Open mike 02/07/2010

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, July 2nd, 2010 - 108 comments
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Step right up to the mike…

108 comments on “Open mike 02/07/2010 ”

  1. Tigger 1

    Dear Granny Herald. Can you explain why you used a picture of a laughing Phil Goff in your web version of the article called MPs in Line for a Big Pay Increase? Goff isn’t quoted in the article at all. And he’s hardly going to be the biggest winner in any rule change. I mean, you could at least try to look impartial…

    • Bored 1.1

      Get with the programme Tigger, this is responsible paper ownership in process.

    • I thought that too. Why use Goff’s photo when he is not accused of anything or even mentioned in the article.

    • Croc 1.3

      It’s pretty obvious that it’s all Phil Goff’s fault. And communists. And that bloody didymo.

      • Bored 1.3.1

        Dont mention that didymo to me….I did however find it slightly amusing that it was really good at blocking nozzles in irrigators on the Canterbury Plains.

    • I thought so too Tigger. I think Granny Herald is beginning to get geared up for the election next year ,so be ready for this type propogander
      Did you notice the article regarding Shane Jones. Well according to the Herald Shane hired 50 porn movies. At first it was two however every time I read the Herald or listen to the likes of Garner ,the number of porn films hired increases.The only conclusion I can come too is that Shane is now addicted to Porn Films. I just wish I could apply the same formula to my Super pension.

  2. Tiger Mountain 2

    Right are getting panicky about Supercity mayor it seems. Campbell Live had a text in poll with the options: Banks, Brown or neither. Campbell looked rather sick as he announced Brown had attracted 48%, beating neither and Banks into second and third respectively, particularly after running the usual head slapper video several times. Brown just needs to hold his nerve, keep meeting people, and keep away from journos and he could get there. If he does get the job I hope the 4 Manukau staff sent on prof. development can be hired to utilise their new skills!

  3. Tiger Mountain 3

    Oh, and one more thing, add to my above comment-that Matt McCarten not ad a last minute “wonder’ candidate i.e. splitter candidate. But I won’t hold my breath on that.

  4. Dans 4

    Chopper Tolley in Queenstown today! Pity she is only spending 15 minutes with the leaders of her primary schools. Maybe if she sat down and listened for a while, she might get the reasons why they are so united in opposition. It does seem a long way to fly for 15 minutes.
    Maybe its the bungy jumping that appeals?

    • ianmac 4.1

      No. Anne Tolley has to leave the Teacher Principals’ Conference to go and open a gymnasium. Gotta get your priorities right!

    • Rex Widerstrom 4.2

      National have a history of such “education” Ministers. reminbds me of when I trundled in (in those days dragging a tape recorder the size of a Corolla behind me) to interview Las Gandar. I’d just walked in, said hello and shook his hand when the division bells rang and he excused himself.

      “No problem,” I said. “I’ll wait here for you”. A look of utter confusion crossed his face. “Oh, I thought you just wanted to meet me” he said.

      Yeah Les, I was planning never to wash my hand again.

  5. Bored 5

    News service again at the ready, headlines from around the egdes of the NZ coast outwards…enabling you to know and RELAX (be at one with the rest of the blissfully ignorant).

    Leading economic analysts predict the US will resort to printing money, heres why:

    The ECRI leading indicator produced by the Economic Cycle Research Institute plummeted yet again last week to -6.9, pointing to contraction in the US by the end of the year. It is dropping faster that at any time in the post-War era.

    The latest data from the CPB Netherlands Bureau shows that world trade slid 1.7pc in May, with the biggest fall in Asia. The Baltic Dry Index measuring freight rates on bulk goods has dropped 40pc in a month. This is a volatile index that can be distorted by the supply of new ships, but those who watch it as an early warning signal for China and commodities are nervous.

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/comment/ambroseevans_pritchard/7857595/RBS-tells-clients-to-prepare-for-monster-money-printing-by-the-Federal-Reserve.html

    News from the markets overnight, flat as…..slightly edgy, but hey relax, Bernanke wants to print paper…will there be enough trees to make enough paper for a zillion zillion $10 notes?

    http://markets.on.nytimes.com/research/markets/overview/overview.asp

    Meanwhile over the ditch in OZ, the place we slavishly want to emulate…..Peak Mineral predicted…

    In the 1950’s, an American geoscientist came up with the term ‘peak oil’, to describe the moment when the maximum rate of petrol extraction from the earth would be hit – and academics in Australia are starting to talk about the very same problems faced by our metal mining industry.

    http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1245657/Peak-Metals-What-happens-when-we-run-out

    Relax, we can grow sheep indefinitely, even give them water…..now over to Polly for local news from South Auckland…..

    • pollywog 5.1

      Thanx Bored 🙂

      In following up the latest PEDA LTD revelations as highlighted on Russell Browns Media 7 programme of last night, it appears English and Te Heu Heu have well and truly washed their hands of the debacle.

      Signalling their intention to not comment further, by their inattendance at question time in pariliament yesterday, shows a massive disrespect for the institution and the processes of democracy in being answerable to the wider public and those elected officials charged with representing us.

      The questions asked at such time generally reflect the views of many concerned citizens and can often be the only voice articulated in parliament on our behalf. That they didn’t deem them worthy of answering is equivalent to giving us the middle finger reply requiring no further response.

      I would rather the ministers to whom questions are directed front up, if only to verbally ‘flip the bird’ to the opposition by muttering inane shit that obfuscates the real issues or sit in their well stuffed chairs, rocking back and forwards, humming nyah nyah nyah…we won, you lost. Surely that’s what we pay them for ?… to turn up, take their seat in the big house and act like know it all privileged brats.

      Regarding PEDA LTD though. Expecting that the Pasifikan community would fall inline behind them with their hands out, grateful and silent, shows not only do English and Te Heu Heu have no understanding of the community they claim to represent but shows a disgusting unwillingness to personally confront the real cause of massive Pasifikan youth unemployment.

      These 2 clowns have gone beyond needing a wake up call to get their arses to parliament and front the issue. They need shown the door, with a one way ticket to Dipton and Tuwharetoa never to be heard from again if thats how they want to play the game.

      It’s just not good enough and Lockwood really needs to get a handle on this shit or start docking their pay if they cant produce a medical certificate for legitimate absenteeism.

      • Bored 5.1.1

        What risk amongst the Pasifika community to the reputations of Michael Jones and Inga? Or will they be “followed”?

        • pollywog 5.1.1.1

          IMHO 🙂

          Inga’s already been seen as a lackey and mouthpiece for PEDA LTD while initially denying he had his snout firmly in their trough. The fact he’s involved in a silent partnership with PEDA through the ‘PI chamber of commerce’ and is accepting junket trips for the gov’t doesn’t exactly improve his stock or elevate his standing.

          If theres one thing the Pasifika community can’t stand, it’s dishonour and disrespect for protocols and thats what ultimately this is about. The community never forget your instances of it but traditonally would have dealt with it inhouse behind closed doors.

          PEDA looked to circumvent these natural processes and heirarchies, thinking the community would settle for hush money, but that only works if you have the mana and respect of the community and you are seen as worthy of being in a postion to act as a provider.

          Few if any of this PEDA lot have that. A flash suit, an island shirt and a tidy line in Pasifika inspired bullshit might get you alot in Bill Englishs circles but in ‘real’ Pasifikan culture it means jack shit.

          And Michael Jones is seen as a rugby munter with a heart of gold, but his foot firmly planted in his mouth should he be required to speak on anything of note. It’s why you wont hear him say anything about anything unless its talking to kids or John Key about God and rugby. Best he sticks to what he knows. Imagine him in parliament ?

          That just leaves Peseta Sam “loves to linger” lingering lovingly in the background, too frightened to peep up in case he unwittingly lands Te Heu Heu and English in the shit by adding another layer of ineptitude and ineloquence to the PEDA bungle cake.

          The thing with silence is, in Pasifikan culture, as with politics, it can work against you more than it can work for you, especially if you dont know when to speak up, when to shut up, when to listen and when to act. Watching him grovel for approval in the National party backbenches is, while entertaining, also distressingly humiliating and embarassing for all Pasifikans given he aspires to lead us in the political sphere.

          …its just not a good look all round eh ?

          What needs to look good on all fronts, is the procurement contract the gov’t puts to PEDA
          LTD. It needs to be sound and rock solid, with acutely quantifiable objectives, real measurables outcomes, irrevocable consequences for lack of accountability in allocating any monies to subcontracted providers and transparently open to the Pasifika community for scrutiny and approved buy in by existing providers expected to deliver on PEDA’s promises.

          These guys have, according to Bill English’s rhetoric, charged themselves with addressing the piss poor employment stats of pasifikan youth and been given 4.8 mill of our money to do it. Kids these days, especially Pasifikan ones, can smell bullshit and token effort a mile off and if they don’t like what you’re cooking, they’ll just switch off and give you shit with their parents usually none the wiser for it.

          So either PEDA LTD need to be able to walk the talk or step to the kerb and walk away. If the plan was to talk the walk, cook the books, take the money and run. I’m afraid thats all gone out the window. That’s how we used to role but no more…enough is enough !!!

          • Lew 5.1.1.1.1

            PW, this is the most worthwhile thing I’ve read all day. Cheers.

            L

          • Pete 5.1.1.1.2

            Ditto what Lew said – thanks pollywog.

            Your Humble Opinion, frankly, mirrors mine.

          • pollywog 5.1.1.1.3

            OH NO HE DIDN”T ???…OH YES HE DID

            Now according to pacificeyewitness.com and substantiated by written answers to questions by Su’a Willam Sio directed to the prime minister John Key…

            ….it appears Key met with Inga, the iceman and the PEDA bros to discuss…erm rugby and God and ummm… handing over 4.8 mill to some dodgy backroom company to address Pasifikan youth unemployment.

            If only he could remember…hmmmm

            Question 12758 (2010). Su’a William Sio to the Prime Minister (22 Jun 2010): On what date did he meet with JR Pereira, Michael Jones, Va’aiga Tuigamala and National MP, Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga in Auckland last year when funding for the Pacific Island community was discussed and where did that meeting take place?

            Hon John Key (Prime Minister) replied: 30 Jun 2010

            On 11 June 2009 I attended a Pacific Leaders meeting at the Columbus Cafe in the Onehunga Mall with Peseta Sam Lotu-liga, Michael Jones and Va’aiga Tuigamala. There were other people present but I have no recollection of their names. J R Pereira may have been at that meeting.

            Question 12764 (2010) to Prime Minister (22 Jun 2010): When he met with JR Pereira, Michael Jones, Va’aiga Tuigamala and National MP, Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga in Auckland last year, did he discuss any proposal to provide government funding through the budget process to any private sector provider; if so, what provider or providers were discussed?

            Hon John Key (Prime Minister) replied: 30 Jun 2010
            Not that I can recall.

            http://pacificeyewitness.com/2010/07/02/prime-minister-admits-onehunga-cafe-meet-last-year-with-key-players/

            No wonder Georgie didn’t have a clue what was going on and couldn’t answer the initial questions about PEDA LTD….cos she wasnt invited to talk shit with the bro’s.

            Surely the mainstream media can’t ignore this story if Goff decides to hammer Key about his involvement now ?

            and whats with the troll account by someone using parliament computers to run interference at pacificeyewitness.com ?

            • Pete 5.1.1.1.3.1

              To be fair to Labour I think they’re doing a decent job of asking more from the government – particularly at question time. The obfuscation from the government has been very telling.

              That said, chucking it back to Goff again can’t be a bad thing given this info.

          • mickysavage 5.1.1.1.4

            Amen to that.

  6. ak 6

    You’re onto it Bored…..toss in the stubborn ginormous debt, dropping commodity prices, increasing Sino-US tension, indications of an imminent proverbial sino “turning-inwards” and the inherent confusion/contradiction of current austerity/QE measures, and it’s looking more and more like “double dip”.

    Ironic, innit: our own “Double Dipton” and “John W” facing a double-dip-dubya economy in time for the Chrissy hols. Could explain the recent rash of “big gun” Righty PR – Maori-bash, bennie-bash, teacher-bash, Creditgate…and now prisoner-bash.

    The Left by-passed the MSM with great success on Mining and Privatisation: learn the lesson and burn that shoe-leather in Auckland for a Supercity Rout to match Jim in Chch.

    • Bored 6.1

      Good point on the MSM, funny thing is that to come up with the above I got links to MSM sites…the truth cannot be hidden away too tightly despite the “filtering’ we see locally. Overall as you note and add to the trend is very obvious for anybody prepared to atke off the shades.

      Im in Wellywood, we have people here working hard against the privatisation of water, a story the MSM ignores…really pleased with the Auckalofa and Chch MSM sidesteps. The next step is to challenge the assumption from the right that what they “contract” out or privatise represents a fait accompli. They are relying on us to stick by the “rules” as they see them. More news to come!!!!

  7. Is John Banks guilty of treating?

    Check out http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-star-times/features/3855793/The-battle-for-Auckland where it is disclosed that he did the following:

    1. He bought a box of confectionery from one shop, popped into a cafe nearby and gave it to two women.
    2. In a TAB, Banks placed a $10 bet and gave the chit to an older woman.

    Check out also section 126 of the Local Electoral Act 2001 which says it is an offence punishable by 2 years imprisonment for someone to “corruptly, before, during, or after an election or poll, … gives any food, drink, entertainment, or provision to or for any person—
    (a) for the purpose of influencing that person or any other person to vote …; or
    (b) for the purpose of obtaining his or her election …”

    Is he a treater?

    • True Blue 7.1

      No different to Mike Williams and the KFC.

      • lprent 7.1.1

        It was an interesting myth from the 2005 election beloved by moron wingnuts who are suckers for any stupid fable – in other words – you. However that is all it is – a myth.

        Try and find a credible (ie not a wingnut blog site) source for the myth and you’ll find it never happened.

        • True Blue 7.1.1.1

          And I suppose he never went to Australia to dig up dirt on John Key, is that a myth also?

          • mickysavage 7.1.1.1.1

            Bloody wingnuts. They think that politics is a contact sport and not a contest of principles. So if one of their stars gets caught they come out with “but blah blah blah did blah blah blah” and if this does not work they come out with “but blah2 blah2 blah2 did blah2 blah2 blah2”.

            It is the same as an admission of defeat. It is as far as an admission as they can go.

            They should learn the Catholic mea culpa thing.

    • Rex Widerstrom 7.2

      The “treating” law is bloody ridiculous. I ran afoul of it for operating a bbq during a campaign. Apparently the price of a vote nowadays is a single friggin sausage.

      I admit I was trying to buy their time… no one wants to listen to a would-be pollie these days and I figured if I handed the buggers a snag they’d at least have to listen to me bang on for as long as it took them to wolf it down. But if I thought I could buy votes that cheap I’d have travelled the electorate flinging pounds of suasages at passers-by 😀

      There needs to be some minimum value beneath which the gift is seen as so trifling it’s unable to sway a voter… because the alternative is to assume a level of stupidity and venality in the populace which frankly is pretty scary. $10, maybe?

      • Mac1 7.2.1

        The only positive from two failed parliamentary campaigns, Rex, was the ‘faux apology’ which I used when turning down the opportunity to pay for my round in the pub- “Sorry, couldn’t possibly, it would be treating.”

        I certainly saw a lot of stupidity which was scary and enough venality to confirm my politics.

        Anti-spam word “crisps”- couldn’t even buy them!

  8. Tiger Mountain 8

    Chopper Tolley our very own Dubya?

    On RNZ this morning, en route to meet 500 principals, heh, she said “parents are the silent majority in all of this, and they are being quite vocal…’

    • prism 8.1

      LOL Great spotting TM

    • Lanthanide 8.2

      Aside from the obvious contradiction, is this even true?

      It seems Tolley can say what she likes about “parents” supporting National Standards, simply because there is no general organised “parents” union or collective that can say otherwise. It also smacks of telling people what they should think by repeating it over and over, as well as divide and conquer – “you’re a parent, do you identify with other parents who support National Standards, or do you identify with those stuck-up teachers that don’t want to educate your child properly?”.

      captcha: thinking

  9. freedom 9

    this pic is great. the highlighted ‘spill’ has been moved east so it is physically positioned over the state of Florida landmass. OOOPS. How do they get away with this crap?
    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthpicturegalleries/7863283/Hurricane-Alex-in-pictures.html

  10. big bruv 10

    There are very few things that unite the left and right, however, opposition to the proposed 10% increase in MP’s pay should be one of them.

    At a time when we are all facing increased costs it is an outrage that these parasites should even consider paying themselves more.

    If they really wanted to show leadership they would vote themselves a 10% reduction in pay.

    Every single one of them has a sense of entitlement that is breathtaking.

    • Bored 10.1

      The only thing bigger than their sense of entitlement is the breath taking expectation of the public and media that their representatives lives are an open book, their privacy able to be invaded and their whole existence scrutinised. I would not go near the job for the current money…I might however do it to represent a constituency of like minded.

      • big bruv 10.1.1

        Bloody oath they should be scrutinised.

        If they are unable to deal with that then they should not go into politics, do not forget, they are using our money, we have a right to know what they are doing with it.

        • Bored 10.1.1.1

          And we are using their time (and demanding access to their personal life as a bonus)…bloody oath, we need scrutinizing too. Please send me your expenses receipts NOW!!!!!!

        • prism 10.1.1.2

          big bruv Can you act as an impassioned advocate also on behalf of nurses of dementia sufferers. What you say about being paid a fair rate from the taxpayers purse should see the nurses pay shoot up. It’s an awfully hard job, underpaid, and still women think it worthwhile and step forward to give it a shot. It’s not something that everybody can or are willing to do. The pay may not match what their peers are receiving and doesn’t reflect the strictures of the job though.

          Politicians are in the same basket, but fortunately better paid.

    • BLiP 10.2

      What about those who feel so entitled as to be feel righteous in walking away from their debts by lying and welching on their word? What sort of person would do that, big bruv?

  11. big bruv 11

    I have no interest in their personal life as long as I am not funding it, I do not want to pay for flowers for anybodies partner.

    I agree that what they do in their own time should remain private just as long as it is legal.

    The issue here is that the greedy sods are going to give themselves a pay rise far in excess of what the average bloke can even dream about.

    • felix 11.1

      Not much you like do paying for though, is there bruv?

      You welching , lying, reneging, bludging, cheating worm.

      • big bruv 11.1.1

        felix

        I take it you support a pay rise for MP’s?

        Is that because most Labour party MP’s could never earn that much in the private sector?

        I sure as hell don’t like paying for parasites Felix, I detest funding union hacks, failed teachers, dole bludgers and DPB slappers.

        • True Blue 11.1.1.1

          1 nil to BB

          [lprent: Counting score is a *fast* way to attract my attention. It is a particularly pointless way to start a pointless flame discussion. It is pointless because no-one can agree on the basis for evaluation and the debate (with agree to disagree rules) veers into monumental stupidity that I have to read.

          I usually just ban the idiot who I consider started to do it as my particular contribution to that debate. Consider yourself warned. ]

        • BLiP 11.1.1.2

          What about those who say one thing and then try to wriggle out of it with lies? Sound familiar, big bruv?

          • big bruv 11.1.1.2.1

            Are you talking about Helen Clark ?

            • Lanthanide 11.1.1.2.1.1

              No, he’s talking about you, and your failure to live up to the bet for either $50 or $100, I can’t recall which.

              Watch as bb fails to reply to this comment, because he would rather ignore the whole incident!

              • big bruv

                Lanthanide

                As I said last week (it might have been the week before) the debt has been paid to a charity (SPCA), if that is not good enough for you then tough bloody luck, unlike Labour people I am a man of my word.

                Now, would you care to debate the issue of our MP’s awarding themselves a pay rise when the rest of NZ is struggling?

                Or, do you not really care about that?

                • Pascal's bookie

                  But paying the SPCA, as good as that is, doesn’t fulfill the bet.

                  So you are not an anything of your word, you’re just a reneging liar.

                  Your word was to pay the charity of the winners choice. You lost, so you don’t get to choose the charity.

                  People aren’t going to just forget about it you know.

                  • big bruv

                    Pascal

                    Tell you what, prove to me that Wikileaks is a charity and I will donate another $100.

                    Now, care to comment about the MP’s pay rise?

                    • Pascal's bookie

                      Pathetic bruv. Wikileaks was mentioned when the bet was accepted. That would have been the time to dispute it. Too late now. Cough up.

                    • big bruv

                      Pascal.

                      I set the terms of the bet, it was to a charity.

                      Like most pinkos you do not bother letting the facts get in the way of your bullshit do you.

                      I repeat, prove to me that Wikileaks is a charity and I will gladly send them another $100.

                      Now, given that you are doing your best to distract from the topic I raised I can only assume that you do not give a toss if our MP’s award themselves a pay rise, I also have to assume that you do not care if the average man in the street is suffering at this time.

                      Typical, you Chardonnay socialists are all the same, you use the poor for votes and then forget about them.

                    • Pascal's bookie

                      Typical authoritarian nutjob, thinking that he gets to dictate both sides of a contract.

                      Here are the terms:

                      big bruv 16.1.1.1.2
                      26 May 2010 at 9:51 pm

                      Blip you are an idiot.

                      Let’s have a wager about this shall we?

                      $100 to the charity of the winners choice (mine will be the RSPCA just so you can start writing out the cheque) if this story even dents his popularity.

                      Or you could stop frothing at the mouth and start getting real.

                      BLiP 16.1.1.1.2.1
                      26 May 2010 at 10:18 pm

                      You’re on I think its a bit of a fuss sending them a cheque but have a look at the donations section on Wikileaks, I think they will accommodate your predilection for last century technology (rather like your political beliefs) let the next preferred Prime Minster poll be the arbiter.

                      http://www.thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-30052010/#comment-220811

                      and here’s you tacitly accepting those terms when you stupidly thought you had won:

                      felix 11.1.1
                      30 May 2010 at 7:48 pm
                      Who did you have the $100 bet on with? Was it BLiP?

                      big bruv 11.1.1.1
                      30 May 2010 at 8:02 pm
                      Dunno, I need to find out though, because I want proof that he has paid up.

                      http://www.thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-30052010/#comment-220795

                      It’s an open thread so i can talk about what I want, but FTR, I think it is pretty typical tory bs. Much like Key’s grandstanding efforts to turn down a years increase when he knows that the HSC will be required to just make up the shortfall by effectively backdating it at the next review.

                      Face it, you don’t want to pay wikileaks because they publicise warcrimes you approve of, but too bad, a bet’s a bet.

                    • big bruv

                      Here are the terms Pascal

                      “$100 to the charity of the winners choice ”

                      Actually, given that BLiP did not nominate a charity then I could have refused to pay anything to anybody.
                      However, as a conservative and therefore a man of my word I paid the SPCA.

                    • BLiP

                      You’ve been learning from King John The Blind of Charmalot in your weasling welching attempt to distort reality by redefining terms post the event. You have no honour and your word is shit.

                    • Pascal's bookie

                      Still doesn’t work bruv.

                      You were going to try and make him pay up when you thought you had won. End of story.

                      Just pay the debt.

                  • big bruv

                    Pascal

                    Of course I was going to try and make him pay up, in hindsight it would have been a massive waste of my time as he would have refused to do so given his political leanings.

                    You can try and twist it as much as you like, I know you are well used to doing so given the way you bent yourself out of shape trying to defend the previous Labour governments theft of tax payer funds but the reality is that the terms of the bet were perfectly clear.

                    Having said that, I repeat that I am perfectly happy to pay $100 to Wikileaks if you can prove that they are a charity.

                    BLiP.

                    Clearly I was correct when I called you an idiot.

                    • BLiP

                      Who offered the bet and who owes $100?

                      I should have realised it was a futile gesture on your part given that you never had any intention of paying up, preferring instead to wear the moniker of lying welcher with the pride reserved only for the self-satisfied, smug who delight in the false belief they’ve got “one over” on the under class. You are the epitome of that which makes Aotearoa weaker.

                    • Pascal's bookie

                      You said he got to name the charity if he won. He, in advance, named wikileaks.

                      When you thought you had won the bet, you sought to make him pay up.

                      When you did this you implicitly accepted the terms under which he entered the bet. Thus, wikileaks is a charity for the purposes of this bet.

                      Charity is doing good work. Wikileaks exposes war crimes and uncovers other state secrets and wrongdoing. That is good work.

                      I accept that ‘good work’ is a subjective term, but that’s ok, because the terms of the debate that you brought to the table said ‘of the winners choice’. that means the winner chooses.

                      You lost so you don’t get to choose, you just get to pay up.

                      So stop quibbling, lying and pretending you have honour, and pay the damn debt.

                    • Pascal's bookie

                      You are right though, that the terms of the debate were clear.

                      They were:

                      That if the next pref. PM poll shows declining support for John Key, BB would pay wikileaks $100

                      If not, BLiP would pay the SPCA.

                      Clear as.

                      His support did drop.

                      So pay up.

                    • wtl

                      “Having said that, I repeat that I am perfectly happy to pay $100 to Wikileaks if you can prove that they are a charity.”

                      While PB has already given you a good response, I’ll just point out that the problem with the above ‘condition’ is that you can simply refuse to accept any evidence or argument that Wikileaks is a charity so you aren’t offering anything really.

                    • felix

                      wtl,

                      I think bb sees that as a feature rather than a bug.

                    • big bruv

                      wtl

                      “While PB has already given you a good response, I’ll just point up that the problem with the above ‘condition’ is that you can simply refuse to accept any evidence or argument that Wikileaks is a charity so you aren’t offering anything really.”

                      PB has given nothing more than a juvenile and petulant response.

                      For the last time, the conditions of the bet (or challenge if you like) were laid down by me, the loser had to pay the CHARITY of the winners choice the sum of $100.
                      BLiP did not name a charity, BLiP named a highly dubious left wing website.

                      You are damn right that I refuse to accept the site nominated by BLiP is a charity because clearly it is not.

                    • BLiP

                      Thus, you never had any intention of honouring the bet. Instead, you make up some bullshit story about having paid the SPCA.

                    • Pascal's bookie

                      Too late bruv.

                      You already did accept the terms of the debate, including paying wikileaks should you lose, when you sought to seek payment.

                      In this very thread you said you were right to seek payment. That can only mean you think BLiP was bound by the bet. And he was bound by the bet, on that we agree. He agreed to be bound by the bet and gave his terms, which you accepted and are now reneging on, because that’s the sort of thing you are.

                      You now, conveniantly, don’t think wikileaks is a charity. What is your argument for that?

                      Is it that they exposed things of which you approve, but would rather be kept secret? Or just a more generic belief that the state should be deferred to and trusted?

                      I seem to remember you taking a similar dislike to the NY Times and some reporting they did about torture and extra-constitutional spying and such like. You, ridiculously, called that ‘treason’ if I remember correctly, (not the torture and illegal spying on US citizens by the US state, but the reporting of same in the free press). Is it that sortt f thing that makes you think wikileaks isn’t a charity?

                      Or perhaps you think charity can only be that if it is registered and given the name by the state. Is that your angle?

                      Or do you only have foot stamping and flat denials to support your patheticism?

                      In any case, it doesn’t matter, you asked why wikileaks is a charity in terms of the debate, I told you why.

                      Cough up.

        • ak 11.1.1.3

          DPB slappers
          Like John Key’s mum and Mauler Benefit you mean?

  12. G8 12

    All experts on Campbell Live agreed that if voter turn out is more than 40% then Len wins. Both sides polling shows we will get a 59% turn out. The “Flood Bank” is broken and John boy is gone – let’s just make sure we all vote!

  13. Santi 13

    Questions for the lying Prime Minister Key:
    “Prior to your invesments being moved into management of a blind trust, did you or any afiliated person have any direct or indirect investments managed by Global Forest Partners?”

    “Subsequent to your invesments being moved into management of a blind trust, have you or has any person under your direction given any form of written or oral investment recommendation to the trustees of that blind trust?”

    • I dreamed a dream 13.1

      Pardon my ignorance. Could you please elaborate on the background to those interesting questions? Thanks.

      • Santi 13.1.1

        There must be money to be made by interested parties behind the Emissions Trading Scheme supported by national. It will be interesting to know if Key is gaining from it. Could it be?

  14. Mako 14

    Farrar’s just posted about a long, boozy lunch with Odgers, Slater and others yesterday. According to Slater’s tweetstream, the “others” included David Fisher (Herald journalist) and Jonathan Marshall. Can we expect more anti-Len muckracking in the Sunday tabloids this weekend?

    • pollywog 14.1

      hah…the marauders

      Padfoot, Moony, Wormtail and Prongs. I wonder if they foursquared their location on the marauders map so Rita Skeeter could tattle about it to The Daily Prophet…

      …and did John ‘Gringotts’ Banks pick up the tab ?

    • True Blue 14.2

      At least he devulges who he went to lunch with unlike Len’s $810 rort on the ratepayer.

      [lprent: Another daft troll style comment with little content and after just being warned. Umm, are you worth keeping around here? Do you add anything to the debate apart from idiotic one-line slogans?

      I just had a look through your comments and found absolutely no content of any interest over the last two months. You’ve been warned several times before about looking like a troll. It looks like you’re too stupid to learn.

      You’ve earned yourself a permanent ban. I’d suggest that your talents would be best at somewhere with a lower threshold of intellectual ability – gotcha, no minister, or the sewer come to mind. ]

      • BLiP 14.2.1

        Maybe Dick Quax would like to tell us what was so important that he couldn’t attend a $1500 course the ratepayers paid for . . . and maybe also the reasons why he voted against having to repay the money? Its not as if Dick Quax isn’t exactly fastidious in his own history of claiming back that which he feels entitled to . . . all $1.54 of it. Watta guy.

        • Armchair Critic 14.2.1.1

          …and maybe also the reasons why he voted against having to repay the money…
          Voting when he had such a clear conflict of interest should have some action resulting. He should never have voted. Instead he should have recused himself – not doing so speaks volumes about his lack of suitability for public office.

        • MikeG 14.2.1.2

          Why couldn’t the Council just say – “ok – we will just keep the next $1500 worth of expense claims that you submit”. Although that could then have the effect of him claiming for things like the 50cents postage for that letter he mailed out at his own expense.

          • Armchair Critic 14.2.1.2.1

            Or, better than that, why couldn’t Mr Quax have postponed, or cancelled as soon as he knew he could not attend? And failing that, why couldn’t he do the decent thing and pay up?
            Probably because he’s a hopeless hypocrite NActoid – says one thing, does the opposite.

      • big bruv 14.2.2

        True Blue

        ” Another daft troll style comment with little content and after just being warned. Umm, are you worth keeping around here? Do you add anything to the debate apart from idiotic one-line slogans?”

        You have to be aware of the rule around here, simply put there are rules for the left and rules for the right.

        Under no circumstances will they allow any comment that shows the left in a negative light, it does not matter how truthful that comment is it will be banned.

        [lprent: Wrong again. You do seem to make a habit of that.

        In this case true blue made about 40 comments over 2 months. None on them that I saw extended for more than 2 lines. None of them had any content that wasn’t a simple slogan – usually incorrect in terms of facts. No-one was bothering to engage with him any more. He was simply wasted space in the comments section.

        From what I know of you – I dislike your politics, personality, and think that your understanding of the world around you has little basis in reality (especially in science). How often have you been banned? I think it happened once in 2008?

        You have an ability to argue and debate. true blue doesn’t. ]

        • big bruv 14.2.2.1

          I thank you for your kind words 🙂

          However, even you would have to admit that the rules do not apply evenly across the board.

          Of course, they do not have to, it is your blog and the opinions of 99% of the contributors are clearly wrong but as it is your property you have the right to do as you see fit.

          Just don’t pretend that they do.

          • BLiP 14.2.2.1.1

            Meanwhile, you carry on pretending you don’t owe wikileaks $100.

            • big bruv 14.2.2.1.1.1

              BLiP

              Do you know how much I am enjoying being right inside your head?

              I have had a very enjoyable day knowing that you are sitting there bashing your keyboard in frustration simply because you were not smart enough to appreciate the bet you accepted.

              You need to learn a few things before you start playing with the big boys, first of all you need to be clear about the conditions of the bet, you could have nominated a pinko charity like Barnardoes, having to pay them $100 would have made me ill, instead you nominated a website that is in no way a charity.

              Silly, silly boy.

              • felix

                So you admit you had no intention of honouring the bet you made. Goodo.

                • big bruv

                  I had every intent of paying money to a charity of the winners choice, stupidly the winner never nominated a charity.

                  What else was I supposed to do Felix?

                  Anyway, the SPCA thanked me very much.

                  • wtl

                    Actually, you never said that the winner would have to nominate a charity before the result was known. Therefore, the winner is entitled to nominate a charity now, and you will have to pay $100 to that charity.

                    • felix

                      Perhaps we need Graeme or Mickey or one of the other lawyers who visit here to weigh in.

                      (I suggest offering to have a look at it on a “charitable” basis and then send bruv a bill for your services anyway, as he isn’t really a charity)

                  • felix

                    The only way I am able to interpret your 14.2.2.1.1.1 comment above is that BLiP was a “Silly, silly boy” for nominating wikileaks whereas you were one of “the big boys” because you realised it gave you a loophole.

                    It is this realisation which gives you away, bruv. The most (ahem) charitable reading of the situation shows that you believed the conditions of the bet were not being met but went ahead with it anyway.

                    The alternative is that you believed the conditions were met.

                    Your choice: Welcher or Cheat.

                    Wriggle and squirm, bruv. Everyone can see through you.

                    • The Voice of Reason

                      Welcher or cheat? I’m going with sore loser, felix. Stop whining, BB, and cough up. What happened to personal responsibility, eh? You willingly made the bet, you lost the bet. Pay up, Bruv. Or are you waiting for the state to bail you out, oh mighty Atlas?

                  • Looks open and shut to me. Pay up Big Bruv.

                    Someone get him wikileaks bank account’s details.

                    Captcha determines!

              • BLiP

                heh! Big Boys!! What a dick, you are. My 12 year old nephew would try something like that – but even he would realise the folly. I’d love to see you try it down at my local, we’d quickly see how big a boy you were there. Face it. You lost the bet and now are taking childish delight in refusing to pay up. That’s fine. But don’t expect not to be reminded about your decision to relish the titles liar and welcher. In some ways its quite good to have it out in the open now . . . that way each and every comment you make will be an opportunity to remind you.

                • big bruv

                  And that folks is the typical response of a knuckle dragging Labour supporter.When faced with an argument you cannot win you revert to violence.

                  Obviously I have got under your skin BLiP, you have no idea how much that pleases me, as for your childish threats, well take a ticket and join the long line of people, I think you might have to wait a while, in the mean time you can have a chat with D4J, he tells me he is at the very front of the line.

                  I admit that I lost the bet, I also admit that I set the rules of that bet and the loser had to pay $100 to a charity (actually, what bloody part of that do you not understand?) a charity has received the money, the bet is settled.

                  However, as I have said before, if you can prove to me that Wikileaks is a charity I will bung them a $100 as well.

                  As for reminding me, go for your life, it is water off a ducks back and only goes to prove how much I have messed with your mind.

                  • Big bruv is a deal welcher and a lame war-mongering Einstein-impersonating corpulent ugolicious rectum-sniffing dickhead (thanks insult.net).

                  • BLiP

                    Your fear and your ignorance are showing, big bruv. You’re the only one talking violence. Pull your word-twister stunt down my local and it would be well deserved scorn, contempt and ridicule you’d get, and then we’d see how much of a big boy you were drinking on your own with no seat to sit upon and no table to lean at. We don’t bring much into this world and we take even less when we leave. Some of us still have our honour and our word, all you have the $100 that belongs to wikileaks.

                  • felix

                    “And that folks is the typical response of a knuckle dragging Labour supporter”

                    I was wondering how long it would take you to try the “commun1st plot” diversion and pretend it’s about politics.

                    Maybe you’re right. Maybe it is only lefties who wouldn’t see it your way. Maybe that’s why all the righties are leaping to your defence…

  15. Santi 15

    You wonder how much money Farrar is making from selling Curia to NationaL? The mercenary is well paid.

    • Ed 15.1

      I hadn’t heard that Curia was being sold. I doesn’t seem to make much sense – a captive friendly company must have been very useful to channel donations and to get polling done at ‘mates rates’ when needed. It does appear that Farrar has not had a full time job for some time – perhaps National are going to re-employ him; not many buy the ‘independent political commentator’ line any more. Do you have a reference for the purchase of the company?

  16. Armchair Critic 16

    PM tight-lipped on MPs’ perk review say Granny.
    But why would he be tight-lipped? I mean, he doesn’t stand to benefit from any changes, right? He gives his salary away. Doesn’t he? So he’s free to have an opinion, and express it.
    Another no-confidence vote for Mr Key, from me.

    • Bored 16.1

      Me too, all that salary Mr Key and no cycleway. Did you take a helicopter instead of a bike and go fishing with Paul Reynolds to talk about the finer points of “delivery”?

  17. BLiP 17

    Not a good move by the new Aussie PM but typical of John Key to back a closet racist willing to stir up hate in order to win an election who now has the gall to try and stand for an international position.

    • I dreamed a dream 17.1

      Another popularity stunt by Key, but I think he’s misread the NZ public on this one.

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    Buzz from the Beehive The promise of tax relief loomed large in his considerations when  the PM delivered a pre-Budget speech to the Auckland Business Chamber. The job back in Wellington is getting government spending back under control, he said, bandying figures which show that in per capita terms, the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • Fucking useless
    Yesterday de facto Prime Minister David Seymour announced that his glove puppet government would be re-introducing charter schools, throwing $150 million at his pet quacks, donors and cronies and introducing an entire new government agency to oversee them (the existing Education Review Office, which actually knows how to review schools, ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Setting things straight.
    Seeing that, in order to discredit the figures and achieve moral superiority while attempting to deflect attention away from the military assault on Rafa, Israel supporters in NZ have seized on reports that casualty numbers in Gaza may be inflated … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    5 days ago
  • Far too light a sentence
    David Farrar writes – Newstalk ZB report: The man responsible for a horror hit and run in central Wellington last year was on a suspended licence and was so drunk he later asked police, “Did I kill someone?” Jason Tuitama injured two women when he ran a red ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Unwinding Labour’s Agenda
    Muriel Newman writes –  Former US President Ronald Reagan once said, “Freedom is a fragile thing and it’s never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by way of inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation.” The fight for ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Sequel to “Real reason Waitangi Tribunal could not summons Chhour”
    Why Courts should have said Waitangi Tribunal could not summons Karen Chhour Gary Judd writes – In the High Court, Justice Isacs declined to uphold the witness summons issued by the Waitangi Tribunal to compel Minister for Children, Karen Chhour, to appear before it to be ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Govt’s Fast-Track is being demolished by submissions to Parliament
    Bryce Edwards writes –  The number of voices raising concerns about the Government’s Fast-Track Approvals Bill is rapidly growing. This is especially apparent now that Parliament’s select committee is listening to submissions from the public to evaluate the proposed legislation. Twenty-seven thousand submissions have been made to Parliament ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • A generation is leaving at a rate of one A320-load per day
    An average of 166 New Zealand citizens left the country every day during the March quarter, up 54% from a year ago.Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The economy and housing market is sinking into a longer recession through the winter after a slump in business and consumer confidence in ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • NZUP RORS back to life
    The government has made it abundantly clear they’re addicted to the smell of new asphalt. On Tuesday they introduced a new term to the country’s roading lexicon, the Roads of Regional Significance (RoRS), a little brother for the Roads of National (Party) Significance (RoNS). Driving ahead with Roads of Regional ...
    5 days ago
  • School Is Out.
    School is outAnd I walk the empty hallwaysI walk aloneAlone as alwaysThere's so many lucky penniesLying on the floorBut where the hell are all the lucky peopleI can't see them any moreYesterday morning, I’d just sent out my newsletter on Tama Potaka, and I was struggling to make the coffee. ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • How Are You Doing?
    Hi,I wanted to check in and ask how you’re doing.This is perhaps a selfish act, of attempting to find others feeling a similar way to me — that is to say, a little hopeless at the moment.Misery loves company, that sort of deal.Some context.I wish I could say I got ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 days ago
  • The Rings of Power: Season Two Teaser Trailer
    I have hitherto been fairly quiet on the new season of Rings of Power, on the basis that the underwhelming first season did not exactly build excitement – and the rumours were fairly daft. The only real thing of substance to come out has been that they have re-cast Adar ...
    5 days ago
  • At a glance – What ended the Little ice Age?
    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 ...
    6 days ago
  • Talking Reo with the PM
    “The thing is,” Chris Luxon says, leaning forward to make his point, “this has always been my thing.”“This goes all the way back to the first multinational I worked for. I was saying exactly the same thing back then. The name of our business needs to be more clear; people ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Waitangi Tribunal’s authority in Chhour case is upheld – but bill’s introduction to Parliament...
    Buzz from the Beehive It’s been a momentous few days for Children’s Minister Karen Chhour.  The Court of Appeal has overturned a High Court decision which blocked a summons order from the Waitangi Tribunal for her. And today she has announced the Government is putting children first by introducing to ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Australia jails another whistleblower
    In 2014 former Australian army lawyer David McBride leaked classified military documents about Australian war crimes to the ABC. Dubbed "The Afghan Files", the documents led to an explosive report on Australian war crimes, the disbanding of an entire SAS unit, and multiple ongoing prosecutions. The journalist who wrote the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Some “scrutiny”!
    Back in February I blogged about another secret OIA "consultation" by the Ministry of Justice. This one was on Aotearoa's commitment in its Open Government Partnership Action Plan to "strengthen scrutiny of Official Information Act exemption clauses in legislation" (AKA secrecy clauses). Their consultation paper on the issue focused on ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • TVNZ is loss-making, serves no public service due to bias, and should be liquidated
    Rob MacCulloch writes –  According to the respected Pew Research Centre, “In seven of eight [European] countries surveyed, the most trusted news outlet asked about is the public news organization in each country”. For example, “in Sweden, an overwhelming majority (90%) say they trust the public broadcaster SVT”. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • The conflicted Covid Chair
    David Farrar writes –  Kata MacNamara reports:    Details of Tony Blakely’s involvement in the New Zealand Government’s response to the pandemic raise serious questions about the work of the Covid-19 Royal Commission of Inquiry over which he presides. It has long been clear that Blakely, a ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Attacking the smartest and most resilient people in the room is never a good idea
    Chris Trotter writes – Are you a Brahmin or a Merchant? Or, are you merely one of those whose lives are profoundly influenced by the decisions of Brahmins and Merchants? Those are the questions that are currently shaping the politics of New Zealand and the entire West. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • A fortune-telling failure, surely, if the tarot cards can’t see a bulldozer coming
    RNZ reports –  It’s supposed to be a haven of healing and spiritual awakening but residents of the Kawai Purapura community say they’ve been hurt and deceived. It’s the successor to the former Centrepoint commune, and has been on the bush block opposite Albany shopping centre since 2008. It ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • The climate battleground heats up
    TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. Usually we have a video chat to go with this wrap, but were unable to do one this week. We’ll be back next week.Several reports ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Bernard’ s Dawn Chorus & Pick ‘n’ Mix for Tuesday, May 14
    The Transport Minister has set a hard 'fiscal envelope' of $6.54 billion for transport capital spending. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The economy is settling into a state of suspended animation as the Government’s funding freezes and job cuts chill confidence and combine with stubbornly high interest rates to ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on why anti-Zionism is not anti-Semitic
    To be precise, the term “anti- Zionism” refers to (a) criticism of the political movement that created a modern Jewish state on the historical land of Israel, and to (b)the subjugation of Palestinians by the Israeli state. By contrast, the term “anti-Semitism” means bigotry and racism directed at Jewish people, ...
    6 days ago
  • Climate change is making hurricanes more destructive
    This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Because hurricanes are one of the big-ticket weather disasters that humanity has to face, climate misinformers spend a lot of effort muddying the waters on whether climate change is making hurricanes more damaging. With the official start to the hurricane ...
    6 days ago
  • Wayne Brown’s PT Plan
    Yesterday the Mayor released what he calls his “plan to save public transport” which is part of his final proposal for the Council’s Long Term Plan (LTP). This comes following consultation on the draft version that occurred in March which showed, once again, that people want more done on transport, especially ...
    6 days ago
  • Potaka's Private Universe.
    And it's a pleasure that I have knownAnd it's a treasure that I have gainedAotearoa’s coalition government is fragile. It’s held together by the obsequious sycophancy of Christopher Luxon, who willingly contorts his party into the fringe positions of his junior coalition partners and is unwilling to contradict them. The ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago
  • Our slow regional councils
    The Select Committee hearing submissions on the fast-track consenting legislation is starting to become a beat-up of regional councils. The inflexibility and slow workings of the Councils were prominent in two submissions yesterday. One, from the Coromandel Marine Farmers Association, simply said that the Waikato Regional Council’s planning decisions were ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago

  • New measures to protect powerlines from trees
    Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced that the Government will make it easier for lines firms to take action to remove vegetation from obstructing local powerlines. The change will ensure greater security of electricity supply in local communities, particularly during severe weather events.  “Trees or parts of trees falling on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Wairarapa Moana ki Pouakani win top Māori dairy farming award
    Wairarapa Moana ki Pouakani were the top winners at this year’s Ahuwhenua Trophy awards recognising the best in Māori dairy farming. Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka announced the winners and congratulated runners-up, Whakatōhea Māori Trust Board, at an awards celebration also attended by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Finance Minister ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • DJ Fred Again – Assurance report received
    "On the 27th of March, I sought assurances from the Chief Executive, Department of Internal Affairs, that the Department’s correct processes and policies had been followed in regards to a passport application which received media attention,” says Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden.  “I raised my concerns after being ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • District Court Judges appointed
    Attorney-General Judith Collins has announced the appointment of three new District Court Judges, to replace Judges who have recently retired. Peter James Davey of Auckland has been appointed a District Court Judge with a jury jurisdiction to be based at Whangarei. Mr Davey initially started work as a law clerk/solicitor with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Unions should put learning ahead of ideology
    Associate Education Minister David Seymour is calling on the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) to put ideology to the side and focus on students’ learning, in reaction to the union holding paid teacher meetings across New Zealand about charter schools.     “The PPTA is disrupting schools up and down the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Craig Stobo appointed as chair of FMA
    Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly today announced the appointment of Craig Stobo as the new chair of the Financial Markets Authority (FMA). Mr Stobo takes over from Mark Todd, whose term expired at the end of April. Mr Stobo’s appointment is for a five-year term. “The FMA plays ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Budget 2024 invests in lifeguards and coastguard
    Surf Life Saving New Zealand and Coastguard New Zealand will continue to be able to keep people safe in, on, and around the water following a funding boost of $63.644 million over four years, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Associate Transport Minister Matt Doocey say. “Heading to the beach for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • New Zealand and Tuvalu reaffirm close relationship
    New Zealand and Tuvalu have reaffirmed their close relationship, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters says.  “New Zealand is committed to working with Tuvalu on a shared vision of resilience, prosperity and security, in close concert with Australia,” says Mr Peters, who last visited Tuvalu in 2019.  “It is my pleasure ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • New Zealand calls for calm, constructive dialogue in New Caledonia
    New Zealand is gravely concerned about the situation in New Caledonia, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.  “The escalating situation and violent protests in Nouméa are of serious concern across the Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says.  “The immediate priority must be for all sides to take steps to de-escalate the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • New Zealand welcomes Samoa Head of State
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon met today with Samoa’s O le Ao o le Malo, Afioga Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II, who is making a State Visit to New Zealand. “His Highness and I reflected on our two countries’ extensive community links, with Samoan–New Zealanders contributing to all areas of our national ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Island Direct eligible for SuperGold Card funding
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has announced that he has approved Waiheke Island ferry operator Island Direct to be eligible for SuperGold Card funding, paving the way for a commercial agreement to bring the operator into the scheme. “Island Direct started operating in November 2023, offering an additional option for people ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Further sanctions against Russia
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters today announced further sanctions on 28 individuals and 14 entities providing military and strategic support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.  “Russia is directly supported by its military-industrial complex in its illegal aggression against Ukraine, attacking its sovereignty and territorial integrity. New Zealand condemns all entities and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • One year on from Loafers Lodge
    A year on from the tragedy at Loafers Lodge, the Government is working hard to improve building fire safety, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “I want to share my sincere condolences with the families and friends of the victims on the anniversary of the tragic fire at Loafers ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Pre-Budget speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Ka nui te mihi kia koutou. Kia ora and good afternoon, everyone. Thank you so much for having me here in the lead up to my Government’s first Budget. Before I get started can I acknowledge: Simon Bridges – Auckland Business Chamber CEO. Steve Jurkovich – Kiwibank CEO. Kids born ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • New Zealand and Vanuatu to deepen collaboration
    New Zealand and Vanuatu will enhance collaboration on issues of mutual interest, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “It is important to return to Port Vila this week with a broad, high-level political delegation which demonstrates our deep commitment to New Zealand’s relationship with Vanuatu,” Mr Peters says.    “This ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Penk travels to Peru for trade meetings
    Minister for Land Information, Chris Penk will travel to Peru this week to represent New Zealand at a meeting of trade ministers from the Asia-Pacific region on behalf of Trade Minister Todd McClay. The annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade meeting will be held on 17-18 May ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister attends global education conferences
    Minister of Education Erica Stanford will head to the United Kingdom this week to participate in the 22nd Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers (CCEM) and the 2024 Education World Forum (EWF). “I am looking forward to sharing this Government’s education priorities, such as introducing a knowledge-rich curriculum, implementing an evidence-based ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Education Minister thanks outgoing NZQA Chair
    Minister of Education Erica Stanford has today thanked outgoing New Zealand Qualifications Authority Chair, Hon Tracey Martin. “Tracey Martin tendered her resignation late last month in order to take up a new role,” Ms Stanford says. Ms Martin will relinquish the role of Chair on 10 May and current Deputy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Joint statement of Christopher Luxon and Emmanuel Macron: Launch of the Christchurch Call Foundation
    New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and President Emmanuel Macron of France today announced a new non-governmental organisation, the Christchurch Call Foundation, to coordinate the Christchurch Call’s work to eliminate terrorist and violent extremist content online.   This change gives effect to the outcomes of the November 2023 Call Leaders’ Summit, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Panel announced for review into disability services
    Distinguished public servant and former diplomat Sir Maarten Wevers will lead the independent review into the disability support services administered by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. The review was announced by Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston a fortnight ago to examine what could be done to strengthen the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Minister welcomes Police gang unit
    Today’s announcement by Police Commissioner Andrew Coster of a National Gang Unit and district Gang Disruption Units will help deliver on the coalition Government’s pledge to restore law and order and crack down on criminal gangs, Police Minister Mark Mitchell says. “The National Gang Unit and Gang Disruption Units will ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • New Zealand expresses regret at North Korea’s aggressive rhetoric
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today expressed regret at North Korea’s aggressive rhetoric towards New Zealand and its international partners.  “New Zealand proudly stands with the international community in upholding the rules-based order through its monitoring and surveillance deployments, which it has been regularly doing alongside partners since 2018,” Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • New Chief of Defence Force appointed
    Air Vice-Marshal Tony Davies MNZM is the new Chief of Defence Force, Defence Minister Judith Collins announced today. The Chief of Defence Force commands the Navy, Army and Air Force and is the principal military advisor to the Defence Minister and other Ministers with relevant portfolio responsibilities in the defence ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government puts children first by repealing 7AA
    Legislation to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act has been introduced to Parliament. The Bill’s introduction reaffirms the Coalition Government’s commitment to the safety of children in care, says Minister for Children, Karen Chhour. “While section 7AA was introduced with good intentions, it creates a conflict for Oranga ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Defence Minister to meet counterparts in UK, Italy
    Defence Minister Judith Collins will this week travel to the UK and Italy to meet with her defence counterparts, and to attend Battles of Cassino commemorations. “I am humbled to be able to represent the New Zealand Government in Italy at the commemorations for the 80th anniversary of what was ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Charter schools to lift educational outcomes
    The upcoming Budget will include funding for up to 50 charter schools to help lift declining educational performance, Associate Education Minister David Seymour announced today. $153 million in new funding will be provided over four years to establish and operate up to 15 new charter schools and convert 35 state ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • COVID-19 Inquiry terms of reference consultation results received
    “The results of the public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has now been received, with results indicating over 13,000 submissions were made from members of the public,” Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says. “We heard feedback about the extended lockdowns in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • The Pacific family of nations – the changing security outlook
    Foreign Minister, Defence Minister, other Members of Parliament Acting Chief of Defence Force, Secretary of Defence Distinguished Guests  Defence and Diplomatic Colleagues  Ladies and Gentlemen,  Good afternoon, tēna koutou, apinun tru    It’s a pleasure to be back in Port Moresby today, and to speak here at the Kumul Leadership ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • NZ and Papua New Guinea to work more closely together
    Health, infrastructure, renewable energy, and stability are among the themes of the current visit to Papua New Guinea by a New Zealand political delegation, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.   “Papua New Guinea carries serious weight in the Pacific, and New Zealand deeply values our relationship with it,” Mr Peters ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Driving ahead with Roads of Regional Significance
    The coalition Government is launching Roads of Regional Significance to sit alongside Roads of National Significance as part of its plan to deliver priority roading projects across the country, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “The Roads of National Significance (RoNS) built by the previous National Government are some of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • New Zealand congratulates new Solomon Islands government
    A high-level New Zealand political delegation in Honiara today congratulated the new Government of Solomon Islands, led by Jeremiah Manele, on taking office.    “We are privileged to meet the new Prime Minister and members of his Cabinet during his government’s first ten days in office,” Deputy Prime Minister and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New Zealand supports UN Palestine resolution
    New Zealand voted in favour of a resolution broadening Palestine’s participation at the United Nations General Assembly overnight, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “The resolution enhances the rights of Palestine to participate in the work of the UN General Assembly while stopping short of admitting Palestine as a full ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to the 2024 Infrastructure Symposium
    Introduction Good morning. It’s a great privilege to be here at the 2024 Infrastructure Symposium. I was extremely happy when the Prime Minister asked me to be his Minister for Infrastructure. It is one of the great barriers holding the New Zealand economy back from achieving its potential. Building high ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • $571 million for Defence pay and projects
    Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced the upcoming Budget will include new funding of $571 million for Defence Force pay and projects. “Our servicemen and women do New Zealand proud throughout the world and this funding will help ensure we retain their services and expertise as we navigate an increasingly ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Climate change – mitigating the risks and costs
    New Zealand’s ability to cope with climate change will be strengthened as part of the Government’s focus to build resilience as we rebuild the economy, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “An enduring and long-term approach is needed to provide New Zealanders and the economy with certainty as the climate ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Getting new job seekers on the pathway to work
    Jobseeker beneficiaries who have work obligations must now meet with MSD within two weeks of their benefit starting to determine their next step towards finding a job, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “A key part of the coalition Government’s plan to have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Accelerating Social Investment
    A new standalone Social Investment Agency will power-up the social investment approach, driving positive change for our most vulnerable New Zealanders, Social Investment Minister Nicola Willis says.  “Despite the Government currently investing more than $70 billion every year into social services, we are not seeing the outcomes we want for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Getting Back on Track
    Check against delivery Good morning. It is a pleasure to be with you to outline the Coalition Government’s approach to our first Budget. Thank you Mark Skelly, President of the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce, together with  your Board and team, for hosting me.   I’d like to acknowledge His Worship ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • NZ – European Union ties more critical than ever
    Your Excellency Ambassador Meredith,   Members of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassadors from European Union Member States,   Ministerial colleagues, Members of Parliament, and other distinguished guests, Thank you everyone for joining us.   Ladies and gentlemen -    In diplomacy, we often speak of ‘close’ and ‘long-standing’ relations.   ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Therapeutic Products Act to be repealed
    The Therapeutic Products Act (TPA) will be repealed this year so that a better regime can be put in place to provide New Zealanders safe and timely access to medicines, medical devices and health products, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello announced today. “The medicines and products we are talking about ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

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