New Zealand needs a new Speaker

Written By: - Date published: 12:00 pm, November 11th, 2015 - 85 comments
Categories: Abuse of power, Annette King, john key, Judith Collins, Kelvin Davis, national, phil twyford, Politics, same old national - Tags: ,

David_Carter_t460

One of the more unusual customs I have seen in Parliament is that when an MP takes exception at something said to them or about them they can raise this as a point of order and normally get a retraction.  They can dish out the verbal stuff but if one of them stands and claims that they take exception to something that has been said they normally get a retraction.

There are two relevant rules in Parliament’s standing orders.  Rule 119 requires the Speaker to intervene if any offensive or disorderly words are used by a Member of Parliament.  And rule 386 specifically prohibits a Minister when answering a question from using discreditable references to any member of Parliament or any offensive or unparliamentary expression.

I had a quick look through Hansard for the past couple of years to try and find some examples of what happens and found these …

Like this one when Phil Twyford called Jami-Lee Ross a fool and an idiot.

Phil Twyford : You fool. You’re an idiot. No one is saying that.

JAMI-LEE ROSS : I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I have got a pretty thick skin, but I take exception to that.

The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Lindsay Tisch) : Yes, the member—I am referring to the member who made those comments. I will ask the member to withdraw those comments. You cannot refer to another member in that manner.

Phil Twyford : I withdraw.

And this one …

Rt Hon JOHN KEY : Yes, this Government did renew the ban put in place by Labour, and what I can also confirm is: firstly, the 2007 Labour Government was aware of the problem; secondly, it was looking to take its own actions; and, thirdly, the Leader of the Opposition has been set up by Annette King and Phil Goff.

Hon Annette King : I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I take exception to the last part of that answer. On three occasions he has claimed that I set somebody up. I object to that. It is a lie.

Mr SPEAKER : On the basis that the member has taken offence, I am going to ask the Prime Minister to stand and withdraw that part of the answer.

Rt Hon JOHN KEY : I withdraw.

And this one featuring Judith Collins where Trevor Mallard was thrown out for implying that Collins’ family had received money from Oravida …

Grant Robertson: How can she say that the only option was to go straight to the airport or to Oravida when the programme for her visit actually had a business and legal round table in the timeslot that was used for her visit to Oravida?

Hon Trevor Mallard: Half a million dollars for the family.

Hon JUDITH COLLINS: I take exception to that comment. I would like to have it withdrawn, please.

Mr SPEAKER: The member has taken offence to the interjection that came from the Hon Trevor Mallard. Would he stand and withdraw that comment.

Hon Trevor Mallard: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker.

Mr SPEAKER: Order! We will deal with that afterwards. I have asked the member—

Hon Trevor Mallard: No, I am not going to withdraw, Mr Speaker.

Mr SPEAKER: That puts us in a very difficult position, where I have no choice but to then ask—

Hon Trevor Mallard: It was not an unparliamentary comment.

Mr SPEAKER: Order! No, the member alluded to a substantial amount of money being the benefit to the family. The Minister has taken objection to that, I think, with justification. I will ask the member once more to stand and withdraw that comment. If not—

Hon Trevor Mallard: I will not withdraw the truth. Her—

Mr SPEAKER: Order! The Hon Trevor Mallard will leave the Chamber.

So you can see that if an MP calls another MP a fool or an idiot, or claims that an MP set someone up, or they made things up or their family received money or says something that upsets them then at their request the offending MP can be forced to withdraw their comment.

But yesterday the rules appeared to change.  John Key claiming that Labour and Kelvin Davis  are “backing the rapists” which is patently not true as well as being completely offensive is somehow acceptable Parliamentary language.

Rob Salmond may be right and Key may have engaged in the Crosby Textor diversionary dead cat tactic.  But the speaker’s job is to try and maintain some sort of order and not let the debating chamber descend into a bar room brawl.

Other speakers have taken the job seriously.  Former speaker Lockwood Smith received accolades from the opposition for insisting that Ministers needed to answer straight questions with a straight answer.  He understood the importance of the Parliamentary process.

I expect that there will be considerable attention on question time this afternoon.  And if we witness the same sort of decision making by the Speaker then who knows what will happen.

And public respect for the political process will deteriorate further.  Maybe this is the plan …

85 comments on “New Zealand needs a new Speaker ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. tc 1
    11 November 2015 at 12:27 pm

    Thats always been the plan mickey as the more who become turned off suits the tories just fine.

    Labour needs to highlight carters inconsistency and let keys behaviour speak for itself by taking the high ground over what a shambles nact have reduced parliament to.

    Leave the bait alone !

  2. Steve Wrathall 2
    11 November 2015 at 12:32 pm

    Lab/Greens are backing the detainees. The detainees include rapists. Which of those statements is not true?

    • BM 2.1
      11 November 2015 at 12:33 pm

      Don’t forget the murderers.

    • Enough is Enough 2.2
      11 November 2015 at 12:36 pm

      Do rapists or detainees have no human rights?

      • Steve Wrathall 2.2.1
        11 November 2015 at 2:26 pm

        There is no “human right” of citizens of one country remain in another country after their criminality has forfeited the privilege of residency.

        • Stuart Munro 2.2.1.1
          11 November 2015 at 4:43 pm

          Neither is there a right for states to imprison people who have completed the sentences prescribed by the courts.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 2.3
      11 November 2015 at 12:37 pm

      Key went to Turnbull to back the detainees. Blow harder, Wrathall: your hypocrisy knows no bounds.

      • Daniel Cale 2.3.1
        12 November 2015 at 9:20 am

        He went to back the human rights of detainees. There’s a difference.

        • One Anonymous Bloke 2.3.1.1
          12 November 2015 at 9:23 am

          What a lovely shiny pinhead. Don’t slip.

          • Daniel Cale 2.3.1.1.1
            12 November 2015 at 9:35 am

            What shiny pin are the Labour and Greens MP’s spinning on then? They’re claiming to be defending the human rights of detainees, not the detainees themselves. Aren’t they?

            • One Anonymous Bloke 2.3.1.1.1.1
              12 November 2015 at 3:14 pm

              Is that how it works? You make a false assertion then ask if it’s true?

    • Naturesong 2.4
      11 November 2015 at 12:42 pm

      Are all humans rapists, or are all rapists human?

    • Sabine 2.5
      11 November 2015 at 12:50 pm

      four are sex offenders as per the comments of the Immigration Minister of OZ – and they may not even be Kiwis. I guess we could argue that the others might not be Kiwis either.

      but that would be details, and surely Dear Leader is above details, he is relaxed and aspirational and inspirational and a successful business man and he likes ponytails.

    • Puddleglum 2.6
      11 November 2015 at 1:37 pm

      It is not about backing or not backing particular individuals. It is about backing an ethical, legal and political principle that has been widely accepted – human rights.

      What you are implying is that Key completely misunderstood the issue at hand. Do you think he is that unintelligent?

    • Brendon Harre -Left wing Liberal 2.7
      11 November 2015 at 7:37 pm

      John Key said ‘Labour backs rapists’. Labour includes all the MPs of that party in parliament -many of whom walked out today. Labour includes thousands of party members. Labour includes hundreds of thousands of voters.

      Steve Wrathall do you really think it is true these people back rapists or did John Key lie?

      A lie that was incredibly offensive and designed to distract people from his inability to answer reasonable questions about human rights. John Key should apologise but he will not because -he is gutless. Kelvin Davis got it right.

      I would like to add that David Carter is a useless Speaker and the whole institution of Speaker of the House needs to be reformed to make the Speaker a position that defends the integrity of Parliament not the political machinations of the PM.

    • Sacha 2.8
      11 November 2015 at 9:04 pm

      Seems none of the *NZ* detainees are rapists. Sorry to burst your logic-bubble.

      • Daniel Cale 2.8.1
        12 November 2015 at 9:39 am

        Labour and the Greens were not only talking about kiwi’s. Sorry to burst your bubble.

    • Tricledrown 2.9
      12 November 2015 at 3:19 pm

      Not true.

    • Alex Cardy 2.10
      13 November 2015 at 12:33 am

      None of the New Zealander’s being held on Christmas Island are murder or rapists, The other parties are backing better treatment for those New Zealanders detained. At no time have any of the paries said anything different. Seriously, you must be a Key/English bluebellied capitalist supporter. Your question… “which of those statements is not true” the answer is simple, both of them are absolute BS

  3. wyndham 3
    11 November 2015 at 12:37 pm

    Somehow I can’t help thinking that Carter is more incompetent rather than biased. Perhaps that’s a wimpish view of the man but, as a frequent watcher of Question Time, I’ve observed him make many helpful options to questioners, quite often with a smile. Certainly he makes many attempts to stifle the increasingly shrill shouting of Key.
    It is no secret that he didn’t want the job of Speaker but was prevailed upon by the P.M.

    • Sabine 3.1
      11 November 2015 at 12:45 pm

      The man knows which side his toast is buttered and he knows where the butter comes from. And he is doing precisely as he is told.

    • Lanthanide 3.2
      11 November 2015 at 1:28 pm

      I think he’s incompetent (see: his statements at the beginning of the year regarding Mike Sabin’s resignation from Parliament) and biased.

  4. Clean_power 4
    11 November 2015 at 12:52 pm

    I wonder if the same call was made when the Speaker was the one-eyed, one-sided, extremely biased Margaret Wilson. Did anyone complain?

    • Sabine 4.1
      11 November 2015 at 1:00 pm

      according to this article from 2004, the opposition complained the day she got nominated

      http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=9003301

      National’s shadow leader of the House, Gerry Brownlee, said her selection was “a recipe for chaos in Parliament”.

      “Respect is earned, not granted by appointment,” he said.

      “The Opposition has no confidence in Margaret Wilson’s ability to do the job.”

      Former Act leader Richard Prebble said the choice “fits in with Helen Clark’s gender-promoting strategy”.

      New Zealand First leader Winston Peters confined himself to a complaint that he was not consulted.

    • mickysavage 4.2
      11 November 2015 at 1:13 pm

      Do what I did CP and cite examples instead of trotting out a right wing meme. How about you actually prove your assertion.

  5. pipalbany 5
    11 November 2015 at 1:00 pm

    I might point out that Key refers to “Labour’ and not a specific person, or persons. Your examples show clearly where members are picking out other members specifically. Labour Supports Beneficiaries for example is a thing, and (e.g.) Grant Robertson supports Beneficiaries are statements of ‘fact’.

    Whilst I think that Key used language that was at best inflammatory it was a generalised statement about a position that Labour seems to have settled on, or has passion about.

    • Lanthanide 5.1
      11 November 2015 at 1:31 pm

      I think that’s a very weak response.

      It is *Key* that caused offense. It doesn’t matter to which specific individual he caused offense. In this case he caused offense to many individuals – to quote the speaker “with justification”, so that in fact makes it worse.

      Key should have been asked to retract, or thrown out of Parliament if he refused.

      • pipalbany 5.1.1
        11 November 2015 at 1:37 pm

        I think it’s a great response. the OP was about offence being taken by individuals called out specifically by name and instance. Key did not call out an individual but the party.

        • mickysavage 5.1.1.1
          11 November 2015 at 1:39 pm

          So it is worse to abuse an individual rather than a group? How is that?

          • pipalbany 5.1.1.1.1
            11 November 2015 at 1:47 pm

            I didn’t say it was worse or better.

            As you pointed out in your post individuals can ask for a withdrawal if they have personally been called out, and they feel that it is unfair, or they are insulted.

            I don’t see a standing order where someone can’t call out a whole party and claim that supports

            • Lanthanide 5.1.1.1.1.1
              11 November 2015 at 2:01 pm

              So you’d be happy if all of the Labour MPs stood up and said “National supports euthanasia of children” – it doesn’t matter if any National MPs took offense to that, because they aren’t individuals apparently.

              Your argument is facile, and frankly embarassing.

              • pipalbany …
                11 November 2015 at 2:10 pm

                No I disagree, I’m sure that a Labour MP has called out National or being one thing or another before now, you’re using inflammatory arguments to prove a point that does not need making.

                • Lanthanide …
                  11 November 2015 at 2:28 pm

                  “I’m sure that a Labour MP has called out National or being one thing or another before now”

                  And, did any National MPs object and ask for it to be withdrawn?

                  Chop chop, go look through the Hansard. If you can find some examples where Labour said something about the National party in general, a National MP complained *and* the speaker backed the Labour MP up and did not require them to retract their statement, *then* you have a case.

                • mickysavage …
                  11 November 2015 at 8:03 pm

                  Nope your argument is really stupid. You are suggesting that insulting a group is not as bad as insulting an individual.

            • Draco T Bastard 5.1.1.1.1.2
              11 November 2015 at 2:57 pm

              Ah, the old but there was no specific rule about this particular instance of immoral action and thus it was legal POV of the RWNJs.

              • pipalbany …
                11 November 2015 at 7:26 pm

                and there you go, the sanctuary of the nasty part, why not have a crack a name calling?, you are what is wrong with a lot of things

                • Draco T Bastard …
                  11 November 2015 at 11:49 pm

                  You were the one being nasty and immoral by trying to excuse the immoral actions of John Key and you did it in a way that is fairly normal for RWNJs – they declare it legal and imply that it’s morality because of that illegality.

                  Now you seem upset that you got called on your BS.

    • Crashcart 5.2
      11 November 2015 at 1:59 pm

      Except hey specifically singled out Davis as supporting rapists as well. So yea he covered his bases by offending an individual and the party.

      • alwyn 5.2.1
        11 November 2015 at 3:22 pm

        If you want to justify the complaint because he singled out Davis it would have to be Davis who complained.
        I don’t think the rule would allow you to complain on the grounds that
        “Although my colleague, sitting over there, isn’t saying anything I am sure he is really upset and I am complaining on his behalf because he is too modest to draw attention to himself”.
        Don’t think that would work somehow.

        • crashcart 5.2.1.1
          12 November 2015 at 1:09 pm

          That may be so. I am pretty sure the comment I replied to said that key didn’t single out anyone when he quite clearly did.

          • alwyn 5.2.1.1.1
            12 November 2015 at 4:42 pm

            In that you are quite right. It was pretty clearly aimed at Davis to start with.
            There is one problem left of course. The somewhat arcane rules of Parliament require, I believe, an immediate objection, and they really mean immediate.
            The only person in the Labour Party to react immediately, as it seemed from the video, was Annette King. All the others seemed to go on as if nothing had happened with Little asking a few more supplementary questions.
            By the time Robertson had woken up and started complaining it was about 5 minutes later.
            It sounds silly but I think that is the way the rules work. God knows why and I think he steers well clear of the place.
            ps I may be wrong with the immediate bit. Someone more knowledgeable may be able to confirm or deny it.
            From what happened outside the Chamber I can see why Key was irate about Davis but the accusation was still way over the top.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 5.3
      12 November 2015 at 8:41 am

      “If those members want to protect sex offenders, rapists, and murderers, go ahead.”

      That rotten low-life, the Right Honourable John Key, Prime Minister, responding to a question from Marama Davidson. At no point during this answer did he mention “Labour”.

      (source: Hansard.)

      Metiria Turei did well on Morning Report today, bringing both issues to the debate – human rights and Key’s revolting behaviour.

      Carter is a disgrace.

  6. pipalbany 6
    11 November 2015 at 1:02 pm

    David Carter now used threat and bluster to contain any semblance of control. Hacking from both sides is increasing, unabated, and it is a weak leader who used the continued threat of explosion from the house as the only tool to retain control, which is a mile away from respect.

    • Grant 6.1
      11 November 2015 at 1:49 pm

      Threat of explosion from the house.
      Hmmm, maybe Guy Fawkes was on to something..

      • pipalbany 6.1.1
        11 November 2015 at 1:56 pm

        🙂 ah auto spell is fabulous, with of course “Heckling” and not “Hacking” because we know that’s bad, and “Explusion” and not “Explosion”

        Seems even with that, that Carter is less in control than Auto spelling.

  7. Daniel Cale 7
    11 November 2015 at 1:06 pm

    The thing I can’t get about Carter is that he is so inconsistent. I used to think I had a reasonable grasp of Standing Orders etc but Carter continues to bemuse me with his rulings. Time for a non-partisan speaker?

  8. CnrJoe 8
    11 November 2015 at 1:27 pm

    Carter has lost control of the house – anything less and all the way up “they’re supporting rapists and child molesterers…” is allowable.

  9. weka 9
    11 November 2015 at 1:44 pm

    Why do we have a partisan Speaker anyway? Wouldn’t it be better to have a neutral person?

    • McFlock 9.1
      11 November 2015 at 1:59 pm

      I’m not sure such a thing exists.

      But I reckon there should be a quick (<1 week) process for challenging a speaker's ruling, and some mechanism by which a speaker is fired if their rulings are grossly incompetent/partisan.

    • AmaKiwi 9.2
      11 November 2015 at 10:30 pm

      @ weka

      + 1

      The speaker could be a judge who is not an MP. To reduce the danger of too much political bias, I propose the Judge/Speaker must be elected by 75% of the MPs.

      The absurdity of having a debate in which one side picks the debate’s moderator!

      I forgot. Parliament has always makes its own rules so fairness, common sense, and natural justice are irrelevant.

  10. roy cartland 10
    11 November 2015 at 1:49 pm

    Some worthy opposition member should take one for the team and directly inform the Speaker that he himself has backed a sex offender (the tail-tugging PM). They oughtn’t get thrown out for that, as that language as been deemed acceptable in his House.

  11. pipalbany 11
    11 November 2015 at 2:08 pm

    Speaker Carter: “While the interchange between members was a robust one, there was moment when the PM made an unparliamentary remark”

    I’m now sitting on the naughty chair, a comment was considered to have crossed the line of being acceptable.

    It seems fair that the Speaker has attempted to close this out.

  12. te reo putake 12
    11 November 2015 at 2:22 pm

    Another walkout, plus several MP’s being thrown out by the speaker. Carter’s losing it.

  13. riffer 13
    11 November 2015 at 2:27 pm

    So… what’s the record for the highest number of MPs being kicked out/leaving before Question Time has even started?

  14. Macro 14
    11 November 2015 at 2:37 pm

    But of course Carter see no offence given in supporting murderers and rapists. He does it all the time!

    Speaker David Carter says the visit is an excellent first step in restoring the relationship between the two parliaments and shows New Zealand is committed to supporting parliamentary democracy in Fiji and the wider Pacific.

    “After a protracted period without a parliament, Fiji can expect our full support and assistance to make its return to parliamentary democracy a smooth and successful one,” Mr Carter said.

    http://www.3news.co.nz/politics/nz-fiji-look-to-resume-diplomatic-relations-2014102905#ixzz3r8t0nagb
    Huh!!
    And yet…
    http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-02-11/fiji-police-officers-charged-over-death-in-custody/6086116
    ooooops
    http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/289327/fiji-police-commissioner-groenewald-resigns
    and
    http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/289020/fiji-military-hires-policeman-charged-with-rape
    So who is it that restored diplomatic relations with a country that encourages the murder and rape of its citizens by the Police and Military??

  15. Stephanie Rodgers 15
    11 November 2015 at 4:59 pm

    David Carter is an absolute disgrace. Video from today’s QT here:
    https://youtu.be/T42I9jM9vS0

    From about 10 minutes in he starts throwing out women MPs who dare to say “As a survivor of sexual violence …” while making a point of order.

    • weka 15.1
      11 November 2015 at 5:35 pm

      Incredible action by the opposition women MPs (and great to see them working together).

      • Ffloyd 15.1.1
        11 November 2015 at 6:31 pm

        @weka. I was so proud of those women and supporters who made a dignified and powerful statement against Carter and Key who are the lowest of the low.

        When these women stood up and asked for an apology or withdrawal of Key’s shocking accusations I was excited to see this, because hopefully this is the beginning of a fightback against Key and his misguided minions.

        Kia Kaha to those women who shared their sad secrets to show the depth of their hurt at Key’s despicable accusations. Doing that would be the hardest thing.
        They have my utmost admiration.

        I hope some of the women of the National Party might feel some solidarity with these heroines, but I sincerely doubt it.

        • weka 15.1.1.1
          11 November 2015 at 6:43 pm

          I’m also very proud of them Floyd. Both the courage to speak so personally, and to see Labour and GP MPs being activists together was incredible. There’s some video in Daily Review of 3 of the MPs speaking afterwards which is also worth watching if you haven’t seen it.

          “I hope some of the women of the National Party might feel some solidarity with these heroines, but I sincerely doubt it.”

          Hard to say because they work in a system that would punish them if they spoke out or indicated solidarity.

          Not sure the Mp MPs have that excuse. I think it’s a very individual thing for women to disclose publicly and I don’t think any woman should be pressured to do so. Any of the women MPs could have stood and said that they supported survivors of sexual assualt, were offended and wanted the PM to apologise (I think one of the opposition MPs did this).

      • Sans Cle 15.1.2
        11 November 2015 at 8:21 pm

        I’m proud to have such strong opposition women in the house…..speaking out for all women, girls (and boys) who are the victims of abuse.
        I’m ashamed to have John Key representing our country still – a man who saw no wrong in continually abusing a waitress, even when his wife admonished him and pointed out that the lady in question was saying “No” to him.
        Clearly our PM does not have a grasp that when someone says ‘NO’, to invasion of their personal space, he is not entitled to continue his behaviour to satisfy whatever his fetish is, or whatever he feels entitled to do.

    • Mike the Savage One 15.2
      11 November 2015 at 9:48 pm

      I agree, Carter’s at times very flawed sense of “justice” and “fairness” is unacceptable, and what has happened yesterday and today is ample evidence, he is not fit for the job as Speaker. We must realise though, he never wanted the job, Key and other leading Nats pushed him to accept it, more or less, as they considered him convenient for their purpose.

      So I have seen Carter with shaking hands and fumbling his pen many times, he is struggling to maintain composure rather often, when under pressure, and whenever things get too much for him, then he tends to be even more lenient towards his party’s side of the argument, than to the opposition.

      I have never seen such bizarre conduct in the House as the last two days, and it shows now, how unacceptable, and offensive a PM we have, a two faced one, with a rather dark side to his character, and he tries all the time, to exploit the leniency of the Speaker, knowing he has a soft sport for his political mates in his party.

      It is time to put up a serious challenge, that is all the opposition parties, and perhaps Maori Party and Peter Dunne may finally see the light also, so that there is a serious challenge put, to have the Speaker replaced, whatever that may take.

      It cannot go on as it has today, and James Shaw put that very well in his speech during the debate. Time to go, Mr Carter, time to resign also from politics and Parliament, I reckon, as you had a good enough a run. We are in constitutional trouble territory now, that is what I take from the sitting of Parliament today.

  16. Jenny Kirk 16
    11 November 2015 at 5:02 pm

    Be careful Mickey, you might find yourself hauled up before the Privileges Committee for criticising the Speaker in public !!

    • Mike the Savage One 16.1
      11 November 2015 at 9:49 pm

      I would be happy to join Micky and others, what a privilege to be heard.

    • AmaKiwi 16.2
      11 November 2015 at 10:38 pm

      @ Jenny Kirk

      Is that legal? Is it true that as a private citizen I cannot criticize the the Speaker?

      If you are the Jenny Kirk who was a Labour MP from the North Shore, I’ll trust your reply to be legally accurate.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 16.3
      12 November 2015 at 8:49 am

      The Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament, the Right Honorable David Carter, is a disgrace to his position, an incompetent biased hack who stains the office he holds.

      Even his crass blundering is eclipsed by the disgusting antics of the PM.

      Is that the sort of thing you mean Jenny? 😈

  17. dv 17
    11 November 2015 at 5:28 pm

    Interestingly Carter said he didn’t hear Key (properly) as Carter was on his feet trying to get order.
    Members a suppose to shut up when the speaker is on his feet.

    Guess who didn’t shut up.

    • ScottGN 17.1
      11 November 2015 at 7:03 pm

      He never hears anything inconvenient.

    • Mike the Savage One 17.2
      11 November 2015 at 9:51 pm

      In my humble view he was telling BS, it was a convenient excuse. The fallout that came after it all, and the media attention, that must have given Mr Carter some reason to rethink.

      Key was dominating the answering, was clear as can be, and could not have been overheard at all at any time. Selective blindness and selective deafness are rather common attributes.

  18. Stuart Munro 18
    11 November 2015 at 5:42 pm

    Ultimately, Carter and Key have decided that the conventions of parliamentary process are less important to them than their convenience. This democracy stuff is such a nuisance to them. They are much like selfish children who want to be exceptions to every rule. Sub-human vermin like this lead our country? Hard to believe our expectations could sink so low. And a pretty good argument for a generous application of 1080.

    • Mike the Savage One 18.1
      11 November 2015 at 9:54 pm

      In my view this is close to the most perfect dictatorship you could have, that we have in NZ, it is so perfected, that most do not even see it as such. And that is the trouble, as the dumbed down, lied to and manipulated are en masse taking on the Stockholm Syndrome, and willingly and blissfully accept this condition as being the ultimate expression of truth.

  19. oneslave 19
    12 November 2015 at 12:57 am

    Murderers….? Wasnt one of them a war hero , part of the people he sent to fight for American interests. Is that whom he is talking about…?

  20. mia 20
    12 November 2015 at 8:17 am

    The Speaker is a twat. He needs to bevstood down with John Key. Bias prick.

    • Tracey 20.1
      12 November 2015 at 8:25 am

      He is certainly making Margaret Wilson look like she was impartial.

      I had VERY high hopes for Ms Wilson when she was made speaker and was thoroughly disappointed. I doubted Mr Smith on his appointment and thought he would be a stooge. Wrong on both counts.

      It is very easy to see why Smith had to go, from a National point of view.

      It would be good to hear some noise from the MP and UF and then some action.

      I wonder if a call can be made for a confidence vote on the Speaker? BUT anyone doing it MUST have the numbers first

      • tinfoilhat 20.1.1
        12 November 2015 at 8:42 am

        Since the broadcasting of parliament on TV, Lockwood Smith has been the exception in terms of being an excellent Speaker of the house and mostly unbiased in his rulings.

  21. Sacha 21
    12 November 2015 at 2:37 pm

    Ropbertson snookered the hapless Carter by using the same phrasing today that the Speaker ruled was OK when Key used it, and having it ruled unparliamentary. What a tired old fool.

  22. repateet 22
    12 November 2015 at 2:48 pm

    David Carter is preparing seriously for his next job.

    The problem will be deciding his specialist position. His running defence for Ministers could a mean a dilemma. Defensive tackle, defensive end or linebacker?

  23. Andrew Hooper 23
    13 November 2015 at 3:25 pm

    FYI: The category Key seems to have used or Rapists is not correct. They are Sex Offenders and remember there is no grey when it comes to the law but there is in the real world.

    A Sex Offender could be someone who committed Statutory Rape and although the intercorse may have been consensual at the time the law is the law and unless you have or can afford a really good lawyer you are going down as a sex offender.

    Don’t get me wrong I hate sex offenders with a passion but also have seen many instances where the law and justice has not prevailed and people have been incarcerated for a crime that should not have really been taken to court in the first place. The person just pissed off the wrong people.

    There have been instances where people have been convicted of having non consensual intercourse with others and alcohol was involved impairing both parties viewpoints of the situation and the offender has been truly remorseful.

    Also remember that these people have been sentenced and served there time, paid the price for their actions.

    Now the Murdered, there are a few definitions for this in the law and falling under this banner is involuntary manslaughter as well as a few others. If you have a car accident and kill someone or run a pedestrian over you can be tried under a category of murder. In my younger days I had a good friend who on a dark night hit a lady in his car and killed her, she was wearing black but he was sentenced to imprisonment. The comment then was She is dead, You are not and someone has be be held accountable. So yes we could have all called him a murderer and the charges indicate he was but it was not intentional and he was remorseful.

    There have been instances over here where an employer was convicted of murder related charges and sent to prison because they did not provide and ensure an employee had the required safety equipment and died in an accident,

    So before we jump up and say, You fall in to the category of Rapist and Murderer best we look at the facts.

  24. starboard 24
    13 November 2015 at 11:01 pm

    Yes I remember an impartial SOTH..Margaret Wilson…lol

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Weekly Roundup 29-September-2023
    Welcome to Friday and the last one for September. This week in Greater Auckland On Monday, Matt highlighted at the latest with the City Rail Link. On Tuesday, Matt covered the interesting items from Auckland Transport’s latest board meeting agendas. On Thursday, a guest post from Darren Davis ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    2 hours ago

  • Protest at Parliament: The Reunion.
    Brian’s god spoke to him. He, for of course the Lord in Tamaki’s mind was a male god, with a mighty rod, and probably some black leathers. He, told Brian - “you must put a stop to all this love, hope, and kindness”. And it did please the Brian.He said ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 hours ago

  • Labour cuts $50m from cycleway spending
    Labour is cutting spending on cycling infrastructure while still trying to claim the higher ground on climate. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Labour Government released a climate manifesto this week to try to claim the high ground against National, despite having ignored the Climate Commission’s advice to toughen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 hours ago

  • The Greater Of Two Evils.
    Not Labour: If you’re out to punish the government you once loved, then the last thing you need is to be shown evidence that the opposition parties are much, much worse.THE GREATEST VIRTUE of being the Opposition is not being the Government. Only very rarely is an opposition party elected ...
    Bowalley Road
    4 hours ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #39 2023
    Open access notables "Net zero is only a distraction— we just have to end fossil fuel emissions." The latter is true but the former isn't, or  not in the real world as it's likely to be in the immediate future. And "just" just doesn't enter into it; we don't have ...
    Skeptical Science
    14 hours ago

  • Chris Trotter: Losing the Left
    IN THE CURRENT MIX of electoral alternatives, there is no longer a credible left-wing party. Not when “a credible left-wing party” is defined as: a class-oriented, mass-based, democratically-structured political organisation; dedicated to promoting ideas sharply critical of laissez-faire capitalism; and committed to advancing democratic, egalitarian and emancipatory ideals across the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    16 hours ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    18 hours ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    18 hours ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    18 hours ago

  • Hipkins fires up in leaders’ debate, but has the curtain already fallen on the Labour-led coalitio...
    Labour’s  Chris Hipkins came out firing, in the  leaders’ debate  on Newshub’s evening programme, and most of  the pundits  rated  him the winner against National’s  Christopher Luxon. But will this make any difference when New  Zealanders  start casting their ballots? The problem  for  Hipkins is  that  voters are  all too ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    19 hours ago

  • Govt is energising housing projects with solar power – and fuelling the public’s concept of a di...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Not long after Point of Order published data which show the substantial number of New Zealanders (77%) who believe NZ is becoming more divided, government ministers were braying about a programme which distributes some money to “the public” and some to “Maori”. The ministers were dishing ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    19 hours ago

  • MIKE GRIMSHAW: Election 2023 – a totemic & charisma failure?
    The D&W analysis Michael Grimshaw writes –  Given the apathy, disengagement, disillusionment, and all-round ennui of this year’s general election, it was considered time to bring in those noted political operatives and spin doctors D&W, the long-established consultancy firm run by Emile Durkheim and Max Weber. Known for ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    21 hours ago

  • FROM BFD: Will Winston be the spectre we think?
    Kissy kissy. Cartoon credit BoomSlang. The BFD. JC writes-  Allow me to preface this contribution with the following statement: If I were asked to express a preference between a National/ACT coalition or a National/ACT/NZF coalition then it would be the former. This week Luxon declared his position, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    22 hours ago

  • California’s climate disclosure bill could have a huge impact across the U.S.
    This re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Andy Furillo was originally published by Capital & Main and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. The California Legislature took a step last week that has the potential to accelerate the fight against climate ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 day ago

  • Untangling South East Queensland’s Public Transport
    This is a cross post Adventures in Transitland by Darren Davis. I recently visited Brisbane and South East Queensland and came away both impressed while also pondering some key changes to make public transport even better in the region. Here goes with my take on things. A bit of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    1 day ago

  • Try A Little Kindness.
    My daughter arrived home from the supermarket yesterday and she seemed a bit worried about something. It turned out she wanted to know if someone could get her bank number from a receipt.We wound the story back.She was in the store and there was a man there who was distressed, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago

  • What makes NZFirst tick
    New Zealand’s longest-running political roadshow rolled into Opotiki yesterday, with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters knowing another poll last night showed he would make it back to Parliament and National would need him and his party if they wanted to form a government. The Newshub Reid Research poll ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago

  • September AMA
    Hi,As September draws to a close — I feel it’s probably time to do an Ask Me Anything. You know how it goes: If you have any burning questions, fire away in the comments and I will do my best to answer. You might have questions about Webworm, or podcast ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    1 day ago

  • Bludgers lying in the scratcher making fools of us all
    The mediocrity who stands to be a Prime Minister has a litany.He uses it a bit like a Koru Lounge card. He will brandish it to say: these people are eligible. And more than that, too: These people are deserving. They have earned this policy.They have a right to this policy. What ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • More “partnerships” (by the look of it) and redress of over $30 million in Treaty settlement wit...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point of Order has waited until now – 3.45pm – for today’s officially posted government announcements.  There have been none. The only addition to the news on the Beehive’s website was posted later yesterday, after we had published our September 26 Buzz report. It came from ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • ALEX HOLLAND: Labour’s spending
    Alex Holland writes –  In 2017 when Labour came to power, crown spending was $76 billion per year. Now in 2023 it is $139 billion per year, which equates to a $63 billion annual increase (over $1 billion extra spend every week!) In 2017, New Zealand’s government debt ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • If not now, then when?
    Labour released its fiscal plan today, promising the same old, same old: "responsibility", balanced books, and of course no new taxes: "Labour will maintain income tax settings to provide consistency and certainty in these volatile times. Now is not the time for additional taxes or to promise billions of ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago

  • THE FACTS:  77% of Kiwis believe NZ is becoming more divided
    The Facts has posted –        KEY INSIGHTSOf New Zealander’s polled: Social unity/division 77%believe NZ is becoming more divided (42% ‘much more’ + 35% ‘a little more’) 3%believe NZ is becoming less divided (1% ‘much less’ + 2% ‘a little less’) ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the cynical brutality of the centre-right’s welfare policies
    The centre-right’s enthusiasm for forcing people off the benefit and into paid work is matched only by the enthusiasm (shared by Treasury and the Reserve Bank) for throwing people out of paid work to curb inflation, and achieve the optimal balance of workers to job seekers deemed to be desirable ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    2 days ago

  • Wednesday’s Chorus: Arthur Grimes on why building many, many more social houses is so critical
    New research shows that tenants in social housing - such as these Wellington apartments - are just as happy as home owners and much happier than private tenants. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The election campaign took an ugly turn yesterday, and in completely the wrong direction. All three ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Old habits
    Media awareness about global warming and climate change has grown fairly steadily since 2004. My impression is that journalists today tend to possess a higher climate literacy than before. This increasing awareness and improved knowledge is encouraging, but there are also some common interpretations which could be more nuanced. ...
    Real ClimateBy rasmus
    2 days ago

  • Bennie Bashing.
    If there’s one thing the mob loves more than keeping Māori in their place, more than getting tough on the gangs, maybe even more than tax cuts. It’s a good old round of beneficiary bashing.Are those meanies in the ACT party stealing your votes because they think David Seymour is ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago

  • The kindest cuts
    Labour kicks off the fiscal credibility battle today with the release of its fiscal plan. National is expected to follow, possibly as soon as Thursday, with its own plan, which may (or may not) address the large hole that the problems with its foreign buyers’ ban might open up. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago

  • Green right turn in Britain? Well, a start
    While it may be unlikely to register in New Zealand’s general election, Britain’s PM Rishi Sunak has done something which might just be important in the long run. He’s announced a far-reaching change in his Conservative government’s approach to environmental, and particularly net zero, policy. The starting point – ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    2 days ago

  • At a glance – How do human CO2 emissions compare to natural CO2 emissions?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

  • How could this happen?
    Canada is in uproar after the exposure that its parliament on September 22 provided a standing ovation to a Nazi veteran who had been invited into the chamber to participate in the parliamentary welcome to Ukrainian President Zelensky. Yaroslav Hunka, 98, a Ukrainian man who volunteered for service in ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    3 days ago

  • Always Be Campaigning
    The big screen is a great place to lay out the ways of the salesman. He comes ready-made for Panto, ripe for lampooning.This is not to disparage that life. I have known many good people of that kind. But there is a type, brazen as all get out. The camera ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • STEPHEN FRANKS: Press seek to publicly shame doctor – we must push back
    The following is a message sent yesterday from lawyer Stephen Franks on behalf of the Free Speech Union. I don’t like to interrupt first thing Monday morning, but we’ve just become aware of a case where we think immediate and overwhelming attention could help turn the tide. It involves someone ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Competing on cruelty
    The right-wing message calendar is clearly reading "cruelty" today, because both National and NZ First have released beneficiary-bashing policies. National is promising a "traffic light" system to police and kick beneficiaries, which will no doubt be accompanied by arbitrary internal targets to classify people as "orange" or "red" to keep ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • Further funding for Pharmac (forgotten in the Budget?) looks like a $1bn appeal from a PM in need of...
    Buzz from the Beehive One Labour plan  – for 3000 more public homes by 2025 – is the most recent to be posted on the government’s official website. Another – a prime ministerial promise of more funding for Pharmac – has been released as a Labour Party press statement. Who ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: The Vested interests shaping National Party policies
    As the National Party gets closer to government, lobbyists and business interests will be lining up for influence and to get policies adopted. It’s therefore in the public interest to have much more scrutiny and transparency about potential conflicts of interests that might arise. One of the key individuals of ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago

  • Labour may be on way out of power and NZ First back in – but will Peters go into coalition with Na...
    Voters  are deserting Labour in droves, despite Chris  Hipkins’  valiant  rearguard  action.  So  where  are they  heading?  Clearly  not all of them are going to vote National, which concedes that  the  outcome  will be “close”. To the Right of National, the ACT party just a  few weeks  ago  was ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    3 days ago

  • GRAHAM ADAMS: Will the racists please stand up?
    Accusations of racism by journalists and MPs are being called out. Graham Adams writes –    With the election less than three weeks away, what co-governance means in practice — including in water management, education, planning law and local government — remains largely obscure. Which is hardly ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on whether Winston Peters can be a moderating influence
    As the centre-right has (finally!) been subjected to media interrogation, the polls are indicating that some voters may be starting to have second thoughts about the wisdom of giving National and ACT the power to govern alone. That’s why yesterday’s Newshub/Reid Research poll had the National/ACT combo dropping to 60 ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    3 days ago

  • Tuesday’s Chorus: RBNZ set to rain on National's victory parade
    ANZ has increased its forecast for house inflation later this year on signs of growing momentum in the market ahead of the election. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: National has campaigned against the Labour Government’s record on inflation and mortgage rates, but there’s now a growing chance the Reserve ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • After a Pittsburgh coal processing plant closed, ER visits plummeted
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Katie Myers. This story was originally published by Grist and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. Pittsburgh, in its founding, was blessed and cursed with two abundant natural resources: free-flowing rivers and a nearby coal seam. ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

  • September-23 AT Board Meeting
    Today the AT board meet again and once again I’ve taken a look at what’s on the agenda to find the most interesting items. Closed Agenda Interestingly when I first looked at the agendas this paper was there but at the time of writing this post it had been ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    3 days ago

  • Electorate Watch: West Coast-Tasman
    Continuing my series on interesting electorates, today it’s West Coast-Tasman.A long thin electorate running down the northern half of the west coast of the South Island. Think sand flies, beautiful landscapes, lots of rain, Pike River, alternative lifestylers, whitebaiting, and the spiritual home of the Labour Party. A brief word ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • Big money brings Winston back
    National leader Christopher Luxon yesterday morning conceded it and last night’s Newshub poll confirmed it; Winston Peters and NZ First are not only back but highly likely to be part of the next government. It is a remarkable comeback for a party that was tossed out of Parliament in ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago

  • 20 days until Election Day, 7 until early voting begins… but what changes will we really see here?
    As this blogger, alongside many others, has already posited in another forum: we all know the National Party’s “budget” (meaning this concept of even adding up numbers properly is doing a lot of heavy, heavy lifting right now) is utter and complete bunk (read hung, drawn and quartered and ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    4 days ago

  • A night out
    Everyone was asking, Are you nervous? and my response was various forms of God, yes.I've written more speeches than I can count; not much surprises me when the speaker gets to their feet and the room goes quiet.But a play? Never.YOU CAME! THANK YOU! Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • A pallid shade of Green III
    Clearly Labour's focus groups are telling it that it needs to pay more attention to climate change - because hot on the heels of their weaksauce energy efficiency pilot programme and not-great-but-better-than-nothing solar grants, they've released a full climate manifesto. Unfortunately, the core policies in it - a second Emissions ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • A coalition of racism, cruelty, and chaos
    Today's big political news is that after months of wibbling, National's Chris Luxon has finally confirmed that he is willing to work with Winston Peters to become Prime Minister. Which is expected, but I guess it tells us something about which way the polls are going. Which raises the question: ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • More migrant workers should help generate the tax income needed to provide benefits for job seekers
    Buzz from the Beehive Under something described as a “rebalance” of its immigration rules, the Government has adopted four of five recommendations made in an independent review released in July, The fifth, which called on the government to specify criteria for out-of-hours compliance visits similar to those used during ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • Letter To Luxon.
    Some of you might know Gerard Otto (G), and his G News platform. This morning he wrote a letter to Christopher Luxon which I particularly enjoyed, and with his agreement I’m sharing it with you in this guest newsletter.If you’d like to make a contribution to support Gerard’s work you ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • LINDSAY MITCHELL: Alarming trend in benefit numbers
    Lindsay Mitchell writes –  While there will not be another quarterly release of benefit numbers prior to the election, limited weekly reporting continues and is showing an alarming trend. Because there is a seasonal component to benefit number fluctuations it is crucial to compare like with like. In ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • BRIAN EASTON: Has there been external structural change?
    A close analysis of the Treasury assessment of the Medium Term in its PREFU 2023 suggests the economy may be entering a new phase.   Brian Easton writes –  Last week I explained that the forecasts in the just published Treasury Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update (PREFU 2023) was ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • CRL Progress – Sep-23
    It’s been a while since we looked at the latest with the City Rail Link and there’s been some fantastic milestones recently. To start with, and most recently, CRL have released an awesome video showing a full fly-through of one of the tunnels. Come fly with us! You asked for ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    4 days ago

  • Monday’s Chorus: Not building nearly enough
    We are heading into another period of fast population growth without matching increased home building or infrastructure investment.Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Labour and National detailed their house building and migration approaches over the weekend, with both pledging fast population growth policies without enough house building or infrastructure investment ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Game on; Hipkins comes out punching
    Labour leader Chris Hipkins yesterday took the gloves off and laid into National and its leader Christopher Luxon. For many in Labour – and particularly for some at the top of the caucus and the party — it would not have been a moment too soon. POLITIK is aware ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago

  • Tax Cut Austerity Blues.
    The leaders have had their go, they’ve told us the “what?” and the “why?” of their promises. Now it’s the turn of the would be Finance Ministers to tell us the “how?”, the “how much?”, and the “when?”A chance for those competing for the second most powerful job in the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • MIKE GRIMSHAW:  It’s the economy – and the spirit – Stupid…
    Mike Grimshaw writes – Over the past 30-odd years it’s become almost an orthodoxy to blame or invoke neoliberalism for the failures of New Zealand society. On the left the usual response goes something like, neoliberalism is the cause of everything that’s gone wrong and the answer ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #38
    A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Sep 17, 2023 thru Sat, Sep 23, 2023. Story of the Week  Opinion: Let’s free ourselves from the story of economic growth A relentless focus on economic growth has ushered in ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • The End Of The World.
    Have you been looking out of your window for signs of the apocalypse? Don’t worry, you haven’t been door knocked by a representative of the Brian Tamaki party. They’re probably a bit busy this morning spruiking salvation, or getting ready to march on our parliament, which is closed. No, I’ve ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • Climate Town: The Brainwashing Of America's Children
    Climate Town is the YouTube channel of Rollie Williams and a ragtag team of climate communicators, creatives and comedians. They examine climate change in a way that doesn’t make you want to eat a cyanide pill. Get informed about the climate crisis before the weather does it for you. The latest ...
    Skeptical Science
    7 days ago

  • Has There Been External Structural Change?
    A close analysis of the Treasury assessment of the Medium Term in its PREFU 2023 suggests the economy may be entering a new phase. Last week I explained that the forecasts in the just published Treasury Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update (PREFU 2023) was similar to the May Budget BEFU, ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    7 days ago

  • Another Labour bully
    Back in June, we learned that Kiri Allan was a Parliamentary bully. And now there's another one: Labour MP Shanan Halbert: The Labour Party was alerted to concerns about [Halbert's] alleged behaviour a year ago but because staffers wanted to remain anonymous, no formal process was undertaken [...] The ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    7 days ago

  • Climate Change: Ignoring our biggest problem
    Its that time in the election season where the status quo parties are busy accusing each other of having fiscal holes in a desperate effort to appear more "responsible" (but not, you understand, by promising to tax wealth or land to give the government the revenue it needs to do ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    7 days ago

  • JERRY COYNE: A good summary of the mess that is science education in New Zealand
    JERRY COYNE writes –  If you want to see what the government of New Zealand is up to with respect to science education, you can’t do better than listening to this video/slideshow by two exponents of the “we-need-two-knowledge-systems” view. I’ve gotten a lot of scary stuff from Kiwi ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 days ago

  • Good news on the GDP front is accompanied by news of a $5m govt boost for Supercars (but what about ...
    Buzz from the Beehive First, we were treated to the news (from Finance Minister Grant Robertson) that the economy has turned a corner and New Zealand never was in recession.  This was triggered by statistics which showed the economy expanded 0.9 per cent in the June quarter, twice as much as ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    7 days ago

  • The Scafetta Saga
    It has taken 17 months to get a comment published pointing out the obvious errors in the Scafetta (2022) paper in GRL. Back in March 2022, Nicola Scafetta published a short paper in Geophysical Research Letters (GRL) purporting to show through ‘advanced’ means that ‘all models with ECS > ...
    Real ClimateBy Gavin
    7 days ago

  • Friday's Chorus: Penny wise and pound foolish
    TL;DR: In the middle of a climate emergency and in a city prone to earthquakes, Victoria University of Wellington announced yesterday it would stop teaching geophysics, geographic information science and physical geography to save $22 million a year and repay debt. Climate change damage in Aotearoa this year is already ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    7 days ago

  • CHRIS TROTTER: Calling the big dog’s bluff
      For nearly thirty years the pundits have been telling the minor parties that they must be good little puppies and let the big dogs decide. The parties with a plurality of the votes cast must be allowed to govern – even if that means ignoring the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 days ago

  • The electorate swing, Labour limbo and Luxon-Hipkins two-step
     Another poll, another 27 for Labour. It was July the last time one of the reputable TV company polls had Labour's poll percentage starting with a three, so the limbo question is now being asked: how low can you go?It seems such an unlikely question because this doesn't feel like the kind ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    1 week ago

  • A Womance, and a Nomance.
    After the trench warfare of Tuesday night, when the two major parties went head to head, last night was the turn of the minor parties. Hosts Newshub termed it “the Powerbrokers' Debate”.Based on the latest polls the four parties taking part - ACT, the Greens, New Zealand First, and Te ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago

  • When The Internet Rushes To Your Defense
    Hi,You can’t make this stuff up.People involved with Sound of Freedom, the QAnon-infused movie about anti-child trafficker Tim Ballard, are dropping like flies. I won’t ruin your day by describing it here, but Vice reports that footage has emerged of executive producer Paul Hutchinson being inappropriate with a 16-year-old trafficking ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    1 week ago

  • Doubts about Robertson’s good news day
    The trading banks yesterday concluded that though GDP figures released yesterday show the economy is not in recession, it may well soon be. Nevertheless, the fact that GDP has gone up 0.8 per cent in the latest quarter and that StatsNZ revised the previous quarter’s figure to show a ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 week ago

  • The Votes That Media Dare Not Speak Its Name
    .Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work..A recent political opinion poll (20 September) on TV1 presented what could only be called bleak news for the Left Bloc:National: 37%, down two points equating to 46 seatsLabour: 27%, down one point (34 ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    1 week ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #38 2023
    Open access notables At our roots Skeptical Science is about cognition of the results of climate science research in the minds of the entire human population. Ideally we'd be perfectly communicating understanding of Earth's climate, and perfectly understood. We can only approximate that, but hopefully converging closer to perfection. With ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

  • Failing To Hold Back The Flood: The Edgy Politics of the Twenty-First Century.
    Coming Over The Top: Rory Stewart's memoir, Politics On The Edge, lays bare the dangerous inadequacies of the Western World's current political model.VERY FEW NEW ZEALANDERS will have heard of Rory Stewart. Those with a keen eye for the absurdities of politics may recognise the name as that of the ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago

  • New community-level energy projects to support more than 800 Māori households
    Seven more innovative community-scale energy projects will receive government funding through the Māori and Public Housing Renewable Energy Fund to bring more affordable, locally generated clean energy to more than 800 Māori households, Energy and Resources Minister Dr Megan Woods says. “We’ve already funded 42 small-scale clean energy projects that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago

  • Huge boost to Te Tai Tokerau flood resilience
    The Government has approved new funding that will boost resilience and greatly reduce the risk of major flood damage across Te Tai Tokerau. Significant weather events this year caused severe flooding and damage across the region. The $8.9m will be used to provide some of the smaller communities and maraes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Napier’s largest public housing development comes with solar
    The largest public housing development in Napier for many years has been recently completed and has the added benefit of innovative solar technology, thanks to Government programmes, says Housing Minister Dr Megan Woods. The 24 warm, dry homes are in Seddon Crescent, Marewa and Megan Woods says the whanau living ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Te Whānau a Apanui and the Crown initial Deed of Settlement I Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me...
    Māori: Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna te Whakaaetanga Whakataunga Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna i tētahi Whakaaetanga Whakataunga hei whakamihi i ō rātou tāhuhu kerēme Tiriti o Waitangi. E tekau mā rua ngā hapū o roto mai o Te Whānau ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Plan for 3,000 more public homes by 2025 – regions set to benefit
    Regions around the country will get significant boosts of public housing in the next two years, as outlined in the latest public housing plan update, released by the Housing Minister, Dr Megan Woods. “We’re delivering the most public homes each year since the Nash government of the 1950s with one ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Immigration settings updates
    Judicial warrant process for out-of-hours compliance visits 2023/24 Recognised Seasonal Employer cap increased by 500 Additional roles for Construction and Infrastructure Sector Agreement More roles added to Green List Three-month extension for onshore Recovery Visa holders The Government has confirmed a number of updates to immigration settings as part of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Poroporoaki: Tā Patrick (Patu) Wahanga Hohepa
    Tangi ngunguru ana ngā tai ki te wahapū o Hokianga Whakapau Karakia. Tārehu ana ngā pae maunga ki Te Puna o te Ao Marama. Korihi tangi ana ngā manu, kua hinga he kauri nui ki te Wao Nui o Tāne. He Toa. He Pou. He Ahorangi. E papaki tū ana ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Renewable energy fund to support community resilience
    40 solar energy systems on community buildings in regions affected by Cyclone Gabrielle and other severe weather events Virtual capability-building hub to support community organisations get projects off the ground Boost for community-level renewable energy projects across the country At least 40 community buildings used to support the emergency response ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • COVID-19 funding returned to Government
    The lifting of COVID-19 isolation and mask mandates in August has resulted in a return of almost $50m in savings and recovered contingencies, Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. Following the revocation of mandates and isolation, specialised COVID-19 telehealth and alternative isolation accommodation are among the operational elements ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Appointment of District Court Judge
    Susie Houghton of Auckland has been appointed as a new District Court Judge, to serve on the Family Court, Attorney-General David Parker said today.  Judge Houghton has acted as a lawyer for child for more than 20 years. She has acted on matters relating to the Hague Convention, an international ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Government invests further in Central Hawke’s Bay resilience
    The Government has today confirmed $2.5 million to fund a replace and upgrade a stopbank to protect the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant. “As a result of Cyclone Gabrielle, the original stopbank protecting the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant was destroyed. The plant was operational within 6 weeks of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Govt boost for Hawke’s Bay cyclone waste clean-up
    Another $2.1 million to boost capacity to deal with waste left in Cyclone Gabrielle’s wake. Funds for Hastings District Council, Phoenix Contracting and Hog Fuel NZ to increase local waste-processing infrastructure. The Government is beefing up Hawke’s Bay’s Cyclone Gabrielle clean-up capacity with more support dealing with the massive amount ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Taupō Supercars revs up with Government support
    The future of Supercars events in New Zealand has been secured with new Government support. The Government is getting engines started through the Major Events Fund, a special fund to support high profile events in New Zealand that provide long-term economic, social and cultural benefits. “The Repco Supercars Championship is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • There is no recession in NZ, economy grows nearly 1 percent in June quarter
    The economy has turned a corner with confirmation today New Zealand never was in recession and stronger than expected growth in the June quarter, Finance Minister Grant Robertson said. “The New Zealand economy is doing better than expected,” Grant Robertson said. “It’s continuing to grow, with the latest figures showing ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Highest legal protection for New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs
    The Government has accepted the Environment Court’s recommendation to give special legal protection to New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs, Te Waikoropupū Springs (also known as Pupū Springs), Environment Minister David Parker announced today.   “Te Waikoropupū Springs, near Takaka in Golden Bay, have the second clearest water in New Zealand after ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • More support for victims of migrant exploitation
    Temporary package of funding for accommodation and essential living support for victims of migrant exploitation Exploited migrant workers able to apply for a further Migrant Exploitation Protection Visa (MEPV), giving people more time to find a job Free job search assistance to get people back into work Use of 90-day ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Strong export boost as NZ economy turns corner
    An export boost is supporting New Zealand’s economy to grow, adding to signs that the economy has turned a corner and is on a stronger footing as we rebuild from Cyclone Gabrielle and lock in the benefits of multiple new trade deals, Finance Minister Grant Robertson says. “The economy is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Funding approved for flood resilience work in Te Karaka
    The Government has approved $15 million to raise about 200 homes at risk of future flooding. More than half of this is expected to be spent in the Tairāwhiti settlement of Te Karaka, lifting about 100 homes there. “Te Karaka was badly hit during Cyclone Gabrielle when the Waipāoa River ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Further business support for cyclone-affected regions
    The Government is helping businesses recover from Cyclone Gabrielle and attract more people back into their regions. “Cyclone Gabrielle has caused considerable damage across North Island regions with impacts continuing to be felt by businesses and communities,” Economic Development Minister Barbara Edmonds said. “Building on our earlier business support, this ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • New maintenance facility at Burnham Military Camp underway
    Defence Minister Andrew Little has turned the first sod to start construction of a new Maintenance Support Facility (MSF) at Burnham Military Camp today. “This new state-of-art facility replaces Second World War-era buildings and will enable our Defence Force to better maintain and repair equipment,” Andrew Little said. “This Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Foreign Minister to attend United Nations General Assembly
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta will represent New Zealand at the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York this week, before visiting Washington DC for further Pacific focussed meetings. Nanaia Mahuta will be in New York from Wednesday 20 September, and will participate in UNGA leaders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Midwives’ pay equity offer reached
    Around 1,700 Te Whatu Ora employed midwives and maternity care assistants will soon vote on a proposed pay equity settlement agreed by Te Whatu Ora, the Midwifery Employee Representation and Advisory Service (MERAS) and New Zealand Nurses Association (NZNO), Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. “Addressing historical pay ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • New Zealand provides support to Morocco
    Aotearoa New Zealand will provide humanitarian support to those affected by last week’s earthquake in Morocco, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced today. “We are making a contribution of $1 million to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to help meet humanitarian needs,” Nanaia Mahuta said. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Government invests in West Coast’s roading resilience
    The Government is investing over $22 million across 18 projects to improve the resilience of roads in the West Coast that have been affected by recent extreme weather, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins confirmed today.  A dedicated Transport Resilience Fund has been established for early preventative works to protect the state ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Government invests in Greymouth’s future
    The Government has today confirmed a $2 million grant towards the regeneration of Greymouth’s CBD with construction of a new two-level commercial and public facility. “It will include a visitor facility centred around a new library. Additionally, it will include retail outlets on the ground floor, and both outdoor and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Nanaia Mahuta to attend PIF Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta will attend the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, in Suva, Fiji alongside New Zealand’s regional counterparts. “Aotearoa New Zealand is deeply committed to working with our pacific whanau to strengthen our cooperation, and share ways to combat the challenges facing the Blue Pacific Continent,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • PREFU shows no recession, growing economy, more jobs and wages ahead of inflation
    Economy to grow 2.6 percent on average over forecast period Treasury not forecasting a recession Inflation to return to the 1-3 percent target band next year Wages set to grow 4.8 percent a year over forecast period Unemployment to peak below the long-term average Fiscal Rules met - Net debt ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • New cancer centre opens in Christchurch
    Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall proudly opened the Canterbury Cancer Centre in Christchurch today. The new facility is the first of its kind and was built with $6.5 million of funding from the Government’s Infrastructure Reference Group scheme for shovel-ready projects allocated in 2020. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Government invests in top of the south’s roading resilience
    $12 million to improve the resilience of roads in the Nelson, Marlborough and Tasman regions Hope Bypass earmarked in draft Government Policy Statement on land transport $127 million invested in the top of the south’s roads since flooding in 2021 and 2022 The Government is investing over $12 million to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

  • New Zealanders continue to support the revitalisation of te reo as we celebrate Te Wiki o te Reo Mā...
    Ko tēnei te wiki e whakanui ana i tō tātou reo rangatira. Ko te wā tuku reo Māori, e whakanuia tahitia ai te reo ahakoa kei hea ake tēnā me tēnā o tātou, ka tū ā te Rātū te 14 o Mahuru, ā te 12 o ngā hāora i te ahiahi. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

  • New Wildlife Act to better protect native species
    The 70-year-old Wildlife Act will be replaced with modern, fit-for-purpose legislation to better protect native species and improve biodiversity, Minister of Conservation Willow-Jean Prime has announced.   “New species legislation is urgently needed to address New Zealand’s biodiversity crisis,” Willow-Jean Prime said.   “More than 4,000 of our native species are currently ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

  • Further safety initiatives for Auckland City Centre
    Central and Local Government are today announcing a range of new measures to tackle low-level crime and anti-social behaviour in the Auckland CBD to complement Police scaling up their presence in the area. “Police have an important role to play in preventing and responding to crime, but there is more ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2023-09-28T21:28:27+00:00