On the credit card play

Written By: - Date published: 1:44 pm, June 10th, 2010 - 134 comments
Categories: Media - Tags:

I wasn’t going to comment on the credit card witchhunt as I think it’s prurient. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all in favour of transparency and frugality but I really don’t need to know that Shane Jones might have rented a porno or that Carter charged a bottle of wine for this or that. After all I didn’t think it was a big deal when Heatley did it either and I’ve been around long enough to see much bigger rorts both in politics and the private sector.

That said there are a few points I think need to be made:

  • Where was the rolling frontpage stuff story when National Ministers spending was released? Because, right now Hartvelt and Watkins look like they’re doing the Nats work for them.
  • Why have no spending records from the last National government been released? After all there are still quite a few ministers from that government back in cabinet. Such as Nick smith, Bill English, Tony Ryall, Maurice Williamson and David Carter.
  • Why has nobody from the Nats made any comment? Not even Farrar? Actually, I’ll tell you why. It’s because they know they need to stay away and let the journos do this or they’ll start to look like they’re muck-racking and then this kind of thing backfires (Labour could learn a lesson from this).
  • Tim Groser seems to have spent a lot on booze but it also looks like he’s up as the scapegoat to provide a perception of balance. I actually feel sorry for him especially after the trade-trip fiasco. It’s starting to look like the Nats see him as expendable.
  • Have the Nats done this while Phil Goff and his advisors are in China on purpose

And one last thing. Why has Annette King not fronted to the media, made a mea culpa, welcomed the new transparency and asked if the records for the last National government will be released? Has she gone to ground?

Update: Missed King on Nine to Noon. My mistake.

134 comments on “On the credit card play ”

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  1. Pat 1
    10 June 2010 at 1:49 pm

    Annette King was on RNZ this morning (after 9am). Quite a long interview.

    Apology accepted.

  2. mickysavage 2
    10 June 2010 at 1:51 pm

    Why has Annette King not fronted to the media, made a mea culpa, welcomed the new transparency and asked if the records for the last National government will be released? Has she gone to ground?

    She fronted this on 9 to noon and did the mea culpa thing.

    This will obviously have everyone salivating. It is interesting at the number of comments that different topics attract.

    Right now (1:49 pm) we have

    – Destruction of the welfare state – 54 comments
    – Unwinding of the Maori Party coalition and the FSA deal – 28 comments
    – A discussion on Horomia’s eating habits and Groser’s drinking habits using Ministerial cards – 142 comments.

    What gives?

    • big bruv 2.1
      10 June 2010 at 2:09 pm

      Having trouble dealing with the heat Micky?

      • mickysavage 2.1.1
        10 June 2010 at 2:14 pm

        I am not sure that either party comes out of it well.

        Jones has obviously been stupid.

        Carter has justifications for most of it.

        Groser on the face of it appears to have a fondness for alcohol.

        The state has spent $50k collating information which may result in no repayment.

        My point was that I am actually not so interested in this as an issue, but the destruction of the Welfare system is something to really get upset about.

        • big bruv 2.1.1.1
          10 June 2010 at 2:22 pm

          I am interested in this as an issue, such blatant abuse of tax payer funds cannot go unpunished, I do not care who it is or what party they belong to.

          And please Micky, you do your argument no good at all calling it the ‘destruction of the welfare state’.
          Nobody is calling for that (which is a pity) what they want is for it to be tightened up, they want a stop to the intergenerational bludgeing that was encouraged under Labour, they want an end to the child farming practises of so many of the slappers on the DPB, they also want an end to middle class welfare that is the WFF bribe.

          • Sam 2.1.1.1.1
            10 June 2010 at 3:08 pm

            “they want an end to the child farming practises of so many of the slappers on the DPB”

            You self-righteous, sanctimonious fuck stain.

            I’m sure any mother, or father for that matter, on the DPB would gladly trade places with you for a week, then you can come back and be all high and mighty labelling those less fortunate than you ‘slappers’.

            People like you make me fucking ashamed to be a New Zealander. You make me sick you fucking piece of shit. Get the fuck off the internet and go jump off a cliff we’d all be better for it, especially you.

            • Andrew 2.1.1.1.1.1
              10 June 2010 at 3:19 pm

              crikey!

            • big bruv 2.1.1.1.1.2
              10 June 2010 at 3:44 pm

              Genuine mothers and fathers have nothing to worry about.

              However, I suspect from your reaction that I have hit a raw nerve, are you scared that you might be forced back into work or have your benefit slashed?

              BTW..I love the personal abuse, I often wish I could respond in kind but there are two sets of rules here, one for sub human labour supporters like yourself and one for hard working blokes like me.

              • Ari …
                10 June 2010 at 3:50 pm

                So people who need benefits no longer count as mothers or fathers?

                Grow up.

                • QoT …
                  10 June 2010 at 7:21 pm

                  Nah, Ari, they just cease to exist as True Parental Figures and become mere automata of the Bludger hivemind – much like the Borg, only totally uncool. Still fictitious though.

              • Kevin Welsh …
                10 June 2010 at 4:57 pm

                “Genuine mothers and fathers” eh Big Bruv?

                And WHO has the awesomest job to make that decision? You or someother RWNJ who thinks the rules only apply to poor people?

                Fuck, I hope not.

              • McFlock …
                10 June 2010 at 8:59 pm

                bb,

                While you might be stimulated by personal abuse from folk who know nothing about you except the perverse little fantasies nestling in the depths of your tortured soul, I just pity you and your ilk.

              • Sam …
                10 June 2010 at 11:36 pm

                I’d put money on me pulling longer and harder weeks, week after week than you have ever done in your life.

    • comedy 2.2
      10 June 2010 at 2:10 pm

      Hmmm have you forgotten the circle jerking that took place here

      http://www.thestandard.org.nz/heatley-story-full-of-holes/#comment-194842

      and here

      http://www.thestandard.org.nz/heatley-to-go/#comment-194510

      and here

      http://www.thestandard.org.nz/high-ministerial-standards/#comment-195614

      People have a fascination for this drivel, just look at the sales of the NZ womens weekly etc- and the blogs are complicit in driving the partisan bullshit that ignores one lot while vilifying the other – politicians have played fast and loose with our money as long as there have been politicians.

  3. TightyRighty 3
    10 June 2010 at 2:01 pm

    I see at least one journo has done some good homework, qouting a ministerial services manager saying that personal expenditure is not to be made on crown credit cards, regardless on whether or not it’s paid back. resignations all round please, mainly from the red team, but the blue team needs to put a few in the bin too.

  4. big bruv 4
    10 June 2010 at 2:08 pm

    Once again Irish suggests that Ministerial abuse of a credit card is perfectly acceptable if it is a Labour minister but totally unacceptable if the Nat’s do it.

    Typical left wing hypocrisy.

    How about we sack the lot of them, Labour, National, Act, Greens and anybody else who thinks it is perfectly acceptable to abuse the trust we are forced to place in them.

    Any previous ministers or MP’s (or PM’s for that matter) who is guilty of the same abuse should have all her/his perks and pensions revoked.

    • Bright Red 4.1
      10 June 2010 at 2:13 pm

      Big Bruv. I think you’re reading a different post from the rest of us. Where did Irish say that it’s Ok for labour to do it but not National?

      • Green Tea 4.1.1
        10 June 2010 at 2:21 pm

        If you read between the lines, it’s there.

        • Ari 4.1.1.1
          10 June 2010 at 3:51 pm

          Actually, the post more reads like “it’s not okay for National to do it either, and we need the information that tells us what they did.” I’m not sure how that could be construed as excusing anything.

  5. bobo 5
    10 June 2010 at 2:09 pm

    Is all looking very one sided coverage today in media against Labour which is no surprise, huge headline Minister of pornography “I’m a red blooded male!” If anything I guess this will speed up a few retirements from both parties at the next election which is a good thing.

    • Brett 5.1
      10 June 2010 at 2:12 pm

      Yeah that’s a ripper of a headline.
      Can’t help but laugh at that one.

    • SHG 5.2
      10 June 2010 at 2:29 pm

      Well, that’s Jones’s career over. There’s no way he’ll be forgiven for making an admission like that.

      Admitting to being a red-blooded male, I mean. The Rainbow Labour Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Fa’afine mujahadeen will never tolerate it.

      • Ari 5.2.1
        10 June 2010 at 3:53 pm

        Yes, because the LGBTQI crowd is so powerful it has developed into a secret left-wing conspiracy. All that whining about marginalisation and even the most effective advocates not always “getting it” is just a cover. Oh, and we’re only pretending to be LGBTQI because of all the nifty social benefits it brings. Which have yet to be explained.

        *bangs head on desk*

        • QoT 5.2.1.1
          10 June 2010 at 7:27 pm

          Well obviously, Ari, you get fashion, humorously-named cocktails, and, um, secret volcano lairs?

    • Indiana 5.3
      10 June 2010 at 2:54 pm

      Is Shane Jones the only red blododed male in Labour?

  6. Green Tea 6
    10 June 2010 at 2:20 pm

    Nice smokescreen but this isn’t about the media unfairly picking on Labour.

    This issue is about MPs and the culture of entitlement that exists within the Beehive. It exposes the vast gulf between MPs and the rest of us who they claim to represent.

  7. bobo 7
    10 June 2010 at 2:20 pm

    yep cant help but laugh at the headline, I guess Shane Jones who has always thought highly of himself is gonna wear that tag for mighty long time, all self induced but the media will latch onto the more embarrassing items over the more expensive..

  8. Graeme Edgeler 8
    10 June 2010 at 2:25 pm

    Where was the rolling frontpage stuff story when National Ministers spending was released? Because, right now Hartvelt and Watkins look like they’re doing the Nats work for them.

    There wasn’t a rolling front page because information was released orderly (every three months or something like that). Simply, there weren’t 7000 documents to go through.

    Had the Labour Government fronted with more fulsome OIA responses at the time, you wouldn’t have had it all released in one fell swoop.

  9. gingercrush 9
    10 June 2010 at 2:27 pm

    Its all so disappointing to be perfectly honest. Too few scandals. Labour should be ashamed of themselves for being so boring. Except for Shane Jones and the porn movie. Ejaculating in hotels all over the world.

    Oh and mickey savage lets be honest. You’re not interested because except for Groser it involves Labour MPs.You’d be the first one in the circle jerk jacking off if it involved National MPs.

    • bobo 9.1
      10 June 2010 at 2:33 pm

      that’s a better headline 🙂 “Shane Jones caught Ejaculating in hotels all over the world”

    • mickysavage 9.2
      10 June 2010 at 2:50 pm

      Umm let’s see

      $5k (subsequently repaid) misspent by Jones
      $150 odd on alcohol by Groser

      Destruction of night classes, savage cuts to pre schools, Health, Housing Corp, failure to do anything to make superannuation sustainable …

      Priceless!

      • TightyRighty 9.2.1
        10 June 2010 at 3:01 pm

        not being able accept that they all spend outside the rules, despite it being made explicitly clear to them that, even if they payed it back, it was unacceptable. “predictable” to quote the judges of the air nz bloggers award.

        • Bright Red 9.2.1.1
          10 June 2010 at 4:56 pm

          You’re predictable tighty and there’s nothing wrong with that in itself. What you predictably say is wrong, being consistent is not.

          I don’t see the problem with people have consistent views.

          And both posts on this topic today and the one from last week say that this spending is outside the rules and not OK.

          • TightyRighty 9.2.1.1.1
            10 June 2010 at 5:09 pm

            I was talking to mickey dumbshit.

            you accusing me of being wrong is like accusing someone else of eating the last plate of wontons when parekura is at the table. nom nom nom

  10. gobsmacked 10
    10 June 2010 at 2:37 pm

    Shane Jones has been a useful idiot.

    The story now is”porn”. Nothing beats that for a headline.

    All Goff has to do now is give Jones the “bollocking” he deserves, preferably without the mealy-mouthed “we all make mistakes” language that undermines the message.

    If National want to run with this, they have the bigger problem. Nobody knows or cares that Shane Jones is the opposition spokesman on … whatever it is. He can be demoted without fuss.

    The Trade Minister or Foreign Minister is a much bigger deal. I personally don’t think they should resign for this, and I’m sure Key doesn’t. But if he starts playing holier-than-thou, the media will be firing some pretty obvious questions back.

    • SHG 10.1
      10 June 2010 at 2:54 pm

      Anything that removes a potential challenger and retains Goff as Labour leader is a win for National.

  11. Brett Dale 11
    10 June 2010 at 2:40 pm

    A witch hunt????

    Open the other eye, Irish.

  12. Sanctuary 12
    10 June 2010 at 3:07 pm

    So what is the total cost of all this inappropriate spending? $10,000? Less than that?

    How much did it cost for the information to be collated and given to our lazy and salacious media? $50,000 to $70,000 isn’t it?

    So we just spent $40-60,000 more of taxpayers money than we saved, and all so the media can jerk off.

    Shane Jones looks like a bargain in comparison.

    • Mark M 12.1
      10 June 2010 at 4:18 pm

      the public servants who did the collating of the documents were getting paid any way.
      It hasnt cost any extra.
      The only thing changing is the expense code

      • Lanthanide 12.1.1
        10 June 2010 at 4:37 pm

        And the opportunity cost of them not doing other work. Duh.

        • Mark M 12.1.1.1
          10 June 2010 at 4:43 pm

          didnt realise they were actually running a business , in which case the opportunity cost could be a factor.
          But they arent running a business and therefore your Homer Simpson comment is a bit dim

          • Bright Red 12.1.1.1.1
            10 June 2010 at 4:58 pm

            No Mark. Do you think these staff woud have just been twiddling their thumbs for 3 months otherwise?

            Of course not.

            Other work didn’t get done because of this. that’s opportunity cost

            • spot 12.1.1.1.1.1
              10 June 2010 at 7:18 pm

              True, they could have spent the time answering equally trivial WPQs…..

          • felix 12.1.1.1.2
            10 June 2010 at 5:10 pm

            Mark you retard if they weren’t doing this they could be doing something else.

            By your reasoning public servants don’t cost us anything at all.

    • Bright Red 12.2
      10 June 2010 at 4:59 pm

      Don’t forget, Sanctuary, that Jones had already repaid the money years ago.

  13. Craig Glen Eden 13
    10 June 2010 at 3:15 pm

    What a joke this is this, just goes to show how desperate National are. This is all they could come up with after Labour was in Government for nine years.We all know how good National are at digging dirt but then distancing themselves from chucking it, but this lot are not even good at that.

  14. Olwyn 14
    10 June 2010 at 3:19 pm

    Annette King drew attention to the fact that applications to the OIA are often rejected because of the time and cost. This one, however, taking 5 months to compile, seems to be the exception. What is so horrible is that it treats the nation like a bunch of lab rats: tell them someone got $10 bucks they weren’t entitled to 5 years ago and watch them jump. anti-spam word: entitles

  15. Mike 15
    10 June 2010 at 3:25 pm

    To be honest Shane Jones should resign, he’s a list MP and has let down the party that put him in that position over other more worthy candidates who don’t steal.
    And if he does resign that will put the onus on Groser to go as well.

  16. exbrethren 16
    10 June 2010 at 3:28 pm

    Funny how the journalists that took bribes gifts of Pinot from Key-O aren’t writing headlines like Minister for Binge Drinking for Tim Groser.

  17. tc 17
    10 June 2010 at 3:31 pm

    zzzzzz…..this issue cuts both ways and all it really confirms is they’re all far too loose with taxpayers money for their own good and with the large sums on housing allowances being dished out which rankles most ordinary kiwis this damages both sides equally.

    IMHO…..big deal we always suspected what we now know, that Shane Jones isn’t up to the task assigned. I see this and the likes of hadengaff have seen off Sideshow’s shonky blind trust assertions without a decent roasting…..job done CT.

    • mickysavage 17.1
      10 June 2010 at 3:41 pm

      Call me biased but the idea of a Prime Minister with $50m worth of assets in a blind trust that isn’t one and his making decisions even though there is a conflict of interest annoys me much more than the idea of a Minister paying to watch a porn movie on the Ministerial card but subsequently repaying the price of the movie.

  18. comedy 18
    10 June 2010 at 3:34 pm

    Is it true that Shane Jones actually said he wasn’t a sex fiend ……is he retarded or is he not aware that this will be parroted back at him from the other side of the debating chamber ad infinitum until he retires.

    And I always thought he was one of the more intelligent MPs (despite his arrogance)

  19. Santi 19
    10 June 2010 at 3:38 pm

    “This is a day of great shame. Not only have I embarassed myself, my family and party colleagues, but I got in to a pattern of expenditure that is inexcusable.

    “It’s beyond excuse and it’s a day of humiliation for me.”

    Jones said he would not resign today because he did not want to make a decision “in the heat of humiliation”.

    The words of a true conman. Labour should expel this liar or find itself complicit.

    • Ari 19.1
      10 June 2010 at 4:05 pm

      Wow, someone’s reacting strongly. Strange how you don’t care so much when it’s alcohol or corruption that’s involved, but the minute something has some relation to sex the right jumps all over it.

      Not that I’m exactly comfortable with pornography either, but my problems with it are the exploitation of women involved, and less to do with the fact that sometimes people like to have a little alone time. Bloody stupid and inexcusable to pay for it using government funds, but no more so than any of the other bloody stupid personal expenses people have charged.

  20. Santi 20
    10 June 2010 at 3:56 pm

    //www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/3796622/Shane-Jones-Minister-of-Pornography

    Confession in the open for all to see. Jones is history, finished.

    • Craig Glen Eden 20.1
      10 June 2010 at 4:10 pm

      Yup its a disgrace all the labour guilty should resign right after Bill double Dipton English is fired and Gerrie and Heatley and …………………

      I wait with baited breath, come on all you sanctimonious wingnuts lets hear you chant for English to resign. Shit is that silence I hear? Funny that.

      • TightyRighty 20.1.1
        10 June 2010 at 4:39 pm

        it was within the rules craig glen from eden.as the assistant general manager of ministerial services said in 2006, “the repeated use of ministerial credit cards for personal purchases is not acceptable. Even if the amount is subsequently paid back.” how do you defend that?

  21. Pete 21
    10 June 2010 at 4:05 pm

    A quote from The Standard from a few months back:

    “That’s OK according to the PM because Heatley didn’t intend to break the rules. Well, I guess that’s OK then. Of course, you have to assume that Heatley is a total idiot in that case, a babe in the woods with no idea of rules that are obvious.

    I mean what kind of fool would you have to be to think that $70 of wine for your wife and yourself at your party conference was a legitimate ministerial expense?

    If he’s not a crook he’s an idiot. Neither ought to be qualifications for being a minister.”

    [lprent: You’re an idiot – read the quotation again. What exactly was the suggestion of what Heatley should resign from? Adding you to my auto-moderation because your comments so far have been idiotic and fall into trolling. ]

    • big bruv 21.1
      10 June 2010 at 4:15 pm

      Beautiful Pete…just beautiful. 🙂

      • Pete 21.1.1
        10 June 2010 at 4:19 pm

        Here’s the link:

        http://www.thestandard.org.nz/heatley-not-a-crook-an-idiot/

        One wonders if the Standard will apply their own erm…standards today?

        [lprent: read the post again – you’re acting like an idiot troll. ]

        • smokie 21.1.1.1
          10 June 2010 at 4:25 pm

          I don’t think anyone here would deny Jones was an idiot, and if he were a Minister should have to resign.

          • Pete 21.1.1.1.1
            10 June 2010 at 4:29 pm

            So you’re saying that being a crook or idiot is acceptable, so long as you don’t have a Ministerial portfolio?

            High standards in the Labour Party, certainly.

            [lprent: ok you’re definitely trolling – go away for a week. ]

            • Ari 21.1.1.1.1.1
              10 June 2010 at 4:38 pm

              Yep, Jones should go, and I imagine he will, although there will certainly be people trying to defend him, just like there were for the National ministers doing the same sort of thing.

            • Pete 21.1.1.1.1.2
              10 June 2010 at 5:04 pm

              So the Labour Ministers should have resigned at the time? But as they are no longer Ministers, they can’t resign as Ministers, so that makes everything ok?

              [lprent: Except that releasing spending records has only happened recently as a result of the problems that showed in the UK parliament. It comes down to burts favorite word – retrospective reinterpretation. I’m aware that it is good for the dogwhistles beloved in the sewer (eg Benson-Pope), but I’m not fond of debates based on that premise because they tend to follow the same turgid route each time – descending into flame wars.

              But what I was looking at specifically was that you were reinterpreting the post (you were referring to) to something that you thought – not what was written. That is irritating as hell to the authors, and again usually descends to flamewars.

              I stomp on people starting stupid flamewars – see the policy. ]

              • Pete …
                11 June 2010 at 8:54 am

                The point is obvious, isn’t it?

                The original poster stated if a minister thought that putting something inappropriate (for whatever reason) on his credit card, like a bottle of wine, was ok, s/he was either a crook (implied) or an an idiot. In either case, the action means they aren’t qualified to be a Minister.

                Apply that to the Labour politicians. It matters not if they are current Ministers.

          • Santi 21.1.1.1.2
            10 June 2010 at 4:30 pm

            Quite an interest interpretation smokie. Defending the indefensible and doing whatever it takes to protect the corrupt Jones.

            • Bright Red 21.1.1.1.2.1
              10 June 2010 at 5:01 pm

              Um. Smokie called Jones an idiot and suggested he would have resigned if a minsiter. I don’t think that’s defending him.

  22. big bruv 22
    10 June 2010 at 4:19 pm

    The story that just keeps on giving.

    As DPF points out over at Kiwiblog, if Jones does resign (as he should) then that would see the return of Judith Tizard.

  23. Mark M 23
    10 June 2010 at 4:30 pm

    Groser is Trade Minister.
    That involves glad handing with a lot of foreign dignataries.
    Alcohol plays a big part in those relationships .
    If a few bucks spent on alchohol gets us trade access or a free trade agreement great.

    Dont confuse that with watching porn movies , buying golf clubs, kitchen utensils , fine clothes ,flowers for the boyfriend and rental cars for partners.

    A lot of the expenditure from both parties was booze and food which if incurred doing the Governments work is fine.

    • Ari 23.1
      10 June 2010 at 4:37 pm

      Next you’ll be telling us it’s alright because he works long hours, lol. 😉

    • exbrethren 23.2
      10 June 2010 at 4:38 pm

      So $1469 on tax-payer funded credit cards by the Minister for Binge-Drinking is OK? Has he paid any back yet?

      Getting smashed on planes is OK as well? Does that help get trade deals?

      22 items in 7 days from a mini-bar suggests more personal use than glad handing others.

      • TightyRighty 23.2.1
        10 June 2010 at 4:40 pm

        it’s within MoH healthy drinking guidlines. unless they’ve changed since 2004.

        • exbrethren 23.2.1.1
          10 June 2010 at 4:43 pm

          Getting drunk on planes is in the guidelines?

          • TightyRighty 23.2.1.1.1
            10 June 2010 at 4:45 pm

            As i recall, he wasn’t drunk, and the information that he had been drinking was passed to the media third hand. no prizes for guessing who passed it. harldy reliable. and any way, it’s not the location, it’s the unit’s over a time period. maybe he is light weight?

            • exbrethren 23.2.1.1.1.1
              10 June 2010 at 4:48 pm

              All very well, but I was disagreeing with Mark M when he said that it was fine for Groser to put his booze bill on the taxpayer. Has he paid it back yet?

              • TightyRighty …
                10 June 2010 at 5:11 pm

                i think a booze bill when on company trips is to be expected, within reason. $30 bottles of wine, fine. $50 bottles with clients, sure. $155 bottles of champagne? no. too far

                • Bright Red …
                  10 June 2010 at 5:27 pm

                  Tighty. The rules are rules and personal alcohol is not within them

                  “as the assistant general manager of ministerial services said in 2006, “the repeated use of ministerial credit cards for personal purchases is not acceptable. Even if the amount is subsequently paid back.’ how do you defend that?”

                  Who said that?

                  Oh yeah, you.

                  It’s not a hanging offence. Groser and McCully should just pay the money back.

                  • TightyRighty …
                    10 June 2010 at 5:40 pm

                    yea i said that. personal purchases dumbshit, just for you, include, bikes, flowers, golf clubs, massages, brekkie for you and the kids.

                    when on a work trip, my company pays for food and beverage, as i am away doing good work for them. it is reasonable that they pay, and as long as i don’t abuse it, there is no problem. i wouldn’t expect government ministers and there staff to go teetotal while they are overseas on crown business. i wouldn’t expect them to run up massive bills either.

                • felix …
                  10 June 2010 at 5:30 pm

                  “Taking the piss” would be one way of describing it.

                  btw Ministers don’t have “company trips” and “clients”.

                  • TightyRighty …
                    10 June 2010 at 8:12 pm

                    so going away on crown business wouldn’t fall into your category of a business trip?

        • toad 23.2.1.2
          10 June 2010 at 5:25 pm

          That’s what Groser drank late at night in his hotel room after everyone else had gone to bed – not what he drank in total.

          It’s an interesting insight into what traveling Ministers do at the end of a busy day. Shane Jones wanks, Tim Groser drinks. Now, which would have the Minister in the better state of mind for the next busy day?

          Not that the taxpayer should fund either, I might add.

          • felix 23.2.1.2.1
            10 June 2010 at 5:36 pm

            You make it sound like drinking and wanking are mutually exclusive activities but there’s nothing in the data to suggest that they don’t both drink and wank. Or drink, wank and rub tiramisu into their hair. All we know for sure is which of those activities they’re doing for free.

            • Anne 23.2.1.2.1.1
              10 June 2010 at 6:24 pm

              Thanks toad. Thanks felix.

              Just wiping the tears of laughter. 😀

              • Anne …
                10 June 2010 at 6:26 pm

                oh and anti-spam: INTERESTING

                • Anne …
                  10 June 2010 at 6:56 pm

                  And lets be clear:
                  Neither of them were doing anything different to generations of cabinet ministers before them… when away from home and travelling in the interest of NZ.

    • Bright Red 23.3
      10 June 2010 at 5:03 pm

      Mark M. These are drinks in the minibar. Do you think he’s doing rrade deals over tiny wee bottles of Jim Beam in his hotel room?

      You can’t claim alcohol for perosnal use on your minsiterial card.

      Groser has to pay it back, like Jones did years ago.

  24. TightyRighty 24
    10 June 2010 at 4:35 pm

    now we can see why michael cullen really axed the chewing gum tax cut. forgot the publics whining. it would have been the whining from his own caucus about not being able to afford porn, massages, expensive champagne, limo’s, more porn, to fund a chinese resteraunt, clothes, kitchen items etc etc on the public ticket.

    • TightyRighty 24.1
      10 June 2010 at 4:36 pm

      Thanks mark. I forgot the golf clubs, bikes, sorry flowers for partners.

  25. Lanthanide 25
    10 June 2010 at 4:47 pm

    I think what needs to be remembered, is that there’s are three primary ways this money can end up on a credit card:
    1. The minister deliberately set out to defraud and steal public money
    2. The minister used the credit card with the intention of fully paying it back in the future, because it was the most convenient thing to do at the time
    3. The minister made a purchase at the time, thinking it was within the rules but later being told to pay it back.

    There is a subset that can be applied to #2: forgetting to pay it back, as well as #3: not being alerted that it was outside the rules.

    #2 is easy to see with many hotel related expenses, as you generally give a CC # up-front and have all of the costs charged to the card when you check out. Also in the case of golf clubs, the minister said they didn’t have any other means of paying for the golf clubs at the time – maybe they left their wallet at the hotel by mistake.

    #3 is often seen with the various alcohol/wine purchases, where things were bought for entertainment purposes, but later decided to be out of line with the rules.

    Of course we can’t know for sure the real reason these things were put on credit cards, but I doubt that very many, if any, of the expenses fall under category 1. Of course National are hoping that the public will assume that all of this spending is #1 – commonly seen with people saying “I don’t care if they paid it back”.

    captcha: research

  26. Inventory2 26
    10 June 2010 at 4:59 pm

    FWIW, I’ve blogged that Groser’s expenses need to be closely scrutinised. Sure, his role, and that of McCully are all about relationship-building, and that’s often done over a drink. But there needs to be transparency to ensure that the Crown expenditure was justified.

    As far as Jones goes, the biggest issue is the changing stories throughout the day. First he hadn’t watched porn movies, then he “couldn’t rule it out”, then he remembered that he’d watched twelve movies, once the journos had pinned him down. Apart from any moral issues, Jones’ credibility has taken a hit today.

    • Bright Red 26.1
      10 June 2010 at 5:05 pm

      Moral issues? Geez, I thought the right weren’t so PC.

      Didn’t you used to support serial adulterer Don Brash? What about Rodney Hide? And the rest?

      And let’s not pretend that Groser is doing trade deals over little tiny bottles of Jim Beam in his hotel room.

      He should pay the money back like Shane Jones did years ago. It’s not a sacking offence but he just needs to pay it back.

      • Inventory2 26.1.1
        10 June 2010 at 5:17 pm

        And let’s not pretend that Groser is doing trade deals over little tiny bottles of Jim Beam in his hotel room.

        Exactly Bright Red; that’s why I’ve said that Groser’s spending needs to be closely scrutinised. If the turps he bought was for his personal consumption, he needs to stump up for it, and be subject to the same level of public scrutiny as other Ministers and former Ministers who have paid for personal items from the public purse.

        And as far as moral issues go, everyone will have their own opinions as to how far is too far. But if you’re going to start chucking names around of adulterers, remember that they come from all corners of the House.

        • Bright Red 26.1.1.1
          10 June 2010 at 5:29 pm

          “But if you’re going to start chucking names around of adulterers, remember that they come from all corners of the House.”

          Yup. And that’s why I don’t have a moral issue with a bit of porn as long as he paid the money back..

          it’s you who suggested there’s a moral issue/

  27. Santi 27
    10 June 2010 at 4:59 pm

    “Ms King says Mr Jones is not being asked to resign from the party”

    The gift that keeps giving. Jones will never get a quiet moment in Parliament from now on. Why isn’t Goff retuirning to NZ to handle Labour’s crisis? How convenient to be in the Far East.
    King is weak as piss.

    • SHG 27.1
      10 June 2010 at 7:11 pm

      Look, I’m sure King knows that Jones only used taxpayer funds for pornography because it was a full moon.

  28. Bored 28
    10 June 2010 at 5:06 pm

    Irish,

    Your description of this whole event as “prurient” seems suitable, but it has not stopped the usual RWNJs (and LW equivalents) from standing as Mr Morals, and piously pontificating. As a moderator you might take the opportunity of a few random bans for the infliction of tedious and sleep inducing blogs.

    On the subject the MSM are also at their “balanced” norm, lots on Carter and Jones, very little on McCully and Groser. I would also note that there is also a very low level of intraspection out there in the form of “there but for the grace of God go I” and “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone”.

    And on a more serious note: Jones was (note “was’) IMHO the best option Labour had for leading the party. Sad.

    • bobo 28.1
      10 June 2010 at 5:16 pm

      This is what I said earlier in comments , is all Labour ministers on front pages, still waiting for the Nat party to front up and take their flack, looks like Carter and Jones careers are gone, whether that is not standing at next election or standing down sooner rather than later.., I doubt they will recover from this and rightly so , same should apply to nat mps in trouble.

      • toad 28.1.1
        10 June 2010 at 5:35 pm

        Carter may well stand down – he is an Electorate MP. Jones can’t – as a List MP, that would bring Judith Tizard back, and that is something Labour just cannot afford.

        My bet is that Jones will at least see the term out. It’s a pity he blotted his copybook like this, because he was the only one I could see as being a successor in the short term to Goff. So looks like Labour is stuck with Goff, and probably facing another 3 years in opposition, unless the Greens can win over a good share of the soft Nat vote from last time around.

        • bobo 28.1.1.1
          10 June 2010 at 5:48 pm

          Jones was a good debater in the house but he suffered a similar fate to Tamihere “premature leader in waiting syndrome”. Is having Jones in the house with constant porno jibes from media and opposition as bad as having Tizard back till next election ? I dunno maybe the porn thing will fade but I think his family will decide if his future should be more low profile..

  29. American Gardener 29
    10 June 2010 at 5:31 pm

    There can be grey areas over what you can charge such as meals etc. But no one could have a reasonable expectation that hotel porn is a legitimate work related expense.

    Kiwiblog

    When your employer requires you to travel away from home as part of your employment it seems reasonable that they meet those fundamental human needs that are reasonably expected to be met at home. Why is it any less important for a persons sexual needs to be met than their need for shelter and food ?

    Paying $19.90 for a pornographic movie seems a bargain in comparison to the alternative.

  30. American Gardener 30
    10 June 2010 at 5:32 pm

    When your employer requires you to travel away from home as part of your employment it seems reasonable that they meet those fundamental human needs that are reasonably expected to be met at home. Why is it any less important for a persons sexual needs to be met than their need for shelter and food ?

    Paying $19.90 for a pornographic movie seems a bargain in comparison to the alternative

  31. Anita 31
    10 June 2010 at 5:40 pm

    Why have no spending records from the last National government been released?

    I would be extremely surprised if detailed credit card bills are retained for more than seven years.

    Surprised and disturbed in fact.

  32. logie97 32
    10 June 2010 at 5:43 pm

    I may have missed something here but the last 8 years appears to be an arbitrary period. Was that because there was a change in the procedures?

    Why stop at 2002/3 – why not trawl right back to the beginnings of MMP perhaps.

    Clark’s government seems to be on a hiding to nothing here.

    Who originally sought the investigation?

    • Inventory2 32.1
      10 June 2010 at 5:47 pm

      Members of the Press Gallery logie. I suspect the cut-off was 2003 on the basis that there may be no retention of records beyond the statutory seven years.

    • Anita 32.2
      10 June 2010 at 6:42 pm

      You will find that General Disposal Authority 2 Financial and Accounting Records requires that they be retained for 7 years from date of last action, which will mean 7 years from the end of the financial year in which they were processed. So 2002/3 is correctly still held, while 2001/2 should have been destroyed.

      Try classes 8.2 and 8.3, they also helpfully list the relevant legislation.

  33. Daveosaurus 33
    10 June 2010 at 5:46 pm

    “Why have no spending records from the last National government been released? ”

    Has anybody OIA’d them yet? And if not, why not?

  34. John Dalley 34
    10 June 2010 at 5:59 pm

    Shane Jones. Serial Porn King
    Tim Groser. Serial Alcohol Abuser??

    I suspect i might prefer the Porn King.

  35. theseeker 35
    10 June 2010 at 6:23 pm

    didnt no porn was illegal good to see we have such a good media looking out for our morals. how much was spent on tvnz credit cards over the last 7 years.bill ralston always enjoyed a long lunch on the taxpayer.

  36. Sam 36
    10 June 2010 at 6:24 pm

    For fuck sake, I will always vote Labour. But Shane Jones, possibly the next fuckin Labour leader uses his ministerial card to rent 20 pornos! And you want to pull the ‘oh poor me’ bullshit?

    Labour needs to sharpen it’s shit up, ask yourself, ‘should I use my card to rent pornos? My ministerial card?…And will I get busted for this?’….youporn is free!!!!!!

    Labour wants to stand up for the working man, the family struggling with 2 kids after a National budget trying to pay off a mortgage and buy milk and bread for the week. The same party who blasted Phil over some wine and then had a big wank when they brought him back….seriously sort your fucking shit.

  37. Herodotus 37
    10 June 2010 at 6:27 pm

    This OIA request was great for some headlines, and a bit of titliation. But really Chris Carter spendt a feww $000 on some items over 8 years, Tim Grosser and Winny have higher spending habits. Given their roles what does anyone want for them to penny pinch given their valuable roles pats and present and other major ministers portfilios.
    There is alot on petty point scoring and poor basis of partisian actions being defended. In business what would a GM, senior mgrs or directors or major coys spend.
    For me the only shock is how not to handle this issue by Shane Jones. I know no MP lies yet Shane has got as close to this as Winny did a few years ago, by his changing story on ZB this morning that he was a movie buff but was not in the habit of watching buff movies, then tonight he was playing on semantics of what the meaning af habitual was. If he said yeah I did so what he would have increased his curdos. But he did not and now he has lost the battle of credability. Why cannot when caught with their hand in the cookie jar just admit guilt. Yet again someone in my mind failing 101 common sense. It was always going to come out.

  38. RedLogix 38
    10 June 2010 at 6:31 pm

    Total hypocritical flim flam.

    I don’t give a rat’s patui if Jones was watching a bit of porno. Almost all adults do at some stage of their life. I have, and I’ll guarantee most of the hypocritical nonces commenting here have done so themselves.

    And when your checking out the next morning it’s usually in a bit of a rush …and only the most anally retentitive bother splitting the bill onto different cards at that point. Reimbursing within a month or so is not an unreasonable thing to do.

    Get over yourselves.

    • Sam 38.1
      10 June 2010 at 6:39 pm

      Yes, but not on tax payer money.

      If you can’t stand back and identify the issues in your party and at least admit you fucked up…well…congradulations, you’re National.

      • RedLogix 38.1.1
        10 June 2010 at 8:08 pm

        Yes, but not on tax payer money.

        Nah…the poor old taxpayer had no grounds for any sanctimonious whining at all. If it hadn’t been reimbursed as part of a regular reconciliation you might have had a tiny little point. But no.

    • Pat 38.2
      10 June 2010 at 6:43 pm

      “Almost all adults do…”

      Funny that those same adults who are also Ministers of the Crown don’t manage to get the porno appearing on their ministerial credit card.

      Shane Jones is finished. He probably won’t resign, but Labour will park him so far down the List that he will have no chance in 2011.

  39. Herodotus 39
    10 June 2010 at 6:50 pm

    Can anyone out there help me.
    Do not all MP’s get a $12k p.a. entertainment allowance that does not require any proof receipts of the amount being spent, or is this (If there is an allowance) only cover certain MP’s and exclude minister?

  40. Rosy 40
    10 June 2010 at 6:50 pm

    “I don’t give a rat’s patui if Jones was watching a bit of porno”…. I do – The fact that Shane Jones watched not a bit of, but a heap of porn, and he knows his wife would have disapproved, and booked it up on the ministerial credit card shows a complete lack of respect and a sense of entitlement. He should resign or be sacked. Similarly if Tim Grosser doesn’t apologise and curb his drinking he should be out of there too. The others could have quite legitimate explanations, so far….

    • RedLogix 40.1
      10 June 2010 at 8:12 pm

      If Jones had been watching war movies or horror flicks with people getting variously shot, bludgeoned, maimed and murdered, with human life reduced to it’s most demeaned, brutal, vile horror…no-one would have said boo.

      Hypocrites.

  41. aj 41
    10 June 2010 at 6:52 pm

    Shane Johns watches porno.
    Key goes to sleazy strip clubs.
    Boys will be boys.

  42. Blue 42
    10 June 2010 at 6:55 pm

    God this whole thing is really fucking boring. Ministerial spending is always subject to scrutiny – they have to provide receipts and their records are poured over by Parliamentary staff.

    There are no really outrageous abuses – just a few fairly minor personal expenses here and there. They probably shouldn’t have been there if you want to be anal about it – but it’s not the end of the world if someone charges some flowers or booze to their card once in a while.

    Hope the journos enjoy wading through 700 pages of fairly mundane expenses. It’s better than porn for them.

    I saw a great tweet from Greer McDonald today – a political reporter going through the expenses reportedly said ‘Ooh, John Key eats at BK too!’

  43. Sanctuary 43
    10 June 2010 at 7:04 pm

    It is a load of flim flam, especially the rubbush from that idiot Alasdair Thomson that companies have strict rules blah blah blah. I call bullshit on him. I’ve had a corporate credit card and the rules entirely depend on who your manager is. The general rule everywhere is if you got something you probably shouldn’t have then you paid it back ASAP and you didn’t make a habit of it. And plenty of times people game the rules to put stuff on the company card that isn’t really legitimate. Corporate credit cards are used by responible adults, and are monitored by other responsible adults, and often the best people get cut a whole lot more slack than others because they are worth it. Which is really what this is all about.This mean spirited media fest is actually tall poppyism in action – no one can be allowed rise above the petty rules of meanest little tin pot loser reporter with a copy of the rule book. Hard working high performers (which is what a minister is) cut no ice with rule bound Colonel Blimps.

    The whole thing reeks of a rank hysterical hypocrisy and the biggest casualty seems to be common sense and perspective. Hypocrisy because we all know we’d do it ourselves if we were in their shoes. Common sense and perspective because these are piffling amounts that if anything should comfort us all that our politicians are basically decent men and women. For goodness sake, this is the worst that trawling through SEVEN YEARS of detailed spending can throw up! Twenty pornographic movies! Spare me. Its not exactly Mugabe’s billions in Swiss bank accounts is it?

    We expect our political leaders to be like us, empathise with us and understand the frailties, foibles and strengths of the “common man” – yet apparently we also expect them to behave like emotionless robots and to hold them standards of behaviour Jesus Christ himself would have trouble meeting.

    I am not saying it should be cart blanche, but these are human beings we are dealing with here. What do we want? Real people doing a real job, or a parliament of wierdoes with scrupulously clean credit cards?

    The media’s role in this disgusts me. They’ve cost the taxpayer tens of thousands of dollars to rake up basically nothing, and now they are behaving with all the grace and heroism of a pack of slavering hyenas who know an injured Wilderbeest can’t fight back. None of them have got the balls to run for public office, or disclose what they spend their credit cxards on, but they’ve set themselves up in this as high and mighty judge, jury and executioners. I was listening to that loathsome piece of slime on TV3 – the one that looks and sounds like Forrest Gump’s slightly dimmer little brother – mock both Tim Grosser and Phil Goff for perfectly legtimate spending and I thought something I thought I would never think – “Learn some respect for our elected public leaders, your little slimeball”.

  44. Sanctuary 44
    10 June 2010 at 7:20 pm

    “…Q/ Are you a Labour staffer Sanctuary?”

    No. I’m a deep cover Manchurian candidate for high office in the Chinese Communist Party. But don’t tell anyone, OK?

    thnx.

    xxx

    • really 44.1
      10 June 2010 at 7:24 pm

      I take it that is a yes. Just checking that you had a reason to post that insane interpretation.

  45. Sanctuary 45
    10 June 2010 at 7:28 pm

    “…I take it that is a yes. …”

    Err, dude, the first word I wrote in answer to your question was “no”. That you interpret that as meaning “yes” just confirms I’d never take the risk of going on a date with you.

  46. really 46
    10 June 2010 at 7:47 pm

    But I’d shout you a porno at the Westin.

    • RedLogix 46.1
      10 June 2010 at 8:16 pm

      So never, ever, seen any porn in your whole life?

      Next you’ll be telling us you never masturbate, and only ever commit sexual intercourse for strictly procreational purposes.

      Get over yourselves.

      • really 46.1.1
        10 June 2010 at 8:17 pm

        Not on anyone else’s dime buddy.

        • RedLogix 46.1.1.1
          10 June 2010 at 8:36 pm

          Nah.. it got reimbursed ages ago.

          You keep omitting that cos it makes your argument look even more feeble than it is already.

  47. coolas 47
    10 June 2010 at 8:18 pm

    130 posts on this trivial shite and the big issues get half the interest.

    Unbelievable. And what a sad sad indictment on the superficiality of NZ politics today. Makes me wanna stomp on the roof of a limo.

  48. gingercrush 48
    10 June 2010 at 9:27 pm

    Garner said Chris Carter was being dropped from the front bench whenever that actually occurs. Though I doubt the latest spending scandal concerning him has anything to do with it. The fact is that while he remains a popular electorate MP (and he does just look how many people vote for him, it really shouldn’t be that high). The guy was never a particularly good Cabinet Minister in the house (he probably was fine doing the actual job of a Cabinet Minister) in that he couldn’t answer questions without sounding inept. In opposition he had clear difficulties with the Education portfolio hence why that was quickly dropped and given to Mallard. With Foreign Affairs his work with the whale issue was much better than the Greens effort. Though still with Labour needing some renewal on that front bench. Carter is an obvious casualty. As should be Jones who personally I’ve always seen as a liability.

    The real question is who gets to move to the front bench. Hopefully its Grant Robertson and Phil Twyford (though I don’t see him moving up unfortunately)

    Oh and to everyone pointing out why are we even discussing credit card issues. Lets face it despite this blog having some very good posts on real issues, i.e. the economy, childcare, global warming etc all that get decent posts. Its far easier for everyone no matter what side of the fence you sit on to talk about scandals and trivial issues.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    The Coalition Government is accelerating work on the new four-lane expressway between Auckland and Whangārei as part of its Roads of National Significance programme, with an accelerated delivery model to deliver this project faster and more efficiently, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “For too long, the lack of resilient transport connections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Sir Don to travel to Viet Nam as special envoy

    Sir Don McKinnon will travel to Viet Nam this week as a Special Envoy of the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.    “It is important that the Government give due recognition to the significant contributions that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made to New Zealand-Viet Nam relations,” Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Grant Illingworth KC appointed as transitional Commissioner to Royal Commission

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says newly appointed Commissioner, Grant Illingworth KC, will help deliver the report for the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons, due on 28 November 2024.  “I am pleased to announce that Mr Illingworth will commence his appointment as ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ to advance relationships with ASEAN partners

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters travels to Laos this week to participate in a series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led Ministerial meetings in Vientiane.    “ASEAN plays an important role in supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Mr Peters says.   “This will be our third visit to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Backing mental health services on the West Coast

    Construction of a new mental health facility at Te Nikau Grey Hospital in Greymouth is today one step closer, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “This $27 million facility shows this Government is delivering on its promise to boost mental health care and improve front line services,” Mr Doocey says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ support for sustainable Pacific fisheries

    New Zealand is committing nearly $50 million to a package supporting sustainable Pacific fisheries development over the next four years, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announced today. “This support consisting of a range of initiatives demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment to assisting our Pacific partners ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Students’ needs at centre of new charter school adjustments

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour says proposed changes to the Education and Training Amendment Bill will ensure charter schools have more flexibility to negotiate employment agreements and are equipped with the right teaching resources. “Cabinet has agreed to progress an amendment which means unions will not be able to initiate ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
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  • Commissioner replaces Health NZ Board

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