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 ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Brian Tregaskin 1
    5 July 2020 at 9:23 am

    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
      5 July 2020 at 9:34 am

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

    • Dennis Frank 1.2
      5 July 2020 at 10:03 am

      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'! 😵

    • Patricia Bremner 1.3
      5 July 2020 at 5:38 pm

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

    • Incognito 1.4
      5 July 2020 at 9:14 pm

      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
    5 July 2020 at 9:38 am

    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
      5 July 2020 at 11:16 am

      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
        5 July 2020 at 11:32 am

        Jenna Raeburn

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

        • Anne 2.1.1.1
          5 July 2020 at 12:14 pm

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

      • millsy 2.1.2
        5 July 2020 at 5:06 pm

        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
    5 July 2020 at 9:51 am

    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
    5 July 2020 at 10:02 am

    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
      5 July 2020 at 10:15 am

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

    • Anne 4.2
      5 July 2020 at 11:27 am

      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
      5 July 2020 at 12:59 pm

      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
        5 July 2020 at 4:04 pm

        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
          5 July 2020 at 4:13 pm

          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
        5 July 2020 at 5:17 pm

        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
        5 July 2020 at 8:43 pm

        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
          5 July 2020 at 9:11 pm

          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
            5 July 2020 at 9:19 pm

            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
              5 July 2020 at 9:25 pm

              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 …
                5 July 2020 at 9:35 pm

                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
    5 July 2020 at 10:12 am

    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
      5 July 2020 at 1:04 pm

      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
      5 July 2020 at 6:24 pm

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

  6. swordfish 6
    5 July 2020 at 10:18 am

    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
      5 July 2020 at 10:28 am

      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
      5 July 2020 at 10:49 am

      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
        5 July 2020 at 11:56 am

        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
          5 July 2020 at 12:45 pm

          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
            5 July 2020 at 1:45 pm

            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
      5 July 2020 at 6:26 pm

      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
        5 July 2020 at 10:30 pm

        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
          5 July 2020 at 11:31 pm

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

          • Incognito 6.4.1.1.1
            5 July 2020 at 11:48 pm

            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
              6 July 2020 at 12:20 am

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

  7. Climaction 7
    5 July 2020 at 10:29 am

    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
      5 July 2020 at 10:46 am

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

      • Robert Guyton 7.1.1
        5 July 2020 at 10:52 am

        Hamish has doubled-down rather.

        • Graeme 7.1.1.1
          5 July 2020 at 11:15 am

          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
          5 July 2020 at 11:19 am

          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
          5 July 2020 at 12:54 pm

          or double standards?

      • Gabby 7.1.2
        5 July 2020 at 6:27 pm

        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
          5 July 2020 at 7:46 pm

          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
    5 July 2020 at 10:30 am

    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
      5 July 2020 at 10:20 pm

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

  9. Byd0nz 9
    5 July 2020 at 10:48 am

    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
    5 July 2020 at 11:14 am

    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
      5 July 2020 at 1:13 pm

      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
    5 July 2020 at 12:08 pm

    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
    5 July 2020 at 12:15 pm

    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
    5 July 2020 at 12:30 pm

    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
      5 July 2020 at 12:40 pm

      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
      6 July 2020 at 10:24 pm

      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
    5 July 2020 at 1:50 pm

    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
      5 July 2020 at 2:07 pm

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

      • Sacha 14.1.1
        5 July 2020 at 2:17 pm

        That she still has no understanding of MMP coalitions.

        • Incognito 14.1.1.1
          5 July 2020 at 4:36 pm

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

  15. Brian Tregaskin 15
    5 July 2020 at 1:50 pm

    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
      5 July 2020 at 1:52 pm

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

  16. Lydia 16
    5 July 2020 at 7:54 pm

    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
    5 July 2020 at 8:39 pm

    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
      5 July 2020 at 8:47 pm

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

  18. Peter 18
    5 July 2020 at 8:55 pm

    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
    5 July 2020 at 9:15 pm

    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
      5 July 2020 at 10:31 pm

      Was he sacked or did he resign?

      • McFlock 19.1.1
        5 July 2020 at 11:29 pm

        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
    5 July 2020 at 10:22 pm

    Bishop to Woodhouse. Easy dots to join.

  21. gsays 21
    6 July 2020 at 7:35 am

    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
    6 July 2020 at 1:12 pm

    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
    6 July 2020 at 7:57 pm

    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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    Chris Trotter writes – IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in acknowledgement of electoral victory: “We’ll govern for all New Zealanders.” On the face of it, the pledge is a strange one. Why would any political leader govern in ways that advantaged the huge ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    15 hours ago

  • Paula Bennett’s political appointment will challenge public confidence
     Bryce Edwards writes – The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    15 hours ago

  • Business confidence sliding into winter of discontent
    TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 10:06am on Wednesday, May 1:The Lead: Business confidence fell across the board in April, falling in some areas to levels last seen during the lockdowns because of a collapse in ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    17 hours ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the coalition’s awful, not good, very bad poll results
    Over the past 36 hours, Christopher Luxon has been dong his best to portray the centre-right’s plummeting poll numbers as a mark of virtue. Allegedly, the negative verdicts are the result of hard economic times, and of a government bravely set out on a perilous rescue mission from which not ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    18 hours ago

  • New HOP readers for future payment options
    Auckland Transport have started rolling out new HOP card readers around the network and over the next three months, all of them on buses, at train stations and ferry wharves will be replaced. The change itself is not that remarkable, with the new readers looking similar to what is already ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    19 hours ago

  • 2024 Reading Summary: April (+ Writing Update)
    Completed reads for April: The Difference Engine, by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling Carnival of Saints, by George Herman The Snow Spider, by Jenny Nimmo Emlyn’s Moon, by Jenny Nimmo The Chestnut Soldier, by Jenny Nimmo Death Comes As the End, by Agatha Christie Lord of the Flies, by ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 day ago

  • At a glance – Clearing up misconceptions regarding 'hide the decline'
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 day ago

  • Road photos
    Have a story to share about St Paul’s, but today just picturesPopular novels written at this desk by a young man who managed to bootstrap himself out of father’s imprisonment and his own young life in a workhouse Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Paula Bennett’s political appointment will challenge public confidence
    The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill English, Simon Bridges, Steven Joyce, Roger Sowry, ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    1 day ago

  • NZDF is still hostile to oversight
    Newsroom has a story today about National's (fortunately failed) effort to disestablish the newly-created Inspector-General of Defence. The creation of this agency was the key recommendation of the Inquiry into Operation Burnham, and a vital means of restoring credibility and social licence to an agency which had been caught lying ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago

  • Winding Back The Hands Of History’s Clock.
    Holding On To The Present: The moment a political movement arises that attacks the whole idea of social progress, and announces its intention to wind back the hands of History’s clock, then democracy, along with its unwritten rules, is in mortal danger.IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 day ago

  • Sweet Moderation? What Christopher Luxon Could Learn From The Germans.
    Stuck In The Middle With You: As Christopher Luxon feels the hot breath of Act’s and NZ First’s extremists on the back of his neck and, as he reckons with the damage their policies are already inflicting upon a country he’s described as “fragile”, is there not some merit in reaching out ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 day ago

  • A clear warning
    The unpopular coalition government is currently rushing to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act. The clause is Oranga Tamariki's Treaty clause, and was inserted after its systematic stealing of Māori children became a public scandal and resulted in physical resistance to further abductions. The clause created clear obligations ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago

  • Poll results and Waitangi Tribunal report go unmentioned on the Beehive website – where racing tru...
    Buzz  from the Beehive The government’s official website – which Point of Order monitors daily – not for the first time has nothing much to say today about political happenings that are grabbing media headlines. It makes no mention of the latest 1News-Verian poll, for example.  This shows National down ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago

  • Listening To The Traffic.
    It Takes A Train To Cry: Surely, there is nothing lonelier in all this world than the long wail of a distant steam locomotive on a cold Winter’s night.AS A CHILD, I would lie awake in my grandfather’s house and listen to the traffic. The big wooden house was only a ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 day ago

  • Comity Be Damned! The State’s Legislative Arm Is Flexing Its Constitutional Muscles.
    Packing A Punch: The election of the present government, including in its ranks politicians dedicated to reasserting the rights of the legislature in shaping and determining the future of Māori and Pakeha in New Zealand, should have alerted the judiciary – including its anomalous appendage, the Waitangi Tribunal – that its ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 day ago

  • Ending The Quest.
    Dead Woman Walking: New Zealand’s media industry had been moving steadily towards disaster for all the years Melissa Lee had been National’s media and communications policy spokesperson, and yet, when the crisis finally broke, on her watch, she had nothing intelligent to offer. Christopher Luxon is a patient man - but he’s not ...
    Bowalley Road
    2 days ago

  • Will political polarisation intensify to the point where ‘normal’ government becomes impossible,...
    Chris Trotter writes –  New Zealand politics is remarkably easy-going: dangerously so, one might even say. With the notable exception of John Key’s flat ruling-out of the NZ First Party in 2008, all parties capable of clearing MMP’s five-percent threshold, or winning one or more electorate seats, tend ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Bernard’s pick 'n' mix for Tuesday, April 30
    TL;DR: Here’s my top 10 ‘pick ‘n’ mix of links to news, analysis and opinion articles as of 10:30am on Tuesday, May 30:Scoop: NZ 'close to the tipping point' of measles epidemic, health experts warn NZ Herald Benjamin PlummerHealth: 'Absurd and totally unacceptable': Man has to wait a year for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Why Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating in the country
    Bryce Edwards writes – Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Worst poll result for a new Government in MMP history
    Luxon will no doubt put a brave face on it, but there is no escaping the pressure this latest poll will put on him and the government. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Pinning down climate change's role in extreme weather
    This is a re-post from The Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler In the wake of any unusual weather event, someone inevitably asks, “Did climate change cause this?” In the most literal sense, that answer is almost always no. Climate change is never the sole cause of hurricanes, heat waves, droughts, or ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • Serving at Seymour's pleasure.
    Something odd happened yesterday, and I’d love to know if there’s more to it. If there was something which preempted what happened, or if it was simply a throwaway line in response to a journalist.Yesterday David Seymour was asked at a press conference what the process would be if the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago

  • Webworm LA Pop-Up
    Hi,From time to time, I want to bring Webworm into the real world. We did it last year with the Jurassic Park event in New Zealand — which was a lot of fun!And so on Saturday May 11th, in Los Angeles, I am hosting a lil’ Webworm pop-up! I’ve been ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago

  • “Feel good” school is out
    Education Minister Erica Standford yesterday unveiled a fundamental reform of the way our school pupils are taught. She would not exactly say so, but she is all but dismantling the so-called “inquiry” “feel good” method of teaching, which has ruled in our classrooms since a major review of the New ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago

  • 6 Months in, surely our Report Card is “Ignored all warnings: recommend dismissal ASAP”?
    Exactly where are we seriously going with this government and its policies? That is, apart from following what may as well be a Truss-Lite approach on the purported economic “plan“, and Victorian-era regression when it comes to social policy. Oh it’ll work this time of course, we’re basically assured, “the ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    2 days ago

  • Bread, and how it gets buttered
    Hey Uncle Dave, When the Poms joined the EEC, I wasn't one of those defeatists who said, Well, that’s it for the dairy job. And I was right, eh? The Chinese can’t get enough of our milk powder and eventually, the Poms came to their senses and backed up the ute ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Why Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating in the country
    Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is higher than for any other mayor ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    2 days ago

  • Justice for Gaza?
    The New York Times reports that the International Criminal Court is about to issue arrest warrants for Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, over their genocide in Gaza: Israeli officials increasingly believe that the International Criminal Court is preparing to issue arrest warrants for senior government officials on ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • If there has been any fiddling with Pharmac’s funding, we can count on Paula to figure out the fis...
    Buzz from the Beehive Pharmac has been given a financial transfusion and a new chair to oversee its spending in the pharmaceutical business. Associate Health Minister David Seymour described the funding for Pharmac as “its largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff”. ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • FastTrackWatch – The case for the Government’s Fast Track Bill
    Bryce Edwards writes – Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Bernard’s pick 'n' mix for Monday, April 29
    TL;DR: Here’s my top 10 ‘pick ‘n’ mix of links to news, analysis and opinion articles as of 10:10am on Monday, April 29:Scoop: The children's ward at Rotorua Hospital will be missing a third of its beds as winter hits because Te Whatu Ora halted an upgrade partway through to ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on Iran killing its rappers, and searching for the invisible Dr. Reti
    span class=”dropcap”>As hideous as David Seymour can be, it is worth keeping in mind occasionally that there are even worse political figures (and regimes) out there. Iran for instance, is about to execute the country’s leading hip hop musician Toomaj Salehi, for writing and performing raps that “corrupt” the nation’s ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    3 days ago

  • Auckland Rail Electrification 10 years old
    Yesterday marked 10 years since the first electric train carried passengers in Auckland so it’s a good time to look back at it and the impact it has had. A brief history The first proposals for rail electrification in Auckland came in the 1920’s alongside the plans for earlier ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    3 days ago

  • Coalition's dirge of austerity and uncertainty is driving the economy into a deeper recession
    Right now, in Aotearoa-NZ, our ‘animal spirits’ are darkening towards a winter of discontent, thanks at least partly to a chorus of negative comments and actions from the Government Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Disability Funding or Tax Cuts.
    You make people evil to punish the paststuck inside a sequel with a rotating castThe following photos haven’t been generated with AI, or modified in any way. They are flesh and blood, human beings. On the left is Galatea Young, a young mum, and her daughter Fiadh who has Angelman ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • Of the Goodness of Tolkien’s Eru
    April has been a quiet month at A Phuulish Fellow. I have had an exceptionally good reading month, and a decently productive writing month – for original fiction, anyway – but not much has caught my eye that suggested a blog article. It has been vaguely frustrating, to be honest. ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    3 days ago

  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #17
    A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 21, 2024 thru Sat, April 27, 2024. Story of the week Anthropogenic climate change may be the ultimate shaggy dog story— but with a twist, because here ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

  • Pastor Who Abused People, Blames People
    Hi,I spent about a year on Webworm reporting on an abusive megachurch called Arise, and it made me want to stab my eyes out with a fork.I don’t regret that reporting in 2022 and 2023 — I am proud of it — but it made me angry.Over three main stories ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    3 days ago

  • Vic Uni shows how under threat free speech is
    The new Victoria University Vice-Chancellor decided to have a forum at the university about free speech and academic freedom as it is obviously a topical issue, and the Government is looking at legislating some carrots or sticks for universities to uphold their obligations under the Education and Training Act. They ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Winston remembers Gettysburg.
    Do you remember when Melania Trump got caught out using a speech that sounded awfully like one Michelle Obama had given? Uncannily so.Well it turns out that Abraham Lincoln is to Winston Peters as Michelle was to Melania. With the ANZAC speech Uncle Winston gave at Gallipoli having much in ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • 25
    She was born 25 years ago today in North Shore hospital. Her eyes were closed tightly shut, her mouth was silently moving. The whole theatre was all quiet intensity as they marked her a 2 on the APGAR test. A one-minute eternity later, she was an 8.  The universe was ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Fact Brief – Is Antarctica gaining land ice?
    Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is Antarctica gaining land ice? ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • Policing protests.
    Images of US students (and others) protesting and setting up tent cities on US university campuses have been broadcast world wide and clearly demonstrate the growing rifts in US society caused by US policy toward Israel and Israel’s prosecution of … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    5 days ago

  • Open letter to Hon Paul Goldsmith
    Barrie Saunders writes – Dear Paul As the new Minister of Media and Communications, you will be inundated with heaps of free advice and special pleading, all in the national interest of course. For what it’s worth here is my assessment: Traditional broadcasting free to air content through ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: FastTrackWatch – The Case for the Government’s Fast Track Bill
    Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its arguments for such a bold reform. ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    5 days ago

  • Luxon gets out his butcher’s knife – briefly
    Peter Dunne writes –  The great nineteenth British Prime Minister, William Gladstone, once observed that “the first essential for a Prime Minister is to be a good butcher.” When a later British Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, sacked a third of his Cabinet in July 1962, in what became ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • More tax for less
    Ele Ludemann writes – New Zealanders had the OECD’s second highest tax increase last year: New Zealanders faced the second-biggest tax raises in the developed world last year, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) says. The intergovernmental agency said the average change in personal income tax ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Real News vs Fake News.
    We all know something’s not right with our elections. The spread of misinformation, people being targeted with soundbites and emotional triggers that ignore the facts, even the truth, and influence their votes.The use of technology to produce deep fakes. How can you tell if something is real or not? Can ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • Another way to roll
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.Share ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • Simon Clark: The climate lies you'll hear this year
    This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Simon Clark. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). This year you will be lied to! Simon Clark helps prebunk some misleading statements you'll hear about climate. The video includes ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • Cutting the Public Service
    It is all very well cutting the backrooms of public agencies but it may compromise the frontlines. One of the frustrations of the Productivity Commission’s 2017 review of universities is that while it observed that their non-academic staff were increasing faster than their academic staff, it did not bother to ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    5 days ago

  • Luxon’s demoted ministers might take comfort from the British politician who bounced back after th...
    Buzz from the Beehive Two speeches delivered by Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters at Anzac Day ceremonies in Turkey are the only new posts on the government’s official website since the PM announced his Cabinet shake-up. In one of the speeches, Peters stated the obvious:  we live in a troubled ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • This is how I roll over
    1. Which of these would you not expect to read in The Waikato Invader?a. Luxon is here to do business, don’t you worry about thatb. Mr KPI expects results, and you better believe itc. This decisive man of action is getting me all hot and excitedd. Melissa Lee is how ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago

  • The Waitangi Tribunal is not “a roving Commission”…
    …it has a restricted jurisdiction which must not be abused: it is not an inquisition   NOTE – this article was published before the High Court ruled that Karen Chhour does not have to appear before the Waitangi Tribunal Gary Judd writes –  The High Court ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Is Oranga Tamariki guilty of neglect?
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – One of reasons Oranga Tamariki exists is to prevent child neglect. But could the organisation itself be guilty of the same? Oranga Tamariki’s statistics show a decrease in the number and age of children in care. “There are less children ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Three Strikes saw lower reoffending
    David Farrar writes: Graeme Edgeler wrote in 2017: In the first five years after three strikes came into effect 5248 offenders received a ‘first strike’ (that is, a “stage-1 conviction” under the three strikes sentencing regime), and 68 offenders received a ‘second strike’. In the five years prior to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Luxon’s ruthless show of strength is perfect for our angry era
    Bryce Edwards writes – Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has surprised everyone with his ruthlessness in sacking two of his ministers from their crucial portfolios. Removing ministers for poor performance after only five months in the job just doesn’t normally happen in politics. That’s refreshing and will be extremely ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • 'Lacks attention to detail and is creating double-standards.'
    TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the two days to 6:06am on Thursday, April 25:Politics: PM Christopher Luxon has set up a dual standard for ministerial competence by demoting two National Cabinet ministers while leaving also-struggling ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • One Night Only!
    Hi,Today I mainly want to share some of your thoughts about the recent piece I wrote about success and failure, and the forces that seemingly guide our lives. But first, a quick bit of housekeeping: I am doing a Webworm popup in Los Angeles on Saturday May 11 at 2pm. ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago

  • What did Melissa Lee do?
    It is hard to see what Melissa Lee might have done to “save” the media. National went into the election with no public media policy and appears not to have developed one subsequently. Lee claimed that she had prepared a policy paper before the election but it had been decided ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #17 2024
    Open access notables Ice acceleration and rotation in the Greenland Ice Sheet interior in recent decades, Løkkegaard et al., Communications Earth & Environment: In the past two decades, mass loss from the Greenland ice sheet has accelerated, partly due to the speedup of glaciers. However, uncertainty in speed derived from satellite products ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • Maori Party (with “disgust”) draws attention to Chhour’s race after the High Court rules on Wa...
    Buzz from the Beehive A statement from Children’s Minister Karen Chhour – yet to be posted on the Government’s official website – arrived in Point of Order’s email in-tray last night. It welcomes the High Court ruling on whether the Waitangi Tribunal can demand she appear before it. It does ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    7 days ago

  • Who’s Going Up The Media Mountain?
    Mr Bombastic: Ironically, the media the academic experts wanted is, in many ways, the media they got. In place of the tyrannical editors of yesteryear, advancing without fear or favour the interests of the ruling class; the New Zealand news media of today boasts a troop of enlightened journalists dedicated to ...
    Bowalley Road
    7 days ago

  • “That's how I roll”
    It's hard times try to make a livingYou wake up every morning in the unforgivingOut there somewhere in the cityThere's people living lives without mercy or pityI feel good, yeah I'm feeling fineI feel better then I have for the longest timeI think these pills have been good for meI ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    7 days ago

  • “Comity” versus the rule of law
    In 1974, the US Supreme Court issued its decision in United States v. Nixon, finding that the President was not a King, but was subject to the law and was required to turn over the evidence of his wrongdoing to the courts. It was a landmark decision for the rule ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago

  • Aotearoa: a live lab for failed Right-wing socio-economic zombie experiments once more…
    Every day now just seems to bring in more fresh meat for the grinder. In their relentlessly ideological drive to cut back on the “excessive bloat” (as they see it) of the previous Labour-led government, on the mountains of evidence accumulated in such a short period of time do not ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    1 week ago

  • Water is at the heart of farmers’ struggle to survive in Benin
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Megan Valére Sosou Market gardening site of the Itchèléré de Itagui agricultural cooperative in Dassa-Zoumè (Image credit: Megan Valère Sossou) For the residents of Dassa-Zoumè, a city in the West African country of Benin, choosing between drinking water and having enough ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

  • At a time of media turmoil, Melissa had nothing to proclaim as Minister – and now she has been dem...
    Buzz from the Beehive   Melissa Lee – as may be discerned from the screenshot above – has not been demoted for doing something seriously wrong as Minister of ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 week ago

  • Minister acknowledges passing of Sir Robert Martin (KNZM)
    New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours ago

  • Speech to New Zealand Institute of International Affairs, Parliament – Annual Lecture: Challenges ...
    Good evening –   Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours ago

  • Accelerating airport security lines
    From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago

  • Community hui to talk about kina barrens
    People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago

  • Kiwi exporters win as NZ-EU FTA enters into force
    Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago

  • Mining resurgence a welcome sign
    There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago

  • Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill passes first reading
    The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Government to boost public EV charging network
    Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure.  The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Residential Property Managers Bill to not progress
    The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Independent review into disability support services
    The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Justice Minister updates UN on law & order plan
    Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has attended the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and outlined the Government’s plan to restore law and order. “Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council provided us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Ending emergency housing motels in Rotorua
    The Government and Rotorua Lakes Council are committed to working closely together to end the use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua. Associate Minister of Housing (Social Housing) Tama Potaka says the Government remains committed to ending the long-term use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua by the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Trade Minister travels to Riyadh, OECD, and Dubai
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