A Christchurch man who is going through a terrifying extortion ordeal wonders how many others might have been caught up in it.
Newstalk ZB has seen text messages sent to the man from an 020 number, demanding money or threatening violence against him and his family.
He believes his phone number was taken from advertising he placed in a local paper.
The man has gone to police who said they have had multiple complaints about the phone number.
He received the first phone call earlier this week. The call lasted for five minutes, but the ordeal lasted for an hour with the man constantly calling back and texting.
“I originally got told this person was a member of a gang and that a debt had been passed on and I now owed him the money.
“I asked ‘what debt? I don’t owe any money to anyone’ and he said [he knew who I worked for].
“He said I couldn’t go to police. It was actually terrifying as he started to threaten my kids and family.”
…..snip….
One scam reported by Southern District Police uses an automated message in a Kiwi accent.
The message says, “This is the Police you owe money to Inland Revenue, if you don’t pay you will be arrested. Please call 04 889 0505”.
When rung a person asks for your name and IRD number.
Another scam is said to use an automated call in a Chinese accent claiming to be from DHL.
“The automated call tells the phone user that DHL has goods waiting for them and that they need to press 9 to talk to somebody to discuss, and if they press 9 the call then goes to a person who will ask for personal information,” Senior Sergeant Charles Ip said.
Since TS is embarking on a new beginning, could I ask a favour which will hopefully be backed up by others.
Psycho Milt and One Anonymous Bloke apparently copped lengthy bans some time ago. I know OAB can be a bit pithy at times but he is ultra smart and his one/two liners are insightful and valuable. Pyscho Milt is also a valuable contributor for similar reasons.
I don’t know if either are willing to return, but they have been ‘punished ‘ for long enough. Any chance the ban can now be reversed?
Regardless of which commenters a person may agree with – or not as the case may be – there seems to be an inconsistency in the time spans of some of the more lengthy bans. I hope the authors are still working on introducing a fairer system that is acceptable to everyone.
We need social blog sites that promote sensible thoughts, so we need all to stick together as the “fake news media are so rampant out there and we need urgent balance to their crap.
And we do need to put the spotlight on ‘where is the Minister of Broadcasting’?
She (Clare Curran) was promising us a commercial free ‘investigative Journalism’ type channel seven called RNZ-plus) to be in service by now!!!!! but still as of now we have nothing yet to “add some balance the right wing troll media” and worse we have seen or heard nothing from this Minister who appears to be just a total wasted space and an embarrassment to us all and the Labour lead Government.
if I was Jacinda I would replace her now and find a real active strong Minister who will give us a voice that we need so desperately now since the rest of the media is trying to destroy the government.
“And we do need to put the spotlight on ‘where is the Minister of Broadcasting’?”
….add to that the Ass. Minister for State Services (Open Government).
MIA she is, in a foggy cloud…
TS was missed and agree with the donation thing. We are blessed here not only with a well functioning website with excellent archive access and search facility but the lack of advertising is singularly delightful.
Yes i do have deep misgivings with the Minister here as in November we asked Clare Curran to help get a new RNZ reporter for HB/Gisborne and Minister Curran refused in her letter to us that she would not get involved then!!!!.
So she didn’t mind that we were left without a reporter (under two years of national)
Now we cant even get the reporter now (assigned) “finally” to cover our transport issues as the new reporter said to us she was to busy!!!!!!
So the Minister has made a mess of everything here now.
The project remains unfinished because local authorities are yet to sign-off regulatory permits for a state-of-the-art abattoir, despite repeat efforts by the New Zealand Ambassador to get things moving.
On December 6 last year the governance group held a teleconference, with the Mfat representative advising, “the Al Khalaf Group had located the legal documents required by the Mayor [redacted] and these documents had been delivered to the Mayor’s office”.
Apparently they lost the paper work for a couple of years
Duh
National are still spinning that it was “Labour’s fault …”. I read somewhere that the anger was not so much at the ban of live sheep exporting but a National promise to lift the ban that was reneged on. The FTA has stalled and would have no matter what National did. So throwing the scary “$4.5 Billion dollar problem” phrase around is more spinning (aka lying).
They must be worried that this huge waste of money makes their claims that “more doctor not diplomats” shows they are useless at running a country and their criticisms of the Coalition are hollow at best.
Oh i read the article, i meant that dan Bidiot (or what ever) didn’t really give an answer to the question at any stage, or said agreed to both sides of a debate, ignored actual facts, went on tangents.. I mean if I lived in Northcoate I would want a bit more coherence from my elected official than what that transcript suggested
I’d live to see the government’s Kiwibuild’s like Unitec site have cheap rental accomodation reserved for teachers, firefighters and police workers. Not only is it important to be able to have these important people’s skills kept in NZ cities that are increasingly becoming less affordable with less rental accomodation but it would also serve a valuable function for those who think that there are more ‘social’ issues in social housing.
I can’t see a policeman letting his neighbour cook P for example or beat their partner up. Likewise having teachers around in a community that should be serving the poorer members of society.
I just hope these government land from the tax payer does not just end up as speculative purchases onsold in a few years… which clearly will happen if the government does not get it’s act together in ensuring they have non repealable conditions as long term state housing.
That may not be so simple as it seems on the surface but… it’s also completely brilliant. What I and a lot of my peers lacked as young folk was decent role models. Absentee/abusive parents were very common.
A community where key community players were present, and actually part of the community (not visiting with big sticks), could go a long way towards restoring some sense of stability and safety for people who’ve known neither. It does put a lot of onus on the people of service however.
Stability is key to turning lives around. Most street people are PTSD via what they’ve endured at the hands of their caregivers, often the state. Just putting National in power is enough to see many slink back into addiction and despair. A mob that not only doesn’t care, but actively victimises you.
Last time Labor was in power many fringe types were empowered to try their hand at life. I personally saw several long term performing artists off the dole. Some are now in the international spotlight.
Try that with Nats in power. Fines, benefits cut off, fraud accusations – “we were just trying to start a business”… Great talents kicked till they stay down.
I remember getting hauled over the coals age 18 for not being on WINZ books – it’s true! “But how did you live, you must be lying to us” – I lived in the bush. I was 16 going on 17, and I’d already had a gutsful.
Got to wonder if there’s any relationship between managements. Sounds as if someone was pretty determined to shovel more money in the builders’ direction.
Construction, banking and cow corporate welfare is what this country has become. All the laws and red carpet to keep the often poorly run businesses, getting benefits at every turn and employing cheerleaders to keep the pressure on government for them to get more benefits with less regulation, chugging along.
“Did they get financial advice? This is a shambles.”
The minutes of the CMDHB meetings provided at the bottom of that page says it all.
“A shambles” is an understatement. One day someone…Hager, are you free?…will properly investigate shit like this. We’re talking billions of tax dollars being poured down the throats of vultures like these.
And no sanctions for gross fuckups….just more contracts.
“Hawkins built the Botany Downs Secondary College in Auckland.
A related company, H Construction North Island – formerly called Hawkins Construction North Island – was last week ordered by the High Court to pay $13.4 million for a raft of construction errors at the leaky, damp, and rotting college.
Orange H Group – H Construction’s shareholder – has now been put in receivership.
It will now be up to receiver McGrath Nicol to decide what happens to the millions of dollars the Ministry of Education is owed.
Hawkins also built the four worst leaking buildings at Middlemore Hospital less than 20 years ago.
H Construction has gone into receivership owing a total of $30m.
Orange H director David McConnell said they decided some time ago to exit the construction industry “principally because of the dramatic rise in the risk profile” borne by contractors.
This same rise in risks was cited by Fletcher when its building unit announced it was closing up gradually after suffering $1 billion of losses.
Mr McConnell said Orange H took the decision reluctantly to go into receivership.
“The process to secure final payments from the various customers has been complex and has taken a lot longer than anticipated and created a cash flow timing issue,” he said.
“We were also concerned that a number of parties were commencing legal action and we were mindful of our responsibility to exercise our fiduciary duties.”
There was “significant value” in Orange H with all but two of the legacy projects now completed and only minor work still outstanding on one of these, Mr McConnell said.
“The board’s focus is now to leave the company in the best possible position for the receivers to achieve substantial recoveries.”
The board of trustees at Botany Downs Secondary College said it had not yet heard about the company going into liquidiation.
The school was disappointed, but not entirely surprised to hear the news, chair Murray Goodman said.
The board would wait for more instructions from the Ministry of Education on the matter.
In March 2017, Downer purchased the Hawkins brand, some projects, assets and employees, and called it Hawkins 2017 Limited.
Previous projects and a number of ongoing projects done by Hawkins or related companies – such as the Botany Downs school and Middlemore Hospital buildings – were retained by Orange H Group, part of McConnell Limited. Orange H is distinct from Hawkins.”
Slimy, wriggly arsed, bottom-feeding scumsuckers are everywhere….
Test as two previous comments submitted without problems have not appeared.
OK – this one worked without problems. But two previous comments to the “Toby Manhire Owns Ms Bennett” post did not (the second a repeat of the first), Not important or presumably contentious comments and no loss. From Vodaphone ISP.
Just the tip of the ice berg. I’d like to see government audits every year to make sure all these “IT errors” on the banks and financial industry are found and not permanently ripping off people who have nobody anymore to check up on the big business in any real terms. Would also help the banks and the government, if they screw up over years that’s a large hole in their accounts for the future and they go bankrupt.
While they are about it, would help people feel better if their cash was actually insured like other normal countries so that people don’t lose all their savings if they stuff up aka all the financial crashes not so long ago. Had a family member lose all their savings in Hanover finance for a deposit on their first home. They had to start out again with nothing. The banks should pay for the insurance and bail outs not the government or tax payers.
ANZ credits customers $10m after loan payment mix-up
“…. selling about $11 million of medical equipment, mostly sterilisers, to a finance company, then leasing them back.
This was an “unusual” method to get around the fact that usual sources of capital spending would not have been available for such a non-priority building, she said.
“It’s a very bad deal….””
Accompanying photo has an unfortunately inanely grinning acting CEO…
Now you are suggesting that Willis’ older clone*, Judith Collins, should be the one to lead National back to the promised land. Make up your mind, man. LOL
I really laughed when I watched Jude’s performance the other day. The person in the House I would least call ‘petulant’ is Jacinda Ardern – and the one I would most call ‘petulant’ is none other than Judith Collins herself.
* As I said in one of my comments under your ‘Willis for PM’ post last week, Willis seems like a younger Collins; and she seems to already be forming a fan club around herself amongst the younger, newer Nat MPs.
Bridges in his reshuffle following his rise to the Nat leadership has already moved a number of the older Nats further to the retirement back benches (eg Maggie Barry) and younger ones (eg Sarah Dowie) well up the list and into spokesperson positions. Others, eg Collins, I suspect he is keeping on the front bench from the perspective of keep your friends close but your enemies even closer. Time will tell …
“But Puckish Rogue, only a week ago you were proclaiming that Nicola Willis would be the next PM of NZ!”
I hope she can forgive my momentary lapse of reason (she will of course because shes just so awesome like that)
“As I said in one of my comments under your ‘Willis for PM’ post last week, Willis seems like a younger Collins; and she seems to already be forming a fan club around herself amongst the younger, newer Nat MPs.”
The future is looking bright for NZ
“Bridges in his reshuffle following his rise to the Nat leadership has already moved a number of the older Nats further to the retirement back benches (eg Maggie Barry) and younger ones (eg Sarah Dowie) well up the list and into spokesperson positions. Others, eg Collins, I suspect he is keeping on the front bench from the perspective of keep your friends close but your enemies even closer. Time will tell …”
The sooner he moves Paula Bennett closer to retirement the better
Yes PR another strange thing occurred today see here;
The Greens have decided on a candidate to run in North cote against National and Labour, now we know why we decided to leave the Green Party 15 yrs ago, and now feel vindicated as the greens are handing National another pass card after giving the question time to national already so they are showing us some inside the greens want to go with National as a Blue/green combo i believe now.
The story appears over on TDB.today.
Northcote by-election: Greens select Rebekah Jaung as candidate – is it worth it?
By Martyn Bradbury / May 11, 2018 /
The Greens are sick of being seen as a puppet for Labour and are desperate to show some independence, but was this by-election the best way to do that?
Actually i agree with it, the Greens will have looked at the Maori Party and Act and would know the danger of being seen to be lap dogs plus they also get to campaign for more party votes
@ cleangreen (10.1.1.1) … Not a good move at all from the Greens.
Seems to me Greens are putting up a challenge to the very coalition government they are part of, through selecting a candidate to contest the Northcote byelection! Strange!
I too have a feeling they are edging closer to going over to the Natz dark side eventually.
If they continue with these anti coalition tactics, then Greens can kiss my vote goodbye for good at the next election.
BTW where is Marama Davidson? I supported her being co leader. But she seems not to be making any impact at all so far!
Just watched the first minute and yes Ms Collins socking it…………She would have been a better choice for Nats. Do you see blood on the floor before 2020?
Also what are your thoughts about Ms Collins detour to have dinner with officials of Oravida and a Chinese boarder official when her husbands company were having difficulty getting their product into China after the baby infant formula isssue. She was paid to go there on Govt business. Just interested to hear your take on that.
It was investigated I believe and no wrong doing found. If you think there was wrong doing then perhaps you should lobby the current government to re-open the investigation.
No I don’t think the current govt will or should re-open that enquiry. To much other stuff to fix that impacts on kiwis lives…..although a fuller enquiry into dirty politics would be worthy. Have you read the book?
Gosman it was a massive conflict of interest. And some would say corrupt. Would you disagree with that? I didn’t read the report but my understanding was the terms of reference were kept very narrow.
I am just so happy we have this coalition govt who are fixing up years of neglect….yah
“Just watched the first minute and yes Ms Collins socking it…………She would have been a better choice for Nats. Do you see blood on the floor before 2020?”
I can’t answer because I’m biased so any answer i give would be less my head and more my heart but i will say I would like to see Jude take the leadership before the 2020 election
“Also what are your thoughts about Ms Collins detour to have dinner with officials of Oravida and a Chinese boarder official when her husbands company were having difficulty getting their product into China after the baby infant formula isssue. She was paid to go there on Govt business. Just interested to hear your take on that.”
My thoughts is that situation was wonderfully muddied (and well done to Labour)
Ok that’s cool puckish. I hope Jude doesn’t get the leadership as she is a bigger threat to us I think. I thought Simon would do better, and I thought David cunliffe and Andrew little would swing things for the left. I completely under estimated jacinda, who I think is outstanding…….so I wouldn’t trust my own judgement about leadership. I am pleased with the coalition. Extremely pleased. I want Middlemore fixed, I want child poverty reduced. I want a significantly improved mental health service (it deteriorated badly under national, trust me it’s my field)…..I want someone to at least attempt to fix the housing crisis and Auckland’s transport woes”……….theses things inspire me. On and throw climate change into that.
Tell me what is it about National that inspires you? Aside from Jude that is
Please make her leader – her vicious sociopathy and questionable past (smirkingly condoning prison rape for example) will turn normal people off in droves.
“So, the Ombudsman, who is meant to be the defender of transparency and the public participation it enables, thinks the public shouldn’t be able to have a say on policy until the government has already decided what’s going to happen. To put things back into his metaphor, in his view we don’t get to decide where we’re going to go, how we’re going to get there, or even if we’re going to go on a trip at all. But we might get to choose the music we listen to or which cafe we stop at along the way, if the government hasn’t already made up its mind about these things.
No matter which way you look at it, this is a deeply impoverished view of public participation. Pretty obviously, it reflects central government’s view of this – where they make the decisions, and public “consultation” is simply a rubberstamp designed to build legitimacy rather than give us a real say. But public participation is supposed to serve the interests of the people, not the government, and the Ombudsman is supposed to protect it. How the fuck is this supposed to be guarding the mana of the people?”
That’s exactly the impression I got from a quick skim of the paper.
I will give the paper better scrutiny later…always wise to better learn the ways of the enemy.
On this very important issue I am not in any way optimistic that this government has any greater interest in transparency and accountability than the Last Lot.
Yes Rosemary;
The trouble with new governments is that they rely to much on their In-house ‘advisers’ and stray off course so this appears to be just another example of the same result being contrary to what they promised us all at the election.
I’m sure one day, one of the pre-election promises will be met. Perhaps someone can raise an OIA on their modelling from 2 years ago…but best expect a redacted blank page to be returned.
Indiana visit labour’s website or go back through Gordon Campbell’s articles. There is a list of everything the coalition has done to date and it’s an impressive list. They will honour their election promises on for exampl e free drs, it will just be a little delayed. In my o wn life I would find that acceptable and it happens frequently every people saying they will deliver things by a certain date and then usually for 7nderstandable reasons the date is pushed back. Most of us are flexible enough to accept this
The ‘Capital Charge’……..probably one of the early initiatives in neo-lib thinking that is now coming into question. It was a feature of the new corporatised public service (during that era when greed became good, and John Travolta and an Olivia neutron bomb were wobbling their arses as though they were more special than the next person)…… that fishint n fektiv n de-pliticoised civil service that was designed to do us all proud.
While they’re busy reviewing the fishinsy n fektivness and worth of that ‘Capital Charge, they might consider applying the same criteria to a good many of the complete fucking Muppetry heading our ‘officlaldom’.
Sometimes I’ve had cause to reference the early pages of the telephone directory.
I find it difficult to find many of the bits that are listed in the government section one could genuinely describe as fully functioning (fishint n fektiv n apolitical) entities.
And let’s be clear, it’s NOT generally down to the plebs at the front line of these entities …. it IS the leadership (the senior and muddle management) – and the culture they instill in their plebs (often ambitious little units anxious to climb the ladder and end up as the next generation of muppetry if only in pursuit of a higher salary and prestigious job title going forward)
First up in the directory is ….. ACC. Then we have Ray Smith’s Corrections.
Next,, nothing too Earth shattering, but a bit of a fuckup if you’re an artist …. Creative NuZull….then Keating’s Defence Force…..then EQC (just check out tonight’s news and all its implications)…then Education Ministry Of.
I’m too scared to travel further, because we’re getting close to Health, and Transport/ Infrastructure, and WINZ , and Primary Industries and perhaps the biggest bugger’s muddle of all which is Mr Smol’s Joyce/Coleman Ministry of Everything.
Whilst I’l hold the ladder steady for Shane Shane – because sure as shit I’m not coming down into his arms, he does have a point in that some serious review is necessary in the muddle and senior management, and that is probbly long overdue.
I heard on Radionz about a good action of The Warehouse helping a woman who needed to escape an obssessed and violent partner, she was given time off and was relocated. One small step for womankind, one great step for one woman and her family.
Now if women can choose to not involve a partner from the first if there is likely to be violence or very erratic behaviour, it would be better. It is only the contempt of the politicians who consider sex moral corruption and illegitimacy the road to hell, that has forced women to be glued to the father often to the detriment of the child and the mother. If she refuses to be involved, she has benefit withheld as a sanction.
Look at all the synonyms relating to the adjective ‘immoral’. It is obviously
something that highly angers people, more than other bad activities that are not connected to simply being loving but when humanness and fertility unfortunately combine.
What a mouthful of dislike:
not conforming to accepted standards of morality.
“unseemly and immoral behaviour”
synonyms: unethical, bad, morally wrong, wrongful, wicked, evil, unprincipled, unscrupulous, dishonourable, dishonest, unconscionable, iniquitous, disreputable, fraudulent, corrupt, depraved, vile, villainous, nefarious, base, unfair, underhand, devious; sinful, impure, unchaste, unvirtuous, shameless, degenerate, debauched, abandoned, dissolute, reprobate, perverted, indecent, lewd, licentious, wanton, bawdy, lustful, promiscuous, whorish;
informal shady, low-down;
informal dodgy, crooked, not cricket;
archaic miscreant
“they deplored immoral behaviour among the upper classes”
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On Monday, Todd Muller gave an important speech to the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, He spoke firmly about his belief in the need for foreign investment, for the public sector to partner with the private sector rather than boss it around and, crucially, demanded the government deliver a clear strategy ...
Todd Muller's first act on become party leader was to appoint an all-white front bench. This understandably raised eyebrows, so he is now apparently reconsidering caucus and list rankings. Which is obviously necessary, but there's still the underlying problem: National doesn't have a lot of Māori MP's. And the reason ...
Meridian energy has been caught manipulating the electricity market for fun and profit: Meridian Energy pushed up power prices by unnecessary spilling water from its south dams in December that could have been used for generation, the Electricity Authority has ruled in a preliminary decision. The authority said the ...
When the Christchurch murderer pleaded guilty to 51 counts of murder and a number of other violent assault charges a few months ago, he effectively closed the door on what the public will know about the lead up to and commission of the event. His plea means that no evidence ...
Daphna Whitmore The Philippines is enduring one of the longest lockdowns in the world. For President Duterte the lockdown provides an opportunity to garner more powers and to push through a brazen assault on human rights. A new law called the Anti-Terror Bill has been passed under urgency and it ...
Hearing the Prime Minister castigate the Warehouse for laying off 1,000 workers after receiving $52 million in wage subsidies reminds me of the fabled frog who agreed to carry a scorpion across a river. The scorpion stings the frog halfway across, dooming both to drown. The frog cries “Why on ...
Prof Nick Wilson, Dr Amanda Kvalsvig, Prof Michael BakerCompared with other OECD countries NZ is a stand-out success story by ending community transmission of COVID-19. While there have been some well-publicised recent deficiencies (eg, quarantine organisation), there has still been no evidence of community transmission for many weeks. Nevertheless, ...
It’s June 30th, marked as Asteroid Day by many people of an astronomical bent around the globe. On this date in 1908, early in the morning in a remote part of central Siberia, the sky fell in. Well, not literally. What happened is a substantially-sized lump of cosmic detritus ...
There really is not much about Paula Bennett concerning her career trajectory, the policies she promoted, and most importantly, the socio-economic effect this had upon New Zealand (and particularly the most vulnerable in this, our oft-cited “egalitarian” society of this country) that can be said now that hasn’t already been ...
Don Franks Poverty, inequality – really – aren’t politicians paid to sort that stuff ? Why can’t they just get it together and come up with something fair and sensible? A cold rainy 2020 morning, a headline showed promise. “Green Party’s $8b plan would guarantee an income of $325 a ...
A guest repost by Climate Science Legal Defense Fund (CSLDF) staff attorney Augusta Wilson. Fundraising is not the objective of this article but readers may wish to know that CSLDF is currently conducting a summer fundraiser to support defense of research scientists and research integrity from anti-science interference by politicians and industrial interests. The COVID-19 pandemic ...
Helloy… My name is Todd Muller and I am the leader of the National Party of New Zealand. Many people come up to me on the street and ask me who I am. I’m often walking through Tauranga, or in a mall in suburban Auckland, or maybe even a farmers’ ...
The US state of Mississippi has finally voted to remove the Confederate emblem from its state flag. Good. Its appalling that it was put there in the first place, but even more appalling that it took so long to remove it. Its basicly as if a German Länder still had ...
No one could have predicted when David Seymour’s End of Life Choice Bill was passed by Parliament last November that the referendum required to bring the legislation into force would be held against the backdrop of a deadly global pandemic. Since then, the mounting tally of casualties around the world ...
Paul GoldsmithYou can often tell just how effective a progressive policy proposal will be by how much the right wing criticise it. The more socially beneficial, the more vitriolic and unhinged they seem to become.That was the case when the Green Party announced their Poverty Action Plan yesterday. The response ...
Back at the beginning of April, when we had much else on our minds, I wrote this post urging some caution in interpreting the results of the latest Horizon poll, conducted in February, on voting intentions in this year's cannabis referendum, which was paid for by Helius Therapeutics.I wrote that ...
Over the weekend the Greens made their first election policy announcement, and promised transformational change: a more progressive tax system, with new rates applying to incomes of $100,000 and $150,000; a new wealth tax on net wealth over $1 million; and a guaranteed minimum income to eliminate poverty. Its bold, ...
Story of the Week... El Niño/La Niña Update... Toon of the Week... Coming Soon on SkS... Poster of the Week... SkS Week in Review... Story of the Week... Global Warming Is Melting Our Sense of Time Satellite image of smoke from active fires burning near the ...
. . Plague town? There are two things right now in Aotearoa New Zealand that are guaranteed to piss people off. Firstly, it’s National playing silly-bugger politics with the covid-19 pandemic. This cost Simon Bridges his job as National’s Leader. Lately, Michael Woodhouse has been playing fast and loose with ...
Tertiary fees in New Zealand versus Australia: Fees Are Important, but not as Important as Financing In Australia, the Education Minister Dan Tehan has proposed an overhaul of the existing higher education funding system to offer 39,000 additional study places by 2023 and 100,000 by 2030. The proposal has been ...
The latest opinion poll forecasts a landslide win by Jacinda Ardern’s Labour Party, but when taken alongside other polling, it illustrates New Zealand politics remains volatile and the contest is still very open. According to the Colmar Brunton poll published by TVNZ last night, Labour would easily romp back ...
A chronological listing of news articles linked to on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, June 21 through Sat, June 27, 2020Editor's ChoiceFacebook creates fact-checking exemption for climate deniers Facebook is "aiding and abetting the spread of climate misinformation,” said Robert Brulle, an ...
The images and reports delivered to us by the world’s media leave us in no doubt that the rest of the world is still in the grip of a coronavirus pandemic that shows no signs of slackening, but is actually uncontrolled and picking up pace in many countries; and even ...
Minister of Health - David ClarkIf you follow politics at all in New Zealand, David Clark is likely a name you’re a bit familiar with. The current Minister of Health is perhaps the most disliked Member of Parliament at the moment, which amongst very stiff competition is really saying something. ...
SUNDAY JUNE 28Beat the Chasers (TVNZ 1, 8.30pm). Judging by the tweets, which is probably a bad idea, over lockdown, all of New Zealand found itself in front of The Chase every night at 5pm. It is a brilliant fomat: hardly anyone wins any money ...
SATURDAY JUNE 27Banksy and the Rise of Outlaw Art (Sky Arts, Sky 017, 8.00pm). There was graffiti before Banksy, but perhaps his pungent political messages hit home a bit harder. Anyways, a doco about his influence on street art featuring a bunch of cool people.SUNDAY JUNE 28Beat the Chasers (TVNZ 1, ...
We have been assailed by Fox News-style headlines, lurid stories of “a breach!”. An almost nuclear level disaster on the horizon scream, “Fiasco!” here, “Hero to Zero!” there… Oh quick, panic everyone!This has fueled an unbelievably stupid environment of panic among some, and spurred useless, counterproductive political ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters A massive dust storm formed over the Sahara Desert last week and invaded the Caribbean over the June 20-21 weekend, bringing dangerous levels of air pollution and low visibility to the islands. The dust is accompanied by a large amount ...
Will the Covid Crisis lead to a dramatic redirection for New Zealand and the World? A hinge in history occurs where the past and present are connected but they point in different directions. Big hinges are rare but crucial in the development of humankind. Not in Narrow Seas identifies six. ...
RNZ reports that Refining NZ is considering shutting down Marsden Point and effectively turning itself into a fuel distribution service. The problem they're immediately trying to address is that running a refinery is expensive, and it is cheaper just to import processed fuel. But there's a longer-term problem too: climate ...
New Zealand First is pleased to announce Jenny Marcroft as the party’s election 2020 candidate for the Auckland Central electorate. Jenny spent years working in Auckland Central, having spent a vast proportion of her broadcasting career there. She says she, "knows the place and knows the people." Ms Marcroft says ...
New Zealanders deserve healthy rivers and lakes that are safe to swim in - but they have been getting worse for decades. That's why, with our latest announcement, we're investing in projects that will help clean up our rivers and lakes and restore them to health, within a generation. ...
This week we moved into the second half of 2020 - and our Government delivered another week of big changes and major progress for New Zealanders. Read below for a wrap of the key things moments from the week - from extending paid parental leave, to making major investments in ...
The Green Party has opposed the COVID-19 Recovery Fast-track Consenting Bill which shortcuts normal consenting processes under the Resource Management Act (RMA), reduces public participation and narrows environmental considerations. ...
Hon Shane Jones, Minister of Regional Economic Development A regional freight hub for the lower North Island will be built just northeast of Palmerston North, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones has announced. The Government is investing $40 million through the Provincial Growth Fund to designate and buy land and design ...
Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson is calling for the introduction of a Guaranteed Minimum Income to lift hundreds of thousands of people out of poverty and prevent more families entering into further debt with the Ministry of Social Development. ...
There has been renewed focus on New Zealand First acting as a handbrake on the Government after our decision to not support Auckland light rail. We are a handbrake for bad ideas, that istrue, but our track record since 2017 has seen New Zealand First constructively also serve as an ...
Mark Patterson MP, New Zealand First List MP New Zealand First’s Fair Residency for Superannuation Bill passed its First Reading in Parliament today. The Bill makes a significant change to NZ Super by raising the minimum residency requirement from 10 to 20 years, after age 20. “Currently, a migrant of ...
Darroch Ball MP, Spokesperson for Law and Order A New Zealand First member’s bill in the name of Darroch Ball introducing a six-month minimum prison sentence for assaults on first responders has passed its second reading in Parliament. The new offence of "injuring a first responder or corrections officer with ...
Fletcher Tabuteau MP, Deputy Leader of New Zealand First New Zealand First welcomes the launch of the new Criminal Cases Review Commission, gifted with the name from Waikato-Tainui - Te Kāhui Tātari Ture, announced in Hamilton today by Justice Minister Andrew Little. “New Zealand First has long believed in and ...
The Green Party is celebrating over $800m in new funding for green projects, which will get people into jobs while solving New Zealand’s long-term challenges. ...
Mark Patterson MP, Spokesperson for Primary Industries New Zealand First is appalled that Meridian seems to have been unnecessarily spilling water from its dams to drive up its profits."While New Zealanders have been coming together in some of our darkest hours, we don’t expect power gentailers to waste water and ...
We wrapped up the first half of 2020 with a busy month, taking additional steps to support New Zealanders as we continue with our economic recovery. We rolled out targeted packages to support key industries like tourism and construction, helped create jobs in the environmental and agriculture sectors, and set ...
Hon Shane Jones, Minister for Infrastructure Infrastructure Minister Shane Jones has welcomed the appointment of Maurice Davis and his deep infrastructure and construction experience to the board of the Infrastructure Commission. Mr Davis (Ngāti Maniapoto), is the seventh and final appointment to the board led by former Reserve Bank Governor ...
Rt Hon Winston Peters, Leader of New Zealand First New Zealand’s click bait journalism is taking a turn for the worse, with yet another example of sensationalist, wilful-misrepresentation of the facts. “New Zealand First has worked constructively with its Coalition partner on hundreds of pieces of legislation and policy, and ...
The Green Party is today unveiling its Poverty Action Plan, which includes a Guaranteed Minimum Income to ensure people have enough to live with dignity. ...
Rt Hon Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister Fletcher Tabuteau MP, Under-Secretary for Regional Economic Development The Rotorua Museum redevelopment and Whakarewarewa and Tokorangi Forest projects will be accelerated thanks to a $2.09 million Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) boost, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters and Under-Secretary for Regional Economic Development Fletcher ...
This week, we rolled out the next steps of our recovery plan, with new infrastructure investment, extra support for tourism operators, and a new programme to get Kiwis into agriculture careers. The global economic consequences of COVID-19 will continue to be a challenge, but we have a detailed plan to ...
Jenny Marcroft MP, Spokesperson for Health New Zealand First welcomes the passage of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission Bill through its final reading in Parliament today fulfilling a coalition agreement commitment. “This is an important step in saving the lives of New Zealanders and delivers a key coalition commitment ...
Whakatāne has been given a $2.5 million boost to speed up previously funded projects and create more than 450 jobs in the next decade. Of those, the equivalent of 160 full-time jobs could be delivered in the next six weeks. Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters is in town to make ...
Rt Hon Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister Fletcher Tabuteau MP, Under-Secretary for Regional Economic Development The Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) is investing $2.5 million to accelerate three infrastructure projects in Whakatāne, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters and Under-Secretary for Regional Economic Development Fletcher Tabuteau announced today. “This package is about ...
Infrastructure Minister Shane Jones is throwing his weight behind a bid by the Auckland Council to fast-track the more than doubling of the city's water allowance from the Waikato River. And he's coming out strongly against anyone who plans on getting in the way of this campaign. "It is my ...
The Green Party is thrilled to see changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that mean consents for large projects can be declined if they will have significant climate change implications that are inconsistent with the Zero Carbon Act and Aotearoa New Zealand’s Paris Agreement obligations. ...
Hon Ron Mark, Minister of Defence The Royal New Zealand Navy’s new ship, Aotearoa, set sail for New Zealand on 10 June from the Republic of Korea, and is due to arrive in Auckland tomorrow, announced Minister of Defence Ron Mark. “Aotearoa is the Royal New Zealand Navy’s new fleet ...
Rt Hon Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Racing Racing Minister Winston Peters has today welcomed the Racing Industry Bill passing its third reading, creating the legislative framework for revitalising the racing industry while limiting the need for future government intervention. “For too long our domestic racing industry has ...
The Green Party has today put forward an amendment to the Electoral (Registration of Sentenced Prisoners) Amendment Bill to ensure all people in prisons can vote in general elections. ...
The Green Party welcomes the decision to not proceed with Public Public Investment (PPI) delivery of Auckland’s light rail project and to instead run the process through the public service. ...
Hon Ron Mark, New Zealand First List MP based in the Wairarapa New Zealand First List MP Hon Ron Mark welcomes the announcement of Provincial Growth Funding investment of $1.4 million to help secure the Wairarapa’s water supply. The funding boost will allow the Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC), and ...
New Zealand First list MP Mark Patterson has been selected to represent the party in the newly formed Taieri electorate at the upcoming election. Mr Patterson, his wife Jude and two daughters farm sheep and beef at Lawrence and Waitahuna. He previously stood in the Clutha-Southland electorate however boundary changes ...
Hon Shane Jones, Associate Minister for State Owned Enterprises A new ‘super depot’ to be built for NZ Post in Wellington will create around 350 jobs during construction, Associate Minister for State Owned Enterprises Shane Jones says. Shane Jones today attended a ground-breaking and blessing ceremony for the parcel-processing depot ...
Our strong economic management prior to COVID-19 - with surpluses, low debt and near-record-low unemployment - put us in a good position to weather the impact of the virus and start to rebuild our economy much earlier than many other countries.Now we're putting our plan to recover and rebuild ...
Darroch Ball MP, New Zealand First Spokesperson for Law and Order Recently released Police fleeing driver statistics have shown yet another increase in incidents with another record-high in the latest quarter. “This new quarterly record-high is the latest in a string of record-high numbers since 2014. The data shows incidents ...
New Zealand First MP Fletcher Tabuteau is pleased to be confirmed today as the party’s candidate for the Rotorua electorate. Speaking at the Rotorua AGM for New Zealand First, Mr Tabuteau said this is an election that is incredibly important for the people of Rotorua. “The founding principles of New ...
The Human Rights Commission’s PRISM report on the issues impacting people based on their sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC) provides an excellent programme of work for future governments to follow, say the Greens. ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters said the trans-Tasman bubble had not been jeopardised after aborder botch-upresulted in New Zealand having two active cases of COVID-19. On Friday, Mr Peters told RNZ's Morning Report he had heard from Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison that borders for trans-Tasman travel would open by ...
Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters said today he was pleased the army was now running the quarantine and isolation process - up until now it has been the Ministry of Health. Peters told Newstalk ZB's Mike Hosking that the army knew how to introduce and follow protocols and instil discipline. ...
Hon Ron Mark, New Zealand First List MP based in the Wairarapa New Zealand First MP and Minister for Defence and Veteran’s Affairs Ron Mark has confirmed his bid for the Wairarapa seat.“The Coalition Government has done a lot of good work throughout the Wairarapa, but many constituents have told ...
New Zealand First is pleased to release the names of its next tranche of candidates for the 2020 election. We’re proud to announce these hardworking New Zealanders that have put their hand up to fight for a commonsense and resilient future.Jamie Arbuckle – Kaikoura Mark Arneil – Christchurch Central Jackie ...
The Associate Minister for Greater Christchurch Regeneration, Poto Williams, is seeking feedback on a proposal to better enable the development and operation of commercial film and video facilities in Christchurch. The Proposal, developed by Regenerate Christchurch in response to a request from Christchurch City Council, asks that powers under section ...
The Government has launched a bold plan to boost primary sector export earnings by $44 billion over the next decade, while protecting the environment and growing jobs. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern today released Fit for a Better World – Accelerating our Economic Potential, a 10-year roadmap to unlock greater value ...
A new approach to prevent family harm that encourages greater collaboration across government and community groups is being celebrated at the opening of a new facility in Auckland. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern today opened the Multi-Disciplinary Family Harm Prevention Hub Te Taanga Manawa in Lambie Road in Manukau. The facility ...
The Government has released a major new report on the options for relocating the Port of Auckland’s freight operations while deferring any decision on the issue. “That decision needs to be informed by policy analysis that is still to be completed. As a result it will be up to a ...
The history of Rāpaki is being restored through the inclusion of te reo in thirteen official place names on Te Pātaka-o-Rākaihautū / Banks Peninsula and around Lyttelton Harbour/Whakaraupō, the Minister for Land Information, Eugenie Sage, announced today. “I am pleased to approve the proposals from Te Hapū o Ngāti ...
Bookings for seats on Air New Zealand flights into New Zealand will be managed in the short term to ensure the Government is able to safely place New Zealanders arriving home into a managed isolation or quarantine facility, says Housing Minister Megan Woods. “Last week Air Commodore Darryn Webb and I ...
Grant Robertson has today announced the first major release of funding from the $265 million Sport Recovery Package announced at Budget 2020. “Today we’re setting out how $80 million will be invested, with $54 million of that over the 2020/2021 financial year for organisations from community level through to elite ...
The Government is maintaining current levy rates for the next 2 years, as part of a set of changes to help ease the financial pressures of COVID-19 providing certainty for businesses and New Zealanders, ACC Minister Iain Lees-Galloway says. “New Zealanders and businesses are facing unprecedented financial pressures as a ...
Small businesses are getting greater certainty about access to finance with an extension to the interest-free cashflow loan scheme to the end of the year. The Small Business Cashflow Loan Scheme has already been extended once, to 24 July. Revenue and Small Business Minister Stuart Nash says it will be ...
A package of 23 projects across the country will clean up waterways and deliver over 2000 jobs Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Environment Minister David Parker announced today. The $162 million dollar package will see 22 water clean-up projects put forward by local councils receiving $62 million and the Kaipara ...
Tena koutou katoa Nga tangata whenua o tenei rohe o Pōneke, tena koutou Nau mai, haere mai ki te hui a tau mo te roopu reipa Ko tatou! Ko to tatou mana! Ko to tatou kaupapa kei te kokiri whakamua Tena koutou, tena koutou, tena tatou katoa Welcome. I ...
The Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) is investing $1.5 million to ensure QE Health in Rotorua can proceed with its world class health service and save 75 existing jobs, Under Secretary for Regional Economic Development, Fletcher Tabuteau announced today. The PGF funding announced today is in addition to the $8 million ...
A new programme, which sets a firm course for the Building and Construction sector to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, has been announced by the Minister for Building and Construction Jenny Salesa. “A significant amount of New Zealand’s carbon emissions come from the building and construction sector. If we’re serious ...
The Provincial Growth Fund is investing more than $7.5 million in Northland ventures to combat the economic impact of the COVID-19 virus, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters and Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones have announced. The Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) investment is going to the Northern Adventure Experience and ...
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Education Minister Chris Hipkins today announced significant funding for Auckland’s Northcote College as part of the first wave of a new nationwide school redevelopment programme to upgrade schools over the next 10 years. The $48.5 million project brings the total investment in Northcote College to ...
The Government has opened an urgent response fund to support schools and early learning services to get children and young people back on track after the Covid-19 lockdown. “While we are seeing improvements in attendance under Alert Level 1 Ministry of Education data shows that attendance rates in our schools ...
The law to boost the economic recovery from the impact of COVID-19 by speeding up resource consenting on selected projects has passed its second and third readings in the House today. “Accelerating nationwide projects and activities by government, iwi and the private sector will help deliver faster economic recovery and ...
Five port-related projects in Whanganui will receive a $26.75 million Provincial Growth Fund investment to support local economic recovery and create new opportunities for growth, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones announced today. “This is a significant investment that will support the redevelopment of the Whanganui Port, a project governed ...
Whanganui’s Sarjeant Gallery will receive an investment of up to $12 million administered by the Provincial Growth Fund to support its redevelopment, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones announced today. The project is included in a $3 billion infrastructure pipeline announced by Finance Minister Grant Robertson and Shane Jones yesterday. ...
The Provincial Growth Fund is investing nearly $2.5 million into three Te Ara Mahi programmes to support Manawatū-Whanganui jobseekers and employees to quickly train and upskill, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones announced today. “Up to 154 local people will be supported into employment within the first year by these ...
This morning I have formally tendered my resignation as Minister of Health, which was accepted by the Prime Minister. Serving as Minister of Health has been an absolute privilege – particularly through these extraordinary last few months. It’s no secret that Health is a challenging portfolio. I have given ...
Scholarships for 57 early-career agricultural emissions scientists from 20 developing countries is another example of New Zealand’s international leadership in primary sector sustainability, says Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor. Mr O’Connor, announcing the scholarships today, says hundreds of applications were received for this fourth round of the CLIFF-GRADS programme (Climate, Food ...
A project to help rejuvenate the Horowhenua town of Foxton will receive a Provincial Growth Fund investment of $3.86 million, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones announced today. “This funding for the Foxton Regeneration project will be used to make the well-known holiday town even more attractive for visitors and ...
Moa bones and other sub-fossil remains of extinct species are set to have improved protection with proposals to prevent the trade in extinct species announced the Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage today. “We have lost too many of our native species, but these lost species, such as moa, remain an ...
The Government’s free and healthy school lunches programme moves south for the first time creating jobs for around 30 people in Otago and Southland. “Eighteen schools with 3000 students are joining the programme – 11 have already begun serving lunches, and seven are preparing to start during Term 3. This is ...
Thousands of Kiwi jobs and investment in New Zealand productions will be protected through a screen sector support package announced today by Associate Minister for Arts Culture and Heritage Carmel Sepuloni, Minister for Economic Development Phil Twyford and Minister for Broadcasting Kris Faafoi. The package also includes investment in broadcasting ...
The Government has established a new $10 million fund for the domestic events sector to help save jobs and protect incomes as it recovers from the impacts of COVID-19, Minister of Economic Development Phil Twyford announced today. This funding from Budget 2020 follows talks with the event sector designed to ...
The Government has taken another step in its commitment to making sure New Zealanders get a fairer deal at the petrol pump with the introduction of legislation to improve competition in the retail fuel market, says Energy and Resources Minister Megan Woods. “The fuel market study that this Government ordered ...
New Zealand has joined a global initiative that aims to enable all countries to access a safe and effective Covid-19 vaccine, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters announced today. The COVAX Facility was recently launched by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. The Alliance includes the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the World Bank ...
From today new legislation takes effect to both restore the right to legal representation at the start of a Care of Children (CoCA) dispute in the Family Court, and allow parties to those proceedings to access legal aid where eligible. During a visit to the Family Court in Auckland today, ...
Home-based early childhood education (ECE) subsidised by the government will transition to a fully qualified workforce by 2025 to ensure better and more consistent quality, Education Minister Chris Hipkins announced today. “Quality early learning helps provide children with a strong foundation for their future,” Chris Hipkins said. From 1 January ...
The new Criminal Cases Review Commission | Te Kāhui Tātari Ture (CCRC) has started work and can now independently investigate claimed miscarriages of justice. “Even though we have appeal rights and safeguards against unsafe convictions, from time to time our justice system does get things wrong. The design of the ...
E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e ngā karangatanga maha, tēnā koutou Ki a koutou Te Āti Awa, Taranaki Whānui, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, ngā mana whenua o te rohe nei, tēnā koutou Ko Te Whare Wānanga o Aotearoa ki ngā take o te Ao (NZIIA), Ko te Rōpū Tohu Tono ...
The Government’s increase to paid parental leave kicks in today with another 4 weeks taking New Zealand up to a full 6 months (26 weeks, up from 22 weeks) leave for new parents, and the maximum weekly payment will increase by $20pw, Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Iain Lees-Galloway says. ...
A new package of infrastructure investments will help kick-start the post-COVID rebuild by creating more than 20,000 jobs and unlocking more than $5 billion of projects up and down New Zealand. Finance Minister Grant Robertson and Infrastructure Minister Shane Jones today outlined how the $3 billion infrastructure fund in the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters today expressed the New Zealand Government’s deep disappointment at the passage by China’s National People’s Congress Standing Committee of a national security law for Hong Kong. “New Zealand has consistently emphasised its serious concern about the imposition of this legislation on Hong Kong without inclusive ...
More jobs and more family time with newborns are the centrepiece of a suite of Government initiatives coming into effect today. July 1 is a milestone day for the Government as a host of key policies take effect, demonstrating the critical areas where progress has been made. “The Coalition Government ...
Environment Minister David Parker has today “called in” Auckland’s application to the Waikato Regional Council to take an extra 200 million litres of water a day from the lower reaches of the Waikato River for Auckland drinking water and other municipal uses. The call-in means the application has been referred ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters and Trade and Export Growth Minister David Parker announced today that New Zealand’s hosting of APEC in 2021 will go ahead using virtual digital platforms. Mr Peters said the global disruption caused by COVID-19, including resultant border restrictions, had been the major factor in the ...
The start of construction on a new link road between Matakana Road and State Highway 1 will create jobs and support the significant population growth expected in the Warkworth area, Transport Minister Phil Twyford and Mayor Phil Goff announced today. Transport Minister Phil Twyford said construction of the Matakana Link ...
After three decades in existence, Tautai Contemporary Pacific Arts Trust has launched its own gallery on Auckland’s Karangahape Road.The first thing that hits you entering Tautai Gallery’s inaugural exhibition, Moana Legacy, is the range of works on show. On one huge wall is a mural of black humanoid crocodiles on ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sue McIntyre, Honorary Professor, Australian National University Last week we learned woody vegetation in New South Wales is being cleared at more than double the rate of the previous decade – and agriculture was responsible for more than half the destruction. Farming ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Chongyi Feng, Associate Professor in China Studies, University of Technology Sydney Chinese law professor Xu Zhangrun, who completed his PhD at the University of Melbourne, has become the latest high-profile critic of President Xi Jinping to be silenced for his views. It’s ...
If you’ve ever wondered what influencers have to offer to the world, look no further than Simone Anderson’s new recipe book So Delish!, which will revolutionise the way you put things on plates and in freezers.You know what I’m tired of? Professional cooks publishing cookbooks. Boring. If I ever fancy ...
The Electoral Commission has confirmed that the 'Aroha' posters of Jacinda Ardern, promoted by artists Weston Frizzell and advertiser Phantom Billstickers, does indeed constitute a party advertisement for the Labour Party. This judgment comes after ...
The Primary Land Users Group (PLUG) representing a cross-section of forestry, dairy, horticulture and dry-stock land-users has called out the Green Party, asking how they can reconcile their desire for legal cannabis with the negative environmental ...
Latest from the Beehive Readers are increasingly being introduced to Te Reo by a government which eschews prosaic names that simply and functionally reflect an agency’ purpose – such as Ministry of Forestry. Consistent with the discarding of plain English, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has opened a Multi-Disciplinary Family Harm ...
Mau Whenua statement on Nicky Hager Investigative Report - The long, sorry saga of Shelly Bay – Published Saturday 4th of July 2020 Hirini Jenkins-Mepham Chair of the Mau Whenua group opposing Port Nicholson Block Trustees land sales said “Nicky ...
Forest & Bird welcomes a new sustainable vision for the primary sector, but says it needs to be backed up with strong rules, meaningful support, and a change of attitude from industry laggards. The Government has released a report outlining ...
Rather than MPs rushing to regulate vaping in the last few days of this Parliamentary term, the bill’s many complexities should be debated after the General Election, says Nancy Loucas, co-director of Aotearoa Vapers Community Advocacy (AVCA). Parliament ...
The Islamic Women’s Council of New Zealand will share parts 1 and 2 of the submission we presented to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Christchurch Mosque Attacks. The aim is to ensure New Zealand is fully informed about the efforts IWCNZ took prior ...
Irrigation New Zealand is greatly encouraged by the fact that the Government has today recognised the “transformational opportunity” water storage provides for New Zealand as part of our post-Covid economic recovery. Water storage was acknowledged ...
The Taxpayers’ Union cannot believe that New Zealand First is importing foreign political consultants, presumably because no New Zealanders are suitable, or perhaps willing, for NZ First campaign roles. Union spokesperson Jordan Williams says: “Winston ...
Retailers upset by the Government’s blinkered restrictions on vaping products say they feel shut out and ignored given the outcome of the select committee process. New Zealand Association of Convenience Stores (NZACS) Executive Director, Dave Hooker, ...
The MakeItLegal campaign has today welcomed the website on cannabis legalisation from the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor. “It is essential that people have reliable and factual information to help them decide how to vote in the cannabis ...
Responding to National MP Nicola Willis’s statement that National was wrong to sell so much state housing, New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union spokesman Louis Houlbrooke says: “What a weak capitulation to left-wing ideology.” “Selling a state house ...
The Islamic Women’s Council of New Zealand are sharing parts 1 and 2 of the submission we presented to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Christchurch Mosque Attacks. The aim is to ensure New Zealand is fully informed about the efforts IWCNZ took prior ...
An interesting tale of international diplomacy has emerged over NZ’s decision to turn next year’s round of APEC meetings – including the leaders’ summit – into a virtual event. NZ had to fight off a determined bid by the 2020 host, Malaysia, which hoped it could have its hosting rights ...
Members of New Zealand’s Indian community rallied in Auckland on Sunday to raise awareness about threats to their homeland’s democracy from the rise of right-wing Hindu nationalism. As the world’s second-most populous nation grapples with a burgeoning pandemic and deepening political and social division, about 25 protesters gathered in Auckland’s Aotea ...
CEAC applauds professor Mike Joy as NZ’s leading environmental ecologists tireless efforts to enlighten ‘successive Governments’ over the pollution of our waterways and promoting best practice paths of cleaning up of our waterways over successive ...
Almost 170 years ago, Māori political processes were interrupted and displaced by a new, enforced electoral system. Researcher Jo Waitoa dispels the myth that voter turnout and political participation are the same thing. Read more of the The Spinoff’s Election 2020 coverage here.Māori political participation has a long and enduring tradition ...
After previously stonewalling inquiries on the matter, Leave.EU ‘bad boy’ Arron Banks has told a UK newspaper he is sending a team to New Zealand to work on Winston Peters’ NZ First campaign. Justin Giovannetti reports. New Zealand First has hired a crew of political operators from one of the most ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Simon Campbell, Senior research fellow and ARC Future Fellow, Monash University Lithium is used in everything from medication to mobile phone batteries, but where does it come from? We know it is mined here on Earth, but where it is created in ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Janak Rogers, Associate Lecturer, Broadcast Journalism, RMIT University The case for a more diverse and representative media should be clear by now – it’s been made time and time again. But it’s instructive to take stock every now and then. Over the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nicole Lee, Professor at the National Drug Research Institute (Melbourne) and Director at 360Edge, Curtin University The “hard lockdown” of nine public housing towers in Melbourne has no doubt brought an array of challenges for the thousands of residents. For people who ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ryan R. Witt, Conjoint Lecturer | School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle This article is a preview from Flora, Fauna, Fire, a multimedia project launching on Monday July 13. The project tracks the recovery of Australia’s native plants and ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Chris Turney, Professor of Earth Science and Climate Change, Director of the Changing Earth Research Centre and the Chronos 14Carbon-Cycle Facility at UNSW, and Node Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, UNSW Evidence of minute amounts ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Isaac Gross, Lecturer in Economics, Monash University Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has spent billions trying to save us from recession. The winding down of JobKeeper scheduled for September means he’ll have to spend billions more. Many of the stimulus measures talked about are ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert Hassan, Professor, School of Culture and Communication, University of Melbourne Spoiler alert: this story details how The War of the Worlds ends. The latest screen adaption of H. G. Wells’ 1898 modern masterwork The War of the Worlds will hit our ...
For all The Spinoff’s latest coverage of Covid-19 see here. Read Siouxsie Wiles’s work here. New Zealand is currently in alert level one – read about what that means here. For official government advice, see here.The Spinoff’s coverage of the Covid-19 outbreak is made possible thanks to donations from Spinoff Members. To support this ...
Good morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Problems looming for temporary visa holders, state house waiting list balloons again, and US ban could hit NZ seafood exports.There are some real problems looming for temporary visa holders and their employers, with thousands set to expire all once, reports Nona ...
Publisher Stuff is turning its back on Facebook. Anna Rawhiti-Connell explains why, and how that might affect readers In a bold move, one of our biggest media companies announced on Monday it will cease all activity on Facebook and Instagram for an unspecified time. Stuff’s action follows in the wake ...
A call by Peter Gluckman, Helen Clark and Rob Fyfe for a 'conversation' on opening our border lacks serious economic analysis and ignores real risks to New Zealanders, writes Geoff Bertram From the start of the coronavirus pandemic there has been a steady drumbeat of demands from tourism and other ...
Cat MacLennan argues there's scanty evidence for a decision to rule footage of a sharemilker beating cows with a metal pole inadmissible on the grounds it would encourage more undercover filming The judge in the cow cruelty case of Ministry for Primary Industries v Luke ruled that hidden camera film footage ...
I’m one of many applauding the Government’s decision to prescribe the teaching of New Zealand history in our schools. But wait – prescription – isn’t that anathema to the Ministry of Education? We now have a localised curriculum, with the national document giving guidelines only. It’s up to schools to ...
An author finds historical parallels with the dog-whistling comments made by Clutha-Southland MP Hamish Walker. The recent race-based comments by the Clutha-Southland MP Hamish Walker have been described as “disgraceful, scaremongering and racist”. But I found them fascinatingly familiar. My wife Jenny and I, both Otago-born teachers, lived in Central ...
A new port report before Cabinet is a U-turn on the last one, which recommended Auckland's port be moved to Northland Moves to shift Auckland's port from the CBD to Northland have ground to a halt on the back of a new report before Cabinet that suggests Manukau Harbour is a better option. ...
Sarah Cowley Ross sits down with Mary Thompson, one of New Zealand's great sports volunteers, who's given much of her life to netball. Mary Thompson clearly remembers the conversation with Dame Lois Muir. It was during Thompson’s stint as president of Bay of Plenty Netball, and two candidates had applied to ...
Matt Bartlett explains why Facebook should come to see political advertising and its challenges in the same way as Twitter Even before Covid-19 prevented most of us from leaving our homes, social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter had become society’s main public square. We gather online in Facebook and ...
In quitting the social media giant, Stuff has taken a risk. But the gamble is not as big as it may seem, writes Hal Crawford.Ceasing all activity on Facebook is a bold move for a news publisher, and I’m not surprised that it has come from the company now owned ...
Bullying behaviour is embedded in institutions across our country, and parliament is no exception. But it can be different, writes Jess Berentson-Shaw.Every now and then I find myself imagining what it would look like if our political system was built around the sorts of ideals most of us deeply aspire ...
Clare Curran’s interview has resurfaced concerns about the toxic nature of parliamentary politics. But while politics shouldn’t be toxic, or misogynistic, or cruel, for the system to be work, nor should it be nice, writes Danyl Mclauchlan.Two high-profile MPs are leaving parliament at the end of this term: National’s Paula ...
Our economy's taking a hit, our wallets are thinner - and this pandemic has also changed our direction of travel when it comes to spending. Covid-19 may have felt like a death sentence for some businesses but it hasn’t all been bad news. Today The Detail looks at how ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Scott Morrison has repeatedly and vociferously championed keeping state borders open. But on Monday, Morrison was forced to change course, agreeing, in a hook up with premiers Daniel Andrews and Gladys Berejiklian that the Victorian-NSW ...
Pacific Media Centre Newsdesk Papua New Guinea’s police and courts must work closely with media for transparency to inform the public on the daily investigation and court processes taken over the death of young mother Jenelyn Kennedy late last month, a men’s gender justice advocate says. Man Up group representative ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Esterman, Professor of Biostatistics, University of South Australia Victoria recorded its largest daily increase of 127 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, 16 more than the previous peak of 111 cases on March 28. As I recently wrote, there’s no formal definition ...
After months of delays, the man responsible for murdering 51 people in a Christchurch mosque will finally be sentenced next month. Law professor Kris Gledhill explains how the sentencing will likely unfold. On the very day New Zealand entered Covid-19 lockdown, the man arrested for the Christchurch mosque terror attacks admitted ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nathan Kettlewell, Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Economics Discipline Group, University of Technology Sydney We live in a culture that values “experiences”. These are often promoted in the media, and by those selling them, as vital to enhancing our well-being. We all know ...
Hidden camera footage showing cows being beaten with a steel pipe was deemed unlawful in court partially on the grounds it would encourage undercover filming in the future A Northland contract milker caught on hidden camera beating cows with a steel pipe has had five charges against him dropped after a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jon Iredell, Professor, Medicine and Microbiology (conjoint), University of Sydney The NSW-Victorian border will be closed as of midnight Tuesday this week, the NSW and Victorian premiers have announced, in an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19. The announcement comes amid ...
Keagan Carr Fransch reviews I May Destroy You, the acclaimed new show from British writer-director-actress Michaela Coel. The following includes discussion of rape, sexual assault, sexual violence, drug-facilitated sexual assault, and PTSD.Since the release of her comedy Chewing Gum in 2015, Michaela Coel has been a recurrent name on the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Burridge, Lecturer in Human Geography, Macquarie University Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has announced the border between his state and NSW will close after 11:59pm on Tuesday to prevent the coronavirus outbreak in Melbourne from spreading further. It will be the first ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jim Salinger, Honorary Associate, Tasmanian Institute for Agriculture, University of Tasmania A major global update based on data from more than 36,000 weather stations around the world confirms that, as the planet continues to warm, extreme weather events such as heatwaves and ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Trevor Thornton, Lecturer, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University The federal government today announced A$190 million in funding for new recycling infrastructure, as it seeks to divert more than ten million tonnes of waste from landfill and create 10,000 jobs. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Graeme Dunk, PhD Candidate, Australian National University Amid fanfare last week at the start of the new financial year the government promised to invest A$270 billion over a decade to upgrade the defence force. It said a side benefit would be a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sonya Teich, Lecturer in Design, Visual Effects Projects, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington When Star Wars was awarded the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects in 1978 it marked the first time the visual component of effects was differentiated ...
The Forest Owners Association says the MBIE announcement of ‘Building for Climate Change’ will mean more timber is used in New Zealand construction. FOA President Phil Taylor says he’s been waiting three years for the government to announce a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Kelly, Research Fellow, Centre for Urban Research, RMIT University This week, the Victorian government unilaterally placed the residents of nine public housing towers in inner Melbourne under “hard lockdown” due to the “explosive potential” of increasing COVID-19 cases. The lockdown requires ...
Pacific Media Watch Newsdesk Thirty five years ago this week in another life Pacific Media Centre director Professor David Robie was an environmental journalist on board the original Rainbow Warrior, the Greenpeace flagship that was bombed by French secret agents on 10 July 1985. He was on board for almost ...
Head of the inquiry Michael Heron QC will have the power to require the production of documents, summon witnesses and question parties under oath if necessary. ...
State Services Commissioner Peter Hughes has today announced the details of an investigation into the breach of sensitive personal information last week. The Commissioner said the Minister of State Services, the Hon Chris Hipkins, had asked him to undertake ...
More than 3400 primary health care nurses and medical receptionists/administrators across more than 500 practices and accident and medical centres will stop work for two hours nationwide on Thursday 23 July after mediation to settle their multi-employer ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kris Gledhill, Professor of Law, Auckland University of Technology On the very day New Zealand entered COVID-19 lockdown (March 26), the man arrested for the Christchurch mosque terror attacks admitted he was a murderer and a terrorist. Despite the lockdown, Justice Mander ...
The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union says Economic Development Minister Phil Twyford needs to front up about how much public money is being used to bail out struggling bus company InterCity. Union spokesperson Louis Houlbrooke says: “InterCity has ...
The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is sceptical that 61% of taxpayer funding for waterway clean-up just happens to be focused on the Northland electorate. Union spokesperson Louis Houlbrooke says: “The Government has announced that $162 million of taxpayers' ...
Open Mike 11/05/2018 
In 1987, as a British Labour MP, I was elected to the Shadow Cabinet by my colleagues and was asked by the party leader to direct Labour’s campaign in the general election of that year. The election was to take place at the height of Mrs Thatcher’s dominance and we ...16 mins ago
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If the government has not lined up behind a "Yes" vote in this year's cannabis referendum the way some reformers would have liked, one entirely laudable thing it did do was commission some science around the public's choice.That science landed today, in the form of the report from an expert ...41 mins ago
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An author finds historical parallels with the dog-whistling comments made by Clutha-Southland MP Hamish Walker. The recent race-based comments by the Clutha-Southland MP Hamish Walker have been described as “disgraceful, scaremongering and racist”. But I found them fascinatingly familiar. My wife Jenny and I, both Otago-born teachers, lived in Central ...10 hours ago
A new port report before Cabinet is a U-turn on the last one, which recommended Auckland's port be moved to Northland Moves to shift Auckland's port from the CBD to Northland have ground to a halt on the back of a new report before Cabinet that suggests Manukau Harbour is a better option. ...10 hours ago
Sarah Cowley Ross sits down with Mary Thompson, one of New Zealand's great sports volunteers, who's given much of her life to netball. Mary Thompson clearly remembers the conversation with Dame Lois Muir. It was during Thompson’s stint as president of Bay of Plenty Netball, and two candidates had applied to ...10 hours ago
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Hidden camera footage showing cows being beaten with a steel pipe was deemed unlawful in court partially on the grounds it would encourage undercover filming in the future A Northland contract milker caught on hidden camera beating cows with a steel pipe has had five charges against him dropped after a ...21 hours ago
And we’re back up!
Phone extortion scam (incl businesses)
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12049362
A Christchurch man who is going through a terrifying extortion ordeal wonders how many others might have been caught up in it.
Newstalk ZB has seen text messages sent to the man from an 020 number, demanding money or threatening violence against him and his family.
He believes his phone number was taken from advertising he placed in a local paper.
The man has gone to police who said they have had multiple complaints about the phone number.
He received the first phone call earlier this week. The call lasted for five minutes, but the ordeal lasted for an hour with the man constantly calling back and texting.
“I originally got told this person was a member of a gang and that a debt had been passed on and I now owed him the money.
“I asked ‘what debt? I don’t owe any money to anyone’ and he said [he knew who I worked for].
“He said I couldn’t go to police. It was actually terrifying as he started to threaten my kids and family.”
…..snip….
One scam reported by Southern District Police uses an automated message in a Kiwi accent.
The message says, “This is the Police you owe money to Inland Revenue, if you don’t pay you will be arrested. Please call 04 889 0505”.
When rung a person asks for your name and IRD number.
Another scam is said to use an automated call in a Chinese accent claiming to be from DHL.
“The automated call tells the phone user that DHL has goods waiting for them and that they need to press 9 to talk to somebody to discuss, and if they press 9 the call then goes to a person who will ask for personal information,” Senior Sergeant Charles Ip said.
Good morning good morning good morning. Well that was a long sleep.
Welcome back to the Standard.
Such an exciting countdown…..
Thanks to lprent yet again. Time for a wee donation. 🙂
Since TS is embarking on a new beginning, could I ask a favour which will hopefully be backed up by others.
Psycho Milt and One Anonymous Bloke apparently copped lengthy bans some time ago. I know OAB can be a bit pithy at times but he is ultra smart and his one/two liners are insightful and valuable. Pyscho Milt is also a valuable contributor for similar reasons.
I don’t know if either are willing to return, but they have been ‘punished ‘ for long enough. Any chance the ban can now be reversed?
I missed most of that post. Thanks Bill.
Redlogix has put it in a nutshell:
Regardless of which commenters a person may agree with – or not as the case may be – there seems to be an inconsistency in the time spans of some of the more lengthy bans. I hope the authors are still working on introducing a fairer system that is acceptable to everyone.
Yes it is good to see TS back.
Great work Iprent thanks.
We will donate also as Anne suggests.
We need social blog sites that promote sensible thoughts, so we need all to stick together as the “fake news media are so rampant out there and we need urgent balance to their crap.
And we do need to put the spotlight on ‘where is the Minister of Broadcasting’?
She (Clare Curran) was promising us a commercial free ‘investigative Journalism’ type channel seven called RNZ-plus) to be in service by now!!!!! but still as of now we have nothing yet to “add some balance the right wing troll media” and worse we have seen or heard nothing from this Minister who appears to be just a total wasted space and an embarrassment to us all and the Labour lead Government.
if I was Jacinda I would replace her now and find a real active strong Minister who will give us a voice that we need so desperately now since the rest of the media is trying to destroy the government.
Long live freedom of speech.
“And we do need to put the spotlight on ‘where is the Minister of Broadcasting’?”
….add to that the Ass. Minister for State Services (Open Government).
MIA she is, in a foggy cloud…
TS was missed and agree with the donation thing. We are blessed here not only with a well functioning website with excellent archive access and search facility but the lack of advertising is singularly delightful.
+1 Rosemary McDonald
Rosemary; 100%
Yes i do have deep misgivings with the Minister here as in November we asked Clare Curran to help get a new RNZ reporter for HB/Gisborne and Minister Curran refused in her letter to us that she would not get involved then!!!!.
So she didn’t mind that we were left without a reporter (under two years of national)
Now we cant even get the reporter now (assigned) “finally” to cover our transport issues as the new reporter said to us she was to busy!!!!!!
So the Minister has made a mess of everything here now.
+1 Anne
yes, thank you lprent. Your hard work enables this great forum.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12048890
Bidiot sounds all over the place to me.
He seems genuine and knowledgeable at the start of the article but by the end of it he seems neither.
National are still spinning that it was “Labour’s fault …”. I read somewhere that the anger was not so much at the ban of live sheep exporting but a National promise to lift the ban that was reneged on. The FTA has stalled and would have no matter what National did. So throwing the scary “$4.5 Billion dollar problem” phrase around is more spinning (aka lying).
They must be worried that this huge waste of money makes their claims that “more doctor not diplomats” shows they are useless at running a country and their criticisms of the Coalition are hollow at best.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12049120
This worth a full read
Is it just me or does that conversation make no sense, like rambling and disconnected…
It does appear to be a transcript.
Read the stuff about the bus lanes and transport for more weirdness.
Oh i read the article, i meant that dan Bidiot (or what ever) didn’t really give an answer to the question at any stage, or said agreed to both sides of a debate, ignored actual facts, went on tangents.. I mean if I lived in Northcoate I would want a bit more coherence from my elected official than what that transcript suggested
YES. YF.
He’s an economist so well schooled in the art of talking without making sense, reaching any conclusions or displaying a grasp of the real issue.
I’d live to see the government’s Kiwibuild’s like Unitec site have cheap rental accomodation reserved for teachers, firefighters and police workers. Not only is it important to be able to have these important people’s skills kept in NZ cities that are increasingly becoming less affordable with less rental accomodation but it would also serve a valuable function for those who think that there are more ‘social’ issues in social housing.
I can’t see a policeman letting his neighbour cook P for example or beat their partner up. Likewise having teachers around in a community that should be serving the poorer members of society.
I just hope these government land from the tax payer does not just end up as speculative purchases onsold in a few years… which clearly will happen if the government does not get it’s act together in ensuring they have non repealable conditions as long term state housing.
That may not be so simple as it seems on the surface but… it’s also completely brilliant. What I and a lot of my peers lacked as young folk was decent role models. Absentee/abusive parents were very common.
A community where key community players were present, and actually part of the community (not visiting with big sticks), could go a long way towards restoring some sense of stability and safety for people who’ve known neither. It does put a lot of onus on the people of service however.
Stability is key to turning lives around. Most street people are PTSD via what they’ve endured at the hands of their caregivers, often the state. Just putting National in power is enough to see many slink back into addiction and despair. A mob that not only doesn’t care, but actively victimises you.
Last time Labor was in power many fringe types were empowered to try their hand at life. I personally saw several long term performing artists off the dole. Some are now in the international spotlight.
Try that with Nats in power. Fines, benefits cut off, fraud accusations – “we were just trying to start a business”… Great talents kicked till they stay down.
I remember getting hauled over the coals age 18 for not being on WINZ books – it’s true! “But how did you live, you must be lying to us” – I lived in the bush. I was 16 going on 17, and I’d already had a gutsful.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
He’s in National that, as John Banks hinted at, must lie so as to get elected at all.
Yes I thought that that was particularly ironic after the comments during the conversation.
Is that a script for Yes Minister?
Could be, but sadly not.
Good work from Natrad.
https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/357100/middlemore-board-was-pressured-to-settle-for-3m
Be buggered if I can fathom why there are still “Hawkins” signs all over the show at Waikato Hospital still.
The bullying bastards should have been run out of the country….
Got to wonder if there’s any relationship between managements. Sounds as if someone was pretty determined to shovel more money in the builders’ direction.
Construction, banking and cow corporate welfare is what this country has become. All the laws and red carpet to keep the often poorly run businesses, getting benefits at every turn and employing cheerleaders to keep the pressure on government for them to get more benefits with less regulation, chugging along.
Did they get financial advice? This is a shambles.
“Did they get financial advice? This is a shambles.”
The minutes of the CMDHB meetings provided at the bottom of that page says it all.
“A shambles” is an understatement. One day someone…Hager, are you free?…will properly investigate shit like this. We’re talking billions of tax dollars being poured down the throats of vultures like these.
And no sanctions for gross fuckups….just more contracts.
Shakes head in despair.
+23,000,000 (dollars of course)
The plot sickens….https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/357152/firm-behind-leaky-buildings-goes-into-receivership
“Hawkins built the Botany Downs Secondary College in Auckland.
A related company, H Construction North Island – formerly called Hawkins Construction North Island – was last week ordered by the High Court to pay $13.4 million for a raft of construction errors at the leaky, damp, and rotting college.
Orange H Group – H Construction’s shareholder – has now been put in receivership.
It will now be up to receiver McGrath Nicol to decide what happens to the millions of dollars the Ministry of Education is owed.
Hawkins also built the four worst leaking buildings at Middlemore Hospital less than 20 years ago.
H Construction has gone into receivership owing a total of $30m.
Orange H director David McConnell said they decided some time ago to exit the construction industry “principally because of the dramatic rise in the risk profile” borne by contractors.
This same rise in risks was cited by Fletcher when its building unit announced it was closing up gradually after suffering $1 billion of losses.
Mr McConnell said Orange H took the decision reluctantly to go into receivership.
“The process to secure final payments from the various customers has been complex and has taken a lot longer than anticipated and created a cash flow timing issue,” he said.
“We were also concerned that a number of parties were commencing legal action and we were mindful of our responsibility to exercise our fiduciary duties.”
There was “significant value” in Orange H with all but two of the legacy projects now completed and only minor work still outstanding on one of these, Mr McConnell said.
“The board’s focus is now to leave the company in the best possible position for the receivers to achieve substantial recoveries.”
The board of trustees at Botany Downs Secondary College said it had not yet heard about the company going into liquidiation.
The school was disappointed, but not entirely surprised to hear the news, chair Murray Goodman said.
The board would wait for more instructions from the Ministry of Education on the matter.
In March 2017, Downer purchased the Hawkins brand, some projects, assets and employees, and called it Hawkins 2017 Limited.
Previous projects and a number of ongoing projects done by Hawkins or related companies – such as the Botany Downs school and Middlemore Hospital buildings – were retained by Orange H Group, part of McConnell Limited. Orange H is distinct from Hawkins.”
Slimy, wriggly arsed, bottom-feeding scumsuckers are everywhere….
Test as two previous comments submitted without problems have not appeared.
OK – this one worked without problems. But two previous comments to the “Toby Manhire Owns Ms Bennett” post did not (the second a repeat of the first), Not important or presumably contentious comments and no loss. From Vodaphone ISP.
And a big thanks lprent for all your hard work.
Just the tip of the ice berg. I’d like to see government audits every year to make sure all these “IT errors” on the banks and financial industry are found and not permanently ripping off people who have nobody anymore to check up on the big business in any real terms. Would also help the banks and the government, if they screw up over years that’s a large hole in their accounts for the future and they go bankrupt.
While they are about it, would help people feel better if their cash was actually insured like other normal countries so that people don’t lose all their savings if they stuff up aka all the financial crashes not so long ago. Had a family member lose all their savings in Hanover finance for a deposit on their first home. They had to start out again with nothing. The banks should pay for the insurance and bail outs not the government or tax payers.
ANZ credits customers $10m after loan payment mix-up
http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/money/2018/05/anz-credits-customers-10m-after-loan-payment-mix-up.html
And more even more (if that is possible) dodgy shit emerged from Middlemore while we were sleeping.
https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/357004/non-medical-facility-built-at-middlemore-without-approval
Flash new non medical buildings funded by…
“…. selling about $11 million of medical equipment, mostly sterilisers, to a finance company, then leasing them back.
This was an “unusual” method to get around the fact that usual sources of capital spending would not have been available for such a non-priority building, she said.
“It’s a very bad deal….””
Accompanying photo has an unfortunately inanely grinning acting CEO…
Was it the same ceo who urged getting hawkins to fix their mess at a blow out price?
Simon Bridges needs to do the right thing and resign and let this outstanding women lead National back to the promised land because she is on fire
Thats real Girl Power
Go Jude, cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war!
But Puckish Rogue, only a week ago you were proclaiming that Nicola Willis would be the next PM of NZ!
Now you are suggesting that Willis’ older clone*, Judith Collins, should be the one to lead National back to the promised land. Make up your mind, man. LOL
I really laughed when I watched Jude’s performance the other day. The person in the House I would least call ‘petulant’ is Jacinda Ardern – and the one I would most call ‘petulant’ is none other than Judith Collins herself.
* As I said in one of my comments under your ‘Willis for PM’ post last week, Willis seems like a younger Collins; and she seems to already be forming a fan club around herself amongst the younger, newer Nat MPs.
Bridges in his reshuffle following his rise to the Nat leadership has already moved a number of the older Nats further to the retirement back benches (eg Maggie Barry) and younger ones (eg Sarah Dowie) well up the list and into spokesperson positions. Others, eg Collins, I suspect he is keeping on the front bench from the perspective of keep your friends close but your enemies even closer. Time will tell …
“But Puckish Rogue, only a week ago you were proclaiming that Nicola Willis would be the next PM of NZ!”
I hope she can forgive my momentary lapse of reason (she will of course because shes just so awesome like that)
“As I said in one of my comments under your ‘Willis for PM’ post last week, Willis seems like a younger Collins; and she seems to already be forming a fan club around herself amongst the younger, newer Nat MPs.”
The future is looking bright for NZ
“Bridges in his reshuffle following his rise to the Nat leadership has already moved a number of the older Nats further to the retirement back benches (eg Maggie Barry) and younger ones (eg Sarah Dowie) well up the list and into spokesperson positions. Others, eg Collins, I suspect he is keeping on the front bench from the perspective of keep your friends close but your enemies even closer. Time will tell …”
The sooner he moves Paula Bennett closer to retirement the better
Yes PR another strange thing occurred today see here;
The Greens have decided on a candidate to run in North cote against National and Labour, now we know why we decided to leave the Green Party 15 yrs ago, and now feel vindicated as the greens are handing National another pass card after giving the question time to national already so they are showing us some inside the greens want to go with National as a Blue/green combo i believe now.
The story appears over on TDB.today.
Northcote by-election: Greens select Rebekah Jaung as candidate – is it worth it?
By Martyn Bradbury / May 11, 2018 /
The Greens are sick of being seen as a puppet for Labour and are desperate to show some independence, but was this by-election the best way to do that?
Actually i agree with it, the Greens will have looked at the Maori Party and Act and would know the danger of being seen to be lap dogs plus they also get to campaign for more party votes
@ cleangreen (10.1.1.1) … Not a good move at all from the Greens.
Seems to me Greens are putting up a challenge to the very coalition government they are part of, through selecting a candidate to contest the Northcote byelection! Strange!
I too have a feeling they are edging closer to going over to the Natz dark side eventually.
If they continue with these anti coalition tactics, then Greens can kiss my vote goodbye for good at the next election.
BTW where is Marama Davidson? I supported her being co leader. But she seems not to be making any impact at all so far!
Hi PR,
Just watched the first minute and yes Ms Collins socking it…………She would have been a better choice for Nats. Do you see blood on the floor before 2020?
Also what are your thoughts about Ms Collins detour to have dinner with officials of Oravida and a Chinese boarder official when her husbands company were having difficulty getting their product into China after the baby infant formula isssue. She was paid to go there on Govt business. Just interested to hear your take on that.
It was investigated I believe and no wrong doing found. If you think there was wrong doing then perhaps you should lobby the current government to re-open the investigation.
Gosman, Gosman. “Wrong” is a very relative term to the right.
And the word ‘build’, as opposed to ‘facilitate’, is a very relative term to the left.
Then get the current Government (no friend of Judith Collins) to reopen the investigation. Do you think they will?
No I don’t think the current govt will or should re-open that enquiry. To much other stuff to fix that impacts on kiwis lives…..although a fuller enquiry into dirty politics would be worthy. Have you read the book?
Gosman it was a massive conflict of interest. And some would say corrupt. Would you disagree with that? I didn’t read the report but my understanding was the terms of reference were kept very narrow.
I am just so happy we have this coalition govt who are fixing up years of neglect….yah
ankerawshark; 100%
Good question that is; How can Collins justify her political position over her business interests here???
She may prove more “loose”than John key was with the “truth”
Is that the way to run the country?
“Just watched the first minute and yes Ms Collins socking it…………She would have been a better choice for Nats. Do you see blood on the floor before 2020?”
I can’t answer because I’m biased so any answer i give would be less my head and more my heart but i will say I would like to see Jude take the leadership before the 2020 election
“Also what are your thoughts about Ms Collins detour to have dinner with officials of Oravida and a Chinese boarder official when her husbands company were having difficulty getting their product into China after the baby infant formula isssue. She was paid to go there on Govt business. Just interested to hear your take on that.”
My thoughts is that situation was wonderfully muddied (and well done to Labour)
Ok that’s cool puckish. I hope Jude doesn’t get the leadership as she is a bigger threat to us I think. I thought Simon would do better, and I thought David cunliffe and Andrew little would swing things for the left. I completely under estimated jacinda, who I think is outstanding…….so I wouldn’t trust my own judgement about leadership. I am pleased with the coalition. Extremely pleased. I want Middlemore fixed, I want child poverty reduced. I want a significantly improved mental health service (it deteriorated badly under national, trust me it’s my field)…..I want someone to at least attempt to fix the housing crisis and Auckland’s transport woes”……….theses things inspire me. On and throw climate change into that.
Tell me what is it about National that inspires you? Aside from Jude that is
And she’s been nailing Twyford day after day. Let her loose!
Please make her leader – her vicious sociopathy and questionable past (smirkingly condoning prison rape for example) will turn normal people off in droves.
You must be smoking something really good to think Collins is a sociopath…
Actually I was thinking you must be smoking something to NOT be able to see Collins is a sociopath.
Put up your argument. The label comes with very specific diagnosis.
Let’s start by taking GST off essential items, starting with food.
From the sidebar, Idiot Savant demonstrates his excellent hammer hand skills…
http://norightturn.blogspot.co.nz/2018/05/an-impoverished-idea-of-public.html
“So, the Ombudsman, who is meant to be the defender of transparency and the public participation it enables, thinks the public shouldn’t be able to have a say on policy until the government has already decided what’s going to happen. To put things back into his metaphor, in his view we don’t get to decide where we’re going to go, how we’re going to get there, or even if we’re going to go on a trip at all. But we might get to choose the music we listen to or which cafe we stop at along the way, if the government hasn’t already made up its mind about these things.
No matter which way you look at it, this is a deeply impoverished view of public participation. Pretty obviously, it reflects central government’s view of this – where they make the decisions, and public “consultation” is simply a rubberstamp designed to build legitimacy rather than give us a real say. But public participation is supposed to serve the interests of the people, not the government, and the Ombudsman is supposed to protect it. How the fuck is this supposed to be guarding the mana of the people?”
That’s exactly the impression I got from a quick skim of the paper.
I will give the paper better scrutiny later…always wise to better learn the ways of the enemy.
On this very important issue I am not in any way optimistic that this government has any greater interest in transparency and accountability than the Last Lot.
Yes Rosemary;
The trouble with new governments is that they rely to much on their In-house ‘advisers’ and stray off course so this appears to be just another example of the same result being contrary to what they promised us all at the election.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=12049605
I’m sure one day, one of the pre-election promises will be met. Perhaps someone can raise an OIA on their modelling from 2 years ago…but best expect a redacted blank page to be returned.
You can say whatever prices you like when you know you won’t be building them
Indiana visit labour’s website or go back through Gordon Campbell’s articles. There is a list of everything the coalition has done to date and it’s an impressive list. They will honour their election promises on for exampl e free drs, it will just be a little delayed. In my o wn life I would find that acceptable and it happens frequently every people saying they will deliver things by a certain date and then usually for 7nderstandable reasons the date is pushed back. Most of us are flexible enough to accept this
The ‘Capital Charge’……..probably one of the early initiatives in neo-lib thinking that is now coming into question. It was a feature of the new corporatised public service (during that era when greed became good, and John Travolta and an Olivia neutron bomb were wobbling their arses as though they were more special than the next person)…… that fishint n fektiv n de-pliticoised civil service that was designed to do us all proud.
While they’re busy reviewing the fishinsy n fektivness and worth of that ‘Capital Charge, they might consider applying the same criteria to a good many of the complete fucking Muppetry heading our ‘officlaldom’.
Sometimes I’ve had cause to reference the early pages of the telephone directory.
I find it difficult to find many of the bits that are listed in the government section one could genuinely describe as fully functioning (fishint n fektiv n apolitical) entities.
And let’s be clear, it’s NOT generally down to the plebs at the front line of these entities …. it IS the leadership (the senior and muddle management) – and the culture they instill in their plebs (often ambitious little units anxious to climb the ladder and end up as the next generation of muppetry if only in pursuit of a higher salary and prestigious job title going forward)
First up in the directory is ….. ACC. Then we have Ray Smith’s Corrections.
Next,, nothing too Earth shattering, but a bit of a fuckup if you’re an artist …. Creative NuZull….then Keating’s Defence Force…..then EQC (just check out tonight’s news and all its implications)…then Education Ministry Of.
I’m too scared to travel further, because we’re getting close to Health, and Transport/ Infrastructure, and WINZ , and Primary Industries and perhaps the biggest bugger’s muddle of all which is Mr Smol’s Joyce/Coleman Ministry of Everything.
Whilst I’l hold the ladder steady for Shane Shane – because sure as shit I’m not coming down into his arms, he does have a point in that some serious review is necessary in the muddle and senior management, and that is probbly long overdue.
I heard on Radionz about a good action of The Warehouse helping a woman who needed to escape an obssessed and violent partner, she was given time off and was relocated. One small step for womankind, one great step for one woman and her family.
Now if women can choose to not involve a partner from the first if there is likely to be violence or very erratic behaviour, it would be better. It is only the contempt of the politicians who consider sex moral corruption and illegitimacy the road to hell, that has forced women to be glued to the father often to the detriment of the child and the mother. If she refuses to be involved, she has benefit withheld as a sanction.
Look at all the synonyms relating to the adjective ‘immoral’. It is obviously
something that highly angers people, more than other bad activities that are not connected to simply being loving but when humanness and fertility unfortunately combine.
What a mouthful of dislike:
not conforming to accepted standards of morality.
“unseemly and immoral behaviour”
synonyms: unethical, bad, morally wrong, wrongful, wicked, evil, unprincipled, unscrupulous, dishonourable, dishonest, unconscionable, iniquitous, disreputable, fraudulent, corrupt, depraved, vile, villainous, nefarious, base, unfair, underhand, devious; sinful, impure, unchaste, unvirtuous, shameless, degenerate, debauched, abandoned, dissolute, reprobate, perverted, indecent, lewd, licentious, wanton, bawdy, lustful, promiscuous, whorish;
informal shady, low-down;
informal dodgy, crooked, not cricket;
archaic miscreant
“they deplored immoral behaviour among the upper classes”