Nats’ dirty tricks exposed?

Written By: - Date published: 10:00 am, September 16th, 2008 - 53 comments
Categories: blogs, election 2008, Media, national - Tags:

Cameron Slater, aka Whaleoil, is a nasty piece of work. If you’re a leftie and you get into the media, he’ll dig whatever dirt he can find on you from the ‘net and what he can’t find he’ll make up in an attempt to intimidate you and others into silence. But the intertubes flow both ways and Robinsod has been doing some digging of his own on Whaleoil and his even more dodgy co-blogger, Steady Eddy.

It’s well-worth reading ‘Sod’s full post. He seems to have identified a seriously dodgy chain linking National and Whaleoil’s disgusting attacks. ‘Sod promises to reveal the identity of the National staffer who blogs as Steady Eddy on Wednesday.

I’m sure all those who went into spasms over a former Young Labour member doing a web prank will be eager to see what he has to say about National’s involvement in dirty tactics.

53 comments on “Nats’ dirty tricks exposed? ”

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  1. burt 1
    16 September 2008 at 10:24 am

    So when Steady Eddy gets outted you anon folk here at the 9th floor standard will be wondering if you are next.

    When it comes to outting people – be careful what you ask for.

    IrishBill says: Is that a threat, Burt? Take a week off.

  3. Steve Pierson 3
    16 September 2008 at 10:31 am

    burt. non-one has ever shown any hesitancy in ‘outting’ Standardistas. Problem is I’ve seen 20-odd ‘real identities’ given for half a dozen writers

  4. Whaleoil 4
    16 September 2008 at 10:42 am

    Be very careful what you print. So far what Robinsod has said isn’t even remotely close to the truth.

    I can categorically state that no-one in National gives me anything. I can categorically state that not one of Robinsod’s hypothetical descriptions of “Steady Eddy” are even remotely close. But that won’t stop him hurling the crap, or will it stop you.

    Think very carefully before you and Robinsod “out” an innocent party and think about the damage you may cause. I will hold you to account if any harm comes of this.

    The sad fact is that your on ranks are leaking like the proverbial colander, a fact that you all will become aware of in coming days.

    IrishBill: you’re banned but in the interests of fairness we’ll let this one through.

  5. r0b 5
    16 September 2008 at 10:44 am

    burt – if you feel an overwhelming need to comment on this issue I’m pretty sure you could do so to your hearts content at ‘Sodblog.

  6. r0b 6
    16 September 2008 at 10:45 am

    heart’s content – whatever happened to edit?

  7. burt 7
    16 September 2008 at 10:45 am

    IrishBill

    No threat from me. I’m not about to out anyone. You need to understand the difference between a caution and a threat. But hey week off no trouble if that is what you want then it’s your blog shooting the messenger is classic Labour party MO. See ya next Tuesday @ 10:50.

  8. Scribe 8
    16 September 2008 at 10:45 am

    So when Cameron Slater does something he’s a nasty piece of work. When Robinsod returns the favour, you encourage people to read it.

    Am I reading that correctly?

    [no you’re not. Whaleoil’s nastiness is in his posting pictures of people, making sexual allegations, and making porn involving underage boys. ‘Sod pushes the boundary but doesn’t do that kind of stuff. SP]

  9. Felix 9
    16 September 2008 at 11:00 am

    No, you’re not. You’re not writing it correctly either. Why am I not surprised?

  10. randal 10
    16 September 2008 at 11:04 am

    Nice one SP…these creeps think they can just do what they like with no comebacks. they are the slime in the system and as you say just downright nasty. In reality they are not even interested in politics. It is just a convenient outlet for their psychopathology and their general hatred of the world and the people in it.

  11. Killinginthenameof 11
    16 September 2008 at 11:05 am

    Treating others how you like to be treated yourself, comes pretty early on in ethics and morality, I’ve got no problem with it!

    (perhaps ‘sod might need to arm himself incase the whale flips his lid though!)

  12. Robinsod 12
    16 September 2008 at 11:11 am

    KITNO – ‘sod has been a pig hunter since he was a small child.

    Oh and to you righties who are claiming this makes me scum like Cameron? It does and I’m not happy about it but if you had taken your moral outrage to him when he started this shit a year ago you’d have more moral credibility…

  13. Scribe 13
    16 September 2008 at 11:12 am

    Felix,

    What am I missing, O wise one?

  14. Killinginthenameof 14
    16 September 2008 at 11:20 am

    “Robinsod

    KITNO – ‘sod has been a pig hunter since he was a small child.”

    Nice, I’m going for my licence this summer!

  15. Patrick 15
    16 September 2008 at 11:24 am

    If ‘sod says he’s got IP addresses, and I have no reason to doubt that he does (I would never even consider registering for Whaleoil, so I can’t check this for myself) then it takes very little work to track everything back the the source.

    Can’t wait for Wednesday!

  16. Jeeves 16
    16 September 2008 at 11:27 am

    Whaleoil… interesting fellow. Very angsty. Seems to be one of those “give it out but can’t take it” types. Slurring and slandering. He’s like a plump version of Winston. His obsession with unnatractive socialists (namely his posts on Sonny Thomas) I found both amusing and ironic.

    Aside from DPF, the right wing “blogosphere” is full of fruitcakes who need more sunlight.

  17. Crank 17
    16 September 2008 at 11:36 am

    I personally don’t think you should be endorsing this behaviour Steve.

    I would just like to check whether this blog would start revealling the identities of commenters here if it became politically expedient.

    Whale oil and Robinsod are very similar. Both are fantasists who think they are web “personalities”. This belief led Robinsod to start his own blog but the reality of what people thought of him was displayed by their absence on his site. I think this move is an attempt to salve his ego through rubber neckers increasing his traffic.

  18. Tane 18
    16 September 2008 at 11:38 am

    Crank, this blog has a policy of not revealing the private information of its commenters, something Whale has demonstrably failed to do through his own technical incompetence.

  19. weka 19
    16 September 2008 at 11:45 am


    If ‘sod says he’s got IP addresses, and I have no reason to doubt that he does (I would never even consider registering for Whaleoil, so I can’t check this for myself) then it takes very little work to track everything back the the source.

    How does that work? I thought the name using an IP was protected by the ISP. And don’t some ISPs use dynamic IP addresses anyway?

    It’s easy to see the large difference between what Wail does and what ‘sod has done. However the risk here is that ‘sod is upping the ante. Which is fine for people with IT skills who are better placed to judge risk, but not for the rest of us. I’m not convinced, yet, that this doesn’t just make the blogosphere less safe.

  20. Killinginthenameof 20
    16 September 2008 at 11:52 am

    From memory farrar kicked it all off when he started revealing the workplace of some of kiwi blogs (ex?) posters, who had turned up the heat a bit more than he could cope with.

  21. Crank 21
    16 September 2008 at 11:54 am

    Weka,

    I have the same feeling. In the past it was just blog authors that have been targets of “outing”. I really fear that Robinsod has just escalated this to commenters as well.

    I have visited Whale oils site rarely and have never commented but these events have forced me to reassess my own participation in the blogosphere and I imagine quite a few other will be doing the same thing.

  22. Tim Ellis 22
    16 September 2008 at 11:58 am

    I don’t encourage this behaviour at all, from either side, but I do think that people who hide behind anonymity, and from that shield of anonymity behave in a way that deliberately provokes outrage from others, then it is inevitable that some new enemy will try to reveal that person’s anonymity. I have noticed that people who use their real names tend to be far less likely to engage in obnoxious hyperbole.

    Lots of commenters and bloggers do seem to be able to behave themselves when using anonymous names, but it seems to me almost all of the very badly-behaved people are anonymous.

    I don’t think it speaks very highly of any of the people involved. Including you, for writing a post about it, SP.

    [lprent: So what do you think of WhaleOil?
    He happily attacks people anonymous or not, and simply makes things up to make the ‘facts’ fit whatever theory he has. ]

  23. bill brown 23
    16 September 2008 at 12:02 pm

    Tim,

    If a blog allows anonymous comments and people choose to comment anonymously, is it not immoral for the people who run that blog to actively try to uncover the anonymous commenter’s real identity?

  24. Tim Ellis 24
    16 September 2008 at 12:09 pm

    Of course it’s immoral, Bill, and I do not argue otherwise. I just say that while it is everybody’s right to blog or comment anonymously, if they behave in a way that deliberately offends others, they are likely to create enemies for themselves. One of the consequences of making enemies like that, is that your anonymity is at risk.

    The solution is quite simple. Don’t say anything anonymously that you wouldn’t have the personal integrity to sign your name to. Don’t behave in a way that you wouldn’t normally, just because you have the protection of anonymity.

  25. bill brown 25
    16 September 2008 at 12:16 pm

    Tim, I do hope that you point out the immorality of this practice wherever you see it.

  26. Daveski 26
    16 September 2008 at 12:41 pm

    But accuse the Standard of having 9th floor links and get banned for life.

    Those of you who are very politically motivated will obviously have personal and other contacts that you use. In neither case, does this amount to a conspiracy.

    I’m not expecting balanced commentary from a partisan blog but some reflection on pots and kettles is needed before anyone should get too excited.

    [lprent: Sure we’re tired of the 9th floor smear and tend to react accordingly.
    It isn’t correct, there has never been any substantiation – just blow-hard unsubstantiated claims from the bloated one. They could probably convince Bill Ralston – but he is computer illiterate anyway. Most of the rest of the people who use it are only doing it for effect, and I treat them as looking for a fast martyrdom. Being the generous person I am, I oblige. ]

  27. TomS 27
    16 September 2008 at 12:54 pm

    The central allegation appears to be that a National Party insider using a pseudonym hands a virtual brown envelope full of smears to Cameron Slater, who repeats them as “rumours and gossip.” DPF links to these “rumours and gossip,” which are then picked up at at least a subliminal level by important MSM opinion makers who read these blogs, effectively laundering the misogynistic hate speech dogwhistles around Helen Clark that National want to get out there but don’t want to be seen to be associated with.

    If this is provable to the high level of the National Party that Robinsod claims it is, then it IS a big MSM story, no doubt about it – because it involves a sophisticated, thematic and systematic attempt to deceive and manipulate the New Zealand public from within the National Party itself.

  28. Felix 28
    16 September 2008 at 1:05 pm

    What are you missing Scribe? In a nutshell – context, relevance and perspective.

    But you knew that already didn’t you? Because if you really, really needed the difference explained you’d be an actual retard.

    (As opposed to just playing retard’s advocate which is what you usually do here).

  29. Draco TB 29
    16 September 2008 at 1:07 pm

    …just because you have the protection of anonymity.

    No such thing as anonymity on the internet. All traffic can be traced. This is what most people don’t understand about posting on blogs and forums.

    I don’t particularly like what ‘sod is doing but if even half of what he says is true then it needs to be brought to light.

  30. Crank 30
    16 September 2008 at 1:09 pm

    Whale oil is a raving nut job. You would have to be insane to involve him in a high level, clandestine media infiltration programme like you claim TomS.

    A fantasist like Whaleoil couldn’t help boasting to everyone that he was an essential cog in a huge conspiracy.

    Anyway you can’t tell me that the agenda of the Standards authors is not the same thing i.e. infecting the MSM with their spin by osmosis.

    Unfortunately for them they are not that good at it. Labelling the entire press gallery as amateur “cocks” probably didn’t help.

    [lprent: Read the About. There was a hole in the blogs and that was one part of it. The MSM have been known to read the blogs sometimes…. ]

  31. Scribe 31
    16 September 2008 at 1:15 pm

    Felix,

    Well, considering ‘Sod has admitted his actions are equivalent to those of Whale, who is “a nasty piece of work”, not sure who looks like a retard.

    Not even the man himself chooses to defend himself, yet you do. Soldier on.

  32. weka 32
    16 September 2008 at 1:17 pm

    I just say that while it is everybody’s right to blog or comment anonymously, if they behave in a way that deliberately offends others, they are likely to create enemies for themselves. One of the consequences of making enemies like that, is that your anonymity is at risk.

    The solution is quite simple. Don’t say anything anonymously that you wouldn’t have the personal integrity to sign your name to. Don’t behave in a way that you wouldn’t normally, just because you have the protection of anonymity.

    There is of course a difference between posting anonymously and posting under a pseudonym.

    Tim, as a woman I can tell you that there are serious reasons for posting on the internet under a pseudonym, other than wanting to post obnoxiously. I would hate for the rationale you present to be the only way that people can think about this issue. And I would hate for your argument to undermine the strategies that some people need to take in order to have a relatively safe internet presence.

    The other huge problem is that it’s not just about posting obnoxiously (in the sense of personal attacks) that creates problems. It’s pretty obvious that posting a strong opinion that someone else doesn’t like can be enough to be harassed.

    Having said all that I can understand the attraction for someone like ‘sod to take to task someone like Wail (and co). I just think it’s risky.

  33. weka 33
    16 September 2008 at 1:26 pm


    just because you have the protection of anonymity.

    No such thing as anonymity on the internet. All traffic can be traced. This is what most people don’t understand about posting on blogs and forums.

    Sure Draco, but there are different levels of anonymity, and not everyone has the skills to trace another person’s tracks.

    It would be helpful if someone would write, in plain language, how that tracing happens. I found ‘sod’s explanation about Wail’s site and why it was easier to trace pretty interesting. How many non-geek commenters would have known that?

  34. bill brown 34
    16 September 2008 at 1:35 pm

    …and not everyone has the motivation to trace another person’s tracks.

    Having the knowledge is not the same as using it.

  35. Bill 35
    16 September 2008 at 2:02 pm

    Tom S appears to be the only one who ‘gets it’!

    What Robinsod is saying is that the Nats are SYSTEMATICALLY spinning scurrilous shite out through particular blogs, using the same pathway every time, to have it (or enough of it) picked up by an obliging msm. Part and parcel of their campaign? Am I wrong?

    That’s FUCKED. If the Nats have something to say, they should say it and not hide behind blubber….who, by the way sounds pretty fucking scared in his comment up yonder. A case of ‘Methinks he doth protesteth too much’ or however the accurate quote should read.

    If you have just realised that you can be tracked as an individual from comments on the web, well congratulations, you just learned something. But ‘sods post ain’t about your navel.

  37. Felix 37
    16 September 2008 at 2:18 pm

    Scribe you miss the point willfully, that’s why I say you’re playing retard’s advocate. As usual.

  38. randal 38
    16 September 2008 at 2:18 pm

    keys intends to keep his promises to anyone who wants to buy Kiwibank and ACC

  39. weka 39
    16 September 2008 at 2:35 pm


    If you have just realised that you can be tracked as an individual from comments on the web, well congratulations, you just learned something.

    I already knew that, Bill. But I can’t trace who you are, so obviously it’s not as simple as you and some others are stating. There’s an issue about power here, who holds it, and how it’s being used. ‘sod has one kind of power, that they’re using, but they’re not the only person affected.

    I get the issue about dirty tricks from the right, and I agree that something needs to be done about it. I’m concerned about the fall-out in the blogosphere of upping the ante.

    I’m not saying ‘sod is wrong to take action, just that I’m concerned. I’d feel more comfortable about it if someone on the left would write about the safety issues as well.

    Captcha: list ransome

  40. Anita 40
    16 September 2008 at 3:00 pm

    weka,

    What would something about safety issues look like? As a woman who’s worked in IT I could possibly write a something, but it might not be the right one 🙂

    The short version is to assume that anyone who makes a reasonable effort can figure out who you are. In this case in particular, every time you post on a blog the blog owners probably have enough to find you quite easily. If the owner is sloppy, as Robinsod says Whale has been, they can give that information to lots of other people by accident.

    Assume that all net transaction are insecure, almost all of them are 🙂

  41. Anita 41
    16 September 2008 at 3:03 pm

    Oh, I should also say, the old net traditions about pseudonymity are all about convention, politeness and social norms. It is absolutely usual to know someone’s real name and never use it.

    One of the things about the recent growth of the net has been all the new people who don’t have those social norms. It has changed the character of the net a lot.

  42. Bill 42
    16 September 2008 at 3:07 pm

    Weka.

    Who said it was easy? Blubber didn’t use blogging software, which meant ” that registered users (had) access to a tab at the top of posts that show(ed) the ip addresses of people who (wrote) comments there.”

    Now that’s pretty fucking stupid in my book. That would allow even me to get IP addresses. And then if I wanted to do a lot of leg work……

    It seems to me that ‘sod was seeking to allay people’s fears, but nobody read his post carefully enough.

    Anyway.

    Isn’t the story that Nat are using a pile of fronts to launder smear in much the same way as a company might money?

  43. Killinginthenameof 43
    16 September 2008 at 3:19 pm

    Speaking of which, im sure some of us woudl really really like to know if mr Douglas Hancock is one of kiwiblogs regulars (http://www.stuff.co.nz/4694847a11.html). Gutter mole isn’t something ive read but telling Hellen Clark to get out why she still can was all the rage on kiwiblog a little while back.

  44. Ruth 44
    16 September 2008 at 5:19 pm

    What I find amusing is the fact that people are arguing over someone whose handle is ‘Whaleoil’.

    It’s all a diversion for blog readers, but ‘Sod is in danger of inflating the already over-inflated egos of these people. Really they are nothing, and their opinions are nothing…let’s not encourage them to think otherwise.

  45. Pascal's bookie 45
    16 September 2008 at 7:53 pm

    There is that Ruth.

    But on the other hand, if more respectable people are using Whaleoil to catapault propaganda then that’s another thing entirely.

    The fact is that whale and his various hangers on are a large part of the rightwing online community. While there are other more reasonable and less mental individuals these guys drive a lot of the discouse that fliters around the place. Talkback picks up a whole bunch of their crap and so on. National party MP’s have put out press releases based on their conspiracy mongering.

    Saying ‘oh don’t worry about them, who cares etc” at some point stops being disassociation, and starts being enabling.

  46. Clint Heine 46
    16 September 2008 at 8:43 pm

    I use my name because I am not afraid to put my name to my beliefs. Why stand up for anything online if your name isn’t on it – it doesn’t make sense if you want people to know what you personally believe in whether they know you or not.

    I don’t want people to read my blog and treat it as gospel, after all we all have different opinions don’t we? Nobody is right or wrong, but that’s the joy of having free opinions.

  47. the sprout 47
    16 September 2008 at 8:43 pm

    what a terrible disappointment SlaterWhale is to his father. and what comic irony that he his so desperate to win Daddy’s approval.

  48. weka 48
    16 September 2008 at 9:14 pm

    Anita, that’d be great if you wanted to write something. I was thinking of stand alone posts, but also where people with IT skills are writing about issues like the one in this post they also write explaining the technology a bit. I don’t mean ‘how to’ explanations, but something that has more nuance than just ‘anyone can trace anyone’.

    The short version is to assume that anyone who makes a reasonable effort can figure out who you are.

    eg how does that work? Would someone hack an ISP to get a name? Or would they get the name from an ISP employee? Or is it simply a technical task?

    Personally I do assume that potentially whatever I write could be traced to me in real life and made public. But someone having to spend a week tracing a commenter is different to someone spending half an hour to do a trace. It’s important for people to have enough knowledge to be able to make informed choices about what they do online.

    I’ve also been assuming that any of the Standard writers can easily find my IP, but I don’t know how easy it is to connect that to my real life. I’m not too bothered really because I feel there is more than enough trust and integrity with the management of this blog. But there are other blogs where I wouldn’t feel that way, and I previously wouldn’t have understood the problems with Wail’s ‘blog’ (not that you could pay me to post there, or probably even read).

  49. lprent 49
    16 September 2008 at 10:22 pm

    Anita: All transactions are usually visible to the system operators. In the case of this site to the hosts, me, and the moderators. I’m not particularly worried about the hosts. We have a good reason not to break trust because that would mean that there isn’t a site. So do the hosts for commercial trust reasons. Besides I’d find out one way or the other.

    The server is visible on the net and outside any firewall (it is a net server). It has a reasonable level of lock down. It would be feasible for someone to break in from the outside. A *lot* of effort and very little to see.

    Deliberately there is no info about posters except gmail accounts.

    What you could be able to see (as Anita points out). You can see the e-mail addresses dummy or otherwise of the commentators and the IP numbers that they had when they put up a comment. We use this to be able to do moderation.

    There is some summary info processed from the logs and that may stay resident for up to a day. I clean the logs to a more secure location so you can’t track patterns by anything except what people choose to do by putting up comments. Ie I remove the transaction records. Ditto for the transactions on posts.

    This is all pretty routine hardening for an inherently insecure system. If you can see it from the net it is inherently insecure..

    Of course breaking into the system is illegal, and is likely to attract my attention. I read the log summaries at least a couple of times a day to keep an eye out for certain types of attacks.

    In the end the main person you have to trust is moi. I have access to all traffic patterns, but that is the nature of a sysop.

    It isn’t fully secure, but it is as good as I can get for the time budget that I have.

  50. Anita 50
    16 September 2008 at 10:34 pm

    weka,

    One of the things about IP addresses is that they end up glued onto lots of different things.

    So, for example, the IP address I’m writing thing from tonight is stuck into the email I send to a mailing list about chickens, which I post on with my full name, it is stuck on to quite a lot of emails I write for work (when I am working at home), it appears when I post on other websites and so on.

    So, even if the IP address someone is using gives a relatively meaningless hostname (e.g. blah blah xtra blah) if you have access to enough other sources you can join them all together and start building a picture.

    That’s not true of all IP addresses (e.g. many organisations push all their web traffic through a single IP address) but it’s common enough that if you had access to a list of comments and their originating IP addresses you could get real names for some of them quite quickly.

    To take an example, if someone was on some political party mailing lists they could quickly link some names to commenters on their blog.

    There are lots of other ways to work IP addresses, but that’s a relatively good example of an easy one which requires next to no technical skills, no hacking and nothing remotely illegal. It wouldn’t always be easy to get to a real name from an IP address, but unless people work really hard at security anyone who tries hard enough will get there in the end.

    In my case I only use my first name here, but I assume that anyone can get my surname in <2 minutes. Knowing that is a good thing, people who think they can be anonymous on the net get burnt 🙁

  51. Anita 51
    16 September 2008 at 10:43 pm

    lprent,

    Part of the point is that if you really wanted to you could get many commenters’ names pretty quickly. We either trust you to not do that, or we don’t care about protecting our anonymity.

    We also trust you to not go making that logged information available to all and sundry. Apparently trusting Whale Oil to have the same level of competence and ethics was unwise :-/

    The most paranoid people I’ve ever met about personal information on the net have been security specialists. The more forensics and hackery one is involved in, the more one comes to know just how easy it is to piece the jigsaw back together.

    P.S. I’ve just done the 10.5.5 upgrade and still no edit. To borrow a cliché – I don’t think it’s me, it’s you 🙂 Email me if you need a guinea pig when you’re fixing it. Not urgent tho 🙂

  52. Hawkeye 52
    17 September 2008 at 9:02 am

    Just a quick observation.

    The words :’It isn’t correct, there has never been any substantiation’ sound very Winston like to me. If something isn’t true just because no one has proven it, then there must be some interesting truths out there.

    The truth is. It isn’t in need of proof, it just is, like air. If you had said “this is not true” it would have been a statement of fact, and could have been believed, but to say it’s not true because it hasn’t been substantiated is to obfuscate, and I have to wonder why!

    Mr. Peters has shown himself to be the master of denial till proven wrong, indeed, he often continues to deny even then. Please don’t join him in this practice any longer. IREMOVES ALL CREDIBILITY FROM YOUR SITE.

  53. weka 53
    17 September 2008 at 9:12 am

    Thanks for the explanations, that’s helpful 🙂 Cheers.

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    Kia ora. These are some stories that caught our eye this week – as always, feel free to share yours in the comments. Our header image this week (via Eke Panuku) shows the planned upgrade for the Karanga Plaza Tidal Swimming Steps. The week in Greater Auckland On ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 day ago
  • God what a relief

    1. What's not to love about the way the Harris campaign is turning things around?a. Nothingb. Love all of itc. God what a reliefd. Not that it will be by any means easye. All of the above 2. Documents released by the Ministry of Health show Associate Health Minister Casey ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago
  • Trust In Me

    Trust in me in all you doHave the faith I have in youLove will see us through, if only you trust in meWhy don't you, you trust me?In a week that saw the release of the 3,000 page Abuse in Care report Christopher Luxon was being asked about Boot Camps. ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • The Hoon around the week to July 26

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking about the Royal Commission Inquiry into Abuse in Care report released this week, and with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on a UN push to not recognise carbon offset markets and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 26, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Transport: Simeon Brown announced $802.9 million in funding for 18 new trains on the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines, which ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Radical law changes needed to build road

    The northern expressway extension from Warkworth to Whangarei is likely to require radical changes to legislation if it is going to be built within the foreseeable future. The Government’s powers to purchase land, the planning process and current restrictions on road tolling are all going to need to be changed ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #30 2024

    Open access notables Could an extremely cold central European winter such as 1963 happen again despite climate change?, Sippel et al., Weather and Climate Dynamics: Here, we first show based on multiple attribution methods that a winter of similar circulation conditions to 1963 would still lead to an extreme seasonal ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • First they came for the Māori

    Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedFirst they came for the doctors But I was confused by the numbers and costs So I didn't speak up Then they came for our police and nurses And I didn't think we could afford those costs anyway So I ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Join us for the weekly Hoon on YouTube Live

    Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on UnsplashWe’re back again after our mid-winter break. We’re still with the ‘new’ day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when we have our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Will the real PM Luxon please stand up?

    Notes: This is a free article. Abuse in Care themes are mentioned. Video is at the bottom.BackgroundYesterday’s report into Abuse in Care revealed that at least 1 in 3 of all who went through state and faith based care were abused - often horrifically. At least, because not all survivors ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Will debt reduction trump abuse in care redress?

    Luxon speaks in Parliament yesterday about the Abuse in Care report. Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:PM Christopher Luxon said yesterday in tabling the Abuse in Care report in Parliament he wanted to ‘do the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Olywhites and Time Bandits

    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
    19 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
    22 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
    22 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
    1 day 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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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
    3 days ago
  • Charity lotteries to be permitted to operate online

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries for charitable purposes, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, and local hospices, will soon be allowed to operate online permanently. “Under current laws, these fundraising lotteries are only allowed to operate online until October 2024, after which ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Accelerating Northland Expressway

    The Coalition Government is accelerating work on the new four-lane expressway between Auckland and Whangārei as part of its Roads of National Significance programme, with an accelerated delivery model to deliver this project faster and more efficiently, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “For too long, the lack of resilient transport connections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Sir Don to travel to Viet Nam as special envoy

    Sir Don McKinnon will travel to Viet Nam this week as a Special Envoy of the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.    “It is important that the Government give due recognition to the significant contributions that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made to New Zealand-Viet Nam relations,” Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Grant Illingworth KC appointed as transitional Commissioner to Royal Commission

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says newly appointed Commissioner, Grant Illingworth KC, will help deliver the report for the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons, due on 28 November 2024.  “I am pleased to announce that Mr Illingworth will commence his appointment as ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ to advance relationships with ASEAN partners

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters travels to Laos this week to participate in a series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led Ministerial meetings in Vientiane.    “ASEAN plays an important role in supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Mr Peters says.   “This will be our third visit to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Backing mental health services on the West Coast

    Construction of a new mental health facility at Te Nikau Grey Hospital in Greymouth is today one step closer, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “This $27 million facility shows this Government is delivering on its promise to boost mental health care and improve front line services,” Mr Doocey says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ support for sustainable Pacific fisheries

    New Zealand is committing nearly $50 million to a package supporting sustainable Pacific fisheries development over the next four years, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announced today. “This support consisting of a range of initiatives demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment to assisting our Pacific partners ...
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    4 days ago
  • Students’ needs at centre of new charter school adjustments

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour says proposed changes to the Education and Training Amendment Bill will ensure charter schools have more flexibility to negotiate employment agreements and are equipped with the right teaching resources. “Cabinet has agreed to progress an amendment which means unions will not be able to initiate ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Commissioner replaces Health NZ Board

    In response to serious concerns around oversight, overspend and a significant deterioration in financial outlook, the Board of Health New Zealand will be replaced with a Commissioner, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today.  “The previous government’s botched health reforms have created significant financial challenges at Health NZ that, without ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister to speak at Australian Space Forum

    Minister for Space and Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins will travel to Adelaide tomorrow for space and science engagements, including speaking at the Australian Space Forum.  While there she will also have meetings and visits with a focus on space, biotechnology and innovation.  “New Zealand has a thriving space ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Climate Change Minister to attend climate action meeting in China

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will travel to China on Saturday to attend the Ministerial on Climate Action meeting held in Wuhan.  “Attending the Ministerial on Climate Action is an opportunity to advocate for New Zealand climate priorities and engage with our key partners on climate action,” Mr Watts says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Oceans and Fisheries Minister to Solomons

    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is travelling to the Solomon Islands tomorrow for meetings with his counterparts from around the Pacific supporting collective management of the region’s fisheries. The 23rd Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee and the 5th Regional Fisheries Ministers’ Meeting in Honiara from 23 to 26 July ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Government launches Military Style Academy Pilot

    The Government today launched the Military Style Academy Pilot at Te Au rere a te Tonga Youth Justice residence in Palmerston North, an important part of the Government’s plan to crackdown on youth crime and getting youth offenders back on track, Minister for Children, Karen Chhour said today. “On the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Nine priority bridge replacements to get underway

    The Government has welcomed news the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has begun work to replace nine priority bridges across the country to ensure our state highway network remains resilient, reliable, and efficient for road users, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“Increasing productivity and economic growth is a key priority for the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Update on global IT outage

    Acting Prime Minister David Seymour has been in contact throughout the evening with senior officials who have coordinated a whole of government response to the global IT outage and can provide an update. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has designated the National Emergency Management Agency as the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New Zealand, Japan renew Pacific partnership

    New Zealand and Japan will continue to step up their shared engagement with the Pacific, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “New Zealand and Japan have a strong, shared interest in a free, open and stable Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says.    “We are pleased to be finding more ways ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New infrastructure energises BOP forestry towns

    New developments in the heart of North Island forestry country will reinvigorate their communities and boost economic development, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones visited Kaingaroa and Kawerau in Bay of Plenty today to open a landmark community centre in the former and a new connecting road in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • 'Pacific Futures'

    President Adeang, fellow Ministers, honourable Diet Member Horii, Ambassadors, distinguished guests.    Minasama, konnichiwa, and good afternoon, everyone.    Distinguished guests, it’s a pleasure to be here with you today to talk about New Zealand’s foreign policy reset, the reasons for it, the values that underpin it, and how it ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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