Not a good look

Written By: - Date published: 11:10 am, November 19th, 2019 - 98 comments
Categories: election funding, elections, electoral commission, nz first, uncategorized, winston peters - Tags:

Questions have been raised about New Zealand First’s party financing arrangements after it was disclosed that the party was receiving loans from a party aligned foundation.  From Guyon Espiner at Radio New Zealand:

A mysterious foundation that loans money to New Zealand First is under scrutiny, with a university law professor saying although it’s lawful, it fails to provide the transparency voters need in a democracy.

Records show New Zealand First has disclosed three loans from the New Zealand First Foundation. In 2017, it received $73,000. Then in 2018, it received a separate loan of $76,622, in what the Electoral Commission says was a loan executed to “replace the first loan”. In 2019, it received another loan for $44,923.

Those giving money to the foundation are able to remain anonymous because under electoral law, loans are not subject to the same disclosure requirements as donations.

Both of the foundation’s trustees refused to answer any questions about what the foundation did and how it operated, and New Zealand First’s party secretary, Liz Witehira, said she knew nothing about it.

“I don’t know and I don’t need to know,” Mrs Witehira told RNZ.

“I understand there was a loan prior to my time but I didn’t have anything to do with it. I have not been involved in any loans since I have become the secretary general.”

Under electoral law, only the party secretary can enter into a loan on behalf of a political party.

Electoral Commission records show Mrs Witehira signed an Electoral Commission document – Return of Party Loan Exceeding $30,000 – on 26 April.

That document says New Zealand First received a loan of $44,923 from the New Zealand First Foundation on 24 April 2019.

RNZ asked Mrs Witehira for an explanation and she responded by text: “I haven’t signed any loans. Get your facts right.”

After being provided a copy of the Return of Party Loan document with her signature on it, she said, “There’s nothing further to explain. One entity provided a loan to another entity. It was documented, declared and repaid.”

The report notes that the foundation is the only entity that has provided funds to the party in the past couple of years.

Then this morning further details were released by Matt Shand at Stuff:

Almost half a million dollars in political donations appear to have been hidden inside a secret slush fund controlled by a coterie of Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters’ trusted advisers.

The secretive New Zealand First Foundation collected donations from wealthy donors and used the money to finance election campaigns, pay for an MP’s legal advice, advertising, fund a $5000 day at the Wellington races and even pay an IRD bill.

A New Zealand First spokesperson said on Monday the foundation had been in existence across several election cycles. “There has never been any suggestion that it is anything other than lawful,” she said.

Records uncovered in a Stuff investigation show a complex web that appears to be designed to hide donations to the NZ First Party via The New Zealand First Foundation.

Graeme Edgeler was quoted as saying the following:

“If the foundation and party are separate, it is likely a corrupt or illegal practice occurred because donations from the foundation were not declared,” he said.

“If the foundation is part of NZ First, then the party secretary has likely committed offences around declaring donations or failing to keep records.

“If some donors were under the impression they were donating to the NZ First political party when making payments to the foundation, then there are possible breaches of the Electoral Act relating to party donations and ensuring proper records.”

More information would be helpful. But I wonder if the situation is as clear cut as Edgeler thinks.

The Electoral Act provisions relating to loans are separate to those relating to donations.  And unlike contributions requirements for donations there is no requirement for contributions to a loan to be separately identified. 

Are the payments party donations? Maybe not. A party donation is defined as “a donation (whether of money or of the equivalent of money or of goods or services or of a combination of those things) that is made to a party, or to any person or body of persons on behalf of the party who are involved in the administration of the affairs of the party“. I am not aware that the trustees of the Foundation, former NZ First MP Doug Woolerton and well known lawyer Brian Henry are current office holders. If not payments to them are not party donations.

As far as I can ascertain the foundation has not advertised in which case it does not have to be registered as a promoter.

Obviously there is further information floating around but from what I have seen so far I would suggest that the arrangement is cute rather than illegal.

But it is not a good look. Full disclosure is and should be the norm.

While we are on the subject there was that recent example where a $100,000 donation was partitioned into seven donations of $14,000 with a $2,000 donation on top to complete the sense of feng shui clearly to avoid disclosure requirements. Cases like this should be investigated fully and promptly and if something illegal has happened then prosecutions should be taken.

Winston spent most of 2008 defending himself against claims relating to the donation by Owen Glenn to New Zealand First.  I get the feeling it could again be a long 12 months for him.

98 comments on “Not a good look ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Michelle Gray 1
    19 November 2019 at 11:29 am

    I think Winstone is too smart to be doing illegal things and I think someone is trying to dirty his name again before the next election. National are trying everything possible to get rid of him and his party they do it every three years.

    We need to look at what they (national ) did who got all the money and all the waste flags, saudi deal, no deal , techno deal with American company , nova pay shambles, oh and we must not forget the P debacle that made people homeless and some national party mates rich from a made up hysterical claim to clean so called p houses without the proper scientific evidence. Gee they got away with a lot of dishonesty and they lined the pockets of their mates and their own business interest. And we must not forget judeaths quick visit going out of her way to visit oravida on tax payers time and while representing our country the list goes on and its disturbing.

    • Grantoc 1.1
      19 November 2019 at 12:38 pm

      Michelle

      A nice attempt at muddying the waters and diverting attention away from Peters.

      As Micky said, at best "it is not a good look". On the basis of the available information; NZ First is going to some effort to hide donations etc in an attempt to avoid having to declare them. Peters and his cronies are doing this all by themselves.

      Furthermore a related issue involving the creation of a forestry company; placing senior NZ First officials etc into governance positions and then applying for a 'loan' from the Regional Development Fund' suggests to me that Winston and his mates are not that smart at all. Good on Labour for chucking this application out.

      [I changed your user handle but please shout if not ok]

      • lprent 1.1.1
        19 November 2019 at 2:28 pm

        I suspect that this was legal under current law. And for much the same reasons as Michelle, I suspect that the timing wasn't an accident. It looks to me like this is information being fed to media at about the same part of the election cycle as the Owen Glenn allegations in 2008.

        Bearing in mind that we have had the National party revealed as doing something even more dodgy (and probably illegal) last year with an allegation from their ex-party whip saying that the National party leader was involved in advising the break up of a $100k donation into $14k chunks to avoid declarations. I think that we should start resolving that first – for a starter it would clearly unlawful rather than "not a good look" under the current act.

        But more generally I think that the practice of giving any donation to a political party must be transparently declared – with a mandatory prison term for those giving the donation and not making sure it was properly declared.

        I’m getting rather tired of these hypocritical National party games.

        • Anne 1.1.1.1
          19 November 2019 at 2:53 pm

          I'm getting rather tired of these hypocritical National party games.

          Hypocrisy is the word for them!

          A repeat of part of my comment @ 1.2.2. on Open Mike today:

          Now where have I heard that story before? Ah yes. Forty years ago, the National Party used to stash huge amounts of cash in secret slush funds. They had names but the only one I remember was the Waitemata Trust fund. They were so secret not even the IRD knew about them. Naturally they denied their existence for years but one day (iirc) those slush funds disappeared….

          And lets not forget they reappeared in a slightly different format under the last National Govt. The media do seem to suffer regularly from collective amnesia.

          • KJT 1.1.1.1.1
            19 November 2019 at 10:34 pm

            Labor tried to get big money out of politics in Clarks time. Remember the screams of "democracy under attack" from National, when the ability of the rich to buy the Government they wanted, was threatened.

        • Enough is Enough 1.1.1.2
          19 November 2019 at 4:38 pm

          Agreed.

          Would love for National and NZ First to be fully investigated here .

          There would be no better outcome then both of these morally corrupt parties to be punished heavily.

          I think they have both technically complied with the law, but have clearly used loopholes to defeat the purpose of the Act which is transparency.

        • Gosman 1.1.1.3
          19 November 2019 at 5:23 pm

          When is the investigation on that going to finish and weren't you going to do something around taking a private prosecution over something National did?

          • KJT 1.1.1.3.1
            19 November 2019 at 9:37 pm

            Aren't you concerned about NZF's and National's total lack of a moral compass?

            Solves the mystery of why NZF has been blocking progress. To dependent on sneaky millionaires, and interest groups, funding.

            • Incognito 1.1.1.3.1.1
              19 November 2019 at 9:47 pm

              A moral compass is like a sextant to somebody who doesn’t know what it’s for or how to use it: pretty useless.

  2. observer 2
    19 November 2019 at 11:53 am

    The sooner this lot are out of Parliament, the better.

    Nobody on the left should be defending their behaviour (and I haven't seen many who are). "Enemy of my enemy" doesn't cut it.

  3. Buster12 3
    19 November 2019 at 12:09 pm

    Don't often agree with anything I/S says but he has hit the nail on the head this time

    http://norightturn.blogspot.com/2019/11/a-corrupt-practice.html?m=1

    [Corrected e-mail address – please be more careful next time]

  4. Dukeofurl 4
    19 November 2019 at 12:40 pm

    National Mps electorate donation returns , which must disclose names over $1500, instead are whitewashed through the NZ National Party( only a few donations arent) which has a $15,000 limit before names made public

    No surprise that for Nationals MPs, that they exploit the difference $1500-$15,000, which would be a sweet spot of electorate donors

  5. Pohutukawakid 5
    19 November 2019 at 12:48 pm

    What about the Waitemata Trust administered by Russell McVeagh which funds the National Party. Not a lot of transparency there.

  6. weka 6
    19 November 2019 at 12:51 pm

    A New Zealand First spokesperson said on Monday the foundation had been in existence across several election cycles. “There has never been any suggestion that it is anything other than lawful,” she said.

    Hang on, isn't that the Winebox defence?

  7. weka 7
    19 November 2019 at 1:02 pm

    the thing that pisses me off about this is the arrogant refusal to front up and be transparent. From what I can tell it was the same attitude with the forestry deals. It's like senior NZF people have sense of entitlement to work the system to the max and then when called out, they're like fuck off, none of your business. Which is fine so long as it's legal, but just stop pretending that your politics are somehow on the moral high ground and admit you're in the same self-serving, manipulative camp as National.

    • Sacha 7.1
      19 November 2019 at 1:12 pm

      Shane Jones fits that culture so well.

    • tc 7.2
      19 November 2019 at 1:15 pm

      Totally Weka. The arrogance is not surprising from a party with Shane Jones in it.

      Nothing to fear, nothing to hide etc so put up or continue to face the mud slinging you've left yourself open to here.

    • Dukeofurl 7.3
      19 November 2019 at 4:02 pm

      The Henry family was the 'founder' of NZ Forest Products out of the consolidation of timber milling sector, while that business was split up after asset raiders took control . Once they had the big plants at Penrose, Kinlieth and Whakatane and the forests that went with it.

      The Henrys were in the same league as the Fletchers, Watties , Todds etc in their day as 'industrialists'

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_family

      Following the hostile takeover of NZFP, the family have largely retreated from the public business community and have maintained an even lower public profile. Much of their activities are now believed to be based in Australia, headquartered in Brisbane, but they still retain business interests in New Zealand and remain large land owners.

      Land owners huh ? Converting to forestry …no surprise their either.

      ….also now established a capital management business, Goldman Henry Capital [1], which raises funds from the New Zealand investing public under prospectus to invest in various international investment vehicles.

      That the family uses members (Brian Henry)and others who are in the legal profession is also no surprise. Heard of Hesketh Henry ?
      Its one of the ways wealth is now held and built up over generations by family investment companies.
      Yes , the Rich get Richer

  8. Incognito 8
    19 November 2019 at 1:12 pm

    Well, one outcome of DP was that all parties were tainted with the same brush (smeared with the same shit), in the eye of the general public, rightly or wrongly. It drags down (NZ) politics to the lowest denominator, which serves some more than others, and it switches (turns) people off from the political and democratic process. In other words, if this is not a good look for NZF, it is also not a good look for NZ politics in general – no winners with this (except MSM).

    • tc 8.1
      19 November 2019 at 1:17 pm

      that was a deliberate outcome of DP; they're all the same etc. Shonky knew exactly what they were doing and played his part to perfection.

      That's why it persists to this day as it's still effective with our owned msm.

      • Incognito 8.1.1
        19 November 2019 at 1:21 pm

        Exactly!

        Edit: and we play into their hands by playing along.

        • tc 8.1.1.1
          19 November 2019 at 3:43 pm

          Solid and proven tactic given our voluntary voting, low turn out and swinging voters easily influenced by those 'thought leaders/movers and shakers/paradigm shifters' etc

          We have a media who do as directed by the DP architects and no counter media presence in the shape of public broadcasting. Like the ozzie ad says….100% easy.

    • Bg 8.2
      19 November 2019 at 8:14 pm

      Jacinda needs to grow a pair. She seems to be defending either Winston or Shane every day. She is fast becoming an apologest for their behaviour and if this continues she's throwing away her chance of a 2nd term.

      Clarke wouldn't put up with half the shit that NZF is currently doing.

      Just a reminder that Winston has never survived a full term while making up the govt.

  9. Psycho Milt 9
    19 November 2019 at 1:39 pm

    Not a good look alright, and not just for NZ First. As Danyl points out at The Spinoff, this is a problem for the governing parties as a whole, because NZ First's corruption will taint its coalition partners the same as it did in 2008 – and for the same reason.

    • lprent 9.1
      19 November 2019 at 2:32 pm

      And National as well. This will reload the questions about the reports and complaint that Jamie-Lee Ross made last year about undeclared large donations being broken up.

        • alwyn 9.1.1.1
          19 November 2019 at 4:45 pm

          That is hardly "later information". It is dated 11 April so it is only a matter of weeks after Ross's earlier fairy stories.

          This was the stuff he claimed he could prove and then he turned up with diddly-squat wasn't it. Not a damn thing in the way of evidence for his fantasies.

          • Drowsy M. Kram 9.1.1.1.1
            19 November 2019 at 7:58 pm

            As a bystander I enjoyed this particular JLR 'fantasy' immensely – wonder if all the protagonists were similarly 'tickled'?

            "It dawned on me, 'I know this script, I helped write this script.' At that point, I felt bad for what I did to Todd. But that's the modus operandi of the National Party – when people become a liability you push them out the door."
            https://www.pressreader.com/new-zealand/weekend-herald/20181020/281479277390765

            Good to see Simon hanging in the there – for now laugh

          • lprent 9.1.1.1.2
            19 November 2019 at 9:17 pm

            This was the stuff he claimed he could prove and then he turned up with diddly-squat wasn't it. Not a damn thing in the way of evidence for his fantasies.

            Perhaps you should provide a link for this 'diddly-squat'. As far as I can see it is still a current investigation. Otherwise your cretinous leader by example would have been screaming his vindication from a treacherous attack a balcony – right?

            Personally I say a pox on all corrupt bribe takers – I’d start with the National Party – because they are the biggest and most prolific bribe takers in politics I know of.

            • Sacha 9.1.1.1.2.1
              19 November 2019 at 9:38 pm

              Not heard anything since, but RNZ brought the irony at the time: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/384516/sfo-to-investigate-jami-lee-ross-complaint-on-national-party-donations

              New Zealand First leader Winston Peters said today Mr Bridges needed to stop ducking his responsibilities as leader.

              "The person gave the money, it was divided up at the behest of who – well Mr Bridges should know that – so that's where the allegations will end up."

              Mr Peters said he was not surprised the SFO was investigating National, claiming they had been doing this sort of thing for years.

              "What proof do I have? I was in the National Party at a higher level than all of them. And I knew what they were doing back then and I complained about it. Nothing's changed."

            • Sam C 9.1.1.1.2.2
              19 November 2019 at 9:54 pm

              What about National… what about “cretinous leader”… what about… what about… oh look, a squirrel!

              Listen to yourselves. Pathetic.

              • Incognito …
                19 November 2019 at 10:07 pm

                I asked my squirrel if it agreed with you and it hopped in a tree. Such wise creatures, squirrels, they’ve got a lot to offer to us. Unlike dogs, they always bark up the wrong tree.

                • Sam C …
                  19 November 2019 at 10:23 pm

                  I never thought I’d see so many woeful apologist arguments for Winnie and Shane on The Standard, but it has been a funny old year.

                  • Incognito …
                    19 November 2019 at 10:32 pm

                    Yes, I know you lost count at one. Which one was it? So many to choose from, but obviously you know how to deal with personal choices and do handle the responsibility so well. Woof, woof!

    • weka 9.2
      19 November 2019 at 4:04 pm

      ok, that's pretty damning it. Can't say I'm bothered if Peters ends his career in disrepute, or if this crashes NZF. Do feel for the NZF voters who may be about to find out they've been betrayed, again, by the party.

      I like the idea of L/G going all out on their own (and Labour ruling out NZF, although I doubt they will), but not great for NZ or the left to be in this position.

      • weka 9.2.1
        19 November 2019 at 4:05 pm

        otoh, Labour calling a snap election and ruling out NZF and then fucking up the election campaign would be truly dire.

        • Sacha 9.2.1.1
          19 November 2019 at 4:09 pm

          Can you imagine oily Bridges ruling out Winston?

        • Psycho Milt 9.2.1.2
          19 November 2019 at 4:27 pm

          otoh, Labour calling a snap election and ruling out NZF and then fucking up the election campaign would be truly dire.

          Yeah, I'm nowhere near as gung-ho about that as Danyl is – yours is an all-too-plausible scenario.

          • alwyn 9.2.1.2.1
            19 November 2019 at 5:02 pm

            It might be Labour's only chance of getting another term. That will probably be the same view that Chris Trotter is displaying in his latest opus.

            http://bowalleyroad.blogspot.com/2019/11/democracy-bit-bonkers-thoughts-inspired.html

            He is suggesting that the current Government and its supporters are ignoring the general public and that may not turn out kindly for them.

            Another year of the shambles that is the current Government and they will be the first one-term Government in 45 years.

            So sad, too bad, never mind.

            • Louis 9.2.1.2.1.1
              19 November 2019 at 5:29 pm

              Opinionated assumptions are not fact and what you wish for may not come true either.

              • alwyn …
                19 November 2019 at 7:32 pm

                You can say the same thing about almost every comment on this blog.

                After all, if people didn't have any opinions there wouldn't really be anything to say here would there?

                Have you never posted a comment that was your own opinion on something?

              • Drowsy M. Kram …
                19 November 2019 at 8:18 pm

                As Alwyn points out, almost all his comments here are opinions only laugh

                https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCyYuLQ7_Ws

                • McFlock …
                  19 November 2019 at 11:04 pm

                  It's the majesty of the opinions I find so impressive. A bit of wishful thinking from others about a snap election isn't merely left at that by Alwyn. In their deft hands, the possibility becomes "It might be Labour's only chance of getting another term".

            • Pat 9.2.1.2.1.2
              19 November 2019 at 7:38 pm

              If Bridges wernt so dim you may have a point

              • alwyn …
                20 November 2019 at 8:27 pm

                What on earth does it have to do with Bridges?

                In New Zealand politics Governments lose power. Oppositions don't win.

                The current Government has no runs at all on the Board. They are totally useless and are being held up only by the aura of their leader. The problem is that this is fading. It was very well done in March but that is now a long time ago and people who hope for a better life are seeing that it is certainly not going to be an outcome of this rabble.

                That, plus being held in the corrupt clutches of Peters will doom them to a spectacular loss next year if they keep going as they are for another 12 months.

  10. Karol121 10
    19 November 2019 at 3:02 pm

    Perhaps the document released by/accessed through the electoral commission is a fraudulent document, but who knows?

    Would the notable Mrs Witehira have been so brazen and confident as to have lied about loan documents in any forum that she considered to be valid and respected, who knows?

    Perhaps it's just mind over matter. The party doesn't mind, and RNZ interviewers or reporters don't really matter.

    Perhaps it could simply be her interpretation of what "haven't" is, or isn't, but who knows.

    Perhaps, for her, "haven't" might actually have meant "have", in political new speak terms, but who knows?

    Perhaps she doesn't consider Guyon Espiner worthy of being provided with accurate recount/recollection or the like, but who knows?

    I personally believe that he is entitled to a straight forward response in relation to such matters, but many probably would not support this notion.

    So, for her, such a statement of denial may not have been so much an untruth, as a joke. But again, who knows?

    In fact, who really knows much or anything about this dark horse party, it's real backers, it's real medium to long term objectives and it's less visible human (or humint perhaps) resources?

    However, in relation to low interest loan matters to any political party, in this era of very low interest rates, accusations of a special consideration/benefit resulting from any loan to a political party at almost zero percent (if this is the position) cannot reasonably be considered any sort of "gift".

    The party probably sees (nor saw) any reason to look any low interest "gift horse" opportunity in the mouth, especially when it may not reasonably be considered as being a donation in it's own right.

    Regarding the tax bill. I am certain that many people would consider any NZ political party ending up with a tax bill as being a little peculiar.

    But was it paid to IRD on behalf of another tax payer, in lieu of the ultimate beneficiary of such a tax payment providing services of some sort for the party, to benefit it in some way in relation to administration or campaigning?

    In relation to the reported $5000 a day racecourse event. This may have been a training day events for candidates, party elite and hangers on.

    Perhaps primarily so that tips might be gained on how not to flog a dead horse, how not to fence hug, how to determine the maximum number of allowable whips in one (campaign) race and how not to break a filly's leg by jockeying a race blind folded, the way in which other parties seemed to in past races.

    On cabinet positions, this party really has backed a winner this time round. And they are probably rolling in the grass having the time of their life, with all those fringe benefits attached to such positioning.

    MMP. You asked for it New Zealand.

    • Marcus Morris 10.1
      19 November 2019 at 3:20 pm

      You are implying MMP is the culprit. How so. Are you suggesting that pre 1986 all parties and their funding practices were squeaky clean? I very much doubt it. In fact I would have thought that it was much easier to hide funds in those days. We were far less cynical and much more politically naive then.

      • Karol121 10.1.1
        19 November 2019 at 4:51 pm

        Not the culprit. But well worth considering as a contributing factor to some of the revised cronyism we are faced with, and often increasingly farcical stunts.

        Pre-1986, squeaky clean? Not on your Nelly.

        These days, it's less about hiding funds as simply presenting; "in your face", insulting narrative as if to advertise that most in relation to political representation is enterprise and position first, (not NZ First, nor much of anything else first in real terms).

    • Drowsy M. Kram 10.2
      19 November 2019 at 3:25 pm

      The majority of NZers who voted did indeed 'ask' for MMP – does ‘fairness‘ still matter?

      “We do not think MMP is a perfect system – nor will it solve all the problems facing this country, not by a long shot. But it is fairer than the present system.”
      – The New Zealand Listener (1993)
      https://www.noted.co.nz/currently/currently-history/events-that-shaped-new-zealand

      • Karol121 10.2.1
        19 November 2019 at 4:56 pm

        Fairer yes, in relative terms, based on what dog was on offer at that time. But not the be all to end all.

        Perhaps we have become more cynical and aware, in a very healthy way, but how complacent are we now in relation to new dog tricks that take advantage of that which New Zealand sought and believed would be fairer, all those years ago?

        • Drowsy M. Kram 10.2.1.1
          19 November 2019 at 5:37 pm

          Presumably fairer than FPP in absolute terms too? But you’re right, 26 years seems like (a third of) a lifetime ago.

    • Dukeofurl 10.3
      19 November 2019 at 3:50 pm

      Wasnt the 'tax bill' paid by the NZF Foundation. The NZF Foundation ( its a Trust so could have various purposes) isnt a political party . Most likely it owns assets of some sort , some buildings maybe and pays tax on rent recieved etc.

      All the NZ main parties have a sort of Foundation/Trust in the background often to hold assets.

      remember the Onehunga Labour Party House ? The branch secretary 'walked off' with it when he defected to ACT and he had control of the 'Hugh Watt Society'

      Mike Williams took action in 2001 and by 2004 it was back with the Labour Party

      National from memory has a string of them for their regions, one in Auckland used to act as Poker machine Trust for pokies in John Banks owned pubs. Yes Party political purposes was once an approved way of giving money.

      • Karol121 10.3.1
        19 November 2019 at 4:58 pm

        Agreed dukeofurl.

        Trust deed document is helpful, but there are many things that can be misinterpreted with regard to same, and many loopholes.

  11. weka 11
    19 November 2019 at 4:06 pm

    Is there any good reason that the books of all political parties shouldn't be open? All income declared, back to source?

    • Sacha 11.1
      19 November 2019 at 4:14 pm

      Nope. Love to see them argue that one.

      • weka 11.1.1
        19 November 2019 at 4:18 pm

        What would be the downside for Labour? Accusations of unions controlling the country? (I don't know where Labour gets its money from).

        Less donations because donors don't want to be public? Might play against Labour more than National.

        • Dukeofurl 11.1.1.1
          19 November 2019 at 5:01 pm

          These unions donating to labour ?

          Et Tu Union

          Dairy Workers union

          Rail & Maritime union

          Election year it was $260,500 from unions out of $ 1,611,073.77 or 16% Some control? No loans though.

          In that 2017 year the Greens had total loans to the party of $90,000 as well as donations of $848,000
          Philip Mills and a Betty Harris($440K plus) are big donors to Greens, I dont think he or she controls the party either .

          • weka 11.1.1.1.1
            19 November 2019 at 5:26 pm

            I was referring to perception and how the MSM would frame it.

          • alwyn 11.1.1.1.2
            19 November 2019 at 5:52 pm

            I don't think that Ms Harris would really be in control of the party.

            She died in January 2018 and the money was left to the Party in her will. It was mildly funny as at the time it was declared as the Green Party were campaigning to limit donations to, I think, $35,000.

            And no, I don't think it was donated in order to get any personal preference. I'm not sure I could say the same thing about the racing people who support New Zealand First.

            • Dukeofurl 11.1.1.1.2.1
              19 November 2019 at 6:59 pm

              In 2009 , barely 9 months after the 2008 election and in the teeth of the Great recession when the possibility short working weeks were headline news, the national government changed the rules for the Land Tenure reviews so that yes high Country Stations that bordered the main lakes could have lakeside land freeholded, and so it happened .

              Some priority for a new government that affected a small number but involved 10s of millions of free money.

              Racing people who support NZ First , clearly is because of its racing polocies.

              Same as nationals announced proposal to overturn labours restrictions on property investors regarding 5 yr bright line and limiting property deductions .

              Property investors will support national with money , indeed will be door stopped by Nat Mps raising money

    • Karol121 11.2
      19 November 2019 at 5:00 pm

      Yes there is.

      A monster might jump out carrying the banner of undesired transparency!

    • Craig H 11.3
      20 November 2019 at 12:37 am

      Not any more. In the past, the effort required for small amounts probably outweighed the public benefit, hence the de minimis thresholds, but with accounting software, that is taken care of.

  12. Dukeofurl 12
    19 November 2019 at 5:40 pm

    There seems to be two hats Brian Henry wears.

    Brian Phillip Henry The managing director of Treasury and Equity Management previously Goldman Henry Capital Management – the Henry family investment business.

    Then there is the barrister Brian Henry who is closely involved with NZ First and Winston Peters legal battles.

    Is there dirty politics from the Nats again over this , this time as Radio NZ as the mouthpiece for work done by the National party research unit ?

    Simon Bridges and Paula Bennett both had lawyers letters to the media political editors spelling out 'black letter defamation law' over both Mps troubles . For Bridges it was chinese donations and Bennett it was her DPB circumstances.

    RNZ never seems to lead on those sorts of stories . One of the RNZ journalists was one of the J-L Ross 'wronged women' in parliament. That close ..huh.!

    • Sacha 12.1
      19 November 2019 at 7:35 pm

      Got any links to back up that last claim?

      • Dukeofurl 12.1.1
        20 November 2019 at 9:04 am

        https://www.newsroom.co.nz/@politics/2018/10/17/281200/jami-lee-ross-four-women-speak-out

        Cant really provide my other links, as they identify this person directly and I dont think they want that on this blog , which is fine.

        You seem to be quick to defend the journos in lost of situations, is that your line of work ?

        I quite often write directly to journalists about false claims, you would be surprised how often they twist and turn to avoid changing what they said . Radio NZ, just wait 6 weeks to change anything.

        • Sacha 12.1.1.1
          20 November 2019 at 9:10 am

          Thank you. Nothing in there mentions a journalist. I do not want a name, just wondered if there had been one in a public story that I had somehow missed. Not because I am one, either.

          • Karol121 12.1.1.1.1
            22 November 2019 at 4:48 pm

            I don't wish to put something that could be off the mark in relation to RNZ National, but I sometimes do seriously wonder whether or not some persistent pressure is being brought to bear on RNZ National, and directly from various Wellington political circles.

            Use of (non-formally stated) levers are not unheard of. History tells us that.

            How about pressure pertaining perhaps to government restructuring of both RNZ National, RNZ Concert and TVNZ if the tone or commentary is to the dislike of the above mentioned circles, too often?

            They appear to very much attempt to be as accurate and as informative as they can be, given their budget. And in relation to challenging government policy, they historically have a track record of being quite provocative.

            But on opinion and some content, if my suspicions are anything to go by, I just can't help but feel that in more recent times, various constraints might have been directly but quietly imposed on them through the grapevine, and also some distant coaching provided to them in relation to ideal behaviour more satisfactory to certain spin doctors.

  13. JustMe 13
    19 November 2019 at 7:31 pm

    For many politicians in the political world it's so easy to find a loophole in a Law in order to either avoid declaring a donation or a loan.

    For example John Banks requested from Kim Dotcom for a split donation so neither would need to be declared.

    Whilst some sense of honesty is required by politicians it does appear some have a gross disregard for being honest eg requesting split donations etc. And there are some politicians especially those in the previous National government that actively courted those more wealthier Instant Kiwi citizens in return for donations or bids at a auction night to raise funds in the run up to the previous election.

    We simple NZers expect politicians to be honest with us as we pay their wages and perks of the job. But when one former politician made promises to even the families of the Pike River 29 and happily reneged on those pre-election promises. One was caught out Double Dipping and referred to low income NZers as 'living beyond their means and MUST experience financial cutbacks' eg in health, welfare, education, housing etc,.etc.etc. I am sure we all know there is as Sir Ed Hillary once said "I have never met an honest politician'.

    • Dukeofurl 13.1
      20 November 2019 at 9:14 am

      Dotcomm 2 x donations were declared, but falsely as anonymous. There was also a Skycity one that Banks asked for the money and walked out of the office with a cheque in his pocket. That also was anonymous . ( this was the first one that caught attention as they declared it in their annual report, for technical legal questions he was charged on this one but not convicted)

      All up some thing like 15 or so 'Team Banksy' donations were declared as anonymous. Indeed no names at all. Others amounts didnt need to be declared.

      This case was important , as Anonymous was until then, seen as a way to cover it up. Now a judge declared that if you asked for money or person said they were giving that wasnt truly anonymous.

      Right after this the Nats started washing all the electorate Mps donations through the party bank accounts as they could exploit the party $15k threshold which was only $1500 for Mps. The Mps only donor is now usually ' NZ National Party' even though we all know MPs are responsible for raising their own money for electorate expenses. They dont even put their own name !!

      • Karol121 13.1.1
        20 November 2019 at 3:48 pm

        Yes indeed.

        It would probably be inappropriate for me to suggest that they have all been in to it, boots and all, but what you suggest is a definite historic pattern of funding "jiggledy dee", by many.

        With regard to identifying vehicles (as entities) used for purposes such as donations to various political parties, (not always specifically defined as same by persons within their hierarchy but widely considered to be questionable among the general public), there appears to be opportunity out there to move and re-label funding, but presumably, in a (kind of) legitimate manner.

        However, my further thoughts on it are that they are usually well "lawyered up" and I would expect that expert opinion provided to them in relation to such transactions would hold more validity than just a "testing the water" in relation to such transactions.

        However, having suggested this, people do slip up from time to time, even lawyers with considerable experience working in the field of trusts viewed as financial vehicles, and both non charity incorporated societies and charitable organisations.

  14. Paul Campbell 14
    19 November 2019 at 11:10 pm

    Seems to me that this might be a great time to pass some real campaign finance laws – the Greens are for it, Winston's in a position where he could be 'persuaded', we just need Labour to pull it all together

    Let's publish political party's account books, identify every donor (people are donating online, that should be easy). There should be no secret money in politics

  15. Cricklewood 15
    19 November 2019 at 11:15 pm

    Seems someone has leaked financial records, timed to do significant damage as I'll bet current donors to the foundation are going to be very reluctant to put in further money at this point which will hurt in an election year.

    Secondly if someone has the names of donors is there more to come? Thinking about fisheries cameras on boats etc that NZ First effectively vetoed. Will get very sticky for the govt as a whole if say Talleys for instance was sending money through the foundation.

    Then the story really kicks off, sure we all know money buys influence and there are machinations behind the scenes to sink Winston but this has the potential to drag lab and the greens down by association.

    • lprent 15.1
      20 November 2019 at 3:11 am

      Perhaps we should start with the current opposition – after all there is an existing running investigation on them already eh?

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • “Financially reckless” Parker ignores election
    Environment Minister David Parker is pressing ahead with a report which will almost certainly advocate greater rights for Maori over water allocation. Parker has set up a working group to investigate allocation, and he has done so only 12 days before an election. And just over three weeks ago ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 hours ago

  • At a glance – Climate scientists would make more money in other careers
    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
    11 hours ago

  • Chris Trotter: Nostalgic for a joyous Left
    I WAS A CAPTAIN COOK MAN, Grant Robertson was a Robbie Burns man. If you know anything about the great student pubs of Dunedin in the 1970s, 80s and 90s, those allegiances should tell you a lot. While I was at varsity, the “Cook” had a reputation for entertaining more ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    13 hours ago

  • Spray, spray, spray. There we go. Problem solved.
    Good old WD40. Is there nothing it can't do?Door squeaking? No problem, WD-40.Chewing gum stuck to the carpet? No worries, WD-40. Crayon marks? Spanner rusted up? Zipper won't undo? WD-40. WD-40. WD-40. It can even waterproof your shoes, I hear.(More Than A Feilding makes no warranty as to the efficacy of WD40 ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    14 hours ago

  • Taxpayers might be piste off, as govt lending to ski field is lifted to $50m – but more corporate ...
    Buzz from the Beehive The distributions of two dollops of corporate welfare have been proudly announced in government press statements today, but neither mentions or relates to the further taxpayer funding for ski fields on the skids. The government’s official website tells of $7 million being provided to boost aerospace ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    15 hours ago

  • The police know they suck at the OIA
    In recent years I've done a long series of posts poking into police OIA data and how it hides how badly the police suck at carrying out their obligations under the Act. And in a response to a recent request, it seems the police have been doing the same. A ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    15 hours ago

  • Gordon Campbell on National’s disdain for the Press debate
    Christopher Luxon evidently thinks this election is SO in the bag that he can afford to spurn the still-undecideds, the entire South Island, and the old Christchurch money that still reads the Press and shops at Ballantynes. We should all shed a tear for the National Party candidates across the ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    17 hours ago

  • ELIZABETH RATA: Two Treaties of Waitangi – the Articles Treaty and the Principles Treaty
    Elizabeth Rate writes – There are two versions of the Treaty of Waitangi.  The first is the 1840 Treaty – the ‘Articles Treaty’. The second is what I call the ‘Principles Treaty’. It dates from 1986 when the principles were first included in legislation. Astonishingly, the parliamentary ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    20 hours ago

  • Tuesday’s Chorus: When it's ok to borrow to invest
    Mayor Wayne Brown, a Northland land-banker himself, appears relaxed about borrowing to invest in land but not in, for example, transport infrastructure and services. File photo: Lynn Grieveson/Getty ImagesTL;DR: You couldn’t make this stuff up. A mayor determined to cut council debt by selling shares in a monopoly business because ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    20 hours ago

  • How well do our Rapid Transit Stations perform
    As we invest in our public transport network, it’s critical that we not only invest in transformative projects like the City Rail Link, but that we also get as much use as we can out of the network we already have – which will also maximise the outcomes of those ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    23 hours ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Ten reasons Labour’s support has halved
    The Labour Government was elected with 50 per cent of the vote three years ago, but current opinion polls show their vote could halve in this year’s election, which would be one of the biggest plunges in political history. Most polls have Labour on about 26 per cent. And the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    23 hours ago

  • Elizabeth Rata: Two Treaties of Waitangi: The Articles Treaty and the Principles Treaty
    Commentary There are two versions of the Treaty of Waitangi.  The first is the 1840 Treaty – the ‘Articles Treaty’. The second is what I call the ‘Principles Treaty’. It dates from 1986 when the principles were first included in legislation. Astonishingly the parliamentary representatives who inserted the word ‘principles’ ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    23 hours ago

  • Climate Emergency!
    It’s hard not to become a bit blasé towards climate change headlines. Flooding kills hundreds - blah. Catastrophic droughts - blah blah. One-in-a-hundred year events happening every year - blah blah blah.The earth had its highest temperature on record - again. Think we’ve read that one.So many articles telling us ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    24 hours ago

  • The Kākā Project: The economics of sufficiency
    The Kākā’s climate correspondent and had a chat with environmental historian and author Catherine Knight about why ‘feel good' actions like recycling and owning an electric car are unlikely to be enough to create a transition to zero emissions, let alone a just one. Knight says comments like ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago

  • Chippy misses a chance
    National leader Christopher Luxon has pulled out of any rescheduling of tonight’s Press debate, which has had to be cancelled because Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has Covid. The cancellation has given National an excuse to avoid a debate, which was always going to be a risk for Luxon. But ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago

  • The Angry Majority.
    The People's Champion vs The People's Prosecutor: It is the news media’s job to elicit information from politicians – not to prosecute them. Peters’ promise to sort out TVNZ should be believed. If he finds himself in a position to carry out his threat, then it will only be because ...
    Bowalley Road
    2 days ago

  • Verrall is chuffed by govt’s latest push into pay equity while Woods enthuses about an $11m spend ...
    Buzz from the Beehive The headline on a ministerial press statement curiously expresses the government’s position when it declares:   Government shows further commitment to pay equity for healthcare workers. Is it not enough to declare just one commitment? Or is the government’s commitment to pay equity being declared sector by ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • A very worthy coalition partner for Seymour and Luxon
    There have been 53 New Zealand Parliaments so far. The 39th of them was elected in 1978. It was a parliament of 92 MPs, most of them men. The New Zealand Music Awards that year named John Rowles Male Vocalist of the Year and — after a short twelve months ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • Labour still protecting the status quo
    Aotearoa has a cost of living crisis. And one of the major drivers of this crisis is the supermarket duopoly, who gouge every dollar they can out of us. Last year, the Commerce Commission found that the duopoly was in fact anti-competititve, giving the government social licence to fix the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on National’s myths about the desolated state of the economy
    Familiarity breeds consent. If you repeat the line “six years of economic mis-management” about 10,000 times, it sounds like the received wisdom, whatever the evidence to the contrary. Yes, the global pandemic and the global surge in inflation that came in its wake occurred here as well – but if ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    2 days ago

  • MICHAEL BASSETT: Hapless Hipkins and his racism
    Michael Bassett writes – Without so much as batting an eyelid, Chris Hipkins told an audience on Saturday that there had been “more racism” in this election campaign than ever before. And he blamed it on the opposition parties, National, Act and New Zealand First. In those ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • BRIAN EASTON: The ‘recession’ has been called off, but some households are still struggling
    While the economy is not doing too badly in output terms, external circumstances are not favourable, and there is probably a sizeable group of households struggling because of rising interest rates. Brian Easton writes – Last week’s announcement of a 0.9 percent increase in volume GDP for ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Monday’s Chorus: Richie Poulton's lament
    “You can't really undo what happens during childhood”, said the director of the Dunedin longitudinal study. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Richie Poulton, the director of the world-leading Dunedin longitudinal study showing how devastating poverty in early life is, died yesterday. With his final words, he lamented the lack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • North-western downgrades
    This is a guest post from reader Peter N As many of us know, Auckland Transport and Waka Kotahi are well into progressing works on the northwestern interim “busway” with services to kick off in just over a month from now on Sunday 12th November 2023. Some of the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    2 days ago

  • Has Webworm Found New Zealand’s Weirdest School?
    Hi,Before we talk about weird schools people choose to send their kids to, a few things on my mind. I adored the Ask Me Anything we did last week. Thanks for taking part. I love answering your weird and nosy questions, even questions about beans.I am excited and scared as Mister ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago

  • Another mother of a budget
    A National government would make spending cuts on a scale not seen since the 1990 – 96 Bolger government.That much was confirmed with the release of their Fiscal Plan on Friday.Government spending is currently high as a percentage of GDP — as high as it was during the Muldoon ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago

  • A crucial week starts as early voting opens in the NZ Elections … it’s been a ride so far. Are y...
    Chris Hipkins down with Covid, at least for 5 days isolation, National continue to obfuscate, ACT continues to double-down on the poor and Winston… well, he’s being Winston really. Voters beware: this week could be even more infuriating than the last. No Party is what they used to be ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    2 days ago

  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #39
    A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Sep 24, 2023 thru Sat, Sep 30, 2023. Story of the Week We’re not doomed yet’: climate scientist Michael Mann on our last chance to save human civilisation The renowned US ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

  • Clusterf**ck of Chaos.
    On the 11th of April 1945 advancing US forces liberated the Nazi concentration camp of Buchenwald near Weimar in Germany. In the coming days, under the order of General Patton, a thousand nearby residents were forced to march to the camp to see the atrocities that had been committed in ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • The party of business deals with the future by pretending it isn’t coming
    Years and years ago, when Helen Clark was Prime Minister and John Key was gunning for her job, I had a conversation with a mate, a trader who knew John Key well enough to paint a helpful picture.It was many drinks ago so it’s not a complete one. But there’s ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • 2023 More Reading: September (+ Old Phuul update)
    Completed reads for September: The Lost Continent, by C.J. Cutcliffe Hyne Flatland, by Edwin Abbott All Quiet on the Western Front, by Erich Maria Remarque The Country of the Blind, by H.G. Wells The Day of the Triffids, by John Wyndham A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    4 days ago

  • Losing The Left.
    Descending Into The Dark: The ideological cadres currently controlling both Labour and the Greens are forcing “justice”, “participation” and “democracy” to make way for what is “appropriate” and “responsible”. But, where does that leave the people who, for most of their adult lives, have voted for left-wing parties, precisely to ...
    Bowalley Road
    4 days ago

  • The New “Emperor’s New Clothes”.
    “‘BUT HE HASN’T GOT ANYTHING ON,’ a little boy said ….. ‘But he hasn’t got anything on!’ the whole town cried out at last.”On this optimistic note, Hans Christian Andersen brings his cautionary tale of “The Emperor’s New Clothes” to an end.Andersen’s children’s story was written nearly two centuries ago, ...
    Bowalley Road
    4 days ago

  • BRYCE EDWARDS: The vested interests shaping National Party policies
      Bryce Edwards writes – As the National Party gets closer to government, lobbyists and business interests will be lining up for influence and to get policies adopted. It’s therefore in the public interest to have much more scrutiny and transparency about potential conflicts of interests that ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • LINDSAY MITCHELL: A conundrum for those pushing racist dogma
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – The heavily promoted narrative, which has ramped up over the last six years, is that Maori somehow have special vulnerabilities which arise from outside forces they cannot control; that contemporary society fails to meet their needs. They are not receptive to messages and ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • CHRIS TROTTER:  The greater of two evils
    Not Labour: If you’re out to punish the government you once loved, then the last thing you need is to be shown evidence that the opposition parties are much, much worse.   Chris Trotter writes – THE GREATEST VIRTUE of being the Opposition is not being the Government. Only very ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • The Hoon around the week to Sept 30
    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:Labour presented a climate manifesto that aimed to claim the high ground on climate action vs National, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Litanies, articles of faith, and being a beneficiary
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past two weeks.Friday 29Play it, ElvisElection Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Litanies, articles of faith, and being a beneficiary
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past two weeks.Friday 29Play it, ElvisElection Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • The ‘Recession’ Has Been Called Off, But Some Households Are Still Struggling
    While the economy is not doing too badly in output terms, external circumstances are not favourable, and there is probably a sizeable group of households struggling because of rising interest rates.Last week’s announcement of a 0.9 percent increase in volume GDP for the June quarter had the commentariat backing down ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    5 days ago

  • Climate Change: The wrong direction
    This week the International Energy Association released its Net Zero Roadmap, intended to guide us towards a liveable climate. The report demanded huge increases in renewable generation, no new gas or oil, and massive cuts to methane emissions. It was positive about our current path, but recommended that countries with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • “Racism” becomes a buzz word on the campaign trail – but our media watchdogs stay muzzled when...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Oh, dear.  We have nothing to report from the Beehive. At least, we have nothing to report from the government’s official website. But the drones have not gone silent.  They are out on the election campaign trail, busy buzzing about this and that in the hope ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago

  • Play it, Elvis
    Election Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t have time for. You’re welcome, etc. Let us press on, etc. 1.  What did Christopher Luxon use to his advantage in ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • Pure class warfare
    National unveiled its fiscal policy today, announcing all the usual things which business cares about and I don't. But it did finally tell us how National plans to pay for its handouts to landlords: by effectively cutting benefits: The biggest saving announced on Friday was $2b cut from the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • Ask Me Anything about the week to Sept 29
    Photo by Anna Ogiienko on UnsplashIt’s that time of the week for an ‘Ask Me Anything’ session for paying subscribers about the week that was for an hour, including:duelling fiscal plans from National and Labour;Labour cutting cycling spending while accusing National of being weak on climate;Research showing the need for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Youth justice programme expands to break cycle of offending
    The successful ‘Circuit Breaker’ fast track programme designed to stop repeat youth offending was launched in two new locations today by Children’s Minister Kelvin Davis. The programme, first piloted in West and South Auckland in December last year, is aimed at children aged 10-13 who commit serious offending or continue ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago

  • Major milestone with 20,000 employers using Apprenticeship Boost
    The Government’s Apprenticeship Boost initiative has now supported 20,000 employers to help keep on and train up apprentices, Minister for Social Development and Employment Carmel Sepuloni announced in Christchurch today. Almost 62,000 apprentices have been supported to start and keep training for a trade since the initiative was introduced in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago

  • Government supporting wood processing jobs and more diverse industry
    The Government is supporting non-pine tree sawmilling and backing further job creation in sawmills in Rotorua and Whangarei, Forestry Minister Peeni Henare said.   “The Forestry and Wood Processing Industry Transformation Plan identified the need to add more diversity to our productions forests, wood products and markets,” Peeni Henare said. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago

  • Government backing Canterbury’s future in aerospace industry
    The Government is helping Canterbury’s aerospace industry take off with further infrastructure support for the Tāwhaki Aerospace Centre at Kaitorete, Infrastructure Minister Dr Megan Woods has announced. “Today I can confirm we will provide a $5.4 million grant to the Tāwhaki Joint Venture to fund a sealed runway and hangar ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago

  • Updated forestry regulations increase council controls and require large slash removal
    Local councils will have more power to decide where new commercial forests – including carbon forests – are located, to reduce impacts on communities and the environment, Environment Minister David Parker said today. “New national standards give councils greater control over commercial forestry, including clear rules on harvesting practices and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago

  • New Zealand resumes peacekeeping force leadership
    New Zealand will again contribute to the leadership of the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) in the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt, with a senior New Zealand Defence Force officer returning as Interim Force Commander. Defence Minister Andrew Little and Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta have announced the deployment of New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • New national direction provides clarity for development and the environment
    The Government has taken an important step in implementing the new resource management system, by issuing a draft National Planning Framework (NPF) document under the new legislation, Environment Minister David Parker said today. “The NPF consolidates existing national direction, bringing together around 20 existing instruments including policy statements, standards, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Government shows further commitment to pay equity for healthcare workers
    The Government welcomes the proposed pay equity settlement that will see significant pay increases for around 18,000 Te Whatu Ora Allied, Scientific, and Technical employees, if accepted said Health Minister Ayesha Verrall. The proposal reached between Te Whatu Ora, the New Zealand Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • 100 new public EV chargers to be added to national network
    The public EV charging network has received a significant boost with government co-funding announced today for over 100 EV chargers – with over 200 charging ports altogether – across New Zealand, and many planned to be up and running on key holiday routes by Christmas this year. Minister of Energy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Safeguarding Tuvalu language and identity
    Tuvalu is in the spotlight this week as communities across New Zealand celebrate Vaiaso o te Gagana Tuvalu – Tuvalu Language Week. “The Government has a proven record of supporting Pacific communities and ensuring more of our languages are spoken, heard and celebrated,” Pacific Peoples Minister Barbara Edmonds said. “Many ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2023-10-03T17:41:25+00:00