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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  • How to Take a Screenshot on an Asus Laptop A Comprehensive Guide with Detailed Instructions and Illu...
    In today’s digital world, screenshots have become an indispensable tool for communication and documentation. Whether you need to capture an important email, preserve a website page, or share an error message, screenshots allow you to quickly and easily preserve digital information. If you’re an Asus laptop user, there are several ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    9 hours ago

  • How to Factory Reset Gateway Laptop A Comprehensive Guide
    A factory reset restores your Gateway laptop to its original factory settings, erasing all data, apps, and personalizations. This can be necessary to resolve software issues, remove viruses, or prepare your laptop for sale or transfer. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to factory reset your Gateway laptop: Method 1: ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    9 hours ago

  • The Folly Of Impermanence.
    “You talking about me?”  The neoliberal denigration of the past was nowhere more unrelenting than in its depiction of the public service. The Post Office and the Railways were held up as being both irremediably inefficient and scandalously over-manned. Playwright Roger Hall’s “Glide Time” caricatures were presented as accurate depictions of ...
    Bowalley Road
    12 hours ago

  • A crisis of ambition
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    12 hours ago

  • Have 308 people in the Education Ministry’s Curriculum Development Team spent over $100m on a 60-p...
    Rob MacCulloch writes – In 2022, the Curriculum Centre at the Ministry of Education employed 308 staff, according to an Official Information Request. Earlier this week it was announced 202 of those staff were being cut. When you look up “The New Zealand Curriculum” on the Ministry of ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    12 hours ago

  • 'This bill is dangerous for the environment and our democracy'
    Chris Bishop’s bill has stirred up a hornets nest of opposition. Photo: Lynn Grieveson for The KākāTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate from the last day included:A crescendo of opposition to the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill is ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    13 hours ago

  • The Bank of our Tamariki and Mokopuna.
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    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    14 hours ago

  • The worth of it all
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.State of humanity, 20242024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?Full story Share ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    17 hours ago

  • What is the Hardest Sport in the World?
    Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    20 hours ago

  • What is the Most Expensive Sport?
    The allure of sport transcends age, culture, and geographical boundaries. It captivates hearts, ignites passions, and provides unparalleled entertainment. Behind the spectacle, however, lies a fascinating world of financial investment and expenditure. Among the vast array of competitive pursuits, one question looms large: which sport carries the hefty title of ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    20 hours ago

  • Pickleball On the Cusp of Olympic Glory
    Introduction Pickleball, a rapidly growing paddle sport, has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions around the world. Its blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis elements has made it a favorite among players of all ages and skill levels. As the sport’s popularity continues to surge, the question on ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    20 hours ago

  • The Origin and Evolution of Soccer Unveiling the Genius Behind the World’s Most Popular Sport
    Abstract: Soccer, the global phenomenon captivating millions worldwide, has a rich history that spans centuries. Its origins trace back to ancient civilizations, but the modern version we know and love emerged through a complex interplay of cultural influences and innovations. This article delves into the fascinating journey of soccer’s evolution, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    20 hours ago

  • How Much to Tint Car Windows A Comprehensive Guide
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    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    20 hours ago

  • Why Does My Car Smell Like Gas? A Comprehensive Guide to Diagnosing and Fixing the Issue
    The pungent smell of gasoline in your car can be an alarming and potentially dangerous problem. Not only is the odor unpleasant, but it can also indicate a serious issue with your vehicle’s fuel system. In this article, we will explore the various reasons why your car may smell like ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    20 hours ago

  • How to Remove Tree Sap from Car A Comprehensive Guide
    Tree sap can be a sticky, unsightly mess on your car’s exterior. It can be difficult to remove, but with the right techniques and products, you can restore your car to its former glory. Understanding Tree Sap Tree sap is a thick, viscous liquid produced by trees to seal wounds ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    20 hours ago

  • How Much Paint Do You Need to Paint a Car?
    The amount of paint needed to paint a car depends on a number of factors, including the size of the car, the number of coats you plan to apply, and the type of paint you are using. In general, you will need between 1 and 2 gallons of paint for ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    20 hours ago

  • Can You Jump a Car in the Rain? Safety Precautions and Essential Steps
    Jump-starting a car is a common task that can be performed even in adverse weather conditions like rain. However, safety precautions and proper techniques are crucial to avoid potential hazards. This comprehensive guide will provide detailed instructions on how to safely jump a car in the rain, ensuring both your ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    20 hours ago

  • Can taxpayers be confident PIJF cash was spent wisely?
    Graham Adams writes about the $55m media fund — When Patrick Gower was asked by Mike Hosking last week what he would say to the many Newstalk ZB callers who allege the Labour government bribed media with $55 million of taxpayers’ money via the Public Interest Journalism Fund — and ...
    Point of OrderBy gadams1000
    1 day ago

  • EGU2024 – An intense week of joining sessions virtually
    Note: this blog post has been put together over the course of the week I followed the happenings at the conference virtually. Should recordings of the Great Debates and possibly Union Symposia mentioned below, be released sometime after the conference ends, I'll include links to the ones I participated in. ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 day ago

  • Submission on “Fast Track Approvals Bill”
    The following was my submission made on the “Fast Track Approvals Bill”. This potential law will give three Ministers unchecked powers, un-paralled since the days of Robert Muldoon’s “Think Big” projects.The submission is written a bit tongue-in-cheek. But it’s irreverent because the FTAB is in itself not worthy of respect. ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    1 day ago

  • The Case for a Universal Family Benefit
    One Could Reduce Child Poverty At No Fiscal CostFollowing the Richardson/Shipley 1990 ‘redesign of the welfare state’ – which eliminated the universal Family Benefit and doubled the rate of child poverty – various income supplements for families have been added, the best known being ‘Working for Families’, introduced in 2005. ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 day ago

  • A who’s who of New Zealand’s dodgiest companies
    Submissions on National's corrupt Muldoonist fast-track law are due today (have you submitted?), and just hours before they close, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop has been forced to release the list of companies he invited to apply. I've spent the last hour going through it in an epic thread of bleats, ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago

  • On Lee’s watch, Economic Development seems to be stuck on scoring points from promoting sporting e...
    Buzz from the Beehive A few days ago, Point of Order suggested the media must be musing “on why Melissa is mute”. Our article reported that people working in the beleaguered media industry have cause to yearn for a minister as busy as Melissa Lee’s ministerial colleagues and we drew ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago

  • New Zealand has never been closed for business
    1. What was The Curse of Jim Bolger?a. Winston Peters b. Soon after shaking his hand, world leaders would mysteriously lose office or shuffle off this mortal coilc. Could never shake off the Mother of All Budgetsd. Dandruff2. True or false? The Chairman of a Kiwi export business has asked the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago

  • Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
    Jack Vowles writes – New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Melissa Lee and the media: ending the quest
    Chris Trotter writes –  MELISSA LEE should be deprived of her ministerial warrant. Her handling – or non-handling – of the crisis engulfing the New Zealand news media has been woeful. The fate of New Zealand’s two linear television networks, a question which the Minister of Broadcasting, Communications ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • The Hoon around the week to April 19
    TL;DR: The podcast above features co-hosts and , along with regular guests Robert Patman on Gaza and AUKUS II, and on climate change.The six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • The ‘Humpty Dumpty’ end result of dismantling our environmental protections
    Policymakers rarely wish to make plain or visible their desire to dismantle environmental policy, least of all to the young. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Nicola's Salad Days.
    I like to keep an eye on what’s happening in places like the UK, the US, and over the ditch with our good mates the Aussies. Let’s call them AUKUS, for want of a better collective term. More on that in a bit.It used to be, not long ago, that ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago

  • Study sees climate change baking in 19% lower global income by 2050
    TL;DR: The global economy will be one fifth smaller than it would have otherwise been in 2050 as a result of climate damage, according to a new study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and published in the journal Nature. (See more detail and analysis below, and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Weekly Roundup 19-April-2024
    It’s Friday again. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week on Greater Auckland On Tuesday Matt covered at the government looking into a long tunnel for Wellington. On Wednesday we ran a post from Oscar Simms on some lessons from Texas. AT’s ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    2 days ago

  • Jack Vowles: Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
    New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’.  The data is from February this ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    2 days ago

  • Clearing up confusion (or trying to)
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters is understood to be planning a major speech within the next fortnight to clear up the confusion over whether or not New Zealand might join the AUKUS submarine project. So far, there have been conflicting signals from the Government. RNZ reported the Prime Minister yesterday in ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago

  • How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log iPhone Without Computer
    How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log on iPhone Without a Computer: A Step–by–Step Guide Losing your iPhone call history can be frustrating, especially when you need to find a specific number or recall an important conversation. But before you panic, know that there are ways to retrieve deleted call logs on your iPhone, even without a computer. This guide will explore various methods, ranging from simple checks to utilizing iCloud backups and third–party applications. So, let‘s dive in and recover those lost calls! 1. Check Recently Deleted Folder: Apple understands that accidental deletions happen. That‘s why they introduced the “Recently Deleted“ folder for various apps, including the Phone app. This folder acts as a safety net, storing deleted call logs for up to 30 days before permanently erasing them. Here‘s how to check it: Open the Phone app on your iPhone. Tap on the “Recents“ tab at the bottom. Scroll to the top and tap on “Edit“. Select “Show Recently Deleted“. Browse the list to find the call logs you want to recover. Tap on the desired call log and choose “Recover“ to restore it to your call history. 2. Restore from iCloud Backup: If you regularly back up your iPhone to iCloud, you might be able to retrieve your deleted call log from a previous backup. However, keep in mind that this process will restore your entire phone to the state it was in at the time of the backup, potentially erasing any data added since then. Here‘s how to restore from an iCloud backup: Go to Settings > General > Reset. Choose “Erase All Content and Settings“. Follow the on–screen instructions. Your iPhone will restart and show the initial setup screen. Choose “Restore from iCloud Backup“ during the setup process. Select the relevant backup that contains your deleted call log. Wait for the restoration process to complete. 3. Explore Third–Party Apps (with Caution): ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • How to Factory Reset iPhone without Computer: A Comprehensive Guide to Restoring your Device
    Life throws curveballs, and sometimes, those curveballs necessitate wiping your iPhone clean and starting anew. Whether you’re facing persistent software glitches, preparing to sell your device, or simply wanting a fresh start, knowing how to factory reset iPhone without a computer is a valuable skill. While using a computer with ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • How to Call Someone on a Computer: A Guide to Voice and Video Communication in the Digital Age
    Gone are the days when communication was limited to landline phones and physical proximity. Today, computers have become powerful tools for connecting with people across the globe through voice and video calls. But with a plethora of applications and methods available, how to call someone on a computer might seem ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #16 2024
    Open access notables Glacial isostatic adjustment reduces past and future Arctic subsea permafrost, Creel et al., Nature Communications: Sea-level rise submerges terrestrial permafrost in the Arctic, turning it into subsea permafrost. Subsea permafrost underlies ~ 1.8 million km2 of Arctic continental shelf, with thicknesses in places exceeding 700 m. Sea-level variations over glacial-interglacial cycles control ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • Where on a Computer is the Operating System Generally Stored? Delving into the Digital Home of your ...
    The operating system (OS) is the heart and soul of a computer, orchestrating every action and interaction between hardware and software. But have you ever wondered where on a computer is the operating system generally stored? The answer lies in the intricate dance between hardware and software components, particularly within ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • How Many Watts Does a Laptop Use? Understanding Power Consumption and Efficiency
    Laptops have become essential tools for work, entertainment, and communication, offering portability and functionality. However, with rising energy costs and growing environmental concerns, understanding a laptop’s power consumption is more important than ever. So, how many watts does a laptop use? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t straightforward. It depends on several ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • How to Screen Record on a Dell Laptop A Guide to Capturing Your Screen with Ease
    Screen recording has become an essential tool for various purposes, such as creating tutorials, capturing gameplay footage, recording online meetings, or sharing information with others. Fortunately, Dell laptops offer several built-in and external options for screen recording, catering to different needs and preferences. This guide will explore various methods on ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • How Much Does it Cost to Fix a Laptop Screen? Navigating Repair Options and Costs
    A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • How Long Do Gaming Laptops Last? Demystifying Lifespan and Maximizing Longevity
    Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Climate Change: Turning the tide
    The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago

  • How to Unlock Your Computer A Comprehensive Guide to Regaining Access
    Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Faxing from Your Computer A Modern Guide to Sending Documents Digitally
    While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Protecting Your Home Computer A Guide to Cyber Awareness
    In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Server-Based Computing Powering the Modern Digital Landscape
    In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Vroom vroom go the big red trucks
    The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

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

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

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

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

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

  • PM’s South East Asia mission does the business
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    16 hours ago

  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • New Zealand condemns Iranian strikes
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel.    “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says.    "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
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    6 days ago

  • Huge interest in Government’s infrastructure plans
    Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Health Minister thanks outgoing Health New Zealand Chair
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board.   “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti.  “I have asked her to ...
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    1 week ago

  • Roads of National Significance planning underway
    The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...
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    1 week ago

  • Navigating an unstable global environment
    New Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.   “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States.    “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • NZ welcomes Australian Governor-General
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...
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    1 week ago

  • Pseudoephedrine back on shelves for Winter
    Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...
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    1 week ago

  • NZ and the US: an ever closer partnership
    New Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Joint US and NZ declaration
    April 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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