NZ’s new racist international image, proudly brought to you by TVNZ

Written By: - Date published: 7:50 am, October 5th, 2010 - 82 comments
Categories: boycott, Ethics, International, john key, Media, racism, tv - Tags: , ,

Here’s some of the international coverage of New Zealand that Paul Henry’s racist outburst against our Governor General Anand Satyanand has sparked.

In India and here. Cool, after the recent effigy burnings of a certain Kiwi in New Delhi  on the grounds that he was racist, that should really help things heaps. Australia, UK, USA, Thailand. Even Zimbabwe FFS! What heft we’ll have in future international forums on racism and human rights. What a magnet we’ll be for non-white tourists.

Of course it doesn’t help that our chickenshit PM and Minister for Tourism tacitly condoned Henry’s outburst at the time, never even attempting to chastise Henry for making blatantly racist comments against our Governor General. It was only Television New Zealand after all, the state owned broadcasting voice of the nation.

So thanks Paul. Thanks for portraying me and my country to the rest of the world as a bunch of racist fcukers like you.

Thanks too to TVNZ for cheerfully contining to hire this guy and publicly defending Henry’s bigotry, even though you know he’s a pathological bigot – because that doesn’t matter to you as long as he brings in the ratings.

UPDATE: As at midday TVOne have suspended Paul Henry until October 18.  TVNZ statement here.

UPDATE: (lprent) Heritage Hotels have informed me that:-

Please be aware Heritage Hotels is not the sponsor of the Breakfast Show and has not been for some months.

UPDATE: I’ve amended the post to remove references to Heritage Hotels, who’ve abandoned sponsorship of Breakfast, despite impressions created by TVNZ‘s tardy web content management. Of course if they remain heavy advertisers in the show and Henry returns, some issues may get revisited.

82 comments on “NZ’s new racist international image, proudly brought to you by TVNZ ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Kaplan 1
    5 October 2010 at 7:39 am

    So this mornings apology was going reasonably well until he managed to turn in into a chance to use another racial slur as a joke. Unbelievable. Actually not really…
    And still no apology from the idiot at TVNZ that tried to defend him.

    • IrishBill 1.1
      5 October 2010 at 7:42 am

      I don’t watch breakfast, could you elucidate?

      • Kaplan 1.1.1
        5 October 2010 at 7:47 am

        Just after the news he went on at fair length about an unreserved apology for offence caused and ended by essentially saying he was descended from gypsies (he used a reasonably well know shorter form of the word) and therefore Anand Satyanand was a better person than him. Or words to that effect.

        • lprent 1.1.1.1
          5 October 2010 at 7:54 am

          I saw it – tuned in specifically to see it for my post on the breakfast bigot.

          The apology wasn’t one in my opinion both because it felt totally insincere, and because of his promise to continue acting like smarmy bigot whenever he needed the outrage ratings hit.

          • Gosman 1.1.1.1.1
            5 October 2010 at 8:57 am

            So you won’t be happy until you’ve extracted your pound of flesh eh?

            Why don’t you just vote with your feet, (so to speak), and just stop watching the guy?

            All of this digital lynch mob metality is just going to turn him in to some sort of martyr rather than the clown that most people regard him as now.

            • Kaplan 1.1.1.1.1.1
              5 October 2010 at 9:07 am

              Expressing our displeasure sends a clear message that we find his behaviour unacceptable. If enough people deliver that message then TVNZ will eventually act on it. If less than enough do, then they won’t. Democracy at work. I trust you respect that.

            • lprent 1.1.1.1.1.2
              5 October 2010 at 10:54 am

              There is exactly one morning news program on TV. I’d prefer to watch it but at present there is an offensive idiot bigot on it.

              I intend to get rid of the arsehole because he is offensive and getting in the way of my viewing.

            • roger nome 1.1.1.1.1.3
              5 October 2010 at 2:21 pm

              Gos:

              “All of this digital lynch mob metality is just going to turn him in to some sort of martyr rather than the clown that most people regard him as now.”

              Exactly – history is full of beloved racists that were driven to martyrdom by the notion of human equality. Look at the adulation Hitler recieved after being martyred by the progressive forces. They should have just looked the other way…

      • toad 1.1.2
        5 October 2010 at 9:36 am

        Sir Anand was born in New Zealand. His lineage, as far as I can ascertain, is far more dignified than mine, which makes him a better candidate for Governor-General than me.

        Most people think I’m British, but the truth is much, much worse than that. Like the Governor-General, I was born in New Zealand, however, I am at least half what they colloquially call in Europe, a gypo.

        So, let me make it quite clear, I will never apologise for causing outrage, however I will and do apologise sincerely for causing real hurt and upset to anyone, no matter what their background, who works to make this country a better country.

        So, in that spirit, I apologise unreservedly to Sir Anand and his family. He is a very distinguised man and I am a gypo television presenter.

        And the video here (if you can bear it).

  2. Colonial Viper 2
    5 October 2010 at 8:07 am

    Guys chill, it’s just Paul Henry being Paul Henry.

    Nice piece Sprout, although I think you should have mentioned Labour’s muscular response thus far.

    • Cnr Joe 2.1
      5 October 2010 at 8:20 am

      umm, it was the Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism who was sitting with Henry – on live t.v – who did Nothing whatsoever – nothing…. everything from the opposition has been ‘muscular’ in comparison to that….
      what would Goff have done in Jonkeys place? Given him a whack I would hope

    • Colonial Viper 2.2
      5 October 2010 at 8:31 am

      Actually I think Goff would have just shrugged and decided that “it’s just Paul Henry being Paul Henry”.

      After all, that was the quote from Goff in the NZ Herald online yesterday.

  3. r0b 3
    5 October 2010 at 8:42 am

    That’s an astonishing line-up of international reaction.

    Add it to the international attention to “dim bulb of the week” John Key’s racist cannibal joke.

    What a wonderful face we’re presenting to the world these days.

  4. Danyl Mclauchlan 4
    5 October 2010 at 8:44 am

    The Prime Minister did let the country down. And it’s the job of the leader of the opposition to hold him to account for that, and its the job of the Labour leader to stand up for liberal values. As usual, Goff did neither.

  5. Gosman 5
    5 October 2010 at 8:52 am

    Ummmmm….

    All of those pieces you link to are just extracts from the online editions of those papers. None of them is giving editorial comment on this subject and they just rehash the basic facts as reported in N.Z. online editions or from news organisations like NZPA.

    Also I’m not sure why you included Zimbabwe in that list as the news site you linked to is South African (as you should have picked up with the .za identifier).

    Nice attempt at linking this to the PM though. Pity for you that noone in the MSM is taking this up.

    • Colonial Viper 5.1
      5 October 2010 at 8:55 am

      Pity for you that noone in the MSM is taking this up.

      You notice that ongoing ratings decline? The MSM deserve it, they are destroying their own industry.

      Nice attempt at linking this to the PM though.

      You mean by saying that the PM was there being interviewed when it happened? Seems like the PM is pretty linked to me.

      • Gosman 5.1.1
        5 October 2010 at 9:01 am

        You know what I mean. Trying to claim that John Key condones racist thinking because he didn’t immediately leap over the table and throttle Henry after he made the comments.

        So obviously the market is just ripe for some leftist opinion programme then. I look forward to seeing something rocket up the ratings chart in the near future.

        • Bunji 5.1.1.1
          5 October 2010 at 9:30 am

          “All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”

          Or Smile and Wave.

        • Rex Widerstrom 5.1.1.2
          5 October 2010 at 2:29 pm

          obviously the market is just ripe for some leftist opinion programme then

          Why yes… yes, it is.

          “The Daily Show” talks solely about American politics and covers events even a political tragic like me has never heard about. It is screened solely on a digital channel (ABC2), which about 40% of Australian TV sets don’t receive. And the ABC have scheduled it opposite their own main nightly news program as well as competition such as “Two and a Half Men” (which rates through the roof and is the 7th most popular show in Australia even though it’s repeats. No, I don’t understand it either).

          However, with all this going against it “The Daily Show” scores a reasonable 105,000 viewers. By way of comparison, “Today” – Nine’s breakfast news show – pulls 298,000 while their version of “The View” gets 101,000 and costs Nine vastly more than “The Daily Show” costs the ABC.

          And let’s not forget “The Chaser” reached 2.4 million viewers at its height, winning its timeslot in all cities.

          So on that basis I’d predict that a left-leaning daily news satire show would encounter a “ripe” market… unless you’re suggesting that NZers are so markedly different to Australians that political satire is likely to be of no interest?

          [And if anyone’s thinking of making such a show for the NZ market… call me 😀 ]

    • M 5.2
      5 October 2010 at 9:03 am

      It’s also covered by the BBC Gosman http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11469881
      Any kinda general snarky comment to make about the BBC? How they’re not a credible news source…no one reads them etc?

      • Gosman 5.2.1
        5 October 2010 at 9:08 am

        Still not an opinion piece on a non-online news site though. It just reports the facts (as probably passed to them by Reuters or NZPA or whatever news agency is based here).

        There may very well be some overseas people upset about this however those articles don’t show that at all. They just report what happened here just as you would find out on Stuff or the NZ Herald online site or wherever.

        None of them makes a negative linkage to the PM either.

        • Bunji 5.2.1.1
          5 October 2010 at 9:29 am

          Why does an opinion piece (generally read by far fewer people) have more sway when the news item speaks for itself?

          And how are we meant to link to deadwood papers?

          If it’s in the online edition it usually makes a paper edition if that’s what worries you so much.

        • the sprout 5.2.1.2
          5 October 2010 at 9:45 am

          😆 so it’s only important coverage when it’s an opinion piece!

          impressive powers of denial there gos

        • lprent 5.2.1.3
          5 October 2010 at 10:50 am

          Personally I’ll just ignore the week-kneed response by politicians (who are usually too scared to comment effectively on journos anyway).

          I just want Paul Henry dropped into somewhere appropriate like late night talkback where he belongs. The obnoxious bigot has offended me with his ratings powered statements far too frequently.

          I’d like to be able to watch the morning news without having an idiot clown being a bigot and interfering with the presentation.

    • gobsmacked 5.3
      5 October 2010 at 9:12 am

      Pity for you that noone in the MSM is taking this up.

      Pity for you that New Zealand has a thriving ethnic minority media, and they *have* taken it up, and yesterday a lot of people were very angry with that nice Mr Key who attends all those ethnic functions and photo-ops.

      Of course, they aren’t “real New Zealanders”, but they still found their way to the polling booth in 2008, to vote Key into power.

      Now they’re voting for Len Brown. You might want to think about that.

      • Gosman 5.3.1
        5 October 2010 at 9:20 am

        So are they as angry at Phil Goff for writing this off as Paul Henry just being Paul Henry?

        • felix 5.3.1.1
          5 October 2010 at 10:35 am

          Why would they be? That hasn’t really been reported in an opinion piece so it doesn’t really matter to anyone. Right Gos?

          • Gosman 5.3.1.1.1
            5 October 2010 at 11:21 am

            The point I am making is that simple reporting of the issue doesn’t give any indication of the impact the story has overseas. You might as well claim that this is playing badly in America by simply posting the online story from Stuff or the NZ Herald. This proves nothing in terms of negative impact of the story. However an opinion piece such as an editorial would do.

            • the sprout 5.3.1.1.1.1
              5 October 2010 at 11:25 am

              😆 do you have any awareness whatsoever of PR or media effects?

              you’re starting to get a bit too trolly on this for my tastes, i’m not going to let you have 33% of all the comments like you do on other posts, so write a cogent and relevant comment or consider desisting.

            • felix 5.3.1.1.1.2
              5 October 2010 at 12:47 pm

              You’re right of course Gosman. They’re just as likely to be praising his racism.

              Especially in India.

  6. M 6
    5 October 2010 at 9:15 am

    why on earth do you think it has to be an opinion piece to be considered negative publicity for NZ? And why the obsession with saying it doesn’t make ‘negative linkages’ for the PM? How does that negate what Sprout posts? Are you threadjacking or just working on your comprehension…?

    • Gosman 6.1
      5 October 2010 at 9:23 am

      I’m stating that noone in the media, (other than a bunch of extreme leftists on the blogosphere), are making a linkage between Paul Henry’s comments and John Key .

      Sprout implied that they would when he stated the following

      “Of course it doesn’t help that our chickenshit PM and Minister for Tourism tacitly condoned Henry’s outburst at the time, never even attempting to chastise Henry for making blatantly racist comments against our Governor General.”

      How this could be classified as thread jacking when I am just responding to a point made in the original post I have no idea. Perhaps you could explain?

      • Pascal's bookie 6.1.1
        5 October 2010 at 9:35 am

        I’m pretty sure they talked about him for about ten minutes on the The Panel yesterday. So that’s media people on the most popular radio station opining that the PM should have said more.

      • Bunji 6.1.2
        5 October 2010 at 9:39 am

        You obviously didn’t hear Dame Catherine Tizard tearing into John Key on Radio New Zealand then. Or read the Herald’s coverage of her comments.

        ‘coz that would be more than no-one.

        • the sprout 6.1.2.1
          5 October 2010 at 11:16 am

          was it an opinion piece? 😉

          • Gosman 6.1.2.1.1
            5 October 2010 at 11:18 am

            I wait with baited breath to see if it gets any traction.

            • mcflock 6.1.2.1.1.1
              5 October 2010 at 3:13 pm

              I wait with baited breath to see if it gets any traction.

              win:win for us then, eh?

            • happynz 6.1.2.1.1.2
              5 October 2010 at 6:05 pm

              ‘Wait with bated breath’, not ‘wait with baited breath’ unless you happen to be a cat with cheesey breath trying to catch a mouse.

              No worries. Lots of people make this mistake.

            • Pascal's bookie 6.1.2.1.1.3
              6 October 2010 at 5:02 am

              I’m stating that noone in the media, (other than a bunch of extreme leftists on the blogosphere), are making a linkage between Paul Henry’s comments and John Key .

              I wait with baited breath to see if it gets any traction.

              Read this morning’s Editorial in the granny and exhale gossy:

              It was, therefore, somewhat ironic that John Key was among the collateral damage. The Prime Minister seemed taken aback by Mr Henry’s comments, and failed to deliver the swift rebuke that would surely have come from his predecessor. It pointed to a lack of agility and decisiveness in pressure situations.

  7. Peter Martin 7
    5 October 2010 at 9:28 am

    it was the Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism who was sitting with Henry – on live t.v – who did Nothing whatsoever – nothing

    oooh..unfair. Key was utterly unequivocal and ruthless in immediately ruling out Jeanette Fitzsimons as a possible GG.

  8. Blighty 8
    5 October 2010 at 10:12 am

    and now he’s having a go at the Roma in his ‘woe is me’ fake apology. What a bastard.

  9. tsmithfield 9
    5 October 2010 at 10:27 am

    I don’t defend what he said for an instant.

    However, here is an extract from his apology this morning:

    “I am sincerely sorry if I seemed disrespectful to him (Sir Anand), that was not what I intended and I certainly didn’t intend to sound racist. It was wrong for me to ask the questions that I did.”Henry said Sir Anand’s background was far more “dignified” than his own.

    I guess Henry didn’t go far enough with this apology because he didn’t engage in on-screen self-mutilation.

    • felix 9.1
      5 October 2010 at 10:33 am

      Didn’t go far enough? Oh I think you’ve misread the thread ts.

    • Pascal's bookie 9.2
      5 October 2010 at 10:37 am

      Perhaps you can explain how what he said could not be disrespectful or racist? And the point isn’t just that he was disrespectful to Sir Anand, it’s that he said Fiji Indians, (and who knows who all else), don’t look like New Zealanders.

      He still hasn’t apologised for that, as I ‘m sure you agree he should.

      • gobsmacked 9.2.1
        5 October 2010 at 10:48 am

        that was not what I intended

        So what did he intend?

        He said it three times. He must have intended something.

        I thought he intended to say that the G-G didn’t look like or sound like a New Zealander. Everyone else seems to think so too, probably because that’s what he said.

        But if he intended to say something else, he could just tell us what it was.

  10. felix 10
    5 October 2010 at 10:29 am

    Ah Gosman, the gift that keeps on giving.

    Thanks for the new definition of news, I’ll remember that.

    • tsmithfield 10.1
      5 October 2010 at 10:41 am

      Don’t get me wrong. I still think disciplinary action should be taken against Henry. However, I did see the apology and thought it was quite sincere.

      • felix 10.1.1
        5 October 2010 at 10:44 am

        Yeah, well they’re just gypos so no harm done, eh ts?

        • Pascal's bookie 10.1.1.1
          5 October 2010 at 10:52 am

          And as we all know the only way gypos are better than Anand is that at least gypos look like real NZers. It takes a special kind of man to admit that sort of thing.

        • Colonial Viper 10.1.1.2
          5 October 2010 at 11:13 am

          Actually I think that in his apology Henry was trying to say that Gypos like himself are worse than Fijian Indians on the scale of racism and bigotry that he uses.

      • Blighty 10.1.2
        5 October 2010 at 11:46 am

        It wasn’t an apology it was:

        ‘i wasn’t being racist = you are all too PC’.

        ‘feel sorry for me (and all ‘real’ Kiwis) being kept down by the brown man’

        ‘Roma are scum’

  11. marsman 11
    5 October 2010 at 12:02 pm

    Why does Key have a regular Monday morning spot on a breakfast show hosted by a right-wing pin-head on State owned television?

    • a human 11.1
      5 October 2010 at 1:22 pm

      The PM has had a Monday slot on Breakfast for years, regardless of what tie they are wearing

  12. NickS 12
    5 October 2010 at 12:26 pm

    Hot off the press – Henry’s been suspended till the 18th of October!

    Now if only TVNZ would fire the douchebag, though I fully expect him to back on air after TVNZ thinks things have “cooled down”.

  13. a human 13
    5 October 2010 at 1:40 pm

    curiouser and curiouser
    As we all saw it was about midday that the announcement of Henry’s sacking occured. Can someone then explain to me how this article that has just appeared has an update time of
    “Last updated 07:59 05/10/2010″

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/4197610/TVNZ-suspends-Henry-over-comments

    • felix 13.1
      5 October 2010 at 2:06 pm

      That is curious. Any Stuff journos know what this means?

      • freedom 13.1.1
        5 October 2010 at 3:05 pm

        as you know Felix, the devil is in the details, and there is not enough attention being paid to them

    • Vicky32 13.2
      5 October 2010 at 6:15 pm

      I don’t know about Stuff, but I heard about the suspension (not sacking!) on Radio New Zealand much earlier than midday!
      Vicky

  14. toad 14
    5 October 2010 at 2:25 pm

    Oh dear, AFP have picked up the story, including Henry’s “gyppo” reference that is sure to go down a treat in Europe.

  15. Irascible 15
    5 October 2010 at 3:28 pm

    Henry’s remarks were made in the context of one Nat talking to another and revealed the underlying bigotry that supports Nat policy development. Key’s reaction was typical of his “smile & wave, scuttle & run” philosophy and a further demonstration of his much boasted inability to remember anything about NZ from after 1980, (like where he was in 1981). Presumably Key’s inability to put Henry in his place immediately was because Key had no knowledge about the Gov-Gen’s background and qualifications as he has been out of the country on another of his perpetual holidays.

  16. Penn 16
    5 October 2010 at 5:11 pm

    ***What a magnet we’ll be for non-white tourists.***

    Unlikely to have much impact, do any whites think that Japan or India would appoint whites to top government positions? Of course not. Those countries are as ethnocentric as any other. That doesn’t stop millions of tourists from visiting.

    • Daveosaurus 16.1
      5 October 2010 at 7:35 pm

      Actually, I could name five “whites” who’ve had the top government position in India. Here’s a hint: this was between 1876 and 1947.

      (captcha: “attachÃ&a”. Looks like someone’s upped the comment threshhold a bit here…)

  17. Vicky32 17
    5 October 2010 at 6:07 pm

    Currently listening to TV3 gloating hard out about it all, but no mention of Jonkey of course! TV3 can never criticise NACT…

  18. Anil Sood 18
    7 October 2010 at 3:04 am

    The major part of the blame goes to the Prime Minister of New Zealand for giving his smug approval to this joker from TVNZ.
    Maybe John Keys wants TVNZ to project an image more in tune with his own beliefs and thinking. I will not be surprised if next in line for approval are the KKK and Ms Hitler and Co.

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    The suppression of individual thought in our universities spills over into society, threatening free speech everywhere. Elizabeth Rata writes –  Indigenising New Zealand’s universities is well underway, presumably with the agreement of University Councils and despite the absence of public discussion. Indigenising, under the broader umbrella of decolonisation, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the skewed media coverage of Gaza
    Now that he’s back as Foreign Minister, maybe Winston Peters should start reading the MFAT website. If he did, Peters would find MFAT celebrating the 25th anniversary of how New Zealand alerted the rest of the world to the genocide developing in Rwanda. Quote: New Zealand played an important role ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    3 days ago

  • “Your Circus, Your Clowns.”
    It must have been a hard first couple of weeks for National voters, since the coalition was announced. Seeing their party make so many concessions to New Zealand First and ACT that there seems little remains of their own policies, other than the dwindling dream of tax cuts and the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • Weekly Roundup 8-December-2023
    It’s Friday again and Christmas is fast approaching. Here’s some of the stories that caught our attention. This week in Greater Auckland On Tuesday Matt covered some of the recent talk around the costs, benefits and challenges with the City Rail Link. On Thursday Matt looked at how ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    3 days ago

  • End-of-week escapism
    Amsterdam to Hong Kong William McCartney16,000 kilometres41 days18 trains13 countries11 currencies6 long-distance taxis4 taxi apps4 buses3 sim cards2 ferries1 tram0 medical events (surprisingly)Episode 4Whether the Sofia-Istanbul Express really qualifies to be called an express is debatable, but it’s another one of those likeably old and slow trains tha… ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • The Hoon around the week to Dec 8
    Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro arrives for the State Opening of Parliament (Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)TL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:New Finance Minister Nicola Willis set herself a ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • New Zealand’s Witchcraft Laws: 1840/1858-1961/1962
    Sometimes one gets morbidly curious about the oddities of one’s own legal system. Sometimes one writes entire essays on New Zealand’s experience with Blasphemous Libel: https://phuulishfellow.wordpress.com/2017/05/09/blasphemous-libel-new-zealand-politics/ And sometimes one follows up the exact historical status of witchcraft law in New Zealand. As one does, of course. ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    3 days ago

  • No surprises
    Don’t expect any fiscal shocks or surprises when the books are opened on December 20 with the unveiling of the Half Yearly Economic and Fiscal Update (HYEFU). That was the message yesterday from Westpac in an economic commentary. But the bank’s analysis did not include any changes to capital ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #49 2023
    113 articles in 48 journals by 674 contributing authors Physical science of climate change, effects Diversity of Lagged Relationships in Global Means of Surface Temperatures and Radiative Budgets for CMIP6 piControl Simulations, Tsuchida et al., Journal of Climate 10.1175/jcli-d-23-0045.1 Do abrupt cryosphere events in High Mountain Asia indicate earlier tipping ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • Phone calls at Kia Kaha primary
    It is quiet reading time in Room 13! It is so quiet you can hear the Tui outside. It is so quiet you can hear the Fulton Hogan crew.It is so quiet you can hear old Mr Grant and old Mr Bradbury standing by the roadworks and counting the conesand going on ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • A question of confidence is raised by the Minister of Police, but he had to be questioned by RNZ to ...
    It looks like the new ministerial press secretaries have quickly learned the art of camouflaging exactly what their ministers are saying – or, at least, of keeping the hard news  out of the headlines and/or the opening sentences of the statements they post on the home page of the governments ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • Xmas  good  cheer  for the dairy industry  as Fonterra lifts its forecast
    The big dairy co-op Fonterra  had  some Christmas  cheer to offer  its farmers this week, increasing its forecast farmgate milk price and earnings guidance for  the year after what it calls a strong start to the year. The forecast  midpoint for the 2023/24 season is up 25cs to $7.50 per ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • MICHAEL BASSETT: Modern Maori myths
    Michael Bassett writes – Many of the comments about the Coalition’s determination to wind back the dramatic Maorification of New Zealand of the last three years would have you believe the new government is engaged in a full-scale attack on Maori. In reality, all that is happening ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • Dreams of eternal sunshine at a spotless COP28
    Mary Robinson asked Al Jaber a series of very simple, direct and highly pertinent questions and he responded with a high-octane public meltdown. Photos: Getty Images / montage: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR The hygiene effects of direct sunshine are making some inroads, perhaps for the very first time, on the normalised ‘deficit ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • LINDSAY MITCHELL: Oh, the irony
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – Appointed by new Labour PM Jacinda Ardern in 2018, Cindy Kiro headed the Welfare Expert Advisory Group (WEAG) tasked with reviewing and recommending reforms to the welfare system. Kiro had been Children’s Commissioner during Helen Clark’s Labour government but returned to academia subsequently. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Transport Agencies don’t want Harbour Tunnels
    It seems even our transport agencies don’t want Labour’s harbour crossing plans. In August the previous government and Waka Kotahi announced their absurd preferred option the new harbour crossing that at the time was estimated to cost $35-45 billion. It included both road tunnels and a wiggly light rail tunnel ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    4 days ago

  • Webworm Presents: Jurassic Park on 35mm
    Hi,Paying Webworm members such as yourself keep this thing running, so as 2023 draws to close, I wanted to do two things to say a giant, loud “THANKS”. Firstly — I’m giving away 10 Mister Organ blu-rays in New Zealand, and another 10 in America. More details down below.Secondly — ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    4 days ago

  • The Prime Minister's Dream.
    Yesterday saw the State Opening of Parliament, the Speech from the Throne, and then Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s dream for Aotearoa in his first address. But first the pomp and ceremony, the arrival of the Governor General.Dame Cindy Kiro arrived on the forecourt outside of parliament to a Māori welcome. ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • National’s new MP; the proud part-Maori boy raised in a state house
    Probably not since 1975 have we seen a government take office up against such a wall of protest and complaint. That was highlighted yesterday, the day that the new Parliament was sworn in, with news that King Tuheitia has called a national hui for late January to develop a ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago

  • Climate Adam: Battlefield Earth – How War Fuels Climate Catastrophe
    This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Adam Levy. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). War, conflict and climate change are tearing apart lives across the world. But these aren't separate harms - they're intricately connected. ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • They do not speak for us, and they do not speak for the future
    These dire woeful and intolerant people have been so determinedly going about their small and petulant business, it’s hard to keep up. At the end of the new government’s first woeful week, Audrey Young took the time to count off its various acts of denigration of Te Ao Māori:Review the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • Another attack on te reo
    The new white supremacist government made attacking te reo a key part of its platform, promising to rename government agencies and force them to "communicate primarily in English" (which they already do). But today they've gone further, by trying to cut the pay of public servants who speak te reo: ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • For the record, the Beehive buzz can now be regarded as “official”
    Buzz from the Beehive The biggest buzz we bring you from the Beehive today is that the government’s official website is up and going after being out of action for more than a week. The latest press statement came  from  Education Minister  Eric Stanford, who seized on the 2022 PISA ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago

  • Climate Change: Failed again
    There was another ETS auction this morning. and like all the other ones this year, it failed to clear - meaning that 23 million tons of carbon (15 million ordinary units plus 8 million in the cost containment reserve) went up in smoke. Or rather, they didn't. Being unsold at ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell On The Government’s Assault On Maori
    This isn’t news, but the National-led coalition is mounting a sustained assault on Treaty rights and obligations. Even so, Christopher Luxon has described yesterday’s nationwide protests by Maori as “pretty unfair.” Poor thing. In the NZ Herald, Audrey Young has compiled a useful list of the many, many ways that ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    5 days ago

  • Rising costs hit farmers hard, but  there’s more  positive news  for  them this  week 
    New Zealand’s dairy industry, the mainstay of the country’s export trade, has  been under  pressure  from rising  costs. Down on the  farm, this  has  been  hitting  hard. But there  was more positive news this week,  first   from the latest Fonterra GDT auction where  prices  rose,  and  then from  a  report ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    5 days ago

  • ROB MacCULLOCH:  Newshub and NZ Herald report misleading garbage about ACT’s van Veldon not follo...
    Rob MacCulloch writes –  In their rush to discredit the new government (which our MainStream Media regard as illegitimate and having no right to enact the democratic will of voters) the NZ Herald and Newshub are arguing ACT’s Deputy Leader Brooke van Veldon is not following Treasury advice ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Top 10 for Wednesday, December 6
    Even many young people who smoke support smokefree policies, fitting in with previous research showing the large majority of people who smoke regret starting and most want to quit. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s my pick of the top 10 news and analysis links elsewhere on the morning of Wednesday, December ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • Eleven years of work.
    Well it didn’t take six months, but the leaks have begun. Yes the good ship Coalition has inadvertently released a confidential cabinet paper into the public domain, discussing their axing of Fair Pay Agreements (FPAs).Oops.Just when you were admiring how smoothly things were going for the new government, they’ve had ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • Why we're missing out on sharply lower inflation
    A wave of new and higher fees, rates and charges will ripple out over the economy in the next 18 months as mayors, councillors, heads of department and price-setters for utilities such as gas, electricity, water and parking ramp up charges. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Just when most ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • How Did We Get Here?
    Hi,Kiwis — keep the evening of December 22nd free. I have a meetup planned, and will send out an invite over the next day or so. This sounds sort of crazy to write, but today will be Tony Stamp’s final Totally Normal column of 2023. Somehow we’ve made it to ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 days ago

  • At a glance – Has the greenhouse effect been falsified?
    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

  • New Zealaders  have  high expectations of  new  government:  now let’s see if it can deliver?
    The electorate has high expectations of the  new  government.  The question is: can  it  deliver?    Some  might  say  the  signs are not  promising. Protestors   are  already marching in the streets. The  new  Prime Minister has had  little experience of managing  very diverse politicians  in coalition. The economy he  ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    6 days ago

  • You won't believe some of the numbers you have to pull when you're a Finance Minister
    Nicola of Marsden:Yo, normies! We will fix your cost of living worries by giving you a tax cut of 150 dollars. 150! Cash money! Vote National.Various people who can read and count:Actually that's 150 over a fortnight. Not a week, which is how you usually express these things.And actually, it looks ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago

  • Pushback
    When this government came to power, it did so on an explicitly white supremacist platform. Undermining the Waitangi Tribunal, removing Māori representation in local government, over-riding the courts which had tried to make their foreshore and seabed legislation work, eradicating te reo from public life, and ultimately trying to repudiate ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago

  • Defence ministerial meeting meant Collins missed the Maori Party’s mischief-making capers in Parli...
    Buzz from the Beehive Maybe this is not the best time for our Minister of Defence to have gone overseas. Not when the Maori Party is inviting (or should that be inciting?) its followers to join a revolution in a post which promoted its protest plans with a picture of ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Threats of war have been followed by an invitation to join the revolution – now let’s see how th...
     A Maori Party post on Instagram invited party followers to ….  Tangata Whenua, Tangata Tiriti, Join the REVOLUTION! & make a stand!  Nationwide Action Day, All details in tiles swipe to see locations.  • This is our 1st hit out and tomorrow Tuesday the 5th is the opening ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Top 10 for Tuesday, December 4
    The RBNZ governor is citing high net migration and profit-led inflation as factors in the bank’s hawkish stance. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s my pick of the top 10 news and analysis links elsewhere on the morning of Tuesday, December 5, including:Reserve Bank Governor Adrian Orr says high net migration and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • Nicola Willis' 'show me the money' moment
    Willis has accused labour of “economic vandalism’, while Robertson described her comments as a “desperate diversion from somebody who can't make their tax package add up”. There will now be an intense focus on December 20 to see whether her hyperbole is backed up by true surprises. Photo montage: Lynn ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • CRL costs money but also provides huge benefits
    The City Rail Link has been in the headlines a bit recently so I thought I’d look at some of them. First up, yesterday the NZ Herald ran this piece about the ongoing costs of the CRL. Auckland ratepayers will be saddled with an estimated bill of $220 million each ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    6 days ago

  • And I don't want the world to see us.
    Is this the most shambolic government in the history of New Zealand? Given that parliament hasn’t even opened they’ve managed quite a list of achievements to date.The Smokefree debacle trading lives for tax cuts, the Trumpian claims of bribery in the Media, an International award for indifference, and today the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • Cooking the books
    Finance Minister Nicola Willis late yesterday stopped only slightly short of accusing her predecessor Grant Robertson of cooking the books. She complained that the Half Yearly Economic and Fiscal Update (HYEFU), due to be made public on December 20, would show “fiscal cliffs” that would amount to “billions of ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago

  • Most people don’t realize how much progress we’ve made on climate change
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The year was 2015. ‘Uptown Funk’ with Bruno Mars was at the top of the music charts. Jurassic World was the most popular new movie in theaters. And decades of futility in international climate negotiations was about to come to an end in ...
    Skeptical Science
    7 days ago

  • Of Parliamentary Oaths and Clive Boonham
    As a heads-up, I am not one of those people who stay awake at night thinking about weird Culture War nonsense. At least so far as the current Maori/Constitutional arrangements go. In fact, I actually consider it the least important issue facing the day to day lives of New ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    7 days ago

  • Bearing True Allegiance?
    Strong Words: “We do not consent, we do not surrender, we do not cede, we do not submit; we, the indigenous, are rising. We do not buy into the colonial fictions this House is built upon. Te Pāti Māori pledges allegiance to our mokopuna, our whenua, and Te Tiriti o ...
    Bowalley Road
    7 days ago

  • You cannot be serious
    Some days it feels like the only thing to say is: Seriously? No, really. Seriously?OneSomeone has used their health department access to share data about vaccinations and patients, and inform the world that New Zealanders have been dying in their hundreds of thousands from the evil vaccine. This of course is pure ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    7 days ago

  • A promise kept: govt pulls the plug on Lake Onslow scheme – but this saving of $16bn is denounced...
    Buzz from the Beehive After $21.8 million was spent on investigations, the plug has been pulled on the Lake Onslow pumped-hydro electricity scheme, The scheme –  that technically could have solved New Zealand’s looming energy shortage, according to its champions – was a key part of the defeated Labour government’s ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    7 days ago

  • CHRIS TROTTER: The Maori Party and Oath of Allegiance
    If those elected to the Māori Seats refuse to take them, then what possible reason could the country have for retaining them?   Chris Trotter writes – Christmas is fast approaching, which, as it does every year, means gearing up for an abstruse general knowledge question. “Who was ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    7 days ago

  • BRIAN EASTON:  Forward to 2017
    The coalition party agreements are mainly about returning to 2017 when National lost power. They show commonalities but also some serious divergencies. Brian Easton writes – The two coalition agreements – one National and ACT, the other National and New Zealand First – are more than policy documents. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 week ago

  • Climate Change: Fossils
    When the new government promised to allow new offshore oil and gas exploration, they were warned that there would be international criticism and reputational damage. Naturally, they arrogantly denied any possibility that that would happen. And then they finally turned up at COP, to criticism from Palau, and a "fossil ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago

  • GEOFFREY MILLER:  NZ’s foreign policy resets on AUKUS, Gaza and Ukraine
    Geoffrey Miller writes – New Zealand’s international relations are under new management. And Winston Peters, the new foreign minister, is already setting a change agenda. As expected, this includes a more pro-US positioning when it comes to the Pacific – where Peters will be picking up where he ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 week ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the government’s smokefree laws debacle
    The most charitable explanation for National’s behaviour over the smokefree legislation is that they have dutifully fulfilled the wishes of the Big Tobacco lobby and then cast around – incompetently, as it turns out – for excuses that might sell this health policy U-turn to the public. The less charitable ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    1 week ago

  • Top 10 links at 10 am for Monday, December 4
    As Deb Te Kawa writes in an op-ed, the new Government seems to have immediately bought itself fights with just about everyone. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Here’s my pick of the top 10 news and analysis links elsewhere as of 10 am on Monday December 4, including:Palau’s President ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • Be Honest.
    Let’s begin today by thinking about job interviews.During my career in Software Development I must have interviewed hundreds of people, hired at least a hundred, but few stick in the memory.I remember one guy who was so laid back he was practically horizontal, leaning back in his chair until his ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago

  • Geoffrey Miller: New Zealand’s foreign policy resets on AUKUS, Gaza and Ukraine
    New Zealand’s international relations are under new management. And Winston Peters, the new foreign minister, is already setting a change agenda. As expected, this includes a more pro-US positioning when it comes to the Pacific – where Peters will be picking up where he left off. Peters sought to align ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    1 week ago

  • Auckland rail tunnel the world’s most expensive
    Auckland’s city rail link is the most expensive rail project in the world per km, and the CRL boss has described the cost of infrastructure construction in Aotearoa as a crisis. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The 3.5 km City Rail Link (CRL) tunnel under Auckland’s CBD has cost ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • First big test coming
    The first big test of the new Government’s approach to Treaty matters is likely to be seen in the return of the Resource Management Act. RMA Minister Chris Bishop has confirmed that he intends to introduce legislation to repeal Labour’s recently passed Natural and Built Environments Act and its ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 week ago

  • Ministers visit Hawke’s Bay to grasp recovery needs
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon joined Cyclone Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell and Transport and Local Government Minister Simeon Brown, to meet leaders of cyclone and flood-affected regions in the Hawke’s Bay. The visit reinforced the coalition Government’s commitment to support the region and better understand its ongoing requirements, Mr Mitchell says.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • New Zealand condemns malicious cyber activity
    New Zealand has joined the UK and other partners in condemning malicious cyber activity conducted by the Russian Government, Minister Responsible for the Government Communications Security Bureau Judith Collins says. The statement follows the UK’s attribution today of malicious cyber activity impacting its domestic democratic institutions and processes, as well ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Disestablishment of Te Pūkenga begins
    The Government has begun the process of disestablishing Te Pūkenga as part of its 100-day plan, Minister for Tertiary Education and Skills Penny Simmonds says.  “I have started putting that plan into action and have met with the chair and chief Executive of Te Pūkenga to advise them of my ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Climate Change Minister to attend COP28 in Dubai
    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will be leaving for Dubai today to attend COP28, the 28th annual UN climate summit, this week. Simon Watts says he will push for accelerated action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement, deliver New Zealand’s national statement and connect with partner countries, private sector leaders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • New Zealand to host 2024 Pacific defence meeting
    Defence Minister Judith Collins yesterday announced New Zealand will host next year’s South Pacific Defence Ministers’ Meeting (SPDMM). “Having just returned from this year’s meeting in Nouméa, I witnessed first-hand the value of meeting with my Pacific counterparts to discuss regional security and defence matters. I welcome the opportunity to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Study shows need to remove distractions in class
    The Government is committed to lifting school achievement in the basics and that starts with removing distractions so young people can focus on their learning, Education Minister Erica Stanford says.   The 2022 PISA results released this week found that Kiwi kids ranked 5th in the world for being distracted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Minister sets expectations of Commissioner
    Today I met with Police Commissioner Andrew Coster to set out my expectations, which he has agreed to, says Police Minister Mark Mitchell. Under section 16(1) of the Policing Act 2008, the Minister can expect the Police Commissioner to deliver on the Government’s direction and priorities, as now outlined in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • New Zealand needs a strong and stable ETS
    New Zealand needs a strong and stable Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) that is well placed for the future, after emission units failed to sell for the fourth and final auction of the year, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says.  At today’s auction, 15 million New Zealand units (NZUs) – each ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • PISA results show urgent need to teach the basics
    With 2022 PISA results showing a decline in achievement, Education Minister Erica Stanford is confident that the Coalition Government’s 100-day plan for education will improve outcomes for Kiwi kids.  The 2022 PISA results show a significant decline in the performance of 15-year-old students in maths compared to 2018 and confirms ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Collins leaves for Pacific defence meeting
    Defence Minister Judith Collins today departed for New Caledonia to attend the 8th annual South Pacific Defence Ministers’ meeting (SPDMM). “This meeting is an excellent opportunity to meet face-to-face with my Pacific counterparts to discuss regional security matters and to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to the Pacific,” Judith Collins says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Working for Families gets cost of living boost
    Putting more money in the pockets of hard-working families is a priority of this Coalition Government, starting with an increase to Working for Families, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says. “We are starting our 100-day plan with a laser focus on bringing down the cost of living, because that is what ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Post-Cabinet press conference
    Most weeks, following Cabinet, the Prime Minister holds a press conference for members of the Parliamentary Press Gallery. This page contains the transcripts from those press conferences, which are supplied by Hansard to the Office of the Prime Minister. It is important to note that the transcripts have not been edited ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Lake Onslow pumped hydro scheme scrapped
    The Government has axed the $16 billion Lake Onslow pumped hydro scheme championed by the previous government, Energy Minister Simeon Brown says. “This hugely wasteful project was pouring money down the drain at a time when we need to be reining in spending and focussing on rebuilding the economy and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • NZ welcomes further pause in fighting in Gaza
    New Zealand welcomes the further one-day extension of the pause in fighting, which will allow the delivery of more urgently-needed humanitarian aid into Gaza and the release of more hostages, Foreign Minister Winston Peters said. “The human cost of the conflict is horrific, and New Zealand wants to see the violence ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Condolences on passing of Henry Kissinger
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters today expressed on behalf of the New Zealand Government his condolences to the family of former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who has passed away at the age of 100 at his home in Connecticut. “While opinions on his legacy are varied, Secretary Kissinger was ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Backing our kids to learn the basics
    Every child deserves a world-leading education, and the Coalition Government is making that a priority as part of its 100-day plan. Education Minister Erica Stanford says that will start with banning cellphone use at school and ensuring all primary students spend one hour on reading, writing, and maths each day. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • US Business Summit Speech – Regional stability through trade
    I would like to begin by echoing the Prime Minister’s thanks to the organisers of this Summit, Fran O’Sullivan and the Auckland Business Chamber.  I want to also acknowledge the many leading exporters, sector representatives, diplomats, and other leaders we have joining us in the room. In particular, I would like ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Keynote Address to the United States Business Summit, Auckland
    Good morning. Thank you, Rosemary, for your warm introduction, and to Fran and Simon for this opportunity to make some brief comments about New Zealand’s relationship with the United States.  This is also a chance to acknowledge my colleague, Minister for Trade Todd McClay, Ambassador Tom Udall, Secretary of Foreign ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • India New Zealand Business Council Speech, India as a Strategic Priority
    Good morning, tēnā koutou and namaskar. Many thanks, Michael, for your warm welcome. I would like to acknowledge the work of the India New Zealand Business Council in facilitating today’s event and for the Council’s broader work in supporting a coordinated approach for lifting New Zealand-India relations. I want to also ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Coalition Government unveils 100-day plan
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has laid out the Coalition Government’s plan for its first 100 days from today. “The last few years have been incredibly tough for so many New Zealanders. People have put their trust in National, ACT and NZ First to steer them towards a better, more prosperous ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • New Zealand welcomes European Parliament vote on the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement
    A significant milestone in ratifying the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was reached last night, with 524 of the 705 member European Parliament voting in favour to approve the agreement. “I’m delighted to hear of the successful vote to approve the NZ-EU FTA in the European Parliament overnight. This is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

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