Open mike 05/05/2014

Written By: - Date published: 6:40 am, May 5th, 2014 - 234 comments
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234 comments on “Open mike 05/05/2014 ”

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  1. BLiP 1
    5 May 2014 at 7:19 am

    ‘

    Is Judith Collins Rob Muldoon’s love child?

    • miravox 1.1
      5 May 2014 at 7:28 am

      I’m not sure, but I think she and Key share a top drawer as well as nasty friends and an uncanny likeness to the man.

    • phillip ure 1.2
      5 May 2014 at 7:34 am

      well..he did put it about a bit…

    • Rosie 1.3
      5 May 2014 at 7:58 am

      Whoah, Jude that was one hell of a tanty you threw yesterday, and guess what Lady, its’ not the media’s fault Williamson lost his job, it’s Williamsons’ fault he lost his job.

      • phillip ure 1.3.1
        5 May 2014 at 8:14 am

        hey jude..!..don’t take it bad…

        ..take a milk-spill…and make it better..

        ..remember…to keep that rage-lid on tight..

        ..and will you now go dairy-free..?..go vegan..?

        ..to make it better ..better..better..oowww!!!!

        ..la-la-la-lalala-lah..la-la-lah…hey jude..!

        ..hey jude..!..don’t send that txt..!

        ..and stop threatening – to piss on the media..

        ..the only dirt – we want to see..

        ..is the name of that official…was it mr lee..?

        ..hey jude…yr in a hole..

        ..shouldn’t you really..stop digging..?

        ..we know …it’s getting under yr skin..

        ..but you deserve nothing better..

        ..sitting in yr oravida-sin-bin..

        …i really doubt you’ll be able to make it all..

        … better..better..better..etc..

        • Rosie 1.3.1.1
          5 May 2014 at 8:36 am

          A round of applause! Lol, and an earworm for the morning.

          • yeshe 1.3.1.1.1
            5 May 2014 at 9:21 am

            Thanks Phillip … and do you think Oravida is derived to mean Golden Life, or Life of Gold ?

            And in the same interview with Sabin, Collins was so avariciously callow in dismissing any concerns about the swamp kauri pillage in Northland as her husband’s company stores $50 million worth until price increases further .. Crusher is crashing, and it can’t come soon enough.

          • phillip ure 1.3.1.1.2
            5 May 2014 at 10:36 am

            chrs 2 u rosie..yr ‘jude’ was the trigger…

            • phillip ure 1.3.1.1.2.1
              5 May 2014 at 5:14 pm

              another ‘song for judith’…?

              (something about ‘milkshakes’..?..’boys’..?..’yard’..?..)

              • phillip ure …
                5 May 2014 at 6:53 pm

                or maybe kings of leon..?

                ..doing ‘milk’..?

                ..with its’ evocative (for judith) cry from the heart:

                ..’staayyy..for meeee..!’..

    • Chooky 1.4
      5 May 2014 at 8:43 am

      BLip….lol!…she does look a bit like him and he did play around a bit!

      • bad12 1.4.1
        5 May 2014 at 8:51 am

        Talk of people looking like each other, the reporter at the center of ‘Crusher’s’ latest piece of verbal ugliness bares an uncanny resemblance to the Mana Parties Sue Bradford…

        • veutoviper 1.4.1.1
          5 May 2014 at 9:07 am

          Sue’s daughter.

          • Rosie 1.4.1.1.1
            5 May 2014 at 9:26 am

            Oh is she? I thought she had a remarkable resemblance to Sue. Thanks for the info.

            • veutoviper 1.4.1.1.1.1
              5 May 2014 at 9:33 am

              What I found ironic about Collins’ interview last night – apart from her bizarre behaviour – was that she was being interviewed by Brook Sabin (son of National MP Mike Sabin) and puts the boot into another offspring of a former MP.

              Ironic is the wrong word, but cannot think of the right one.

              • Rosie …
                5 May 2014 at 9:50 am

                Thanks for the education this morning vv – I had been wondering about the Sabins as well!

                Yes, well ironic alright. Her rage must be so blind that she will lash out at anyone including the son of her comrade so to speak, or maybe she see’s the son’s challenge of her a betrayal of code. Who knows. She certainly has let the Ban- Shidhe out from under the hills though.

        • ianmac 1.4.1.2
          5 May 2014 at 9:09 am

          Seriously bad? Actually she is prettier than her mum.

          • bad12 1.4.1.2.1
            5 May 2014 at 9:16 am

            Just testing to see who is wide awake this morning…

          • yeshe 1.4.1.2.2
            5 May 2014 at 9:32 am

            unnecessary comment, seriously, ianmac.

          • phillip ure 1.4.1.2.3
            5 May 2014 at 10:40 am

            @ ianmac..

            not if you saw/knew her mother at that age..

            ..age weathers us all..

            ..tho’ i do think my son has it much more together than me at his age..

            ..on/in most levels/areas..

            ..(but then again..that’s a low bar..)

            • idlegus 1.4.1.2.3.1
              5 May 2014 at 2:05 pm

              “age weathers us all” thanks phillip, love it. i have seen people from my past after not seeing them since their teens/early 20s & i think ‘jaysus, they got old!”, then i look in the mirror and & laugh at myself for being a bit of a dick.

          • Tracey 1.4.1.2.4
            5 May 2014 at 11:06 am

            really ianmac???

    • felix 1.5
      5 May 2014 at 9:18 am

      Hate-child.

  2. phillip ure 2
    5 May 2014 at 7:27 am

    key has announced there will be no testing of legal-highs on animals..

    ..not rats..not rabbits..not dogs..

    (..nice to see some traction on what has been an outlier-issue..)

    ..now we should really look at all the other unnecessary-testing on animals..

    ..animals tortured/killed to test fucken dishwashing-liquids/make-up etc..

    ..everyone is ‘relaxed’ about that..?

    ..and the reasons these torturing-scum don’t use the computer-modelling tests available to them..

    ..instead of these horrible torturings/killings of animals..

    ..is ‘cos of cost..

    ..it is cheaper to torture the animals instead…

    ..how fucken sick is that..?

    • Rosie 2.1
      5 May 2014 at 8:41 am

      Yes, it’s high time people knew that animal testing is more about profit than safety. There’s also no excuse to use to use household cleaners, make up and skin care that has been tested on animals when there is an excellent selection of such products on the market, all very good quality and many of them made in NZ.

      • Chooky 2.1.1
        5 May 2014 at 9:04 am

        +100 phillip and Rosie…and all in the name of ‘Science’

        ….and looks like John Banks has come up trumps on this one too….he is very very good on Morning Report

        • bad12 2.1.1.1
          5 May 2014 at 9:29 am

          ”Rats should be treated with dignity and respect”–Banks, sounds like another piece of self serving bullshit from the head rat Himself…

          • fender 2.1.1.1.1
            5 May 2014 at 10:23 am

            +1

          • Tracey 2.1.1.1.2
            5 May 2014 at 10:26 am

            its humans he doesnt give a rats arse about.

            • phillip ure 2.1.1.1.2.1
              5 May 2014 at 10:53 am

              nah..!..i have been head of the queue to pour buckets of shit over banks..

              ..on numerous occaisons/for numerous reasons..

              ..but on this issue..

              ..him being the only one to actually vote against animal-testing..

              ..(instead of just mouthing against it..then doing a neck-injury-threatening volte-face..

              ..and actually voting for it..eh..?..)

              ..banks is the only one standing tall..

              ..everyone else voted to torture/kill animals..

              ..to test legal-highs..

              ..the record stands..

            • Rodel 2.1.1.1.2.2
              5 May 2014 at 5:48 pm

              Didn’t JB he make his millions in the food and booze business?

              • phillip ure …
                5 May 2014 at 7:01 pm

                dunno..i’m not according him sainthood..

                ..he still eats them…

                ..(and seems to have a wee bit of a blind spot there…

                ..no to testing..yum!-yum! to eating them..)

                ..you will find that many of those 40,000 who signed that no-testing on animals petition..

                ..also have that banks’-mote in their eyes..

                • phillip ure …
                  5 May 2014 at 7:06 pm

                  and speak of the banks’-mote..

                  ..russel norman is cooking dinner for john campbell..

                  ..chicken..

                  ..they no doubt tutt-tutted over animal testing..

                  ..as they ate that chicken..

                  ..eh..?

              • Chooky …
                5 May 2014 at 7:08 pm

                yes i think he had a chain of restaurants called Camelot…never saw any ratatouille on the menu though

                • phillip ure …
                  5 May 2014 at 7:16 pm

                  @ chooky..

                  ..heh..!

                  • Chooky …
                    5 May 2014 at 9:49 pm

                    re JB’s Camelot restaurants……yes i think they specialised in steak and chip wedges and had things like shrimp cocktail entrees…also I remember they had folksy stained glass lampshades hung low over the tables

          • Chooky 2.1.1.1.3
            5 May 2014 at 1:47 pm

            rats are very nice intelligent creatures…and sensitive…we used to have pet rats kept in a cage in the laundry …when they died of old age i really missed them…they had a psychic presence which lingered….the kids used to keep rats in their pockets….my Mother used to keep another grandson’s pet rat in her kitchen too…although i rather drew the line at that

        • Murray Olsen 2.1.1.2
          5 May 2014 at 7:55 pm

          Animal testing of cleaners and cosmetics is in the name of profit, not of science.

          • Chooky 2.1.1.2.1
            5 May 2014 at 10:01 pm

            @ Murray Olsen

            ‘Science’ and ‘Profit’ are very much intertwined

            …atomisation, dissection, reductionism, experimentation, objectification, materialism = Science and scientific method …ever since Francis Bacon

        • Scott 2.1.1.3
          5 May 2014 at 11:27 pm

          Very lucid, but how will that work when he is in court and his first words are “I don’t recall that”.

    • veutoviper 2.2
      5 May 2014 at 8:56 am

      Being a cynic, my take is that Key has had some polling done and now finds that he cannot stick with his original comment that rats OK; rabbits and dogs, not OK.

      The interview with John Banks on Morning Report was priceless! Much as I cannot stand the man as a politician, I know through personal experience that Banks has been longterm dedicated advocate for animal rights. But his take on Key’s backdown in this interview had me rolling on the floor laughing. “He looked deep into Moonbeam’s eyes ….”

      Key’s MR interview on animal testing

      http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2594687/key-rules-out-using-animals-in-legal-high-safety-tests

      The must hear Banks one

      http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2594698/no-animal-testing-for-herbal-highs

      • Scott 2.2.1
        5 May 2014 at 11:31 pm

        Oh I always thought the cat was called moonshine, but if Key ever did look at it or play with it I am sure it would open him up.

  3. Scott1 3
    5 May 2014 at 7:36 am

    Phillip,
    goes to show that Cunliffe/Labour called it right in terms of their position on the issue. And yes it is a good opportunity to extend the debate.

    Labour has made a number of good calls lately on policy and political positions.

  4. Not a PS Staffer 4
    5 May 2014 at 7:54 am

    Steven Joyce is hiding the figures on how much money he is funnelling to his mates through his department.

    The NBR has been chasing it and so far all the department has said is that it paid out $231 million total in 2012/13 and another $97 million in 2013/14. MBIE is refusing to say how much is forecast or how the decisions are made.

    “The data on MBIE handouts excludes the nearly $400 million Mr Joyce’s New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) will hand out in corporate welfare in John Key’s first three terms, and the $140 million a year handed out by the government’s Callaghan Innovation agency. There is also at least $50 million a year spent subsidising the tourism industry’s international marketing. God knows how much the Ministry of Primary Industries hands out to the farming sector. This all adds up to billions.” See http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/joyce-blocks-answers-corporate-welfare-bd-155317

  5. wyndham 5
    5 May 2014 at 8:02 am

    Bad12 always refers to our PM as “Slippery the prime minister”.
    If ever Bad needed confirmation of that description I suggest he listen to the Morning Report interview with Guyon Espiner.
    Mumble,mumble,obfuscation,change the suject,etc. It was all there. Slippery even went to the extreme of declaring that Judith Collins ‘is a human being’ !
    In my book, Collins is facing a stiff dose of “chickens coming home to roost”. She has been one of the Nacts most vicious bullies especially when she was in Opposition. Now under pressure she, like all bullies, is folding.

    • veutoviper 5.1
      5 May 2014 at 8:10 am

      Here is the link to Espiner’s interview with Key

      http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2594684/pm-john-key-on-judith-collins

      And this is Brent Edwards’ take on the interview and Collins

      http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2594685/collins-feeling-the-pressure

      This earlier Morning Report item is also related and worth listening to.

      http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2594677/judith-collins-faces-further-pressure.

      And a further item is currently on air with an interview with Grant Robertson on the further MFAT emails that have now been released on Collins’ “Oravita Tour”. It gets more and more clear that this was not just a cup of tea on the way to the airport.

      • wyndham 5.1.1
        5 May 2014 at 8:18 am

        Thanks Veuto – – – my computer savvy is limited !

      • wyndham 5.1.2
        5 May 2014 at 8:49 am

        An old adage has just come to mind : “Follow The Money.”

        No more needs to be said really.

      • Chooky 5.1.3
        5 May 2014 at 9:11 am

        +100 veutoviper …..Grant Robertson was superb on Morning Report…..GO Labour!

      • Rosie 5.1.4
        5 May 2014 at 9:40 am

        vv, I wonder if it’s going to be one of those weeks where one reaches for the popcorn.

        Several weeks ago on the regular Thursday morning Radio Active interview with Grant Robertson and Alistair Thompson, Robertson said there was more to be uncovered in the Collins – Oravida affair and he really has kept up the pressure on her since then. Alistair Thompson’s view was it a case if when, not if, in regard to Collins resigning. (My words not his, I’m paraphrasing and condensing the message).

        • veutoviper 5.1.4.1
          5 May 2014 at 11:03 am

          It certainly has got the feeling of a ‘popcorn’ week. Fingers crossed etc etc. Despite the grey Wellington day, I am feeling more positive on the political front than for months – hence the myriad of comments this morning! PG’s return had put me off coming here, but decided not to allow him to achieve that and just ignore him.

          Must google that Radio Live Interview. My instincts tell me that the Oravida affair has a lot more legs – and that appears to be the case this morning/

          • Rosie 5.1.4.1.1
            5 May 2014 at 11:18 am

            I understand the PG reaction, but glad that you can rise above it – it’s the best way. I have to admit that when Greywarbler suggested to move my Open Mike domestic violence comment on to Stephanie Rodgers article on Saturday I did plan to and then saw it was a PG maelstrom so chose not to.

            That interview btw, was on Radio Active and they don’t have their interviews available to listen to on line. they broadcast on line as well as on 88.6FM but that’s it.

            I should imagine this Thursday should be a very interesting discussion. They are usually on between 8.15am and 8.45am and the interview lasts up to 20 minutes. Just bear in mind it won’t be a RNZ format type interview. The facilitator is a DJ first and foremost (and an excellent one)

    • bad12 5.2
      5 May 2014 at 8:46 am

      Lolz, i need no such confirmation, Slippery was attached as a handle to the current Prime Minister around here even befor He assumed the position….

    • ianmac 5.3
      5 May 2014 at 9:16 am

      “She has been one of the Nacts most vicious bullies ….” Yes Wyndham. Hard to feel sympathy to a White Hawk Down, given the spite that she was pleased to dish when she was “up.”

  6. Rosie 6
    5 May 2014 at 8:26 am

    Thanks Drax and Warbs for your replies over the weekend to my comment about neighbours not calling 111 as Sarwen Lata was being murdered, on 25th November last year and apologies for the late response. (You’d be surprised at how busy the unemployed can be).

    You both made suggestions as to why folks might be disinclined to help a neighbour in crisis. I thought they were good points. It also made me think of the contrast in neighbourhood behaviour in a suburb where a friend lives. Everyone knows everyone and despite the area being a higher crime area, crimes are solved quickly as neighbours keep their eyes and ears open to activities in the street.

    Then this morning there was this article in the Dom Post which encourages migrant women to seek help but doesn’t discuss the importance of neighbours, and indeed family, friends and workmates keeping an eye on a potential victim of domestic violence. No woman should feel she is alone when she is feeling so unsafe.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/wellington/10007821/Migrant-women-urged-to-seek-help-to-stay-safe

  7. Rosie 7
    5 May 2014 at 9:00 am

    It’s going to be hard to top Todd Barclay in this week’s edition of “Dodgy Nat Candidate Watch” but new to the list is Brett Hudson, who was selected for Ohariu, last week. Here he is displaying the stunning ignorance that only a Nat can:

    ““National is working hard and delivering real progress for New Zealand families,” said Mr Hudson.”

    From http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1405/S00003/national-selects-brett-hudson-as-ohariu-candidate.htm

    I guess he’s “comfortable” with being Nat’s puppet for Ohariu

    • bad12 7.1
      5 May 2014 at 9:21 am

      Lolz, rid Ohariu of ‘the Hairdo’ Pathetic Dunne and electorate vote Hudson to change the Government should be the message…

      • Ennui 7.1.1
        5 May 2014 at 9:55 am

        This could actually be the lefts answer to the citizens of Epsoms cynical election of ACT…..vote the seat to National to keep United Fuckwit out…..splendid.

        • bad12 7.1.1.1
          5 May 2014 at 10:09 am

          Yep, there is at least one commenter here at the Standard that has said She/he will be campaigning in the Epsom electorate to get the National Party candidate elected,

          My bones wont allow me the luxury of letterbox stuffing otherwise i would print up a pile of ‘electorate vote Hudson for Ohariu’ pamphlets for that electorate,

          Neither Epsom or Ohariu are likely to favor a Labour candidate so some reverse tactics are probably the best means of ensuring National do not win in September…

          • Rosie 7.1.1.1.1
            5 May 2014 at 10:39 am

            Nat electorate vote in Epsom I understand bad, but Ohariu? And who would do that organising work to promote a vote for Hudson? Would it not be better to focus on the party that came closest last time?

            Hudson btw, a previous sales rep for Oracle. (actually they call them “ambassadors” now, lol) I know a guy who worked for that company and in the same role. Was on about 200K. This Hudson dude wouldn’t have a clue about what happens in the real world, all those guys in that industry are running in a status race, the house, the cars, the troty wives etc. Never has there been a truer stereotype.

            • Ennui 7.1.1.1.1.1
              5 May 2014 at 1:06 pm

              Rosie, whilst I don’t disagree that Oracle sales people are overpaid and would probably not have a clue about real people, but there is another story here.

              In my company nothing moves unless somebody sells something. No sales means no delivering, lots of “expertise” in downtime mode costing a fortune. Everybody is valuable and some of that “expertise” due to supply and demand, restrictive practices etc get paid much more than the humble sales person. Yet the sales person is expected to keep the cash coming in, gets pressured, and has no job security unless that happens.

              To me (much to pretty much everybody else s disgust) sales people are the Gods of commerce. Nasty, materialistic collectors of flash cars and trophy wives maybe. But as they don’t get thanked greatly, for doing the hardest job they take the cash instead, (and I suspect vote National to rub it in).

              We live in a strange world!

              • Rosie …
                5 May 2014 at 1:38 pm

                Hi Ennui. I should declare that I have spent many years working as a sales rep previously, although my salary was $40K, not 200K, I should add!

                I do understand the vital role they play in keeping the company not only afloat but profitable. And yes indeed it is a thankless role and one that can tear the rep in two directions between customer and boss, if there isn’t enough support coming from above.

                I was being rather caustic about Brett Hudson but I do know his type and I don’t trust them one bit. I’ve no problem with people making money and lots of it. My problem is either how they obtain it, or how they display it, or how they use it as a power lever.

                That-person-I -know, he falls into the latter two categories. What is kind of annoying too, is the fact that he’s not particularly talented or intelligent in the realm of real life and social interaction (he’s shallow, dour and lacks a sense of humour) but he can sell, that’s where his skill lies.

                I’m sure he’ll know Hudson as they would have worked in the same office around about the same time (although I do need to check time lines) The funny thing is, this-person-I know once showed me photo’s of his colleagues property that he had for sale (excessively large and full of poor taste items) and accused him of the same, being shallow, whilst we sat there in his McMansion.

                A strange world indeed.

                • Ennui …
                  5 May 2014 at 4:30 pm

                  Rosie, nice observations, you speak from experience. When you get to the cogs of commerce it is all rather basic and boring….I don’t know how anybody can study it, glorify it etc as anything other than transactions and dollars. The business pages drive me to distraction, economists seem to know nothing of what really goes on….all so dull. I hope you are enjoying better whatever you do today.

                  • Rosie …
                    5 May 2014 at 4:58 pm

                    “I hope you are enjoying better whatever you do today.”

                    I really am laughing, as I am currently unemployed! I have gone for a couple of sales reppy type interviews but I felt myself glaze over as soon as they started with the corporate speak and knew my heart wasn’t in it. I can’t really bear flogging stuff any more. Also, pay and conditions have reduced for reps as a reflection of the retail market being so tight now. Many companies have removed a portion of the mileage allowance and I refuse to subsidise company costs by covering their fuel costs.

                    All I’ve really wanted to do is to be able to help others and what little formal education I have in this area, a community studies cert and a health psychology diploma isn’t even adequate for entry level work in the fields I’m interested in.

                    What I am enjoying doing with my “spare time” is helping out where I can with political activities here in Ohariu and looking after the abundance of wild ducks that hang around at my house.

                    I hope your chooks are well and happy.

      • Rosie 7.1.2
        5 May 2014 at 10:02 am

        Being the plant he is he doesn’t sound like he has any intention of seeking the electorate vote and said he would pursue the party vote.

        I do recall your suggestion and reasoning for a push for a Nat electorate vote but I think Charles Chauvel lost out by just approx 1800 ish votes last time so perhaps if enough hard work is done, Virginia Anderson can win it??? I’m feeling so cautiously confident of this that I’d be willing to put a 50 cent bet on it! (it would be more but I can’t afford it lol)

        Did you see that surprisingly good editorial from the right wing Romanos in the Wellingtonian last week? It was beaut. A hole proof argument for the resignation of Dunne. If the heat on Dunne keeps up it may be an easier job to unseat him than we’d expect.

        • bad12 7.1.2.1
          5 May 2014 at 10:52 am

          Yes Rosie, Charles Chauval lost by 1646 electorate votes in 2011, that was as a high profile Labour Party politician, in fact Pathetic Dunne’s majority went up by 640 votes from the 2008 result where Chauval came within 1006 votes of Dunne,

          National’s Katrina Shanks actually made those numbers look good for Chauval in those two elections and i doubt the relatively unknown Labour candidate will have the same amount of success as Charles Chauval did,

          From the Party Votes recorded it is easy to see that National Party supporters are fully conversant with ‘tactical voting’ splitting their party votes off to National while electorate voting for Dunne,

          my view is that the only slight chance for the Labour candidate to have any chance is to ensure,(if possible), that Hudson the National Party candidate gets a higher amount of the electorate vote,

          Whichever way i look at the Ohariu electorate that will be the decisive factor, in a large part of the electorate it may be easier to convince the ‘blue rinsers’ to vote National than to go against everything the ‘silver spoon’ they have supped from since birth has ingrained in them and vote Labour,

          A high turnout of the Electorate vote for both National and Labour may well see us rid of Dunne, a high turnout of the electorate vote for Labour alone tho i doubt will create enough of a swing to unseat him…

          • Rosie 7.1.2.1.1
            5 May 2014 at 11:30 am

            Thanks bad, that a helpful analysis. Yes, I had a look at the voting patterns for 08 and 11 a while ago and saw that the voters of Ohariu, like Epsom sure do know how to use MMP to suit their purposes.

            From Memory Shanks came a fairly poor third the last two times, so I can see how it would be ideal if those blue rinsers you speak of gave their vote to the sales rep and weaken Dunnes chances. Maybe this will happen naturally as Dunne becomes increasingly less popular in the electorate, purely for conservative moral reasons rather than political.

            Stephanie Rodgers said something once here on TS about being involved in the Labour campaign for Ohariu. Maybe she would like to offer her thoughts, I’m sure they would be welcome.

            • Stephanie Rodgers 7.1.2.1.1.1
              5 May 2014 at 1:25 pm

              I am indeed involved in the Ohariu campaign – but it’s a complex topic! Virginia Andersen is a great candidate for Ohariu and I know we’re all working hard to win the electorate vote. No one expected National to field a particularly strong candidate for the obvious reasons. And a lot has happened for Peter Dunne since 2011.

              • Rosie …
                5 May 2014 at 1:56 pm

                Hi Stephanie and thanks. I bet it is a complex topic! And I’m assuming you may not be able to show the party’s hand, too much.

                Although I didn’t meet Virginia Anderson I did listen to what she had to say at a recent meeting PPO hosted in J’Ville to discuss the Employment Relations Amendment Act. She comes across as very intelligent, sharp and strong. I am impressed by her.

                Great to hear the campaign team has the wind in their sails – we’ll have you all to thank if we do it, if we turn this electorate red! Hey, what a party that would be, unseating Dunne after 30 years!

  8. robertguyton 8
    5 May 2014 at 9:18 am

    Speaking of the young tobacco lobbyist, have you seen this yet?

    http://porcupinefarm.blogspot.co.nz/2014/05/suck-on-this-suckers.html

    • Rosie 8.1
      5 May 2014 at 9:41 am

      Lol. Brilliant.

    • Gosman 8.2
      5 May 2014 at 9:42 am

      What is your point?

      • Weepu's beard 8.2.1
        5 May 2014 at 10:17 am

        I think the point is the lad saying he doesn’t encourage smoking, while lobbying for Phillip Morris.

        • Gosman 8.2.1.1
          5 May 2014 at 10:44 am

          Lobbying for a Tobacco company doesn’t necessarily mean you are attempting to encourage smoking. It is also not illegal. Frankly this smacks of the sort of witch hunting that used to be happen around membership of the Communist party in people’s youth. Just as I think it is ridiculous to focus on that I think it is ridiculous to castigate a potential candidate based on who he preciously worked for.

          BTW the linked to article and associated graphic doesn’t makes the point you are suggesting it does or at least not in a clear an unequivical manner.

          • Tracey 8.2.1.1.1
            5 May 2014 at 11:33 am

            are you ms collins chief political advisor?

          • framu 8.2.1.1.2
            5 May 2014 at 12:48 pm

            “Lobbying for a Tobacco company doesn’t necessarily mean you are attempting to encourage smoking.”

            HA HA HA – good one gossamer

            ” I think it is ridiculous to castigate a potential candidate based on who he preciously worked for.”

            then you havent been paying attention at all have you – who he worked for is but one facet of the argument of why hes not fit for selection

            • Gosman 8.2.1.1.2.1
              5 May 2014 at 1:15 pm

              I think it is a matter of the National party members of the electorate to decide whether he is a suitable candidate or not. It then becomes a matter for the voters of the electorate to decide if they think he is a suitable MP. Some left wing person on a blog has little influence over this.

              • Tracey …
                5 May 2014 at 2:34 pm

                you said that promoting the business of phillip morris didnt mean he was encouraging smoking, dont change it to occupations dont preclude people from being mps.

                two seperate issues.

                • Gosman …
                  5 May 2014 at 2:55 pm

                  Take the example of the Prostitutes Collective. Someone working for this organisation does not mean they necessarily encourage the use of prostitutes or at least that more people should use one. There is a lot of issues you can advocate for without expanding the take up of what you advocate on.

                  • Colonial Viper …
                    5 May 2014 at 3:00 pm

                    Sophistry in extremis

                    More to the point, why are you accusing Barclay of not contributing to his corporate employer’s bottom line? Are you saying that he was a fraud in the job or just lazy?

                    • Gosman …
                      5 May 2014 at 3:02 pm

                      Are you stating lobbying on behalf of the Prostitutes collective means you are encouraging the use of Prostitutes?

                      I have no idea of the work Mr Barclay did for the company. Do you?

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      5 May 2014 at 3:10 pm

                      Do you believe that young Barclay esq. felt any moral twangs about accepting tens of thousands of dollars from big Tobacco corporate Philip Morris?

                      Or do you believe that he slept easy the whole time, which is why he is such a good fit for the National Party?

                    • Gosman …
                      5 May 2014 at 3:17 pm

                      I have no idea if he did or didn’t. I don’t particularly like many organisations but I don’t condemn people based on the fact people may have once worked for them. I understand that people are employed to do a job not to agree with the ideas or views expressed by the organisation they are part of.

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      5 May 2014 at 3:35 pm

                      So you believe that Barclay probably had no moral qualms about accepting big tobacco money? I wonder what the principled burghers of Clutha Southland are going to make of a National Party who gave them such a poorly suited candidate.

                    • Gosman …
                      5 May 2014 at 4:09 pm

                      This is obviously a golden opportunity then for a candidate of a left leaning party to win in Clutha Southland at the upcoming election. Do you want to have a wager on whether this will happen?

                    • framu …
                      5 May 2014 at 4:18 pm

                      christ your an idiot gossamer

                      “Are you stating lobbying on behalf of the Prostitutes collective means you are encouraging the use of Prostitutes?”

                      well when the prostitutes collective starts selling prostitutes then your can compare them to phillip morris

                      the prostitutes collective advocates for their members – phillip morris sells t-backy

                    • Gosman …
                      5 May 2014 at 4:38 pm

                      What is it that the members of the Prostitutes collective sell? I’d suggest advocating on their behalf is giving tacit support to what they do.

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      5 May 2014 at 4:47 pm

                      Well, National should pull the tobacco lobbyist from their candidate list, and give the people of Clutha Southland a serious choice, a candidate who knows about the issues of the electorate and understands farming, instead of sliding in a Big Tobacco lobbyist who is wholly unsuitable.

                    • Gosman …
                      5 May 2014 at 5:00 pm

                      I’d suggest this is up to the National party and the members of the Clutha Southland electorate and not a hard core leftist like yourself to decide. Nice to see you so concerned about who should represent right leaning people. I myself would like left leaning people being represented by morons. Luckily for me that seems to be the case more often than not 😉

                    • phillip ure …
                      5 May 2014 at 5:26 pm

                      sheesh gossy..!..

                      ..just going on yr pot-prohibition-‘views’ in this thread..

                      ..you get the ‘moron’-gong today..

                      ..eh..? (insert-smiley..)

                    • RedLogix …
                      5 May 2014 at 6:48 pm

                      Well I think we should give Gosman the benefit of the doubt.

                      After all he’s here advocating on behalf of the National Party – when clearly he doesn’t actually believe in a thing they stand for.

                    • McFlock …
                      5 May 2014 at 10:30 pm

                      I’d suggest advocating on their behalf is giving tacit support to what they do.

                      No.
                      The difference is like that between a lawyer and a fence. Your tobacco lobbyest is more like the latter.

                      But then a person who’s cool with prostitution is doing nothing wrong, as well as nothing illegal.

                  • Stephanie Rodgers …
                    5 May 2014 at 10:17 pm

                    I don’t think you understand what the Prostitutes Collective does, Gosman.

              • framu …
                5 May 2014 at 4:28 pm

                no-one said otherwise – so again your inventing a point that was never mentioned in order to distract and derail

                we are all entitled to say and discuss what ever we feel like (unless your some jack boot statist of course – are you?) – and the eyebrows raised about that particular appt was as much about his age, connections to certain party members, overall work and life experience and the fact that the revolving door relationship between politics and industry lobbyists is usually considered a less than desirable situation – regardless of left or right

                it was never exclusively about phillip morris in and of itself

                either you know this and are playing your usual bullshit or your shooting your mouth off without knowing the issue
                one makes you a bit of a pain in the ass – the other makes you look like an idiot

          • Molly 8.2.1.1.3
            5 May 2014 at 1:52 pm

            Lobbying for a tobacco company, given the outcomes for those who take up the dreaded weed, gives an indication that the person is unable to link personal actions to community and social responsibility.

            As a potential government representative for all demographics, who all need to have a long-term view of policy effects this is an “experience” that indicates a severe skill deficiency.

            • Gosman 8.2.1.1.3.1
              5 May 2014 at 2:29 pm

              Really? So people who advocate for Marijuana normalisation would be in a similar boat in your mind I presume.

              • phillip ure …
                5 May 2014 at 2:51 pm

                slight difference there gossy..

                ..tobacco kills..

                ..in many cases..cannabis heals/helps…

                • Gosman …
                  5 May 2014 at 3:09 pm

                  Cannabis has the potential to cause the same sort of physical harm as Tobacco AND additional harm via long term psychological damage (especially when taken frequently at a young age). Don’y try and act like Cannabis is some life preserving wonder drug. We are not all as stupid as you might be.

                  • Colonial Viper …
                    5 May 2014 at 3:13 pm

                    Why do you think Barclay accepted a job with a Big Tobacco corporate? After all, Philip Morris’ products have caused millions of deaths worldwide over the last 50 or more years. Do you think Barclay considered that before he started accepting money from Philip Morris?

                    • Gosman …
                      5 May 2014 at 3:38 pm

                      The same could be argued for any number of companies from Pharmaceutical distributors through to Confectionary manufacturers. Yes Tobacco is harmful to you but so is Homeopathy if you use it instead of proper medicine. I don’t think that should rule out people from becoming an MP if they worked as a Homeopath or in the industry just as i don’t think working as a lobbyist for a tobacco company carrying out their business in a legal manner should rule you out from public office.

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      5 May 2014 at 3:42 pm

                      So did Barclay experience moral doubts about accepting Big Tobacco corporate cash, or do you think that he was paid enough by Philip Morris that he found that he could ignore any minor moral qualms that he may have had?

                    • Gosman …
                      5 May 2014 at 4:01 pm

                      Tobacco distribution is not illegal in this country. Therefore Mr Barclay has done nothing wrong working for a company involved in this sector. You might not like it but I suspect you won’t be involved in deciding if he is elected to parliament.

                    • McFlock …
                      5 May 2014 at 4:20 pm

                      Tobacco distribution is not illegal in this country. Therefore Mr Barclay has done nothing wrong working for a company involved in this sector.

                      No, he has merely avoided doing anything illegal.

                      Although it’s revealing that you should confuse the two. Especially if we remember that, legally speaking, everyone is innocent until proven guilty. Which means that (in your worldview) if one can get away with murder one has done nothing wrong…

                    • Gosman …
                      5 May 2014 at 4:23 pm

                      Only in your perverted view of the world. Someone can get away with murder if they think they are acting in self defence though so in essence you do raise an interesting, if irrelevant, point. What this has to do with Mr Barclay’s previous job is unclear though.

                    • McFlock …
                      5 May 2014 at 5:25 pm

                      You said it was not illegal therefore it is not wrong.
                      Murder is illegal, but proving it is another matter.
                      And murderers are innocent until proven guilty under the law.

                      Someone can get away with murder if they think they are acting in self defence though

                      You’re an idiot. If it’s self defense, it’s not murder. According to the law, anyway (cf: s160 and s48 of the same Act).

                      The point I’m getting at is that your definition of “wrong” rests solely on legality. It’s almost as if you have no internal set of ethical principles which guide your actions, legal or otherwise. I.e. completely amoral.

                  • phillip ure …
                    5 May 2014 at 4:00 pm

                    could you plse give some evidence/links of cannabis causing cancer…?

                    ..and yr ‘ long term psychological damage’..?

                    here is mine..

                    http://whoar.co.nz/?s=medicinal+marijuana+

                    (..and here is an excerpt from one..)

                    “..“..Any day now – Alabama – which was ranked the most conservative state in the country by Gallup last year –

                    will become the first state in the South to legalize a type of medicine derived from marijuana.

                    When “Carly’s Law” or Senate Bill 174 – arrived in the state House of Representatives at 2 a.m. on March 21-

                    politicians on both sides of the aisle reportedly stood up and began chanting for the bill to pass.

                    The measure – which received unanimous support in both chambers –

                    will fund a $1 million study at the University of Alabama –
                    on the effectiveness of cannabidiol in treating seizure disorders.

                    But the “Heart of Dixie” isn’t the only Southern state opening up to the possibility that cannabis may have medicinal value.

                    Here are some others fighting to pull back the veil on medical weed:..”

                    (‘carly’ is a young girl who used to suffer hundreds of seizures a year..

                    ..and no conventional medicines worked to ease that..

                    ..but cannabis oil does..)

                    ..and i see you never went to a waste-station during yr absence..

                    ..you’re still full of waste-material..eh..?)

                    • Gosman …
                      5 May 2014 at 4:05 pm

                      http://www.cancernz.org.nz/assets/files/smokefree-resources/IS_TC_Cannabis&Cancer_9Sept2010.pdf

                      “The effects of cannabis on health have not been studied anywhere near as much as those of tobacco smoking. However, a review has concluded that the airways of cannabis smokers have changes that indicate cancer risk , for example, “chronic inflammatory” and “pre-cancerous changes”.
                      This review also found one well-designed study that suggested that cannabis smoking caused cancer in the upper airways of young adults, and that the risk was highest in the most frequent users.”

                      Therefore there is evidence that it does have the potential to cause the same sort of physical harm as smoking Tobacco. You may disagree the risk is as high or that the evidence is not compelling but there is no doubt evidence.

                    • phillip ure …
                      5 May 2014 at 4:09 pm

                      correction..those ‘hundreds of seizures every year’..

                      ..should read ‘every day’…

                    • phillip ure …
                      5 May 2014 at 4:17 pm

                      gosman..yr bullshit claims are blown away by the fact that we now have a great many people who have smoked a lot of cannabis for a long time..

                      ..but there is no blip in lung cancers etc..from these people..

                      ..the same with yr ‘psychological-harm’..rubbish..

                      ..pot makes you schitzo! has long been the prohibitionist-claim/lie the likes of you peddle..

                      ..yet once again..the facts/stats blow that one away too..

                      ..’cos as with those decades of heavy cannabis use not showing cancer-outcomes..in those users..

                      ..the ‘schitzo’-levels in the population are about the same now..

                      ..as they were before the wholesale uptake of cannabis in the 60’s..

                      ..you really are just blowing hot-air..aren’t you..?

                    • Gosman …
                      5 May 2014 at 4:25 pm

                      What you are stating is you disagree with the conclusion of that review. That is fine. You don’t have to believe it. Just as some people don’t agree with lots of scientific conclusions. You can’t deny that there is some evidence linking the use of Cannabis and increased risk of cancer though. It exists.

              • Molly …
                5 May 2014 at 4:06 pm

                Phil said what I would’ve if I’d returned earlier.

                Marijuana normalisation is advocated mostly by those who will not benefit from changing the legislation, using studies to back up their claims.

                Tobacco lobbyists are highly paid liars who do benefit from continued use and whose employers suppressed for many years scientific studies that showed devastating and ongoing harm from the use of their products.

                Also, ignore the fact that nicotine was added specifically to make it addictive thereby ensuring the continuation of use for the whole of their customer’s shortened life.

                Are you able to distinguish differences or do you need a return to basics?

                • Gosman …
                  5 May 2014 at 4:15 pm

                  I’d suggest this is based purely on your own personal prejudices and not on any evidence supporting the view that everyone who works as a lobbyist for a Tobacco company is a liar. If you can provide evidence that Mr Barclay knowingly lied during his time working for the Tobacco company in question though you will have won the argument. Have you such evidence?

                  • framu …
                    5 May 2014 at 4:21 pm

                    notice how your avoiding the substance of all discussion with you in order to focus on hair splitting?

                    • Gosman …
                      5 May 2014 at 4:29 pm

                      The focus on the discussion is what excatly? Is it that Tobacco use is bad for you and society generally and therefore anyone who has worked for a company involved in that sector is bad and therefore is not fit for public office? As I pointed out that is a ridiculous position to hold.

                  • phillip ure …
                    5 May 2014 at 4:24 pm

                    what’s to lie about..?

                    ..he’s/they’re just peddling death..

                    ..they are in a dirty/death-peddling-addiction-industry..

                    ..surely you aren’t denying that fact..?

                    ..heroin dealers don’t need to lie either..

                    ..their product does all the talking for them…

                    ..it’s that captive-addict-audience they both service..

                    ..and there..the addiction is all..

                    • Gosman …
                      5 May 2014 at 4:32 pm

                      There is evidence that pure Heroin is not that physically harmful to you. It is the adulturated substance that causes problems.

                    • phillip ure …
                      5 May 2014 at 4:47 pm

                      i agree it is the adulterants that fuck junkies up..

                      ..if they were able to register as heroin addicts..and get pure-product..

                      ..the harm-minimisation results would be significant..

                      .this is what switzerland does..

                      ..heroin addicts pick up one dose on the way to work..

                      ..and another on the way home..

                      ..criminals aren’t in the picture..

                      ..and of course there is no crime needed to be committed by those addicts to feed a blackmarket-addiction..

                      ..the purity-thesis is also confirmed by doctors who get hooked on their product..ie pure morphine..whatever..

                      ..yes..they get the addiction..

                      ..but they don’t suffer the physical-wasting junkies relying on blackmarket-supplies do..

                      ..but we are a long way from any such outbreak of sanity here..

                      ..where/when the most conservative southern states in america are unanimously passing such a law..for pot..

                      ..and yet here we can’t even get fucken medical-marijuana over the line..

                      ..let alone sane policies around other drugs/addiction-issues..

                      ..our political leaders are both clowns..and fools..

                      ..’scared’ little people..

                    • phillip ure …
                      5 May 2014 at 5:03 pm

                      yet we have this harmful/legal-high crap coming out our ears..

                      ..and the most harmful drug of all..alcohol..

                      ..normalised/peddled in ads on television..

                      ..aarrgghh!!

                      ..the lunatics have taken over the asylum..

                      ..and of course..some of the most strident opponents to ending cannabis prohibition..

                      ..are those who ‘own’ dung…the booze-pushers..

                      ..they well know that decriminalised-cannabis will see a major move away from their dangerous/addictive ‘product’..

                      ..it’s all about ‘preserving-market’ for them..eh..?

                      ..and ‘their men’ dung/key etc..

                      ..as always..when seeking the/any real story..

                      ..follow the money..

                  • robertguyton …
                    5 May 2014 at 4:30 pm

                    Barclay lobbied on behalf of Big Tobacco, against the Government’s “attempts” to restrict the harmful effects of smoking on New Zealanders. Now, he plans to join the Government on the other side of the argument. Comfortable about that, are you? It doesn’t have to be illegal to be wrong. Remember “legal highs/synthetic cannabis”?
                    There are other ways of measuring right and wrong. Barclay chose to side with the pedlars of nicotine and now he wants to govern us. His background will worry many people, especially those who have lost family members to the various cancers cigarette smoking causes.

                    • Gosman …
                      5 May 2014 at 4:34 pm

                      Do you have evidence of what his current views on Tobacco usage are and that he will be pushing the Tobacco company point of view forward if he becomes an MP?

                    • robertguyton …
                      5 May 2014 at 4:58 pm

                      We know he supported the actions of Philip Morris – unless of course, he was dishonest with them and they paid him under false pretences. If he didn’t support their kaupapa, he’s a hypocrite – not the sort of person you’d want representing you in Parliament. If he did side with the tobacco pedlars, he was actively working against the best interests of new Zealanders – not the sort of person you’d want representing you in Parliament.

                    • Gosman …
                      5 May 2014 at 5:02 pm

                      Not the sort of person you’d want to represent you in parliament – Are you a resident of the Cluth Southland electorate then?

                      By the way, even assuming he was a big supporter of increased tobacco usage (there doesn’t seem to be any evidence supporting this though) he can change his mind. I believe a number of politicians may have had radically different views when younger. Phil Goff springs to mind.

                    • robertguyton …
                      5 May 2014 at 5:06 pm

                      I’ve lived in Southland for 28 years. The Southlanders I’ve spoken with on this issue are disgusted that the National Party have served up this tobacco lobbyist. None will vote for him.

                      edit: Different views when he was younger!
                      Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
                      !
                      He resigned from Philip Morris last week!

                      Younger!

                      Pathetic.

                    • Gosman …
                      5 May 2014 at 5:09 pm

                      Excellent. Care to wager that National will lose the electorate then?

                    • robertguyton …
                      5 May 2014 at 5:14 pm

                      It’s always been said that a fence-post would win Clutha/Southland for National (been proved true too). Your comment/wager has no bearing on the quality of the tobacco lobbyist/candidate or his ethical standards, which are being described around here as non-existent.

                    • Gosman …
                      5 May 2014 at 5:16 pm

                      So not enough people in the Clutha Southland electorate care enough about the issue to vote for an alternative candidate then. Case closed.

                    • robertguyton …
                      5 May 2014 at 5:34 pm

                      ‘So not enough people in the Clutha Southland electorate care enough about the issue to vote for an alternative candidate then. Case closed.’
                      Not enough people care about the issue?
                      Nonsense statement from Gosman. The election has not taken place yet, so you can’t know.
                      The ‘case’ is far from closed.
                      Case wide open and looking less than secure for what might have been an easy-win for a candidate who hadn’t recently quit a job in an industry that most people regard as odious. Let’s remember, it’s “most people”, not you, Gosman, who will decide whether Barclay is suitable for representing Southlanders in parliament. I’m hearing a lot of, “Hell no!”

                    • Gosman …
                      5 May 2014 at 5:48 pm

                      Then have the wager with me. I’ll even give you odds of 2 to 1.

                    • McFlock …
                      5 May 2014 at 5:52 pm

                      what is it about tories and gambling?
                      Is your opinion worthless unless it gets you money?

                  • Molly …
                    5 May 2014 at 5:49 pm

                    Tobacco lobbyists in order to sell their product by necessity are “economical with the truth” ( admittedly my definition of a liar, perhaps not yours ) or they are a really ineffective lobbyist, one who would be fired fairly quickly.

                    He did not mention that he was a bad lobbyist – so I am also assuming he was fairly competent in the role.

                    But you are right Gosman – just because I don’t have a transcript of all his commercial utterings I cannot prove that he lied (even by my definition) in any specific incident.

                    Just as I cannot prove that any baker has put active yeast into all his bread products – but if he didn’t, his failure would be fairly noticeable.

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      5 May 2014 at 6:26 pm

                      He did not mention that he was a bad lobbyist – so I am also assuming he was fairly competent in the role.

                      Not likely – just 9 months in the role, he’d probably only learnt where the toilets were and what home time was.

                      For a new graduate a corporate affairs role takes 2-3 years to get any basic competence at, and that’s with proper mentoring.

                  • Paul …
                    5 May 2014 at 6:04 pm

                    Are you the only right winger on duty today?
                    What’s your view on the Collins debacle?

                    • McFlock …
                      5 May 2014 at 6:09 pm

                      he’s just been bottling it up for a while. Normal destructive service will be resumed shortly 🙂

                    • Gosman …
                      5 May 2014 at 7:31 pm

                      She should have resigned when this first came out. End of story.

                    • felix …
                      5 May 2014 at 7:41 pm

                      She should only resign if it came out?

                      There’s that moral vacuum again.

      • Paul 8.2.2
        5 May 2014 at 10:28 am

        Thought you guys had gone to ground…..

        • Tracey 8.2.2.1
          5 May 2014 at 11:36 am

          they are recovering from the national party conference this weekend. i suspect some of them have no memory of the weekend.

    • Tracey 8.3
      5 May 2014 at 10:17 am

      hehehe

      and you know he sums up a few nat ministers right now,

      “its just a job”

      … ethics dont come into it.

    • Daveosaurus 8.4
      5 May 2014 at 10:17 pm

      Or it could be that Johnny No-Mates has given up on trying to get Colin Craig into Auckland and has told the Conservatives to have a scout around the churches in Clutha to see if there’s a potential candidate down there. After all, if Todd the Toddler loses the seat it will be no great loss to the Nats as long as they get a Conservative in his place…

  9. Akldnut 9
    5 May 2014 at 10:27 am

    I’ve managed to locate the words to National’s “Party” song.
    It was heard being sung at the end of their recent conference while they were eating Hors d’oeuvres and clinking champagne flutes. Feel free to join in.

    It goes like this………eeeerm….eeeerm.

    It’s time to play the music
    It’s time to light the lights
    It’s time to meet the Muppets on the Muppet Show tonight.

    It’s time to put on makeup
    It’s time to dress up right
    It’s time to raise the curtain on the Muppet Show tonight.

    Why do we always come here
    I guess we’ll never know
    It’s like a kind of torture
    To have to watch the show

    Chorus
    And now let’s get things started
    Why don’t you get things started
    It’s time to get things started
    On the most sensational Aspirational celebrational Muppetational
    This is what we call the Muppet Show!

    Instrumental Break

    [MC]To introduce our guest star
    That’s what I’m here to do
    So it really makes me happy
    To introduce to you (drum roll)

    Shonnnnnnnn Keyyyyyyyyy!!!

    Chorus
    And now let’s get things started
    Why don’t you get things started
    It’s time to get things started
    On the most sensational Aspirational celebrational Muppetational
    This is what we call the Muppet Show!

  10. freedom 10
    5 May 2014 at 10:49 am

    Bit of help?

    This page has a clear date stamp of today… but all the comments are apparently from a year ago ???
    http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/wr-opening-salvo-dump-rental-properties-now-lf-133603

    Is the article itself a year old, in which case where is the correct publication date NBR?

    Or is NBR just being really green and recycling comments ?

    • bad12 10.1
      5 May 2014 at 11:14 am

      That is a bit of a head-scratcher isn’t it, Hooton talking of David Shearer as the leader of the Labour Party,

      Perhaps this is a re-print of something wee Matty previously wrote, a little trumpet blow in Hooton’s direction to show how clever Matty is at seeing the future,

      What will drive more than a few out of ‘rental investments’ is the Labour plan to plug the loophole where such ‘investors’ get to right off any losses incurred on the property against other taxable income,

      i don’t know the numbers of people who piled into ‘rental investments’ based upon the taxes on ‘other income’ they could write off against the properties but the numbers i would suggest are high and the closing of this tax loophole will force more than a few to divest themselves of rental properties…

    • Matthew Hooton 10.2
      5 May 2014 at 1:19 pm

      Don’t even remember it. Must have been a while ago.

      • freedom 10.2.1
        5 May 2014 at 1:38 pm

        Thanks for replying Matthew, I think you would agree it is very sloppy presentation of information. Especially for a publication of the NBR’s stature. Would you be so kind as to mention this to your editors?

        You could imagine the kerfuffle if PG tried to use it to establish a fact. He is bound to try to establish a fact one day, and I would hate for something like a publishing date to trip him up.

        • Matthew Hooton 10.2.1.1
          5 May 2014 at 2:23 pm

          I agree with the worrying impact on Pete George and will pass on the suggestions you raise.

        • veutoviper 10.2.1.2
          5 May 2014 at 3:04 pm

          “You could imagine the kerfuffle if PG tried to use it to establish a fact. He is bound to try to establish a fact one day, and I would hate for something like a publishing date to trip him up.”

          Wonderful – has to win as comment of the day!

    • Stephanie Rodgers 10.3
      5 May 2014 at 1:29 pm

      Must be a glitch – if you click on ‘More articles by Matthew Hooton’ it takes you to a page of articles by David Cohen.

  11. amirite 11
    5 May 2014 at 11:05 am

    Judith Collins has just confirmed that she will not resign. Good!
    The chances of Left coalition winning the election just skyrocketed.

    • phillip ure 11.1
      5 May 2014 at 4:34 pm

      i’m torn..

      i want to see her gone..sacked/fired..

      ..but i also want her as a stinking/rotting albatross around keys’ neck..

      ..all the way thru to the election..

      ..the recycling options from/with the collins are both potent and ongoing..

  12. ianmac 12
    5 May 2014 at 11:06 am

    John Armstrong has emerged from the shadows….
    “But Key’s reference to the length of the conversations has to be regarded as another way of him saying he canvassed various options with respect to her immediate future as a minister.

    For Key not to have offered Collins some much-needed respite from the intense scrutiny that she has been under for weeks would have been neglectful of not just National’s interests, but of Collins’ as well.

    Clearly Collins is very much in the wrong place mentally right now. That is plainly evident after she lashed out at TVNZ’s Katie Bradford yesterday, only to to subsequently issue a public apology to the political reporter.

    Key this morning described Collins’ outburst at the press gallery journalist as being “completely inappropriate”. He added that Collins would be “very careful going forward”.

    The trouble is every time Collins moves one step forward, her reputation takes five steps back. Rather than endeavouring to close down the whole farrago prompted by her highly-questionable dealings with the milk exporting company Oravida, Collins says or does something to further inflame matters……”
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11249704

    • Akldnut 12.1
      6 May 2014 at 12:56 am

      The real problem is that Slippery Key moves the goalposts after she gaffes.
      Firstly he says she’s on her last warning then when she fucks up he says the warning was for a different topic! Opening the door for a “three strikes” wet bus ticket for all of his ministers every time there’s a screw up screwing up.

  13. Not a PS Staffer 13
    5 May 2014 at 11:14 am

    Perhaps what we are seeing is a cathartic civil war in the National Party.

    Joyce, with all the gifts of MBIE to help him win support among business backers of National, is getting aid from McCully (fast OIA responses) and others to weaken Collins.

    Collins, with the gift of self-belief and popularity among grass-root Nats, is willing to risk all, including the election, to gain control.

    Labour should leave them space on the front pages!

    • Tracey 13.1
      5 May 2014 at 11:21 am

      interesting take on it ps. espesh the mccully mfat connection to oias.

      and mccully and joyce have been np strategists for some time.

      its always interesting to see who says nothing at times like these.

      thanks for yoyr thoughtful observation.

      now, back to oriveida and something to stick to that lovely mr key.

      • Not a PS Staffer 13.1.1
        5 May 2014 at 12:46 pm

        Groser has helped trip up Collins also. The short wee mon is very traditional and would NOT cope with having a woman, Collins, as his boss. He is definitely in the Joyce Camp now.

        The short wee mon will also be getting it in the ear from Fonterra. Fonterra will also have been chatting with John Key and Bill English.

        Imagine how Fonterra are feeling: Collins goes into bat for another trader who wants to make hay in China from Fonterra’s botulism crises! Fonterra spent a few $100m opening the market and Oravida wanted to sneak in via the back door!

        Collins has pissed off Fonterra, the biggest lobbyist in Parliament.
        Therefore Collins has pissed off Federated Farmer, the second biggest lobbyist in Parliament.

        If those two go public with their annoyance every Fonterra shareholding farmer will see Collins as a TRAITOR.

        She is so close to going. Key must be afraid of how she will behave if she is fired.

        • freedom 13.1.1.1
          5 May 2014 at 2:17 pm

          How are Collins and Finlayson?

          Finlayson does seem to be gliding through very quietly of late.

          Surely our Attorney-General would be a good person for a comment on the Cabinet Rules?

          • Wyndham, George 13.1.1.1.1
            5 May 2014 at 2:41 pm

            Finlayson would find both Collins and Joyce odious. He would wish both of the ill, IMO.

            • freedom 13.1.1.1.1.1
              5 May 2014 at 2:45 pm

              so let’s hope some media type person ‘innocently’ gets him on record about the Cabinet Rules 🙂

        • Tracey 13.1.1.2
          5 May 2014 at 2:38 pm

          thanks ps.

  14. robertguyton 14
    5 May 2014 at 11:14 am

    “Lobbying for a Tobacco company doesn’t necessarily mean you are attempting to encourage smoking.”

    Being a member of The Mighty Mongrel Mob doesn’t mean you support the activities of your fellow mobsters either, does it, Gosman.

    • Gosman 14.1
      5 May 2014 at 11:44 am

      If the Mongrel Mob activities are legal then there is nothing wrong with belonging to them. It is only when people carry out illegal activities under the Mongrel mob banner that belonging to them becomes an issue.

      • Molly 14.1.1
        5 May 2014 at 11:51 am

        Do you take an equivalent stance on our involvement in the Five Eyes network?

        • Gosman 14.1.1.1
          5 May 2014 at 12:08 pm

          Yes

          • Molly 14.1.1.1.1
            5 May 2014 at 1:45 pm

            Guess that is a reply to 14.1.1 above.

            That also makes you culpable in terms of being a citizen of one of those governments.

            Do you claim that culpability or do you acknowledge that personal control of those organisations to which we all belong plays a part in our guilt by association?

            (Moved as sensibly suggested by Gosman 16.1.1.1)

            • Gosman 14.1.1.1.1.1
              5 May 2014 at 2:34 pm

              I don’t think one automatically leads on to the other. For example in war a nation can carry out some dreadful actions like the fire bombings of Dresden and Tokyo or the Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. That does not mean all citizens of the nations making up the Allies in the war are culpable for these decisions or that the war itself is suspect because of them.

              • Tracey …
                5 May 2014 at 2:40 pm

                a person employed to lobby for a tobacconist is not just a citizen wandering by.

              • freedom …
                5 May 2014 at 2:49 pm

                Gosman, do you believe the 23 year old, Todd Barclay, who has only ever worked in Government Minister’s offices and lobbied for a tobacco firm has enough life experience to be an MP where his job is to represent the full cross-section of the electorate?

                • Gosman …
                  5 May 2014 at 3:00 pm

                  He is not looking at becoming a list MP but an electorate one. It is not for me to decide if he is suitable or not as I don’t live in his electorate. If the people of his electorate decide to vote for him who am I to quibble about his supposed lack of experience.

                  • Puddleglum …
                    5 May 2014 at 3:26 pm

                    Hi Gosman,

                    I don’t think freedom was asking you to decide Barclay’s political fate (you can’t, as you point out) but, instead, was inviting you to express what you believe about his life experience in relation to the tasks of an electorate MP.

                    • Gosman …
                      5 May 2014 at 3:34 pm

                      The beauty of democracy is we leave it up to the voters to decide the suitability or otherwise of a candidate. As for if I would vote for him. I don’t know a lot about him or his opponents. He does seem a little on the young and inexperienced side but that does not necessarily preclude you from being a good electorate MP. Certainly the fact he worked as a lobbyist for a Tobacco company doesn’t rule him out as far as I am concerned.

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      5 May 2014 at 3:46 pm

                      The beauty of democracy is we leave it up to the voters to decide the suitability or otherwise of a candidate.

                      So you believe that the principled burghers of Clutha Southland should have been given a choice of decent National Party candidates, instead of having a tobacco industry lobbyist served to them from Wellington on a blue platter?

                    • Gosman …
                      5 May 2014 at 4:17 pm

                      I don’t believe I stated that at all.

                    • freedom …
                      5 May 2014 at 4:50 pm

                      ok Gosman, let’s look at Colonial Viper’s question from a different angle.

                      Should National Party members of Clutha-Southland be given a choice about who becomes their candidate?

                    • Gosman …
                      5 May 2014 at 4:55 pm

                      Is the way Mr Barclay is being selected as a candidate outside National party rules on candidate selection? If the answer to that is no then what is the problem here again? If the National party voters in the electorate don’t like the candidate they are free to vote for a candidate of another party. This seems to me to be a perfect opportunity for other candidates to take advantage of. Assuming of course the majority of voters in the electorate care enough about the issue. Do you think they will vote for another candidate?

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      5 May 2014 at 6:29 pm

                      I’d like to see who else in the National Party put their hand up for the job of candidate for Clutha Southland; you can bet there would be a few amongst them who would make our inexperienced tobacco lobbyist look properly shallow in comparison.

                    • Gosman …
                      5 May 2014 at 7:29 pm

                      Why do you care who National selects as a candidate anyway? If this wasn’t a left wing blog what you are doing would be termed concern trolling.

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      5 May 2014 at 11:06 pm

                      It’s not that I care so much (and I actually do know a lot of voters who live in the Clutha Southland), it’s that I am amazed that you care so little about the appalling Big Tobacco choice of candidate that National HQ has served up on a plate to that electorate.

                  • freedom …
                    5 May 2014 at 7:13 pm

                    I have not said a word about voting Gosman. I was clearly pointing to the candidate selection process. I just find it funny when supposedly intelligent people defend a candidate selection system where the members’ views are deemed irrelevant and yet these same people are somehow represented, by submitting to an arbitrary decision by their Party leaders that they, the members, had no input into.

                    Good thing I gave up trying to understand National voters a long time ago, even the ones I love. Some might say you should never fully understand your friends, or your family, it takes away all the mystery.

                    • Gosman …
                      5 May 2014 at 7:23 pm

                      National is by far and away the most successful political party in NZ since the end of the second world war. You might not understand their internal processes or why people support them but you can’t deny that it seems to work for them. I am sure they don’t give two hoots what a bunch of largely hard core leftists think of them.

              • Draco T Bastard …
                5 May 2014 at 3:37 pm

                That does not mean all citizens of the nations making up the Allies in the war are culpable for these decisions…

                Actually, that’s exactly what being a democracy means.

              • Molly …
                5 May 2014 at 3:59 pm

                “I don’t think one automatically leads on to the other.”14.1.1.1.1
                “It is only when people carry out illegal activities under the Mongrel mob banner that belonging to them becomes an issue.14.1

                A bit of a contradiction there. But I do agree with your statement at 14.1.1.1.1 because fundamentally, regardless of whether you are a member or not, – your personal input or control of the decisions made by that organisation – make up a large part of whether you are responsible for those decisions or not. Mongrel Mob member, MP or democratic citizen.

                Unfortunately, some of these organisations are set up to look like you have equal power to another but in actuality do not deliver.

                • Gosman …
                  5 May 2014 at 4:19 pm

                  No contradiction at all as far as I can see. Perhaps you will explain why you think one exists.

                  • ScottGN …
                    6 May 2014 at 8:14 am

                    Gosman – for some reason I can’t reply to your comment above regarding National’s electoral success in the post-world war 2 era? You are, strictly speaking, right though much of that success comes from exploiting the FPP gerrymander. In the MMP era National and Labour so far have 3 terms each.

      • framu 14.1.2
        5 May 2014 at 12:51 pm

        legallity isnt part of the question captain deflection

        • Colonial Viper 14.1.2.1
          5 May 2014 at 3:49 pm

          certain types get too easily mixed up between the concepts of ‘what is moral’, and ‘what is legal.’

          • Gosman 14.1.2.1.1
            5 May 2014 at 4:44 pm

            Morally I think selling Homeopathy or most other types of CAM products/remedies is reprehensible. Does that mean people involved with this sector should be denied the opportunity of becoming an MP?

            • phillip ure 14.1.2.1.1.1
              5 May 2014 at 5:50 pm

              the thing is with homeopathy..there..gossy..

              ..is that farmers who have vets that use it..

              ..see how effective it can be..

              ..and i don’t think animals are subject to the placebo-effect..

              ..(i also have seen it work wonders on dogs..)

              ..i’m no expert on the subject..

              ..but just those vet-facts/personal-experiences..

              ..give me pause for thought..

            • McFlock 14.1.2.1.1.2
              5 May 2014 at 6:07 pm

              Who’s denying anyone the opportunity of becoming an MP?

              The tobacco lobbiest is allowed to run.
              So is Aaron Gilmore.

              But for either to be nominated would show tory arrogance. A lot of that’s been coming to light, lately.

              • Gosman …
                5 May 2014 at 7:26 pm

                Only to hard core leftists like you. People like me don’t think it is arrogant.

                • felix …
                  5 May 2014 at 7:39 pm

                  Arrogant people don’t think arrogant people are arrogant?

                  Fuck me.

                • framu …
                  6 May 2014 at 7:30 am

                  “Who’s denying anyone the opportunity of becoming an MP?”

                  you keep saying it and when directly confronted on the issue you go all quiet

                  so i will ask the same question – Who’s denying anyone the opportunity of becoming an MP?

                  your being really weak on this one

  15. Tracey 15
    5 May 2014 at 11:28 am

    first home owners in auckland, based on neither owner having bought a home before or held a mortgage before, are paying $200 a week more than counterparts outside auckland.

    but they dont get $200 a week more from similar jobs to counterparts.

    http://m.nzherald.co.nz/editors-picks/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503539&objectid=11249447

    • Colonial Viper 15.1
      5 May 2014 at 11:09 pm

      This is what you get for having more than 30% of the country’s population squashed into less than 0.3% of the country’s land area.

      As an added benefit, it depopulates and economically degrades all the other regions of the country. You would have thought given these facts that just a little teensy bit of central planning might be in order to even things out a bit, but no, every political party seems determined to make Auckland even bigger and denser than it is now.

  16. The Al1en 16
    5 May 2014 at 11:35 am

    Right, a little update.

    Despite badgering me for weeks whilst I was on sick leave, and on three occasions questioning the veracity of my Doctor’s certificates, after my disciplinary hearing on Monday, at 5.58 pm on Friday, I finally got confirmation through I was sacked.
    Not surprised at the outcome, but still gutted none the less. Cancelled my wff payments so I don’t get overpaid, booked up my ‘working for me seminar’ at winz, and ready to do what I can to get back in to work.

    I don’t know what options I have, other than full hearing and more costs I can’t pay or walk away and take the hit, but I’ll decide after consultation with the brief later today. It appears a pervy old man can’t buy my silence, but can buy protection for his reputation.

    Better off out of it, but what a way to go.

    • Molly 16.1
      5 May 2014 at 11:54 am

      Bugger.

      Wishing you all the best for this next stage.

      • Gosman 16.1.1
        5 May 2014 at 12:03 pm

        Yes

        • Molly 16.1.1.1
          5 May 2014 at 12:06 pm

          Guess that is a reply to 14.1.1 above.

          That also makes you culpable in terms of being a citizen of one of those governments.

          Do you claim that culpability or do you acknowledge that personal control of those organisations to which we all belong plays a part in our guilt by association?

          • Gosman 16.1.1.1.1
            5 May 2014 at 12:10 pm

            For some reason it was appearing down here even though I replied to you above. To keep this sensible repost your question above.

    • Rosie 16.2
      5 May 2014 at 12:59 pm

      Really sorry to hear of the outcome for you The AIlen. Good luck for your post consultation decision making on what to do next and all the best for your next move.

      It really is disheartening how dodgy employers get away it, again and again. I’ve seen it happen so many times to others and have been the victim of dodgy bosses twice in a row – its so wrong that your experience is not uncommon.

      Hope you find something nice to treat yourself to today.

      Kia Ora.

      • Chooky 16.2.1
        5 May 2014 at 1:57 pm

        +100…good luck The Allen!

      • veutoviper 16.2.2
        5 May 2014 at 2:57 pm

        +1. I was trying to find the right words of support for you, the Al1en; but Rosie has said it much better. I am thinking of you, as I am sure many others here are. I have been through similar but the fact that others have been down the same road does not make it any easier at the time. But you will get through. It has been obvious to me reading your posts on this issue. Kia Kaha. Keep us up to date.

      • miravox 16.2.3
        5 May 2014 at 8:31 pm

        +1 and take care of yourself Al1en.

    • freedom 16.3
      5 May 2014 at 1:56 pm

      Take the high road Al1en, it has better views and it’s always best to avoid the hassle of stumbling over messed up riverbeds. As you say, there does not appear to be any rewards in battling further. Do remember though, you can now freely offer advice to people as to whether they should use that particular business or not. There are lots of legal ways to adjust someone’s business reputation. I am not a spiteful person but have certainly had the unquestioning generosity of my youth sorely tested these past few years.

      Look after yourself, and when jumping the WINZ hoops, breath deep and let the pointless busywork ahead be a positive challenge. There is a job out there. I keep getting told there is. Problem seems to be WINZ are talking to us all about the same job 😉

    • Tracey 16.4
      5 May 2014 at 2:44 pm

      best of luck with the job hunt.

    • Bill 16.5
      5 May 2014 at 4:06 pm

      Mediation costs nothing and there is absolutely no reason to be represented by a lawyer. If you choose to be represented by a lawyer, then they can claim costs as a part of any confidential settlement.

    • The Al1en 16.6
      5 May 2014 at 7:01 pm

      Thanks for all the kind words and encouragement.

      I didn’t get a call back from my guy, so haven’t heard his considered opinion yet, but hope to tomorrow. The worst thing about the outcome is knowing I didn’t really do anything wrong, got victimised and then assaulted, and have been dismissed on the ‘evidence’ of witnesses I know weren’t present at the time.
      Realistically, without being Rumpole of the Bailey, I know I can’t rip the truth out from these people. I couldn’t even get my ex boss to speak during the kangaroo court. Two and a half hours and he said nothing, just stared in to any space except my eye line.
      I am full of contempt for this tool, but still bound by confidentiality, so naming and shaming isn’t an option as yet. I do have the privacy commission to fall back on, which is free to apply to, so that will probably be my next move, but first to get that job.

      Thanks again.

  17. captain hook 17
    5 May 2014 at 11:42 am

    gosman you are just being silly and throwing red herrings around. Whats his name from dipton is just a silly little twerp but you wont admit it.

  18. Public Films 18
    5 May 2014 at 12:00 pm

    Explosive new art show exposes Auckland’s revolutionary labour history: http://readingthemaps.blogspot.co.nz/2014/05/building-bombs.html

  19. Mary 19
    5 May 2014 at 3:49 pm

    Good to see the government’s helping the poor live on air:

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/10010529/Budgeting-services-to-get-a-boost

    Soon people will be so good at managing their finances benefits won’t be needed at all. If fact, I’m surprised Bennett isn’t saying something like “we really want to support people manage their money so well that there’s even some left over each week they can pay back to the government as a contribution to the benefit system overall.”

    Bennett says the funding “will ensure the services are able to keep up with demand”. What she doesn’t say is that that demand is increasing because it’s compulsory when people apply to Work and Income for special needs grants and advances, which people need to apply for because main benefit levels are so ridiculously low. Bennett, this government and Labour have absolutely no idea.

  20. bad12 20
    5 May 2014 at 4:23 pm

    Is Maurice Williamson really a ventriloquists dummy, i had that thought as Williamson was manhandled out of TV3’s ‘the Nation’ studio on the weekend, perhaps Maurice had just filled his incontinence pants and couldn’t bring Himself to perambulate after such a dramatic event,

    Maurice having just had the silver spoon rudely ripped from His over privileged mouth should face further questioning over His story,

    Claiming that it wasn’t Donghua Liu who asked Him for help after putting the bash on both wife and mother-in-law Williamson claimed that it was a member of the police force who gave Him the information that Liu was in trouble for the incident,

    i don’t believe Williamson’s explanation for a moment, But, if he was being truthful the plod who shared this information with Him should face discipline for giving out such information…

    • karol 20.1
      5 May 2014 at 4:34 pm

      Ah, bad, on reading the transcript, I don’t think that’s how it went down. The final bit of the interview, Williamson is explaining why he mentioned Liu’s business interests in NZ when talking on the phone to the police.

      So could you clarify for me why you told the police that he was – why you thought it was necessary to tell the police that he had all that money?

      I’ve had a think about the phone call and I think the way it came about, and of course it’s hard to remember back to January the exact wording, but what I think happened is the police officer speaking to me said the assault actually took place in the Boulevard Hotel, which this Mr Liu owns. And I said ‘yes that’s right he owns it’. And I said ‘he actually owns a big chunk of land around it as well’. He said ‘that’s right, but he owns the hotel where it occurred’. It wasn’t like ‘cause he’s so rich, don’t do anything’. But I wasn’t even asking whether they could do anything or not. I was asking ‘are you going to proceed?’

  21. captain hook 21
    5 May 2014 at 5:25 pm

    to use a quaint old phrase I think Judith collins has gone “furgerko”.

  22. joe90 22
    5 May 2014 at 8:47 pm

    Finally, after reading 14 ways a link to the entire Umberto Eco Ur-Fa**ism essay.

    https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http://pegc.us/archive/Articles/eco_ur-fascism.pdf&chrome=true

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    Yesterday I happily quoted the Prime Minister without fact-checking him and sure enough, it turns out his numbers were all to hell. It’s not four kg of Royal Commission report, it’s fourteen.My friend and one-time colleague-in-comms Hazel Phillips gently alerted me to my error almost as soon as I’d hit ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Thursday, July 25, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day were:The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry published its final report yesterday.PM Christopher Luxon and The Minister responsible for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • A tougher line on “proactive release”?

    The Official Information Act has always been a battle between requesters seeking information, and governments seeking to control it. Information is power, so Ministers and government agencies want to manage what is released and when, for their own convenience, and legality and democracy be damned. Their most recent tactic for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • 'Let's build a motorway costing $100 million per km, before emissions costs'

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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