Open mike 11/08/2022

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, August 11th, 2022 - 87 comments
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87 comments on “Open mike 11/08/2022 ”

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  1. Jester 1
    11 August 2022 at 6:54 am

    Oh dear how low can the NZH go. Now a whole article on the student flat he lived in! I guess the next scoop with be Uffindell's kindergarten exclusive photos!

    Sam Uffindell stood down: National MP's student flat was one of filthiest in Dunedin – NZ Herald

    • Jimmy 1.1
      11 August 2022 at 7:37 am

      Yep I guess they want to keep it in the media as long as they can but surely the guys political career is over now.

      • Graeme 1.1.1
        11 August 2022 at 7:46 am

        Uphimself is all over rover. There's another political career in question now.

      • AB 1.1.2
        11 August 2022 at 11:19 am

        The Herald's purpose is to trivialise it – turn it into just another example of youthful, hard-case scarfie-ism. The sort of thing that happens but kids grow out of – no lasting damage done, no deeper implications to be examined. Pretty much the same tack you have been taking on here for a few days. Whatever – the Herald's gonna Herald – the paper copy is an anorexic sliver of imbecility.

        • Jimmy 1.1.2.1
          11 August 2022 at 12:06 pm

          I don't agree with that especially with the cartoon listing the last 8 candidates, I think the NZH are trying to do the exact opposite.

    • Jimmy 1.2
      11 August 2022 at 7:54 am

      Exclusive photo of Uffindell as a baby just released!

      Thumbnail

      • Robert Guyton 1.2.1
        11 August 2022 at 8:20 am

        Uffindell was a conjoined twin?

        What happened to the other half?

        Oh, please don't answer that!

      • mary_a 1.2.2
        11 August 2022 at 2:48 pm

        @ Jimmy (1.2) … Is that the Te Puke kid Luxie having a laugh at Uffie throwing a wee tantie?

    • Visubversa 1.3
      11 August 2022 at 8:31 am

      A flat with women's underwear up on a "trophy board".

    • Cricklewood 1.4
      11 August 2022 at 10:01 am

      Bout a low as it gets hard to believe an editor decided to lead the news with student lived in shit hole scarfie flat while in Dunedin…

      They'll be checking his rubbish bin next and writing an expose on his failure to properly sort his recycling…

    • roy cartland 1.5
      11 August 2022 at 10:14 am

      This is what will bring him down – he's a common punk.

      Gang bashing kids? Fine!

      Threatening and chasing women? Sweet!

      Being a grotty, no-good, doity punk? Not fit for the National Party! 🧐

  2. Sanctuary 2
    11 August 2022 at 8:29 am

    Martyn Bradbury on LOTR:

    "I'm no fan of Sauron, but here's why forming a woke fellowship to raid Mount Doom and destroy the one ring is going to enrage his base."

    • roy cartland 2.1
      11 August 2022 at 10:22 am

      🤣🤣🤣

      "As TDB has been saying for at last TWO YEARS, and the MSM have just only caught up, the morris-dancing, trans-philic, gender fluid Hobbits are very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very righteous when it comes to ring-destroying… but can we please talk about Smaug's gold profits now?"

  3. Ad 3
    11 August 2022 at 9:02 am

    Great environmental win for Australia and subantarctic birds and flora at Macquarrie Island.

    From 300,000 rabbits to none: a Southern Ocean island is reborn | Environment | The Guardian

    Macquarie Island: from rabbits and rodents to recovery and renewal (dcceew.gov.au)

    Surely this gives courage to Stewart Island to hurry up their own eradication project.

  4. pat 4
    11 August 2022 at 9:06 am

    "When governments are contractually incapable of solving their people’s problems, only one option remains: turning us against each other. This process is well under way: the purpose of culture wars is to distract us from inequality. But it will go much further. Truss and Sunak compete to promise ever greater retribution towards those seeking sanctuary from murderous regimes. Last week, Truss promised to legislate against “militant” trade unionists and environmental protesters, as if Johnson’s new laws were insufficiently draconian.

    The more corrupt and less representative government becomes, the longer must be its list of enemies, and the more extreme the rhetoric with which it denounces them. As our crises escalate, as the government absents itself from public service, violence bubbles ever closer to the surface. This is how a country falls apart."

    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/aug/10/crisis-britain-leaders-inflation-energy-wages-conservative

    Sound familiar?

    • Ad 4.1
      11 August 2022 at 9:10 am

      Should it?

      • pat 4.1.1
        11 August 2022 at 9:24 am

        Does it?

        • Ad 4.1.1.1
          11 August 2022 at 9:28 am

          What are you talking about?

          • pat 4.1.1.1.1
            11 August 2022 at 9:33 am

            read the article

            • Ad 4.1.1.1.1.1
              11 August 2022 at 9:47 am

              I've read the article.

              Why ought it sound familiar?

              • pat …
                11 August 2022 at 9:59 am

                The decades of abdication of responsibility, the syphoning off of much needed investment to dividends, the lack of ability to implement action, the deflection of cause to worker laziness, the lie that more of the same will solve the problems.

                The playbook is used by all the anglosphere governments (of all hues) the only difference being the area of emphasis….they have been reduced to figureheads.

                • Poission …
                  11 August 2022 at 10:46 am

                  Truss wants call in powers to over rule decisions by financial regulators,removing independence from the prudential regulation authority (BOE) oversight of the BOE, etc etc.

                  She has removed all doubt that she is a rambling idiot with tax cuts under a high inflation regime etc.

                  • pat …
                    11 August 2022 at 10:51 am

                    And yet apparently she leads….the elites have a self destructive streak a mile wide….all one can assume is they either think they can get out with their wealth intact or they are so unaware they dont understand the consequences.

                    • Poission …
                      11 August 2022 at 11:06 am

                      The UK only survives on having a stable financial system with independent regulatory institutions,political intervention has seen the destruction of the middle classes in South America,as high inflation destroyed accumulated wealth.

                    • pat …
                      11 August 2022 at 11:19 am

                      They all only survive with a functioning economy

    • GreenBus 4.2
      11 August 2022 at 11:03 am

      Pom's could move to Russia which is not having all theses problems. Ha!

  5. Sanctuary 5
    11 August 2022 at 9:32 am

    I see the Ukraine has managed to destroy a dozen Russian jets and utterly devastate the Russian airbase at Novofedorivka in Crimea. This is a significant development as this base is almost 250km from the nearest Ukrainian positions and – as video showing horrified Russians (mostly Moscovites) fleeing their nearby beach holiday spots show – means the Ukraine now has the ability to carry the war deep into the Russian rear, shattering the sense of invulnerability the Russian population has had up to now.

    Putin is discovering the truth of that old saying – "It ain't no fun if the rabbits got a gun."

    • Ad 5.1
      11 August 2022 at 9:49 am

      All power to them. But.

      Ukraine doesn't yet appear able to counter-attack and regain much lost territory.

      • Scud 5.1.1
        11 August 2022 at 2:39 pm

        It's all about timing Ad, it when the UkR Military attack in Sth'ern Ukraine.

        The fact that the UkR Military are now conducting long range Joint Fires & Deep Strikes in the Sth.

        Probably means we are not too far away from D Day? The more the UkR Military can degrade Russia's Airpower, Logistics, the various HQ's & Joint Fires?

        Then there is more chance of success for the UkR, especially if its Intelligence, Recon in Russia's rear area are providing real time information like Battle Damage Assessments & Targeting of the above.

        So far the UkR Military are making the Russians dance to their tune on the dance floor, while knowing when hold the poker chips & when to cash those chips in on the poker table.

        Been very impressed with the way Ukraine has conducted itself since the start of Tsar Poot's so-called Special Military Operation.

        Been a few hiccups (both Political & Military side of things largely due to FSU & GRU operations in the Sth prior to D Day) along the way, but that was a expected as "no plan excepts to survive 1st contact with the enemy" as the Great Prussia General Von Moltke the elder once said.

      • Barfly 5.2.1
        11 August 2022 at 11:03 am

        I have seen it suggested that anti-ship missiles may have been used (they have the range)

        • joe90 5.2.1.1
          11 August 2022 at 11:21 am

          Also, suggestions of a new supplier of weapons not previously seen in Ukraine. The field narrows if Iran is supplying Russia.

          • Sanctuary 5.2.1.1.1
            11 August 2022 at 12:39 pm

            Israel has indicated that any supplying of weapons from Iran to Russia will see them dropping their objections to equipping the Ukrainians with Israeli weapons. And I’d put a pretty sum on Ukrainian pilots secretly undergoing training on US F-16s, six months into this war more and more US Weapons will appear on the Ukrainian side.

            Everyday this war goes on, the chance of the war escalating to a wider conflict increases. For example, any Russian attempt to deliberately destroy the reactors at the Zaporizhzhia would be an act of war against Western Europe, given the fallout from these plants would be horrendous. The use ATACMS against the Crimea – according to the Russians their sovereign territory – when the Russians have issued all sorts of bloodcurdling nuclear threats about using nuclear weapons to protect their homeland is also a bit dicey.

            • joe90 5.2.1.1.1.1
              11 August 2022 at 1:16 pm

              any Russian attempt to deliberately destroy the reactors at the Zaporizhzhia

              Russia's theft of Zaporizhzhia's 5,700MWs (NZ 9,800MW from all sources) involves disconnection from the Ukrainian grid and reconnecting to the Russian grid.

              That would be a long, drawn out and enormously complex task during peace time. Right now, it's a recipe for disaster.

              https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2022/08/6/7362180/

      • Sanctuary 5.2.3
        11 August 2022 at 12:31 pm

        The secret arrival of ATACMS would explain why the Ukrainians have been so coy on how the attack was carried out. But I suspect on the basis of no concrete evidence so far the use of ATACMS – a system that the US has been reluctant to supply. However, to paraphrase Obi-Wan:

        "And these blast points, too accurate for Russian weapons. Only US ATACMS are so precise.”

        Anyway, if the Ruskies find bits of ATACMS in the wreckage we'll surely hear about it.

        The other piece of the puzzle has been the confirmed delivery of AGM-88D HARM anti-radar missiles to the Ukraine. The "D" model is significant because it has a passive mode that combined with a GPS means it doesn't need to be integrated into the host platforms ECM (Electronic Counter Measures) systems. That makes it viable for the Soviet era jets of the Ukraine to use them, and I see that they've knocked out several Russian radar sites in the Kherson region in the last 72 hours, creating a hole in the Russian radar net – this would mean the Russian S-300 & S-400 SAM systems would be blind to a surface to surface missile attack. If you add to the equation the near constant presence of RAF and USAF RC-135W Rivet & RQ-4 Global Hawks in the Black Sea providing sophisticated electronic surveillance data in real time to the Ukrainians and you've basically got Uncle Sam completely owning the Russians.

      • Francesca 5.2.4
        11 August 2022 at 12:51 pm

        How's that Kherson offensive working out?

        • Sanctuary 5.2.4.1
          11 August 2022 at 1:23 pm

          Don't know, I'm not there.

        • Scud 5.2.4.2
          11 August 2022 at 2:59 pm

          Slowly slowly catch the monkey

          As my old SQN 2ic, would say, as ex was an expat Kenyan & knew a thing or two about catching Monkey's.

          He's now in the RAAC here in Oz causing mayhem in the field & making his Duntroon Trained Peers look a bit average as he was trained at NZ Army OCS in Waiberia. But he is unlikely to get his Colonels due to the Australian Army snobbish attitude of those not trained by RMC Duntroon.

  6. Tony Veitch (not etc.) 6
    11 August 2022 at 11:04 am

    Don't know the background of this poll – just saw it on a twitter post – but hey, a better one than the Kantar!

    https://twitter.com/alpine_bruce/status/1557264997377806337

    • Ad 6.1
      11 August 2022 at 11:28 am

      31% for National is a big outlier.

      As is 3.5% for NZFirst.

      • Sanctuary 6.1.1
        11 August 2022 at 12:07 pm

        The difference is the Horizon poll is only of those who expressed a clear intention to vote – so if you hate Jacinda and love Luxo, but tell the interviewer they are all bastards and you don't vote it just encourages them then you won't be counted.

        • Ad 6.1.1.1
          11 August 2022 at 1:20 pm

          The trends are clear.

          No sign yet that Labour's fall has hit bottom.

          No sign yet that National has stabilised.

          • LibertyBelle 6.1.1.1.1
            11 August 2022 at 4:19 pm

            Spot on.

            And NZF at 4%, without W. Peters esq being particularly engaged.

            It's going to be a tight one.

        • swordfish 6.1.1.2
          11 August 2022 at 10:07 pm

          The difference is the Horizon poll is only of those who expressed a clear intention to vote

          Is that really all that different from the other, more established Polls ?

          For example … 1News-Kantar only includes those saying they are 'quite likely' or 'very likely' to vote in its Party Vote results.

          Indeed the New Zealand Political Polling Code explicitly suggests:

          Those who say they are ineligible or unlikely to vote should be excluded from the analysis

          Horizon’s point of difference appears to be that it only includes those who say they’re 100% certain to vote … which, in itself, may well skew their findings.

    • Sabine 6.2
      11 August 2022 at 1:40 pm

      these are people who intend to vote.

      • Tony Veitch (not etc.) 6.2.1
        11 August 2022 at 4:46 pm

        Therefore, all the more relevant. X% might not intend to vote and X% don't know, but those who intend to vote – well, there votes are countable.

        Labour/Greens ahead! Add in TPM!

        • Sabine 6.2.1.1
          11 August 2022 at 9:01 pm

          Today was not voting day, today was only pretend voting day for a few for a poll, keep that in mind.

          Labour can not be happy about this poll.

  7. Sacha 7
    11 August 2022 at 11:44 am

    Colonel Trotter will be choking on his Greggs.

    https://twitter.com/Publicwrongs/status/1557491202362003456

  8. Rosemary McDonald 8
    11 August 2022 at 11:51 am

    Why is Labour, and only Labour, so hellbent on getting rid of the Childrens Commissioner?

    The Beattie Report does not recommend getting rid of the Children's Commissioner as Sepuloni implies.

    Sepuloni would not consider slowing the bill's progress down, saying the Beatie report found the government needed to "act with some urgency".

    And only Natrad seems to think this is something we should be informed about.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/on-the-inside/470739/oranga-tamariki-changes-risk-weakening-children-s-rights-and-protections-what-should-be-done

    Another major failing of this legislation is that it…

    … still does not incorporate the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child into domestic legislation. This would mean the convention rights would become part of the law of Aotearoa New Zealand.

    One of the clear benefits of this would be that children's rights – especially their rights to health, housing and food – would be more readily enforceable through the national courts. In other words, it would be easier to hold the government to account for its actions or inaction. (my bold)

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/on-the-inside/470739/oranga-tamariki-changes-risk-weakening-children-s-rights-and-protections-what-should-be-done

    Perhaps the Labour Party flagwavers residing here on TS can explain this…because its looking increasingly like Labour has absolutely no commitment to improving the lives of vulnerable children at all.

    • Louis 8.1
      11 August 2022 at 1:28 pm

      Labour are not getting rid of the Children's commissioner.

      Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: Again, this is why I am looking forward to the committee stage. I have been asked questions by the media and others that actually are not part of what is in this bill, questions like "Why are we dismantling the Children's Commission?" when that is clearly not happening; questions like "Why are we moving the monitoring mechanism out of the Children's Commission and into ERO?" when that's not happening, because the Independent Children's Monitor was established in the Ministry of Social Development and we're shifting that function to the Education Review Office from there. There are so many things that have been said about this bill that we need to be able to debate robustly in this House, and the committee stage will give us an opportunity to go through line by line and do that.

      https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/combined/HansD_20220803_20220803

      • Sabine 8.1.1
        11 August 2022 at 1:41 pm

        " because the Independent Children's Monitor was established in the Ministry of Social Development and we're shifting that function to the Education Review Office from there"

        what does that mean in plain english?

  9. ianmac 9
    11 August 2022 at 12:07 pm

    Not very helpful but the guru Barry Soper reckons that the Uffindell story is "a hit job" and that he has a good idea by whom, "but he is not saying yet."

    ( Can't link to it but MariaSherwood2 knows.)

    • AB 9.1
      11 August 2022 at 12:36 pm

      Bazza's out of touch. The frontrunner for the "by whom" is widely known already: it's Sam Uffindell

    • Kiwijoker 9.2
      11 August 2022 at 12:53 pm

      I think Soper is more a soothsayer than a guru

    • weka 9.3
      11 August 2022 at 1:49 pm

      why can't you link?

    • Tiger Mountain 9.4
      11 August 2022 at 7:32 pm

      One persons “hit job” may be another’s “justifiably being held to account”–something Soper should be personally acquainted with.

      Natzos have been barrel scraping for candidates for years. The decline in mass public participation in political and community affairs during the neo liberal era has not just affected Labour.

  10. Poission 10
    11 August 2022 at 12:20 pm

    Median house prices fall on annual basis for the first time since 2011.This sees the capital gains of the last 12 months removed.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/homed/real-estate/129528289/auckland-prices-down-200k-from-peak-another-soggy-month-for-market

    Lowest house sales by volume in 12 years,with interest rate increase to come to remove core inflation to affordable levels,the wealth destruction to curb animal spirits will continue into 2023.

  11. Visubversa 11
    11 August 2022 at 12:32 pm

    About time the dam broke. Suing the Tavistock Clinic over transing kids.

    https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/4e7fc538-18dc-11ed-b1f4-627a202c7457

    • Sabine 11.1
      11 August 2022 at 1:42 pm

      yes, this is going to be quite interesting to watch.

      This might have been the reason for the closure?

    • weka 11.2
      11 August 2022 at 1:58 pm

      GIDS person telling porkies at the end there,

      “The service is committed to patient safety. It works with every young person on a case-by-case basis, with no expectation of what might be the right pathway for them, and only the minority of young people who are seen in our service access any physical treatments while with us.”

      paywall-free version https://archive.ph/5iwD9#selection-1035.172-1039.280

      The bit about only a minority of people get meds and surgery will be true, but I hope that some of the social transitioners join the lawsuit.

      Meanwhile,

      https://twitter.com/Kinnon_Ross/status/1556665369686843392

      What I want to know from that is how many people on the books of those services weren't followed up/couldn't be contacted?

      • Sabine 11.2.1
        11 August 2022 at 2:27 pm

        a guess?

        most.

        The question that i have, how many have we got here in NZ that were equally rushed into treatment and now regret it.

        edit: funny phrasing.

        • weka 11.2.1.1
          11 August 2022 at 2:38 pm

          most depends on if the research takes into account people that don't respond (and analyses that).

        • weka 11.2.1.2
          11 August 2022 at 2:39 pm

          The question that i have, how many have we got here in NZ that were equally rushed into treatment and now regret it.

          pre-question. Do NZ health services keep statistics on children and youth transitioning?

  12. Maurice 12
    11 August 2022 at 1:11 pm

    Is Luxon about to announce that should the Natz win the next election ….

    Trevor Mallard will be replaced by Sam Uffindell as Ambassador to Ireland?

  13. Tony Veitch (not etc.) 13
    11 August 2022 at 5:25 pm

    "This place doesn’t demand your respect. If it was a nice house we would treat it nice."

    So said Sam Upffendoff about the flat he occupied in Dunedin. (In the 2004 article on the disgusting state of one student accommodation).

    It sort of sums up the man, doesn't it – and surely qualified him to be a Natz MP.

    • weka 13.1
      11 August 2022 at 5:28 pm

      tbf, that standard of housing now would have progressives up in arms. I notice the landlord hasn’t been named. But yeah, scarfie culture then was entitlement weird.

      • Cricklewood 13.1.1
        11 August 2022 at 5:34 pm

        My first flat was a really old place super run down but super cheap at the same time. Was basically party central and the landlord didnt care given he was planning to demo it. There was competition with a decent prize for the nastiest flat run by the uni students association at the time, we entered somehow didnt win… in the end we were allowed to have a demolish the house party at end of the year…

        Good times really and not that unusual 25 years ago…

        • weka 13.1.1.1
          11 August 2022 at 6:58 pm

          I lived in a flat in the 80s with a hole in the floor in the bathroom so bad that we were never sure if the bath would collapse the floor when we filled it. I draw the line at not cleaning the toilet though.

  14. Ffloyd 14
    11 August 2022 at 6:37 pm

    TVNZ reporting that latest Poll , which one?, has NatAct can form a Govt on latest figures, and are going after the Greens to join Coalition. Which is true? I thought Labour Green were ahead.

    • alwyn 14.1
      11 August 2022 at 6:48 pm

      If it is TVNZ doing the reporting it is almost certainly their own poll which went to air on Monday.

      That had National/ACT with (I think) 62 seats and Labour/Greens/Maori Party with 58.

      The TV stations almost never mention any poll except their own. The keep their blinkers on very tightly as far as the existence of other stations go.

      When did you hear this item of news?

    • LibertyBelle 14.2
      11 August 2022 at 6:56 pm

      The recent poll showing Lab/Greens ahead is the Horizon Poll which has Lab/Greens on 42%, Nat/Act on 42%. Their headline is "Among registered, definite voters election too close to call"

    • weka 14.3
      11 August 2022 at 7:00 pm

      and are going after the Greens to join Coalition

      with NACT? Never ever going to happen. What that is is a Nact memo designed to stop people voting Green.

      There have been two polls this week, one said Nact could form gov, the said L/G. We're over a year from the general election, the trend matters but not as much as what happens next year.

    • AB 14.4
      11 August 2022 at 7:02 pm

      Yes it was their own poll – they like to drip feed bits of it over several nights as a form of self-promotion. Also in this case, maybe they see a Nat government as their only salvation from the RNZ merger and any unwelcome de-trivialisation of TV1 that might go with it?

      And of course the same old censorious crap – " a responsible 'environmental' party would not rule out coalition with National". Same crap as from 2017. Interesting that no-one tries to shame ACT into coalescing with Labour – though it's obvious why: it would be self-evidently bonkers and the whole purpose of the ‘story’ is to prevent Labour governments, not enable them.

  15. Ffloyd 15
    11 August 2022 at 7:18 pm

    Alwyn. Latest poll results showing Natact in front was on 6 o’clock news on One by the ever dapper Simon Callow.

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    4 days ago

  • New Zealand and Tuvalu reaffirm close relationship
    New Zealand and Tuvalu have reaffirmed their close relationship, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters says.  “New Zealand is committed to working with Tuvalu on a shared vision of resilience, prosperity and security, in close concert with Australia,” says Mr Peters, who last visited Tuvalu in 2019.  “It is my pleasure ...
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    5 days ago

  • New Zealand calls for calm, constructive dialogue in New Caledonia
    New Zealand is gravely concerned about the situation in New Caledonia, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.  “The escalating situation and violent protests in Nouméa are of serious concern across the Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says.  “The immediate priority must be for all sides to take steps to de-escalate the ...
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    5 days ago

  • New Zealand welcomes Samoa Head of State
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon met today with Samoa’s O le Ao o le Malo, Afioga Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II, who is making a State Visit to New Zealand. “His Highness and I reflected on our two countries’ extensive community links, with Samoan–New Zealanders contributing to all areas of our national ...
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    5 days ago

  • Island Direct eligible for SuperGold Card funding
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has announced that he has approved Waiheke Island ferry operator Island Direct to be eligible for SuperGold Card funding, paving the way for a commercial agreement to bring the operator into the scheme. “Island Direct started operating in November 2023, offering an additional option for people ...
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    5 days ago

  • Further sanctions against Russia
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters today announced further sanctions on 28 individuals and 14 entities providing military and strategic support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.  “Russia is directly supported by its military-industrial complex in its illegal aggression against Ukraine, attacking its sovereignty and territorial integrity. New Zealand condemns all entities and ...
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    5 days ago

  • One year on from Loafers Lodge
    A year on from the tragedy at Loafers Lodge, the Government is working hard to improve building fire safety, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “I want to share my sincere condolences with the families and friends of the victims on the anniversary of the tragic fire at Loafers ...
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    5 days ago

  • Pre-Budget speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Ka nui te mihi kia koutou. Kia ora and good afternoon, everyone. Thank you so much for having me here in the lead up to my Government’s first Budget. Before I get started can I acknowledge: Simon Bridges – Auckland Business Chamber CEO. Steve Jurkovich – Kiwibank CEO. Kids born ...
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    6 days ago

  • New Zealand and Vanuatu to deepen collaboration
    New Zealand and Vanuatu will enhance collaboration on issues of mutual interest, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “It is important to return to Port Vila this week with a broad, high-level political delegation which demonstrates our deep commitment to New Zealand’s relationship with Vanuatu,” Mr Peters says.    “This ...
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    6 days ago

  • Penk travels to Peru for trade meetings
    Minister for Land Information, Chris Penk will travel to Peru this week to represent New Zealand at a meeting of trade ministers from the Asia-Pacific region on behalf of Trade Minister Todd McClay. The annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade meeting will be held on 17-18 May ...
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    6 days ago

  • Minister attends global education conferences
    Minister of Education Erica Stanford will head to the United Kingdom this week to participate in the 22nd Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers (CCEM) and the 2024 Education World Forum (EWF). “I am looking forward to sharing this Government’s education priorities, such as introducing a knowledge-rich curriculum, implementing an evidence-based ...
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    6 days ago

  • Education Minister thanks outgoing NZQA Chair
    Minister of Education Erica Stanford has today thanked outgoing New Zealand Qualifications Authority Chair, Hon Tracey Martin. “Tracey Martin tendered her resignation late last month in order to take up a new role,” Ms Stanford says. Ms Martin will relinquish the role of Chair on 10 May and current Deputy ...
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    6 days ago

  • Joint statement of Christopher Luxon and Emmanuel Macron: Launch of the Christchurch Call Foundation
    New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and President Emmanuel Macron of France today announced a new non-governmental organisation, the Christchurch Call Foundation, to coordinate the Christchurch Call’s work to eliminate terrorist and violent extremist content online.   This change gives effect to the outcomes of the November 2023 Call Leaders’ Summit, ...
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    7 days ago

  • Panel announced for review into disability services
    Distinguished public servant and former diplomat Sir Maarten Wevers will lead the independent review into the disability support services administered by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. The review was announced by Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston a fortnight ago to examine what could be done to strengthen the ...
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    7 days ago

  • Minister welcomes Police gang unit
    Today’s announcement by Police Commissioner Andrew Coster of a National Gang Unit and district Gang Disruption Units will help deliver on the coalition Government’s pledge to restore law and order and crack down on criminal gangs, Police Minister Mark Mitchell says. “The National Gang Unit and Gang Disruption Units will ...
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    7 days ago

  • New Zealand expresses regret at North Korea’s aggressive rhetoric
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today expressed regret at North Korea’s aggressive rhetoric towards New Zealand and its international partners.  “New Zealand proudly stands with the international community in upholding the rules-based order through its monitoring and surveillance deployments, which it has been regularly doing alongside partners since 2018,” Mr ...
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    1 week ago

  • New Chief of Defence Force appointed
    Air Vice-Marshal Tony Davies MNZM is the new Chief of Defence Force, Defence Minister Judith Collins announced today. The Chief of Defence Force commands the Navy, Army and Air Force and is the principal military advisor to the Defence Minister and other Ministers with relevant portfolio responsibilities in the defence ...
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    1 week ago

  • Government puts children first by repealing 7AA
    Legislation to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act has been introduced to Parliament. The Bill’s introduction reaffirms the Coalition Government’s commitment to the safety of children in care, says Minister for Children, Karen Chhour. “While section 7AA was introduced with good intentions, it creates a conflict for Oranga ...
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    1 week ago

  • Defence Minister to meet counterparts in UK, Italy
    Defence Minister Judith Collins will this week travel to the UK and Italy to meet with her defence counterparts, and to attend Battles of Cassino commemorations. “I am humbled to be able to represent the New Zealand Government in Italy at the commemorations for the 80th anniversary of what was ...
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    1 week ago

  • Charter schools to lift educational outcomes
    The upcoming Budget will include funding for up to 50 charter schools to help lift declining educational performance, Associate Education Minister David Seymour announced today. $153 million in new funding will be provided over four years to establish and operate up to 15 new charter schools and convert 35 state ...
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    1 week ago

  • COVID-19 Inquiry terms of reference consultation results received
    “The results of the public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has now been received, with results indicating over 13,000 submissions were made from members of the public,” Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says. “We heard feedback about the extended lockdowns in ...
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    1 week ago

  • The Pacific family of nations – the changing security outlook
    Foreign Minister, Defence Minister, other Members of Parliament Acting Chief of Defence Force, Secretary of Defence Distinguished Guests  Defence and Diplomatic Colleagues  Ladies and Gentlemen,  Good afternoon, tēna koutou, apinun tru    It’s a pleasure to be back in Port Moresby today, and to speak here at the Kumul Leadership ...
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    1 week ago

  • NZ and Papua New Guinea to work more closely together
    Health, infrastructure, renewable energy, and stability are among the themes of the current visit to Papua New Guinea by a New Zealand political delegation, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.   “Papua New Guinea carries serious weight in the Pacific, and New Zealand deeply values our relationship with it,” Mr Peters ...
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    1 week ago

  • Driving ahead with Roads of Regional Significance
    The coalition Government is launching Roads of Regional Significance to sit alongside Roads of National Significance as part of its plan to deliver priority roading projects across the country, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “The Roads of National Significance (RoNS) built by the previous National Government are some of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • New Zealand congratulates new Solomon Islands government
    A high-level New Zealand political delegation in Honiara today congratulated the new Government of Solomon Islands, led by Jeremiah Manele, on taking office.    “We are privileged to meet the new Prime Minister and members of his Cabinet during his government’s first ten days in office,” Deputy Prime Minister and ...
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    1 week ago

  • New Zealand supports UN Palestine resolution
    New Zealand voted in favour of a resolution broadening Palestine’s participation at the United Nations General Assembly overnight, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “The resolution enhances the rights of Palestine to participate in the work of the UN General Assembly while stopping short of admitting Palestine as a full ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Speech to the 2024 Infrastructure Symposium
    Introduction Good morning. It’s a great privilege to be here at the 2024 Infrastructure Symposium. I was extremely happy when the Prime Minister asked me to be his Minister for Infrastructure. It is one of the great barriers holding the New Zealand economy back from achieving its potential. Building high ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • $571 million for Defence pay and projects
    Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced the upcoming Budget will include new funding of $571 million for Defence Force pay and projects. “Our servicemen and women do New Zealand proud throughout the world and this funding will help ensure we retain their services and expertise as we navigate an increasingly ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Climate change – mitigating the risks and costs
    New Zealand’s ability to cope with climate change will be strengthened as part of the Government’s focus to build resilience as we rebuild the economy, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “An enduring and long-term approach is needed to provide New Zealanders and the economy with certainty as the climate ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Getting new job seekers on the pathway to work
    Jobseeker beneficiaries who have work obligations must now meet with MSD within two weeks of their benefit starting to determine their next step towards finding a job, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “A key part of the coalition Government’s plan to have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker ...
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    2 weeks ago

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