On the Chauvel beatup

Written By: - Date published: 1:53 pm, March 16th, 2010 - 132 comments
Categories: Media - Tags: , , ,

Stuff.co.nz’s decision to turn an anonymous, politically-motivated smear from an ACT Party activist into a front page tabloid screamer is gutter journalism for sure, but it’s only the latest example of a worrying trend.

The story is here. I’m not going to dignify it with an analysis. What interests me is the emerging pattern of mainstream media outlets laundering right-wing smears and personal attacks on Labour MPs.

The story on Stuff (picture opposite) frames Charles Chauvel having to deny “overstepping” by allegedly complaining about some screaming kid on a plane.

The allegations come from some obscure ACT Party blog, ‘Clint Heine and Friends’, which has previously only come to public attention for its decision to photoshop Helen Clark’s face onto transexual pronography. It also shopped a picture of Clark showing her genitals (not worksafe) to Heather Simpson. It is a blog steeped in sexism and homophobia of the worst sort.

The story itself is written by an ACT Party activist going by the name of ‘boomtownprat’. It’s completely unsubstantiated, and is clearly written by someone with a political interest in embellishing or even making up the facts in order to smear a politician he despises.

Still, no matter how astonishing it may seem that Charles Chauvel is on the front page of Stuff having to defend himself against unsubstantiated and politically-motivated smears from some no-name gutter blog, it’s fast becoming the norm.

You’ll recall that recently Chris Carter came under fire when the Waiheke ferry was diverted to pick him up one night. The story, such as it was, only reached the media after it appeared on the blog of National’s pollster, David Farrar.

Farrar wasn’t actually on the ferry, he was told about it as part of a humorous anecdote by former National Party president Michelle Boag. The ferry company had no problem with the diversion when asked about it, they said it was standard practice and had nothing to do with Carter being an MP. No one else on the ferry complained either, including Boag.

The story only became news when Farrar, well practiced in the art of the political smear, decided to reframe it as a story of political favouritism/corruption and then fed it out to the media via his blog. The story was dutifully picked up by Stuff.co.nz with framing intact, and ran as a tabloid screamer on the front page. From there it fed out into other media outlets and even made the TV news.

Poor old Chris Carter’s getting the treatment again today, with Audrey Young seeing fit to cover allegations from Whaleoil (yes, Whaleoil!) that Carter only recently removed a taxpayer-funded phone line from his mother’s house. “Now with her good and loyal son not able to sup quite so often at the trough, she has had to move to having to pay for it herself”, Whaleoil is quoted saying in Audrey’s article. It’s bullshit of course – Chris Carter’s mother died in 1993. At least Audrey mentions this in her article, but you’ve got to wonder what she was doing wasting valuable space covering right-wing smears like this in the first place.

So what’s behind this trend? For the right-wing smearers it’s easy, the beauty of the politics of the personal smear is that even if the MP is proven to be in the clear it doesn’t matter. Explaining is losing and the damage is already done. It’s also no coincidence that both of the MPs targeted so far have been gay.

As for the media, is it a sign they’re complicit with the smear machine? No, I don’t think so. More likely it’s a result of the growing tabloidisation of the media. As media companies slash journalist numbers news operations are becoming increasingly reliant on sensation and scandal to fill the gap that used to be filled by real journalism.

If that means news values and journalistic ethics have to go out the window then so be it. After all, business is business, and there’s no point having a tabloid box on your front page if you’re not going to use it.

132 comments on “On the Chauvel beatup ”

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  1. Bright Red 1
    16 March 2010 at 1:59 pm

    And real issues barely get a look in because all the space and resource for covering politics goes to this kind of stuff.

    Which is the perfect outcome from the Right’s perspective.

    The last thing the Right wants to have to do is debate the issues. They lose every time because they’re fighting for privilege and short-termism in a world where neither are acceptable anymore.

    • Tigger 1.1
      16 March 2010 at 2:18 pm

      My thoughts too BR. Far better to distract the mob with their opinions on screaming children in planes. And thanks Eddie, nice analysis.

      • Bright Red 1.1.1
        16 March 2010 at 3:10 pm

        Chauvel on the herald: “It’s a bit frustrating for somebody in my job who spends half their time trying to get the media to take seriously the fact that we might be in electricity crisis next year, which nobody is interested in. And suddenly [the media] getting all worked up about what somebody says on a blog which I don’t think is entirely true.”

  2. Julie 2
    16 March 2010 at 2:01 pm

    Thank you thank you thank you Eddie. This stuff has been pissing me off too. With the Carter ferry story I actually heard Carter and Boag both being interviewed about it at the same time on Nat Rad’s The Panel and their stories were in agreement, and a long way from how Farrar portrayed it.

  3. Graeme Edgeler 3
    16 March 2010 at 2:01 pm

    It’s bullshit of course Chris Carter’s mother died in 1993.

    Yes … but notice how there’s no death certificate?

    This story could just go away with a death certificate. And not one of them certificates of death either, but a real death certificate. Just sayin’.

    • Bright Red 3.1
      16 March 2010 at 2:03 pm

      before the angry rebuttals, I’m sure Graeme is just making a slightly off-colour reference to the ‘birther’ movement in the US

    • Julie 3.2
      16 March 2010 at 2:14 pm

      That is strangely similar to what Slater has said in response to the fact Carter’s mother has been dead for 17 years. He’s saying that Carter hasn’t actually denied that it’s his mother’s phone bill…

      • Rex Widerstrom 3.2.1
        16 March 2010 at 4:38 pm

        And you narrow-minded lefties have been questioning the need for Sensing Murder! Hah!! Clearly Carter will claim he can talk to his dearly departed old mum by way of a psychic hotline.

        Here, at last, is a chance for Deb Webber et al to prove their worth as investigators.

        Well… it couldn’t be any worse than Sainsbury, could it? :-/

  4. randal 4
    16 March 2010 at 2:07 pm

    this government is permanently verging on incoherency and they are using the most base methods to prevent the nation from really finding out how short they are on any moral or ethical principles whatsoever.

  5. randal 5
    16 March 2010 at 2:10 pm

    anyway back on topic charles chauvel is right to demand some sort of parental control on a public conveyance. this country has become totally infantilised and behaviour has become more and more childish as supposed adults indulge their brats in any sort of beahviour except discipline and self control.

    • Ms X 5.1
      16 March 2010 at 6:17 pm

      let me get this straight – if the children are those of a right wing, middle class couple, they can behave however they like with no fear of comment or reprimand, but let them be working class, or worse a beneficiary’s children, then it’s off to boot camp…..?

    • vto 5.2
      17 March 2010 at 8:56 am

      ha ha ha, so say the people who put the state in control of everything. I don’t know why you are surprised randal. The parents have less to be responsible for today thanks to the state taking responsibility. Perhaps you eggs can come up with some new law to mandate quiet kids on planes. Maybe make an anti-screaming-kids law so parents get prosecuted if they fail to do so.

      This story makes me weep with laughter. Such fools. I wonder what has changed since the days when kids were actually more in control and quieter in public?? Anyone know? Starter for 10?

      what a bunch of douche-bags…

      • Pascal's bookie 5.2.1
        17 March 2010 at 9:56 am

        “Anyone know? Starter for 10?”

        Oooh ooh. I know!

        They banned dueling.

        Before then if someone was annoying you, whinging about it could get you shot, likewise whinging about being offended by another’s whinging.

        So everyone was split into two camps, those that were polite as all hell and put up with the whinging in silence, and those that learned how to duel real good and were precisely as rude as they felt like being.

        On that note, here’s Grayson, sticking the shiv into Palin:

        http://www.graysonforcongress.com/newsletter_detail.asp?OptInEmailId=314

        People like a fighter.

        • Lew 5.2.1.1
          17 March 2010 at 10:01 am

          Bookie, that’s what they mean when they say an armed society is a polite society, eh. You know, there are some days when I reckon I could make that dictum work for me.

          L

        • vto 5.2.1.2
          17 March 2010 at 10:17 am

          ha ha, sure that was a part-reason, but not the one I was referring to. But on that particular subject, namely the use of physical force as a societal control measure, I have said before that todays society is the anamoly in human history. Today’s complete rejection of physical sanction as a ‘remedy’ is unusual. And there is no doubt that it has had certain other consequences. Physical sanction has its uses in control. It is important o note only one outfit is entitled to use ‘violence’ (as most people like to refer to it) today – your favourite entity, the state.

          Yes the government is the sole bully-boy wiv its huge great jack-boots swinging all over the place today. Lets follow todays trend and ban govt from the use of that tool too. No more prisons – just naughty corners. ha ha.

          But no P’s b, the answer was removal of responsibility from people to the state. Anti-smacking law one such example of that swing. Intro of dpb many years ago is another example of remving responsibility from (usually) the dad to the state. It is the trend – increasing state responsibiltiy.

          And I suggest that Chauvel’s and randal’s grimacing at todays out-of-control kids is that trend coming back and biting them in the bum.

  6. Policy Parrot 6
    16 March 2010 at 2:12 pm

    Speaking of smears…

    I’m surprised Gerry hasn’t been more interested in saving the whales, since one of his nom-de-plume’s references the title of a well-known NZ film.

    • Bright Red 6.1
      16 March 2010 at 2:33 pm

      Now, parrot, that’s not fair.

      It’s not Gerry who earned the nickname that is a movie title as the result of certain activities involving him, it’s the other party who was involved 😉

  7. TightyRighty 7
    16 March 2010 at 2:16 pm

    it’s a non-issue all right this charles chauvel thing. no doubt about that.

    but i’m interested to note that you put the issue of chris carter moving accounts from the taxpayer to some one else in the same vein. i’m quite interested in that. it wasn’t his mother sure, but who was it for? and why was the taxpayer paying? you lambast journalists for not asking questions, why is that particular question not asked? and what is the answer, seeing as chris carter hasn’t denied it happening, only rejecting that it was for his mother? i think we deserve a response on that issue as chris carter clearly can’t stop suckling at the public teat

    • ghostwhowalksnz 7.1
      16 March 2010 at 2:35 pm

      There was no proof it was anything to do with Carter ( a common name). THE FACT HIS MOTHER IS DEAD should have laid it to rest but the Oily cetacean doesnt want to admit he got it wrong.
      For gods sake he has denied it. Dead is dead

      • TightyRighty 7.1.1
        16 March 2010 at 2:40 pm

        no he’s said his mother is dead. that’s fine. carter has not denied anything else. he hasn’t denied using a taxpayer funded telecom account for some one else. there is only one troughing mp named carter, so the name isn’t that common.

        • IrishBill 7.1.1.1
          16 March 2010 at 2:43 pm

          John Carter?

          • Bright Red 7.1.1.1.1
            16 March 2010 at 2:55 pm

            David Carter?

            Fun fact: Carter’s the most common surname in parliament. Bennett, Smith, Robertson, and, now, Hughes are next up.

            • TightyRighty 7.1.1.1.1.1
              16 March 2010 at 4:06 pm

              fun fact. Chris Carter ex-government minister, opposition spokesperson for the maintanence of members benefits, has probably outspent all of them.

  8. PeteG 8
    16 March 2010 at 2:23 pm

    When criticising beat ups – and while it seems Chauvel hasn’t done himself any favours with how he dealt with it this does seem to be a beat up – should one consider their own modus operandi?

    • Bright Red 8.1
      16 March 2010 at 2:35 pm

      I’ve never seen this kind of personal, unjustified attack on the standard.

      • gitmo 8.1.1
        16 March 2010 at 2:37 pm

        Too much wanking ?

        [That’s it, final straw. Banned for life.]

      • Bright Red 8.1.2
        16 March 2010 at 2:52 pm

        well, point one out to me that you think is unjustified.

        • lukas 8.1.2.1
          16 March 2010 at 3:26 pm

          http://www.thestandard.org.nz/how-much-did-key-pay-for-his-seat/

          Not anon anymore, not sure if SP was “out” then so to speak.

          One could also ad “Batman”.

          [lprent: yes he was… Why exactly would we want a batman ad? ]

          • lukas 8.1.2.1.1
            16 March 2010 at 3:40 pm

            also, didn’t someone from The Standard publish the account of James Sleep, verbatim about being “run over”?

            [lprent: The post said

            Sleep described the incident as frightening and thought he was going to be run over.

            Quite different from your ‘verbatim’ when you actually read the damn post. You want to rephrase that so it is accurate before I decide to impose a sentence.

            Mind you bearing in mind that your site at present seems to feature only posts whining about how unfair Trev is to moderate you, then perhaps I can provide some more content…

            The new search found that in seconds !!! ]

            • IrishBill 8.1.2.1.1.1
              16 March 2010 at 3:48 pm

              So if Charles had run over the children rather than comment on their behavior to his partner that would have been ok?

              • lukas …
                16 March 2010 at 3:52 pm

                IB- child abuse is wrong, you should know that.

                I am pointing out an example of someone from the Standard publishing verbatim an account from a political activist about their encounter with a politician.

            • Duncan 8.1.2.1.1.2
              16 March 2010 at 3:53 pm

              I think Lukas misses the point entirely. This debate isn’t about whether everything a blog has ever published is verifiable, it’s about whether it’s newsworthy and whether any news organisations that do pick it up has done any verification themselves. The rest is just a distraction.

            • lukas 8.1.2.1.1.3
              16 March 2010 at 4:37 pm

              Yes Iprent, but it also has

              “James Sleep is just a keen 17 year old participating in the democratic process and John Hayes put his life in danger. So what if he was in the way? It’s not OK to drive your vehicle into a human being. I don’t care how desperate for power you are or how heated an exchange gets, in our country resorting to violence over political differences is never acceptable.”

              Sleep was not just a keen 17 year old participating in the democratic process. He is that, and a whole heap more.

              [lprent:
              Yes, but that was
              a. a opinion by SP on the issue, and doesn’t say that was what happened.
              b. it didn’t have what you were asserting – go and reread your assertion.
              c. therefore irrelevant to the question of you making an assertion about this site – without having supporting evidence. ]

              • Pascal's bookie …
                16 March 2010 at 4:44 pm

                Sleep was not just a keen 17 year old participating in the democratic process. He is that, and a whole heap more.

                What else is he? Immune to steel? Made of awesome?

                The quote actually describes him politically. It highlights their political differences. Or did you have some other point?

                • lukas …
                  16 March 2010 at 4:55 pm

                  “What else is he? Immune to steel? Made of awesome? ”

                  Depends who you ask 😀 He has obvious union affiliations and links to Labour. If it is relevant that the “ACT blogger” is a member of the ACT party, it should have also been relevant that Sleep is in with Labour.

                  [lprent: Still waiting for an apology about your earlier assertion about the James Sleep post.. The clock is now ticking down. ]

                  • Duncan …
                    16 March 2010 at 4:59 pm

                    What does this have to do with the argument in the original post? What’s the hypocrisy you’re trying to show? I’m baffled.

                    • felix …
                      16 March 2010 at 5:05 pm

                      Duncan:
                      Lukas just wants us to talk about anything but the post and sadly you’ve all fallen for it.

                      For your future reference the correct response is “Fuck up Lukas, the adults are talking. Take your bullshit back to kiwiblog where it belongs”.

                  • lukas …
                    17 March 2010 at 8:10 am

                    “[lprent: Still waiting for an apology about your earlier assertion about the James Sleep post.. The clock is now ticking down. ]”

                    Apology for what? SP wrote in that post that Hayes drove his vehicle into Sleep.

                    [lprent: No he did not – as has already been pointed out to you twice. You’re attempting to rewrite the post retrospectively to what you’d like it to have said. That is unacceptable behaviour on this site.

                    Go away for a week – that should give you time to read the post.

                    I’ll give you a hint – read the damn words. Ignore those little voices in your head that tell you what the post should say. Learning to read what is written is far more important than fulfilling your need to have it suddenly insert any meaning that you’d like to magically appear. ]

                    • lukas …
                      17 March 2010 at 9:15 am

                      “It’s not OK to drive your vehicle into a human being. I don’t care how desperate for power you are or how heated an exchange gets, in our country resorting to violence over political differences is never acceptable.”

                      Love to know how you think that that is not saying Hayes drove into Sleep, especially when you look at the very first comment on the post too…

                      “Before anyone argues that you can’t be seriously hurt by being hit by a vehicle at low speed (as if that somehow makes intenionally hitting someone with your vehicle OK) we should remember Christine Clark http://tvnz.co.nz/view/news_national_story_skin/40734”

                      [lprent: Read your quote CAREFULLY. It does not say that someone drove into James Sleep as you’re specifically asserting. It says that it is not ok to drive into a person – ie a general statement.

                      You are the person that is joining the dots and trying to make the post say something it does not. You have your own blog to write works of fiction on – do it there.

                      Extending the ban for idiotic stupidity and wasting my time. Stay away for a 4 weeks. ]

          • Bright Red 8.1.2.1.2
            16 March 2010 at 3:54 pm

            both those were about valid issues that mattered. Both lacked substantiation and got nowhere because of that but that’s not the problem with the Chauvel story. It’s a beat up because it’s not a legitimate topic and stuff should never have picked it up.

            • lukas 8.1.2.1.2.1
              16 March 2010 at 4:03 pm

              I agree that it is a bit of a beat up. Batman and the “H-fee” did make the NZ Herald, a quick search there will show that up… even Helen Clark was questioned on it.

              • Duncan …
                16 March 2010 at 4:07 pm

                As I recall it was pushed to a variety of media including the herald, the standard and various others. It didn’t pan out and Williams got a media hiding over it. It was newsworthy enough to run – they were serious allegations of huge consequence. None of this is the case for the Chauvel beatup. Double fail.

                • lukas …
                  16 March 2010 at 4:14 pm

                  I don’t think it was, a quick search of “h-fee” on the nzherald.co.nz site shows that all the articles mention that the story was published on the Standard. Yes, they were serious allegations, just like those surrounding the increasing donations to the UNDP ever election year Helen Clark was PM, but the H-fee story was and is a fizzer, just like the Chauvel story.

                  • Duncan …
                    16 March 2010 at 4:21 pm

                    Well you’re wrong. Williams took it directly to the Herald, the paper said so at the time.

                  • Pascal's bookie …
                    16 March 2010 at 4:26 pm

                    Batman made the herald the same time it was put up here, from memory. The Herald thought there was something in it and printed it up as a two parter. The first part was sympathetic to the claims, and the Herald, like Labour, sent someone to check out the story. Which then somehow became a Labour dirty trick.

  9. Kent 9
    16 March 2010 at 2:29 pm

    As it happens, I was on the same plane as Steven Joyce last week, and the stewardess had to ask him quite pointedly to turn off his Blackberry during the push-out from the gate, long after everyone else in the plane had done the same. Given his apparent addiction to the device, this may not come as a surprise to many people.

    Important note, however: this is not a front page story. And in the ebb and flow of day-to-day New Zealand politics, it’s not even a very interesting story. Having been across the aisle from the man, and even despite the fact that I disagree with him on many issues, if I saw it on the front page of Stuff my immediate reaction would be “so what?”

    Perspective, it seems to me, is a much-overlooked virtue.

  10. Lew 10
    16 March 2010 at 2:43 pm

    While I agree with your point, Eddie, Chauvel should have just STFU, bitten his lip and thought “these people are my constituents and I’d be a damned fool to piss them off or insult them publicly”. He (and his party) are being duly punished for failing to do so. It’s disproportionate, it’s a beatup, but he’s an MP. He asked for this. Perhaps he’ll learn.

    L

    • Eddie 10.1
      16 March 2010 at 2:49 pm

      Looking at Chauvel’s story, which I’m more inclined to believe, he made a remark to his partner that was overheard. I don’t think that’s unreasonable and I don’t think it’s newsworthy.

      I’ve seen and heard MPs do much worse in my time, and even then I didn’t think it was fit for posting on The Standard, let alone the front page of Stuff.

    • Lew 10.2
      16 March 2010 at 2:51 pm

      Too late for edit. I also agree with Eddie’s point about the process — this isn’t so much the media gleefully putting the boot in as accepting the framing of Chauvel’s political enemies without much criticism. It’s been turned from a story about an MP lacking discipline to a matter of Chauvel’s “family values” — because he’s a gay man, this “anti-family” dog-whistle is easy to establish.

      The matter of “family values” would be a legitimate political issue if the facts of the story actually spoke to it because that’s a crucial aspect of his ability to represent his constituency. The facts don’t speak to this issue — the framing does. But because the framing does, the facts don’t really matter any more.

      L

    • IrishBill 10.3
      16 March 2010 at 2:53 pm

      Perhaps he’ll learn.

      Learn what exactly, Lew? Learn not to say anything to people’s kids in public? Learn to not catch a ferry when it swings by to pick him up? Learn to not not have a dead mother? (Or should that be “not not not have a dead mother”?)

      The idea that MP’s should be guarding against every tiny possible beat-up is absurd and incredibly counterproductive.

      The only thing more absurd is that the next time Labour play something safe you’ll be the first to criticise them for not having the courage of their convictions.

      Maybe the media should learn. Maybe the readership should learn (and I’m heartened by the number of comments on the story that point out it’s not a story). Maybe you should learn. Lew.

      • Lew 10.3.1
        16 March 2010 at 2:57 pm

        Bill, nothing about Carter, I’m only talking about Chauvel. Learn to STFU when people might overhear him saying things which could be turned against him. Perhaps it is counter-productive, but you control the factsors you can control — and he can’t control who’s sitting in the seat ahead, and he can’t control what the media will run with.

        Maybe I should learn what? I agree it shouldn’t be a story; but the fact remains that it is one.

        L

        • IrishBill 10.3.1.1
          16 March 2010 at 3:09 pm

          Maybe you should learn that the degree of caution you claim should be exercised leads to a culture of paranoia which leads to the perception of being a control freak which leads to media baiting you with beat-ups to get stories that fit the “control freak”/”nanny state” narrative which leads to greater paranoid and attempts to control behaviour which leads to…

          I’ve seen this before (you might be able to guess where) and it doesn’t end well.

          As I’ve noted below Chauvel dealt with the beat-up very well and if you read the comments to the Stuff story you’ll see it has paid off.

          • Lew 10.3.1.1.1
            16 March 2010 at 3:14 pm

            I’m not suggesting that sort of caution, Bill. I’m not suggesting he dehumanise himself.

            It’s better than it could have been. Seems like you think the eventual outcome was better than the alternative (no story). I’m not so sure about that.

            L

            • IrishBill 10.3.1.1.1.1
              16 March 2010 at 3:19 pm

              If achieving the alternative means not being able to make a comment to your partner in public then there is no alternative. Because what you end up with at the end of that process is a parliament of airbrushed segmentaion-marketed John Keys.

              • Lew …
                16 March 2010 at 7:11 pm

                Fair enough, triangulating between the various accounts suggests that Chauvel’s remarks were private and quiet, so my criticism that he ought to have watched his mouth isn’t really justified.

                L

          • Rex Widerstrom 10.3.1.1.2
            16 March 2010 at 4:50 pm

            Errr… world of difference between exercising self-discipline (ShuttingTFU when in a prominent position) and wanting to control the behaviour of others, IB.

            I’ve known plenty of MPs whose self-discipline is admirable but who are varying degrees of liberal when it comes to nanny-statism. Equally I know a few who are pretty loose in the self-control department but who’ll happily pass laws controlling the plebs.

            I’ve never heard anyone (journo or voter) equate a buttoned-down personality with a “nanny statist” outlook unless that person first starts displaying a tendency for control of others.

            Helen Clark being a case in point… it was only when she started backing laws that some saw as controlling – or even oppressive – that the occasional story appeared speculating that this was linked to her iron willed self control.

            I’d like to think I kept myself under control when in politics (and I have a very short temper) but I’m hardly a conservative in other ways.

            On the primary topic – Chauvel should have remarked to his partner after the flight, when they were in private. Stupid? Yes. Arrogant? Probably. Front page news? Hell no.

            • IrishBill 10.3.1.1.2.1
              16 March 2010 at 7:44 pm

              Sorry Rex but I disagree with you. The nanny state meme got legs because it “felt” right (especially to the gallery) and a good part of the reason it felt right was because of the relationship that this kind of caution engendered between them and Helen/Heather.

              Despite the current government doing a whole lot of stuff that interferes in people’s lives a similar meme would never run right now because it would make no sense to journos on an emotional level. Because that’s not the relationship they have with Key and his crew. If he and his team started being cautious and curt with them then it would be a different story.

              • Rex Widerstrom …
                16 March 2010 at 11:08 pm

                It seems we do disagree but I’m not entirely sure how!

                FWIW I agree with what you’ve written. The “nanny state” meme won’t work with a leader who’s so “relaxed” he wouldn’t act even if someone set him on fire.

                But my point is that exercising personal (self) control doesn’t automatically get you labelled as a political control freak unless you also exhibit nanny statist tendencies.

                [I’d also debate that Helen and Heather were cautious of media. Some media, yes. But Helen had her favourites with whom she was very chummy, she simply froze out those who were less likely to run a positive line… much like a slightly more opaque Muldoon IMHO. But that’s a different meme 😉 ]

      • IrishBill 10.3.2
        16 March 2010 at 2:59 pm

        I’d also note that Chauvel has handled this pretty much perfectly. He’s pointed out the dubious nature of the source, he’s stated it’s a non-story and, in the herald, he’s used it to draw attention to a more important story. It’s nice to see a Labour MP front-footing this sort of bullshit well.

        • Lew 10.3.2.1
          16 March 2010 at 3:03 pm

          I agree. It’s a long way to turn it around, but far better to call it like it is than ignore it and hope it goes away.

          L

          (Captcha: fail. Third time lucky for posting this. Lynn, do you know why I get 500’s about every fourth page load?)

          [lprent: Yeah. Something is wrong in the system. I’m going to change the search update to a slower rate. Done – 45 minutes now… ]

          • Rex Widerstrom 10.3.2.1.1
            16 March 2010 at 4:52 pm

            Nope, I’m still getting them too LP.

            • lprent 10.3.2.1.1.1
              16 March 2010 at 4:56 pm

              Yeah, I just rolled back the mysql and php reconfiguration changes from last night. See if that makes it more stable…

              It is a bit of a pain that the only way to effectively test these things is to run them live…

  11. Eddie 11
    16 March 2010 at 3:00 pm

    PeteG, I’ve deleted your half dozen accusations of personal smears. I’m not going to have you come on here and accuse us of things without any evidence. Consider this a final warning.

    • PeteG 11.1
      16 March 2010 at 3:13 pm

      First warning is final warning?

      It’s sad you won’t accept anything off message, but it’s your choice what sort of forum you want.
      Would you have been happy to leave any post undeleted that provided evidence?

      [You never provided any evidence. Stop wasting my time or I’ll ban you out of spite.]

      [lprent: Read the policy. It is carefully designed (by me) to make sure than lusers like you cannot ‘lawyer’ the system. In effect it is only a nicety that we do bother to warn people. The best general solution is not to do anything that would annoy a moderator – and arguing with one is the fastest known way to annoy them (and me). ]

      • PeteG 11.1.1
        16 March 2010 at 3:23 pm

        That sounds a bit Chauvelistic. And hardly conducive to winning back votes.

        It’s too uneven here, I won’t waste any more of my time.

        • IrishBill 11.1.1.1
          16 March 2010 at 4:34 pm

          It’s our time you’ve wasted. Your time is worthless. Like your comments. Don’t come back.

  12. randal 12
    16 March 2010 at 3:05 pm

    capcha: alternatively.
    indeed.
    The thing is the ‘press’ is getting away with bloody murder and no one will take a stand against them.
    they are mainly a bunch of illiterate wannabees looking for glory by exposing their betters.
    time to start calling them for what they are as well as what they say.

  13. Rory 13
    16 March 2010 at 3:16 pm

    The guy on the photo appears to be in the verge of crying. Did he actually end up doing it?

  14. tc 14
    16 March 2010 at 3:50 pm

    Look at it this way, when Labour were in power the msm had to actually write copy about issues, albeit not in any depth or intelligence, but actually put the grey matter to work and create content as the gov’t wasn’t feeding them an agenda.

    Now they have no thinking to do whatsoever by following the govt line, kiwiblog and all the other nat outlets so this is a perefct world for them as their bosses are happy, hardly any efforts required and there’s only that moral/ethical stuff to consider.

    To quote my icon when asked if he had any real evidence ” only hearsay and conjecture your honour….those are kinds of evidence..”

    • lukas 14.1
      16 March 2010 at 3:56 pm

      “Look at it this way, when Labour were in power the msm had to actually write copy about issues, albeit not in any depth or intelligence, but actually put the grey matter to work and create content as the gov’t wasn’t feeding them an agenda.”

      That is a joke right?

      The MSM as a rule loved Labour for its first 3-4 years! Was there any serious questioning around a certain police commissioner in the early weeks of the first term? Any serious questioning at all from the media in 1999-2003 other than the John Campbell interview (not sure when that was).

      “Now they have no thinking to do whatsoever by following the govt line, kiwiblog and all the other nat outlets so this is a perefct world for them as their bosses are happy, hardly any efforts required and there’s only that moral/ethical stuff to consider.”

      Even money that you are a member of one of those “John Key, stop your evil plans to start commercial whaling in NZ” facebook groups.

      • Pascal's bookie 14.1.1
        16 March 2010 at 4:20 pm

        That first year ‘winter of discontent’ you mean?

        Yeah, there were a few critical stories. Labour got pilloried by business groups for daring to keep their election promises. This was treated as a perfectly legitimate complaint.

    • bobo 14.2
      16 March 2010 at 4:05 pm

      tc, I don’t use the word “press diversion” very often, but this is the greatest press diversion in American history. Did I say American history replace that with New Zealand history … Scotch anyone?

  15. Di78 15
    16 March 2010 at 4:05 pm

    A woman on the same flight has confirmed Charles Chauvel’s version:

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/3457144/MP-complains-about-noisy-toddler :

    Pas­sen­ger on same flight #64 11:41 am Mar 16 2010
    I was on that same flight, and sit­ting in the aisle across from Charles and I actu­ally said to my hus­band that I wished the par­ents would tell their chil­dren to ‘shut up’. They were pretty loud.

  16. EbolaCola 16
    16 March 2010 at 4:08 pm

    ahahahahaha BOAG ahahahahahahahah

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10369999

    Captcha: BORROW

  17. tc 17
    16 March 2010 at 4:10 pm

    What’s facebook?

  18. tc 18
    16 March 2010 at 4:23 pm

    “Was there any serious questioning around a certain police commissioner in the early weeks of the first term?…” so what he’s a copper not a polly what’s that got to do with the gov’t ?

  20. Jum 20
    16 March 2010 at 5:25 pm

    I hope someone informed the TVNZ reporter below to try to be objective.
    shalleen.hern@tvnz.co.nz

    I read the posts – the blog proves everything I have always believed about Act and National – that they believe they are above all laws even those of good manners, and considering others besides themselves.

    The other interesting part was the link to the fairfacts media grunge site. There seems to be a pattern building of Lord Ashcroft’s dirty little paw at work and Fox and backers.

    Murdoch’s foray into propaganda, and he must have picked up some great ideas from being in China, taught anyone who read between the lines just how dangerous these propagandists are. Clint Heine, etc are just the beginning.

    This country is under threat, not just from this government but Key’s financial hub of powered money traders that need a safe house and unfortunately for us, they’ve picked naive lil’ ol’ New Zealand because their weasel holes are being filled in.

  21. David McLoughlin 21
    16 March 2010 at 5:46 pm

    It should be straightforward to expose the identity of the anonymous ACTivist who calls himself Boomtownprat.

    His wife is now being quoted by name on TVNZ and Newstalk ZB. I note he is too gutless to be identified himself.

    http://tvnz.co.nz/politics-news/mother-angry-after-mp-tells-kids-shut-up-3419026

    The mother of children on a plane asked by MP to shut up says the pre-schoolers were well-behaved and Charles Chauvel just is not used to kids.

    The mother of the children who were told to shut up by on a flight to Wellington by front bench Labour MP Charles Chauvel, says the politician was out of order.

    Stephanie Phillips, whose three pre-schoolers were on the Sunday night flight, says they were well behaved.

    “I thought MPs were supposed to be kissing babies not telling them to shut up. He’s just not used to being around kids and the noise kids can make.’

    Phillips says the MP told the children to shut up more than once, but Chauvel says he expressed that wish to his partner only once and believes it is a beat up.

    • jcuknz 21.1
      16 March 2010 at 9:12 pm

      She is an idiot .. doesn’t she know that children should be seen and not heard? Why didn’t the father help her control the children instead of sitting in the row behind.

  22. David McLoughlin 22
    16 March 2010 at 5:52 pm

    It should be straightforward to expose the identity of the anonymous ACTivist who calls himself Boomtownprat.

    His wife is now being quoted by name on TVNZ and Newstalk ZB. I note he is too gutless to be identified himself.

    http://tvnz.co.nz/politics-news/mother-angry-after-mp-tells-kids-shut-up-3419026

    The mother of children on a plane asked by MP to shut up says the pre-schoolers were well-behaved and Charles Chauvel just is not used to kids.

    The mother of the children who were told to shut up by on a flight to Wellington by front bench Labour MP Charles Chauvel, says the politician was out of order.

    Stephanie Phillips, whose three pre-schoolers were on the Sunday night flight, says they were well behaved.

    “I thought MPs were supposed to be kissing babies not telling them to shut up. He’s just not used to being around kids and the noise kids can make.’

    Phillips says the MP told the children to shut up more than once, but Chauvel says he expressed that wish to his partner only once and believes it is a beat up.

    • Tigger 22.1
      16 March 2010 at 6:52 pm

      So she wants us to believe that he told some well-behaved children to shut up? That makes less sense than ACT’s law and order policies.

      • Lew 22.1.1
        16 March 2010 at 7:15 pm

        The framing here isn’t “the kids were well-behaved and he’s unreasonable” (that point is disputed by others on the flight) so much as “he’s a poofter and doesn’t know/care about kids (and is therefore not fit to represent the good people of ÅŒhariu)”.

        L

  23. Jum 23
    16 March 2010 at 7:51 pm

    I missed the farce on Close Up. What happened? Was it objective?

  24. Jum 24
    16 March 2010 at 7:53 pm

    I missed the farce on Close Up. What happened? Was it objective?

  25. gobsmacked 25
    16 March 2010 at 8:02 pm

    sorry, wrong place

    • Lew 25.1
      16 March 2010 at 8:08 pm

      Edit: Hey, GS, no fair, you deleted your post. Anyway, this is a response to a remark like “journalists should just decide for themselves what to cover”.

      They are deciding for themselves. Given the time, money and effort limitations under which they operate, and with a knowledge of what the NZ newswatching public cares about.

      At first blush this appears to be a legitimate news story with substantial symbolic value: an MP challenging Mister Family Peter Dunne for his electorate seat apparently behaving in an anti-family way. Turns out it doesn’t stack up, but you don’t know that until after the work is already sunk, and by that time you have to produce something for your troubles.

      What I mean to say is that this is the system working as intended. Want to change the results, change the system. Want to change the system, change what the public wants from their news. It’s that simple. Which is to say: not simple at all. But much-needed.

      L

      • gobsmacked 25.1.1
        16 March 2010 at 8:24 pm

        Sorry, Lew, I edited because I was compaining about shit-stirring but maybe adding another stir myself. Thought better of it.

        I still think the journos should have made more effort to investigate the source of this “story”. I’ll leave it at that.

  26. Gooner 26
    16 March 2010 at 8:10 pm

    Well at least this right whinger is man enough to admit this “story” is a waste of words.

    Chauvel’s mistake was to mutter the comment when he obviously didn’t know the dad was in the row in front of him and could hear what he said. So what? Should we expect MPs to have manners in excess of ours as mere mortals? No. If he was pissed off then he was pissed off.

    Chauvel thought the kids were annoying so he said so in a private conversation to his travelling companion. If ACT supporters (and I’m one) get so upset about that then they need to seriously get over themselves. It’s irrelevant whether the kids were noisy or not because Chauvel’s belief is all that matters and he had the right to express his annoyance, as much as anyone does.

    Seriously, this is a non-event.

    Oops, I’ve just wasted 200 words explaining why. What a hypocrite I am.

  27. Bill 27
    16 March 2010 at 8:37 pm

    91 comments, 92 counting this one…so far.

    Why is it that when ‘The Standard’ gives coverage to these non-news worthy stories pointing out just ow un-newsworthy that they are, they tend to draw maximum comment?

    A pause for thought on the fucking irony?

    Cut off the gas chaps and chappesses!

    Cut. Off. The. Gas.

    Of the posts made today, was this really the main focus ‘you’ wished to obtain?

    • Roger 27.1
      16 March 2010 at 9:22 pm

      Sorry I added a post. I guess this has shown, as an experiment the effectiveness and motivation behind the msm policy of reporting rubbish at the expense of important and intelligent news.

      • Tigger 27.1.1
        16 March 2010 at 9:35 pm

        The issue of the post is the tabloidisation of the media, not some screaming child on a plane. Worth commenting on? Yes.

  28. Pascal's bookie 28
    16 March 2010 at 8:47 pm

    An interesting wrinkle in the thread at Clints place.

    Steve Taylor keeps popping up letting people know that various media outlets, (Close Up, Granny) are contacting him to get boomtownprat’s details.

    I’m assuming that this is the same Steve Taylor that was once a candidate for United Future, and later a Direct Democracy mayoral candidate in Auckland. If it is him, he is a well known loop, who spent quite a few years spamming ‘letters to the editors’ sections via Maxim’s tool, built for the purpose.

    I had no idea ACT was now slumming around with him, but it’s good to know.

    Funny the media go to him, no?

    Like I said, an interesting wrinkle. Why go to him? If they know enough to know that political operatives are the best place to find out boomies details, that should show up in the framing. Otherwise well, ‘carrying water’ is a phrase that comes to mind.

    Or maybe it’s a different Steve Taylor and there’s a perfectly natural reason for the media to go to him to find out who ‘prat is. My knowledge of that corner of the ‘sphere is pleasantly scarce.

  29. Rich 29
    16 March 2010 at 8:49 pm

    I was on a plane last week when that Paula Bennett picked up a screaming kid and slammed it’s head three times into the bulkhead.. The kid seemed ok, at least it had stopped twitching when the plane landed. When we got off, Paula’s minder gave everyone on the flight $100 hush money from a big bag of money she seemed to carry for the purpose.

    Do I get into the Dominion Post now?

    • Tigger 29.1
      16 March 2010 at 9:39 pm

      No. Come back when you see a left wing politician eating with their mouth open – that’s news!

  30. Clint Heine 30
    16 March 2010 at 10:49 pm

    Hello Standard. How kind of you to link to me yet again, not bad for an obsure NZ blog 🙂 I think you have linked to this obscure blog no less than 3 times in the last month or so. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind at all 🙂

    You’ll find it interesting to see that TV3 rang me while I was having my dinner. Since I am 13 hours behind, some journo was obviously very bored at an early hour. He was literally foaming at the mouth about “nailing Chauvel” and wanted me to hand over contact details and the real name of my co-blogger. Of course I would not do the latter.

    What does TV3 have against Charles? This journo was very excited about something.

    Worse still, was this the mother of all slow news days? I think so.

    [Clint, I wouldn’t be so smug. We already know who your mate boomtownprat is. In fact I’m looking at a photo of his smiling wee mug right now. We’re not going to publish his name, but you should probably let him know there’s a good chance the people who gave it to us will.]

    • lprent 30.1
      16 March 2010 at 11:20 pm

      Clint: It was definitely a slow day… However the drooling media don’t care about important issues, just gossip. It appears to have increased the stats today because the post we put up appears to be the top post for his week so far. It is a bit of a pain because I was fixing the new search (it was interfering with the authors posting images) after a major set of upgrades on the weekend.

      There are two links to your obscure blog today. I have no idea why this old 2007 post at your rathole was so interesting, but it was the 2nd biggest direct link out today.

      • Clint Heine 30.1.1
        16 March 2010 at 11:59 pm

        I think because you said it was not safe for work that people got all excited about it. I noticed that on my stats as well. You linked to my blog recently (twice) in regards to something about ACT and Aaron Bhatnager. The TV3 bloke was very excited…. I should have realised from that reaction alone that it was a slow day!

        Whoever replied to my post in bold… I am sure BTP is aware of who knows his identity. But easy on the hate man, lprent was far more civil than you.

    • Marty G 30.2
      17 March 2010 at 12:59 am

      “He was literally foaming at the mouth about “nailing Chauvel'”

      sounds like gower. that’s just his style to get you on side. Then you end up looking like a muppet as your mate’s wife did on tv3 tonight.

      • Marty G 30.2.1
        17 March 2010 at 1:05 am

        I see you’ve taken down your art work you coward. can’t hide your shame from the wayback machine or google cache though.

        • Clint Heine 30.2.1.1
          17 March 2010 at 1:48 am

          Marty, it wasn’t “Gower”. I didn’t see the TV3 bit but I see TVNZ had a good piece on it too.

          The artwork is easily found as the one linked at my site wasn’t one of my own, but taken from another site. I preferred to use the link to harrass people like you who flocked to see it. Thanks for proving me right.

          • Bright Red 30.2.1.1.1
            17 March 2010 at 11:53 am

            sounds like you’re a coward to me, Clint. If you’re going to be a pornographer, at least have the pride in yourself not to hide your work when it comes to wider attention.

    • SHG 30.3
      17 March 2010 at 10:57 am

      So who’s the prat who edited Clint’s post to add an anonymous comment?

  31. John 31
    16 March 2010 at 11:01 pm

    This article is correct on how mainstream media has degenerated to gutter tabloidism. But, it is incorrect to assert that the media has become anti-Labour or Left-smearing. One will find in the daily media that there are smears against both Left & Right political persuasions. In fact, if one goes back, one will find the smear attacks were predominantly against Right persuasions and only in more recent times have they become more evenly smeared.
    As for Boomtownprat’s (embellished) fable, I believe Chauvel’s version of events is far more accurate and this has nothing to do with him being Labour. I am a devout conservative. If one can’t keep their kids reasonably quiet on a short 1 hour flight, excluding take-off & landing, one needs to look at themselves as parents. When my kids were young we ensured we were well-prepared for the flight to ensure the kids were entertained and settled. Basic stuff….

    • Jum 31.1
      16 March 2010 at 11:21 pm

      John, maybe you didn’t spot the comment by Clint about the TV3 reporter wanting to ‘nail Chauvel’.

  32. Jim Nald 32
    16 March 2010 at 11:23 pm

    What to do after running from one mining sham to another SuperGold card shambles and all these on the eve of shameful major restructuring of the Ministry of Health?

    Whoop-de-doo! Generate distractions by chucking chickenshit at the media and see which ones come to feed to bump the shams, shambles and shame off the news.

    Yippee, it’s working!

  33. pollywog 33
    17 March 2010 at 8:57 am

    Damn!…I’m all outta popcorn.

    but anyway. I took my littlie on a plane once as a toddler and he was inconsolable. He wouldn’t play with the colouring book, listen while i read to him, go to sleep or anything, he just wanted to cry. I think it may have been ear trouble.

    Sure i felt embarrassed for the other passengers but telling him to shut up or suggesting i’m a shit parent that can’t control my kids is a bit off. Why didnt Chauvel just chill out, put on his headphones and suffer in silence for 40 minutes ?

    Is that really so hard for a politician to do ? Then again, if i’d heard him say anything about my kids i definitely would have said something back to him and not bitchmoaned about it after the fact.

    captcha :smile

    • Tigger 33.1
      17 March 2010 at 9:17 am

      But pollydog, by your own admission you should just stfu when something annoys you. So if I decide to complain about your Rosemary’s Baby-esque offspring you should just put on your headphones and suffer in silence… Or do your rules only apply to left wing politicians? What am I saying, of course they do.

      • pollywog 33.1.1
        17 March 2010 at 10:07 am

        au contraire Tugger, my fairy tale feline friend…

        if you complain about my kids, I’m going to speak on their behalf and tell you to STFU yourself and i couldn’t give toss who you think you are.

        as for the rest, i have no idea what you’re saying, of course they do what ?

  34. randal 34
    17 March 2010 at 11:12 am

    lprent…about time you dealt to that troll. he ia nasty piece of rubbish and has kissed too many loos.

  35. randal 35
    17 March 2010 at 11:14 am

    ah thank you for clearing the air and taking out that particular piece of trash.
    it was very bothersoneme and deliberate.

  36. gingercrush 36
    17 March 2010 at 11:19 am

    For all the pretensions that The Standard and its authors minds aren’t in the gutter. This is one very gut-filled thread.

    One has to laugh when the author of this post comes out with this tripe: “anonymous, politically-motivated smear from an ACT Party activist”. One only has to change that to “left-wing activist” and that describes most of the posts at The Standard.

    • Bright Red 36.1
      17 March 2010 at 11:48 am

      I want you to show that the majority of posts on this site are smears.

      take the 20 or whatever are on the front page and show which ones are smears.

      otherwise you’re just full of shit,

  37. the pinkpostman 37
    17 March 2010 at 3:58 pm

    My suspicious mind tells me that the Nats dirty tricks brigade ,via Crosby -Textor is behind this story.The same type of sleaze that they used for the Helen Clark speed fiasco . Now why select Chauvel ? No doubt they think he is a danger to them. Now the other interesting point is how many of the people who are against Charles Chauvel voted to be able to bash their kids . ? Because they are the same type of parents , let their kids run wild but give them a good bash now and again.

  38. DeepRed 38
    17 March 2010 at 4:39 pm

    Politics aside, the whole affair does illustrate the fact that Prolefeed is a growth industry – keeping the populace distracted from the facts.

  39. billy 39
    18 March 2010 at 2:49 pm

    grow up Lynn, you flew off the handle and can’t let it go.

    Chauvel got to learn about why there is an old homily about pollie and kissing babies didn’t he. Always kiss the babies Charlie.

    • lprent 39.1
      18 March 2010 at 3:16 pm

      I have no idea what in the hell you’re talking about in this comment. But going over the top is one of my specialities. In fact it is a job requirement for BOFHs.

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    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters and Bob Henson Those who’ve trawled social media during heat waves have likely encountered a tidbit frequently used to brush aside human-caused climate change: Many U.S. states and cities had their single hottest temperature on record during the 1930s, setting incredible heat marks ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • Throwback Thursday – Thinking about Expressways

    Some of the recent announcements from the government have reminded us of posts we’ve written in the past. Here’s one from early 2020. There were plenty of reactions to the government’s infrastructure announcement a few weeks ago which saw them fund a bunch of big roading projects. One of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Thursday, July 25 are:News: Why Electric Kiwi is closing to new customers - and why it matters RNZ’s Susan EdmundsScoop: Government drops ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • The Possum: Demon or Friend?

    Hi,I felt a small wet tongue snaking through one of the holes in my Crocs. It explored my big toe, darting down one side, then the other. “He’s looking for some toe cheese,” said the woman next to me, words that still haunt me to this day.Growing up in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • Not a story

    Yesterday I happily quoted the Prime Minister without fact-checking him and sure enough, it turns out his numbers were all to hell. It’s not four kg of Royal Commission report, it’s fourteen.My friend and one-time colleague-in-comms Hazel Phillips gently alerted me to my error almost as soon as I’d hit ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Thursday, July 25, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day were:The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry published its final report yesterday.PM Christopher Luxon and The Minister responsible for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • A tougher line on “proactive release”?

    The Official Information Act has always been a battle between requesters seeking information, and governments seeking to control it. Information is power, so Ministers and government agencies want to manage what is released and when, for their own convenience, and legality and democracy be damned. Their most recent tactic for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • 'Let's build a motorway costing $100 million per km, before emissions costs'

    TL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:Transport and Energy Minister Simeon Brown is accelerating plans to spend at least $10 billion through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to extend State Highway One as a four-lane ‘Expressway’ from Warkworth to Whangarei ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Lester's Prescription – Positive Bleeding.

    I live my life (woo-ooh-ooh)With no control in my destinyYea-yeah, yea-yeah (woo-ooh-ooh)I can bleed when I want to bleedSo come on, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)You can bleed when you want to bleedYea-yeah, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)Everybody bleed when they want to bleedCome on and bleedGovernments face tough challenges. Selling unpopular decisions to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Casey Costello gaslights Labour in the House

    Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone icon on the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Why is the Texas grid in such bad shape?

    This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Headline from 2021 The Texas grid, run by ERCOT, has had a rough few years. In 2021, winter storm Uri blacked out much of the state for several days. About a week ago, Hurricane Beryl knocked out ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on a textbook case of spending waste by the Luxon government

    Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • LXR Takaanini

    As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    3 days ago
  • Four kilograms of pain

    Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Luxon gets caught out

    NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • A worrying sign

    Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Are we fine with 47.9% home-ownership by 2048?

    Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloitte report for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Let's Win This

    You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Waimahara: The Singing Spirit of Water

    There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    4 days ago
  • A major milestone: Global climate pollution may have just peaked

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’s Oliver LewisScoop: Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announced the Board of Te Whatu Ora- Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • HealthNZ and Luxon at cross purposes over budget blowout

    Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2500-3000 more healthcare staff expected to be fired, as Shane Reti blames Labour for a budget defic...

    Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • Might Kamala Harris be about to get a 'stardust' moment like Jacinda Ardern?

    As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    5 days ago
  • Solutions Interview: Steven Hail on MMT & ecological economics

    TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
    The KakaBy Steven Hail
    5 days ago
  • Reported back

    The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Vandrad the Viking, Christopher Coombes, and Literary Archaeology

    Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On The Biden Withdrawal

    History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    5 days ago
  • Joe Biden's withdrawal puts the spotlight back on Kamala and the USA's complicated relatio...

    This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Why we have to challenge our national fiscal assumptions

    A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Existential Crisis and Damaged Brains

    What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • A speed limit is not a target, and yet…

    This is a guest post from longtime supporter Mr Plod, whose previous contributions include a proposal that Hamilton become New Zealand’s capital city, and that we should switch which side of the road we drive on. A recent Newsroom article, “Back to school for the Govt’s new speed limit policy“, ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #29

    A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago
  • I'd like to share what I did this weekend

    This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • For the children – Why mere sentiment can be a misleading force in our lives, and lead to unex...

    National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Order image, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A friend in uncertain times

    Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • The Chaotic World of Male Diet Influencers

    Hi,We’ll get to the horrific world of male diet influencers (AKA Beefy Boys) shortly, but first you will be glad to know that since I sent out the Webworm explaining why the assassination attempt on Donald Trump was not a false flag operation, I’ve heard from a load of people ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • It's Starting To Look A Lot Like… Y2K

    Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 20

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Pharmac Director, Climate Change Commissioner, Health NZ Directors – The latest to quit this m...

    Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Flooding Housing Policy

    The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • A Voyage Among the Vandals: Accepted (Again!)

    As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā's Chorus for Friday, July 19

    An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-July-2024

    Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: A market-led plan for failure

    TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Tobacco First

    Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Trump’s Adopted Son.

    Waiting In The Wings: For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSA announced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • Joint statement from the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago
  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

    Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

    New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts.  “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

    An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Funding confirmed for regions affected by North Island Weather Events

    The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

    Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.   “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Strengthening partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto

    He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Transport Minister thanks outgoing CAA Chair

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Test for Customary Marine Title being restored

    The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says.  “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Opposition united in bad faith over ECE sector review

    Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet.  “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Kiwis having their say on first regulatory review

    After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks.  “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government upgrading Lower North Island commuter rail

    The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government moves to ensure flood protection for Wairoa

    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM speech to Parliament – Royal Commission of Inquiry’s Report into Abuse in Care

    Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.  At the heart of this report are the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges torture at Lake Alice

    For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges courageous abuse survivors

    The Government has acknowledged the nearly 2,400 courageous survivors who shared their experiences during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care. The final report from the largest and most complex public inquiry ever held in New Zealand, the Royal Commission Inquiry “Whanaketia – through ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Half a million people use tax calculator

    With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Paid Parental Leave improvements pass first reading

    Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says a bill that has passed its first reading will improve parental leave settings and give non-biological parents more flexibility as primary carer for their child. The Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill (No3), passed its first reading this morning. “It includes a change ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Rebuilding the economy through better regulation

    Two Bills designed to improve regulation and make it easier to do business have passed their first reading in Parliament, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill and Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Bill make key changes to legislation administered by the Ministry ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • ‘Open banking’ and ‘open electricity’ on the way

    New legislation paves the way for greater competition in sectors such as banking and electricity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Competitive markets boost productivity, create employment opportunities and lift living standards. To support competition, we need good quality regulation but, unfortunately, a recent OECD report ranked New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Charity lotteries to be permitted to operate online

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries for charitable purposes, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, and local hospices, will soon be allowed to operate online permanently. “Under current laws, these fundraising lotteries are only allowed to operate online until October 2024, after which ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
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  • Accelerating Northland Expressway

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