally strong set of social and economic interventions that Labour and Ardern have put on us all.

      Gosh it's almost as if we are in a once-in-a-century pandemic.

      If this govt had introduced a UBI or suchlike you might have grounds for a whinge. But they didn't. Just poured money into housing 'investors' and gave laid-off workers twice the unemployment benefit so the middle class would not realise how low it really is.

  8. Gypsy 8

    "Ardern is highly vulnerable to charges of …"

    …just general incompetence.

    The issue for Labour remains the amount of heavy lifting being done by a small number of competent ministers. Eventually that takes it's toll.

    • Blade 8.1

      Quite true. Robbo and Chris have earnt my respect. Their problem is now the same as when I saw a just elected Judith Collins walk down the hall with her MPs behind her. They all looked hackneyed and stale. In fact they looked like the cleaning staff.

      Labour MPs now face the same fate. Robbo has piled on the beef. Chris is becoming more defensive as he burns out. And Poto Williams and Kris Faafoi will be punch bag practice for a new invigorated (??) National Party.

      • Robert Guyton 8.1.1

        Grant Robertson and Chris Hipkins look "hackneyed and stale"?

        Pffffffffttttt!

        Your transparent attempts to erode supporter's confidence in the Government are as transparent as a bead of sweat on a bald-man's head.

        • Blade 8.1.1.1

          'Your transparent attempts to erode supporter's confidence in the Government are as transparent as a bead of sweat on a bald-man's head.'

          You impute motives to me that are laughable. Why would I waste time trying to erode supporters confidence in Labour when Labour are doing a good job by themselves?

          That Grant and Chris are looking tired and frazzled and Poto and Kris are a waste of space is my personal perception – right or wrong.

          However, I may be misguided . If anyone believes I have eroded their confidence in Labour, please speak up, or forever hold your peace.surprise

          • Robert Guyton 8.1.1.1.1

            "Why would I waste time trying to erode supporters confidence in Labour…"

            Coz…you love doing it?

      • Ad 8.1.2

        The people burning out are the voters.

        Voter burnout is simply that we are sick of hearing and seeing them on tv and radio and Twitter. They try and mix it up, to little effect.

        Labour's crash in the polls is caused by political over-exposure.

        • Robert Guyton 8.1.2.1

          Easily fixed.

          • Gezza 8.1.2.1.1

            Maybe, but do they know that? And how will they fix it if Luxon & co start getting equal press time?

            • Robert Guyton 8.1.2.1.1.1

              Why should "Luxon & co" get equal press time?

              They lost. Labour/Green won.

              Eat that 🙂

              • Ad

                Luxon should be able to sustain a honeymoon with political reporters until Parliament comes back again in February 2022:

                National 32-36% rising, against Labour range of 36% – 42% falling.

                • Cricklewood

                  Its gonna be very interesting, Act's numbers may hold up pretty well if Luxon stays in the centre and focuses his attention on getting some of the soft Labour vote back.

                  There is the chance that the Nat shit show over the last few years will result in the right being far better placed in an Mmp environment. So long as Act dont drop their bundle they could easily become a permanent 10%ish party like the Greens

              • Gezza

                Dunno why you think I should “eat that”? Bizarre comment.

                I’m not particularly fussed that Labour won this election & not National. I’m not politically tribal. Didn’t expect National to win.

                As to why should National get equal time, that’s not up to me. It’s just going to be interesting to see whether a possibly bored media gives Luxon & National a lot more positive (or at least less negative) coverage. For something to fill in their time & their space.

                • In Vino

                  It was clearly a reference to Michael Cullen's famous parliamentary taunt to National: "We won, you lost. Eat that!"

                  You had no knowledge of that?

                  • Gezza

                    Guyton’s not Cullen. And Labour winning, not National, is just a fact of history that has no particular import for me. Last time I voted I voted Labour candidate, Māori Party for Party. Not worth debating mindless drivel like “eat that” any further, In Vino. Over & out.

                    • weka

                      remind me why I should keep reminding you about typos in your name/email? Grumpy mod here, regulars are especially pissing me off when I have to keep repeating myself ad nauseum. The onus is on you to check each time, rather than expecting me to.

                    • Gezza

                      Sorry weka. Not always blazingly evident there’s an error in the email addy or the username on the iPad. Small screen. Small text. Cursor sometimes just jumps into a field without my seeing it. Will try to be more careful about checking in future.

                      To post on me iPad I have to turn off JavaScript & keep re-entering name & email addy for every comment.

                  • Gezza

                    Guyton’s not Cullen. And Labour winning, not National, is just a fact of history that has no particular import for me. Last time I voted I voted Labour candidate, Māori Party for Party. Not worth debating mindless drivel like “eat that” any further, In Vino. Over & out.

                    • In Vino

                      Sorry, but you don't get to tell other people what is mindless drivel (just because you say so?) or what they may debate. Express your opinions as your own, not as a papal edict..

                    • Gezza

                      Express your opinions as your own, not as a papal edict.

                      🙄 I did. Where have I ever claimed to be The Pope, FFS?

                      Do you add “in my opinion” to every comment you post that isn’t quoting someone else or something in a link?

                      Have a good evening, In Vino. 👋🏼

                  • alwyn

                    Please don't bring the subject up. Sir Michael himself was very embarrassed about the subject and tried to rewrite history to claim that he had never said it.

                    "On "We won, you lost, eat that!" No, he says, he never said that to National. "It's a wonderful piece of historic myth."

                    https://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-star-times/features/2329749/Regrets-I-ve-had-a-few-Michael-Cullen-reflects

                    Unfortunately he did. He was like that of course. He also claimed that his bitter complaint that Key was a "Rich Prick" was only because Key was supposed to have said something about Cullen's wife, When asked what it was Cullen refused to answer and claimed that it didn't matter what Key had said. In other words he didn't have any way of justifying his story. This is in the same interview.

                    • ghostwhowalksnz

                      Thats because 14 years later he has misremembered the actual circumstances of something said in Aug 2000

              • Blade

                Fair comment, Robert. However, should National win the next election and I catch you bleating about press time…

                BTW, should National win the next election, they will be in power for a very, very long time. It will feel like you are in an endless food forest with Tories all over the place picnicking. You will be considered the hired help in your own turangawaewae.

                • Robert Guyton

                  I've never, and will never, discuss press time.

                  It's not a thing for me.

                  Tories are very welcome in my forest garden; in fact, I have hosted many Tories over the past few years. They're delightful people; smart, inquisitive, appreciative of cutting-edge thinking. And yes, they did pay me for my services (bleating on about the garden) so hired-help I was, and proud of it!

    • Ad 8.2

      Not the voters' problem.

      Will certainly be National's if exhaustion is observed.

      Labour ministers outside of COVID seem more preposessed by MakeWork projects of their own devising.

      It's not as if they have a major legislative agenda to get tired about.

      • ghostwhowalksnz 8.2.1

        Any evidence of that ?

        heard of the Resource Management rewrite.

        Crown Pasture Land Reform Bill

        Civil Aviation Bill-This bill repeals and replaces the Civil Aviation Act 1990 and the Airport Authorities Act 1966 with a single, modern statute that will provide a platform for safety, security, and economic regulation of civil aviation

        Then there is the work to create more modern structure for Polytechs and DHBs that hopefully will provide better outcomes for all NZ and end the post code lottery of medical or education based on where you live
        I havent even touched on the proposed Social Insurance system

        • Ad 8.2.1.1

          Let's start with the Order Paper today.

          The RMA Housing Supply Bill you mention has National support. There are two other bills which exist as bare working drafts.

          f70583a224ac4876becdda62d30855be87f8e3ab (www.parliament.nz)

          Next is Births Deaths Marriages and Relationships. 3 years and counting.

          Next is 3 more bills that aren't going anywhere.

          Hard to see them getting to Hipkins' Education and Training Amendment Bill before March. Who knows.

          Then about 7 pretty weak and meaningless bits of legislation in Committee Stage, pretty lucky to see them in March.

          Still no sign of our Carbon Zero budget or plan that we were statutorily supposed to have by now.

          No major new projects announced for construction, not even a new highway stretch finished, no international initiatives of any note, we had another 'plan' about family violence announced today but of course no funding to go with it.

          But last week we had an initiative regulating toilets on camper vans.

          The Prime Minister has no clothes.

    • Patricia Bremner 8.3

      Yes so incompetent we have some of the best results in the world. It has been hard to deal with a pandemic and keep everything else going with little thanks and a great deal of ugly behaviour. We are tired, so are they.

  9. observer 9

    Judith Collins hasn't turned up for caucus.

  10. ianmac 10

    Q4.CHRISTOPHER LUXON to the Prime Minister: Does she stand by all of her Government’s statements and actions?

    Wow! That is a wild opening salvo for Mr Luxon. Maybe Jacinda will fear to front up?

    • Robert Guyton 10.1

      He's going in low!

    • Gezza 10.2

      Just the stock standard opening question to enable a raft of questions that don’t have to be specific & give PM or Ministers time to get their flunkies to prepare detailed replies.

      I’ve diarised QT today in my phone with an alert beforehand & will watch. Should be interesting. None of his predecessors were impressive at thinking on their feet & adapting their supplementaries to the answers given.

      Wondef if he’ll be any better? I’m not expecting that he will be, but…we’ll see. 😎

      • alwyn 10.2.1

        When has Ms Ardern actually answered a question in the House Gezza?

        I can only remember her stringing together a lot of meaningless words or saying odd things that have nothing whatsoever to do with the question that was posed.

        The Speaker then struggles out of his after lunch snooze and tells us that the question was "addressed".

        • Gezza 10.2.1.1

          She answers lots of questions, alwyn, as she is now with Q4 supplementaries.

          Granted she is often very voluble & one has to strain to hear the relevance to a particular supplementary question that has just been asked – but Sir John Key was equally – & sometimes even more – evasive in some of his answers to supplementaries from Labour Opposition MPs.

          And Speaker Carter was just as bad at ruling that the question had been “addressed” by Key when an ordinary member of the viewing public was likely scratching their head over exactly HOW?

          Some of the Speakers’s Rulings used as precedents seem to enable Ministers to avoid directly answering a supplementary question if the questionner has framed their question in such a way that it can be answered indirectly within Speakers’ Rulings rules.

          • alwyn 10.2.1.1.1

            That is the old "But they did it too defense" of course.

            Oh for a competent Speaker like Lockwood Smith. Instead we have gone back to someone who competes for incompetence with Margaret Wilson. They both make Carter look pretty good by comparison.

            • Gezza 10.2.1.1.1.1

              Yep, oh for another Lockwood-Smith. Best Speaker ever in my time listening to/watching Parliament. For that job to truly be done impartially at all times – it really requires someone completely independent – preferably not even an MP. Maybe a judge or a senior lawyer or a Parliamentary appointee like the Ombudsperson.

              Though then no doubt there’d be squabbles over who gets on the selection list.

              Never going to happen, of course. All the parties probably see advantages in having their own MP as Speaker when they get to hold the Treasury Benches.

              I do think that Mallard’s the worst, most cantankerous, & most obviously-biased Speaker that I’ve seen so far. But they’ve nearly all been guilty of clear bias & at times blatantly unfair rulings.

              Lockwood-Smith somehow managed to famously rise above that & be pretty even-handed and fair to both sides, imo.

              • ghostwhowalksnz

                Mallard has been well known for his push backs on labour ministers, when they dont answer questions and other misdemours

                • Gezza

                  Aww. Come off the grass, soldier.

                  He does that when the Ministers’ “offending” is so blatant anybody watching can see they’ve tried it on & not given a proper answer. Most of the times I’ve seen him do it, it’s followed a complaint to him by the MP who’s been sinned against. If they hadn’t raised it sometimes he’d have just let it go.

                • Robert Guyton

                  Mallard's style and methods can't be discerned by the blunt viewer; despite his reputation for thuggery, Mallard applies his rulings with finesse and humour. Most of the Nat MP's are too dull to see it; some do, and their wry smiles at rulings against their dippiest colleagues give them away.

                  • Gezza

                    Mallard’s definitely got a sense of humour & I often have a larf along with others including both sides of the House when he demonstrates it at its best, but that doesn’t cancel out his fits of pique & bad temper, nor his biased approach. He spent an extraordinary amount of time and effort defending & protecting the PM in her 1st 3 years of the job.

                    She doesn’t require his help now.

                    • Robert Guyton

                      No. Mallard's very good. His occasional grumpiness is entirely valid and his quelling of upwellings of idiocy coming from the Opposition benches, including Seymour et al. included, is elegant to watch.

                    • Gezza

                      Well, yes, but you would say that because you’re a very tribal lefty, Robert.

                      This opposition appears no more unruly to me than previous oppositions. In fact, given what the job of MPs is, what they are supposed to be there for, the stunts, drivel & theatrics of the chamber amount to a huge waste of taxpayer funds really.

                      I haven’t spent any time watching how other similar democracies’ parliaments operate but ours seems to spend a lot of time clowning around & going thru the motions rather than getting down to actual business in a businesslike manner.

                      Maybe it’s because the hours are so punishing they have to let off steam or something, & it’s just become accepted there’ll be a certain amount of time-wasting & petty point scoring.

                  • alwyn

                    The "wry smile" as you put it is because the Speaker claims absolute privilege to do anything he wants to. Suggest that he might be sensible to reconsider and you will be gone for the day.

                    No Mallard is the epitome of the school bully. It is long time he was out of the House.;

              • Robert Guyton

                Lockwood was a goose.

                Some were taken in by his goofy grin.

              • Stuart Munro

                the worst, most cantankerous, & most obviously-biased Speaker that I’ve seen so far

                Carter – no contest.

                • Gezza

                  No. There is a contest, & Mallard – the Parliamentary punch up boy, the persistent former breaker of Speakers’ Rulings, the fox in charge of the henhouse – wins by country mile.

                  • Stuart Munro

                    Not even close – Carter was so biased and useless even Hoskings and the Devil were taking notes.

                    • Robert Guyton

                      Indeed. Mallard has to deal with the scruffiest, worst-disciplined National Opposition ever, and does it very competently. He has a sense of humour that the humourless can't detect.

                • Robert Guyton

                  Carter.

                • higherstandard

                  Of the last couple of decades Margaret Wilson would be the poorest i can recall.

                  • Gezza

                    Actually, I might just change my rating and put Mallard on a par with Carter.

                    Robert’s reminded me that Mallard at least demonstrates quite a fine wit at times & I’ve seen him use this levity to lower the temperature all round when the atmosphere’s got quite toxic over one of his questionable rulings.

                    He’s also not averse to a bit of self-criticism, & self-deprecating humour, & at times he’s even walked back a blatantly unfair ruling. Something, although he also displayed occasional flashes of humour, that I NEVER saw Carter do.

                    I didn’t used to watch or listen to Parliament when Wilson was Speaker, but I haven’t heard or seen anyone argue that she was consistently either a fair one or a good one. More commonly I hear she was a badly-biased Speaker.

                    • observer

                      Ah, David Carter.

                      Another comparison? Jacinda Ardern calls Simon Bridges a muppet. What! No of course she didn't – not even close, not ever.

                      But lovable old uncle JK … no problem!

                      Rt Hon JOHN KEY : As everyone will know, the oversight of the GCSB under the proposed legislation is a lot stronger than what was put in place under a Labour Government. We all know that the reason the Leader of the Opposition is not supporting the legislation is that he is having his string pulled by the muppet that is sitting next to him—

                      Mr SPEAKER : Order! That was quite a sufficient answer. [Interruption ] Order!

                      Hon David Parker : I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. It is not becoming of the Prime Minister, in respect of this serious issue, to describe members of the Opposition as muppets. I would expect you, in the Chair, to protect the decorum of this place by calling the Prime Minister to order.

                      Mr SPEAKER : Order! The member might want to have a look at the proceedings later on today to see that I immediately did call the Prime Minister to order. I thought that was quite sufficient. I am certainly not about to rule the word “muppet” out of order.

                      https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/document/50HansD_20130806/volume-692-week-50-tuesday-6-august-2013

                      Like I said, there's heaps more of this garbage, I'm not going to link to 8 years of Hansard. But anyone who says today is "Worst Speaker/PM protection Ever" needs to start reading it.

                    • Gezza

                      Go and check out what Mallard let Peters get away with.

                      Ardern does not stoop so low as Key herself. Nevertheless her lieutenants get a few barbs in & other Labour MPs throw in rude interjections as well.

                      If one wants to crawl thru Hansard for the last four years one will find plenty of examples of Mallard letting Ministers & Labour MPs off lightly. The Righties will happily do that for you, but I’m not goung to spend the time on it.

                      I used to watch most Question Times but frankly it’s got so boring now I rarely do these days, unless there’s something important or contentious happening. In this case, Today, it was the new opposition leader & his spokespeople on show, so … worth a look.

                      But not a very exciting or uplifting experience. They had nothing, & scored no hits at all on the govt. Very mundane. At best. Imo.

        • observer 10.2.1.2

          That comment from Alwyn is hilariously bad timing. Did you not see what just happened?

          Luxon prepared for those questions? I don't believe it.

        • mac1 10.2.1.3

          It's all exaggeration, what you allege, Alwyn.

          How about pointing us to a case where she has not answered the question? Hansard would be a starter.

          I listened today. Prime Minister answered the questions. The first I heard, Q3 I believe, from the Leader of the Opposition was answered with a list of achievements of her government and ministers including low unemployment, thriving economy, low covid rates and deaths, etc. The first two supplementaries were rejected by the PM as she disagreed with the premise of the question.

          Luxon was nervous and fluffed twice finding and asking a question. That's OK. He tried to find fault with ICU provision and the PM answered that with the need first to be training 5 nurses per ICU bed had to be met and then that 200 beds plus capacity had been provided to care for a surge; but, the government's strategy was different to an Australian example that Luxon introduced in that the aim was to avoid a surge that would overwhelm hospital ICU beds and lead to many deaths as a sure consequence of overwhelming the ICUs with sheer numbers.

          That I think is a fair summation of the argument from memory and is also a fair example of questions well answered.

          • Gezza 10.2.1.3.1

            Yes. That is indeed a fair summation & I agree with it. Altho there have been some times when she’s disagreed with the premise of the question because it’s convenient & answering it would require an admission of failure. Mind you, all parties take refuge in that device when they’re holding the Treasury Benches, to be fair.

            From what I saw of QT today, neither Luxton nor any of his lieutenants scored any real hits on the govt. The Qs were all batted away rather effortlessly by those they were directed to

          • alwyn 10.2.1.3.2

            It was question 4 actually. Her answer to the primary question is perfectly fair, given the nature of the question. However she made no attempt to answer the first supplementary It was "Why did her Government spend more than $50 billion from its COVID fund before announcing any funding for extra ICU beds?"

            All she said that had anything to do with the question was "Well, I reject that question". She then rabbited on about how many nurses you need and so on which is irrelevant to the question.

            She could have said something like "We didn't We first spent money to prepare for the beds by …." but she didn't. She simply didn't even try and answer what was asked. She was just as bad with the other supplementaries. She simply regurgitated the same spiel without actually making any attempt to answer what was asked. Trevor let her get away with it of course.

            If you are going to reject a question you should have to explain why the question is misstating the situation. She doesn't do that. She just says I'm not going to answer.

            Try reading it again. It is Q4 at this link

            https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/combined/HansDeb_20211207_20211207_16

            • observer 10.2.1.3.2.1

              You want Hansard? Cool.

              I just picked one page at random. It could be hundreds of others from John Key's time. Examples …

              Hon Phil Goff: Will he then take responsibility for the fact that a large part of that deficit was because this economy has not performed under his management over the last 6 months, as Treasury says?

              Rt Hon JOHN KEY: I am glad we are coming into the Christmas period, because maybe Phil Goff can take a holiday …

              Hon Phil Goff: Can the Prime Minister tell the House how successful gimmicks like a cycleway and the Job Summit have been in reducing the unemployment and welfare rolls and as a way of contributing to creating new jobs and cutting expenditure?

              Rt Hon JOHN KEY: Very. Although I am prepared to accept that things are not going brilliantly for the New Zealand economy, all I can say is they are going better than they are for the Labour Party.

              https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/document/49HansD_20101214_00000012/questions-for-oral-answer-questions-to-ministers-questions

              That was Key's stock response, for 8 years. The questions barely mattered. It was all Punch n' Judy to him. If Ardern ever behaves like that, let us know. But you can't, because there is no comparison at all.

              • alwyn

                As I suggested above yours is the "It's OK because they did it"

                The question isn't what Key, who left the PM's job 5 years ago, did in about 2009, but what Ms Ardern does now. So you didn't like Key. Well get over it. John Key has left the building. Meanwhile Ardern doesn't answer questions.

                • Blazer

                  Alwyn, I say Alwyn…Key may have left the building but he is still an organ grinder with his…monkey dancing…in Parliament.frown

            • mac1 10.2.1.3.2.2

              "She could have said something like "We didn't We first spent money to prepare for the beds by …." but she didn't."

              Funnily, I understood that was what she meant.

              "She just says I'm not going to answer.". No she said I reject the premise of that question. The question was loaded on a false premise. She didn't have to explain it. The political point that Luxon was attempting to make was obvious. If he felt he was hard done by, he could have pressed harder, but he knew what he was doing.

              Seymour asked an imprecise question and paid the price for the little dig at the end by giving the PM an easy answer.

              The two questions from the Māori Party were answered carefully due to their being genuine questions, not attempted point-scoring 'gotchas'.

              Tomorrow, more question time and then the general debate. BTW, she does answer the questions, though not to your liking. To say she does not answer the questions at all is just a blanket 'blah', and not really worth debating, being gross exaggeration, rather like some questions we heard today.

              For example, "Christopher Luxon: Does she agree the failure to increase ICU beds during a pandemic is quite simply another illustration of her Government's ongoing failure to deliver and to actually get things done?"

              She had already answered that charge in her answer to the primary question. "Yes; in particular, I stand by this Government's ongoing successful response to the COVID-19 pandemic that for the past two years has seen New Zealand have the lowest cumulative number of cases, hospitalisations, and deaths per capita in the OECD, and now we can add extraordinarily high vaccination rates as well. At the same time, our economy has continued to perform with record levels of unemployment, high economic growth, and some of the longest stretches without restrictions of any comparable country. "

    • Patricia 2 10.3

      Wasn't that the last question Judith Collins asked ? Maybe Chris got the pages out of order ?

  11. observer 11

    Monday: exciting new line-up announced!

    Tuesday: same old disagreements announced … it took 24 hours for the deal to hit the rocks.

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/chris-luxon-wont-listen-to-grant-robertson-economy-lecture/3GRHZEY6HH54T3P7YRQPRAD2Q4/

    Luxon gave some cautious backing to Reserve Bank Governor Adrian Orr after Bridges was sharply critical of him in a recent podcast.

    Bridges told The Working Group podcast that he did not want to see Orr reappointed. … But Luxon distanced himself from this position on Tuesday.

    "That's not our position," Luxon said. Luxon earlier confirmed he had spoken to Bridges about the remarks.

  12. observer 12

    Oh dear. The Big Event (or so it was built up to be …).

    1. Ardern

    2. Seymour

    3-9. (daylight)

    10. Luxon.

    Will National never learn?

  13. bwaghorn 13

    I have to say luxons list of losers is a ok with me , cant think of a single reason any of them should be in parliament .

    I cant see me liking luxons national, but maybe hes drawing a line through nationals worst years .

  14. tc 14

    Meh all round really. He’s got nothing to lose with a 2023 election in putting the likes of brown, bishop, bridges, Mitchell etc in place and judging their performances.

    Give them enough rope and hopefully some make a decent fist of it as tbh we need a much better opposition.

  15. Jenny How to get there 15

    The National Party ship of state has run up against the covid iceberg.

    Some say party on

    Some say the iceberg doesn't exist.

    Some say change the captain.

    Some say open up the lower deck portholes.

    Some say lifejackets cause drowning.
    .
    Yes the lights are still on.

    Yes the band is still playing.

    Yes the new captain is acting authoritatively and issuing directives.

    Meanwhile as the ship settles deeper into the ocean of electoral defeat, the more astute passengers clamber into the lifeboat marked ACT

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    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
    6 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
    6 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
    8 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
    9 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
    22 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
    1 week ago
  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
    Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
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    1 week ago
  • Government lowering building costs
    The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Trustee tax change welcomed
    Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister’s Ramadan message
    Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness.  It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister appoints new NZTA Chair
    Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
    Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology.  It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Progress continues apace on water storage
    Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government agrees to restore interest deductions
    Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
    Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
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  • Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity
    This year’s Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity and the contribution of Pacific communities to New Zealand culture, says Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti.  Dr Reti announced dates for the 2024 Pacific Language Weeks during a visit to the Pasifika festival in Auckland today and says there’s so ...
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