Open mike 03/04/2011

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, April 3rd, 2011 - 137 comments
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137 comments on “Open mike 03/04/2011 ”

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  1. mouse 1
    3 April 2011 at 6:31 am

    This is discraceful… How does NZ Inc benefit from this arrangment…>

    “SECRET PAPERS reveal the government has allowed fishermen from poor countries to be exploited in New Zealand waters.

    Workers are fishing in rusting boats turned into high seas sweatshops that take large parts of the country’s $1.4 billion-a-year catch.

    The government papers reveal that thousands of men from poor areas are beaten and forced to work for days without rest, earning between $260 and $460 a month before paying much of it over to “agents”.

    Files obtained under the Official Information Act show the government has known about the problem for some time.”

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4841777/Slavery-at-sea-exposed

    • RedLogix 1.1
      3 April 2011 at 7:37 am

      This is nothing new.. I’ve an acquaintance who worked for decades as a fishing captain before he got a degree and came ashore permanently; and he full of nothing but contempt for the whole fisheries process, from one end to the other.

      On the other hand he tells me this sort of thing is only getting worse. It’s kiwi money, and kiwi resource is directly feeding this evil. It’s time to end this ugly amoral business.

      (It’s also an object lesson to all those idiot RWNJ’s who bleat on about how employment regulations are so harmful to business.)

      • PeteG 1.1.1
        3 April 2011 at 8:12 am

        This isn’t about the adequacy of our employment regulations, it’s about deliberately avoiding our regulations altogether by contracting overseas owned and manned boats, in contrast to seasonal agricultural workers coming here who fit within our regulations.

        Turning a blind eye to the exploitation of foreign fishermen is disgraceful.

        • RedLogix 1.1.1.1
          3 April 2011 at 8:22 am

          Over the years we’ve had RWNJ’s here at The Standard arguing against virtually every employment law… arguing in each case for their weakening or elimination. In every instance they come down on the side of tilting the law against the worker… arguing that ‘fair-minded’ employers will from the goodness of their hearts look after their workers.

          Yeah right.

          This article describes exactly what happens when you take this line of thought to it’s logical, and very real, conclusion.

          • PeteG 1.1.1.1.1
            3 April 2011 at 8:32 am

            How many righties do you think are in favour of total de-regulation along with total removal of all benefits and a totally non-restricted business environment?

            It seems that some here, if they perceive any degree of rightishness of a poster, perpetually try and paint them as being in total agreement with big bruv and Redbaiter – who, incidentally, disagree with each other far more than they agree.

            • MrSmith 1.1.1.1.1.1
              3 April 2011 at 9:15 am

              “How many righties do you think are in favour of total de-regulation along with total removal of all benefits and a totally non-restricted business environment?”
              PeteG we hardly have any regulations compared to the rest of the world now.
              http://www.doingbusiness.org/rankings

              In my opinion you build things from the bottom UP! look after the people that do the real work then it flows through to you and the rest of society. If you are having trouble with your employes as you mentioned in an earlier tread then maybe you should take a look in the mirror as you hired them after all.

            • felix 1.1.1.1.1.2
              3 April 2011 at 9:26 am

              Pete if you’ve ever voiced an opinion in support of workers’ rights, now would be the time to link to it.

              • PeteG …
                3 April 2011 at 9:39 am

                I’m a worker and part of my work involves dealing with employment law, I’m well aware of workers rights and in NZ we have them about right, although a few tweaks wouldn’t hurt (and the latest tweaks are hardly likely to hurt any more).

                Have you ever voiced an opinion on employer rights? Now would be the time to say something about them.

                • felix …
                  3 April 2011 at 9:55 am

                  Why’s that Pete?

                  Have I been pretending that I give a shit about the rights of employers?

                  You’re really struggling today.

    • Jenny 1.2
      3 April 2011 at 8:37 am

      The government papers reveal that thousands of men from poor areas are beaten and forced to work for days without rest, earning between $260 and $460 a month before paying much of it over to “agents”.

      I think that future revelations will reveal that this scandal goes a lot deeper than one industry.

      Despite warnings from the trade union movement, employment arrangements where the wages of foreign work crews are compulsorily paid to agents, was agreed to be written into the legislation of the Free Trade Deal with Communist China to allow New Zealand’s minimum wage laws to be subverted.

      No doubt all these foreign fishing companies have worked out a similar deal with the current government.

      The government was warned by the trade unions that all the feverish gung ho free trade signing could see Kiwi workers languishing on the dole while imported work gangs work under slave like conditions.

      Indeed this is exactly what happened.

      Kiwi sub-contractors laid off their permanent workforces and with the agreement of the government now bring in bring in Filipino work gangs to do the painting on the Transpower overhead high tension pylons.

      Similar schemes are also used in the fruit picking industry, where the agents pick up all the wages. (There have even been cases where the agents not content with being able to pay less than the minimum have skipped off with all the money) The growers of course, are content to let these sort of abuses occur to be able to source the cheap labour.

      For this government, the profits of employers is more important than the welfare of working people.

      • PeteG 1.2.1
        3 April 2011 at 8:51 am

        Jenny, I don’t think this has all just started to happen in the last couple of years. Has it?

        • Draco T Bastard 1.2.1.1
          3 April 2011 at 11:05 am

          No, it happened under the previous government as well and the policies that they put in place as well. It still points to the problems that you get when you support the psychopaths in business rather than the workers as all governments in NZ have done for the last few decades. We need to stop doing that as it’s bad for our society.

          • grumpy 1.2.1.1.1
            3 April 2011 at 2:12 pm

            Agree pretty much with you Draco, the fisheries industry has long been a disgrace to NZ and….don’t you mean sociopath??

            • Draco T Bastard 1.2.1.1.1.1
              3 April 2011 at 5:20 pm

              Sociopath and psychopath have pretty much the same meaning. The scary part is that research has shown that 60% of the top people in business are psychopathic and that the majority of them (>90%) vote to the right of the political spectrum (why else do you think I keep calling NACT psychopathic?).

              • RedLogix …
                3 April 2011 at 5:35 pm

                A lot of people do use the terms interchangeably….I know that Tim Field whom I regard as the most useful resource on the topic does. He uses the term ‘The Socialised Psychopath’ or ‘Sociopath’ to cover the case of those high functioning psychopaths who learn to hide their lack of empathy and mimic ordinary behaviour….which they use to very successfully mask their real intentions.

                However I’ve also seen some people use Psychopath as a genetic, inhereted condition with a number of clear pysiological markers such as a lack of a startle reflex affecting about 1% of the population…. while sociopathy is thought of as more of a learned condition covering something like 2-3%.

                The end result is pretty much the same though.

              • grumpy …
                3 April 2011 at 5:40 pm

                Having worked in large corporates in the late 80’s and early 90’s, I’d have to agree with you. Arseholes that hated people got rewarded for doing things that normal people would not.

                We had an HR director who joked about “shooting people” and restructuring and redundancies were just a way of getting rid of the next level who were always a threat to those above.

                Hate people and no conscience – sounds like socio and psychopathic to me too!

  2. Cnr Joe 2
    3 April 2011 at 6:37 am

    This smarmy man, this performing P.M nailed it didn’t he? Poor don’t starve in NZ, they eat cockroaches. Elders don’t go without, they cleverly innovate w catfood.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10716810.

    • PeteG 2.1
      3 April 2011 at 8:19 am

      There seems to be some key information missing from that article. It claims:

      “The desperate case of the Bay of Plenty child and his three siblings has been offered as a stark example of the degree of poverty in our communities.

      But also says this without going into details:

      “The boy and his siblings had been removed by Child Youth and Family from the home they shared with their mother about a year ago.”

      Why were they removed? Insufficient money (that could have been immediately alleviated using emergency grants) or insufficient parenting?

    • mickysavage 2.2
      3 April 2011 at 10:35 am

      Welcome PeteG, this morning’s Crosby Textor disinformation shift worker. Hope you have a good employment contract.

      The key bit of information is that A STARVING SIX YEAR OLD IN NEW ZEALAND WAS EATING COCKROACHES TO SURVIVE AND ELDERLY ARE EATING CAT FOOD BECAUSE THEY CANNOT AFFORD ANY BETTER. Excuse me for shouting but this is beyond the pale.

      • PeteG 2.2.1
        3 April 2011 at 12:45 pm

        I’d have thought that it was quite important to know why they were eating cockroaches. Don’t you think?

        • RobC 2.2.1.1
          3 April 2011 at 1:08 pm

          Because they were starving. Fuck me.

        • RobC 2.2.1.2
          3 April 2011 at 1:15 pm

          And let me complete the rest of this thread before it gets too un-manageable:

          PeteG: And why were they starving?
          Someone: Because there was no food in the house
          PeteG: And why was there no food in the house?
          Someone: Because their parent(s) probably had no money to pay for it
          PeteG: And why did they have no money? Do they drink too much? Are they problem gamblers? Do they do drugs?

          This is what you do Pete just about every time you post – de-rail a thread by asking semi-pointless questions.

          Seriously. Look at your original post at 8.19:

          Why were they removed? Insufficient money (that could have been immediately alleviated using emergency grants) or insufficient parenting?

          Do you seriously expect anyone (apart from somebody with an intimate knowledge of this particular case) would be able to answer those questions? It’s pissing in the wind of the highest order.

          And by the way, if you read the fucking article, you would see the requirement to get budgeting advice before any emergency handout, so there’s nothing immediate about it.

          • grumpy 2.2.1.2.1
            3 April 2011 at 2:15 pm

            Come on, there are tens of thousands of families getting on quite OK on the DPB without the kids eating cockroaches – I would have thought PeteG’s questions pertinent but obviously you don’t even want to think about them – shows huge concern on your part – eh?

            • RobC 2.2.1.2.1.1
              3 April 2011 at 2:30 pm

              Another one with comprehension problems: it’s not whether the question was pertinent, it is an unanswerable question and thus pointless … it encourages a hypothetical debate full of hot air with no resolution, and PeteG is quite good at kicking those things off.

              And don’t make assumptions about what I may think, or what I am concerned about. You don’t know me, so you don’t have a clue.

              • grumpy …
                3 April 2011 at 2:36 pm

                So the kids are starving because the parent(s) have fritterred away the generous contribution the taxpayer makes each week for the child’s upbringing and you want to make it a political argument.

                CYF have it right – it’s just another example of the child abuse so prevalent amongst certain sectors of society and so readily escused by the Left.

                Must be Paula Bennet’s fault eh?

                • felix …
                  3 April 2011 at 3:03 pm

                  Yeah that’s why being on a benefit is so cool – you have all this free money to just “fritter away” on whatever you like.

                  Fritter on rent, fritter on electricity, fritter on water. Fritter fritter fritter.

                  • grumpy …
                    3 April 2011 at 4:10 pm

                    …fritter on cockroaches – or cockroach fritter?

                    • felix …
                      3 April 2011 at 4:20 pm

                      I’ve never tried cockroach fritter – that’d be a “lifestyle choice”.

                    • grumpy …
                      3 April 2011 at 4:53 pm

                      Hi Felix, but do you think deadbeat parents should impose such a lifestyle choice on a 6 year old?

                  • Deborah Kean …
                    3 April 2011 at 8:08 pm

                    Yes, the frittering on rent is particularly satsifying… and it’s so much fun choosing whether to pay the phone or the power this month!
                    Every shopping trip you can play ‘choice’ – food, or laundry soap?

                • millsy …
                  3 April 2011 at 4:19 pm

                  Like the middle class Christian father who shaved his son’s head for stealing, purely to make him feel bad about his appearance? And tied him up with his ties, and washed his mouth out with soap? (what if that doesnt work? Janola)

                  And the jury who let him off?

                  What about Tracee Pigott, the middle class real estate agent who shoved hot sauce down her foster daughters throat?

                  And the jury who let her off??

                  Why dont you piss off.

                  Its clear that you want to hold down living standards across the board.

                  • grumpy …
                    3 April 2011 at 4:56 pm

                    The jury system is surely a wonderful thing – aren’t you the same Milsy who complained that the Urewera crowd should also be able to access this paragon of our legal system?

                    If you think it’s somehow National’s fault a 6 year old has to eat cockroaches, you’re a sad example of humanity.

                    • millsy …
                      3 April 2011 at 5:03 pm

                      Actually I havent commented on the Urewera XV issue.

                      In any case, I belive that the case I have highlighted above highlights the need to move to an inquistorial system, rather than than an adversarial system, in some cases.

                      In anycase, the case of the children forced to eat cockroach could very well be down to childhood neglect, as you pointed out.

                    • grumpy …
                      3 April 2011 at 5:05 pm

                      Ah, the French system, surprisingly enough, I agree.

                    • millsy …
                      3 April 2011 at 5:25 pm

                      Oh, I just wanted to add – rich/middle class parents abuse their children.

                      The stereotype of the brown beneficary beating their children is just as bad as the jew being a shifty moneylender.

            • Colonial Viper 2.2.1.2.1.2
              3 April 2011 at 2:32 pm

              grumpy there are thousands of families struggling to get by on $50K p.a. let alone half that on the DPB.

              If you only look at the “average” family reliant on the benefit you are going to miss a lot of the awful stuff that is happening in NZ at the bottom end.

    • Carol 3.1
      3 April 2011 at 6:52 am

      And yet, apparently the speed of winds and height of waves are growing globally on average, especially in the southern hemisphere:

      http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/03/25/3173587.htm?site=news

      Wind speeds and wave heights over the world’s oceans have been steadily increasing for the past quarter of a century, a new long-term study shows.

      • T 3.1.1
        3 April 2011 at 7:43 am

        “And yet,”

        I don’t see how the two articles are related. The second is about historical trends, and the first is about a conditional* prediction**.

        *The condition that we have enough wind and wave generation to completely replace fossil fuel generation.

        **”Although the winds will not die, sucking that much energy out of the atmosphere in Kleidon’s model changed precipitation, turbulence and the amount of solar radiation reaching the Earth’s surface.”

    • infused 3.2
      3 April 2011 at 7:46 am

      While quite interesting, seems there are quite a few holes in that story.

      • jimmy 3.2.1
        3 April 2011 at 1:21 pm

        Im a bit sceptical of the story as well.

        We build houses and cities which get in the way of the wind and (would presumably) produce heat through the foundations only we dont harvest it. The author seems to take aim at wind and tidal power just because they are designed to harvest energy whereas he leaves every other man-made structure out of the picture.

        Hes right that we can impact on the weather, etc. through man made objects but a wind farm would probably have minimal impacts compared to other structures like the thousands of killometers of black roads and buildings with profiles much more disturbing to the wind currents we also have dotted around the place.

        • Draco T Bastard 3.2.1.1
          3 April 2011 at 5:27 pm

          The author seems to take aim at wind and tidal power just because they are designed to harvest energy…

          That might give an idea as to why he does.

      • Draco T Bastard 3.2.2
        3 April 2011 at 1:22 pm

        Quite interesting, there seems to be a few holes in your reasoning.

    • RedLogix 4.1
      3 April 2011 at 7:46 am

      In any large system there are always some failures around the margins… some people in some jobs will always not be up to it.

      But what does shock me is this:

      The head teacher of the school said she has been in tears after being forced to write in glowing terms about a woman whom she thinks should not be a teacher.

      And more in a similar vein. Personally if I was that head teacher I would have tended my resignation rather than be forced to write a reference so completely against my professional judgement. Because that letter now has her name signed on the bottom of what is demonstrably a false document.

      • higherstandard 4.1.1
        3 April 2011 at 9:28 am

        Indeed that was the bit that shocked me – there’s something seriously wrong with a system where that can happen.

        On an aside – is Paul East trying to make himself look like Adolf Hilter ? – I flicked on Q+A and though for a second it was a WWII history piece.

        • Deborah Kean 4.1.1.1
          3 April 2011 at 8:19 pm

          I read that article and I am a wee bit puzzled – was it a school or a day care centre? (Really, there should not be any ambiguity, but there is. So many places where toddlers get dumped and essentially warehoused get labelled ‘schools’, and the baby sitters get called ‘teachers’. When they act as this woman did, the reputation of all real teachers suffers.

      • felix 4.1.2
        3 April 2011 at 9:52 am

        Absolutely RL, she should have let the board wear the responsibility before potentially destroying her own professional reputation.

        That she didn’t makes me wonder what sort of leverage the accused teacher possessed that enabled the negotiation of such a generous (considering the known circumstances) settlement.

    • freedom 4.2
      3 April 2011 at 9:39 am

      granted secrecy, a dishonest reference and $12,000.

      between this, the intrusive attack on the Knox Family and yet another aquittal for a Cop despite clear video evidence and the Judge’s own contradictory statement, it is no wonder my head hurts.

      And it is not even 10am, makes one wonder what gems they have planned for the week ahead

      • Bill 4.2.1
        3 April 2011 at 11:05 am

        Did you notice the article goes on to say that “teachers were said to be smacking the students, pulling them around forcefully and putting them into towel cupboards for extended periods.”; not “a teacher”.

        While I’m not saying that stuff didn’t happen, or that at least one incident occured, I’m reminded of extreme scenarios where, for example, young children have claimed to be victims of strange satanic practices while in supervised care and the community and authorities have gone into an hystrical panic that has led to families and communities being ripped apart. (The Shetland Islands some years back) Children are imaginative and don’t appreciate the impact their retelling of fantasy can have in the real world.

        But what I would like to know is why police gave a list of questions for parents to ask their children about? Everybody knows that it’s easy to unwittingly ‘lead’ a child to answer a question in a particular way insofar as they want to give the ‘correct’ answer.

        • grumpy 4.2.1.1
          3 April 2011 at 2:18 pm

          because they haven’t learnt anything since Peter Ellis – a putrid sore in NZ’s history.

  5. Tigger 5
    3 April 2011 at 7:39 am

    A nasty litle piece here in Granny about David Parker’s apparent ‘romantic’ link…
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10716817

    Funny, Parker tipped as a leader and suddenly his private life is outed….

    • RedLogix 5.1
      3 April 2011 at 7:51 am

      FFS… this goes too far. The rule is that politicians private lives are off-limits unless there is:

      1. A clear case of hypocrisy (ie I’m a family values man, and yet I’m on my third affair)

      2. There is a clear political aspect to it.

      This instance totally fails both tests. If the MSM have abandoned this long honoured standard then it’s time to strike back… how about some stalking of various senior editors, and press gallery types.. and then splashing whatever around the blogs??

      Nah they’d scream about that wouldn’t they?

      • ianmac 5.1.1
        3 April 2011 at 8:58 am

        But of course there would be no connection with the politics of the Right. This would just happen to be a “human interest” story. Yeah right!
        David did say that he went to public events with her so it is not a secret. But newsworthy? Rubbish.

        • Bob Stanforth 5.1.1.1
          3 April 2011 at 10:57 am

          Wow, huge leap there ianmac – who said it was the right who leaked it? Got proof? It would make even more sense – or maybe the same sense – that someone on the left released this, so as to undermine a contender.

          ASW: protests, as in doth too much, perchance 🙂

      • RobC 5.1.2
        3 April 2011 at 9:06 am

        Geez RL you’ve had three affairs? Lucky SOB, I haven’t even managed one yet 😀

    • Redbaron77 5.2
      3 April 2011 at 8:50 am

      The article looks to be essentially a ‘dressed-up’ attack piece. The people don’t deserve to be at the butt-end of a example of news reporting that has lost its ethical compass.

    • PeteG 5.3
      3 April 2011 at 8:56 am

      Kathryn Powley’s private life should be revealed in detail so we can judge if she is hypocritical or has any credibility?

    • William Joyce 5.4
      3 April 2011 at 9:03 am

      This is “out”rageous . It is one piece of gossip that can be expressed in one sentence. To hide and soften the fact that is unwarranted and nasty journalism it employs misdirection to take the reader into considering the relationship affects of a stroke.
      And yet it remains unwarranted and nasty journalism.
      Shameless!
      Kathryn Powley, I hope that you did this because you were told to and needed the work. Consider this your first and only warning else you will be on my list!
      It’s a bit crowded these day by I think I can squeeze you in.

    • William Joyce 5.5
      3 April 2011 at 12:05 pm

      Looking into the fine journalist and rising start Kathryn Powley and her excellent body of work

      Gained award in journalismfrom Massey in 2001

      It seems that Kathryn Powley has been a print journalist for at least a the last decade.
      her artciles have been published in INL/Fairfax papers since the early 2000s with articles published in DomPost, Northern Advocate

      See : Supermodel’s Kiwi surprise

      One of those journalists who find uninvolved relatives and sticks a microphone under their noses as they are putting their groceries in the boot…

      She has had hard hitting investigative pieces published in worthy publications.

      See : Hillary Timmins’ second chance at love

      At least she’s an equal opportunity offender – she has offended Cactus Kate (and what doesn’t)
      http://asianinvasion2006.blogspot.com/2011/02/how-about-those-discount-books-kerre.html

    • Colonial Viper 5.6
      3 April 2011 at 2:38 pm

      Yeah this is a pretty disgusting story. Looks like the gloves are already off in election year and the Right are going all out.

      Someone have a talk to the write Powley and ask her why the frak she even thinks this is news.

      Maybe the Granny Herald is starting a competition with Womans Day.

      • grumpy 5.6.1
        3 April 2011 at 5:09 pm

        This is truly a disgusting story. Obviously a lower echelon journalist(???) being fed an “exclusive”. I tend to think a Labour leak as Parker is only an issue for them at present.
        I think National would have saved it for closer to the election, especially if Goff still gets rolled.

        • felix 5.6.1.1
          3 April 2011 at 5:28 pm

          Who is suggesting Parker ever had a shot?

          I haven’t heard it seriously raised on the left at all.

          • Anthony C 5.6.1.1.1
            3 April 2011 at 7:01 pm

            Probably parliamentary insiders.

            From the National Party.

            • William Joyce 5.6.1.1.1.1
              3 April 2011 at 9:05 pm

              John Key :
              “I’ve had no advice on that – but there are always rumours around parliament”

              Yeah, right, direct from Brownlee’s office.

  6. millsy 6
    3 April 2011 at 9:44 am

    Bernard hickey wants WFF and childcare funding chopped

    Never mind that WFF has lifted so many people out of poverty. Never mind that without it, there will be thousands of families that will probably end up in garages and in their cars.

    There are a lot of mean spirited people out there, who by calling for the elimination of WFF are effectively calling for food to be taken of children’s plates.

    • Draco T Bastard 6.1
      3 April 2011 at 11:35 am

      NZIER says Working for Families poorly targeted as government gets set to cut budget spending, suggests alternative
      That one? Which is actually NZEIR saying that WFF is poorly targeted and structured which I’d agree with – I’d prefer a Universal Income as it’s simpler and actually does prevent poverty.

      • Bob Stanforth 6.1.1
        3 April 2011 at 12:06 pm

        OMFG, we agree on something 🙂

        That pig just started doing low loops of the house 😉

        ASW: clubs: maybe we should form one LOL

        • grumpy 6.1.1.1
          3 April 2011 at 2:24 pm

          WFF is a subsidy to businesses to let them continue to pay low wages. It’s a crap system economically but a bloody good bribe electorally.

          • millsy 6.1.1.1.1
            3 April 2011 at 4:14 pm

            Its not a bribe, its a payment to those in work with children to ensure they get a decent standard of living.

            Tell me, are you going to go round the employers and tell them to increase wages, or tell the landlords to decrease the rent?

            • grumpy 6.1.1.1.1.1
              3 April 2011 at 5:01 pm

              You really need to get out more.

              WFF is a taxpayer subsidy of workers so that they get the illusion of higher wages without the employer having to pay any more. It’s a wart on the backside of the labour market in NZ.

              Of course employers should pay more and of course REAL wages need to be higher.

              Far from assisting families, WFF actually primarily assist employers.

              • millsy …
                3 April 2011 at 5:05 pm

                Youll be denounced as a counter-revolutionary by your fellow rightwingers for saying that…

                • grumpy …
                  3 April 2011 at 5:10 pm

                  Yeah, I know Millsy. 🙂

                • grumpy …
                  3 April 2011 at 5:20 pm

                  Lets make it simple for all the others Millsy,

                  I have a business that sells things. If people have more money they buy more and I make more money, if people have bugger all money they can’t afford to buy anything (except cockroaches) sounds a bit Social Credit eh?

                  Don’t blame me – it’s the education system, when I studied economics at Canterbury, my 2 favourite lecturers were Wolfgang Rosenberg and Alf Brownlie.

                  The thing I can’t understand is why Labour bought in such a sop to business as WFF? Is it because they didn’t want to give the Unions a whiff by giving a General Wage Order or something? Never made sense to me….

              • felix …
                3 April 2011 at 5:30 pm

                Too right grumpy. The hardest part is how do you ever transition out of a system like WFF?

  7. PeteG 7
    3 April 2011 at 9:58 am

    Potentially Labour are on a lose-lose with their Hughes replacement. Tizard has just announced she’s not coming back in a muddled mucky interview with Espiner. Now if the next four on the list drop out (another four weeks of decision making?) and Louisa Walls gets in it looks like Little has put has manipulated the list and got his way.

    And worse than continuing Labour woes, another lose, this isn’t good timing for the MMP referendum.

    • The Voice of Reason 7.1
      3 April 2011 at 10:07 am

      Er, where is the problem? If you are uncomfortable with democracy, move to Canterbury and let King Gerry make all the decisions for you.

      • PeteG 7.1.1
        3 April 2011 at 10:14 am

        This is another messy ongoing distraction for Labour. Little stuffed up. Whoever was responsible for delaying Hughes’ resignation stuffed up. Tizard has reminded us why it’s better she doesn’t take up the available spot. Another week, another Labour spent spinning the wheels in the mire.

        • The Voice of Reason 7.1.1.1
          3 April 2011 at 10:32 am

          Hughes is responsible for his resignation and, clearly, Tizard’s done the right thing. In what way did Little stuff up, Pete? As far as I can tell, he’s the only Labour leader to get through the week with his reputation enhanced.

          • PeteG 7.1.1.1.1
            3 April 2011 at 12:51 pm

            Little publicly suggested that next five on the list stand aside so his choice can take the position. That’s not reputation enhancing.

            This has been a drawn out muddle, again. It suggests weak leadership.

            • The Voice of Reason 7.1.1.1.1.1
              3 April 2011 at 12:57 pm

              I think the rest of the world sees that as strong leadership; stating your position and giving sound reasons as to why it should be that way. Then letting the individuals concerned decide for themselves as to whether they took up the option. So, that’s a strong, transparent leader who respects democracy. Remind you of John Key? Nah, me neither.

            • Colonial Viper 7.1.1.1.1.2
              3 April 2011 at 2:41 pm

              Little publicly suggested that next five on the list stand aside so his choice can take the position. That’s not reputation enhancing.

              The Righties are scared of Louisa Wall. So naturally, they’d prefer to have Tizard in.

    • ianmac 7.2
      3 April 2011 at 10:18 am

      Herald quoting ScoopThe website scoop.co.nz published a statement today, purportedly from Ms Tizard, saying she “will today advise the Labour Party of her decision to enter parliament”.

      It included a number of quotes, including: “I would like to formally announce that I have decided to re-enter parliament on the Labour Party List, and fill the gap left by today’s official resignation by Darren Hughes.”
      Whats that? She has actually rejected the role so how come scoop printed the above?
      “Scoop has since removed the statement, saying it came from a bogus email address.”
      The bogus email address was of course unrelated to any political stunt. Yeah right. How do they get away with this?
      http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10716445

    • mickysavage 7.3
      3 April 2011 at 10:39 am

      PeteG the wannabe Crosby Textorite.

      If Tizard opted to take the seat no doubt according to you this would be a lose-lose.

      Now that Tizard opted to not take the seat you say it is a lose lose. Did you type out the whole post and just add the extra words in the middle before you knew the decision?

      • Tiger Mountain 7.3.1
        3 April 2011 at 11:12 am

        As the election nears the number of ‘plants’ commenting here will increase as will the moderators work. I vacillate somewhat over posters using their real identities but in the end support handles as regular posters build up a profile and you know where they are coming from. If anonymity allows one useful post from say a public sector worker then it is worth it. There is a lengthy discussion at Pundit on this matter of bloggers identity that is covered from every imaginable angle that is well worth reading if anonymity exercises your thoughts.

        It is the one timers and irregulars that bug me. There was a ‘peg gressland’ for instance over at Red Alert yesterday. And numbers of righties here oh so concerned about Labours inner workings, they can all piss off in my opinion. lprent has enought to deal with in us non Labour lefties!

  8. Armchair Critic 8
    3 April 2011 at 10:32 am

    Great post over at Auckland Transport Blog.
    http://transportblog.co.nz/2011/04/02/guest-post-two-aucklands/#comments
    Moderators – Any chance of getting it cross-posted?

    • Kevin Welsh 8.1
      3 April 2011 at 10:42 pm

      I agree AC. I read this tonight before The Standard and had exactly the same reaction.

  9. Draco T Bastard 9
    3 April 2011 at 11:41 am

    Have Western democracies become plutocracies?
    Is New Zealand a Plutocracy? Evidence suggests that we are certainly heading that way.

    • millsy 9.1
      3 April 2011 at 5:30 pm

      Been one for 27 years, mate.

      Personally I think if businesspeople want to run this country, they should put their money where their mouths are, and stand for office.

      Roger Kerr comes to mind.

  10. MrSmith 10
    3 April 2011 at 11:43 am

    I get the feeling some on the right are getting a little nervous, every day Labour are in the news for whatever reason is good for them, people just need to see them and relate to them, if they make a few mistakes well it only shows they are human. Unlike the spin&dribble from the Nact’s, which is starting to wear a little thin.

  11. seeker 11
    3 April 2011 at 12:04 pm

    Certainly looks like it Mr.Smith

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-star-times/news/4841615/Backlash-at-Keys-instructions-on-bullying

    Backlash beginning against the “nice Mr Key” daddy-state ? (term coined by Clare Curran on Red Alert in March -thanks Clare -hope it’s alright to use it here, it was so apt!)

  12. seeker 12
    3 April 2011 at 2:53 pm

    On Q&A this morning I believe Judith Collins said that people were double bunked in prisons, hence her looting comment of ‘preferably with a cellmate’. Does this mean there are 4 to a cell? If so, and with the smoking ban coming into effect in July, could there not be trouble? Crowding plus real tension from enforced giving up of an addictive substance is quite a lethal cocktail.. Judith Collins says it will be alright! Does this government understand human beings- especially those who have nothing left to lose except their last breath? Perhaps that will be the outcome. I really hope not

    • Lanthanide 12.1
      3 April 2011 at 3:03 pm

      “double bunked in prisons, hence her looting comment of ‘preferably with a cellmate’. Does this mean there are 4 to a cell?”

      Double bunking really just means 2 people per cell, rather than 2 people per bed or some other permutation.

    • millsy 12.2
      3 April 2011 at 4:20 pm

      I wish someone would ask Collins straight out if she was in favour of inmate on inmate prison rape and violence.

      • grumpy 12.2.1
        3 April 2011 at 5:04 pm

        Easy to answer that, rape is a crime and Crusher has shown she has no tolerance for crime of any sort.

        Compare that to the last lot…….

        • millsy 12.2.1.1
          3 April 2011 at 5:35 pm

          “rape is a crime”.

          Some how I doubt that Crusher would have much sympathy for an inmate who is repeatedly raped by his cell mate.

          Go grab a DVD (or download) of the TV series “OZ”.

        • William Joyce 12.2.1.2
          3 April 2011 at 9:09 pm

          …and yet we do not have one car that has been crushed.

  13. ianmac 13
    3 April 2011 at 3:08 pm

    I wonder if the tough rhetoric being spouted by a certain Minister contributes to this:

    In 2009, Statistics NZ recorded 1501 teenage girls aged 14-16 being apprehended for violent crimes, including assaults, intimidation and threats.
    This compared to 1402 in 2008 and 1205 in 2007.

  14. lprent 14
    3 April 2011 at 4:33 pm

    The site will be slightly slow while I pull some data for testing.

  15. lprent 15
    3 April 2011 at 5:32 pm

    Ummm Live test with new editor – test one

    The icon display leaves a lot to be desired (didn’t happen on test area).

    But it worked in Chrome on logged in mode.

  16. Draco T Bastard 16
    3 April 2011 at 5:38 pm

    Transocean awards bonuses after ‘best year’ for safety

    Transocean was blamed along with BP and Halliburton after last year’s massive spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

    Yep, the people at least partly responsible for killing 11 people and causing millions of barrels of oil to leak into the ocean got a bonus for safety.

    • RedLogix 16.1
      3 April 2011 at 5:59 pm

      Nah… it just looks like the BBC. I reckon its a spoof from The Onion. 🙂

  17. ianmac 17
    3 April 2011 at 5:51 pm

    Just testing and it looks much smarter though 52 though not sure what the command is for block quote on a Mac. ŒThis compared to 1402 in 2008 and 1205 in 2007.

  18. ianmac 18
    3 April 2011 at 5:53 pm

    OOps. underline and strike and subscript disappeared from draft to submit.

    • ianmac 18.1
      3 April 2011 at 8:37 pm

      Just checking again and strikeTransocean was blamed along with BP and Halliburton after last year’s massive spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

      Transocean was blamed along with BP and Halliburton after last year’s massive spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

    • lprent 18.2
      3 April 2011 at 8:42 pm

      Interesting. You mean that it was on-screen, but didn’t save?
      I’ll check that on safari on a Mac when Lyn lets me back on her machine.

      • ianmac 18.2.1
        3 April 2011 at 11:39 pm

        Yes Lprent. This showed on my screen as strike and this as underline and bold and italics

        I’ll check that on safari on a Mac when Lyn lets me back on her machine. quotes

        Using Firefox

  19. Carol 19
    3 April 2011 at 7:03 pm

    Flicking through the Sunday Herald today, I came across this article about how there aren’t enough buses on some Auckland routes to cater for all the people leaving cars at home due to the price of petrol:
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10716784

    Commuters said this week they often saw up to three full buses drive past their stops because there was no room for more passengers.
    Under-pressure providers are trying to borrow buses from quake-hit Christchurch and pressing older vehicles back into service.
    But Auckland Mayor Len Brown, who made better public transport a key part of his election campaign, said it was a “hell of a good problem to have”.

    Of course, I’m sure Joyce has a blindfold and earplugs and hasn’t noticed.

    • Colonial Viper 19.1
      3 April 2011 at 11:23 pm

      Another $1/L rise in petrol and a hell of a lot more people will find it uneconomic to drive to work.
      Could happen by the new year, or soon thereafter.
       

  20. gingercrush 20
    3 April 2011 at 11:10 pm

    This is too much and resembles

    a horrible

    bulletin
    board

    from before 2000

    • gingercrush 20.1
      3 April 2011 at 11:11 pm

      ?

      ?

      a

      Bulletin points don’t seem to work. Oh and can we have shiny text and huge signatures

      • lprent 20.1.1
        4 April 2011 at 7:01 am

        Oh and can we have shiny text and huge signatures

        Nope. Mostly this is to allow new people to not have to learn HTML to leave links that don’t upset the anti spam engin.

        • Carol 20.1.1.1
          4 April 2011 at 7:09 am

          I actually quite like the full url as a link, because then I can see what I’m being linked to. I like to have some clue rather than a look at this, kind of link.  Time is short.  I also like some clue as to why I’m being recommended to check out a link.  Without that, I often don’t bother…. life’s too short, sometimes I’m too busy.

          • felix 20.1.1.1.1
            4 April 2011 at 7:38 am

            Hi Carol, when you hover over a link your browser should display the destination down at the bottom of the window somewhere (in Firefox it’s at the bottom left)

    • lprent 20.2
      3 April 2011 at 11:22 pm

      Still testing it. And I have a bug in the turn off code. I will fix it when I get up at about 6am

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  • Gordon Campbell On The Biden Withdrawal

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  • Joe Biden's withdrawal puts the spotlight back on Kamala and the USA's complicated relatio...

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    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
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  • Why we have to challenge our national fiscal assumptions

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    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
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  • Existential Crisis and Damaged Brains

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    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
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  • A speed limit is not a target, and yet…

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    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
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  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Monday, July 22

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    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
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  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Monday, July 22

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    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #29

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  • I'd like to share what I did this weekend

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    6 days ago
  • For the children – Why mere sentiment can be a misleading force in our lives, and lead to unex...

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    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A friend in uncertain times

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    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
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  • The Chaotic World of Male Diet Influencers

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  • It's Starting To Look A Lot Like… Y2K

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    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
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  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 20

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  • Pharmac Director, Climate Change Commissioner, Health NZ Directors – The latest to quit this m...

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

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  • A Voyage Among the Vandals: Accepted (Again!)

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  • The Kākā's Chorus for Friday, July 19

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    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 19

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

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

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  • Tobacco First

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    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Trump’s Adopted Son.

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  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 19

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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    2 days ago
  • Transport Minister thanks outgoing CAA Chair

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

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

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

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

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    2 days ago
  • Government moves to ensure flood protection for Wairoa

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

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

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

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    3 days ago
  • Half a million people use tax calculator

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

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

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    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • ‘Open banking’ and ‘open electricity’ on the way

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    In response to serious concerns around oversight, overspend and a significant deterioration in financial outlook, the Board of Health New Zealand will be replaced with a Commissioner, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today.  “The previous government’s botched health reforms have created significant financial challenges at Health NZ that, without ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister to speak at Australian Space Forum

    Minister for Space and Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins will travel to Adelaide tomorrow for space and science engagements, including speaking at the Australian Space Forum.  While there she will also have meetings and visits with a focus on space, biotechnology and innovation.  “New Zealand has a thriving space ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Climate Change Minister to attend climate action meeting in China

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will travel to China on Saturday to attend the Ministerial on Climate Action meeting held in Wuhan.  “Attending the Ministerial on Climate Action is an opportunity to advocate for New Zealand climate priorities and engage with our key partners on climate action,” Mr Watts says. ...
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    5 days ago
  • Oceans and Fisheries Minister to Solomons

    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is travelling to the Solomon Islands tomorrow for meetings with his counterparts from around the Pacific supporting collective management of the region’s fisheries. The 23rd Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee and the 5th Regional Fisheries Ministers’ Meeting in Honiara from 23 to 26 July ...
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    7 days ago
  • Government launches Military Style Academy Pilot

    The Government today launched the Military Style Academy Pilot at Te Au rere a te Tonga Youth Justice residence in Palmerston North, an important part of the Government’s plan to crackdown on youth crime and getting youth offenders back on track, Minister for Children, Karen Chhour said today. “On the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Nine priority bridge replacements to get underway

    The Government has welcomed news the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has begun work to replace nine priority bridges across the country to ensure our state highway network remains resilient, reliable, and efficient for road users, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“Increasing productivity and economic growth is a key priority for the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Update on global IT outage

    Acting Prime Minister David Seymour has been in contact throughout the evening with senior officials who have coordinated a whole of government response to the global IT outage and can provide an update. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has designated the National Emergency Management Agency as the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New Zealand, Japan renew Pacific partnership

    New Zealand and Japan will continue to step up their shared engagement with the Pacific, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “New Zealand and Japan have a strong, shared interest in a free, open and stable Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says.    “We are pleased to be finding more ways ...
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    1 week ago
  • New infrastructure energises BOP forestry towns

    New developments in the heart of North Island forestry country will reinvigorate their communities and boost economic development, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones visited Kaingaroa and Kawerau in Bay of Plenty today to open a landmark community centre in the former and a new connecting road in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • 'Pacific Futures'

    President Adeang, fellow Ministers, honourable Diet Member Horii, Ambassadors, distinguished guests.    Minasama, konnichiwa, and good afternoon, everyone.    Distinguished guests, it’s a pleasure to be here with you today to talk about New Zealand’s foreign policy reset, the reasons for it, the values that underpin it, and how it ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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