National’s “intelligence unit” kicks into gear

Written By: - Date published: 9:01 am, July 5th, 2020 - 120 comments
Categories: Dirty Politics, jacinda ardern, labour, national, same old national, uncategorized - Tags:

Yesterday was a rather brutal day.

Kurt Taogaga, who I know and respect, was caught out with some seven year old tweets.

He was much younger when he made them.  They display a critical view of a particular religion, consistent with a critical view of any religion.  From his tweets he thought there might be some good in a Richard Prosser article.  This is the sort of thing that all young intellectuals do, try to analyse all nuances of an argument no matter how bad and see if there are elements that may be true.

Perhaps he should have said that the article was a complete festering pile of cant.  If he read the article after March last year before commenting I am certain his views would have been different.  But seven year old historical tweets written without the ability to look into the future can look pretty bad.

How it came into the public realm needs some analysis.

Jacinda Ardern was blindsided by Tova O’Brien on Newshub Nation about the comments (14 minutes into the video in this article) and said she was not aware of them.  Shortly after this Kurt resigned.

Interestingly a month ago Newshub’s Tova O’Brien said this:

Newshub can reveal that under its new leadership the National Party has set up an “intelligence unit” to dig up information on its political opponents during the 2020 election campaign.

National MPs leaked details of the unit to Newshub, concerned it would be used for “black ops” and dirty politics – claims National’s campaign chair Gerry Brownlee has flatly rejected.

It comes after National’s new leadership team of Todd Muller and Nikki Kaye suffered a fraught first day in Parliament on Tuesday, as they struggled to defend a lack of Māori MPs on the party’s refreshed frontbench.

Not long after National’s first top secret caucus meeting wrapped up that day, MPs were leaking, telling Newshub new campaign chair Gerry Brownlee had announced an “intelligence and espionage unit” – black ops to dig dirt on National’s political enemies.

Newshub asked Brownlee on Wednesday to explain the “intelligence and espionage unit” he’s setting up and he insisted those words do not describe it.

“Firstly, take those words away – they’re completely ridiculous.”

Asked if it’s about digging dirt on opponents, he said: “No, it most definitely is not my style. We have no interest in that.”

I get the feeling that this unit has been busy and has its first victim.  The media companies are all struggling with resources.  Trawling through decades of social media of hundreds of politicians takes a great deal of resource.  Maybe it was an accidental discovery by a reporter but somehow I don’t think so.

The incident brings back bad feelings of the Dirty Politics era.  It was not a dark part of National’s history that they have learnt from.  It was business as usual.

And it is funny that National can be utterly bereft of policies, apart from announcing a new road they have announced a number of times before.

But digging up ancient dirt on the opposition and anonymously drip feeding it to the media?  I am afraid this looks like business as usual.

To those that say Labour does it too name a recent incident.  Comments are open.

120 comments on “National’s “intelligence unit” kicks into gear ”

  1. Brian Tregaskin 1

    In return its only fair Michael Woodhouse should resign after pictures in the spinoff have emerged of him holding a toilet seat with Clare Currans face.!!!

    • Muttonbird 1.1

      Woodhouse highlights the venal nature of everyone and everything in the National Party.

    • Dennis Frank 1.2

      I gather parliament is about to recess. Too bad. Pictures of an enterprising Labour MP waving a laminated enlargement of the woodlouse face with his toilet seat adjacent could have made the tv news. Accompanied by a verbal reference to `pottyface'! 😵

    • That shows what a low life Woodhouse is. The member who calls him "Woodlouse" had that right. His behaviour is loathsome.

    • Incognito 1.4

      Woodhouse seems to have a problem with other MPs from Dunedin such as Clark and Curran. Is the sandpit too small for him?

  2. Muttonbird 2

    It will also be interesting if we ever find out by who and how the details of quarantined returnees ended up with the Herald.

    My pick is Chris Bishop's office was involved. And in fact Chris Bishop has styled himself as the chief snooper, he of course responsible for the budget hack last year.

    Wouldn't surprise me if Bishop was behind the Kurt Taogaga case too…

    • Anne 2.1

      Isn't Bishop's partner a Newshub political reporter? I may have that wrong and her name escapes me for the moment.

      • Incognito 2.1.1

        Jenna Raeburn

        I think you’re confused with Chris Penk’s wife, Kim Choe.

        • Anne 2.1.1.1

          I think the Newshub reporter looks a little bit like Jenna Raeburn and I thought it was the same person. 🙁

      • millsy 2.1.2

        If a reporter has any relationship with a politician, even it is FWB, then they shouldnt cover political issues. And, yes, I expect it from both sides of the house.

        For example, we dont hear much from Jane Clifton since she married Trevor Mallard, etc.

        To be honest, I think Fran Mold should be moved from her position as political editor for One News as she is married a member of the PM's security detail.

  3. tc 3

    Tova seems to be on point for the initial 'gotcha' again.

    Brownlee will be chuffed and Matty will be well pleased. His class of 2020 are very capable.

  4. Anker 4

    Yes money on it that National leaked covid patients details…..

    Errors can be made of course. But someone either leaked them to stuff directly or forwarded them there. Good on stuff for not publishing.

    • Just Is 4.1

      Yep, but now we have the Army running the show, which will make it that much harder for leakers

    • Anne 4.2

      Yes money on it that National leaked covid patients details…..

      But why? I don't see what anyone would gain from such an action unless they were going to frame it as another govt. f**k up.

    • Draco T Bastard 4.3

      Question: WTF is our government still running MS Office?

      Its a major security flaw that makes leaks like this easy and almost inevitable. They should have a single system that does everything including making sure leaks via email don't happen.

      Same goes for large businesses as well.

      MS Office is for SOHO where there'd be one or maybe two people in it.

      • KJT 4.3.1

        So. They should pay some software outfit billions for a system that doesn't work?. Like ke we haven't seen that before!

        • Draco T Bastard 4.3.1.1

          No. There should be a government department that develops all the software & hardware that government needs.

          BTW, continuing to spend millions on software that's not fit for purpose isn't going to help.

      • millsy 4.3.2

        Nothing to stop people from copying the information onto flash storage and walking out with it, which is what has proably been done here.

        Then they could just email the info from their personal account, on their home computer. maybe even use a gmail account, or even drop the flash drive off at the newsroom.

      • McFlock 4.3.3

        Because almost everyone uses it.

        Sure government departments might use a brilliant system few other people have heard of. Then you have the thousands of stakeholder groups that get data from various agencies, some of them almost at that "SOHO" level. And all the DHBs, and all the PHOs those DHBs deal with, and even the hotels currently used for iso.

        Many of them will have to supply or receive their data in .csv or excel format, because that's what they use. And I suspect this particular excel file was a database extract for one of those agencies.

        • Draco T Bastard 4.3.3.1

          So, they're keeping with MS Office because of proprietary standards that could be removed at any time?

          Yeah, I have a problem with that. I suggest Open Document Formats rather than proprietary ones. Better than continuing to prop up proprietary ones that could leave us without being able to read our data at all.

          Also, Open Office, LibreOffice and other office programs can read MS Office protocols so not really an issue there. MS Office can even read Open Document Format now.

          • McFlock 4.3.3.1.1

            Well, you can suggest Libre Office to everyone who doesn't use it. Until then, it's a great way to annoy stakeholders. And no, much of the formatting gets screwed swapping between the two. Tried it, didn't work, moved on.

            • Draco T Bastard 4.3.3.1.1.1

              And no, much of the formatting gets screwed swapping between the two.

              Haven't had an issue with that for two years or more.

              Until then, it's a great way to annoy stakeholders.

              The people still holding on to MS Office can even read Open Document Format documents without issue.

              • McFlock

                Oh well, if you haven't had that issue, it must all be fine.

                Still doesn't matter if most people use excel and want excel formats. Being responsive to stakeholders, and all that.

  5. Just Is 5

    Ever since Muldoons jerry mandering of electorates and winning power with only 42.5% of the vote, the National Party have been on a steep decline of honesty and integrity, it's now a matter of winning at any cost and by any means.

    We're currently in a new situation with the events of Corona Virus, and the exemplary effort the current Govt has achieved will make it that much harder for National to discredit them, not impossible, but certainly more challenging.

    As we know, the polls have indicated a huge support for the current Govts actions and achievments, the opposition need to step very carefully as their antics could easily backfire on them.

    Probably the biggest hurdle for the current Govt is the blatantly biased media, we can only hope that punters recognize this and also the massive world class achievments fighting this pandemic.

    • Draco T Bastard 5.1

      Ever since Muldoons jerry mandering of electorates and winning power with only 42.5% of the vote, the National Party have been on a steep decline of honesty and integrity, it's now a matter of winning at any cost and by any means.

      National has always been like that. Its pretty much the MO of right-wing politics. That's what Dirty Politics showed us.

    • Gabby 5.2

      To be fair to Mulders, the natsys were a bit dodgy under Kiwi Keef too.

  6. swordfish 6

    Don't know why the Nats bothered … the authoritarian Woke Cult currently trying to hi-jack the Left would've happily done it for them. After all, the hereos of Cancel Culture like nothing more than devoting hundreds of hours to trawling through the social media accounts of perceived ideological enemies (in much the same way, no doubt, that Scientologists seek to destroy anyone critical of L Ron Hubbard). If you're outside the Cult … you're the enemy.

    Suspect if the Nats hadn't got there first, the ex-boarding school Woke with their "unusually refined moral sensibilities" would've been demanding a Ritualised Public Humiliation by now. Then again, Taogaga is presumably Pasifika and the Intersectionals – consumed with Nobel Savage Paternalism – do practice the most outrageous double standards … so he might just have gotten away with it.

    • Dennis Frank 6.1

      Bomber is hip to this emerging trend: https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2020/07/04/labours-rank-amateur-cancel-culture-red-flag-for-gerrys-intelligence-unit/

      Labour have set a very very very very low threshold here and Gerry Brownlee’s intelligence Unit will be sweeping every candidates social media feeds now to catch another example and force Labour to sack them as well, and once you’ve got one, you can find another and you start a story narrative you could have avoided if you hadn’t cancelled in the first place. ‘Another Labour Candidate haunted by tweets’ will scream Tova O’Brien while Hooton will advise Todd Muller to launch a culture war argument about left wing culture purges.

    • Drowsy M. Kram 6.2

      Suspect you're right – btw you left out 'virtue signalling' laugh

      "Every generation grew up rolling eyes at their reactionary elders. The values of that younger generation invariably become the cultural norm. The young became older and, now appalled at what the next batch of youth believes, argued that the world was decaying into folly. Each generation thinks that they are the first to be right about the awfulness of youth. They’re always wrong.

      Mind you, I would say that. As the Telegraph confirmed, I’m very woke (and proud of it)."
      https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/is-it-time-to-hold-a-wake-for-woke-1.3521270

      Once you’re accused of virtue-signalling, you can’t do anything right
      https://www.ft.com/content/cf4d3d5c-7129-11e9-bf5c-6eeb837566c5

      • Incognito 6.2.1

        Once you’re accused of virtue-signalling, you can’t do anything right

        QFT

        Over four years of hard work for Labour and a clean slate, AFAIK, killed off in one fell swoop. How kind of Labour.

        Current and aspiring politicians need to be in a constant state of Tabula Erasa.

        • Drowsy M. Kram 6.2.1.1

          She's a hard road finding the perfect aspiring politician – "Still… no hurry eh?", and certainly no shortage of candidates, even in little ole New Zealand.

          Battles with 'social media perfection syndrome' must be exhausting.

          • Incognito 6.2.1.1.1

            Many create an on-line persona called profile that projects who they want to be and avoid who they do not want to be. Similar process takes place when people get behind the wheel of their car and forget who they are and become somebody else.

    • Gabby 6.4

      He might've got away with it if he'd bothered to address it some time prior to it being dragged into the open.

      • Incognito 6.4.1

        Some people are prolific tweeters and would they remember all their tweets from seven years ago?

        Interestingly, Kurt Taogaga joined Twitter in, wait for it, drumroll, February 2013.

        • McFlock 6.4.1.1

          Yeah, it was a lurking tripmine. Everyone has them to greater or lesser degrees, I reckon.

          • Incognito 6.4.1.1.1

            I’ve done very stupid things and I’ve got the scars to remind me, physical and mental. Luckily (?), none on-line but all in the real world so no skeletons lurking in my hyperspace closet, well maybe a bit of bone dust and a few ashes …

            • McFlock 6.4.1.1.1.1

              Remember David Benson-Pope and the tennis ball? Happened in real life.

  7. Climaction 7

    cry me a river.

    the idiot should have deleted those tweets long ago. The media has a fascination for sourcing its stories from social purely because it is under resourced.

    as a politician, your public utterances are of interest. That a labour candidate didn’t think to go through their old tweets / Facebook posts and see if they could possibly be aligned with any of the beliefs of the mosque shooter says more about the candidate than the ability of a national “ops” unit. It’s political candidate training 101

    • Graeme 7.1

      Well when are we going to see Hamish Walker fall on his sword or be de-selected.

      • Robert Guyton 7.1.1

        Hamish has doubled-down rather.

        • Graeme 7.1.1.1

          Rather

          He's either making Jon Mitchell's job a lot easier, or laying the groundwork for a departure, family time with the young family, you know, and a precarious list MP comes in. Or he's a complete muppet.

          Odds on 1 & 3, but there must be envious eyes being cast on safe blue seats held by plonkas.

        • I Feel Love 7.1.1.2

          Yes strange that irony, the Nats are already assumed to be racist, sexist, etc but Labour and Greens are expected to be pure. That's the logic here isn't it?

        • georgecom 7.1.1.3

          or double standards?

      • Gabby 7.1.2

        Hamie knows his electorate a bit better than you do apparently. That shit is like catnip down on the farrrm.

        • Graeme 7.1.2.1

          At 35% Amy's going to need a seat to get a job. She has a house in the electorate now, thanks to boundary changes.

  8. Ffloyd 8

    Regarding the leak. It’s interesting that Woodhouse has already fronted up to say “it wasn’t me your honour” Had anyone said it was. Actually he was the first person I thought of. How convenient this leak is only two days infor Chris Hipkins replacing David Clarke.Like a fish National rots from the head down. Wouldn’t even use them for compost. Having said that what are the chances it was ‘human error’ I’m picking not many,if any.

    • Incognito 8.1

      He should do a pre-emptive ‘it wasn’t me’ for the next one too. He knows it is coming.

  9. Byd0nz 9

    Dirty politics is part of 'National's' ethos, so the question is, have voters matured enough to dismiss this shit for what it is.

  10. greywarshark 10

    The Jesuits found that seven years was enough to take a child and guide it along the right primrose path for ethical thinking as an adult. Why something said in a flip manner seven years ago should be a hanging offence I don't know.

    Did anyone ask the Muslim Leader whether he and his council of elders thought that it was an example of a serious offence and want the person removed? They might have said that it was a chance to talk about ingrained attitudes, and do that and leave the person in their position. Making lemonade from lemons would be the smarter thing, but no, prissy and showy rules the day.

    • Draco T Bastard 10.1

      Its got to the point now that any minor offence is a sackable offence and not a learning experience. Reminds me of National's National Standards – children pass or fail from the get go of going to school rather than being nurtured to their full potential.

      And the Left are falling for it.

  11. Morrissey 11

    Ten years ago, Willie Jackson and John Tamihere had dwarf-boxing impresario Dean Lonergan on their show on Radio Pacific to talk sensitively and learnedly on the subject of marital infidelity. Both "Deano" and "JT" made it clear that there was no excuse for violence against any woman, even if one came home one day midway through the afternoon to find her in bed with, say, half the ACT caucus. Willie Jackson, though, was having none of that P.C. nonsense. “If I found out that my missus was fooling around on me,” he said, with quiet sincerity, “I’d put a knife through her heart.”

    This shocked even the crass and offensive Lonergan, who felt moved to remonstrate: “I think that’s going a bit far, mate.”

    Jackson didn’t back down an inch. “Nah, nah, nah—don’t give me THAT,” he said, without even a hint of his usual playfulness. “I would. I would put a knife through her heart. I WOULD.”

    JT snorted sardonically and laughed, “You’re a mongrel, Willie, a mongrel.”

    —–

    How come Kurt Taogaga has to go, yet Willie Jackson survives?

  12. Chris T 12

    Bit of a non story.

    How quickly people conveniently forget.

    Labour tries to dig dirt on National

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/vote-08/news/695248/Labour-trawls-for-Key-smear

  13. Chris T 13

    And the time before key people were trying to dig dirt on Helen Clark

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10402502

    This stuff is not new or particularly nasty. It is what politicians do.

    They are extremely motivated people, who want power. And that includes the current lot in power.

    • Incognito 13.1

      Oh, it is not particularly nasty and pretty legal, of course. Nothing to see here, let’s keep moving.

      If you’re not careful and keep digging, you’ll end up in/at 1984.

      Did you read the last sentence of the OP?

      To those that say Labour does it too name a recent incident. Comments are open. [my italics]

    • georgecom 13.2

      when Don Brash 'didn't know who is behind the pamphlets', but one thing he did know was that it 'wasn't the National Party'

      and Brash and Key were having multiple meetings with Brethren, not to discuss 'our/your campaign' but 'for prayer'.

  14. Sacha 14

    Yep, it's clear who we should hold accountable for Winston First consistently blocking fishing industry regulations declares Andrea Vance. https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/122019615/the-greens-bear-responsibility-for-capitulation-to-nz-first-and-big-fish

    But the Greens must accept their share of responsibility for their capitulation and the weak progress on oceans and fisheries policy, both touchstones of the environmental movement.

    Winston is as Winston does. His contumacy exploits James Shaw’s desire to appear constructive and collegial and undermines the Greens, who are less Government allies than rivals.

    • Incognito 14.1

      Oh dear, the AV unit is making funny noises again. What is her ‘point’ this time?

      • Sacha 14.1.1

        That she still has no understanding of MMP coalitions.

        • Incognito 14.1.1.1

          Hard to believe which begs the question why AV persists spreading misinformation and perpetuates outmoded views.

  15. Brian Tregaskin 15

    I believe in the kiwi battler -no fair kiwi will stand for Michael Woodhouse's toilet seat antics -time to https://www.change.org and get enough signatures to convince Michael to stand down.

    • Sacha 15.1

      I hope you have selected a suitable telephone booth for your victory celebration.

  16. Lydia 16

    Not surprised to see Tova in the thick of it. Whaleoil wanted Simon and Paula gone. They used Tova to side with JLR but that didn't work. So now they have Hooton running the National party, through Muller, and they are using Tova again.

  17. Andrew Miller 17

    For what it’s worth I think both Prosser’s article is repugnant, but that the tendency to trawl through people’s pasts for dumb things people have said or done to then try and drive them from public life with no opportunity to show they’ve changed or learnt, or that the indiscretion isn’t defensible but shouldn’t define someone’s life is a stain on modern public discourse.
    However the hypocrisy on display hear is laughable. There are countless examples of public figures being mobbed, cancelled, publicly shamed or forced to resign for views no worse than this.
    When it’s your opponents doing it, it’s ‘dirty politics’ when it’s the left it’s holding people accountable for their views in the pursuit of social justice.

    • observer 17.1

      Can you give examples in NZ – say, in the last 3 years? Specifics are helpful in a debate.

  18. Peter 18

    Let's face it Labour doesn't have to dig the dirt on National. Clutha MP Hamish Walker's dirt and scummy values didn't need to be dug up.

    Result? His majority probably went up 1000 if the people he said he'd been talking to are any indication.

  19. McFlock 19

    Firstly, it was several years ago but he wasn't a teen when he supported the article. He was a grown adult.

    Secondly, sure it could have been a research unit. It could equally be someone from back in the day who thought he was a dick then and googled Prosser's article for the timeframe to look through the guy's tweets. But the thing about DP is that often we will never know.

    Thirdly, we should expect better from our representatives. This maybe delayed his career (his chance of election was minimal at 68), but he's got the opportunity to be good for the next three years, anyway.

    Fourth, he's done well and taken the hit for the team: apologised wholeheartedly, resigned from the list for this year.

    Finally, at a wider level, this is actually a sign of things mellowing out: crowd outrage isn't as mob-handed as it once was. People are beginning to forgive the occasional tweet. Of course, if my nom de plume gets outed I'll probably have to quit just to stop my current boss having a headache from all the storm, but most folks are let off with a warning, as traffic cops don't really say these days.

    • Incognito 19.1

      Was he sacked or did he resign?

      • McFlock 19.1.1

        Fair call, it looks like they might have had a bloody quick overnight meeting – the interview was Friday and he was gone Saturday.

        But he could equally have done a JLR and fought it tooth and nail. Or run off to NZ1, loudly cursing the wokepolice.

        The guy is still <40. He seems to have more than enough grace under pressure to come back from this.

  20. Marcus Morris 20

    Bishop to Woodhouse. Easy dots to join.

  21. gsays 21

    I would have thought any intelligence unit in the Nats caucas would sort out the leaks coming from the top table first. eg Muller having to show poll numbers to his 1st 15 rather than the 'trends'.

  22. Muttonbird 22

    Another casualty, I expect. Steven Berry suddenly 'resigns' from ACT. Methinks his social media history is/was about to come under the microscope.

    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/07/act-candidate-stephen-berry-resigns-due-to-exhaustion-from-campaign-preparation.html

  23. georgecom 23

    I wonder is Brownlee and his other black ops hacks are behind the leak of Covid19 names?

    Woodhouse apparently had a 'reliable source' in the MOH who told him about a homeless man getting into a quarantine hotel. You know, that story which was extensively investigated without any evidence being found to support it, and which Woodhouse has failed to front with any evidence to substantiate.

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    This is a guest post by Connor Sharp of Surface Light Rail  Light rail in Auckland: A way forward sooner than you think With the coup de grâce of Auckland Light Rail (ALR) earlier this year, and the shift of the government’s priorities to roads, roads, and more roads, it ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    12 hours ago
  • Why Are Bosses Nearly All Buffoons?
    Note: As a paid-up Webworm member, I’ve recorded this Webworm as a mini-podcast for you as well. Some of you said you liked this option - so I aim to provide it when I get a chance to record! Read more ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    14 hours ago
  • Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6.06 pm on March 18
    TL;DR: In my ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Monday, March 18:IKEA is accused of planting big forests in New Zealand to green-wash; REDD-MonitorA City for People takes a well-deserved victory lap over Wellington’s pro-YIMBY District Plan votes; A City for PeopleSteven Anastasiou takes a close look at the sticky ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Peters holds his ground on co-governance, but Willis wriggles on those tax cuts and SNA suspension l...
    Buzz from the Beehive Here’s hoping for a lively post-cabinet press conference when the PM and – perhaps – some of his ministers tell us what was discussed at their meeting today. Until then, Point of Order has precious little Beehive news to report after its latest monitoring of the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • Labour’s final report card
    David Farrar writes –  We now have almost all 2023 data in, which has allowed me to update my annual table of how  went against its promises. This is basically their final report card. The promise The result Build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • “Drunk Uncle at a Wedding”
    I’m a bit worried that I’ve started a previous newsletter with the words “just when you think they couldn’t get any worse…” Seems lately that I could begin pretty much every issue with that opening. Such is the nature of our coalition government that they seem to be outdoing each ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Geoffrey Miller writes – Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on Dune 2, and images of Islam
    Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture ...
    1 day ago
  • New Rail Operations Centre Promises Better Train Services
    Last week Transport Minster Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre. The new train control centre will see teams from KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Auckland One Rail working more closely together to improve train services across the city. The Auckland Rail Operations Centre in ...
    1 day ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things at 6.36am on Monday, March 18
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in an exit interview with Q+A yesterday the Government can and should sustain more debt to invest in infrastructure for future generations. Elsewhere in the news in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 6:36am: Read more ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than just a happy ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    2 days ago
  • The Kaka’s diary for the week to March 25 and beyond
    TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Bitter and angry; Winston First
    New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    4 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
    5 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

  • Government moves to quickly ratify the NZ-EU FTA
    "The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 hours 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
    8 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
    10 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
    10 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
    24 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
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  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
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