NZ First conference – the kingmakers?

Written By: lprent - Date published: 4:48 pm, July 15th, 2014 - 50 comments
Categories: act, colin craig, conservative party, election funding, mana-party, maori party, MMP, national, nz first, peter dunne, Politics, same old national, united future, winston peters - Tags: coalition blues, colin james, michael wood, virginia anderson, voting

It looks like I’ll be able to head to the New Zealand First conference at Alexandra Park racecourse on the weekend as media. In this election the position of NZ First party members is probably going to be crucial for any coalition that forms.

Colin James in “The crowded field of would-be kingmakers” has some fun looking at coalition options this time around. You just have to laugh at his first few paragraphs…

Journalists’ ideal result for New Zealand First on September 20 is 5.01 per cent in the party vote on the night, with the balance of power, and 4.98 per cent in the final count two weeks later. If New Zealand First then requested a judicial recount, election uncertainty would make news well into October.

The best New Zealand First result for National would be 4.8 per cent, too low for a recount and swelling the wasted vote to 6-6.5 per cent, cutting the vote share needed for a majority to about 45.5 per cent plus David Seymour and Peter Dunne.

The best result for Winston Peters would be upwards of 5.5 per cent and bargaining power between two sides if John Key’s charm falls short of 47-48 per cent. New Zealand First has averaged 4.6 per cent in polls this year (4.2 per cent recently), so another term is likely, especially if Labour can’t climb out of its pit.

Certainly, Peters will talk up the prospects this coming weekend at the pre-campaign conference at Alexandra Park Raceway where he launched the party 21 years ago come Friday.

The point about the closeness of NZ First to the magic 5% threshold is crucial. As Dimpost said a couple of weeks ago.

Big difference for New Zelaand First. What we don’t know is whether the polls just prior to the 2011 election underestimated the level of support for New Zealand First or whether the teapot tapes saga swung voters from National to New Zealand First after the sample periods ended. Also, what impact will voter turnout have on that party’s chances of getting back in? He could get the same number of voters, but if turnout is higher still drop below 5%.

His polling bias corrected graph shows this at present. I think I have the legend right, I wish Danyl would provide a key. The poll bias corrected has a level of uncertainty in it. However it is probably less the than the consistent uncertainties that show up at election time between the various polling companies and the actual results. A adequate rough cut.

Black = NZ First
Yellow = Act
Blue = Conservative
Red = Internet Mana
United Future?
Māori Party?

But even the non-bias corrected chart must worry the hell out of people who want to see NZ First fail this election. According to most of the comments from the right around here and most other blogs, it sounds like they’d prefer to not be in government if it means cuddling up to National. There were a lot of people who got badly fooled by National’s smear campaign fronted by Act’s Rodney Hide in 2008, and who still haven’t forgiven NZ First for surviving.

Based on past elections National are highly unlikely to retain their 50% polling coming into the actual election. They are no-where as high as they consistently were before the 2011 election or as the right were before the 2008 election. Come close to the election and on election night their vote contracts as the undecided, wavering, and uncontactable people make their decision plain. At present I’d guess that they will get between 43% and 46% of the vote depending on what happens in the next 67 days.

The Steven Joyce tactic of hoovering up almost all of the right vote into their monolithic party has left them with few solid coalition partners.

Only NZ First looks like getting over the 5% and they have to do it because they aren’t likely to win any electorate seats. They will alos be an uneasy partner for National.

But lets look at the other options for coalition partners for National…

United Future

In Ōhariu electorate a recent Tally Room assessment showed a 0.29% margin for United Future against Labour after the boundary changes are in effect. This is based on booth analysis from the last election. Arguably the selection of Virginia Anderson for Labour has provided a candidate who is aligned with the voters of that electorate, just as Charles Chauvel was. Brett Hudson for National seems like a weaker candidate than Katrina Shanks as a sitting list MP was last time.

The Tally Room assessment is

Peter Dunne’s political career, and the political survival of United Future, rely entirely on the result in Ōhariu. United Future has been polling so poorly that it would not even qualify to win a single seat, so without a successful Ōhariu campaign the party will be out of Parliament, ending Dunne’s 30-year career.

Labour will be campaigning hard to win Ōhariu, but may be hampered by the loss of Chauvel, who has increased the Labour vote from 20.4% in 2002 (when Chauvel was not a candidate) to 34.8% in 2011 (35.9% on the new boundaries).

Dunne has been in alliance with National for the past six years. It is not yet clear whether National will fight to win the seat, or if they will see a benefit in running dead to allow Dunne to retain his seat. If United Future (as polling has suggested) polls so poorly that they qualify for zero seats, his election in Ōhariu would effectively create a ‘bonus’ seat for the centre-right government, whereas a National candidate winning the seat would see the number of National list MPs reduced by one.

The National Party won almost 50% of the party vote in Ōhariu in 2011 (48.8% on new boundaries). Labour and Greens will be hoping to knock down the centre-right vote in 2014 if they are to have a hope of forming a centre-left government.

My guess is that it just depends on how well National can convince their remaining stubborn National voters (about 19.65% in 2011 based on the new boundaries) to flip to United Future. But based on the performance of Peter Dunne in recent elections, he doesn’t look that viable. Hopefully Labour will put some on the ground effort into that electorate to help their relatively inexperienced candidate.

Act

Despite National making a pretty valiant attempt to be invisible to voters in the Epsom electorate in 2011 – see “Goldsmith removing Goldsmith signs” as the National candidate then and now removed his own signs.
He appears to be doing the same thing this time. As Michael Wood, the Labour candidate in Epsom, explains ina guest post at The Daily Blog.

Campaigning in Epsom requires a keen sense of the absurd. Here in its tribal heartland, the party of government, who came a narrow second three years ago, are nowhere to be seen. The incumbent party pretend that nothing odd is happening, and of are of course established masters in the art of wilful blindness, affecting confusion and distress at any association between themselves and the man who was until one month ago, their sole parliamentary representative and political lifeline.

Of course the amusing farce masks a grimier reality. ACT is a political corpse, a party of no value or dignity who exist only as an electoral prop. With no sense of irony, the ACT Party who speak the language of ‘pull your socks up’, ‘do it yourself’, ‘no handouts’, law of the jungle free-market capitalism, is on its knees begging to be gifted a parliamentary seat.
There is nothing else like it. Spurious and tiresome comparisons are made by the thin troop of defensive men who uphold ACT’s public honour these days – Anderton in Sydneham or Hone in Te Ta Tokerau they say are examples of similar strategic vote scenarios that show that ACT is simply ‘playing the MMP game’. Utter nonsense. There has never been a case of a party so weak and unelectable in its own right being propped up in an electorate by the otherwise dominant party. Consider this – in 2011, the ACT Party vote in Epsom was 2.5%. New Zealand First was a more popular party than ACT in Epsom in 2011, and there are six times more Labour Party voters than ACT Party voters in the electorate. Like a rotten borough, Epsom in 2011 was gifted to a party that otherwise had no future.

And on the ground people know it. The overwhelming sense that our campaign picks up from Epsom voters as we canvass them on the doorstep and at local shops is that a line has been crossed since 2011. Loyal National voters we speak with simply roll their eyes now at the mention of ACT. They are embarrassed by the association and simply want a return to an honest local electoral competition in which they are able to choose their own local representative on the basis of competence and fitness for the job.

Yep. I live across the border from Epsom. I’d say that “the fuck you National factor” in Epsom is now very very high after seeing the sitting Act MP John Banks dropping out of Parliament after being judged guilty in a campaign donations scandal. They rather liked Rodney Hide in 2005 and he worked like hell with a larger than life personality. But the Act candidate this time is viewed as being a colourless what’s-his-name.

As the Tally Room says about tactical voting in that electorate

At the 2011 election, a majority of National voters switched to vote for ACT for the electorate vote. A majority of Green voters, and a large number of Labour voters, likewise switched to vote for the National candidate.

It is not yet clear how willing the National Party will be to assist the new ACT leadership in retaining Epsom, or whether centre-left voters will prove more willing to vote tactically to knock out ACT – in 2011, more than twice as many voters cast votes for the Labour and Green candidates than the ACT-National margin.

One thing to bear in mind is that the ACT party vote has collapsed, compared to previous elections. In 2008, ACT’s win in Epsom brought in another four list MPs, and there was some expectation that the same could have happened in 2011. After the party only qualified for a single seat in 2011, and considering current polls, there is a high risk that a win for ACT in Epsom could fail to bring in any more list MPs, and the National Party may consider it not worth the effort to drag in a single ACT MP.

Conservatives

And of course there are Conservatives with Colin Craig. They aren’t bankers and company directors in East Coast Bays. I don’t think that regardless what directions National tries to give them, they simply won’t vote in large numbers for him. As Colin James says

Some think Colin Craig might help Peters into retirement by purloining some of his populist support. But Craig is not a populist in Peters’ blokeish-centrist way. He pitches a conservative-Christian line on social and moral issues, in effect stretching a conservative strand within National so far beyond the boundaries of National’s broad church that large numbers in that party won’t have a bar of him.

And Craig has acquired a difficult-to-shake media caricature of him as caricaturing himself as an oddball. His task at his Conservative party conference this coming weekend is to put on show people to whom a wider public than 2-3 per cent can relate.

Craig has also to give Key some wiggle room. Large numbers in the National party figure there is no choice but to give him East Coast Bays as insurance against the likelihood that Key plus Seymour plus Dunne do not make 61 seats.

Māori Party

And Colin James on the Maori party.

Of course, there is always the Maori party. Actually, there was the Maori party. Its two icons are going, it came third in the Ikaroa-Rawhiti by-election and has trailed Labour in polls of Maori electorate voters. If Te Ururoa Flavell has the call on who governs and he goes with National again (which he kept open in his keynote on Saturday at the party’s tenth anniversary), even if at barge-pole length with cast-iron concessions, the party risks suicide.

The party was born negatively in anger at Labour’s foreshore and seabed legislation. On the positive side, it also responded to a logical wish for the Maori electorates to be Maori, not a Labour subsidiary. And it got from John Key a policy gain of substance in whanau ora, which is now established and would endure across a change of government.

But the party is unlikely to have a twentieth birthday. Labour and the Mana bit of Dotcom’s cash venture have stronger pitches now. If Labour could learn that the seats should be Maori seats that happen to be Labour and not the other way round it might re-attach voters back for a time.

Personally I think that Annette Sykes from Mana is likely to defeat Flavell. She got bloody close last time with only 7 weeks of campaigning after selection because she is such a strong high profile local candidate. Māori electorates these days are absolute hotbeds of tactical voting. The message of voting for electorate and party separately has embedded itself into the Māori roll voters to an astonishing degree.

While I’m sure that if they could get three Māori MPs off the seat, then they’d try that. But since that isn’t feasible it becomes a question of who they think will represent them in parliament, and the Flavell lost a lot of ground in 2011.

I don’t rate the Māori parties chances in the other seats. From what I have been hearing their campaigners have been deserting them for Labour or Mana with the standing down of their existing MPs.

Conclusion

I’ll bet that somewhere in National there is a now a plan that says “who needs bloody coalition partners?”. If enough vote gets wasted by parties failing to get to the threshold and failing to get an electorate seat, then a high vote for National would probably get them over the line through redistribution.

What they would need to do is to cripple NZ First so they got 4.8% and hoover up the remaining Act, United Future, and as much of the Conservative vote as possible. Then hope that the redistribution favours them.

But it really is too risky. They have tried all this before with their sockpuppets like Rodney Hide and hysterical mouthpieces in the blogs and media. Back in 2008 and 2009, I tried to tell the raving lynch mobs that they weren’t going to kill NZ First politically because they had a constituency. It was one that refreshed itself as ornery and stubborn cusses became grandparents in each decade and looked up from their working lives at their kids kids. Now that particular tactic barely worked in 2008, and it sure ain’t going to work again.

What National desperately needs to do is to finesse NZ First into a confidence level coalition or cross bench arrangement. But really how likely is that?

So having a look at the NZ First party activists en-mass this weekend is going to be really interesting. My pick is that after the dust settles Winston Peters will be heading where his party members will allow him to go. I think I’d like to get to know them a bit better than the few dozens of their supporters I know now.

They’re cynical and ornery critters. What in the hell are they going to be like in a group?

50 comments on “NZ First conference – the kingmakers? ”

Comments are now closed

Colonial Viper 1

15 July 2014 at 5:06 pm

lprent, see if you can’t spend a bit of time hanging out with the under 35 “Young” NZ First crowd and see what you make of them. If you can, corner that cad Curwen Rollinson and ask what a supposed socialist like him thinks he is doing in a party like NZ First.

The other question that you might take to the conference is – when Peters finally goes, will NZ First also.
- lprent 1.1
  
  15 July 2014 at 5:15 pm
  
  That last point ultimately is what I’m interested in, and its converse.
  
  But one thing, I suspect that I’m not going to stand out in the crowd there these days.
- Curwen Rolinson 1.2
  
  15 July 2014 at 5:47 pm
  
  You called…?
  - Colonial Viper 1.2.1
    
    15 July 2014 at 7:44 pm
    
    lol hi mate {just checking the bat light signal} 🙂
  - Clemgeopin 1.2.2
    
    15 July 2014 at 7:46 pm
    
    Not yet…!
greywarbler 2

15 July 2014 at 5:20 pm

Unfair to Winnie. He’s a poster boy and why put him up scowling when he looks so much better in his normal pose.
- lprent 2.1
  
  15 July 2014 at 5:26 pm
  
  Fixed. It was the only one that looked up to date in the media library.
  
  I squared the official image off the NZF website.
  - Clemgeopin 2.1.1
    
    15 July 2014 at 7:29 pm
    
    @lprent, not sure what you meant by ‘fixed’ and what you did ‘fix’? I don’t see any picture of Winnie.
    
    And another point:
    I don’t seem to get the ‘subscribe’/Confirm email these days.
    [Also, sometimes the ‘edit’ button does not work as it says ‘loaded successfully straight after posting. Not sure if you are aware of these issues. My last post had a duplicate.]
    - lprent 2.1.1.1
      
      15 July 2014 at 10:05 pm
      
      On the front page of the site.
Clemgeopin 3

15 July 2014 at 5:56 pm

My guess is that NZFirst will cross 6% this election while Internet -Mana will cross 5% along with two electorate wins, Hone and Sykes. The Conservatives will struggle to win electorate or threshold.

The two parties whose vote will collapse would be National (44%) and the Maori party.

In my opinion there is a higher chance of a Labour led coalition government than a National led government.
- lprent 3.1
  
  15 July 2014 at 6:25 pm
  
  Personally I think that IMP are pushing tomato sauce uphill if they try to get to the 5% threshold. I’m not detecting any particular interest in their target demographics except amongst the usual activist suspects and the fashion obsessed.
  
  Call me deeply cynical but this youngish soft voter strategy has been done a number of times before in various guises and it is freaking hard to get turnout from. The basic issue is that most people don’t get particularly interested in politics until they start getting into settled relationships, having kids, and wanting to buy houses. Then they often get pretty interested in it because then they’re both paying taxes and paying substantial bills. It tends to gel an interesting almost instant value for money mentality when they start getting really serious about living.
  
  What the IMP are seeing right now is the “new and cool” name recognition effect. What my sister disdainfully called the “fashionistas” when she was at AGGS. They went off to the springbok tour protests dressed for attracting the appropriate gender because it was the “cool” thing for the moment. Bit like that great portrayal of Rick from the Young Ones. Their staying power was pretty pathetic and you really couldn’t rely on them for much.The more things change, the more they look exactly the same when it comes to human behaviour.
  
  If they do in the next 67 days, then it will be a useful lesson in tactics. But right now I’d class that as simply being wishful thinking. But I suspect that the IMP will get between 2 and 3%.
  
  Hone I suspect will beat out Kelvin. But he will have to work at the electorate to do so. I actually think that Annette Sykes will have an easier job in a lot of ways.
  - Colonial Viper 3.1.1
    
    15 July 2014 at 7:37 pm
    
    3% and 4 MPs would be a big win for IMP. They aren’t likely to get any more than that. More importantly, they need to find and develop a couple of hundred extra activists who will then help take them into 2017.
  - swordfish 3.1.2
    
    15 July 2014 at 8:23 pm
    
    Yeah, I’d have to say the idea of a party polling at the sort of level IMP has this year then going on to cross the 5% threshold is pretty much unheard of.
    
    I’m thinking 2.2 – 3.2%. They’ll be very happy if they can get above 3%, I’d say. The very best I can imagine them reaching is 4%, but only if Dotcom’s huge war-chest is able to do wonders and mobilise a whole swathe of younger voters who would normally stay at home on Election Day. But that would be the absolute optimum and from this vantage-point still seems unlikely.
    
    IMP Poll Support this year
    
    Jan ………0.5……….0.3……….1.5
    
    Feb………0.3………1.5…………0……….0.5
    
    March…..0.1……….0………….0……….1.5……….1
    
    April………2……….2.5
    
    May……..0.5………1.5………..1………..0.8……….1
    
    June……..2.5………1.4………..2.1……..1.8……….2………2.5
    - lprent 3.1.2.1
      
      15 July 2014 at 8:30 pm
      
      That would be my call as well. Could marginally rise above 3%. Don’t think they will get less than 2%. I’d be freaking surprised if they got to 4% in the next 67 days at the election vote.
      
      I’m sure that they will get a lot of vocal support and a comparatively disappointing result
      - Jenny 3.1.2.1.1
        
        16 July 2014 at 8:38 am
        
        This is my take too. Purely anecdotal, but quizzing young professional IT people I come across in my daily life and work I find little interest in mainstream politics at all and none in IMP.
        
        I don’t agree with the cynical fashionista assessment of this demographic’s motives. But it contains a grain of truth, in that it will take a huge social/political movement to lift this groups eyes above their laptops and workstations to see the bigger picture and become interested in politics.
      - You_Fool 3.1.2.1.2
        
        16 July 2014 at 9:17 am
        
        It is almost like the IMP is the new early-mid 2000’s Green Party – where it was the “cool” option to say on any phone poll, but always lost about 40-50% of that support in an actual election.
        
        lprent 3.1.2.1.2.1
        
        16 July 2014 at 11:04 am
        
        Yeah. But the Greens got serious. It’ll be interesting to see if they have lost that drop off factor now.
  - marty mars 3.1.3
    
    16 July 2014 at 8:36 am
    
    I’m calling you deeply cynical 🙂 Check out the crowd – a less likely group of fashionistas you’ll never find https://twitter.com/InternetPartyNZ/status/488955303291916288?utm_source=fb&utm_medium=fb&utm_campaign=grantbrookesnz&utm_content=488970929553170432
    
    I agree getting the Party vote up to 5% is wistful thinking but that is what we need – too often some give up before the race is run, too often a persons past experience is extrapolated to how they see the future, too often the dream is just too small.
    
    There will be IMP representatives in the next Parliament and we will all be better off because of that.
    - lprent 3.1.3.1
      
      16 July 2014 at 11:21 am
      
      Aspirational goals are useful.
      
      However as you can see from my post, I’m just having a hard headed look at what is likely post election rather than what is aspirational.
      
      There will be IMP representatives in the next Parliament and we will all be better off because of that.
      
      One is there already. And I have to say that I’m looking forward to seeing Annette Sykes there. If she survives the first couple of learning curve terms, then I suspect that she will make some good contributions.
      - karol 3.1.3.1.1
        
        16 July 2014 at 1:00 pm
        
        And I have to say that I’m looking forward to seeing Annette Sykes there. If she survives the first couple of learning curve terms, then I suspect that she will make some good contributions.
        
        Agreed.
  - Draco T Bastard 3.1.4
    
    16 July 2014 at 9:19 am
    
    The basic issue is that most people don’t get particularly interested in politics until they start getting into settled relationships, having kids, and wanting to buy houses. Then they often get pretty interested in it because then they’re both paying taxes and paying substantial bills.
    
    I think it’s significantly different now. Those young people are trying to get ahead with tens of thousands of dollars of Student Loan and pretty close to no hope of a job to pay for it. So a party that comes out and says that they’re going to get rid of student loans and push innovation in NZ is going to get their attention.
    - karol 3.1.4.1
      
      16 July 2014 at 9:34 am
      
      So a party that comes out and says that they’re going to get rid of student loans and push innovation in NZ is going to get their attention.
      
      You mean The Green Party? Policies they have had for a while.
      - Draco T Bastard 3.1.4.1.1
        
        16 July 2014 at 9:41 am
        
        But is the Green Party actually saying that? They have the policies but we’re not hearing about them.
        
        karol 3.1.4.1.1.1
        
        16 July 2014 at 10:03 am
        
        Some of that is due to selective media coverage.
        
        Some of it may be due to the different priorities of both parties.
        
        The Greens have done a lot of media and other engagements focusing on their “smart green” approach to business innovation. Gareth Hughes and Russel Norman being particularly strong on that.
        
        The Greens have a while raft of interwoven, and quite well-developed policies that they have been talking about for a few years.
        
        On education, the priority has been to focus on early childhood and schooling. So they have promoted their tertiary policy less. Working towards debt-free tertiary education has been a part of their policy for a while. It is focused on ending student loans as soon as possible, making teritiary education accessible to all, and making student allowance available to all, while having a well-worked out plan to make it happen:
        
        Green Party policy on these issues will remove the need for a student loan scheme.
        
        In order to address the legacy of more than a decade of the student loan scheme, the Greens will institute a programme to write off student debt for all those who contribute to our society.
        
        Laila Harre came out and stated that the IMP will get rid of student debt and fees, when IMP didn’t have a policy to do it, nor a well worked out way to make it happen. Now loads of people, with no real understanding of what is required, assume the IMP will magically make it happen.
Te Reo Putake 4

15 July 2014 at 7:16 pm

Great post, lprent! A couple of observations:

The Maori party are stuffed. I attended Adrian Rurawhe’s campaign launch in Ratana last week. The hall was full of enthusiastic supporters, the vibe was upbeat and it’s clear that Adrian has the chops to be a great MP. It’s not just activists that have come back to Labour in Te Tai Hauauru, Adrian himself has returned after being disillusioned around the seabed and foreshore mess. It’s heartening that he sees Labour as the future, again.

If Labour want to win the majority, maybe all, of the seats, David Cunliffe should go to Ratana himself and say “we got that wrong”. It would be the right thing to do.

Secondly, National’s contempt for their coalition partners is obvious. Even Matthew Hooten referred to the Nat’s lacklustre beano a couple of weeks ago as “the Government conference”. Sure, it was probably a slip of the snakey tongue, but the fact is that the other 3 parties are just make-weights to the Tories. Which is why I think they will read the writing on the wall and concede East Coast Bays to Craycray Craig. It’s his time to shine, a little nugget of fools gold in the pan of an increasingly desperate Key.
bad12 5

15 July 2014 at 7:21 pm

Strangely enough i am going the other way from my 2011 pick for NZFirst, my pick for the party at the election 4.3%,

Two reasons, one being the ‘tactical vote’ from 2011 will not be as apparent in NZFirst’s vote as it was in 2011,

The second, Winston just hasn’t had the fire in the latter part of the current Parliament that has been the usual feature of His politics, this is n entirely personal view, but, previously when Peters began the trumpeting of something ‘scandalous’ i would sit up and take notice,

These days tho, such words as ‘conspiracy’ and ‘scurrilous’ from Winston are met here with a large Yawn, i doubt i am alone in that view,

Last election a vote for NZFirst, because of the attempted kiss of death delivered by Slippery the Prime Minister toward NZFirst leading into the 2011 contest was both a vote for a larger more potent opposition, and, a very large Fuck You to the PM,

Peters has openly invited the left of NZFirst and the 2011 tactical voters who cast one for NZFirst to go elsewhere with His, usual, vows of silence surrounding His preferred options after the election,

This stance in this particular election i would suggest will cost NZFirst dearly and had Peters declared early exactly which side of the divide He intended to take NZFirst, had it been toward the Left Bloc i would again suggest that this would have ensured NZFirst a place in the Parliament post September’s election,

Even should National be able to cobble together a third term Government, it will, leaving aside the policies and scandals for the moment, simply as that third term administration, be looking at being caned severely at the 2017 election, anyone, should that include NZFirst, as the stage prop for such a Government will suffer at the hands of the electorates on a far greater scale…
- lprent 5.1
  
  15 July 2014 at 10:50 pm
  
  I’d agree about the fire. However I also think that there is a constituency not just for Winston, but also the party. I find I run across them in all of the weirdest places.
  
  …should that include NZFirst, as the stage prop for such a Government will suffer at the hands of the electorates on a far greater scale…
  
  The question is if NZF wants to be in that position.
  - karol 5.1.1
    
    16 July 2014 at 9:38 am
    
    I have heard comments – anecdotal, on the ground – of some ex-Labour female voters planning to vote either NZ First or The Greens. Unsupported by any verification or documented evidence, but curious.
    
    But I would be interested to see what the appeal of NZ First is for left-leaning women voters.
    - lprent 5.1.1.1
      
      16 July 2014 at 11:40 am
      
      I was contemplating a couple of responses to that. However I decided in the end that that raising the John Rowles factor (for those who are old enough) was probably a bit dangerous to raise.
      
      😈
      - karol 5.1.1.1.1
        
        16 July 2014 at 1:02 pm
        
        Gottit. Winnie’s personal attraction.
- Draco T Bastard 5.2
  
  16 July 2014 at 9:09 am
  
  Considering NZFirst’s recently released transport policy there’s absolutely no way that they could go with National. That policy is diametrically opposed to what National want to do and I think that applies to more than just one of their policies.
Sable 6

15 July 2014 at 7:29 pm

Winston Peters strikes again and good on him. He may have his flaws but he delivers on his promises to voters and that’s what counts..
swordfish 7

15 July 2014 at 7:32 pm

NZ First supporters preferences

Fairfax-Ipsos have polled on mood for a Change of Government, but unfortunately haven’t provided a breakdown for this measurement by Party Support. The only Polling Company that appears to have polled specifically on whether respondents want a Labour-led or National-led Government (and provided breakdowns by Party Support) is Horizon Poll.

I know all the arguments made against treating Horizon Polls as bona fide (and I agree with some of those criticisms), but I will say that – although their results need to be treated very cautiously – they do weight not only by a range of demographic factors but also, importantly, by 2011 party vote (and I suspect they’re the only Polling organisation in NZ that does that – in stark contrast to the UK, where all but one Polling group does). So, that is a form of quality control on Horizon’s part.

Their latest (late May / early June) poll suggests 63% of NZ First supporters prefer a Labour-led Government, with 37% wanting a National-led one.

Like I say, needs to be treated very cautiously, but……

It’d be nice if one or two of our 5 more conventional public polling companies could manage to do something similar. I can certainly remember at least one (possibly Colmar-Brunton ?) doing this a few Elections back (2005 ?, 2008 ?).
- lprent 7.1
  
  15 July 2014 at 10:06 pm
  
  Hopefully NZF are doing this amongst their members and previously canvassed supporters.
Chooky 8

15 July 2014 at 7:48 pm

@ CV…lol…”If you can, corner that cad Curwen Rollinson and ask what a supposed socialist like him thinks he is doing in a party like NZ First.”

…I know a young thing who was very impressed by Mr Rollinson!…and this young thing is pretty skeptical and critical and hard to please !

( I see NZF supporters as lefty/conservative cynics …with a plague on “all the political scumbag bastards’ political houses” mentality…Winnie fits their mood…wiley and comes out swinging and showing them up)

( btw the reply function doesnt seem to be working and in order to leave a comment you have to log in each time because it doesnt remember who you are…not that I am complaining.!..but just saying that maybe a grinch has got into the computer works)
- lprent 8.1
  
  15 July 2014 at 10:03 pm
  
  Ok will check. But it might be time for you to find your cookies in your browser and kill them for thestandard.org.nz
deep throat 9

15 July 2014 at 7:52 pm

I think every racing kiwi will have a bob each way on winston!
lefty 10

16 July 2014 at 7:41 am

Don’t forget Labour is campaigning on raising the pension age and Winston is seen by many as the defender of older people.

Labour has a tin ear on this issue but in my experience it is much discussed in the workplace and unfortunately Winston is looking good to many workers who are already battered by the precarious existence that has become the norm for lower income and young people both here and internationally.

Labour needs to realise that many people in the modern workforce are in and out of work so the pension is going to be the first time in their lives they have a secure income free from harassment from Work and Income or constant chopping and changing of hours by their employer.

Threatening to make them wait longer for it is certain way of forcing them to find someone else to vote for.

Be prepared for a surprise in the level of support for the awful NZ First from people who would not otherwise look at them.
- Jenny 10.1
  
  16 July 2014 at 8:45 am
  
  +1
- karol 10.2
  
  16 July 2014 at 9:43 am
  
  Agree. As a semi-retired person, I find I have less resilience for soaking up the inevitable work-place stresses. But, it helps me relax a little to remember I now have other sources of income, and am very unlikely to need to go to WINZ for additional income.
- SPC 10.3
  
  16 July 2014 at 10:10 am
  
  Labour can and should defer the issue. Specify no change until 2030. Then an increase in age from age 65 to 70 from 2030 to 2050 – 3 months each year over 20 years.
  
  Guaranteeing income security with super rate benefits for the unemployed over age 65 and under the raised super age (which should have been done with the increase from age 60 to age 65).
  
  Pandering to the middle class media on the issue with disregard for the circumstance of the aging poor working class reminds one of the Douglas era.
marty mars 11

16 July 2014 at 8:24 am

Winnie has a good bone (shipley and brash) to gnaw here

New Zealand First’s Peters attacked the business and banking credentials of both former politicians, saying well-known names were being used to add a veneer of respectability.

“I’m concerned about what I call economic treachery in New Zealand political figures allowing us to be used in this way,” he said. “It’s appalling.”

Peters said Shipley had “no grasp” of the Asian currency crisis when she was deputy prime minister, and “no understanding” of the Bank of New Zealand privatisation.

“For anyone who understands . . . they’ll know just how spurious this appointment is,” he said.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/10270498/Shipleys-bank-role-treachery-says-Peters

I can’t stand winnie or his party but he is useful in attacking enemies as long as you realise he’ll turn on you at the drop of a hat if he wants to.
- lprent 11.1
  
  16 July 2014 at 11:29 am
  
  I suspect that he has the trait that I have. I work well with people and a great deal of fun arguing and discussing. However I react to attacks in a rather intolerant, completely over the top, and quite long-term fashion. It is as much a strategy as a personality trait.
  
  Winston displayed those traits after Shipley did the dirty on him at the end of the 90s. I suspect that he views John Key in a similar fashion after 2008.
SPC 12

16 July 2014 at 10:01 am

ACT are finished, their policy is to end school zoning – that is not going to play in Epsom.

All Labour has to do is inform Epsom voters of this policy and the ACT MP would be unelectable.

ACT is trapped between its convictions and its dependency on an electorate deal with National in Epsom. It is a trap it cannot survive.
aerobubble 13

16 July 2014 at 12:51 pm

Lets play. Imagine every Labour voter staying true in the seats yet party voting Green. Who would have won the last two elections? Well Lab-Green would. No. No Key, no Peters the KingMaker.

Our electoral system is setup to split the governing block and force any PM to form an alliance between separate seat and list parties.

National desperately want a list party or to become a list party. NZF doesn’t hack it, as its a one personality party.

If you haven’t done the sums. Image Greens getting 40%, and Labour taking 30 seats. That means (40% * 130) + 30 = 70 of a 130 seat parliament. Of course, Greens would lead the alliance.

So if you want Key out, PARTY VOTE GREEN, and vote Mana in the Maori seats and Labour in the general seats. Its just that simple. No Key, No Peters.
Tracey 14

16 July 2014 at 5:58 pm

The ACT candidate for Epsom recently sent us a letter. He said he had been knocking on alot of doors to find out what matters most to those in his electorate. His conclusion? Unsolved burglaries.

Same day the Greens wrote to us and said the most important issue facing Aucklanders is transport.
- lprent 14.1
  
  16 July 2014 at 10:30 pm
  
  Perhaps he should ask the local police about a few of them. He might find that they have been marked down to mere incidents.
  
  It helps the crime stats ya know..
Jenny 15

16 July 2014 at 7:29 pm

Winston Peters has recently been saying some interesting things about climate change lately.

I have thought that Peters would return to his conservative roots for what looks to be his last Hurrah.

But I could be wrong. Climate change could be the deal breaker.

Lynn if you get the chance to buttonhole the NZF leader, quiz him about climate change.

(Winston Peters is the climate change spokesperson for the New Zealand First Party)
- lprent 15.1
  
  16 July 2014 at 10:29 pm
  
  I usually don’t bother with politicians too much. Party members and activists are usually more interesting.
  - Jenny 15.1.1
    
    17 July 2014 at 6:08 am
    
    More interesting, but less crucial.
    An ancient internet meme reads: “An army of sheep led by a lion will always defeat an army of lions led by sheep.” And never truer in a party were many of the portfolios are held, and all of the decisions are made by just one man. Will this old lion lead his flock in the fight against climate change?
    
    Will this be the bottom line in a deal with the Nats?
    
    There should be environmental bottom lines. Our outstanding wild and scenic rivers need protection from damming. New Zealand is lucky too, in having a technologically advanced, export-oriented forestry industry, that can play a major role, both in waste wood being a sustainable energy source, and in trees also providing a level of carbon sequestration, in the short term.
    
    In this well understood situation, and with many sustainable energy sources being available, negotiated performance standards, government assisted R&D, and a carbon tax incentive to change, are much better options than the uncontrolled financial machinations of an emissions trading scheme, where there is no opportunity for a plan of managed change and improvement.
    
    The bottom line is that the proposed ETS will incur a very large cost – $2 Billion – that can be much better used to repay debt. Another advantage of targeted R&D, and managed change, is that potential new sustainable industries are likely to be developed, providing competitive export and import substitution advantages, and also allowing New Zealand companies to sell these to the world.
    
    A further disadvantage of an ETS is the likelihood that New Zealand technological advances that create intellectual property rights, are likely to be lost to our economy.
    
    Both issues discussed today are of the most serious importance. As we close towards the election, and facing the worst economic signs of my lifetime, New Zealand needs, not false optimism and bland promises of muddling through with aspiration, but a serious reality check and a hard examination of the facts.
    
    New Zealand can make it to a better tomorrow but not following a direction littered with red lights warning failure.
    
    Winston Peters
    
    http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1111/S00276/winston-peters-speech-climate-change-yes-ets-no.htm

Comments are now closed

Articles RSS

Comments
Opinions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pick this Chris, you get the Greens. Pick the other one you get Seymour.
A bit of a narrative has been building that these two guys, your Chris and your Chris, are not so very different.It's true to a point. The bread and butter timidity has been dispiriting to watch, if you have a progressive disposition. It does leave the two of them relatively ...
More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
4 days ago

RICHARD PREBBLE: Who won the Leaders’ debate?
Richard Prebble writes – There was a knockout winner of the Leaders’ debate. Check for yourself. Recall how they looked. If you cannot remember or missed it, the debate is on TVNZ’s website. Turn off the sound and ask: “Which one looks like a Prime Minister?” ...
Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
4 days ago

Thursday's Chorus: GDP up an extra 33c per person per week
Just like National when it was in government, Labour bought nominal GDP growth and momentum by pulling as hard as it could on the population lever. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTLDR: Stats NZ has reported better-than-expected GDP growth in the June quarter, thanks largely to record-high net migration of ...
The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
4 days ago

Climate Change: National’s policy for failure
We already know that the National Party are de facto climate change deniers who want to reverse virtually all climate change policy. So how do they think they'll cut emissions? According to their climate change spokesperson, polluting corporations will do it out of the goodness of their hearts: The ...
No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
4 days ago

NZ’s big dairy company reports a massive profit jump – but the lobby group Greenpeace doesn’...
Dairy farmers, or at least those who are also shareholders in the Fonterra dairy co-operative would have received a second dose of good news this week, when the dairy giant reported a massive profit jump. This followed news of a better sale at the Fonterra GDT auction this week. Net ...
Point of OrderBy tutere44
4 days ago

Big issues out of the mouths of giant babes
A longtime New Zealand broadcaster and commentator is taking a theatrical turn in advance of the General Election to draw different kinds of attention to the issues New Zealanders will be voting on in October.In a pre-election event that invites audiences to consider New Zealand politics through a theatrical lens ...
More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
4 days ago

That new hospital which Labour is promising – is it the same one which Sepuloni mentioned in May ...
Our busy ministers – desperately busy trying to whip up voters’ support as their poll support sags, among other things – have added just one item of news to the government’s official website over the past 24 hours or so. It’s the news that the Government has accepted the Environment ...
Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
4 days ago

Queenstown was keeping rates low
On Monday, we learned that Queenstown, one of the country's largest tourist destinations, suddenly had to boil its water to avoid cryptosporidium. Now, it looks like it will last for months. Why? The usual reason: they'd been keeping rates low: Queenstown could face months of having to boil water ...
No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
4 days ago

Gordon Campbell on chaotic coalitions, drinking water and useless debates
This week’s ONE News-Verian poll had the National/ACT coalition teetering on the edge of being able to govern alone while – just as precariously – having its legislative agenda vulnerable to a potential veto by Winston Peters in the House. So close, but so perilous. During the run-up to election ...
Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
4 days ago

An ill wind
National Leader Christopher Luxon likes to bag the way the Resource Management Act worked. Though it has been repealed and replaced by the Labour government, Luxon plans, before Christmas, to repeal the new legislation and, for the foreseeable future, revert to the old Act that he has consistently criticised. ...
PolitikBy Richard Harman
4 days ago

Further Adventures with Martin the Chess Bot
Earlier this month, I had a bit of fun with Chess.com’s worst AI, the one and only Martin Bot: https://phuulishfellow.wordpress.com/2023/09/02/nine-queens-against-martin-chess-hilarity/ Well, in the past few days, I’ve achieved a trio of notable personal firsts against Martin. I thought I would record them in the morbid interests of ...
A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
5 days ago

The Inflation Reduction Act is reducing U.S. reliance on China
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections On August 16, 2022, President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law. Over a year later, its climate provisions remain a hot topic. The law’s proponents argue that it’s created a boom in domestic manufacturing jobs within the United States while paving ...
Skeptical Science
5 days ago

Relief for dairy farmers – and the NZ economy – as prices rise again at latest GDT auction
New Zealand’s dairy farmers will be relieved that prices rose for the second time this month at the latest Fonterra GDT auction. The encouraging feature of the sale was the activity of Chinese buyers who drove up prices. As a result, the GDT price index rose 4.6%, helped by a 4.6% lift ...
Point of OrderBy tutere44
5 days ago

Democracy McNuggets
Here is a review of last night’s Democracy McNuggets debate, delivered in the style of last night's Democracy McNuggets debate.McNugget #1This format was very advantageous for the man who speaks in lazy SLAM DUNK.To hark back a few editions: The lazy SLAM DUNK doesn’t bother to make its case. It simply offers ...
More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
5 days ago

A Forced Pause.
Unfortunately I will need to take a bit of time off from this blog. After months of misdiagnoses and a change in GPs, my precious son is in Starship Hospital about to have major surgery. He already has had one … Continue reading → ...
KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
5 days ago

Better-than-expected BoP figures give Robertson something to bray about – but revisions helped, a...
Buzz from the Beehive Source: ANZ The latest balance of payments statistics – providing a broad measure of what the country earns and spends internationally – gave grist to Finance Minister Grant Robertson’s publicity mill today. The current account deficit narrowed to 7.5 per cent of ...
Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
5 days ago

Dirty dairy corrupts our democracy
The planning process under the RMA is meant to be one of public consultation: the council prepares a plan, and we all get to have a say on it. But it turns out that in Otago, the dirty dairying industry has been trying to rewrite the new land and water ...
No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
5 days ago

Calling The Big Dog’s Bluff.
Can This Be Possible? For nearly thirty years the pundits have been telling the minor parties that they must be good little puppies and let the big dogs decide. The parties with a plurality of the votes cast must be allowed to govern – even if that means ignoring the ...
Bowalley Road
5 days ago

Climate Change: “Offsets” aren’t
Since we began worrying about climate change, the market fundamentalists have pushed the idea of "offsets" rather than actual emissions reductions. There's just one atmosphere after all, so in theory it doesn't matter where the reductions are made, so you can just pay someone on the other side of the ...
No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
5 days ago

GRAHAM ADAMS: Is Ardern a liability for Labour?
Ministers are pretending the former PM has simply vanished. Graham Adams writes – Late last week, Tova O’Brien asked Grant Robertson on her Stuff podcast if Jacinda Ardern should be “rolled out” to “galvanise the base” to help save Labour’s faltering campaign. Robertson laughed. ”I’m sure for ...
Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
5 days ago

Wednesday’s Chorus: Biggest insurer starts targeted climate retreat
Owners of property deemed at risk from climate change related floods and rising sea levels will increasingly find their access to affordable insurance shut off. Some may become ‘prisoners’ in their uninsurable and therefore unbankable homes. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: IAG, which insures more than 60% of homes ...
The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
5 days ago

Chris vs Chris.
So it’s kind of obligatory to start with the boxing analogy…In the red corner, you’ll know him from his red hair and his red heart, the champion of achievable socialism, weighing in when given the opportunity - it’s Chris.And fighting out of the blue corner, you’ll know him from his ...
Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
5 days ago

Hipkins – Luxon stalemate
Last night’s TVOne debate may well reinforce the idea that the minor parties will determine this election. Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and National leader Christopher Luxon ended their one-and-a-half hours with Luxon probably slightly ahead, though a stalemate might be a more realistic assessment. But there was nothing of ...
PolitikBy Richard Harman
5 days ago

At a glance – Do volcanoes emit more CO2 than humans?
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
6 days ago

This little bald fellow, is he your god?
Aliens landed in the seaside village this morning. Just like every other cruise tourist who gets carted over here by Fullers and dumped at the bus stop, they had that bewildered look that said, How do you have fun here?I took them by their goey rubbery arms and said, Come ...
More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
6 days ago

Bryce Edwards: A Very hollow election
The 2023 general election campaign must be the most hollow in living memory. There really isn’t much that is positive or attractive about the electoral options on offer. This is an election without inspiration. An angry mood for change There is a definite cyncism amongst the public right now – ...
Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
6 days ago

NZ’s external deficit close to record levels – so why aren’t the politicians talking about i...
As New Zealand confronts a near-record current account deficit few, if any, of the country’s politicians are talking about it or the underlying problems. NZ’s external deficit is expected to continue narrowing, but at a slower pace than forecast a few months ago. Data out this week is expected ...
Point of OrderBy tutere44
6 days ago

Delirious Hatred: The Dystopic Tendencies of Twenty-First Century Progressivism.
Fighting Mad: That which Twenty-First Century progressives most feared, Twenty-First Century progressivism has become. No one old enough to have experienced the emancipatory power of true progressivism: in the factory or on the streets; in the university quad or in the “old school” newsroom; could possibly vote for the parties ...
Bowalley Road
6 days ago

Midwives pay equity proposal at last is posted on the Beehive website – but not, yet, the good new...
Buzz from the Beehive Hurrah. Someone in the Beehive has posted a ministerial announcement, the first since Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta last Thursday announced New Zealand will provide humanitarian support to those affected by last week’s earthquake in Morocco. It is somewhat stale news, dated 15 September 2023. It was ...
Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
6 days ago

Tuesday’s Chorus: Landlords lick their lips
More investors are eyeing up the market, and first home buyers are feeling the FOMO again. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Landlords are gearing up to jump back into the housing market as soon as a National-ACT Government is elected, expecting a swathe of repeals to tax rules that ...
The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
6 days ago

MICHAEL BASSETT: Our media still don’t get it
* Michael Bassett writes – If Labour ministers and our left-leaning media knew more about New Zealand’s political history they would stop giving so much publicity to National’s tax-cut plans, ill-advised though they might be. The attacks are only increasing the likelihood that National will be elected. In one ...
Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
6 days ago

Gordon Campbell on National’s (lack of) plans for El Nino
Debate time: In contrast to most debates, political debates aren’t simply about winning on points of logic, but are also about looking likeable on television – which is why good political debaters often have to pull their punches on TV, lest they seem unkind to dumb animals. Chris Hipkins is ...
Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
6 days ago

Climate change is destroying reefs, but the effects are more than ecological
This article by Michele Currie Navakas Professor of English, Miami University is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Hurricane Idalia made landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast on Aug. 30, 2023, bringing surging seas and winds over 100 mph. Meanwhile, another climate emergency has been unfolding along ...
Skeptical Science
6 days ago

Electorate Watch: Hamilton East.
Before New Zealand changed to MMP in 1996 there was a lot more interest in certain local contests. First past the post elections were won and lost in key marginal electorate battles, rendering the votes of those in safe seats largely obsolete.These days local contests have little impact on the ...
Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
6 days ago

Luxon moderates
Both National and ACT are starting to back off some of their hardline positions on tax and spending. And finally, National leader Christopher Luxon has softened his stance on doing a deal with Winston Peters and NZ First. Their moves are subtle and wrapped up in sound-byte-friendly media standup ...
PolitikBy Richard Harman
6 days ago

Mate, it's a 2 billion dollar hole and you are just chock full of it
In Art, we find meaning.From Art, we draw deeper understanding of what the hell it’s all about.Kindly now mute your cellphones and please remain behind the velvet ropes as we move through the gallery.She might be contemplating a secret, she might be enjoying a private joke. Perhaps she is simply ...
More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
7 days ago

Mate, it's a 2 billion dollar hole and you are just chock full of it
In Art, we find meaning.From Art, we draw deeper understanding of what the hell it’s all about.Kindly now mute your cellphones and please remain behind the velvet ropes as we move through the gallery.She might be contemplating a secret, she might be enjoying a private joke. Perhaps she is simply ...
More than a fieldingBy David Slack
7 days ago

A pallid shade of Green II
Last month, the Greens introduced their clean power policy, promising loans and grants to upgrade homes to add solar panels and be energy efficient. Two weeks ago Labour released their response - a weak "pilot scheme" of energy efficiency grants, which I described as a pallid shade of Green. Today, ...
No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
1 week ago

National’s cooker problem
The right has a problem with brainwormed conspiracy theorists. They've thoroughly infiltrated NZFirst and ACT, and now it seems they've infiltrated National as well: The National Party candidate favoured to win the Hamilton East electorate held views directly opposed to the party's leader on fluoridation of water and vaccine ...
No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
1 week ago

CHRIS TROTTER: Act’s message – cheerfully libertarian? Or, radically right-wing?
Pushed by the need for votes, Act’s leader, David Seymour, like Richard Prebble before him, has reached out to the dark side of the New Zealand electorate. Much as he would prefer to pull in support on the strength of Act’s sunny libertarianism, there just ain’t enough Eighteenth Century liberals ...
Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
1 week ago

Govt found $1m for humanitarian support after Moroccan earthquake – but what about the victims of ...
Buzz from the Beehive Again, no news has been posted on the government’s official website over the past 24 hours. Indeed, no news has been posted since Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta last Thursday announced New Zealand would be providing $1 million humanitarian support to Morocco to those affected by ...
Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
1 week ago

BRIAN EASTON: What is PREFU 2023 really telling us?
Despite the headlines, things are not much worse than at the time of the 2023 budget, but fiscal management is always difficult. Brian Easton writes- The Treasury is required by law to publish a Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update (PREFU) a few weeks before a general election, ...
Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
1 week ago

Monday’s Chorus: National's tax hole widens to $2.44b
It’s a bit bigger than that: the gap between National’s forecast of lost tax revenues from changes to tax rules for landlords and what Treasury predicts is significant, and adds to the $500 million a year predicted shortfall from its foreign buyers tax . File Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The ...
The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
1 week ago

The Mayor and the Auckland Manifesto
Once upon a time, manifestos were a key feature of the election period, arriving in letterboxes in solid printed form, and full of details of what each party proposed to do and why. These days, we get a little pledge card with a few bullet points on it. So it’s interesting ...
Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
1 week ago

Geoffrey Miller: Who will be New Zealand’s next foreign minister?
Change is coming. A shakeup of the ministers responsible for New Zealand’s international relations seems almost guaranteed, irrespective of the country’s election result on October 14. Coalition politics are likely to play a key role in appointments related to foreign affairs. On current opinion polling, a government led by the ...
Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
1 week ago

Not since the depression have we seen a proposal like this
ACT leader David Seymour has declared war on the public service with his promise to sack 15,000 of them. This is probably four times more than National want given the boot under its promise to cut all budgets by 6.5 per cent. But Seymour may have got a foretaste ...
PolitikBy Richard Harman
1 week ago

Of Golf Balls and War Spoils: The One Ring and Property Law Squabbles
It has been a while since I engaged in meaty Tolkien analysis, so I deem it time to delve into one of the most pressing issues of our age. Namely, the vexed property law issues governing the One Ring in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth. I was prompted to offer some ...
A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
1 week ago

Release: Labour releases New Zealand’s first climate manifesto
New Zealand faces a stark choice this election – vote for Labour to continue to confront the climate emergency with eyes wide open or bury your head in the sand alongside Christopher Luxon. ...
Labour Blog
4 hours ago

Green voice crucial for climate action
The Green Party is today welcoming Labour’s climate manifesto, but is clear that much more will need to be done to tackle the climate crisis. ...
Greens
4 hours ago

Speech: Chris Hipkins – Wellington Rally, 24 September
...
Labour Blog
1 day ago

People need a government that will build many more homes
Labour’s plan to build more homes is a welcome step forward, but it lacks ambition. ...
Greens
1 day ago

Release: Supercharging public housing
Labour is supercharging its plan to solve the public housing shortfall created by National, promising another 6,000 homes on top of what has already been committed says Labour Housing spokesperson Dr Megan Woods. ...
Labour Blog
1 day ago

Release: New Super Visa for migrants’ parents and rights for Dawn Raid victims
Labour will back migrant working families by introducing a 10-year multiple-entry parents’ and grandparents’ Super Visa, and make good on the Dawn Raids apology by providing a one-off visa for overstayers who have been in the country ten years or more, Labour’s Immigration Spokesperson Andrew Little says. ...
Labour Blog
2 days ago

Only the Greens will deliver a fair amnesty for overstayers
The Green Party is today welcoming Labour coming to the table to ensure an amnesty for overstayers, but only the Greens will ensure immigration settings actually reflect the reality of people who have been failed by our immigration system. ...
Greens
2 days ago

Climate future of communities on the line this election
Green Party co leader James Shaw attended a South Dunedin Future street meeting today to discuss local responses to climate change. ...
Greens
2 days ago

Green Party calls for stronger action by Auckland Council to protect urban trees and native forest
The Green Party is calling on Auckland Council to do more to protect urban trees and housing developer Aedifice Property Group to restore and replant the native forest it cleared, and protect all the remaining trees on Ngahere Road in Pukekohe after a significant number of native trees were cut ...
Greens
3 days ago

Release: Ram Raids drop to two-year low
Latest Police data shows monthly ram raids have hit a two-year low, laying waste to Christopher Luxon’s false claim that there are two ram raids a day says Labour’s Police Spokesperson Ginny Andersen. ...
Labour Blog
3 days ago

Every party needs to step up on school lunches
Labour has finally said it would continue free school lunches - and the Green Party is calling on every party to step up. ...
Greens
3 days ago

Release: School lunches on the line this election
Free and healthy school lunches will be here to stay if Labour is re-elected, guaranteeing food for our kids who need it most and significant cost saving for parents. ...
Labour Blog
3 days ago

Release: Labour commits to a new hospital for the people of Hawke’s Bay
The next Labour Government will build a new hospital in Hawke’s Bay, Labour leader Chris Hipkins and Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall announced. ...
Labour Blog
4 days ago

Govt changes fall short of what’s needed for migrant protection
The Green Party will keep up the fight to support exploited migrant workers, including pushing to end single employer visas, after the government picked up Green recommendations to improve immigration settings. ...
Greens
5 days ago

Clean Power Payment the smartest way forward to reduce emissions and bills
Green Party co leader James Shaw visited a home in Auckland today that has been upgraded with a wide range of energy improvements, similar to those that would be supported through the Green Party’s Clean Power Payment. ...
Greens
5 days ago

Foreign Minister's Action – A Contempt For “Caretaker Government” Convention
The Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta’s presence in New York today at the United Nations General Assembly is a contempt of New Zealand’s “caretaker government” convention. Despite the long-standing caretaker convention, Minister Mahuta is today at the UN to sign a highly contentious “Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement”, delivering a ...
NZ First Press Release
5 days ago

Back To Black Responsibly
The Pre-Election Fiscal Update Changes Everything Within an hour of this speech there is going to be a debate between the political parties that the media, under MMP, still think are the only parties that matter in this campaign. Both of those parties are riddled with inexperience, as evidenced by ...
NZ First Press Release
5 days ago

Stop the cuts before they start – Labour launches new TV ad
National and ACT's tax plans don't add up, and that means deep cuts to the public services New Zealanders rely on, says Labour Campaign Chair Megan Woods. ...
Labour Blog
6 days ago

Free school lunches paid for with a wealth tax
The Green Party will expand free school lunches and pay for it with a fair tax system. ...
Greens
6 days ago

The Pacific Reset & the Blue Continent
Thank you for your invitation to speak with you this afternoon about New Zealand Foreign Policy. After offering one or two general thoughts about the nature of foreign policy, the focus today will be the Pacific Reset and why its goals remain even more important today as when they were ...
NZ First Press Release
7 days ago

Release: Huge hole in National’s climate budget
National’s plan to cut policies that are reducing New Zealand’s climate emissions will result in a huge gap in the country’s emissions budgets and could see Kiwis paying significantly more at the petrol pump as a result of Christopher Luxon hiking the ETS price. ...
Labour Blog
7 days ago

Greens would push Labour much further on solar power
Labour’s plan to support rooftop solar is a step in the right direction, but falls short of what could be achieved through the Green Party’s Clean Power Payment. ...
Greens
1 week ago

Release: Doubling rooftop solar to reduce bills & emissions
Labour will double the number of houses with rooftop solar in New Zealand, lowering household power bills, reducing emissions and boosting renewable electricity generation. ...
Labour Blog
1 week ago

Release: Labour will advance women’s health, careers, and legal protections
A re-elected Labour Government will continue its proud tradition of advancing women’s health, employment, and legal rights Spokesperson for Women Jan Tinetti said. ...
Labour Blog
1 week ago

Green Party confirms plan for five weeks annual leave
Speaking at the E Tū Election Launch in Auckland today, Green Party co leader Marama Davidson outlined the Green Party’s manifesto commitment to ensure everyone has five weeks of annual leave. ...
Greens
1 week ago

Release: Labour to keep lifting worker wages and rights
A re-elected Labour Government will protect hard-fought workers’ rights and keep the momentum on wage growth to lift incomes for all New Zealanders, leader Chris Hipkins announced today. ...
Labour Blog
1 week ago

New Zealand First Party List 2023
New Zealand First is proud to announce the Party List for the upcoming 2023 General Election. We have had a great number of applicants and potential candidates moving through the selection process over the past few months. Our final selection for our list proves we have a wide range ...
NZ First Press Release
1 week ago

A National/ACT Government would make life miserable for those already worst off
Only a party vote for the Greens will end poverty. ACT’S welfare policy announced today is as cruel as it gets. ...
Greens
1 week ago

Release: Willis’ resignation call means only one thing – $2 billion more cuts
Massive cuts to public service are on the cards as Nicola Willis has promised to resign if she doesn’t deliver tax cuts but is refusing to make the same commitment if she doesn’t raise enough income from her bungled foreign buyer’s tax. ...
Labour Blog
1 week ago

Release: A faster justice system focused on victims
Labour will help more victims of crime achieve justice faster by introducing a formal class-action regime, modernising consent laws and increasing the use of technology to speed up hearings. ...
Labour Blog
1 week ago

Release: Gaping hole confirmed in National’s tax plan
A whopping $2.1 billion dollar hole has been confirmed in National’s tax scheme in a new report released today. ...
Labour Blog
2 weeks ago

Labour pledges biggest ever increase to training Doctors
Labour will deliver the largest ever increase to the number of doctors trained each year, adding an additional 335 doctors a year to our health workforce from 2027, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins has announced. ...
Labour Blog
2 weeks ago

PREFU Exposes Political Promises
Today’s PREFU has some alarming statistics showing an economy deteriorating and the cost of unaffordable government expenditure, mainly in the 2022 and 2023 budgets. Despite this alarming economic and fiscal picture, political parties are making unaffordable promises, talking about a surplus by 2027, or four years time, all of which ...
NZ First Press Release
2 weeks ago

State of books makes clear case for wealth tax
The case for a wealth tax has never been stronger. ...
Greens
2 weeks ago

Release: Labour pledges free cervical screening
If re-elected Labour will make cervical screening services free to all women and people with a cervix aged 25 – 69 years, delivering better cancer care for over 1.4 million New Zealanders. ...
Labour Blog
2 weeks ago

Chris Hipkins sets out 9 key pledges to New Zealand
Labour Leader Chris Hipkins has set out nine key pledges to be achieved in his first full term as Prime Minister. ...
Labour Blog
2 weeks ago

Labour's Plan 2023
Labour is running a positive, forward-looking campaign that's focused on fixing the cost of living, keeping people and communities safe and investing in education, health and housing. ...
Labour Blog
2 weeks ago

Release: Coalition of Cuts and Chaos would be NZ’s most unstable government
Statements from David Seymour and Winston Peters have called into question whether National would be able to lead a functional government if they were in a position to do so after the election. ...
Labour Blog
2 weeks ago

Healthy Ocean Act – Marama Davidson Speech
He mōhio ō tātou tīpuna ki te tirotiro taiao. ...
Greens
2 weeks ago

Greens will demand Minister for Oceans and Fisheries to lead ocean rescue plan
The Green Party will protect 30% of the ocean by 2030, create an independent Ocean Commission to advise the government, and put a Green Minister for Oceans and Fisheries in charge of making it happen. ...
Greens
2 weeks 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 day 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 days ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Govt confirms additional support for Enabling Good Lives
The Government has confirmed $73.7 million over the next four years and a further $40.5m in outyears to continue to transform the disability support system, Minister for Disability Issues Priyanca Radhakrishnan has announced. “The Enabling Good Lives (EGL) approach is a framework which guides positive change for disabled people, ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
2 weeks ago

New Zealand gets AAA credit rating from S&P
Standard and Poor’s is the latest independent credit rating agency to endorse the Government’s economic management in the face of a deteriorating global economy. S&P affirmed New Zealand’s long term local currency rating at AAA and foreign currency rating at AA+ with a stable outlook. It follows Fitch affirming New ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
2 weeks ago

Appointment of Environment Court Judge
Christchurch barrister Kelvin Reid has been appointed as a Judge of the Environment Court and the District Court, Attorney-General David Parker announced today. Mr Reid has extensive experience in Resource Management Act issues, including water quality throughout the South Island. He was appointed to the Technical Advisory Group advising the ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
2 weeks ago

NZ’s biggest ever emissions reduction project hits milestone
New Zealand is on track to have greener steel as soon as 2026 with New Zealand Steel’s electric arc furnace project reaching a major milestone today. The Government announced a conditional partnership with New Zealand Steel in May to deliver the country’s largest emissions reduction project to date. Half of ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
2 weeks ago

Poroporoaki: Paki Leslie Māngai Nikora
Pokia ana te tihi Taiarahia e Hine-Pūkohu-rangi Hotu kau ana te manawa! Horahia ana te whārua o Ruātoki e te kapua pouri Tikaro rawahia ko te whatumanawa! Rere whakamuri kau ana te awa o Hinemataroa Ki te kawe i te rongo ki te mātāpuna i nga pōngaihu Maungapōhatu, tuohu ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
3 weeks ago

50,000 charges laid in crack down on gangs
Police Minister Ginny Andersen has today congratulated Police in their efforts to crack down on gangs, after laying 50,000 charges against gang members and their associates through the hugely successful Operation Cobalt. As at 31 August, Police have: Laid 50,396 criminal charges against gang members and their associates Issued 64,524 ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
3 weeks ago

Farmers and cyclone-affected properties supported with tax rule changes
The Government has confirmed details of the tax changes to the bright-line test for cyclone-damaged properties, with the release of the required legislative amendments. Revenue Minister Barbara Edmonds has released a Supplementary Order Paper (SOP) to be considered by the Finance and Expenditure Committee in the next Parliament, as it ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
3 weeks ago

New Zealand wins CPTPP dispute against Canada
Minister for Trade and Export Growth Damien O’Connor has welcomed the CPTPP Panel’s ruling in favour of New Zealand in our dispute against Canada, a significant win for our primary sector exporters. The Panel found that Canada’s dairy quota administration is inconsistent with its obligations under the Comprehensive and Progressive ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
3 weeks ago

How popular music videos drove the fight against the Islamic State
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Benjamin Isakhan, Professor of International Politics, Deakin University Almost a decade ago, the Sunni jihadist network known as the Islamic State (IS) declared the formation of an Islamic Caliphate after they captured the Iraqi city of Mosul in June 2014. In response, ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
21 mins ago

The RMA is dead, long live the RMA: why NZ’s resource laws won’t change overnight after this ele...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jeffrey McNeill, Senior Lecturer in Resource & Environmental Planning, Massey University RMA – three letters that have struck fear into a generation of farmers, developers, politicians and anyone building a house. Or so legend would have it. Whatever its original goal of ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
1 hour ago

Luxon confident he could make three-way coalition work
Christopher Luxon has told reporters on the campaign trail in Matamata that he could manage a multi-party coalition with both Act and New Zealand First, if needed. In a social media video this morning, Luxon finally revealed that he was open to working with Winston Peters if the votes fell ...
The SpinoffBy Stewart Sowman-Lund
2 hours ago

Newsletter: September 25 2023 – Items of interest and importance today
New Zealand Politics Daily is a collation of the most prominent issues being discussed in New Zealand. It is edited by Dr Bryce Edwards of The Democracy Project. NZ Politics Daily: 25 September 2023 NZ FIRST, COALITION WITH NATIONAL 1News: National’s Christopher Luxon would work with NZ First if he has to ...
Evening ReportBy Bryce Edwards
2 hours ago

Rt Hon Winston Peters RE: The Call For Corporate Manslaughter Legislation
This matter begins with the Pike River investigation being inadequate, inexplicably lengthy, and after millions of dollars, the evidence that should have been placed before the public still has not been. We have always believed that Pike River is ...
Scoop politics
2 hours ago

Election 2023: Labour releases climate manifesto with more policy plans
Labour has revealed policies for a second emissions reduction plan, a new ministerial role, and increasing renewable electricity generation. ...
Radio NZ – political
2 hours ago

Election 2023: The tertiary education policies in two minutes
Hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders engage with the tertiary education sector each year. Here’s everything you need to know about funding, governance, student allowances, fees and research in two minutes. See more from our policy in two minutes series here. More than 300,000 New Zealanders are enrolled in programmes ...
The SpinoffBy Shanti Mathias
2 hours ago

Government’s employment white paper commits to jobs for all who want them – and help to get them
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The employment white paper, released on Monday, has outlined multiple measures the Albanese government will implement to assist the about three million people who want jobs or more hours of work. They include making ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
2 hours ago

Government’s employment white paper commits to jobs for all who want them – and help to get them
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The employment white paper, released on Monday, has outlined multiple measures the Albanese government will implement to assist the about three million people who want jobs or more hours of work. They include making ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
2 hours ago

What it’s like to wear the most expensive diamond ring in New Zealand
The biggest and most expensive diamond ring to be auctioned in New Zealand went under the hammer in Auckland on Sunday. In the name of luxury, Gabi Lardies went and tried it on. The bubbles are on ice, the scented candles are lit and I am quite explicit about not ...
The SpinoffBy Gabi Lardies
2 hours ago

Do blue-light glasses really work? Can they reduce eye strain or help me sleep?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Laura Downie, Associate Professor in Optometry and Vision Sciences, The University of Melbourne Shutterstock Blue-light glasses are said to reduce eye strain when using computers, improve your sleep and protect your eye health. You can buy them yourself or your ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
3 hours ago

Do blue-light glasses really work? Can they reduce eye strain or help me sleep?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Laura Downie, Associate Professor in Optometry and Vision Sciences, The University of Melbourne Shutterstock Blue-light glasses are said to reduce eye strain when using computers, improve your sleep and protect your eye health. You can buy them yourself or your ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
3 hours ago

Labour’s Climate Manifesto – Commendable Condiments But Missing The ‘main Meal’
Greenpeace Aotearoa says the Labour Party’s Climate Manifesto, launched today, reads like a shopping list of condiments that has missed off the main meal: action on New Zealand’s biggest climate polluter, intensive dairy. "There are many ...
Scoop politics
3 hours ago

Labour’s Climate Announcement Is Economically And Scientifically Illiterate
Responding to the release of Labour’s Climate Manifesto, Taxpayers’ Union Deputy Campaigns Manager, Connor Molloy, said: "Yet again, we are seeing a swathe of policies that fail to recognise the genius and effectiveness of our existing Emissions ...
Scoop politics
3 hours ago

National-Act-NZ First government would be ‘rightwing circus’, says Hipkins
At his press conference to launch Labour’s climate manifesto in New Plymouth today, Chris Hipkins was quick to offer his thoughts on Christopher Luxon finally admitting National would work with New Zealand First to form the next government if it needed to. “I want to for once in my life ...
The SpinoffBy Alice Neville
3 hours ago

Labour and National bicker over climate policy as Hipkins releases manifesto
Chris Hipkins has released Labour’s “climate manifesto”, which brings together a range of existing policies plus adds a handful of new ones. These include a plan for a “minister for just transitions” to oversee New Zealand’s transition to a low-emissions economy, and to a plan to invest an additional $300 ...
The SpinoffBy Alice Neville
3 hours ago

New to streaming: What to watch on Netflix NZ, Neon and more this week
What are you going to be watching this week? We round up everything coming to streaming services this week, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, Apple TV+, ThreeNow, Neon and TVNZ+. The biggies Neighbours: The Return (on Prime Video from September 25) Neighbours is back, baby. The long-running Australian soap that ended ...
The SpinoffBy Sam Brooks
3 hours ago

Luxon's call on NZ First could come back to bite him
Christopher Luxon has given the voters what they wanted – transparency on who National will work with. But, in doing so, some of his supporters worry he may have given New Zealand First a boost. Comment: National Party supporters at a meet and greet in Matamata with Christopher Luxon were ...
Newsroom
4 hours ago

Te Whatu Ora Must Stand By Employees’ Rights To Freedom Of Thought And Speech
25 September 2023 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Te Whatu Ora must stand by employees’ rights to freedom of thought and speech The Free Speech Union insists that Te Whatu Ora stand by their employees’ rights of freedom of thought and speech ...
Scoop politics
4 hours ago

Te Whatu Ora Must Stand By Employees’ Rights To Freedom Of Thought And Speech
...
Scoop politics
4 hours ago

NZ election 2023: Bryce Edwards: The most hollow campaign in living memory
The 2023 general election campaign must be the most hollow in living memory. There really isn’t much that is positive or attractive about the electoral options on offer. This is an election without inspiration. There is a definite gloominess among the public right now — with a perception that not ...
Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report
4 hours ago

Severe Weather Demands Voters' Attention
More severe weather and floods in regions demand voters’ attention. Floods in Queenstown and Southland, wildfires in South Canterbury, and further risk of flood in Gisborne, are a warning that the biggest issue in this election has to be climate ...
Scoop politics
4 hours ago

Labor and Albanese recover in Newspoll as Dutton falls, but the Voice’s slump continues
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne A national Newspoll, conducted September 18–22 from a sample of 1,239, gave Labor a 54–46 lead, a one-point gain for Labor since ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
5 hours ago

Peters defends decision on 2017 coalition and repeats Bill English claims
Winston Peters has repeated his claim that Bill English said he was about to be rolled as National leader during negotiations after the 2017 election. According to the New Zealand First leader, English said during post-election negotiations that he was about to lose his position as leader of National. It’s ...
The SpinoffBy Stewart Sowman-Lund
5 hours ago

Luxon left looking ‘slow and expedient’ after Peters rule-in announcement
We’ve been waiting weeks months for a captain’s call from Christopher Luxon on whether or not he’d work with Winston Peters – and that finally came today. As I detailed this morning, Luxon, in a video shared to social media, finally admitted he would work with Peters if necessary after ...
The SpinoffBy Stewart Sowman-Lund
5 hours ago

Are fish oil supplements as healthy as we think? And is eating fish better?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Evangeline Mantzioris, Program Director of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Accredited Practising Dietitian, University of South Australia Fish oil, which contains omega-3 fatty acids, is promoted for a number of health benefits – from boosting our heart health, protecting our brain from dementia, ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
6 hours ago

What lies behind Luxon’s change of heart on NZ First?
The 11th-hour decision to rule in Winston Peters if necessary leaves the National leader looking slow and expedient. When Chris Hipkins declared last week that National’s polling was beyond its peak, it seemed born more of hope than data. It is hard to avoid concluding, however, that Christopher Luxon has ...
The SpinoffBy Toby Manhire
6 hours ago

Watch live: Election debate – Parties questioned on policies affecting Pasifika
RNZ Pacific has partnered with Pacific Media Network to question major parties on how their policies will affect Pacific peoples. ...
Radio NZ – political
6 hours ago

EPA Annual Charges On Forestry Participants Unlawful?
...
Scoop politics
7 hours ago

A teenager’s OCD journey
A 17-year-old shares their reality living with the ‘doubting disease’. A version of this essay was first published on Emily Writes’ Substack. Every day I return to my house, gently closing the door behind me. Each time I unpack my bag, wash my lunch box and water bottle, place my ...
The SpinoffBy Anonymous
7 hours ago

The ‘community of care’ improving the wellbeing of Sāmoan teachers
An ambitious initiative in Sāmoan early childhood centres is improving the health and wellbeing of children, families and teachers across Auckland – with aspirations to extend nationwide. The Seugagogo Aoga Amata Pre-School had humble beginnings. Situated close to the town centre of Auckland’s Ōtāhuhu and founded as a playgroup ...
The SpinoffBy Sela Jane Hopgood
7 hours ago

National would work with NZ First
Welcome to The Spinoff’s election live updates for Monday, September 25. I’m Stewart Sowman-Lund: on deck today from the mighty Manawatū. Get in touch with me on [email protected] Find out more about the political parties at Policy.nz The agenda Christopher Luxon has confirmed he would work with Winston ...
The SpinoffBy Stewart Sowman-Lund
7 hours ago

Election 2023: National Party confirms it could work with NZ First
Christopher Luxon says his preference is to work with ACT in government, but could work with New Zealand First too. ...
Radio NZ – political
8 hours ago

Is it ethical non-Indigenous people get to decide on the Voice? Is it OK for one group to have right...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paul Formosa, Professor and Head of the Department of Philosophy, and Co-Director of the Macquire University Ethics & Agency Research Centre, Macquarie University Australians will soon be asked to vote on whether we should “alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
8 hours ago

America’s leaders are older than they’ve ever been. Why didn’t the founding fathers foresee th...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jared Mondschein, Director of Research, US Studies Centre, University of Sydney The US Congress has had no shortage of viral moments in recent months. Senator Dianne Feinstein seemingly became confused over how to vote. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell experienced two extended ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
8 hours ago

We need urban trees more than ever – here’s how to save them from extreme heat
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Renée M Prokopavicius, Postdoctoral Researcher in Plant Ecophysiology, Western Sydney University Torychemistry, Shutterstock Australians are bracing for a hot spring and summer. The Bureau of Meteorology has finally declared El Niño is underway, making warmer and drier conditions more likely for ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
8 hours ago

How to manage exam season: don’t forget to take regular breaks and breathe
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paul Ginns, Associate Professor in Educational Psychology, University of Sydney Oleksandr P/Pexels Around Australia, Year 12 students are heading into the final stretch of study before exams start in early term 4. This is typically seen as a very intense ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
8 hours ago

‘An insatiable and unrestrained desire for passionate love’: the holy slut-shaming of Mary of Eg...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Olympia Nelson, PhD Candidate in Modern Greek & Byzantine Studies specialising in Byzantine art and literature, University of Sydney Mary of Egypt, The Pantanassa Monastery, Mystras, Peloponnese, Greece Olympia Nelson, CC BY-ND Mary of Egypt, a fourth-century saint with a large ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
8 hours ago

How Māngere plans to become the cycling capital of the Pacific
A beloved community group is shifting transport habits in this Manukau suburb. As I biked down Coronation Road in Māngere, a driver beeped and yelled, “Get off the road and onto the footpath!” When I didn’t get out of their way, they yelled again, telling me it was for my ...
The SpinoffBy Tommy de Silva
8 hours ago

It’s poll day
Newshub’s next poll will be revealed at 6pm tonight, teased by political editor Jenna Lynch as one that shows the face of the election is “changing in more ways than one”. Is that a reference to New Zealand First, especially given National’s decision to commit to working with them (if ...
The SpinoffBy Stewart Sowman-Lund
9 hours ago

The Bulletin: Where’s the urgency on drinking water?
Andrea Vance has been on a tear of late, publishing a series of fired up columns about the dire state of political discourse as we head towards the election. This week’s Sunday Star-Times column (paywalled) is on the “stonking great elephant in the room” that none of the party leaders want to ...
The SpinoffBy Catherine McGregor
9 hours ago

Gloves come off as Robertson and Willis show their leaders how it’s done
The finance chiefs’ Q&A debate was some of the most compelling TV of the election season so far, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. Tempers flare in the TVNZ studios Grant ...
The SpinoffBy Catherine McGregor
9 hours ago

Act And National A Coalition For Change
“ACT and National are on the same page about a future coalition Government, with both parties working together in a strong coalition to overcome the significant challenges New Zealand faces,” says ACT Leader David Seymour. “Christopher Luxon confirmed ...
Scoop politics
9 hours ago

Political Leaders Must Back Corporate Manslaughter Law – Pike Families
Pike River family members Anna Osborne and Sonya Rockhouse have called on political leaders to agree to introduce a corporate manslaughter law following charges for Whakaari deaths being dropped. Anna Osborne, who lost her husband Milton in the Pike ...
Scoop politics
9 hours ago

Providing Real Choice In Education
“We need to get the politics and bureaucracy out of New Zealand’s education system, bring high standards for attendance and learning in, and treat the profession with respect. While Labour is responsible for lowering the bar and leaving kids even ...
Scoop politics
9 hours ago

National would work with NZ First, confirms Luxon
After months of speculation and countless questions from journalists, Christopher Luxon has confirmed he would work with Winston Peters – if required to. In a video posted to social media, Luxon made it clear that his preference was for “strong and stable” two-party coalition between National and Act. “I believe ...
The SpinoffBy Stewart Sowman-Lund
10 hours ago

Think Before You Speak – Ethnic and Faith Community Leaders urge politicians
“Think before you speak” urges Ethnic and Faith Leaders to election candidates. The national network of ethnic and faith leaders of the Chinese, Indian, Sikh, Muslim, Jewish and African communities has urged civility and respect by politicians during ...
Scoop politics
11 hours ago

Election 2023 updates: Latest developments on 25 September
Party leader Christopher Luxon has for months refused to explicitly state whether or not he could work with New Zealand First's Winston Peters. ...
Radio NZ – political
11 hours ago

Election 2023 updates: Latest developments on 25 September
Party leader Christopher Luxon has for months refused to explicitly state whether or not he could work with New Zealand First's Winston Peters. ...
Radio NZ – political
11 hours ago

Duelling fiscal plans: Labour-National economic rivalry comes to a head
National and Labour are both promising to front up with their full fiscal plans this week, their rhetoric over the economy growing increasingly feisty. ...
Radio NZ – political
12 hours ago

Duelling fiscal plans: Labour-National economic rivalry comes to a head
National and Labour are both promising to front up with their full fiscal plans this week, their rhetoric over the economy growing increasingly feisty. ...
Radio NZ – political
12 hours ago

Did National really just simply sell off state houses?
New Zealand has a massive deficit in state housing, but is that all National’s fault? Max Rashbrooke runs the numbers. It has become a truth universally acknowledged, at least on the left, that the last time National was in power, its only interest in state houses lay in selling them ...
The SpinoffBy Max Rashbrooke
12 hours ago

Who dares challenge Chlöe? The race for Auckland Central
Chlöe Swarbrick’s victory was one of the biggest surprises of the 2020 election, but in the past three years she’s made the seat her own. Can the high-profile Green hold on to Auckland Central, or will it flip to a National or Labour newbie? Read the other battleground electorate profiles ...
The SpinoffBy Gabi Lardies
12 hours ago

Te Pāti Māori's path to Parliament narrows
Two polls in key battleground Māori seats have the Labour candidate in the lead ...
Newsroom
12 hours ago

Tiny homes, big problems
Tiny home living is cheap, good for the environment and encourages a simpler life. Getting there, however, can be a bureaucratic horror show and involve a huge financial leap of faith. You've probably seen the videos where you're walked through a picture-perfect tiny home on an idyllic section. The incredibly ...
Newsroom
12 hours ago

Metuarau on a Silver Ferns mission
Missing out on the Commonwealth Games gave Tiana Metuarau the fire to work even harder for her Silver Ferns dream. She's back from an abrupt World Cup call-up and ready to keep growing. Tiana Metuarau lay shaking uncontrollably in her Cape Town bed, unsure what was happening to her. She'd ...
Newsroom
12 hours ago

Bid $80,000 for Jane Austen
First edition masterpieces are up for grabs this week at an antiquarian book auction Three extremely rare first edition Jane Austen novels will be auctioned on Wednesday, with the top bid estimated at around $80,000. Jane Austen – one of the greats, so great that she is hardly ...
Newsroom
12 hours ago

Council decided to leave slash in forest above Queenstown cemetery
Questions asked of Queenstown’s council about tree harvesting ...
Newsroom
12 hours ago

Gone are the days of political leaders being mobbed
The risk of protesters and unwanted guests has spoiled the election campaign. Over back-to-back days in Auckland with the two Chrises, political editor Jo Moir observed increased security and vetting, and safe party-faithful crowds. Analysis: At Auckland’s Viaduct on Friday afternoon Luxon bounced from one restaurant to another chatting with ...
Newsroom
12 hours ago

Economy bounces back after flooding, but primary industries fall
Business & investing: Economists warn better-than-expected GDP data likely to be temporary ...
Newsroom
12 hours ago

Daily crossword, Monday 25 September
...
Newsroom
12 hours ago

Political and business leaders still living in Fantasyland
The idea we can hit net zero targets and grow the economy just isn't real and will hit the wall ...
Newsroom
12 hours ago

Defining issues: Infrastructure's bottomless well
How will each party approach New Zealand’s chronic infrastructure underinvestment? ...
Newsroom
12 hours ago

The Sure Things: Rangitikei is 'quintessential NZ' and Suze Redmayne wants it protected
Suze Redmayne has first-hand experience of how the political game works ...
Newsroom
12 hours ago

Newsroom daily quiz, Monday 25 September
Loading...(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[quiz],DIV[quiz],A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions. ...
Newsroom
13 hours ago

Employment white paper to deliver more highly qualified workers in net zero, care and digitisation
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The government will commit $41 million for technical and further education and “higher apprenticeships” when it releases its white paper on employment on Monday. Of this, $31 million will be for new TAFE “centres ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
15 hours ago

Employment white paper to deliver more highly qualified graduates in net zero, care and digitisation
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The government will commit $41 million for technical and further education and “higher apprenticeships” when it releases its white paper on employment on Monday. Of this, $31 million will be for new TAFE “centres ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
16 hours ago

Release of Victor Yeimo from Indonesian prison rekindles West Papuan fight against racism
SPECIAL REPORT: By Yamin Kogoya Prominent West Papuan independence activist Victor Yeimo was yesterday released from prison in Jayapura, Indonesia’s occupied capital of West Papua, sparking a massive celebration among thousands of Papuans. His release has ignited a spirit of unity among Papuans in their fight against what they refer ...
Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report
16 hours ago

John Mitchell: Blessed are the peacemakers – why this day is so vital
COMMENTARY: By John Mitchell in Suva On Thursday, the whole world celebrated the International Day of Peace. Although the UN day is not as famous as others, like World Press Freedom Day, International Women’s Day or World Teacher’s Day, it is important nevertheless. The UN General Assembly has set aside ...
Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report
18 hours ago

Chris Hipkins Driving With The Handbrake On
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins’ admission that he agrees with National’s policies on speed limits, but claims he can’t to do anything about them, shows how ineffective the Labour Government is, National’s Transport spokesperson Simeon Brown says. ...
Scoop politics
21 hours ago

Hipkins goes on the attack in rally speech
Halfway through the campaign period and with Labour still falling in the polls, Chris Hipkins has debuted a new and more aggressive approach at a rally in Wellington, Marc Daalder reports Analysis: In front of a crowd of around 80 supporters in a small room on Wellington's waterfront on Sunday, Chris ...
Newsroom
24 hours ago

Chris Hipkins ratchets up attacks at Wellington rally
It was a far cry from the campaign rallies the Labour Party threw in Wellington at the last two elections, held in the St James Theatre and the Michael Fowler Centre, but Chris Hipkins nevertheless summoned an old-school energy at a central city conference room before 250 supporters this afternoon. ...
The SpinoffBy Toby Manhire
24 hours ago

National pledges to push up speed limits
Speed limit reductions designed to make roads safer will be reversed under a National government, with state highways that had moved to 80km/h reverting to 100km/h and “many local roads” returning to 50km/h from 30km/h. “Under the guise of safety, Labour has let rip with its anti-car ideology,” said Christopher ...
The SpinoffBy Toby Manhire
1 day ago

$51 Billion Of Labour’s Policies Remain Unfunded
Labour’s spending promises will see government debt skyrocket even further, with no funding set aside for $51 billion of policy commitments like Light Rail and Lake Onslow, National’s Finance spokesperson Nicola Willis says. “Labour’s economic ...
Scoop politics
1 day ago

National Will End Labour’s Blanket Speed Limit Reductions
A National government will undo Labour’s blanket speed limit reductions, returning many state highways to 100 km/h from 80, and many local roads to 50 km/h from 30, while designing new highways for 110 km/h, National’s Transport spokesperson Simeon ...
Scoop politics
1 day ago

NZ First conference – the kingmakers?

United Future

Act

Conservatives

Māori Party

Conclusion

Related Posts

50 comments on “NZ First conference – the kingmakers? ”

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

Related Posts

Related Posts

Related Posts

Related Posts

NZ First conference – the kingmakers?

United Future

Act

Conservatives

Māori Party

Conclusion

Share this:

Related Posts

50 comments on “NZ First conference – the kingmakers? ”

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

Share this:

Related Posts

Share this:

Related Posts

Share this:

Related Posts

Share this:

Related Posts