No class National

Written By: - Date published: 5:39 pm, May 15th, 2018 - 97 comments
Categories: feminism, jacinda ardern, national, same old national, sexism - Tags:

National is not handling losing power very well.

The latest evidence is a male National MP calling Jacinda Ardern “a stupid young girl” and refusing to own up to it.

Newshub reports:

In Parliament last week, while the Prime Minister was speaking, a National Party MP hurled a “very sexist remark” across the Chamber.

He – and yes, Newshub can confirm the remark was made by a man – called Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern a “stupid little girl.”

As soon as the comment was made, Speaker Trevor Mallard stopped proceedings in the House, calling for the person who made the “very sexist remark” to apologise.

A week later, the culprit still hasn’t owned up to the remark. If they ever do, they will have to stand in Parliament, withdraw the remark and apologise.

They will also have to face the public shame of having called the Prime Minister a “stupid little girl” in the year 2018.

At the time the comment was made, Mr Mallard said the remark wasn’t made by Leader of the Opposition Simon Bridges; “It was someone behind.”

Behind Mr Bridges sits Matt Doocey, Jonathan Young, Gerry Brownlee and Nick Smith.

Other men in close proximity are Simon O’Connor, David Bennett, Jami-Lee Ross, Chris Finlayson, David Carter and Paul Goldsmith.

Here is the video:

Simon Bridges described the incident as being part of Parliament’s “cut and thrust”.

He is wrong. It is a sign that within National’s ranks sexism and misogyny are alive and well.

97 comments on “No class National ”

  1. dukeofurl 1

    One of those names stands out as being ‘young and reckless’ and a mouth to match

  2. Simon Bridges described the incident as being part of Parliament’s “cut and thrust”

    So name calling , deflection and going off topic is part of Parliaments ” cut and thrust ” , is it?

    That may go somewhat towards explaining the reason why National is now in opposition , perhaps. And how and why they left the country in an appalling mess.

    Channeling John Keys ‘screaming Left wing conspiracy theorists ‘ remarks,… it seemed as though the other National stooges learned well from their little master…

    And , like John Key being caught lying about the XKEYSCORE mass surveillance software after The Moment of Truth , to Stephen Joyce’s 11 billion hole, to

    • Keys, Smiths, and Bennetts denial of a housing crisis and Keys denial there was a tax haven in NZ.

      And when that fails they resort to petty name calling , lying ,deflection and outright political smearing.

      I suppose that is all part of Bridges concept of parliaments ‘ cut and thrust’.

      No wonder they are in opposition,… NZ ‘ers have had a gutsful of them.

    • Anon 2.2

      “So name calling , deflection and going off topic is part of Parliaments ” cut and thrust ” , is it?” – I don’t watch parliament TV often but I can’t recall seeing anything else.

      • WILD KATIPO 2.2.1

        L0l – if it had been me I would have told the guy ” Shut your cakehole and sit down ya bloody mongrel”,..

        But then again ,… this is not Australia …

        And ( thankfully ) I’m not in politics.

  3. Simon Bridges described the incident as being part of Parliament’s “cut and thrust”

    So name calling , deflection and going off topic is part of Parliaments ” cut and thrust ” , is it?

    That may go somewhat towards explaining the reason why National is now in opposition , perhaps. And how and why they left the country in an appalling mess.

    Channeling John Keys ‘screaming Left wing conspiracy theorists ‘ remarks,… it seemed as though the other National stooges learned well from their little master…

    And , like John Key being caught lying about the XKEYSCORE mass surveillance software after The Moment of Truth , to Stephen Joyce’s 11 billion hole, to Keys , Smiths and Bennetts housing crisis denials, and Keys tax haven ,…we see the parameters of what Bridges calls parliamentary ‘ cut and thrust’…

    Its called LYING.

    And when that fails , they resort to petty name calling , derogatory statements and outright political smearing.

    No wonder NZ’ers have had a gutsful of them.

  4. mac1 4

    This perpetrator I nominate for ‘doofus of the week”.

    Gutless male who does not fully deserve the title of ‘man’.

    I heard the original while watching question time. He knows who he was. The Speaker challenged him to own up straight away. He did however exempt the Leader of the Opposition from his suspects.

    Possibly connected, but today in question time, Mr Bennett got told by the Speaker he had a ban for two days from interjecting during Question time for too many, and for bringing the Speaker into his interjecting. Speaker Mallard also told off Brownlee roundly for casting aspersions on his impartiality when Brownlee commented that the Speaker was favouring the government during a point of order.

    Bridges totally got outshone by Ardern in question 1. Her acuity and wit were far superior to his pedestrian fossicking.

    • You know , I wouldn’t get too upset by comments from any Nat party member , Adern is made of far sterner stuff with big shoulders to easily deflect any childish comments like that…

      What alarms me far more is that for 9 years Bridges and his ilk , – English , Key , Bennett et al , were actually in power and that this is the sort of banal , puerile mentality they actually possess…

      It is genuinely alarming when juxtaposed with the large numbers of homeless and poorly paid workers we have in our country today. And that is only the start. From moldy hospitals to polluted rivers,… it is incredulous that we actually had these types in power over us.

      And just look at this ranting buffoon when interviewed by John Campbell when he was a Nat party junior… the sheer arrogant belligerence seethes out of him…

      john campbell interviews simon bridges FULL campbell live – YouTube
      Video for john campbell interviews simon bridges – bridges rants▶ 16:02
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eD2JKoKGrjA

      • toad 4.1.1

        This was/is GOLD!

        The more times it is reposted, RT’d whatever, the better. Shows the bullying & raving intellectual lightweight that is Bridges up so well.

        Even Gerry couldn’t do a worse interview.

    • Draco T Bastard 4.2

      Gutless male who does not fully deserve the title of ‘man’.

      And definitely not the title of Right Honourable.

      That applies to all the MPs sitting next to him who haven’t called him out as well.

      • Hooch 4.2.1

        Perhaps they should “get some guts” and own up

      • alwyn 4.2.2

        “Gutless male who does not fully deserve the title of ‘man’.
        And definitely not the title of Right Honourable.”

        You do realise, don’t you, that there is only one person in the Parliament who fits that description?
        That is the leader of the Government, Winston the First.
        I think your description of him is a fair one but I am surprised you have said it and I didn’t realise you had such an accurate opinion of the New Zealand First ratbags, and the various Labour MPs who surround him in the House.
        https://www.parliament.nz/en/mps-and-electorates/house-seating-plan/

        • Draco T Bastard 4.2.2.1

          No, alwyn, that is not true. In fact, that is your normal lying.

          You know damn well that I was referring to the entire National Party. It was a National Party MP that said it and it is now the entire National Party that is protecting that scum making them also scum.

          • alwyn 4.2.2.1.1

            My comment is absolutely accurate.
            There is precisely one member of Parliament who is both male and entitled to the honorific “Right Honourable”.
            It is you who are lying if you deny that. But you are used to that aren’t you?
            If you think I am wrong please tell me who else qualifies?
            Don’t be so silly. If you made a mistake with your statement just admit it. It really isn’t that hard you know.

            It is possible that Mallard himself can use the honorific. I really don’t think he could be said to be talking about himself though. He certainly was a major ratbag in his previous roles in the house of course.

            • alwyn 4.2.2.1.1.1

              Actually I must correct my statement.
              There is still a single National MP who is entitled to the description Right Honourable. David Carter retains the honorific, if not the job as Speaker.
              Were you accusing Carter of having made the interjection?

    • Baba Yaga 4.3

      How about the two gutless males who made a comment to Judith Collins in Parliament about botox? I can name them. Should I?

      • WILD KATIPO 4.3.1

        Its a long bow comparing Jacinda Adern with ‘Milk powder, Swamp Kauri , Bottled Water , Orivida Judith Collins ‘ , however…

        And last time I looked,… Adern wasn’t relegated to the backbenches for drawing light to the skulduggery going on in her govt such as tax haven creation, either …

        And so you want to draw comparisons between ‘ageism’ here ?

        So what?… I know heaps of younger people who use Botox… bizarre as it seems to me. And one other thing- Judith Collins never made Prime Minister either. Adern did.

        Can you imagine if one of the coalition called Collins a ‘silly little girl’ ?

        Oh wait , …. seems to be a National party ‘thing ‘ to indulge in puerility with Paula Bennett condescendingly calling Adern ‘Sweetie’ when she felt so high and mighty hiding behind John Key…

        Not so high and mighty now,…. is she.

        • Baba Yaga 4.3.1.1

          Making a joke to a woman about botox is sexist. Your hypocrisy is cringeworthy.

      • mac1 4.3.2

        I do not know the circumstances or the words used, Baba Yaga, or what the consequences were. Did they get asked to withdraw and apologise? Did they then do so?

        If you were to name them, correctly and without a shadow of doubt, with corroboration and giving the circumstances in which the insult was given….. fine.

        Why would you want to? What is your purpose? That, too, is important.

        I had a meal with one of my daughters today. I am glad she is not an MP and has to run a similar gauntlet.

        As the Speaker said today interjections should be rare and preferably witty. What I heard today was two MPs have to stand, withdraw and apologise, ten people interject when the Speaker forbade interjections during one reply, several requests and warnings to both sides of the House and one time when the Speaker counted twelve people yelling in what he called a barrage IIRC. That was question time!

        Not edifying, not parliamentary, not acceptable.

        • Baba Yaga 4.3.2.1

          Judith Collins was giving a speech during the usual Wednesday General Debate. The comment was sexist, and was aimed directly at Collins. It was not about Oravida or any other beat up that would be fair game, it was about botox. The comment was made by David Parker, and is audible https://youtu.be/l7Rysw0FRwQ.

          There is enormous hypocrisy among the left, and this is just the latest example.

  5. Pataua4life 5

    He must be a rich prick. Why didn’t Ron Mark just give him the finger.
    You can’t have you Coke and eat it to Papadopolus.

  6. invisiphilia 6

    Simon Bridges claimed this incident was just part of the “cut and thrust” of Parliamentary debate. It’s pretty indicative of how Simon rolls…more like Game of Thrones or should that be Game of Groans?

    • Obtrectator 6.1

      ” …more like Game of Thrones or should that be Game of Groans?”

      No, “Game of Drones”. You know – those male bees good for reproductive purposes, but little else.

  7. Pataua4life 7

    Hell maybe Trevor could have just given him the bash.

    • From smacker to speaker… they say Tau’s smarting from it…

      L0L!… this is our NZ politicians!

      Still ,… at least they only throw punches and slaps, not nuclear bombs ,… and the public , in turn ,… throws things like dildos… aren’t we glad we live in the country we do?

      Shes a cracker, mate !

      Comedian John Oliver mocks Steven Joyce – YouTube
      Video for stephen joyce john oliver dildo▶ 4:30
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chQYPYbB3ss

  8. Incognito 8

    Aahhh, a whiff of personal responsibility with a strong smell of hypocrisy. There’s something rotten in the Opposition.

  9. Kat 9

    National have no answer to Jacinda Ardern. There is no one in the opposition that can match her.

    Somewhere the Nact helicopter is fueled up and waiting for the next “leader” to be flown in and “take control”.

    Look closely at the opposition the largest in recent political history and you see they are all clutching at that single straw of arrogance for oxygen.

    National can’t wait until the PM goes on leave to launch into the acting PM.

    Winston however knows every move and will have the time of his life. “the opposition based on performance are just not worth the pay they receive”….. Love it.

  10. Muttonbird 10

    Logic suggests whoever made the statement is considerably older than Ardern. Reeks of Nick Smith if we are honest.

  11. Roy Cartland 11

    Who is stupid enough? I’d say Brownlee and Smith are; Brownlee continually challenging the Speaker with smart-arse points of order. But today David Bennett was told off three times for braying like a buffoon, so who knows… the whole bunch is capable.

    • Incognito 11.1

      Let’s do an audio line-up with each of the suspects holding up a number.

    • patricia bremner 11.2

      Or incapable Roy! Most relied on the Key Joyce English factor.

      • mary_a 11.2.1

        Hi Patricia (10.2) … Natz does seem to be foundering about at the moment doesn’t it? No direction … much like a leaderless, rudderless boat, going nowhere fast. Fun to watch.

        All that bitterness, spite, vindictiveness and murk weighing it down.

        Natz might be a big opposition, but it lacks strength and credibility. No threat there to the coalition.

    • McFlock 11.3

      Brownlee was the one going “what was it”.
      If it wasn’t him then it happened right beside him so he’d know – but back in the old days the guy who acted the most innocent was always top of my list to watch, lol.

    • Ffloyd 11.4

      Was Finlayson in the mix. Sounds very much like something he would day. In that pompous little voice of his. Shudder.

    • mary_a 11.5

      Roy Cartland (10) … This one has Brownlee all over it! Gobby and gutless!

  12. Chris T 12

    Given some of the childish crap both sides yell at each other like idiots I’m surprised this is even noteworthy

    • Muttonbird 12.1

      This is the go to strategy for Nat followers. When one of their MPs screws up their supporters seek to generalise the criticism by saying ‘both sides do it’.

      You’re doing it now.

      • Chris T 12.1.1

        Not at all

        A I’m not a Nat supporter

        B What I find funny is you getting all offended over one example of childish name calling in the house, because you find one example of them sexist and somehow it makes it worse than the other lot

        • WILD KATIPO 12.1.1.1

          Ahhhh – PIFFLE !

          And please take note of the ‘COLOUR’ of the balloons…

          Most important .

          Sesame Street: One of These Things – YouTube
          Video for one of these things is not like other▶ 0:30
          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsRjQDrDnY8

        • Marcus Morris 12.1.1.2

          Surely the issue is not that it was a “trifle” but that someone does not have the courage to own up to what the speaker has adjudged to be an inappropriate comment. Jacinda runs rings around Bridges whose latest whinge is that the Government is being high handed in its response to Maori Treaty claims when it was his government, in speeding up settlement processes, that has caused the latest inter-Iwi dispute. Now we have that clown Nathan Guy, stirring up antagonism within the farming community, by claiming that Damian O’Connor has been too slow in reacting to the mycoplasma bovis issue. Perhaps the weakening of border controls brought about by his government might have had something to do with that. The latest safety issue re large articulated trucks can certainly be traced back to the last government,s lust for deregulation. Pike River and cutting back on the number of mine inspectors springs to mind.

        • Delia 12.1.1.3

          It is noteworthy because it is the Prime Minister and I would say that if it were a National Prime Minister..the position should be respected.

    • patricia bremner 12.2

      Chris it is sexist. Like calling a National male Member “A silly little boy”

      Translation silly little= childish boy=hasn’t grown up.

      That is not ok.

      By the way, if you listen to the video, you will find the Government did not interject when Bridges spoke at all, but there was a constant barrage from the Opposition when Government Members spoke.

      • Anon 12.2.1

        So the insult is that the person hasn’t grown up = somehow sexist???

        • WILD KATIPO 12.2.1.1

          Or perhaps the Labour party in England should have called Margaret Thatcher

          A “stupid little girl” ,….

          But they wouldn’t have and they didn’t , and the only reason the dis-empowered Nat MP’s did here in NZ is that it is an affront to them because ;

          A / They lost and lost with a sour taste in their mouths ( echoes of a sense of privilege and entitlement , perhaps ?)…

          B / The fact that Adern is younger than most of them – AND managed to achieve becoming the Prime Minister , – and they didn’t.

          C / They can find no real point of leverage to attack her with.

          D / They fear losing support / large donations from their backers, – including those business interests in China.

          E / She is a popular leader both here and abroad, – unlike the fawning John Key who became a laughing stock around the world and known Obama lapdog.

          John Oliver John Key’s Radio Interview – YouTube
          Video for john oliver john key radio interview▶ 1:44
          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtLCZK43VEY

          John Oliver – John Key the Ponytail Puller – YouTube
          Video for john oliver john key▶ 3:14
          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihReeJg08ns

          • Chris T 12.2.1.1.1

            Or it could be just one MP out of many MPs yelling shit who picked a more moronic thing to say than the others

            Serious question

            Have people on here actually watched parliament TV?

            It’s pathetically embarrassing a lot of the time

            • Cinny 12.2.1.1.1.1

              “Have people on here actually watched parliament TV?”

              Yes, I do, all the time, have watched it for years, but I missed it yesterday.

              However, I have noticed that national are not handling being in opposition, their egos won’t allow them. Also noticed that Jacinda is outstanding in the house, even more so since becoming PM, I feel very proud of her in the house.

        • mac1 12.2.1.2

          Anon, the reference was to a “girl” not a ‘person’. If the insult had been “stupid little person” then it would not have been sexist; an insult but not sexist. The addition of the gender specific ‘girl’ coupled with being spoken by an adult male opposition MP, (who showed he had no class by not owning up possibly through shame, why else not own up?) and referring to an expectant mother of mature years is sexist and a put down directed at someone who is Prime Minister of the country.

          • WILD KATIPO 12.2.1.2.1

            So well said,… and yes…

            The fact that like a ‘little schoolboy’ caught out by the teacher making some stupid lewd little remark and fearing to own up says volumes about these creeps…

            And people keep voting for them !

            Now that’s a wonder all in itself !!!

        • Marcus Morris 12.2.1.3

          Listen to the comment – it was certainly more than that.

      • Chris T 12.2.2

        I honestly hold no sympathy for either side.

        Clark got innuendo and crap thrown. Key got innuendo and crap thrown. Ardern now gets crap and innuendo thrown.

        It’s hardly new

        • crashcart 12.2.2.1

          Whilst by in large you are right about the chamber being a place for adults to act like they are in a school yard; if this were normal and not new then the perpetrator would have quickly admitted their mistake and withdrawn the comment. As has been pointed out, the fact they have not shows they know they stepped over a line and are too scared to face the consequences of an ill considered interjection.

        • mac1 12.2.2.2

          Chris T, it’s partially the nature of the crap thrown.

          Mostly, it’s the inaction, the cover up, the refusal to own responsibility.

          Similar to the tactic of ‘dirty politics’, it’s a mean-spirited and funkless style, using anonymity to hide.

          In the event, it simply shines a bad light on the whole of the senior members of the Opposition in their dark corner of the House, whether all of them deserve the illumination or not.

        • Baba Yaga 12.2.2.3

          The left is being very, very, very sensitive about Jacinda though.

          • crashcart 12.2.2.3.1

            From what I have seen most people aren’t particularly concerned about the nature of the comment. It was sexist but that is more harmful to the Nats then it is to the PM.

            The right seem to be pretty happy for their MP’s to be total cowards and not willing to even own what they have to say. Who ever the minister was he is a total pussy.

      • alwyn 12.2.3

        “the Government did not interject when Bridges spoke at all”.

        The interchange took place during Question Time apparently. I don’t think, although I may be out of date, that interjections are allowed while a question is being asked but they are allowed during an answer.
        Bridges asks questions during QT and therefore any interjections while he was speaking would be out of order and the Speaker, if he heard them, would have to stop it happening.
        At Question time most of the statements made by Government members would be answers to questions and interjections are allowed.
        Anyone who is up to date with Speakers’ Rulings able to confirm this?

  13. ianmac 13

    Dr Smith has made several errors in recent times including mis-speaks even when reading from his own texts. He also mis-remembers the detail of the “attack” on him in Nelson during the last election, and repeated in Court during his court case last week.
    Therefore I would wonder if Nick is really losing the plot in his mental acumen.
    Hope not because it would be a sad slide down if so.

    Mind you It doesn’t sound like the sort of words that he would use against Jacinda.

    • tc 13.1

      Nick smith never had the plot to start with. Along with Brownlee and others they are neoliberal old white men full of arrogance and selfish agendas.

      Imo they will find difficulty with sinecures in the outside world where they’re bullying behaviour doesn’t cut it.

    • Cinny 13.2

      Re nick smith, have had a few encounters with him, challenging his spin, he hates being told he his wrong, especially by a woman, turns red and starts shouting and not listening.

      Re Rose, nick smith and the rat poison, was wondering if an MP can be done for lying in court.

      Was cleaning out the girls old school books in the weekend, came across Miss 13’s old homework book, there was a descriptive sentence she had written for homework last year…. and I quote….. “Nick Smith has so embarrassed his face turned bright red like a tomato.” Lmao, I bet her teacher cracked up when she read it, I sure did.

      • ianmac 13.2.1

        To me the importance of Smith’s stumbles are a warning for him especially if he doesn’t really seem to understand what his problem is.
        Remember when Nick was appointed Deputy Leader for National in 2003 under Brash, then resigned as his stress levels were too much to handle?

  14. mauī 14

    A shrubbery hit job on National?? This is completely out of character for Lynch. Let me guess this didn’t make the 6pm news and the story will be archived into the shrub’s “politics – evidence of fair and balanced” folder.

    • Muttonbird 14.1

      If there’s one thing that gets Lynch fuming more than the socially responsible left it is condescension towards women.

      She’ll have written this in a rage momentarily forgetting who she was criticising.

  15. Ankerrawshark 15

    Calling an adult women a silly little girl is patronising demeaning and sexist.

    Re sexism…….times up.

    • mac1 15.1

      I’m wondering what Paula Bennett and Judith Collins said in the perpetrator’s ear, and to the condoning colleagues around him?

  16. Robert Guyton 16

    The comment was a minor taunt (heh) but refusing own up to saying it is the issue.
    If the Speaker heard correctly, the cowardly lack of response from the person who delivered the line (and those nearby who heard it) is where the shame lies.

  17. One Anonymous Bloke 17

    Core National Party values on display: misogyny, gutter ethics, zero personal responsibility.

  18. e-clectic 18

    Another case for rejigging the seating in the House to either be arranged alphabetically or drawn by ballot. That simple rearrangement would reduce the amount of interjections, name calling etc etc

  19. mac1 19

    You mean the perpetrator could have said, “Mr Speaker, It was me. I cannot endure the shame of allowing the public to believe that it was one of my honourable colleagues who said this thing”?

    Or, are his honourable colleagues all sniggering and elbowing the perpetrator in approval?

    I’d be saying to the fellow that he’d better own up as I don’t want it to be me or my better behaved colleagues to carry the can for your mistake. I’d be saying this is the party that I believe in, and you have besmirched it with your continued silence. Do the honourable thing. The longer this stays in the public arena, the worse it becomes.

    I’d say that such an action gives tremendous ammunition to our opposition to fire at all of us for years, Did you not hear the taunt thrown at us by Winston Peters at question time when Paula Bennett was going after the government about the need to have workers in the kiwifruit industry and getting beneficiaries forced back into work, and instead we had the shame of having the racist comments of Lockwood Smith thrown back into our faces?

    Mrs Mac1 had the thought that the silence from that portion of the opposition bench indicates that the perpetrator is a senior member and therefore unable to be called out by his more junior colleagues.

    Also, as this seems to have triggered a strongly indignant response within me as I have a daughter of Ardern’s age, what are the women in the National caucus privately or publicly saying about their colleague, to to him?

    Another commenter says that there will be lots of women who won’t vote National for this. It’s a truism in politics that people remember the things they don’t like about a party and vote accordingly. Over a period these negatives pile up.

    I wonder too, that like the women who will remember this incident, how many fair-minded men, fathers like me of daughters, husbands, grandfathers even, who will remember the National party negatively through this episode? And vote accordingly.

  20. Jackel 20

    That’s a highly disrespectful statement and a type of harassment. The male who said that probably has significant psychological problems.

    • Yeah mate, – hes still in grief over John Key buggering off and leaving them all in the lurch with only Boring Bill to go up against the Relentlessly Positive Adern… seems like hes still stuck in the early stages of that grief process… understandable in a way as the senior Peters who made the decision on who will govern is now working with the younger Adern…

      Its just too much to handle for some of those National types…

  21. Mark 21

    I bet Labour members have said a lot of shit things about Nats and hurled insults over the years. Suck it up guys and move on.

    • Jeremy 21.1

      So it should be fairly easy for you to provide a link to Hansard showing these “shit things” and “insults” then?

  22. Cemetery Jones 22

    Brownlee sounds guilty af in his response to Jenna Lynch.

    Still, looking at the Newshub article, this bit was funny:

    ‘But Minister for Women Julie Anne Genter says it’s not good enough.

    “People should get with the times, especially the National Party backbenches. Grow up,” she told Newshub.’

    Yeah right on Julie, who do these old white guys think they are calling someone a stupid little girl?

  23. Michelle 23

    Well they might have lots of money but they at all arse and no class this lot(gnats)

  24. Stuart Munro 24

    The use of “little” tends to point to Brownlee. From his perspective pretty much all of the government are small, they lack the thick multiple layers of taxpayer funded subcutaneous fat that makes Gerry so attractive to marine mammals and white pointers, albeit for different reasons.

    • McFlock 24.1

      Dude, fat jokes?

      The tories are gonna love jumping on the identity politics bandwagon at that.
      Probably try to use the term “fat shaming” in all seriousness. They’ll be very concerned about poor gerry’s self-esteem.

      • Stuart Munro 24.1.1

        Self-esteem is the only kind Gerry could expect – the public have nothing but contempt for him.

        If someone chooses to personify greed and shame in the way that Gerry does he should expect to be relentlessly mocked and ridiculed. This is the natural response of a democracy, it is not because he is fat but because his fatness is a natural metaphor for his voracity.

        He deserves as much pity as he showed the people of Christchurch: none whatsoever.

      • Gabby 24.1.2

        They haven’t misplaced their big boy pants have they?

      • Muttonbird 24.1.3

        I don’t think want of self esteem has ever been a problem for big Gerry.

  25. Ms Fargo 25

    Once again I’m ashamed that bitter old men get New Zealand in the Guardian for all the wrong reasons. Ponytail pulling, dildo face and now this. Page 25, sorry can’t upload the link.

  26. Delia 26

    To bad because they should have been thrown out of the House for speaking to the PM like that. I suspect I know who it is, a big mouth who constantly interjects in the House, but has not got the guts to own his own words.

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    Buzz from the Beehive Housing Minister Chris Bishop delivered news – packed with the ingredients to enflame political passions – worthy of supplanting Winston Peters in headline writers’ priorities. He popped up at the post-Cabinet press conference to promise a crackdown on unruly and antisocial state housing tenants. His ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 hours ago
  • Will it make the boat go faster?
    Ele Ludemann writes – The Reserve Bank is advertising for a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion advisor. The Bank has one mandate – to keep inflation between one and three percent. It has failed in that and is only slowly getting inflation back down to the upper limit. Will it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi The fact that a ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    6 hours ago
  • Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Bryce Edwards writes – Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 hours ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' at 10:10am on Tuesday, March 19
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Gavin Jacobson talks to Thomas Piketty 10 years on from Capital in the 21st Century The SalvoLocal scoop: Green MP’s business being investigated over migrant exploitation claims Stuff Steve KilgallonLocal deep-dive: The commercial contractors making money from School ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 hours ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things on Tuesday, March 19
    It’s a home - but Kāinga Ora tenants accused of “abusing the privilege” may lose it. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Government announced a crackdown on Kāinga Ora tenants who were unruly and/or behind on their rent, with Housing Minister Chris Bishop saying a place in a state ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    7 hours ago
  • New Life for Light Rail
    This is a guest post by Connor Sharp of Surface Light Rail  Light rail in Auckland: A way forward sooner than you think With the coup de grâce of Auckland Light Rail (ALR) earlier this year, and the shift of the government’s priorities to roads, roads, and more roads, it ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    8 hours ago
  • Why Are Bosses Nearly All Buffoons?
    Note: As a paid-up Webworm member, I’ve recorded this Webworm as a mini-podcast for you as well. Some of you said you liked this option - so I aim to provide it when I get a chance to record! Read more ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    11 hours ago
  • Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6.06 pm on March 18
    TL;DR: In my ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Monday, March 18:IKEA is accused of planting big forests in New Zealand to green-wash; REDD-MonitorA City for People takes a well-deserved victory lap over Wellington’s pro-YIMBY District Plan votes; A City for PeopleSteven Anastasiou takes a close look at the sticky ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    22 hours ago
  • Peters holds his ground on co-governance, but Willis wriggles on those tax cuts and SNA suspension l...
    Buzz from the Beehive Here’s hoping for a lively post-cabinet press conference when the PM and – perhaps – some of his ministers tell us what was discussed at their meeting today. Until then, Point of Order has precious little Beehive news to report after its latest monitoring of the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • Labour’s final report card
    David Farrar writes –  We now have almost all 2023 data in, which has allowed me to update my annual table of how  went against its promises. This is basically their final report card. The promise The result Build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • “Drunk Uncle at a Wedding”
    I’m a bit worried that I’ve started a previous newsletter with the words “just when you think they couldn’t get any worse…” Seems lately that I could begin pretty much every issue with that opening. Such is the nature of our coalition government that they seem to be outdoing each ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Geoffrey Miller writes – Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on Dune 2, and images of Islam
    Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture ...
    1 day ago
  • New Rail Operations Centre Promises Better Train Services
    Last week Transport Minster Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre. The new train control centre will see teams from KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Auckland One Rail working more closely together to improve train services across the city. The Auckland Rail Operations Centre in ...
    1 day ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things at 6.36am on Monday, March 18
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in an exit interview with Q+A yesterday the Government can and should sustain more debt to invest in infrastructure for future generations. Elsewhere in the news in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 6:36am: Read more ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than just a happy ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    1 day ago
  • The Kaka’s diary for the week to March 25 and beyond
    TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Bitter and angry; Winston First
    New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    1 day ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    1 day ago
  • Out of Touch.
    “I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The bewildering world of Chris Luxon – Guns for all, not no lunch for kids
    .“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    3 days ago
  • Expert Opinion: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
    3 days ago
  • Manufacturing The Truth.
    Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet –  is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
    3 days ago
  • A Powerful Sensation of Déjà Vu.
    Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
    3 days ago
  • Can you guess where world attention is focussed (according to Greenpeace)? It’s focussed on an EPA...
    Bob Edlin writes –  And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Further integrity problems for the Greens in suspending MP Darleen Tana
    Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Greens’ transparency missing in action
    For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    4 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    5 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    5 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • There’s a name for this
    Every year, in the Budget, Parliament forks out money to government agencies to do certain things. And every year, as part of the annual review cycle, those agencies are meant to report on whether they have done the things Parliament gave them that money for. Agencies which consistently fail to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Echoes of 1968 in 2024?  Pocock on the repetitive problems of the New Left
    Mike Grimshaw writes – Recent events in American universities point to an underlying crisis of coherent thinking, an issue that increasingly affects the progressive left across the Western world. This of course is nothing new as anyone who can either remember or has read of the late ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Two bar blues
    The thing about life’s little victories is that they can be followed by a defeat.Reader Darryl told me on Monday night:Test again Dave. My “head cold” last week became COVID within 24 hours, and is still with me. I hear the new variants take a bit longer to show up ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 13
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Angus Deaton on rethinking his economics IMFLocal scoop: The people behind Tamarind, the firm that left a $500m cleanup bill for taxpayers at Taranaki’s Tui oil well, are back operating in Taranaki under a different company name. Jonathan ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • AT Need To Lift Their Game
    Normally when we talk about accessing public transport it’s about improving how easy it is to get to, such as how easy is it to cross roads in a station/stop’s walking catchment, is it possible to cycle to safely, do bus connections work, or even if are there new routes/connections ...
    6 days ago
  • Christopher's Whopper.
    Politicians are not renowned for telling the truth. Some tell us things that are verifiably not true. They offer statements that omit critical pieces of information. Gloss over risks, preferring to offer the best case scenario.Some not truths are quite small, others amusing in their transparency. There are those repeated ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
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