The Bill applies to people returning to NZ where there isn't enough evidence to prosecute but where there is still significant concern. So not comparable with the Chch shooter.
Anyone watch the doco last night about fraudster Joanne Harrison?
mainly focused on interviews with Michael Mathews and three people from Tower who had dealt with Harrison aka sharpe when she embezzled money there.
this documentary barely mentioned the three long standing public servants who drew irregularities with Harrison’s invoicing to Matthews attention, which he failed to address. Harrison then effectively re-structured them out of their jobs held for 20 years plus. Sue Moroney picked up this story and it was investigated and they were apologised to and given compensation.
but the documentary starts with Mathews, who was tipped off about Harrison saying, I did the right thing and I was punished. It was almost as if he thought he deserved brownie points for at that late stage doing the right thing and the inference I drew was it was just possible from a moral stand point he might not have done the right thing, IMO he came across with no recognition that his job would be untenable as auditor general and the idea that he expected to keep it reeks of a sense of entitlement. It was all very poor me and oh yes he did mention that tax payers had been swindled by Harrison, but the impression was he was the bigger victim.
i really smell a rat about this programme. Not helped by Glenda Hughes appearance on it bleating on about Matthews being the victim here (don’t these guys who earn the big money justify it because they carry the risk and responsibility?).
now Geoffrey Palmer has been very quick to say unconstitutional……it all looks like the most enormous set up to me. Interested to hear anyone else’s views
One of New Zealand’s most senior public servants said MPs effectively acted “like gangs and mafia” to force his resignation.
Martin Matthews resigned as Auditor-General in August 2017, only six months into the job.
Former Prime Minister Sir Geoffrey Palmer has called the episode an “unprecedented” breach of New Zealand’s constitution. He said it rode over the independence of the country’s most independent financial watchdog, and denied Matthews natural justice.
Matthews feels like his “scalp” was offered up by politicians who needed him gone to please voters ahead of an election.
Anker, I would be very careful about passing judgement at this stage.
Having gone through a similar experience in the Public Service (although my status was well below his level of course) I am well aware of the way a person can be demeaned and discredited purely for internal and external political reasons. My detractors adopted the same line as appear to have been used in the case of Matthews.
I, too, was charged with misdemeanours I had not committed and could have proved as much but they wouldn't let me. The fallout destroyed my career and left me with scars that still have not fully healed to this day.
At best he was turned into a scapegoat to save the skins of others. At worst he was the victim of a travesty of justice designed to please the political masters of the day ahead of the 2017 General Election.
My sympathy Anne. All those books and movies where in the end justice is served. But in the real world, injustice can be delivered to suit the will of those with power. A refined sort of bullying?
I read the Stuff feature and believe that Mathews was very poorly treated.
Indeed. In fact sometimes it can be so amateur and crass you have to wonder how some of the protagonists involved in it all think they're able to get away with it.
Often they do, but you almost have to feel embarrassed for some of them. (I certainly do having seen many of their antics, and watching their careers progress as they shuffle themselves sideways – sometimes taking stints overseas or other 'gigs' in "lil 'ole NuZull that punches above its weight" where often some really dumfounding idiocy gets to pass)
Public service reform is long long long overdue – whether it's the "Yes Minister" shit that's existed for yonks (based on the former Empire), or what followed during the 80s which only served to make matters worse.
There can be no "transformational" or "kind" gummint until some basic reforms happen.
Don't know Sacha. Presume it was colleagues, but how far up the chain they were has yet to be determined. Of course the motive could have been something else but if Palmer is involved it sounds like something was amiss.
I knew just how partisan, nasty and bullying some senior personnel in the P.S. could be if it suited their purpose. Doubt much has changed.
Off now to have windows 10 installed. Yeah I know, but 7 suited my purpose adequately so why bother to change? Got to now. 🙁
It hasn't. It's worse in fact – and if you hadn't noticed, thankfully there are now a few more beginning to speak out.
And even if they didn't (speak out), you can see trends in things like staff high turnover (even within Muntry 'cost centres'); people (victims) who're now beginning to scream "enough"; where the worst of them are shuffled sideways – from and to, both inside and outside of the public sector; and so on. That's the good thing. The bad thing @ Anne is that we're still buying into it all.
They usually end up fucking themselves up though @Anne (EVENTUALLY), so don't get all bitter and twisted over it. Let 'em go for it – the faster the better. You can be sure they will, and if they have an epiphany in the meantime – that's OK too isn't it?
I have to say, I believe it was untenable having a cheif auditor who had ignored a number of warnings about irregularities in invoicing from a number of staff who had been in the job for many years. I really don't see how this could be overlooked……….
How is this situation similar to yours? rather than consistently alluding to yourself as an aggrieved party, why don't you lay out the case so all can judge whether or not you deserved what you got. then we can clearly compare it to Matthews, who definitely deserved what he got.
I am very disappointed with Kris Faafoi (and Jason Kerrison) for giving the opposition (and Mike Hosking) ammunition to attack the government. I have always thought Kris as being extremely hard working and trustworthy and one of the best in Labour. Jacinda is under enough pressure with the under performance of other ministers and is doing well holding it all together.
Jimmy, Hoskings will always find something to attack this govt on. I saw the headline and deliberately click. Really Hoskings should officially be on Nationals pay roll if he's not already.
And yes a big mistake by Kris, who is highly competent and likeable. A valuable lesson for Labour to learn though. I already posted that I think that Kerrison's behavour was totally rubbish.
always good to keep an open mind Anne. re Mathews case.
I had thought this happened under Labour's watch, not Nationals. Not that that changes my impression of how Mathews came across in the programme, and the omission of key evidence i.e. the whistle blowers who were ignored by Mathews. It would have been impossible to have the auditor general who had been alerted to irregularities and ignored/not investigated them properly keep his job, i would have thought.
Here is what Matthews apparently did – courtesy of the stuff Report:
Martin Matthews receives a tip from a contact that Joanne Harrison has another identity and a previous conviction for fraud.
APRIL 11, 2016
Matthews informs State Services Commission and asks for advice.
APRIL 12-13, 2016
Internal investigation into Joanne Harrison begins. Joanne Harrison claims she is on sick leave.
APRIL 18, 2016
Serious Fraud Office advises Matthews to investigate using Deloitte forensic accountants. Matthews commissions Deloitte review.
After Deloitte investigated the case was handed over to the SFO and we all know what transpired.
In Matthew's defence, he probably needed a bit more than just a suspicion before he could act on it, and when he did get something concrete he acted quickly. I also know from personal experience how clever and convincing fraudsters and gangsters (some wear suits and come across as pillars of society) can be.
There's a lot more to play out here. I can't imagine Sir Geoffrey Palmer being involved if there wasn't something 'not quite right' about this case.
Just seen that their is a volcanic eruption on white island and the boat Te Puia Whakaari is heading back to Whakatane at 30 knots. That's shit scary speed for the sea (55km/h).
"Less than a week ago, GeoNet said observations indicated the volcano may have been entering a period when eruptive activity was higher than normal. So why were tourists still allowed on the island? GeoNet vulcanologist Brad Scott said it was up to tour operators to monitor the situation and decide whether to continue operating."
I guess that's going to change. Frankly – with the seemingly never-ending capacity of the kiwi tourism industry to kill people, it's a wonder so many still come here. Still, now is not the time to say it – hopes and prayers.
Nothing shows the real face of the Conservative Party more than Priti Patel’s cynical move to criminalise one of the most abused communities in the United Kingdom.
In an attempt to hoover up the votes of the “concerned” and “I’m not racist but” brigades, Patel spent the last day of parliament releasing a consultation document about the fate of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) communities in Britain. In this document, she suggests that the next Tory government would allow police the right to confiscate the vehicles of “anyone whom they suspect to be trespassing on land with the purpose of residing on it.”
This was followed in the Tory manifesto with a commitment to seize “the property and vehicles of trespassers who set up unauthorised encampments,” a clear signal that a Boris Johnson government would launch a new campaign of attacks against GRT communities.
Although past laws such as the 1994 Criminal Justice Act relieved local councils of any duty to find official camping sites for GRT communities, no government has ever before made it clear they deem trespass to be so serious that you could lose your home by committing it.
I’m not sure what the Tories want those of us who belong to GRT communities to do next. Sign on to the council housing register and wait 10 years while we freeze to death in a local bus shelter, instead of waiting a similar amount of time for a council-approved plot?
The housing crisis is bad for all of us, but for the GRT it is another league. Even those of us who own their own land have a hard-enough time battling local councils. It was telling that after the notorious Dale Farm eviction, where local Tory authorities claimed the area was uninhabitable, permission was given for a private developer to build houses on the land. It wasn’t that no one could live there, it was that we couldn’t live there.
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Kiwis are still waiting for their promised cost of living support after 100 days of a National Government that is taking us backwards, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The National Government has spent its first 100 days stopping, cutting and reversing. They have scrapped stuff for stuff for the sake of it, without putting up any solutions of their own – and it’s hardworking New Zealanders who will pay for it. ...
100 days of National taking NZ backwardsThe National Government has spent its first 100 days stopping, cutting and reversing. They have scrapped stuff for stuff for the sake of it, without putting up any solutions of their own – and it’s hardworking New Zealanders who will pay for it. ...
The Government must commit to funding free and healthy school lunches, as thousands of people sign the petition to keep them, education spokesperson Jan Tinetti says. ...
If the Government was serious about moving families into public housing, they would build more houses so there is actually somewhere for people to go. ...
The free and healthy school lunches programme feeds our kids, helps them to learn, and saves families money – but it is at risk under this Government, education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
The Government’s proposed changes to Firearms Prohibition Orders (FPO) add almost nothing new and are merely an attempt to distract from its plans to loosen gun laws, police spokesperson Ginny Andersen and justice spokesperson Dr Duncan Webb said. ...
The great Victorian era English politician Lord Macauley stood in the British House of Parliament and said, "The gallery in which the reporters sit has become a fourth estate of the realm".He understood and outlined even way back then, the significant role and influence media have in a democracy. ...
The government’s attack on Māori health this week is committing tangata-whenua to a premature death, says Te Pāti Māori. “The government have begun their onslaught on Māori health with the abolishment of the Māori Health Authority and smokefree laws in the same day” said health spokesperson and co-leader, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. ...
New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April. ...
Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand. Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships. “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland Acknowledgements and opening Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says. “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024 Acknowledgements and opening Morena, Nga Mihi Nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country. “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week. “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee. “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today. “The Amendment Paper represents ...
Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level. “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024. “Lower fruit and vege ...
Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all. Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all. Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction. Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness. It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology. It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
This year’s Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity and the contribution of Pacific communities to New Zealand culture, says Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti. Dr Reti announced dates for the 2024 Pacific Language Weeks during a visit to the Pasifika festival in Auckland today and says there’s so ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Curran, Associate Professor of Ecology, Lincoln University, New Zealand Getty Images/Gerald Corsi In the latest move to reform environmental laws in New Zealand, the coalition government has introduced a bill to fast-track consenting processes for projects deemed to ...
Uber has argued it does not have as much control over drivers as the unions suggest, and wants a judgment ruling that drivers are employees and not contractors set aside and sent back to the Employment Court. The 2022 ruling followed a three-week hearing in which four drivers sought to ...
What can and can’t be purchased by disabled people or their carers has been slashed in an effort by the Ministry of Disabled People Whaikaha to save money. The purchasing guidelines, a set of rules that sets out what can be purchased using the various streams of Government disability funding, ...
The Treasury has published today a new Analytical Note by Tod Wright and Hien Nguyen, Fiscal incidence in New Zealand: The effects of taxes and benefits on household incomes in tax year 2018/19 . Analyses of the distributional impact of taxation and government ...
The Treasury has published today a new Analytical Note by Cory Davis, Boston Hart and Benjamin Stubbing, Household cost-of-living impacts from the Emissions Trading Scheme and using transfers to mitigate regressive outcomes . This Analytical Note ...
A coalition of public transport and climate organisations, united as ‘Transport for All’, is actively opposing the government’s transport proposals. The draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) includes plans for higher fares for public transport, ...
Greater Wellington is inviting feedback on proposed changes to its Revenue and Financing Policy. The Revenue and Financing Policy covers the Council’s various sources of funding, and how the cost of services is shared across the region. This includes ...
Labour has conceded it could have done more to deal with disruptive state housing tenants while in government but says the current coalition is going too far. ...
The band has asked their record label to issue a cease and desist to stop the NZ First leader using their 1997 hit to support his ‘misguided political views’. “I get knocked down, but I get up again,” blared through the speakers on Sunday as Winston Peters took the stage ...
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist Food rationing is underway in remote areas in Papua New Guinea’s Highlands following torrential rain and flash flooding. More than 20 people have been reported dead in Chimbu Province. In nearby Enga Province, the centre of last month’s massacre, a 15-year-old boy has been ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Hughes, Lecturer, Research School of Management, Australian National University After months of debate and intrigue, the AFL’s 19th and newest team, the Tasmania Devils, finally launched its jumper, logo and colours in Devonport this week. The Devils will wear green, ...
Brannavan Gnanalingam reviews the debut novel by Saraid de Silva.One of the most baffling things for children who move to a new country is what their parents’ (or grandparents’) lives were like prior to moving – for kids in particular, they’re too busy trying to fit in in their ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Gaunson, Associate Professor in Cinema Studies, RMIT University Narelle Portanier/Binge “If you don’t know who your mob are, you don’t know who you are,” Detective Andrea “Andie” Whitford (played by Leah Purcell) is told early into the new crime ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elise Klein, Associate professor, Australian National University It’s commonly accepted that women do the vast majority of caregiving in Australian society. But less appreciated is that Indigenous women do larger amounts of unpaid care than any other group. Working with the Aboriginal ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne Joe Biden and Donald Trump have both secured their parties’ nominations for the November 5 United States general election by winning a ...
Comment: There has been a striking contrast in trans-Tasman interest about Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi’s visit to New Zealand and Australia. While the Australian press has been full of articles about the visit – including his curious decision to meet with former prime minister and China booster Paul Keating ...
After years of pressuring banks and other institutions to stop investing in fossil fuels, climate campaigners are making some progress. So how does divestment work?For years, climate activists have been pushing banks and other big institutions to divest from fossil fuels. New research from climate advocacy group 350 Aotearoa ...
For Boba, Ethan and Ashley, K-pop is a place to belong, a way to express themselves, and a bridge to connect with others. The three young Polynesians are part of a K-pop fan community in Tāmaki Makaurau. It’s one of many that have sprung up worldwide as K-pop has gone ...
For Boba, Ethan and Ashley, K-pop is a place to belong, a way to express themselves, and a bridge to connect with others. This one-off documentary presents three intimate portraits of young Polynesians who are pulled into a Korean cultural phenomenon. K-POLYS is directed by Litia Tuiburelevu, Produced by Hex ...
There’s ample evidence demonstrating free school lunch programmes provide wide benefits across schools, households and communities according to public health researchers. ACT Minister David Seymour wants to reduce the spending on Aotearoa New Zealand’s ...
By Wata Shaw in Suva Fiji is facing an exodus of Fijians as many are leaving for overseas seeking employment and education and others are migrating, says Opposition MP Viliame Naupoto. Speaking in Parliament, he said: “His Excellency’s speech (Ratu Wiliame Katonivere) comes after a little over one year of ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming comments from Christopher Luxon this morning recommitting to ‘no new taxes’ as part of Budget 2024. “Mr Luxon’s refusal at the Post-Cabinet press conference yesterday to repeat the ‘no new taxes’ promise ...
SAFE is urgently calling on the Environment Committee to reject the Government’s Fast-Track Approvals Bill, and is urging New Zealanders to rally behind the call. The proposed Bill, currently under consideration with the Environment select committee, ...
Teammates who spend all their time picking fights with spectators are only helpful for the other team, writes Madeleine Chapman. Anyone who has ever played a team sport competitively, particularly as a child and particularly, for some reason, basketball, will know that there’s a lot of politics involved. While there ...
The long-running Wellington music festival is too focused on the Jim Beam-ness and not enough on the Homegrown-ness.There is something about Homegrown that’s difficult to place. A barely perceptible-ness. Like feeling a ghost is watching you from the corner of the room but when you look, there’s nothing there. ...
The latest Ipsos New Zealand Issues Monitor reveals that fewer New Zealanders believe crime / law and order is one of the top issues facing our country. In 2018, Ipsos New Zealand started tracking the key issues facing New Zealand. In this wave ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Griffiths, Deputy Program Director, Budgets and Government, Grattan Institute Australia’s political donations rules are woefully inadequate, but donations reform is finally on the agenda. The federal government has signalled its interest in reform and will soon begin briefing MPs on its ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Patrick Taylor, Chief Environmental Scientist, EPA Victoria; Honorary Professor, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University Naiyana Somchitkaeo/Shutterstock A recent study published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine has linked microplastics with risk to human health. The study ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Albert Van Dijk, Professor, Water and Landscape Dynamics, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Global climate records were shattered in 2023, from air and sea temperatures to sea-level rise and sea-ice extent. Scores of countries recorded their hottest year ...
As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a teacher explains why he and his partner are in frugal mode – and how they’re making it work. Gender: Male Age: 35Ethnicity: Pākehā Role: I am an intermediate school teacher and my partner is ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Bendall, Senior Lecturer, Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences, Australian Catholic University Binge Mary & George, the new British television drama series, depicts the real-life story of Mary Villiers and her son George, and their social climbing at the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jason Nassios, Associate Professor, Centre of Policy Studies, Victoria University This article is part of The Conversation’s series examining the housing crisis. Read the other articles in the series here. Australian state and federal governments spend money in many ways to ...
The finance minister is denying that there’s a $5.6b shortfall in paying for the government’s campaign promises, including tax cuts. At his post-cabinet press conference yesterday, the PM refused to rule out new taxes to pay for the cuts, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s ...
Kāinga Ora tenants abused by their neighbours are doubting the government's crackdown on disruptive tenants will make a difference on their behaviour. ...
Kāinga Ora is New Zealand’s biggest residential landlord, housing more than 180,000 vulnerable people in more than 67,000 properties. Yesterday the government announced a crackdown on its tenants who fall behind on rent. One longtime Kāinga Ora tenant shares her experience.For 18 years I lived in a 1960s standalone ...
Why does this myth persist, and what’s the real reason our skin is suffering?It’s one of the biggest international grievances New Zealanders hold, up there with the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior and 1981’s underarm incident. We’re quick to tell international travellers that the world’s pollution led to the ...
SailGP’s races feature in-your-face action, with agile, hydro-foiling catamarans tacking and jibing for the title over several days. However, public comments ahead of the global series’ return to New Zealand have left this past year’s controversy in the shadows, as a key appointment attracts criticism from dolphin advocates. A year ...
Opinion: We are fast approaching a fundamental change in prisons. As the number of people on custodial remand looks set to overtake the number of sentenced prisoners, the main function of prisons in New Zealand may become incarcerating un-sentenced people who may not be guilty of offending. We have already ...
A huge seven months lies in store for the White Ferns, beginning this week with the visit of England and culminating with the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh in September and October. Starting on Tuesday in Dunedin, the world ranked No. 2 visitors will play five T20s and three ODIs, ...
Opinion: In a move that has shocked road safety advocates across the country, the new Minister of Transport, Simeon Brown, is poised to abandon the previous government’s speed limit reduction policy, particularly around schools. Even more alarmingly, he wants school speed limits to be variable rather than full-time, arguing ...
Auckland Council is opposing a fast-track development backed by Sir John Kirwan and Spark NZ, because it doesn’t meet stringent new climate adaptation requirements The post Surf-data centre faces new 3.8C climate warming rules appeared first on Newsroom. ...
When the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act was introduced in 2009 it was firmly targeted at gangs and drugs. The legislation means police no longer need a conviction to seize assets that criminals can’t prove were paid for legitimately, as long as their alleged offences are punishable by more than a ...
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Bob’s relationship with certain members of Lincoln’s academic staff continued to deteriorate in the 1990s. Others supported him publicly, though articles such as Roland Clark’s 1993 piece in Growing Today cannot have pleased the university management. Clark wrote that Bob was selling onions from the Biological Husbandry Unit to a ...
The letters, which were published last week, were addressed to Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Chairperson Megawati Sukarnoputri, National Democrat Party (NasDem) Chairperson Surya Paloh, National Awakening Party (PKB) Chairperson Muhaimin Iskandar, Justice and Prosperity Party (PKS) President Ahmad Syaikhu and United Development Party (PPP) Chairperson Muhammad Mardiono. In ...
Evicting more people from state housing is ignorant to the consequences of poverty, the Greens say, but the Housing Minister says it's a privilege that can be taken away if abused. ...
Evicting more people from state housing is ignorant to the consequences of poverty, the Greens say, but the Housing Minister says it's a privilege that can be taken away if abused. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emerald L King, Lecturer in Humanities, University of Tasmania IMDB Between Netflix’s 2023 live-action version of One Piece, and its latest take on Avatar: The Last Airbender, fans are once again asking: why are live-action anime adaptations so tricky to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emerald L King, Lecturer in Humanities, University of Tasmania IMDB Between Netflix’s 2023 live-action version of One Piece, and its latest take on Avatar: The Last Airbender, fans are once again asking: why are live-action anime adaptations so tricky to ...
The government says it still intends to deliver tax cuts by July, but will not lock them in until they have got them past their coalition partners. ...
Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII has hosted members of the Green Party Caucus at Tuurangawaewae Marae in Ngaaruawahia. The audience follows the King’s Hui-aa-Motu on 20 January, where more than 10,000 people gathered to discuss national ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dr Rachael Potter, Research Associate and Lecturer in Work and Organisational Psychology, University of South Australia Ground Picture/Shutterstock Pregnant women and workers with children are often unfairly treated by their bosses and colleagues, despite laws to protect against workplace discrimination ...
Reacting to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s refusal to rule out introducing new taxes at the budget, Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns Manager, Connor Molloy, said: “Today’s refusal to rule out new taxes suggests the Government is nothing more ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Duckett, Honorary Enterprise Professor, School of Population and Global Health, and Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne Aila Images/Shutterstock Aged-care workers will receive a significant pay increase after the Fair Work Commission ruled they ...
He’s bringing ‘Sophie’ back, yeah. Goodshirt’s ‘Sophie’ music video is one of the most instantly recognisable New Zealand music videos of all time. Featuring a woman listening to the song on headphones while her entire house is burgled behind her, the video won the New Zealand music award for Best ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Blaxland, Professor, Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Australian National University A year ago, the AUKUS agreement was formally announced between Australian and UK Prime Ministers Anthony Albanese and Rishi Sunak and US President Joe Biden. The agreement mapped out the “optimal ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andreas Helwig, Associate Professor, Electro-Mechanical Engineering, University of Southern Queensland SmartS/Shutterstock Steam locomotives clattering along railway tracks. Paddle steamers churning down the Murray. Dreadnought battleships powered by steam engines. Many of us think the age of steam has ended. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Carrie Leonetti, Associate Professor of Law, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Victims who experience family violence in Aotearoa New Zealand are treated differently, depending on which part of the justice system they turn to for help. But a new member’s bill ...
Needs some ironing out.
https://twitter.com/marcdaalder/status/1203744793194401792
Is it right that the Terrorist currently in Court should be prevented from talking to the Media? If so the same reasons should apply to the Bill.
The Bill applies to people returning to NZ where there isn't enough evidence to prosecute but where there is still significant concern. So not comparable with the Chch shooter.
Anyone watch the doco last night about fraudster Joanne Harrison?
mainly focused on interviews with Michael Mathews and three people from Tower who had dealt with Harrison aka sharpe when she embezzled money there.
this documentary barely mentioned the three long standing public servants who drew irregularities with Harrison’s invoicing to Matthews attention, which he failed to address. Harrison then effectively re-structured them out of their jobs held for 20 years plus. Sue Moroney picked up this story and it was investigated and they were apologised to and given compensation.
but the documentary starts with Mathews, who was tipped off about Harrison saying, I did the right thing and I was punished. It was almost as if he thought he deserved brownie points for at that late stage doing the right thing and the inference I drew was it was just possible from a moral stand point he might not have done the right thing, IMO he came across with no recognition that his job would be untenable as auditor general and the idea that he expected to keep it reeks of a sense of entitlement. It was all very poor me and oh yes he did mention that tax payers had been swindled by Harrison, but the impression was he was the bigger victim.
i really smell a rat about this programme. Not helped by Glenda Hughes appearance on it bleating on about Matthews being the victim here (don’t these guys who earn the big money justify it because they carry the risk and responsibility?).
now Geoffrey Palmer has been very quick to say unconstitutional……it all looks like the most enormous set up to me. Interested to hear anyone else’s views
I missed the TV programme on this but there was also a huge article on the Stuff website with a 40+ minute video attached.
Matthews does appear to have been mistreated, even if there are other issues like ignoring the warnings
https://interactives.stuff.co.nz/2019/circuit/unprecedented-breach-of-constitution/
Anker, I would be very careful about passing judgement at this stage.
Having gone through a similar experience in the Public Service (although my status was well below his level of course) I am well aware of the way a person can be demeaned and discredited purely for internal and external political reasons. My detractors adopted the same line as appear to have been used in the case of Matthews.
I, too, was charged with misdemeanours I had not committed and could have proved as much but they wouldn't let me. The fallout destroyed my career and left me with scars that still have not fully healed to this day.
At best he was turned into a scapegoat to save the skins of others. At worst he was the victim of a travesty of justice designed to please the political masters of the day ahead of the 2017 General Election.
That's the way it is looking to me thus far.
My sympathy Anne. All those books and movies where in the end justice is served. But in the real world, injustice can be delivered to suit the will of those with power. A refined sort of bullying?
I read the Stuff feature and believe that Mathews was very poorly treated.
A refined sort of bullying?
Not always very refined at that too ianmac. 😉
"Not always very refined at that too ianmac."
Indeed. In fact sometimes it can be so amateur and crass you have to wonder how some of the protagonists involved in it all think they're able to get away with it.
Often they do, but you almost have to feel embarrassed for some of them. (I certainly do having seen many of their antics, and watching their careers progress as they shuffle themselves sideways – sometimes taking stints overseas or other 'gigs' in "lil 'ole NuZull that punches above its weight" where often some really dumfounding idiocy gets to pass)
Public service reform is long long long overdue – whether it's the "Yes Minister" shit that's existed for yonks (based on the former Empire), or what followed during the 80s which only served to make matters worse.
There can be no "transformational" or "kind" gummint until some basic reforms happen.
Whose?
Don't know Sacha. Presume it was colleagues, but how far up the chain they were has yet to be determined. Of course the motive could have been something else but if Palmer is involved it sounds like something was amiss.
I knew just how partisan, nasty and bullying some senior personnel in the P.S. could be if it suited their purpose. Doubt much has changed.
Off now to have windows 10 installed. Yeah I know, but 7 suited my purpose adequately so why bother to change? Got to now. 🙁
" Doubt much has changed."
It hasn't. It's worse in fact – and if you hadn't noticed, thankfully there are now a few more beginning to speak out.
And even if they didn't (speak out), you can see trends in things like staff high turnover (even within Muntry 'cost centres'); people (victims) who're now beginning to scream "enough"; where the worst of them are shuffled sideways – from and to, both inside and outside of the public sector; and so on. That's the good thing. The bad thing @ Anne is that we're still buying into it all.
They usually end up fucking themselves up though @Anne (EVENTUALLY), so don't get all bitter and twisted over it. Let 'em go for it – the faster the better. You can be sure they will, and if they have an epiphany in the meantime – that's OK too isn't it?
I have to say, I believe it was untenable having a cheif auditor who had ignored a number of warnings about irregularities in invoicing from a number of staff who had been in the job for many years. I really don't see how this could be overlooked……….
He may have been badly treated.
How is this situation similar to yours? rather than consistently alluding to yourself as an aggrieved party, why don't you lay out the case so all can judge whether or not you deserved what you got. then we can clearly compare it to Matthews, who definitely deserved what he got.
I take it that it's been clearly established that there was no collusion?
I am very disappointed with Kris Faafoi (and Jason Kerrison) for giving the opposition (and Mike Hosking) ammunition to attack the government. I have always thought Kris as being extremely hard working and trustworthy and one of the best in Labour. Jacinda is under enough pressure with the under performance of other ministers and is doing well holding it all together.
Jimmy, Hoskings will always find something to attack this govt on. I saw the headline and deliberately click. Really Hoskings should officially be on Nationals pay roll if he's not already.
And yes a big mistake by Kris, who is highly competent and likeable. A valuable lesson for Labour to learn though. I already posted that I think that Kerrison's behavour was totally rubbish.
Yes, I don't think Jason Kerrison will be getting a Christmas card from Kris this year.
Am surprised and disappointed with Kerrison, it appears he has behaved like an entitled brat.
Heh! Pompeo wears it!
https://twitter.com/OhNoSheTwitnt/status/1203621801936539648
Love it macro. You go Linda R, you rock! Always loved the music and was sad to learn she has Parkinsons.
That should ALWAYS happen thanks for posting Macro.
always good to keep an open mind Anne. re Mathews case.
I had thought this happened under Labour's watch, not Nationals. Not that that changes my impression of how Mathews came across in the programme, and the omission of key evidence i.e. the whistle blowers who were ignored by Mathews. It would have been impossible to have the auditor general who had been alerted to irregularities and ignored/not investigated them properly keep his job, i would have thought.
always keep an open mind Anne.
that is what I suggested to you @ 2.3 anker.
Here is what Matthews apparently did – courtesy of the stuff Report:
APRIL 11, 2016
APRIL 12-13, 2016
APRIL 18, 2016
After Deloitte investigated the case was handed over to the SFO and we all know what transpired.
In Matthew's defence, he probably needed a bit more than just a suspicion before he could act on it, and when he did get something concrete he acted quickly. I also know from personal experience how clever and convincing fraudsters and gangsters (some wear suits and come across as pillars of society) can be.
There's a lot more to play out here. I can't imagine Sir Geoffrey Palmer being involved if there wasn't something 'not quite right' about this case.
Palmer being concerned about the constitutional aspects does not really say much about the rest.
Sounds like this guy was given a great opportunity / second chance and has blown it!
https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/hawkes-bay/118047568/gang-member-with-notorious-facial-tattoo-in-court-on-assault-charge
Just seen that their is a volcanic eruption on white island and the boat Te Puia Whakaari is heading back to Whakatane at 30 knots. That's shit scary speed for the sea (55km/h).
https://www.myshiptracking.com/
Who ever is driving the boat has pushed it up to 34 knots – you don't do that unless there is some serious shit going on.
.
About 100 people were on White Island, a number are hurt, some are unaccounted for, PM says… read more
"Less than a week ago, GeoNet said observations indicated the volcano may have been entering a period when eruptive activity was higher than normal. So why were tourists still allowed on the island? GeoNet vulcanologist Brad Scott said it was up to tour operators to monitor the situation and decide whether to continue operating."
I guess that's going to change. Frankly – with the seemingly never-ending capacity of the kiwi tourism industry to kill people, it's a wonder so many still come here. Still, now is not the time to say it – hopes and prayers.
The pogromsRus party.
Nothing shows the real face of the Conservative Party more than Priti Patel’s cynical move to criminalise one of the most abused communities in the United Kingdom.
In an attempt to hoover up the votes of the “concerned” and “I’m not racist but” brigades, Patel spent the last day of parliament releasing a consultation document about the fate of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) communities in Britain. In this document, she suggests that the next Tory government would allow police the right to confiscate the vehicles of “anyone whom they suspect to be trespassing on land with the purpose of residing on it.”
This was followed in the Tory manifesto with a commitment to seize “the property and vehicles of trespassers who set up unauthorised encampments,” a clear signal that a Boris Johnson government would launch a new campaign of attacks against GRT communities.
Although past laws such as the 1994 Criminal Justice Act relieved local councils of any duty to find official camping sites for GRT communities, no government has ever before made it clear they deem trespass to be so serious that you could lose your home by committing it.
I’m not sure what the Tories want those of us who belong to GRT communities to do next. Sign on to the council housing register and wait 10 years while we freeze to death in a local bus shelter, instead of waiting a similar amount of time for a council-approved plot?
The housing crisis is bad for all of us, but for the GRT it is another league. Even those of us who own their own land have a hard-enough time battling local councils. It was telling that after the notorious Dale Farm eviction, where local Tory authorities claimed the area was uninhabitable, permission was given for a private developer to build houses on the land. It wasn’t that no one could live there, it was that we couldn’t live there.
https://tribunemag.co.uk/2019/12/persecuting-travelling-people
Bastards.
Things are looking grim for the UK.