No Right Turn: Electoral donations, corruption, and transparency

Written By: - Date published: 4:11 pm, June 11th, 2014 - 37 comments
Categories: corruption, democracy under attack, election funding, elections, john banks, len brown - Tags: , , ,

no-right-turn-256Reposted from No Right Turn.

Writing in the Herald, Fran O’Sullivan tells us what we all knew: that political donors have expectations, and want favours in exchange for their cash. She’s too polite (and Establishment) to call it corruption, but that’s what it is. Naturally, this being Fran O’Sullivan, she uses it as a springboard to attack Auckland Mayor Len Brown’s laundering of his donations for his 2011 mayoral campaign.

She’s right to do so: Len Brown is a money launderer who has gone far out of his way to hide who might be able to exert a corrupt influence over him (and there’s only one reason you’d go to that much effort…) And in local body politics, there are countless opportunities to repay donors. To give a pertinent example, my local Mayor (and now National candidate) Jono Naylor, voted to rezone land owned by the property developer who had paid for 95% of his campaign, which no doubt increased its value considerably (and by a hell of a lot more than the $36,000 paid for Naylor’s election). Brown could be doing the same. And in the absence of proper transparency, we rely on the media to expose his donors and prevent corruption.

At the same time, it needs to be recognised that that particular loophole has been plugged. Brown got away with it, but he won’t be doing it in future, and anyone giving him more than $1500 will have to be identified.

But while we’ve forced a welcome level of transparency on local body politics, most of the money given to national-level politicians is still secret. National raised the disclosure threshold for donations from $10,000 to $15,000, reducing the level of transparency and enabling corruption. So, if someone gives a party $10,000 in a brown paper bag, they get to know who they owe favours to – but we don’t. And the only reason to do this is to enable corrupt behaviour and the corrupt trading of influence.

We need to clean this up. Local body politicians must be transparent. Electorate candidates must be transparent. Its time we forced parties to do so as well. And if they’re worried about donors refusing to fund them if they can’t get favours in return, then we need to replace their money with transparent public funding. If the choice is spending public money or permitting corruption, I think its pretty clear.

37 comments on “No Right Turn: Electoral donations, corruption, and transparency ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Philj 1
    11 June 2014 at 4:31 pm

    xox
    Just how do you correct systemic corruption, as it is corrupted? In China I believe they execute some transgressors and this sends a signal to be careful.

  2. Wayne 2
    11 June 2014 at 5:34 pm

    You are hyperventilating.

    Do you seriously believe a political party (or rather the MPs of that party who are elected) can be corrupted for $15,000. Remember this limit is for political parties campaigning across the whole nation for the party vote, not for an individual constituency candidate of that party, where the threshold is very much lower ($1,500).

    New Zealand has among the most rigorous campaign spending disclosure rules in the world, and strict limits on what can be spent in election campaigns.

    There is a good reason why we do so well on the various international measures of the level of corruption, and that is because there is very little corruption.

    • vto 2.1
      11 June 2014 at 5:45 pm

      Wayne, those measures of corruption are about “perceptions” of corruption, not actual corruption. Good old naïve trusting kiwis eh Wayne ….. such a lovely green place NZ eh…. land of milk and honey, I mean money.

      You carry right on Wayne, but your generation of politicians has let the nation down. Your lot are the ones who have tarnished the place – left skidmarks behind.

      Banks, Williamson, Collins, it is all over …..

    • geoff 2.2
      11 June 2014 at 5:49 pm

      That’s why you get those donations split up, right Wayne?

      You know, just like Banks asked DotCom to do.

      I just wish that National and ACT had the balls to admit that they are the parties that represent big money interests.

      • Wayne 2.2.1
        11 June 2014 at 7:36 pm

        But look what happened to John Banks. You can’t split the donations and still comply with the law.

        Personally, I don’t care whether the limit is $5,000 or $15,000. My point is that no political party can be corrupted for $15,000.

        And I do know that most donors to individual campaigns do not like their names to be public, so they make donations of $1000 or less (the limit when I was in politics) to maintain their privacy.

        Ask David Cunliffe to name all the donors to his leadership campaign. I am sure he would like to name them all, but some of them value their privacy.

        • Tracey 2.2.1.1
          11 June 2014 at 7:55 pm

          why do they need privacy when they get nothing in return for their donation and expect nothing.

          • Wayne 2.2.1.1.1
            12 June 2014 at 9:50 am

            Tracey,

            Actually a fair question. I think some people just do not want it known that they donate to political parties, so they make their donations at a level that keeps their name private. For a local constituency that means less than $1,500 and for national level organisations it is $15,000.

            I guess the desire for anonymity is for much the same reason that people post on blogs under pseudonyms.

            • One Anonymous Bloke 2.2.1.1.1.1
              12 June 2014 at 10:00 am

              Offering an opinion is totes the same as offering a bribe. Is that feeble analogy the best you can do Dr. Mapp?

        • Kiwiri 2.2.1.2
          11 June 2014 at 10:50 pm

          Wayne’s asking price to be corrupted is much higher, you cheapos!
          You lot haven’t had much money to play with, have you?
          🙄

    • One Anonymous Bloke 2.3
      11 June 2014 at 5:50 pm

      Dr. Mapp, stop pretending: everyone knows National Party bribes are delivered in the form of post-parliamentary “lucrative business careers” (cf: Simon Lusk’s incontinent confessions).

      Unless you’re able to raise significant funds that is: cf: National’s corrupt dealings with Oravida and the low-life, Astle.

    • Lanthanide 2.4
      11 June 2014 at 5:53 pm

      Ok then Wayne, answer this:
      In what way does setting the limit at $15,000 instead of the previous limit of $10,000 improve democracy?

      If you don’t have a compelling reason for how democracy is improved with the higher limit, then it would seem there’s no reason the limit should be $15,000 instead of $10,000. Personally I’d go for a $5,000 limit, but you’re the one that seems to think $15,000 is necessary.

      • ghostwhowalksnz 2.4.1
        12 June 2014 at 12:42 pm

        Way back in the 1920s, Lloyd George created the Order of the British Empire, so those who couldnt afford to buy a peerage, instead could afford to buy a Knighthood (KBE).

        Im sure that National has a long menu of items that donors can be shown to improve their giving.

    • Tracey 2.5
      11 June 2014 at 6:26 pm

      have you told fran in her comments section that she is delusional.

      No need for any donations to be anonymous then Wayne?

    • vto 2.6
      11 June 2014 at 8:30 pm

      Wayne, why not have all donations thrown into a pot and then divvied up between the parties according to some formula…..?

      That would solve all corruption allegations, at least in this context.

      Unless of course donors want to influence politicians (i.e. corruption)

      Or unless of course they only want to support their particular political causes, in which case those of big business and big money will always win and that is clearly not acceptable.

      What say thee Wayne? I would be curious to hear your response to each of those (not just a selection eh).

    • Draco T Bastard 2.7
      11 June 2014 at 9:02 pm

      The John Banks ruling and the RWNJs coming out and saying that what he did was normal, i.e reality, disagrees with you.

    • North 2.8
      12 June 2014 at 7:50 am

      Wayne @ 2 above – ” Do you seriously believe a political party (or rather the MPs of that party who are elected) can be corrupted for $15,000 [?] ”

      No. I agree with you Wayne. $15K is way too tiddly.

      George Bernard Shaw/The Actress one of your tupuna perhaps ?

  3. Dave_1924 3
    11 June 2014 at 6:42 pm

    Very Happy for every donation to a party over $500 to be declared – no anonymity.

    But Public Funding of political parties over and above the amounts they already get for campaigning i.e. TV Time. No way.

    Why should I contribute to Labour, Nationals, Acts, Mana, etc coffers if I don’t want to make a donation and if I do want to fund the political process I should be free to choose where my dollars go.

    Labour is propped up by the Unions in Cash and kind [campaigns running in support, door knocking etc]. National gets money from Business …

    Big deal

    • Colonial Viper 3.1
      11 June 2014 at 6:48 pm

      Why should I contribute to Labour, Nationals, Acts, Mana, etc coffers if I don’t want to make a donation and if I do want to fund the political process I should be free to choose where my dollars go.

      Firstly, forget about you. This is not about you.

      Secondly the main reason to have tax payers in general contribute is to lock out billion dollar corporations and oligarchic elite from controlling political funding like they do in the USA.

      • geoff 3.1.1
        11 June 2014 at 7:24 pm

        Forget about me?!?!

        There is only me!

        There is no society!

        Only….solipsism!

        ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME

      • Dave_1924 3.1.2
        11 June 2014 at 9:11 pm

        Hahaha

        One man, one vote. I shouldn’t be coerced by pollies to fund their parties.

        its always easy spending other peoples money – and politicians are just in love with doing it.

        Fund raising is good for the soul of politicians – it makes them look people in the whites in the eyes and realise their jobs depend on the people

        How about no donation over a $1000 from any source, anything over $500 declared no anonymity, no trusts to wash it through and all aligned campaigning like Unions touting Labour to their members should count as election spending….

        No don’t like that?

        Forcing Tax Payers to fund political parties via a government distribution of largess is just a left wingers wet dream

        • Colonial Viper 3.1.2.1
          11 June 2014 at 9:26 pm

          How about no donation over a $1000 from any source, anything over $500 declared no anonymity, no trusts to wash it through and all aligned campaigning like Unions touting Labour to their members should count as election spending….

          Not a bad idea and I could support something along those lines with very little trouble at all. Left meets Right in the interests of democracy.

        • Draco T Bastard 3.1.2.2
          11 June 2014 at 9:39 pm

          Fund raising is good for the soul of politicians – it makes them look people in the whites in the eyes and realise their jobs depend on the people lie to them – unless they’re the big donors in which case they kiss arse.

          FTFY

        • karol 3.1.2.3
          11 June 2014 at 9:43 pm

          Public funding of election campaigns is not about taxpayers funding parties they don’t agree with.

          In fact, it’s not about funding parties at all. It’s about funding democracy: a level playing field where candidates and parties get the opportunity to put their case to the public as to why they should be in government.

          Then the electorate makes their choices.

          • Draco T Bastard 3.1.2.3.1
            11 June 2014 at 11:11 pm

            +111

          • The Chairman 3.1.2.3.2
            12 June 2014 at 7:34 am

            Indeed, Karol.

          • Nick K 3.1.2.3.3
            12 June 2014 at 7:52 am

            Good. All parties receive $5 million for the campaign and let’s go for it.

          • Dave_1924 3.1.2.3.4
            13 June 2014 at 9:36 pm

            Karol – noble sentiment.

            But Public Funding imo is about funding parties – and worse than that funding established parties. How does the new idea, the new path, the new energy get into the game?

            How does a New Zealand Party that got Lange the PM’s job get funded? How about Internet Party starting out, how about the Conservatives or Mana? How would they qualify for tax payer funding? Mana not such a good example I suppose as it seems a boootstrap operation until recently.

            Ultimately politics is competitive and about power. If you can sell you ideas to someone or enough people and he/she/they will back the ideas with cash – fair enough in my view

            Labour is backed by a number of the unions – they fund Labour and in return get policy they, the Unions, want. Ditto National or ACT with some business interests – though ACT ain’t delivering much of a return on investment

            If left wing parties, who seem to be calling for the funding, were actually parties of the people then funding shouldn’t be an issue. Mass membership gives a decent amount of cash to campaign on. The whole call for public funding looks like someone looking in their wallet seeing its empty and then turning to Joe Public and saying Gimme, gimme….

            • The Chairman 3.1.2.3.4.1
              14 June 2014 at 5:21 pm

              Sorry Dave, but I totally disagree.

              As Karol highlighted, it’s not about funding parties. It’s about strengthening democracy by removing the fiscal bias, thus providing a level playing field for parties to campaign off and promote new ideas.

              New parties would largely face the same hurdles they face today. After meeting the criteria, they would also be entitled to a share of public funding.

              Structuring and selling policy to those willing and able to pay tends to result in policy largely benefiting those with the deepest pockets, undermining democracy.

              Labour are not only funded by the Unions, which helps explain why Labour Party policy largely falls short and in some cases goes totally the other way (right).

              Removing private donations will enable parties to focus and deliver more to their voters opposed to largely benefiting a few wealthy supporters.

    • Draco T Bastard 3.2
      11 June 2014 at 9:36 pm

      Why should I contribute to Labour, Nationals, Acts, Mana, etc

      To help get the corruption in our political system out of it. John Banks being found guilty shows you that there is corruption in it and that will just be the tip of the iceberg.

  4. felix 4
    11 June 2014 at 8:04 pm

    “National raised the disclosure threshold for donations from $10,000 to $15,000”

    Well yeah, but that’s just because the rich have been getting richer.

  5. Penny Bright 5
    11 June 2014 at 8:26 pm

    FYI

    PRESS RELEASE: Epsom Independent candidate ‘Anti-Corruption Whistleblower’ – Grace Haden

    To all MPS
    11 June 2014
    PRESS RELEASE: Epsom Independent candidate ‘anti-Corruption whistle-blower’ Grace Haden

    “I have decided to stand as an ‘Independent’ candidate in my home electorate of Epsom. I am seeking accountability from government and to achieve this I will be campaigning for an Independent Commission Against Corruption and the Ratification of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC)”), says ‘anti-Corruption whistle-blower’ Grace Haden.

    (https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/treaties/CAC/

    “I believe that a by-election in Epsom is essential to keep the public spotlight on the corrupt practices surrounding the resignation of ACT MP John Banks, but also shine it on the reality of the widespread corruption which is becoming more and more evident in New Zealand.

    “The harsh reality is that New Zealand’s “least corrupt country in the world “tag line is not reality but a perception and as such ,the perception is a false illusion a façade . The perception index (http://cpi.transparency.org/cpi2013/results/) is frequently misquoted and does not correlate with the fact that we are one of a small handful of countries which have not ratified the United Nations convention against corruption.

    “(https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/treaties/CAC/signatories.html)

    “Despite New Zealand claiming to be ‘the least corrupt’, I, a former long-serving Police officer, (and Police prosecutor), now a licensed Private Investigator, have found it impossible to get corruption investigated in New Zealand by any of the so called public watch dogs.
    I have discovered that we do not have corruption because we do not define it and turn a willful blind eye to it, as occurred in the John Banks case.”

    “8 years ago, I questioned serious public corruption, provided facts and evidence to support my allegations, but so far, to no avail. I have discovered that Corruption does ruin lives – It tore my family apart.”

    “Enough is enough. No one else should have to go through what I have had to endure.
    Lessons need to be learned from the past and solutions found for the future.
    Cancer cannot be treated without a diagnosis and this is also true with corruption. Ignore corruption and like cancer it will consume us.

    “New Zealand desperately needs an Independent Commission Against Corruption, and I am pleased to report that I now have an MP who will present a petition which I initiated, seeking

    “That the House legislate to set up an independent Commission against Corruption, tasked with the prevention, education, detection and prosecution of corruption in New Zealand.”

    I have a well-established background in fighting and exposing corruption in New Zealand,
    these are documented on the following web sites http://www.civiljustice.co.nz/, http://www.transparency.net.nz/, http://www.anticorruption.co.nz/

    Grace Haden
    ………………………
    visit us at http://www.transparency.net.nz

  6. Philj 6
    12 June 2014 at 7:37 am

    xox
    Go Grace.
    But I attended a Public meeting of Transparency International in Wellington and was told, by Chair Suzanne Snively, we didn’t have enough corruption in NZ to warrant action! 100% pure. hahaha. All power to you Grace. Careful with your communications as we are kept safe by our minders.

  7. vto 7
    12 June 2014 at 8:30 am

    I can’t believe some dumb arse commentators are still saying that what Banks did was relatively minor.

    It was fraud for fucks sake.

    Fraud.

    Don’t people know what that is? It is one of the most serious of crimes.

    Fraud is what John Banks committed. It is as serious as all hell. What the fuck is it about some people who think it is a trifling matter? Eh? Bloody dimwits

    • Craig Glen Eden 7.1
      12 June 2014 at 9:11 am

      Yup so true vto the Banks case and the subsequent Journalists who have waxed on about this being a minor technical issue are either corrupt them selves by benefiting from the current state of play or they are 6th graders attending the local primary school.The brazen gall that the likes of Armstrong and others have in trying to defend Banks is breath taking. I also couldnt believe Brian Edwards saying he felt sorry for him that it was a sad way to end a life’s career in Politics. News flash Edwards, Armstrong and others Banks lide and corrupted his way through his career and got caught at the end finally. Edwards had more scorn for McCready than he did for Banks.

      • North 7.1.1
        13 June 2014 at 7:22 am

        Because in Edwards’ view McCready is a nothing scruffy old bastard and Banks is one of the ‘up-there movers and shakers’. In which strata Edwards sees himself. “Oh yes we have our differences but……”

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    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    22 hours ago

  • Jones finds $410,000 to help the government muscle in on a spat project
    Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    23 hours ago

  • Again, hate crimes are not necessarily terrorism.
    Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    1 day ago

  • Despair – construction consenting edition
    Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • Coalition promises – will the Govt keep the commitment to keep Kiwis equal before the law?
    Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • An impermanent public service is a guarantee of very little else but failure
    Chris Trotter writes –  The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • What happens after the war – Mariupol
    Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    1 day ago

  • Babies and benefits – no good news
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • Should the RBNZ be looking through climate inflation?
    Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours, as of 9:16 am on Thursday, April 18 are:Housing: Tauranga residents living in boats, vans RNZ Checkpoint Louise TernouthHousing: Waikato councillor says wastewater plant issues could hold up Sleepyhead building a massive company town Waikato Times Stephen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the public sector carnage, and misogyny as terrorism
    It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    1 day ago

  • Meeting the Master Baiters
    Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    1 day ago

  • How extreme was the Earth's temperature in 2023
    This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blog In 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • Backbone, revisited
    The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • Ministers are not above the law
    Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago

  • What’s the outfit you can hear going down the gurgler? Probably it’s David Parker’s Oceans Sec...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point  of Order first heard of the Oceans Secretariat in June 2021, when David Parker (remember him?) announced a multi-agency approach to protecting New Zealand’s marine ecosystems and fisheries. Parker (holding the Environment, and Oceans and Fisheries portfolios) broke the news at the annual Forest & ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Bryce Edwards writes  – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Matt Doocey doubles down on trans “healthcare”
    Citizen Science writes –  Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • A TikTok Prime Minister.
    One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago

  • Texas Lessons
    This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    2 days ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links at 6:06 am
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours as of 6:06 am on Wednesday, April 17 are:Must read: Secrecy shrouds which projects might be fast-tracked RNZ Farah HancockScoop: Revealed: Luxon has seven staffers working on social media content - partly paid for by taxpayer Newshub ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Fighting poverty on the holiday highway
    Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago

  • Bernard's six-stack of substacks at 6:26 pm
    Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • At a glance – Is the science settled?
    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

  • Apposite Quotations.
    How Long Is Long Enough? Gaza under Israeli bombardment, July 2014. This posting is exclusive to Bowalley Road. ...
    Bowalley Road
    3 days ago

  • What’s a life worth now?
    You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Howling at the Moon
    Karl du Fresne writes –  There’s a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere – mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Newshub is Dead.
    I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • Seymour is chuffed about cutting early-learning red tape – but we hear, too, that Jones has loose...
    Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago

  • Was Hawkesby entirely wrong?
    David Farrar  writes –  The Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled: Comments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. It is a fact such patients are prioritised. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • PRC shadow looms as the Solomons head for election
    PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time. A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that won’t compromise Beijing’s plans. Cleo Paskall writes – On April 17th the Solomon Islands, a country of ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Climate Change: Criminal ecocide
    We are in the middle of a climate crisis. Last year was (again) the hottest year on record. NOAA has just announced another global coral bleaching event. Floods are threatening UK food security. So naturally, Shane Jones wants to make it easier to mine coal: Resources Minister Shane Jones ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • Is saving one minute of a politician's time worth nearly $1 billion?
    Is speeding up the trip to and from Wellington airport by 12 minutes worth spending up more than $10 billion? Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me in the last day to 8:26 am today are:The Lead: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Long Tunnel or Long Con?
    Yesterday it was revealed that Transport Minister had asked Waka Kotahi to look at the options for a long tunnel through Wellington. State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    3 days ago

  • Smoke And Mirrors.
    You're a fraud, and you know itBut it's too good to throw it all awayAnyone would do the sameYou've got 'em goingAnd you're careful not to show itSometimes you even fool yourself a bitIt's like magicBut it's always been a smoke and mirrors gameAnyone would do the sameForty six billion ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • What is Mexico doing about climate change?
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The June general election in Mexico could mark a turning point in ensuring that the country’s climate policies better reflect the desire of its citizens to address the climate crisis, with both leading presidential candidates expressing support for renewable energy. Mexico is the ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

  • State of humanity, 2024
    2024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?When I say 2024 I really mean the state of humanity in 2024.Saturday night, we watched Civil War because that is one terrifying cliff we've ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Govt’s Wellington tunnel vision aims to ease the way to the airport (but zealous promoters of cycl...
    Buzz from the Beehive A pet project and governmental tunnel vision jump out from the latest batch of ministerial announcements. The government is keen to assure us of its concern for the wellbeing of our pets. It will be introducing pet bonds in a change to the Residential Tenancies Act ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • The case for cultural connectedness
    A recent report generated from a Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) survey of 1,224 rangatahi Māori aged 11-12 found: Cultural connectedness was associated with fewer depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms and better quality of life. That sounds cut and dry. But further into the report the following appears: Cultural connectedness is ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Useful context on public sector job cuts
    David Farrar writes –    The Herald reports: From the gory details of job-cuts news, you’d think the public service was being eviscerated.   While the media’s view of the cuts is incomplete, it’s also true that departments have been leaking the particulars faster than a Wellington ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell On When Racism Comes Disguised As Anti-racism
    Remember the good old days, back when New Zealand had a PM who could think and speak calmly and intelligently in whole sentences without blustering? Even while Iran’s drones and missiles were still being launched, Helen Clark was live on TVNZ expertly summing up the latest crisis in the Middle ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    4 days ago

  • Govt ignored economic analysis of smokefree reversal
    Costello did not pass on analysis of the benefits of the smokefree reforms to Cabinet, emphasising instead the extra tax revenues of repealing them. Photo: Hagen Hopkins, Getty Images TL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me at 7:26 am today are:The Lead: Casey Costello never passed on ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • True Blue.
    True loveYou're the one I'm dreaming ofYour heart fits me like a gloveAnd I'm gonna be true blueBaby, I love youI’ve written about the job cuts in our news media last week. The impact on individuals, and the loss to Aotearoa of voices covering our news from different angles.That by ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • Who is running New Zealand’s foreign policy?
    While commentators, including former Prime Minister Helen Clark, are noting a subtle shift in New Zealand’s foreign policy, which now places more emphasis on the United States, many have missed a key element of the shift. What National said before the election is not what the government is doing now. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago

  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #15
    A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 7, 2024 thru Sat, April 13, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week is about adults in the room setting terms and conditions of ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • Feline Friends and Fragile Fauna The Complexities of Cats in New Zealand’s Conservation Efforts

    Cats, with their independent spirit and beguiling purrs, have captured the hearts of humans for millennia. In New Zealand, felines are no exception, boasting the highest national cat ownership rate globally [definition cat nz cat foundation]. An estimated 1.134 million pet cats grace Kiwi households, compared to 683,000 dogs ...

    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    5 days ago

  • Or is that just they want us to think?
    Nice guy, that Peter Williams. Amiable, a calm air of no-nonsense capability, a winning smile. Everything you look for in a TV presenter and newsreader.I used to see him sometimes when I went to TVNZ to be a talking head or a panellist and we would yarn. Nice guy, that ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • Fact Brief – Did global warming stop in 1998?
    Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Did global warming stop in ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • Arguing over a moot point.
    I have been following recent debates in the corporate and social media about whether it is a good idea for NZ to join what is known as “AUKUS Pillar Two.” AUKUS is the Australian-UK-US nuclear submarine building agreement in which … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    6 days ago

  • No Longer Trusted: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    Turning Point: “What has turned me away from the mainstream news media is the very strong message that its been sending out for the last few years.” “And what message might that be?” “That the people who own it, the people who run it, and the people who provide its content, really don’t ...
    Bowalley Road
    6 days ago

  • Mortgage rates at 10% anyone?
    No – nothing about that in PM Luxon’s nine-point plan to improve the lives of New Zealanders. But beyond our shores Jamie Dimon, the long-serving head of global bank J.P. Morgan Chase, reckons that the chances of a goldilocks soft landing for the economy are “a lot lower” than the ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    6 days ago

  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 mins ago

  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 hour ago

  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 hours ago

  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 hours ago

  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 hours ago

  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 hours ago

  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    16 hours ago

  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago

  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago

  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
    Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector.    "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
    The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
    Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
    Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.   Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ ties
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.  During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Antarctica New Zealand Board appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner.  The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Finance Minister travels to Washington DC
    Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.  “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Pet bonds a win/win for renters and landlords
    The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being considered
    State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • New Zealand condemns Iranian strikes
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