On the Road with Todd and Ken

Written By: - Date published: 10:05 am, May 24th, 2020 - 57 comments
Categories: james shaw, politicans, Politics, Social issues, todd muller - Tags: , , ,

Catherine Delahunty recounts her impression of Todd Muller from her days as an MP.

A few years ago I was heading to Waitangi with other MPs but the flights from Auckland to the Bay of Islands were cancelled. I cannot recall if it was fog or storm or “ engineering requirements”, but no one was flying to Waitangi. I grabbed a rental car with Kennedy Graham and Todd Muller.

It was my second random road trip to Waitangi, the first being an entertaining gabblefest with Paddy Gower and a quiet man, whose name I forget, and who barely got a word in between Paddy and Catherine arguing about anything at all. The trip with Todd and Ken was far more sedate. I sat in the backseat and observed these gentlemen and reflected on the concept of political consensus. These men appeared to have far more in common than issues that divided them in terms of style and privilege and a sense of polite good humour, far more in common than I felt with either of them, but all was pleasant and free of acrimony.

Neither of them were regulars at Waitangi, they were doing their MP job of attending the powhiri for political parties and then Todd was heading off on some vintage car rally heritage event. I was heading to Waitangi as I have for most of the last 20 years, to listen to the tanagtaa whenua voices about the state of colonisation and how to challenge it. We did not talk about this. For once I just thought I would save my breath. Todd rang his children to say good night, the American elections, a topic of interest to him were discussed. Diplomacy ruled. Looking back I would say it was a pleasant trip but it stays in my mind as the road to nowhere.

The road to polite and personal good will is worth driving when there is no urgency and no deep changes required. It is good to arrive somewhere without personal damage and with genuine good will but it is not the base for addressing the most critical issues of our time. Powerful well resourced white men can afford to be courteous and apparently benign but it is the political consensus that bothers me.

No doubt Todd and Ken (very much a muse to James Shaw) feel proud of the consensus of the Zero Carbon Bill. Everyone kind of agrees to it because it was a toothless tiger. What kind of victory is this in a crisis? The National Party has promised to weaken it further when they get back to power, which hardly sounds like a lasting consensus. So even if Todd utterly believes in that form of consensus – where is his mandate from the right wing? And what is the point of agreeing to addressing the melt down of life on earth as a inoffensive time rich opportunity to change things very very slowly? It works for the green capitalists, but it fails the test of actually reducing emissions at the speed required to stabilise climate chaos.

Consensus has its place for sure, but I am bloody glad that a Parliamentary consensus wasn’t required over Covid lockdown. I am glad that Todd and friends were not the Government responding to the highly efficient and necessary iwi checkpoints. There are times to make watery agreements to build trust, and times when powerful white men who agree with each other are just not much use.

The road trip with Todd and Ken is not one I want to repeat. Not long after that the consensus seeking diplomat, true to his class roots, threw Metiria and the Greens under the bus just before an election, and the genial team player who is the next National leader making a run for power.

What kind of leader he might be cannot be predicted. I guess I don’t trust niceness from tall rich people. I don’t trust personality defined politics because public personality is not real. Jacinda Ardern was not the kindness guru before she was leader. She was not the orator. She has developed these themes in office. But there is no guarantee what “ personality” untested leaders may develop.

However we can be sure that a white man privileged consensus does not include the marginalised diverse voices of the many currently shut out of power. We can be sure that protecting capitalism will come before saving the climate. The road trip to nowhere is not rude or loud, but leads to more inequality in a rising storm which needs a less polite more courageous expression of collective voices hitherto ignored.

Catherine Delahunty – former Green MP

57 comments on “On the Road with Todd and Ken ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. lprent 1
    24 May 2020 at 12:25 pm

    This post got jammed up in a configuration issue this morning, which is why it is late. However there were some minor editing issue that were also corrected after I sent a proof to Catherine 🙂

  2. weka 2
    24 May 2020 at 12:46 pm

    so so good, thanks Catherine.

  3. Bruce 3
    24 May 2020 at 12:56 pm

    Was interested in the comments about his being a tall rich white man. National have been trying at least to be a more inclusive and multicultural party for some time. He is taking them back 20 years. Team Todd looks to be very much a Pakeha club with Team Simons supporters in caucus those of colour. His focus on the economy alone makes me think he will not connect with hearts as Jacinda has, only wallets. National will have another new leader in October, that much is clear. Tricky Todd outright lied when asked if he wanted to be leader earlier in the week, the man should not be trusted.

    [Please use a different handle as the one you used is already in use here, thanks. I’ve changed it to the one you have used here before, which is quite different!? – Incognito]

  4. patricia 4
    24 May 2020 at 1:26 pm

    Thanks Catherine, this confirms my mental portrait of him.

    He wants to present "The Mr. Nice Guy" with the connotations of all will be well if it goes to my plan. He even states he "Has a plan", but we are left to fill in the blanks.

    His trip with JLR to the primaries returning with a MAGA hat, and not seeing that item as offensive. Brushing away queries about that as if the queries are to be wondered at.

    Damning the Government with faint praise after coming from over throwing his Leader and hiring Mathew Hooton. A man to be watched, loyal to his world view.

    Modelling on Scott Morrison, even walks like him lol lol

    • Maggie 4.1
      24 May 2020 at 3:52 pm

      Thank you Catherine, Definitely do not trust this "tall white nice guy" Don't respect anyone that displays the trump cap on his book case. Do not trust people that have a prearranged coup meeting and invite Hooton. Do not trust a person that considers it OK to speak for Women, at the same time bringing his beliefs into play.

  5. McFlock 5
    24 May 2020 at 1:35 pm

    Really good article. Lots to think about.

  6. ianmac 6
    24 May 2020 at 1:53 pm

    No doubt Todd and Ken (very much a muse to James Shaw) feel proud of the consensus of the Zero Carbon Bill. Everyone kind of agrees to it because it was a toothless tiger. What kind of victory is this in a crisis? The National Party has promised to weaken it further when they get back to power, which hardly sounds like a lasting consensus.

    I rather wondered about that example of the Muller being so willing to compromise and assist Shaw. The claim seems to be rather hollow when they promise to weaken it when next in power. At a time when climate change threats need more action and not less, does Muller's help really mean a determination to effectively kill it?

    Shaw wants it to go far.

    Muller wants to to go as little as possible to protect farmers.

    • Dennis Frank 6.1
      24 May 2020 at 2:45 pm

      Everyone deserves a fair go, Ian. It's the kiwi way. I'm as cynical as you (maybe more) and agree he will be likely to try & minimise harm to farmers but suspect he will be resolute in honouring his deal with James.

      I mean, really, how many farmers do you believe ought to commit suicide?? You know that's been happening steadily the past couple of years. Nothing wrong with him trying to reduce that trend.

      • barry 6.1.1
        24 May 2020 at 2:51 pm

        I suspect the suicides are more to do with debt than any environmental concerns. Young farmers are often in way over their heads.

        What does Muller plan to do about that?

        • KJT 6.1.1.1
          24 May 2020 at 3:04 pm

          Actually more suicides and accidents happen to farm workers, not owners.

          Though any one is a tragedy.

          And the debt loadings on many farms are a real concern. For that reason and several others.

          • aj 6.1.1.1.1
            24 May 2020 at 3:27 pm

            how many farmers do you believe ought to commit suicide??

            What a question. Really. How about he tackles the wider issue of suicides.

            How many teenagers do you believe ought to commit suicide??

            How many young working men do you believe ought to commit suicide??

            How many city dwellers do you believe ought to commit suicide??

            How many elderly do you believe ought to commit suicide??

            All human beings are equally important. Not just farming ones.

            • Louis 6.1.1.1.1.1
              24 May 2020 at 4:52 pm

              +1 aj

            • KJT 6.1.1.1.1.2
              24 May 2020 at 5:33 pm

              For me. Nobody.

              Typical hypocrisy though, from people who never had the slightest concern about mental health, in fact they starved services of funding, until they found an opportunity to insinuate it is caused by "Greenies” requiring businesses to be responsible for their pollution.

              Your comment would be better directed to those who are trying to use suicide, as a dishonest political point score, even though they really don't give a shit.

            • Stupot 6.1.1.1.1.3
              27 May 2020 at 9:37 am

              It became an issue after Rogers “reforms”. When farmers were required to pay market rates. When their privileges (subsidies) were curbed.

      • ianmac 6.1.2
        24 May 2020 at 3:47 pm

        Beginning to doubt your sincerity/credibility Dennis. I ask myself which camp would try the "suicide of farmers" to justify a new Leaders position. Your line/style reminds me of another writer on another blog who is also able to write excellent prose but with a buried slant.

        • woodart 6.1.2.1
          24 May 2020 at 6:51 pm

          agree with you ianmac. that comment about farmer suicides will colour any future comments he makes.

        • Dennis Frank 6.1.2.2
          24 May 2020 at 7:44 pm

          Jeez, I don't know any farmers and have never voted National! Just trying to keep things real. You really don't believe he deserves a fair go?? I thought you were better than that. Obviously he will try to minimise pressure on farmers – he will naturally see that as part of his job. Try a bit of empathy, huh?

          Now, if he does do what you and others are accusing him of doing even before he actually does it, I'm likely to join your critique. Prejudging anyone is irrational.

          • greywarshark 6.1.2.2.1
            25 May 2020 at 1:28 pm

            Dennis Frank We are in such a state in the world that we don't have time to be gentlemanly and give people a fair go to see if they do a good job. Muller comes from a party that has pushed NZ and citizens to such a low position that we have to fight for our lives and our livelihoods., and not just out of a paperbag! It's real David and Goliath stuff, not a good-natured game of rugger old boy.

      • Louis 6.1.3
        24 May 2020 at 4:50 pm

        Dennis Frank "the past couple of years" ?? You need to go back further than that, like under the previous National govt, what did National do exactly to reduce that trend? How is Muller trying to reduce that trend?

        "New Zealand's farmer suicide rate is a "national disgrace" with a toll going largely unnoticed, Federated Farmers says"

        https://www.nzherald.co.nz/wairarapa-times-age/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503414&objectid=11342705

    • barry 6.2
      24 May 2020 at 2:48 pm

      Yes co-operation and consensus is good for when you are in opposition, you can have some influence that way. If (when?) they get back in charge, will he be offering to listen to the greens?

    • Bearded Git 6.3
      25 May 2020 at 8:54 am

      If we get a Labour/Green government the Zero Carbon Bill will be strengthened. Any other coalition combination will weaken it.

  7. AB 7
    24 May 2020 at 2:21 pm

    A useful reminder that surface-level civility, while a good thing, does not undo underlying configurations of power (who has it, who doesn't and why)

  8. RedBaronCV 8
    24 May 2020 at 2:30 pm

    Interesting that Catherine sat in the back for the whole of the 2.5 to 3 hour journey . No stops for a break and to rotate the seating and the driving then? It' s like one of these unconscious bias things. Those in the back seat are not heard nor privileged enough to be heard.

  9. Dennis Frank 9
    24 May 2020 at 2:39 pm

    This bit: "it stays in my mind as the road to nowhere. The road to polite and personal good will is worth driving when there is no urgency and no deep changes required. It is good to arrive somewhere without personal damage and with genuine good will but it is not the base for addressing the most critical issues of our time. Powerful well resourced white men can afford to be courteous and apparently benign but it is the political consensus that bothers me."

    A very important point. Hard not to empathise, so I won't try! To what extent is consensus decision-making part of the problem (as well as being a key part of the solution)? Answer: when it fails to shift the status quo sufficiently, to provide an adequate societal response to the urgency of our collective challenge.

    I've made the point that democracy operates as a strait-jacket often enough, preventing essential progress. But what else can we do? Just our collective best, seems to me. Use lateral-thinking as leverage whenever possible.

    The other crucial point is the one Catherine left out. Deliberately? The left wants jobs created. Who does that? Mostly old rich white men…

    • weka 9.1
      24 May 2020 at 2:46 pm

      only because old rich white men are still the dominant power holders in society. It's not like there aren't plenty of other people offering to create jobs, were power shared with them.

    • KJT 9.2
      24 May 2020 at 3:38 pm

      The rich are not. "Job creators".

      Only 3% of the wealthy in the USA, gained it through entrepreneurial endeavours, starting something new.

      That is one of the most pernicious memes to self justify excessive wealth.

      In fact most of the wealthiest in New Zealand have been "job destroyers". Asset strippers and buyers of fire sale public infrastructure, which they have then run down. And land speculators. Hardly adding to our collective real wealth.

      Read "The entrepreneurial State" for one. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Entrepreneurial_State

      Or Nick Hanuer puts it rather well.

      https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/06/the-pitchforks-are-coming-for-us-plutocrats-108014

      In NZ the largest group of employers are small tradesmen and the like.
      And as always, “Job creation” comes from demand. If the rich white guys didn’t fund it, the poor black ones would find a way to supply the demand.

      • SDCLFC 9.2.1
        24 May 2020 at 7:59 pm

        Thank you for replying to that.

        So many accepted economic "truths" that just don't stack up

        And you've smashed one of them, if only for today, here.

  10. Bazza64 10
    24 May 2020 at 3:42 pm

    I think to be honest Metiria threw herself & the greens under the bus. Admitting to cheating on your government benefits is not a clever move & at least Kennedy Graham had the balls to stand by his principles & call her actions out for what they were.

    • ianmac 10.1
      24 May 2020 at 3:49 pm

      What a shame Paula did not display similar honesty.

      • Bazza64 10.1.1
        24 May 2020 at 4:06 pm

        Did Paula cheat on her benefit ? I don’t recall that ever being an issue apart from speculation that means nothing at all. Let’s throw mud & see if it sticks. Or maybe I’m wrong about it ?

        • lprent 10.1.1.1
          24 May 2020 at 4:37 pm

          Well, she has never admitted to it. In fact I’m pretty sure that she never denied it either. I know that she was asked and didn’t answer.

          Only the honest Greens do that – to point out in part of a political debate the inequities and stupidities of the way that the benefit system operates. Essentially, looking at it from the outside, it is hard for me to understand how anyone can be completely honest with the current system of all benefits (apart from superannuation), unless they refuse to be economical with circumstances. It is a brutally punitive system that costs nearly as much in stupid operating costs as it actually hands out.

          Dishonest Nats like Paula Benefit just release the benefit information about opponents by breaking the privacy laws and the contacts between beneficiaries and her ministry. With someone who casually breaks laws for political expediency, then I’d presume that they just don’t mention how they rorted the benefit system – or are willing to just lie about it. Clearly they have no respect for the law.

          But I guess that is what your default behaviour would be as well eh? After all it does appear that you are just a fuckwit shit-thrower yourself eh?

          • Bazza64 10.1.1.1.1
            24 May 2020 at 5:27 pm

            Wow, so sorry to see you so wound up. You being a regular contributor to this site – I'm surprised at your language & resort to name calling. Maybe I should just grow a thicker skin – ha ha

            [lprent: Please read our policy. I usually bait the obvious newer probable trolls to see how they react. You have reaction 2 – an attempt to claim a sense of humour rather than dealing with the substance of the criticism.

            If you don’t like name calling and opinions on your behaviour than it is clear that you don’t like robust debate. If you’re not up to that, then I suggest you tug your tiny pleasure pinkie elsewhere with the other children. Kiwiblog or twitter seem more to be your level of debate so far. ]

          • Bazza64 10.1.1.1.2
            24 May 2020 at 6:49 pm

            Wow your flowchart lead you to "Reaction 2", feels like primary school (or animal farm)

            • lprent 10.1.1.1.2.1
              24 May 2020 at 8:50 pm

              There is a reason for that – simple net experience.

              On this site running since August 2007…25,130 Posts and 1,607,585 Comments published.
              I’ve read probably 75% of those.
              Before that I spent about 20 years on BBS’es and Usenet.
              I started writing and reading comments on computer networks in 1979.

              Categorisation of how dimwitted fools act on networks comes with dealing with the territory.

              And yes – you are being treated like a child because that is how you’re behaving. Rather than dealing with the substance of what is put in front of you, you’re acting like every other idiot who thinks that they’ve discovered sarcasm on the net – mostly consisting of parroting the words of other. Which is roughly the net equivalent of being a 12yo discovering how to masturbate.

              Grow up and deal with the debate without the simpleton bravado by stating what you actually think and explain why. Leave the denigration behind unless you need to make a relevant point – something that you haven’t managed yet because you’ve been parroting.

              You’ll find that people will respect that and the moderators will ignore you – they will merely disagree with you. The ego damages of robust debate are minor and usually educational. Be a dickhead and you’ll find that you get pulled up hard. A lot better by the moderators than by the experienced commentators.

              • Bazza64 …
                24 May 2020 at 9:06 pm

                LP your comments are petulant & pathetic. You swore & name called & then say I'm behaving like a child ? Can't you handle a sarcastic response to your swearing ? And now your drivelling on about young kids first experiences with themselves. Weird & creepy. Robust debate, yeah right get out the Tui Billboard.

                • Obtrectator …
                  25 May 2020 at 9:17 am

                  "Too much ticklee, him bust." (Kipling)

                • lprent …
                  25 May 2020 at 9:39 am

                  Clearly you’re thick about as thick and as shallow as a bit of 4×2″.

                  Getting more concerned about politeness rather than the ideas and opinions you could expound really is the mark of someone who doesn’t have values apart from their self-promoted place of self-perceived and most likely unearned privilege in society. Certainly it is hard to see anything about you apart from a soft-cored parasite from here.

                  In the community on TS, we value well stated opinion and substantiated fact. The robust debate stems from that. So far all you have demonstrated is that you like to denigrate the opinions of others and that you whine like a child when pulled up on it.

                  As I said earlier, I like to test newbies demonstrating silly childish behaviours to see if they are just a troll. I’ll let you guess that fastest and most efficient way to expose that.

                  You’ll note that no-one else is exhibiting any surprise? What they are seeing is you whimpering that it is unfair to you and never saying anything of any interest to anyone apart from yourself. In short, a useless blowhard who simply can’t contribute to others.

                  I guess you avoid mirrors eh? On the net, I do like to be one because there are a lot of fools around who follow your pattern and they tend to destroy rather than build communities.

                  BTW: Have you read the policy yet.

                • Spiderman3 …
                  25 May 2020 at 3:30 pm

                  Totally agree with you regarding Meteria. The Greens lost a lot of support due to her. A very touchy subject for some of the moderators it seems.

          • SDCLFC 10.1.1.1.3
            24 May 2020 at 8:06 pm

            Mmmm…no sympathy for MT. Played a game and lost and it was a game of political self-interest more than noble intent.

            Real shame is the lack of discussion about the value of a proper welfare system so as to push wage growth, get some inflation into the economy (to eat up some debt), and give employees more opportunities to change jobs/careers instead of being trapped in low-wage jobs with crap conditions.

            It really needs to be brought to the table.

    • lprent 10.2
      24 May 2020 at 4:47 pm

      To be honest, I suspect that Kennedy Graham probably knew nothing about the benefit system in NZ, and has never had to use it. After all Catherine did point out that he was a rich white guy.

      As far as I could see Kennedy Graham was talking about something he didn’t know. That was quite apparent from his statements at the time, and substantially lowered my opinion of him. Rather than deal with the substance of what Metiria was pointing out in a political context, he simply ignored that and climbed on to a populist band wagon.

      Seems like he was about as superficial, shallow, and personally as dishonest as you are eh?

    • KJT 10.3
      24 May 2020 at 4:53 pm

      Kennedy Graham was a facile hypocrite. Along with all the people who use Government services, then dodge paying their taxes, who were having a go at Metiria.

      I know that I couldn’t live on our inadequate welfare. Only managed it for a short period, because I already had a house to sell.

      Ignorant hypocrites include the ones who were fine with English's accommodation expenses. It's OK when wealthy Pakeha rort the system.

      When poor brown people are rendered desparate by a system designed to be inadequate. And comfortable people get all holier than thou.

      • Bazza64 10.3.1
        24 May 2020 at 6:11 pm

        Why would anyone be fine with what Bill English & many other politicians have done double dipping on the accommodation expenses ? It was clearly a rort, though legal, the rules thankfully have now been changed

        There were massive amounts of people who were unhappy with Metiria & they don't dodge paying their taxes – why do you assume that anyone who criticises someone who has cheated on their benefit to be a tax dodger ?

        Deal with the tax dodging as a separate & very valid issue, but don't throw it up as a smoke screen to hide behind another issue.

  11. xanthe 11
    24 May 2020 at 3:59 pm

    It is ironic that the actions of the identity politicians in the green party can best be described as colonialism. This road dooms the party to irrelevancy and so undermines the green movement to the destruction of us all.

  12. Maurice 12
    24 May 2020 at 4:23 pm

    One wonders if Muller and his cabal are positioning the National Party to be able to offer coalition deals to NZ First AND The Green Party ( … we will give you a better deal then Labour …..) in an attempt to grab the levers of power?

    • weka 12.1
      24 May 2020 at 6:00 pm

      It's neither philosophically nor pragmatically possible for National to offer the Greens a better deal than Labour, because the Nats are opposed to so much of what the Greens stand for, including climate action. The Greens will work with any party on shared policy, but they won't support a party into government that would require them to give up their core principles.

      NZF are definitely capable of working with either Nat or Labour.

      • Dennis Frank 12.1.1
        24 May 2020 at 8:03 pm

        Well, I do wonder if the new Nat leader actually does have a different plan. It's a stretch, sure, but could happen. The reframe he would need to impose on them would seem huge – but only because they been performing dinosaur impressions for so long!

        You know how an earthquake often signals a shift of bedrock along a fault-line? The effect of the pandemic on the economy could be similar in effect, releasing stored tension suddenly, and a shift number of Nats may re-align. More likely after the election, of course.

        I agree they have yet to get real & provide any genuine incentive for the Greens to work with them – and I further deem it inappropriate to respond negatively to Jacinda's goodwill. The working relationship with Labour is paramount for the forseeable future. Any rehabilitation of National cannot depend for facilitation on any public signal from the Greens. But if they do achieve that essential transformation all by themselves, it does open up a new path to the future for Aotearoa eventually…

  13. new view 13
    24 May 2020 at 5:51 pm

    In reality Cathrine D has no idea how National or Tod M may have handled this crisis and therefore should refrain from commenting at all. Just as judging someone’s abilities after a ride in the back of a car is both mischievous amusing and bullshit. How people can judge what TM has to offer without waiting to see him in action has got me baffled. I guess we all like to see our opinions as fact don’t we.

    [lprent: You really shouldn’t criticise the National party caucus like that. After all that is exactly what they did with a one term MP who has never held a ministerial post.

    FFS: get a grip of yourself. People do this all of the time. They make judgements on people based on insufficient information. This is called ‘an opinion’.

    And if you’d prefer not to comment on this site at all, I’d be perfectly happy to follow your ‘opinion’ as applied to yourself. Read our policy about telling us what we should do on our site. I’m perfectly happy to apply your ‘rule’ to you. ]

    • new view 13.1
      24 May 2020 at 9:06 pm

      lprent, you’re right of course. I should have included “in my opinion “ in my criticism of CD. And of course she has every right to write her article anyway she likes. However I stand by my opinions after re reading my post. If that’s allowed on this site.

      • aom 13.1.1
        24 May 2020 at 10:41 pm

        Geeze mate, whose opinion has greater validity, yours based on bugger all or that of someone who demonstrably has good judgement who spent three hours actively listening to two people in conversation?

      • lprent 13.1.2
        25 May 2020 at 9:26 am

        Just be careful about proclaiming demands on this site or asserting facts when they are actually opinions.

        As you say “in my opinion”, or “I think” or “why doesn’t” keep you out of trouble with the moderators. Unless of course if you don’t engage with any of the objections and disagreements from other commentators and astroturf or do fire-and-forget comments. There is a reason there is a replies section on the right of the site.

        The place is here for robust debate, the policy on the site tends to enforce that. But arguing about and for your opinions is of course exactly what the site is for.

  14. That_guy 14
    25 May 2020 at 9:58 am

    From a strategic point of view, I really wish that people associating with the Greens would stop going on about the "old, stale, male" thing and talk about the fact that Simon or no Simon, National has no ideas.

    There are lots of serious discussions about the next economic model, because the current one doesn't comply with the laws of physics. Infinite growth in resource use in a finite system, and all that. National is absent from these discussions. Missing in action. That's the story.

    No need to go on about pale, stale, male. People will figure that out by themselves.

  15. roblogic 15
    25 May 2020 at 2:36 pm

    “On the Road with Ken and Toad” would have been a more poetic headline 😛

    • Chris 15.1
      25 May 2020 at 2:45 pm

      I don't think it's roblogical to say that. A bit too early to tell. Bland, unoriginal and more of the same, yes, but I wouldn't call him a toad. Not yet, anyway.

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    1 day ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • At a glance – Has the greenhouse effect been falsified?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • The Song of Saqua: Volume III
    Time to revisit something I haven’t covered in a while: the D&D campaign, with Saqua the aquatic half-vampire. Last seen in July: https://phuulishfellow.wordpress.com/2023/07/27/the-song-of-saqua-volume-ii/ The delay is understandable, once one realises that the interim saw our DM come down with a life-threatening medical situation. They have since survived to make ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    6 days ago

  • Chris Bishop: Smokin’
    Yes. Correct. It was an election result. And now we are the elected government. ...
    My ThinksBy boonman
    6 days ago

  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #48
    A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science  Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Nov 26, 2023 thru Dec 2, 2023. Story of the Week CO2 readings from Mauna Loa show failure to combat climate change Daily atmospheric carbon dioxide data from Hawaiian volcano more ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • Affirmative Action.
    Affirmative Action was a key theme at this election, although I don’t recall anyone using those particular words during the campaign.They’re positive words, and the way the topic was talked about was anything but. It certainly wasn’t a campaign of saying that Affirmative Action was a good thing, but that, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • 100 days of something
    It was at the end of the Foxton straights, at the end of 1978, at 100km/h, that someone tried to grab me from behind on my Yamaha.They seemed to be yanking my backpack. My first thought was outrage. My second was: but how? Where have they come from? And my ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago

  • Look who’s stepped up to champion Winston
    There’s no news to be gleaned from the government’s official website today  – it contains nothing more than the message about the site being under maintenance. The time this maintenance job is taking and the costs being incurred have us musing on the government’s commitment to an assault on inflation. ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 week ago

  • What's The Story?
    Don’t you sometimes wish they’d just tell the truth? No matter how abhorrent or ugly, just straight up tell us the truth?C’mon guys, what you’re doing is bad enough anyway, pretending you’re not is only adding insult to injury.Instead of all this bollocks about the Smokefree changes being to do ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago

  • The longest of weeks
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.Friday Under New Management Week in review, quiz style1. Which of these best describes Aotearoa?a. Progressive nation, proud of its egalitarian spirit and belief in a fair go b. Best little country on the planet c. ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago

  • Suggested sessions of EGU24 to submit abstracts to
    Like earlier this year, members from our team will be involved with next year's General Assembly of the European Geosciences Union (EGU). The conference will take place on premise in Vienna as well as online from April 14 to 19, 2024. The session catalog has been available since November 1 ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

  • Under New Management
    1. Which of these best describes Aotearoa?a. Progressive nation, proud of its egalitarian spirit and belief in a fair go b. Best little country on the planet c. Under New Management 2. Which of these best describes the 100 days of action announced this week by the new government?a. Petulantb. Simplistic and wrongheaded c. ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago

  • While we wait patiently, our new Minister of Education is up and going with a 100-day action plan
    Sorry to say, the government’s official website is still out of action. When Point of Order paid its daily visit, the message was the same as it has been for the past week: Site under maintenance Beehive.govt.nz is currently under maintenance. We will be back shortly. Thank you for your ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 week ago

  • DAVID FARRAR: Hysterical bullshit
    Radio NZ reports: Te Pāti Māori’s co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer has accused the new government of “deliberate .. systemic genocide” over its policies to roll back the smokefree policy and the Māori Health Authority. The left love hysterical language. If you oppose racial quotas in laws, you are a racist. And now if you sack ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 week ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Working for Families gets cost of living boost
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  • Post-Cabinet press conference
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