Nats’ attack on Ardern – Day 3

Written By: - Date published: 9:51 am, March 18th, 2017 - 68 comments
Categories: jacinda ardern, paula bennett - Tags: , , , ,

They were still digging themselves deeper yesterday. Unbelievable:

‘Gloves off’ for Bennett, Ardern on The AM Show

National and Labour deputy leaders Paula Bennett and Jacinda Arden have gone head-to-head on Friday morning, over National MP Nikki Kaye’s attack on the latter. Ms Kaye accused the new Mt Albert MP of being all show and no substance, and will do “a whole lot of photo ops”.
…
During their weekly panel interview on The AM Show, host Duncan Garner asked Ms Bennett if she agreed with Ms Kaye’s statements. “She called her out on something she feels really, really strong about – It’s calling her out,” Ms Bennett said. “It’s not [personal] actually, that’s about her work and her proven accountability, that’s what we do in Parliament, I get it every week!”

Things got tense when Ms Ardern said: “I just know that Nikki doesn’t believe that.” Ms Bennett was quick to retort: “That is so condescending Jacinda, that is absolutely condescending.”

Oh please – this from Ms “Zip it, sweetie” herself.

Ms Ardern maintained that her experience with Ms Kaye, as two-time Auckland Central electorate candidates, showed they had always been respectful of each other. “She’s changed her tune on that – her prerogative – but I’m going to stick to the way I do politics and that’s not to be personal.”

“Watch that moral high ground though,” Ms Bennett warned, “It gets pretty wobbly up there.”

“You can get altitude sickness,” Garner chipped in.

“Me too I’ve visited and it wasn’t a good place to be,” Ms Bennett said. …

Ok, so National’s deputy leader thinks that the moral high-ground isn’t a good place to be. A concept to be made fun of. I think that tells us more about National than it does about Ardern.

https://twitter.com/andykirton/status/842859043957886976

68 comments on “Nats’ attack on Ardern – Day 3 ”

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  1. Whispering Kate 1
    18 March 2017 at 10:18 am

    I watched that interview and I thought it was a black mark for Duncan Garner, apart from the obvious personal attacks against Jacinda Adern, Garner gave 80% of the air time to Paula Benefit and 20% to Jacinda Adern. He wouldn’t shut Pulla up and she can gab when she wants to, there has to be some balance in these two on chats on a weekly basis or it will be a farce for Labour, also Jacinda meets to grow some mongrel is she wants to go up against a large pitbull which is Pulla. Jacinda doesn’t have to stoop to their level but she can demand some space to give her views in a polite but firm way.

    • BM 1.1
      18 March 2017 at 10:30 am

      Jacinda is just too nice, I don’t think she has the ability to develop a bit of mongrel.

      You get the feeling you’d run the risk of contracting diabetes if you stayed in a room too long with Jacinda.

      • Sabine 1.1.1
        18 March 2017 at 11:17 am

        nah i don’t think you need to worry about Jacinda, she looks like someone who has her sugar and then works out with gusto.

        You see, there is nothing inherently wrong with sugar, its the over use that gets people sick. And yeah, some should abstain from it in order to keep healthy.

      • Matthew Whitehead 1.1.2
        18 March 2017 at 12:27 pm

        LOL, have you even watched Jacinda in Parliament before?

        She’s nice sometimes, but she can also dig in pretty hard when someone deserves it in her opinion. She’ll be fine, señor Troll.

        • BM 1.1.2.1
          18 March 2017 at 1:28 pm

          No, I haven’t.

          She’s nice sometimes, but she can also dig in pretty hard when someone deserves it in her opinion.

          A bit like Nikki Kaye?

          • Sabine 1.1.2.1.1
            18 March 2017 at 4:15 pm

            You think she is a ‘bit like Nikki Kaye’? So are you saying then that when Nikki Kaye spoke ill about Jacinda Ardern she was actually speaking of herself.

          • Once was Tim now no longer 1.1.2.1.2
            18 March 2017 at 4:16 pm

            “Well” ekshully, not at all like Nikki Kaye.
            It won’t be long before she has “just 3 things’ to tell us, and it won’t matter if those three things contradict each other.
            As for Dunks (and the Jimminy Cricket wonder boy), watch him put his finger in the air to test the wind, check with Guyon, and modify his principles accordingly. And both will have some giggly femme fatale as the token ego feeding enabler right next to them (Christ! what a waste of a reasonable journalist – she must have a big mortgage)

          • Matthew Whitehead 1.1.2.1.3
            19 March 2017 at 12:40 pm

            I actually had a lot of respect for Nikki until this incident, and would have agreed with you before it. But she’s sullied her brand now with National’s general strategy of attack politics, and it won’t go well for her.

      • Johan 1.1.3
        18 March 2017 at 12:53 pm

        BM, You sound like the same old RWNJ, when you can’t get your way, you start to manufacture something. Obviously, Jacinda is a threat to National, time to remove the patch over your eye and see the big picture, Labour seems to be on a winner!

        • Mordecai 1.1.3.1
          18 March 2017 at 6:18 pm

          There’s no evidence to suggest Jacinda is a threat to National. This just politics. Labour did it to Key for years, National did it to Clark. It doesn’t work anymore, and the Nats will soon figure that out.

      • Rufus 1.1.4
        18 March 2017 at 11:21 pm

        Jacinda Ardern (and for heavens sake can people learn to spell her name correctly) is the ultimate passive aggressive.

        Currently her largest achievement seems to be an attempt to score points from being mortified that someone dare question her lack of achievements. We have yet to see a list of those by the way.

        • ankerawshark 1.1.4.1
          19 March 2017 at 2:15 pm

          Hi Rufus,

          I don’t think its accurate to say Jacinda was mortified at all by Nicky K et al’s outburst.
          Also you misuse the term passive aggressive. If you are going to pull people up on their spelling expect to be pulled up on your use of a psychological term to describe behaviour.

          I am not sure why everyone is wanting to know what Jacinda’s achievements are. She has been elected Deputy for Labour and I suspect, given the way the Nats are acting she is achieving quite a lot in their polling at the moment. That is why they are attempting to discredit her.

          I think it will backfire. BTW click on the link in my earlier posting on The Secret Diary about Jacinda Ardern. I think Steve Braunias nails what’s really going on here.

    • Keith 1.2
      18 March 2017 at 11:07 am

      Thing is Garner is NAT boy, sounds a tiny bit objective well out from an election but as the day draws nearer he goes into bat for his party.

      Bennett trying to be all cutsie pie nice is “really really” insincere though

      • Sabine 1.2.1
        18 March 2017 at 11:19 am

        no matter how much sugar icing Bennett uses she will never be able to present anything else then a inedible cupcake. Lots of decoration, lots of food coloring and glitter but no substance, no flavour and over mixed.

        Sad!

      • NZJester 1.2.2
        18 March 2017 at 1:16 pm

        Bennet has taken the title of Smiling Assassin from her former boss Key. That is a name Key received during his time in banking. He was losing that smile a lot in the time leading up to his resignation. Bennett on the other hand has been smiling away in her time in government as she kicked away the very ladders that helped her up from being a solo mum on the benefit. In the shadowy background also putting the knife into people that show her up in the media like the Te Puea Marae incident and leaking of confidential detail about Natasha Fuller as just two of the well-reported incidents.

        • Whispering Kate 1.2.2.1
          18 March 2017 at 3:03 pm

          Problem with Pulla Benefit is she has no couth – no matter how much she polishes and shines her persona and her appearance she is just a bogan to her bones. I agree she names and shames when things are not going her way – which is appalling and she should be ashamed of her actions but for all that she will always be a bogan and not a nice one at that. I think people can see through her, Jacinda needs to keep her cool and do what she does well – engage people well like she does and let sincerity shine through – lord knows there is very little of it to spare these days. There are ways of toughening up without being spiteful or impolite.

          • Once was Tim now no longer 1.2.2.1.1
            18 March 2017 at 4:25 pm

            I’m glad you said that, ‘cos if I had the shit would really have hit the fan.
            Upper Middle Bogan springs to mind, and if she’d have thought another political party would have given the 15 minutes of fame when starting out, she’d have gone with it.
            She’s like a beige and brown mottled bench top in Formica – chipped at the edges at that.
            No I take that back – she’s had training in ‘re-imaging’ (going forward)

    • Tricldrown 1.3
      21 March 2017 at 10:20 am

      Garner gave Bennett more rope to hang her self out to dry.

  2. Cynical jester 2
    18 March 2017 at 10:29 am

    Of course the Nats are going to attack Jacinda Ardern, she’s the one sole bright spot of a tired worn out identityless party. If Little had any brains he’d resign and allow gracinda to take over immediately with Ardern as leader. She’s shown better ability in a week than the last 10 years of abysmal leadership.

    I’m really worried about the nat/nzf coalition we are going to be suffering through come September, Yes Jacinda will become leader once Andrew quite rightly loses the election and realizes winstons a tory Islamaphobic racist pandering to full on right wingers but i wonder what will be left of nz by 2020.

    Also winston preached neoliberal beliefs back in the 90s and once a tory always a tory. He has no beliefs pr principles other than stuff anyone who isn’t white.

    • Rufus 2.1
      18 March 2017 at 11:26 pm

      Why wouldn’t they now attack her? She’s Deputy Leader! It doesn’t mean they’re worried about her it’s what politicians actually do to each other.

      Paula Bennett was immediately attacked by Labour upon getting a simple Ministerial portfolio, let alone the howling when they made her Deputy leader. The same theory applied here I would conclude Bennett to be the largest threat Labour thinks it has!

    • millsy 2.2
      19 March 2017 at 12:53 pm

      NZ First has come out as being against 1080, so that will make a few people think twice about voting for them.

      • Xanthe 2.2.1
        19 March 2017 at 4:16 pm

        “NZ First has come out as being against 1080”
        Really! Thats the first bit of sanity so far this election. I wish them well on that and hope and expect that they will gain votes for it. If NZF is going to start putting up sane evidence based policy, lab/grn are borked!

        • You_Fool 2.2.1.1
          20 March 2017 at 11:50 am

          So NZF are asking for immediate research into the need for 1080 and only use it in the short term where absolutely needed. The Greens are saying they will reduce the use of 1080 and only use it where absolutely needed and will replace it with viable alternatives where and when possible.

          Sounds the same to me, although one is a sensationalist policy and the other one is practical… also sounds perfectly compatible to me…

          • Xanthe 2.2.1.1.1
            23 March 2017 at 7:12 pm

            Hah ok
            I though it sounded a bit too good to be true

            The greens refusal to make a stand here is costing them !

  3. dv 3
    18 March 2017 at 10:36 am

    When has Bennet taken the high moral ground?

  4. Philj 4
    18 March 2017 at 10:52 am

    Politics has become a reality show for the media to exploit as entertainment

  5. Psycho Milt 5
    18 March 2017 at 10:54 am

    The “moral high ground” is a relative concept. Moral ground that’s higher than someone engaging in petty personal attacks at the behest of their superiors isn’t notable either for its altitude or its dizzying qualities, except to people who’ve sunk as low as Paula Bennett and Duncan Garner. No doubt it does look a vertiginous height from their perspective.

    Also: I’d want compelling evidence before accepting Paula Bennett’s dubious claim that she visited said moral high ground at some point. That sounds highly unlikely.

  6. Sabine 6
    18 March 2017 at 11:07 am

    Well one thing is sure, Paula Bennett needn’t worry about the ‘moral high ground’. Since she outed the private details of citizens to the press some years ago she lay down in the gutter and never got out of it.

    She might, like Nikki Kaye, want to consider to ‘zip it sweety’ lest she shows herself to be that unlikable, mean, petty and rather ugly personality that she really is.

  7. WILD KATIPO 7
    18 March 2017 at 11:38 am

    Why does Bennetts govt allow Orivida to take our water so the Chinese can make big profits on it by selling it in China?

    • Red Hand 7.1
      18 March 2017 at 12:27 pm

      To create a market. The population of China is 1,376,049,000 people (2015 est.)
      We just have to make sure we have complete, enduring, credibly defended control of the source of the water.

      • WILD KATIPO 7.1.1
        18 March 2017 at 12:34 pm

        And is Judith the reliable arbiter for that role?

        Water, swamp Kauri and milk powder?

        In fact is THIS govt an impartial arbiter that we can trust for that role???

        • Sabine 7.1.1.1
          18 March 2017 at 12:38 pm

          Nah, she is just the one profiting from it, and every now and then Oravida throws a little donation to the Party. They consider it good house keeping and chances are this donation is tax deductible.

          Win Win.

          In other places one would call it corruption.

          • WILD KATIPO 7.1.1.1.1
            18 March 2017 at 12:46 pm

            Exactly ,… I would of called it corruption , and seeing as we are meant to be one of the least corrupt nations on earth … don’t these National party and ex Nats care about our reputation?

            Seems kind of hypocritical for Bennett , Kaye and co to be focusing on the small stuff like petty name calling when this sort of in house profiteering is going on…

            There’s some very serious breaches going on it would appear and all we get is this shclock being served up in our media…

            • Sabine 7.1.1.1.1.1
              18 March 2017 at 1:02 pm

              mind when they focus on the ‘small stuff’ no one talks about the ‘big stuff’

              Win win.

              I think the tactic is called divide and conquer and just throw so much shit at the public that hey can’t focus and get overloaded with information.

              But in this case i don’t think it is working to well for them.

            • Johan 7.1.1.1.1.2
              18 March 2017 at 1:06 pm

              Wild Katipo: I am certain that Duncan Garner would be more than happy to air the profiteering of present and past National MP’s. Oooops, make that a definite NO, just remembered what happened to John Campbell after too many queries about the Christchurch rebuild, starving youngsters and homelessness etc.

              • WILD KATIPO …
                18 March 2017 at 1:22 pm

                I guess so…. but going on that logic, … despite the fact that we are supposed to have laws in this country , … it seems they are superseded by the combined affiliation between a private news-media and a govt that can exert pressure to have troublesome journalists removed…

                Isn’t that collusion as well ?

                And if we are so far down that track ,… would a Carl Bernstein or a Bob Woodward have no show under this govt as well as a John Campbell ?

                But we get a ridiculous name calling session instead and that’s supposed to captivate the nation ….

                • Johan …
                  18 March 2017 at 4:04 pm

                  Wild Katipo: Here in NZ we really live in a tiny community, compared many other countries, therefore, gaining control over the media (MSM) is not difficult. I am certain that Steven Joyce is still influential in this area along with supportive sponsors for National or ACT.

        • Treetop 7.1.1.2
          18 March 2017 at 2:36 pm

          No.

          I’d like to know what the annual profit is on each one.

          No.

      • Sabine 7.1.2
        18 March 2017 at 12:36 pm

        yeah, right Tui,

        lets give away meth for free, create a market and then when people are hooked it we charge for it.

        Sounds like a tinny house to me, but maybe that is what Oravida is? A government sponsored welfare depended Tinny house, with a National Party Ministers husband (Judith Collins) as CEO and an ex National Party PM Jenny Shipley on the board of that company.

        • Red Hand 7.1.2.1
          18 March 2017 at 1:23 pm

          “A government sponsored welfare depended Tinny house”. German could probably put that into a single word. It does look like the old National game of looking after their mates first and foremost. Time for a change.

          • Sabine 7.1.2.1.1
            18 March 2017 at 2:07 pm

            Schmarotzer =

            noun
            parasite
            freeloader
            sponger
            scrounger
            parasitical worm
            hanger-on

    • Sabine 7.2
      18 March 2017 at 12:33 pm

      Well its a National Party led Government for a starter and Jenny Shipley (ex PM National Party ) is a Chair of the Company and Mrs. Judith Collins Husband is a CEO of the company and the National Party just got a nice little donations so one could argue that by allowing Oravida to take our water for free to sell it to the highest bidder is in the Interest of the National Party, like keeping it in the Family?

      And i think we can clearly state that the National Party has no conflict of interest considering that they are the Government and the law is totally on their side.

  10. One Two 10
    18 March 2017 at 1:59 pm

    NZ politics has been in terminal decline for decades, and is not many years away from ‘disappearing’..

  11. Tui 11
    18 March 2017 at 3:49 pm

    you keep the moral ground jacinda and come election time the people of aotearoa will say what they think of dirty politics!

    ~ Tui

  12. WILD KATIPO 12
    18 March 2017 at 4:26 pm

    Here’s a song from Johnny Cash that the Daily Blog included.

    And I cant help thinking Cash didn’t pull any punches about what he believed and the relevance to all these dodgy types in high positions that bend the rules to suit themselves.

    Their times comin’ .

    Johnny Cash – God’s Gonna Cut You Down – YouTube

  13. Wensleydale 13
    18 March 2017 at 4:57 pm

    Love Sharon Murdoch’s cartoons. She makes Bill English look positively diabolical, and her art style reminds me very much of Trace Hodgson. Keep up the withering satire, Sharon. God knows we need it.

    As for Bennett… Christ, where do you begin? The woman’s less a Minister of the Crown and more a shrieking plague wind. Jacinda’s not willing to stoop to their level, isn’t at all convinced Nikki Kaye genuinely believes the things she’s saying (given her personal dealings with Kaye in the past, presumably), and refuses to be goaded into trading barbs — and Bennett’s response? “That’s so condescending, Jacinda.” And this from “Zip it, sweetie.” Beggars belief. Honestly, if Bennett were any less self-aware, she’d be an inanimate object.

    Hopefully, her stomach-churning levels of personal toxicity will become increasingly apparent as we get closer to the election.

    • Muttonbird 13.1
      18 March 2017 at 5:54 pm

      “A shrieking plague wind”

      Very descriptive of Bennett. I love the imagery.

      • Chris 13.1.1
        19 March 2017 at 12:57 am

        Yes, and to say that “if Bennett were any less self-aware, she’d be an inanimate object” is spot on. For that reason “her stomach-churning levels of personal toxicity will become increasingly apparent as we get closer to the election”, as will reminders of English in 2002. They really are perfect together.

  14. greg 14
    18 March 2017 at 5:11 pm

    national have nothing to offer but abuse there failures and they are corrupt rats that have been cornered

  15. Draco T Bastard 15
    18 March 2017 at 5:30 pm

    Ok, so National’s deputy leader thinks that the moral high-ground isn’t a good place to be.

    They couldn’t be the corrupt schmucks that they are if they had morals and followed ethical guidelines.

    • NZJester 15.1
      19 March 2017 at 12:30 am

      You could also say the reason the moral high ground is a bad place for them to be is because normally for National Party members that moral high ground is built on lies and so is very unstable. The moral high ground for someone like Jacinda, however, tends to be built on solid facts and so is very stable. That is how she can be comfortable being there!

  16. Drowsy M. Kram 16
    18 March 2017 at 9:04 pm

    Gawd’n’Bennett – our tax dollars at work! An Apple a day…

  17. WILD KATIPO 17
    18 March 2017 at 9:26 pm

    I truly get the feeling this English led govt doesn’t want to win,… their just too idiotic to be real.

    I just hope… that this whole charade isn’t just a ‘ pass the baton ‘ between the neo liberal camps.

    Is there collusion going on with the neo liberal agenda here between National and Labour?… or are English and Bennett really that stupid ?

    Is this shit real or are we really being played royally ?

    It just seems all too contrived to be real….

    Time for some reality…

    Native American Music Lakota/Dakota Sundance Songs 3/5 – YouTube
    Video for Native American Music Lakota/Dakota Sundance Songs 3/5▶ 4:47

  18. Thinkerr 18
    19 March 2017 at 8:35 am

    Winston Churchill said:

    “The venom of a [person’s] enemies is a measure of [their] own strength”.

    He was, as often, right in his understanding of human nature.

    Jancinda, don’t let the bears eat you and don’t fall victim to their attempts to get you riled. Clearly, you’ve got them worried.

    I predict a life lesson looming for one or two of the people who are having a bit of fun kicking you down at the moment. Some don’t notice that politics is a fickle creature, that casts people aside when they are past their shelf life. That’s when your past actions come back to haunt you.

    The country’s currently feeling wounded and taken-in at the moment. That’s why John Key plummeted to 2% in his first post-PM survey. 98% of NZ just got wise. The time’s right for an honest face with the strength of character to back it up.

  19. Jordan 19
    19 March 2017 at 7:27 pm

    What has Jacinda actually ever acheived?

    Why is Jacinda somehow better than Annette? Jacinda’s only contribution is a couple of wet rag bills – Annette is hugely succesful. Literally the only reason Jacinda was promoted is because she is younger.

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    About a decade ago I worked with a bloke called Steve. He was the grizzled veteran coder, a few years older than me, who knew where the bodies were buried - code wise. Despite his best efforts to be approachable and friendly he could be kind of gruff, through to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Why were the 1930s so hot in North America?

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters and Bob Henson Those who’ve trawled social media during heat waves have likely encountered a tidbit frequently used to brush aside human-caused climate change: Many U.S. states and cities had their single hottest temperature on record during the 1930s, setting incredible heat marks ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • Throwback Thursday – Thinking about Expressways

    Some of the recent announcements from the government have reminded us of posts we’ve written in the past. Here’s one from early 2020. There were plenty of reactions to the government’s infrastructure announcement a few weeks ago which saw them fund a bunch of big roading projects. One of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Thursday, July 25 are:News: Why Electric Kiwi is closing to new customers - and why it matters RNZ’s Susan EdmundsScoop: Government drops ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • The Possum: Demon or Friend?

    Hi,I felt a small wet tongue snaking through one of the holes in my Crocs. It explored my big toe, darting down one side, then the other. “He’s looking for some toe cheese,” said the woman next to me, words that still haunt me to this day.Growing up in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • Not a story

    Yesterday I happily quoted the Prime Minister without fact-checking him and sure enough, it turns out his numbers were all to hell. It’s not four kg of Royal Commission report, it’s fourteen.My friend and one-time colleague-in-comms Hazel Phillips gently alerted me to my error almost as soon as I’d hit ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Thursday, July 25, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day were:The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry published its final report yesterday.PM Christopher Luxon and The Minister responsible for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • A tougher line on “proactive release”?

    The Official Information Act has always been a battle between requesters seeking information, and governments seeking to control it. Information is power, so Ministers and government agencies want to manage what is released and when, for their own convenience, and legality and democracy be damned. Their most recent tactic for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • 'Let's build a motorway costing $100 million per km, before emissions costs'

    TL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:Transport and Energy Minister Simeon Brown is accelerating plans to spend at least $10 billion through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to extend State Highway One as a four-lane ‘Expressway’ from Warkworth to Whangarei ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Lester's Prescription – Positive Bleeding.

    I live my life (woo-ooh-ooh)With no control in my destinyYea-yeah, yea-yeah (woo-ooh-ooh)I can bleed when I want to bleedSo come on, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)You can bleed when you want to bleedYea-yeah, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)Everybody bleed when they want to bleedCome on and bleedGovernments face tough challenges. Selling unpopular decisions to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Casey Costello gaslights Labour in the House

    Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone icon on the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Why is the Texas grid in such bad shape?

    This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Headline from 2021 The Texas grid, run by ERCOT, has had a rough few years. In 2021, winter storm Uri blacked out much of the state for several days. About a week ago, Hurricane Beryl knocked out ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on a textbook case of spending waste by the Luxon government

    Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • LXR Takaanini

    As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    3 days ago
  • Four kilograms of pain

    Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Luxon gets caught out

    NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • A worrying sign

    Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Are we fine with 47.9% home-ownership by 2048?

    Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloitte report for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Let's Win This

    You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Waimahara: The Singing Spirit of Water

    There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    4 days ago
  • A major milestone: Global climate pollution may have just peaked

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’s Oliver LewisScoop: Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announced the Board of Te Whatu Ora- Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • HealthNZ and Luxon at cross purposes over budget blowout

    Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2500-3000 more healthcare staff expected to be fired, as Shane Reti blames Labour for a budget defic...

    Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • Might Kamala Harris be about to get a 'stardust' moment like Jacinda Ardern?

    As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    5 days ago
  • Solutions Interview: Steven Hail on MMT & ecological economics

    TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
    The KakaBy Steven Hail
    5 days ago
  • Reported back

    The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Vandrad the Viking, Christopher Coombes, and Literary Archaeology

    Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On The Biden Withdrawal

    History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    5 days ago
  • Joe Biden's withdrawal puts the spotlight back on Kamala and the USA's complicated relatio...

    This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Why we have to challenge our national fiscal assumptions

    A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Existential Crisis and Damaged Brains

    What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • A speed limit is not a target, and yet…

    This is a guest post from longtime supporter Mr Plod, whose previous contributions include a proposal that Hamilton become New Zealand’s capital city, and that we should switch which side of the road we drive on. A recent Newsroom article, “Back to school for the Govt’s new speed limit policy“, ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #29

    A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago
  • I'd like to share what I did this weekend

    This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • For the children – Why mere sentiment can be a misleading force in our lives, and lead to unex...

    National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Order image, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A friend in uncertain times

    Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • The Chaotic World of Male Diet Influencers

    Hi,We’ll get to the horrific world of male diet influencers (AKA Beefy Boys) shortly, but first you will be glad to know that since I sent out the Webworm explaining why the assassination attempt on Donald Trump was not a false flag operation, I’ve heard from a load of people ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • It's Starting To Look A Lot Like… Y2K

    Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 20

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Pharmac Director, Climate Change Commissioner, Health NZ Directors – The latest to quit this m...

    Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Flooding Housing Policy

    The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • A Voyage Among the Vandals: Accepted (Again!)

    As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā's Chorus for Friday, July 19

    An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-July-2024

    Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: A market-led plan for failure

    TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Tobacco First

    Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Trump’s Adopted Son.

    Waiting In The Wings: For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSA announced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • Joint statement from the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago
  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

    Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

    New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts.  “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

    An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Funding confirmed for regions affected by North Island Weather Events

    The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

    Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.   “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Strengthening partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto

    He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Transport Minister thanks outgoing CAA Chair

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Test for Customary Marine Title being restored

    The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says.  “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Opposition united in bad faith over ECE sector review

    Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet.  “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Kiwis having their say on first regulatory review

    After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks.  “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government upgrading Lower North Island commuter rail

    The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government moves to ensure flood protection for Wairoa

    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM speech to Parliament – Royal Commission of Inquiry’s Report into Abuse in Care

    Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.  At the heart of this report are the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges torture at Lake Alice

    For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges courageous abuse survivors

    The Government has acknowledged the nearly 2,400 courageous survivors who shared their experiences during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care. The final report from the largest and most complex public inquiry ever held in New Zealand, the Royal Commission Inquiry “Whanaketia – through ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Half a million people use tax calculator

    With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Paid Parental Leave improvements pass first reading

    Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says a bill that has passed its first reading will improve parental leave settings and give non-biological parents more flexibility as primary carer for their child. The Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill (No3), passed its first reading this morning. “It includes a change ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Rebuilding the economy through better regulation

    Two Bills designed to improve regulation and make it easier to do business have passed their first reading in Parliament, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill and Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Bill make key changes to legislation administered by the Ministry ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • ‘Open banking’ and ‘open electricity’ on the way

    New legislation paves the way for greater competition in sectors such as banking and electricity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Competitive markets boost productivity, create employment opportunities and lift living standards. To support competition, we need good quality regulation but, unfortunately, a recent OECD report ranked New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
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  • Charity lotteries to be permitted to operate online

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