Open mike 15/04/2014

Written By: - Date published: 6:34 am, April 15th, 2014 - 243 comments
Categories: open mike - Tags:

openmike Open mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Step up to the mike …

243 comments on “Open mike 15/04/2014 ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Paul 1
    15 April 2014 at 6:43 am

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11238187

    “The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reported earlier this month that New Zealand was unprepared for between 2C and 4C of warming this century. Climate Change Minister Tim Groser said New Zealand was doing its fair share to reduce emissions and that the onus was on local councils to respond to the effects of climate change such as sea level rise.

    Mr Mills said: “For me that was the end. I thought ‘I’ve got to stand up and be counted now’.”

    Good on Mr Mills.
    Time for more New Zealanders to stand up and be counted on this vital issue.
    Who are you voting for?
    Your own greedy needs of those of your grandchildren?

    • bad12 1.1
      15 April 2014 at 7:51 am

      Certainly putting His money where His mouth is,”tired of National Government inaction on climate change issues” the owner of the Les Mills fitness business donates $64,999 to Labour and 65,000 to the Green Party,

      Suggests exactly what this businessman wants as the next Government…

      • miravox 1.1.1
        15 April 2014 at 8:04 am

        +1.

        The Pure Advantage website that is mentioned in the article is worth checking out. It’s been active for a year or two now – definitely not picking political sides, so this article from Phillip Mills is a bit of a step up in the campaign it seems.

        http://www.pureadvantage.org/

        • Ad 1.1.1.1
          15 April 2014 at 8:19 am

          Also positive to see Cunliffe making some right (uncosted, not sure of programme) noises about forming a mitigation package against climate change.

          Groser was saying yesterday that there’s really no point doing anything unless the major country emitters agree to do it together. Because I am deeply pessimistic about climate change, I could understand that.

          But when we choose to be New Zealand can lead globally. I want more for and from this country than that.

          • Jenny 1.1.1.1.1
            15 April 2014 at 9:15 am

            When even party political funding is becoming dependent on where you stand on climate change, you know the worm is turning.

            To properly capitalise on this new political understanding David Cunliffe needs to announce that the law that prevents climate change being raised as an objection in consent hearings for new coal mines will be repealed on the return of a Labour Government.

            It would also be good if Labour could announce that on regaining office they will impose a complete moratorium on new coal mines, in line with their coalition Partner the Green Party policy of No New Coal Mines.

            A moratorium on deep sea oil drilling and fracking and on any other extreme non-traditional fossil fuel extraction methods, would be good too.

            Lets not hear anymore sychophantic pedantic whining about ‘we must respect existing contracts’.

            What’s more sacred, business contracts negotiated unfairly with no mandate, or the environment we all depend on to survive?

            If we want to respect contracts how about this one?

            Maybe instead of honouring deals done with Bathurst Resources we should first honour the contract we signed with our Pacific neighbors to endeavor to cut back our CO2 emissions? A contract to which we are a signatory, but which John Key had no problem tearing up to keep letting Solid Energy cook the climate.

            The Majuro Declaration on Climate Change

            Many of the islands look to New Zealand, their closest large land mass, to give financial and diplomatic leadership.

            “New Zealand can and should do more. They are the fifth highest per capita emitters in the world and Kiwi emissions continue to climb.”
            President Loeak of the Marshall Islands

            Honour the Majuro Declaration. Send Bathurst packing.

            • Wyndham, George 1.1.1.1.1.1
              15 April 2014 at 11:12 am

              Jenny, Yesterday you wanted Cunliffe to announce the adoption of Greens policy of no deep see drilling. Today you want him to adopt their policy on mining AND announce the Greens as a Coalition Partner!
              I wait with baited breath to hear what wonderful original thoughts you have tomorrow!

              • bad12 …
                15 April 2014 at 11:44 am

                Lolz, a million different people from one day to the next…

              • Jenny …
                16 April 2014 at 8:01 am

                “Jenny, Yesterday you wanted Cunliffe to announce the adoption of Greens policy of no deep see drilling. Today you want him to adopt their policy on mining”
                Wyndham, George

                So what?

                Labour are demanding that the Greens adopt their policies of supporting deep sea oil drilling, and new coal mines.

                I have argued for some time that it will be electoral suicide for the Greens to concede to Labour’s demands, and if they persist with these demands better to sit on the cross benches giving support only on budget and supply.

                But apart from the Greens calling for Labour to change, physics demand it.

  3. Paul 3
    15 April 2014 at 6:52 am

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11238214

    More diversionary trivia for NZers so they don’t pay attention to the important stuff.

    • ianmac 3.1
      15 April 2014 at 9:21 am

      The coy Mr Key.
      “Mr Key confirmed yesterday it was paid for by the taxpayer and when asked whether that meant it was not such a private dinner after all, he said “well, it kind of is and it isn’t”.

  4. North 4
    15 April 2014 at 7:19 am

    Celebrity Grossed ?

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/royal-tour/9940930/Wills-and-Kates-dinner-is-on-us

    “My understanding is they were certainly keen to catch up, they were certainly keen to have something that was relaxed and in a fun environment.”

    Imelda without the heels !

    • ffloyd 4.1
      15 April 2014 at 9:42 am

      @north.
      And the poor blighters ended up spending the evening with ‘thick as batshit’ key. Yawn.

  5. North 5
    15 April 2014 at 7:30 am

    FFS ! It gets worse – From the Herald this morning –

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11238214

    “This time round, it was the tight five – the royals, himself, his wife Bronagh and son Max, who met William during the Keys’ stay at Balmoral last year.” – and this –

    “It has become a bit of a tradition for Mr Key and William to cook for each other: after Mr Key hosted the 2010 barbecue, William returned serve by helping out cooking a barbecue for the Key family at Balmoral.”

    The wonderful work of Claire Arse-Licker Trevett !

    • BM 5.1
      15 April 2014 at 7:42 am

      What an uplifting piece of journalism.
      Makes you proud to be a New Zealander.

      • North 5.1.1
        15 April 2014 at 7:50 am

        Who said ShonKey Python and his pet scribblers wouldn’t be working the guts out of it a few months out from a general election, then ?

        • BM 5.1.1.1
          15 April 2014 at 7:59 am

          Facts are, the majority of the sheeple are enjoying having the royals out here, the cute little baby, the glamorous duke/duchess.

          It’s fun, it’s happy and people especially women want to hear all about it, which is why Cunnliffe came across as such an arse by politising the royal tour.

          After the Campbell debacle last night one really has to wonder if the man has a political bone in his body, he really is doing a shit job.

          • Sanctuary 5.1.1.1.1
            15 April 2014 at 8:10 am

            The people giddiest about the royal tour are the trivia and celebrity obsessed media. Despite the efforts of the press to whip up a colonial cringeworthy royal hysteria the crowds are modest, at best. If you scratch the surface, most people think that they seem nice but the whole thing is a bit of a circus.

            • BM 5.1.1.1.1.1
              15 April 2014 at 8:18 am

              It’s not my cup of tea, but that doesn’t mean other people aren’t allowed to enjoy it.

              Anyway, whats the harm the oldies get to relive the past, the woman get to oooh and ahhh over the cute baby and the young girls get to see a real life princess/duchess.

              Good harmless family fun.

              • bad12 …
                15 April 2014 at 8:42 am

                The Woyal Bludgers must be leaving soon, good riddance, there hasn’t been a scrap of blue sky here in Wellington since these sponges arrived for a break from sponging on the English to take a few big slurps at the trough here…

                • BM …
                  15 April 2014 at 8:51 am

                  Have a look at this, you may learn something.

                  • ianmac …
                    15 April 2014 at 9:28 am

                    That may be a true picture for the UK. But none of that is valid for NZ is it BM?

                    • tinfoilhat …
                      15 April 2014 at 9:37 am

                      Oh I don’t know, I expect the advertising and exposure NZ has got in the commonwealth media (most particularly the UK) is more than worth the cost to the taxpayer of having the royals visit.

                      I must admit I’m a bit bemused as to why anyone gets so worked up one way or the other about the royals visiting.

                  • bad12 …
                    15 April 2014 at 9:35 am

                    BM, a ‘youtube video for simpletons!!!’ who would have thunk that You would use such a child’s view to explain the Woyal Family of Bludgers,

                    Basically a ‘Disneyland tourist attraction way over-paid for the role that lot have sponged off of the people of Britain for centuries, murder, standover, and direct taxation of the peasants was how the ‘Crown Estate’ came into being so it doesn’t matter an iota that a previous head of the Bludge Family gave up ownership in favor of a direct ‘suck’ on the revenue stream now managed by the democratically elected Government,

                    ”The Crown Estate is NOT the private property of the Monarch. It cannot be owned by the Monarch in a private capacity”,

                    http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/finances_of_the_british_royal_family

                    • BM …
                      15 April 2014 at 9:49 am

                      The royals are a tourist attraction they make the UK a truck load of money, far more than what they cost.

                      The UK has set it’s self up as a Victorian Disney land and the Royals are the centerpiece.

                      The Royal family generate close to £500 million every year for British tourism with The Tower of London, Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace the most popular Royal destinations.

                      http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/environment/tourism/8587231/UK-Tourism-facts-and-figures.html

                      Try to think out side the square, chap.

                    • bad12 …
                      15 April 2014 at 10:04 am

                      More rubbish BM, the Woyals do not own the Tower of London, Windsor Castle or Buckingham Palace and as such are simply overpaid actors sucking at the public teat to the tune of millions of pounds a year,

                      A handful of actors could be hired to ‘play’ the role that these sponges are paid multi-millions of pounds a year to act out for a fraction of the cost,

                      That still doesn’t explain the fact that the Sponge family is over here bludging off of us at the moment…

                • srylands …
                  15 April 2014 at 10:10 am

                  I think you should pop down to Civic Square and see them tomorrow. You don’t need to wave a flag, but seeing them in person might change your mind about them, and you have nothing else to do.

                  Getting all bitter and twisted about Will, Kate and George seems a little sad.

                  • Draco T Bastard …
                    15 April 2014 at 10:31 am

                    but seeing them in person might change your mind about them

                    And SSLands proves his complete and total shallowness. For him, looks and image are everything.

                  • bad12 …
                    15 April 2014 at 10:48 am

                    Ha Ha SSLands, the last time i seen one of the plastic Lowness’es was years back when Dun Mihaka gave Her an entirely appropriate whakapahone as a greeting,

                    My presence so exercised the DPS prowling the side-show bob spectators that they saw reason to curtail my civil rights by bailing me up against a wall asking the same sort of stupid questions that you are famed for…

                  • framu …
                    15 April 2014 at 12:33 pm

                    “you have nothing else to do.”

                    mind your manners

                  • Tracey …
                    15 April 2014 at 1:56 pm

                    slylands this is one of your more vacuous efforts during worktime. you start work at 10am and at 10:10am here you are posting. the king of productivity preaches not practices.

              • Tracey …
                15 April 2014 at 1:53 pm

                good harmless costly to the taxpayer fun.perhaps the govt should pass buckets through the crowd seeking donations to pay for it all.

          • Draco T Bastard 5.1.1.1.2
            15 April 2014 at 8:57 am

            It’s fun, it’s happy and people especially women want to hear all about it, which is why Cunnliffe came across as such an arse by politising the royal tour.

            The entire tour is politicking – exactly as planned. You’re here adding more to it.

          • Tracey 5.1.1.1.3
            15 April 2014 at 1:51 pm

            majority bm, you mean the fewthousand who turn out in the streets. by your logic the majority of kiwis are against the gcsb act, the tpp because a few thousands took to the streets.

      • Paul 5.1.2
        15 April 2014 at 8:28 am

        Makes you ill.

      • Tracey 5.1.3
        15 April 2014 at 1:48 pm

        not a nzer bm, a colonial.

    • karol 5.2
      15 April 2014 at 7:53 am

      I haven’t been looking at Royals visit news. I don’t click on the links on news websites. I switch on mute during the TV News, and attend to something else. Why encourage the media obssession – they measure success by the number of clicks on those links, not whether you are for or against the royals.

      I have been enjoying a relatively royals free space on TS.

    • Paul 5.3
      15 April 2014 at 9:16 am

      Goebbels would be proud of the corporate media.

    • David H 5.4
      15 April 2014 at 9:20 am

      And all this on TV at dinner time, where we all eating ‘cheap’. If eating at all. But nice to see that our tax dollars are being used for something important …

    • millsy 5.5
      15 April 2014 at 9:48 am

      Im over the Royal Family.

      We don’t need a monarchy anymore — anywhere, not just here. We are capable of choosing our own leaders, like religion, it is a hangover from more archaic times.

      The Chinese managed to get rid of their monarchy after 3000 years, as did the Russians, the French, the Indians, and so on. We should be able to do the same.

    • anker 5.6
      16 April 2014 at 12:26 am

      Claire “Key Cracks a Joke” Sycophantic Trevett. Time to start collecting her articles for systematic bias complaint.

      She’s not a journalist’s backside.

  6. captain hook 6
    15 April 2014 at 7:59 am

    Have just turned on and then turned off morning report. Radio New Zealand have employed one of the slimiest national party shills to front their flagship operation. What an awful mouthful of mangement speak but a slimy little toad is a slimy little toad whichever way you paint it.

    • Paul 6.1
      15 April 2014 at 8:30 am

      Espiner?

      • greywarbler 6.1.1
        15 April 2014 at 12:19 pm

        I missed hearing Rod Oram because I forgot to turn the radio back on again after another (gag) news report with heartfelt sound of Piss story wringing out his tears. How long Oh Lord do we have to put up with this `news’ from South Africa? We have a good celebrity story incubating right here in River City, or NZ when we find our bearings.

        It may be that there are some strange radio news agreements with countries such as South Africa also the USA, so that we take whatever because more volume (hah) costs less, and we then sound so linked in and international.

        I haven’t bothered with the Royal visit. I wish them well and hope that they didn’t mind spending time watching children play rugby in Dunedin. How exciting. I can understand that the Dunedinites wanted to show off their wonderful stadium, but it wouldn’t please me as an event if I was on a Magical Mystery Tour.

        Something else I missed on radio was Ellis at 11.45 discussing somebody interviewed by Campbell last night prevaricating. There that’s my big word for the day – hope it’s the right one.
        Apparently whoever said whatever was not sure about whether he would do something or not. Might have been Cunliffe. Doesn’t sound like Winston who is always positive about things – even positive that he is negative on a policy. Same with Hone. Dunne’s been done. Russel is being spoken to tomorrow I think!

        I did think that someone may have had some comment to make about last night’s pollies but you are all of on a royal tour around the beltway or somewhere. Perhaps someone can enlighten me on a) the person who was interviewed, and b) what it was he wasn’t sure about. (I understood it was a him.)

    • jh 6.2
      15 April 2014 at 9:16 am

      I remember Sharon Crosby leaving for (somewhere) and she made a departing statement, (something like) “there you all thought I was right wing didn’t you”

  7. Sanctuary 7
    15 April 2014 at 8:06 am

    There is something positive about the interwebs at the moment… Almost as if a malevolent force has been removed. What might have excised the ugliness? What great change?

    Ah yes, there it is!!!

    DPF is in the Himalayas and can’t update his little National Party propaganda vehicle. Let’s hope he doesn’t stumble into the path of a grumpy Yak. That would be terrible. Yesssireeeee, ait would be absolutely terrible.

    • millsy 7.1
      15 April 2014 at 9:48 am

      They have cyber cafes in Nepal….??

      • freedom 7.1.1
        15 April 2014 at 10:14 am

        “they have McDonald’s in Tibet”

        theological complexities aside – Amused to Death is still a great album and has one of those timeless message thingys to boot

  8. bad12 8
    15 April 2014 at 8:06 am

    Prostituting the Office of the Prime Minister, fresh from being the ‘star’ attraction at the Northern Club said to be the most exclusive ‘Gentlmen’s club’ in Auckland,(funnily enough the Splash Club, a Brothel, advertises itself as an ‘exclusive Gentlemen’s Club here in Wellington),on sale for 5 grand a ‘client’ the ACT Party are now saying they have a far better deal ‘for sale’,

    Is this the benefit of ‘competition’ or just the fact the Prime Minister has been well used by the ‘clients’ at previous 5 grander’s, ACT are selling Him to the ‘clients’ at $100 a time at an upcoming dinner,(pretty much ‘street prices’ for a ‘one on one’ with the PM),

    Meanwhile Oravida having already ‘paid’ handsomely for the Prostitution of the Office of the Prime Minister are wringing as much use out of Him as possible, featured next to an Oravida ad in a magazine a large picture of Slippery the Prime Minister is said by His office not to breach any rules of propriety because He is not quoted as endorsing the Oravida products being advertised next to it,

    What price will this Political prostitute be fetching next year???10 bucks for a quicky…

    • srylands 8.1
      15 April 2014 at 8:56 am

      You are making a big deal out of absolutely nothing. PMs have been involved in fundraising forever.

      NZ PM on menu at auction

      http://edition.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/sailing/10/17/tnz.auction.biz/

      • Draco T Bastard 8.1.1
        15 April 2014 at 9:05 am

        PMs have been involved in fundraising forever.

        That doesn’t make it right. Specifically, a picture of our PM should not be part of a products promotion.

      • bad12 8.1.2
        15 April 2014 at 9:44 am

        SSLands, as usual you use what you see as a cunning lie to advance whatever the point is you are attempting to advance,

        Notice who Slippery the Prime Minister is Prostituting the Office of Prime Minister in aid of??? who would have thunk it, the Prime Minister is selling himself for 5 grand a time not in aid of any non-political ”good deed”, simply applying Political Prostitution to raise funds for the National Party, the ACT Party, and, the Maori Party,

        Compare that with the fundraising of an auctioned dinner with ex-Prime Minister Helen Clark???the beneficiary of the Clark dinner, Team NZ,

        If you cannot see the difference then your stupidity level is far greater than i have previously imagined…

      • Naki Man 8.1.3
        15 April 2014 at 7:16 pm

        These clowns are just bitter because no one would pay good money to talk to Clusterfuck Cunliffe

  9. bad12 9
    15 April 2014 at 8:17 am

    Shane Jones drops the hyperbole and makes sense again, describing on Morning report this morning the Maori Party as hypocrites for their 5 grand a time dinner for Auckland’s pakeha elite while they at the same time ‘dissed’ the Mana Party for being in negotiations with the Internet Party,

    Jones then went on to draw a thin line of split flax through the chances of the Maori parties Te Ururoa Flavell in the Waiariki electorate saying Annette Sykes will give Him what He has earned for 5 years spent as a lapdog of the National Government,(that don’t include another 3 years),

    Jones’es prognosis for the future of the Maori Party, the same as mine, Haere ra…

  10. captain hook 10
    15 April 2014 at 8:42 am

    so dpf is up a mountain. well whipty do for him. does he think he is Sir Ed or sumfing. why doesn’t he just look in a mirror and get some tools for looking into his black heart for the causes of his bile and pathology.

  11. Red Rosa 11
    15 April 2014 at 8:45 am

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/9941577/ACC-forms-ruled-to-be-unlawful

    Another appalling example of Judith Collins’ arrogance.

    But what can you expect from an admitted liar(re Oravita), who is also Minister of (choke) Justice?

    This needs vigorous followup. What are the chances of a criminal prosecution of the ACC executives involved? After all, we have the good old standover tactics, coercion, fraudulent threats etc?

  12. Chooky 12
    15 April 2014 at 8:56 am

    INTERNET FREEDOM is crucial to a DEMOCRACY…it is perhaps one of the most important issues of our time….especially on issues such as globalisation, monopoly capitalism, free debate

    ….just think what one can learn from the internet and how much authorities with a totalitarian bent would like to control, censor….. close down an open internet …or make it user pays ( to them) and so restrict full public access

    …the free open internet fills in many of the gaps and omissions of the mainstream media

    as just one example .. ..a free open internet provides people the ability to think critically about the pharmaceutical industry…and take charge of their own health decisions….(just think how much multi national multi billion dollar pharmaceutical companies would like to censor and close down open debate/ critiques and counter research , people sharing adverse effects / experiences etc which cut into their profits)

    …in some ways the issues Dotcom and the Internet Party are promoting are the most important issues for all New Zealanders and their democracy , freedom of thought …regardless of what party they belong to

    ….So go Mana for Internet Freedom and Democracy!

    • karol 12.1
      15 April 2014 at 1:04 pm

      I’m glad Mana is getting on board with what has long been Green Party Policies.

      So Mana and The Greens should be able to work well together.

      • Tracey 12.1.1
        15 April 2014 at 2:04 pm

        agree.

        what did you make of the nine to noon discussion of the way winz is dealing with mental health “clients”. i was a little perturbed than they are expected to get into preparedness to return to work immediately, unless granted an exemption. surely complete rest and freedom from work stresses has merit.

        i also note how quickly ryan changed 40% may remaon on a benefit for a long time to “most” will do do.

        • karol 12.1.1.1
          15 April 2014 at 2:08 pm

          I didn’t hear it. I don’t listen to RNZ much these days – browse their website and selct an audio or 2.

          Generally, I don’t support an approach that stresses work as a priority over mental health.

          • Tracey 12.1.1.1.1
            15 April 2014 at 2:27 pm

            it all was said by a woman with such a reasonable tone and yet…

            • freedom 12.1.1.1.1.1
              15 April 2014 at 3:53 pm

              Her unwillingness to admit total numbers of people on any of the benefits was a really big tell. Exception being the 400 people she mentioned who had found work on the new trial, work she was quick to qualify by saying it included [mainly?] part time hours.

              The references to the general Jobseeker benefit were particularly funny. Listening to her explain what the Jobseeker seminars are like and how hands on the staff are getting people into work was surreal. Is there a word for laughing out loud whilst internally cringing?

      • marty mars 12.1.2
        15 April 2014 at 4:23 pm

        Mana seem to be making sincere overtures to The Greens

        The comments come after Mana leaders said at the weekend they wanted to meet with like-minded parties including the Greens in order to try and flesh out a cooperative election strategy, including possible electorate deals.

        The comments were Metiria’s comment that

        Turei said she was always open to having such conversations with other parties but was yet to hear from Mana.

        “It’s highly unlikely though that we would do deals in an electorate, we don’t favour that approach. We haven’t done any in the past and we’re highly unlikely to do any in the future.”

        I don’t disagree with

        “Voters want to have a genuine choice about the person who will represent them as well as the party that will and they’re entitled to that choice and that’s why we’ve done our best to stand in every electorate where we can.”

        http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9943442/Greens-open-to-talks-with-Mana

        but i wonder if that will cut it in today’s political environment. Personally I’ve struggled with deals for the same reasons that Metiria says but times have changed and the way it is is the way it is even though we would wish it different. It is time for The Greens to get into power and enact some of their great policies, we can’t afford another 3 years of the gnats, we need The Greens in there. I don’t believe in any means being justifiable but working together with others is essential and it can be done with integrity and alignment with values imo.

        • karol 12.1.2.1
          15 April 2014 at 4:31 pm

          I’m against deals and coat-tail type arrangements. I have been very critical of the way the right games the system. Ultimately, it undermines democracy.

          I vote Green party, but understand that in my electorate voting for the Green candidate is a waste of a vote. I will vote for the most viable “left” electorate candidate. But the choice should be up to voters.

          I think like-minded parties can have on-going talks on polices, without needing a formal “deal” for elections.

          Generally, voters could be educated more about their choices. The media focuses too much on the horse race and “strategies” and deals. I think that tends to put off a lot of voters. It becomes more of a game between parties and pollies, and doesn’t directly address the needs and interests of the public.

          • marty mars 12.1.2.1.1
            15 April 2014 at 4:54 pm

            “But the choice should be up to voters.”

            but isn’t, in the example you give, that just being covert instead of overt? That those who understand the ramifications of tactical voting make their choice and those that don’t miss the choice or opportunity. So the choices are explained to people and they choose but really the choice explanation is guiding their choices anyway by showing the lie of the land from the choices made.

            sorry about that paragraph but hopefully you’ll get my meaning 🙂

  13. Lanthanide 13
    15 April 2014 at 9:06 am

    Yesterday John Key challenged Cunliffe to a live debate on TV One about housing affordability. It was reported on TV1 news at 6pm that Cunliffe accepted the challenge.

    This is really win-win for Cunliffe. He’s now accepted the challenge, so will get air-time opposite Key, months ahead of the election, showing that he is a contender for the job, in the same way that Key getting up next to Clark for the S59 deal only helped him out.

    If Key backs down on the challenge, Labour can trumpet from the ramparts that Key is a coward and all talk.

    The only downside is if Cunliffe gets smacked around in the debate, but truthfully I don’t think that’s likely.

    Is this perhaps the biggest strategic mis-step from smart-alec Key in this election campaign?

  14. BM 14
    15 April 2014 at 9:15 am

    Cunliffe doesn’t do off the cuff, Key does and he’s very very good at it.

    I’m get the feeling that this is Key going in for the kill.

    • Paul 14.1
      15 April 2014 at 9:21 am

      Disagree.
      Key can’t handle difficult interviews. Stephen Sackur on Hard Talk had him on the ropes.
      Hence Key’s aversion to interviews on RNZ ; instead he has cosy chats with Mike, Rawdon and Marcus in the morning.
      If ( and it’s a big if) a half decent and impartial interviewer is brought to the debate, Key is toast.

      • BM 14.1.1
        15 April 2014 at 9:36 am

        From what I’ve seen of Cunliffe unless the interview follows a set path he’s in trouble.
        If Key asks him a question he hasn’t got a set answer to, he’ll fall apart.

        • Paul 14.1.1.1
          15 April 2014 at 10:16 am

          And what happens when a good interviewer asks Key a difficult question on say child poverty?

          • The Al1en 14.1.1.1.1
            15 April 2014 at 10:28 am

            Like how much have you done personally to ease child poverty having $50 mil sitting in the bank of Hawaii?

            • Tracey 14.1.1.1.1.1
              15 April 2014 at 2:54 pm

              you need to know the answers before you ask the questions…

              cunliffe can debate. i have no doubt and he will be uneditted, thats a plus

              • The Al1en …
                15 April 2014 at 3:42 pm

                It’s a valid question you can research if you like, but as I’m not a politician in the house where knowing the answer to a question before you ask it is a pre requisite, or blogger with credibility resting on the outcome, I’ll just quietly wait in the hope of an adequate response.

          • logie97 14.1.1.1.2
            15 April 2014 at 2:47 pm

            When Key was asked on his return from China on the level of discussion and representation re climate change, his eyes took that all too familiar fixed stare position and he fudged that “yeah we talked about it at dinner…” Key does not handle direct, unrehearsed questions well at all.
            watch this … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrPgK3bf9_4

        • Ad 14.1.1.2
          15 April 2014 at 10:54 am

          Cunliffe is rescheduling the interview with Campbell Live.

      • Lanthanide 14.1.2
        15 April 2014 at 9:59 am

        They now have weekly interviews with both Key and Cunliffe on Morning Report.

      • ianmac 14.1.3
        15 April 2014 at 11:33 am

        Many people who have only a passing interest in politics tend to not know who David Cunliffe is. So it will be of value for David to appear on national TV. Exposure is important.

      • Tracey 14.1.4
        15 April 2014 at 2:15 pm

        remember when key stormed off in a huff.

        the one saving grace from such a debate is that if its chaired by hoskings he wont be able to help himseld and his career and might just be even handed as a result.

        • karol 14.1.4.1
          15 April 2014 at 2:20 pm

          David Parker said in the House a few minutes ago that Key had backed down from doing a specific TV debate with Cunliffe on housing.

          • Anne 14.1.4.1.1
            15 April 2014 at 2:40 pm

            http://tvnz.co.nz/politics-news/pm-won-t-debate-cunliffe-over-housing-5931001

            Now how about Cunliffe and co. do some serious mocking of the coward on TV, radio and the newspapers – and in parliament. I’m sick of Labour letting Key and co. get away with murder without responding in kind.

            If they think the general public are going to give them brownie points for behaving nicely then they are seriously deluded.

            • Tracey 14.1.4.1.1.1
              15 April 2014 at 2:52 pm

              pretty hard to do that when you just backed out of a tv appearance

              • karol …
                15 April 2014 at 2:55 pm

                Probably Key made that challenge to Cunliffe off the cuff in a moment of bravado, then backed down when Cunliffe accepted it and Key(or his advisors) realised what it would involve.

                • freedom …
                  15 April 2014 at 3:23 pm

                  Lanthanide said it was announced at the PM’s press briefing, so it was surely not an off the cuff idea ?

                  • Tracey …
                    15 April 2014 at 3:27 pm

                    key could just be feeling bullet proof with his second family currently touring… once off the podium he had to deal with the looks of horror in the corridor and the realisation he isnt actually a Windsor.

                  • Lanthanide …
                    15 April 2014 at 6:40 pm

                    Verily it was off the cuff. He was giving a smart-alec reply to a journalist’s question, grinning ear to ear and walked off the stage.

            • Puckish Rogue 14.1.4.1.1.2
              15 April 2014 at 3:08 pm

              Good, starve Cunliffe of oxygen until you have to deal with him then smoke in the debate

              • framu …
                15 April 2014 at 3:23 pm

                yet your saying key can slay him any time, any where, with no prep

                which is it?

                • Tracey …
                  15 April 2014 at 3:25 pm

                  its hard to support someone that just made him look so stupid. why do these folks keep sticking up for key, he just makes fools of them over and over.

              • Tracey …
                15 April 2014 at 3:24 pm

                wow, you need a panadol for that superfast flip flop sir??

              • freedom …
                15 April 2014 at 3:41 pm

                “so its a calculated decision by Key” Puckish rogue only one hour ago folks

                So …. what is the next step in this cunning plan we wonder ?

                • Puckish Rogue …
                  15 April 2014 at 4:06 pm

                  His next step is to continue to have an approval rating at least 5 times the size of Cunliffe

                  Which is going according to plan 🙂

                  • Tracey …
                    15 April 2014 at 4:15 pm

                    his party poll is the relevant one. .. hence hes baking cakes for the maori party fair.

                    • Puckish Rogue …
                      15 April 2014 at 4:17 pm

                      The more popular he is the better it is for National so expect to see Keys face on more womens magazines in the near future

                    • Tracey …
                      15 April 2014 at 4:21 pm

                      doesnt follow as such. look at his past popularity in polls compared to election day results.

                      all that aside, neither cunliffe nor key look good from this BUT cunliffe is moving to the position key had in 2008. low expectation in the debate and all the pressure on key to deliver up a storm.

                  • framu …
                    15 April 2014 at 4:40 pm

                    i see youve steered away from the issue of you contradicting yourself

    • Ad 14.2
      15 April 2014 at 10:59 am

      Key definitely has a positive story to tell with the Reserve Bank moves cooling the lower end of the housing market effectively.
      His HNZ recent reforms also seem to be going down pretty well as well among the NZ Housing NGOs.
      The cooperation with Auckland Council, and the acceleration of Hobsonville and Tamaki Transformation, are also positive for the government.

      Cunliffe however will be able to point to the Christchurch housing rebuild debacle, and the range of more structural responses that Labour has ready.
      Cunliffe will not be caught short on briefing.
      I would however further arm him with those tasty zingers that Peters is grand master of – because those are the lines that turn ito memes the day after.

      Housing is certainly preferable ground for the Left to argue on than the economy.

      • Molly 14.2.1
        15 April 2014 at 12:07 pm

        Key’s “co-operation” with Auckland Council, involved threatening them if they did not comply with the addition of SHA’s, which effectively undermined the more sustainable compact city outcomes that the Unitary Plan was trying to achieve.

        The debacle of the Hobsonville project, which was intended to provide 20%, or 500 affordable homes under Labour, but after National came in – only “achieved” 17 Gateway home purchases is not actually positive from my perspective. I’m guessing the Tamaki transformation will be similar.

        As for your last sentence – satire?

        • Ad 14.2.1.1
          15 April 2014 at 12:37 pm

          Anyone familiar with my commenting will realist that I don’t approve National’s direction – just stating what the overwhelming majority of MSM say it is. Unfortunately that matters this year.

          Yes Hobsonville is in small part a missed opportuity – but it is also a massive masterplanning, sustainability and commercial success. Started and imagined under Labour. Don’t believe me – go and have a drive through – or take the ferry up there.

          Re last sentence: Labour has pretty much run out of the time to turn the MSM to believing that National aren’t doing a good job at economic growth, and that economic growth their way is a good thing. Fight other fights.

          • Molly 14.2.1.1.1
            15 April 2014 at 1:22 pm

            My personal approach is never to let the memes pass uncommented, but yes, I can understand where you are coming from.

            To me, Hobsonville looks pretty and is pretty, but also pretty much missed the boat in terms of it’s intention of redevelopment of government owned land.

            The first few pages of Adding it all Up by the Salvation Army in 2012, puts the success of Hobsonville in perspective.

            Tamaki will be the same. And economic growth from where I (and many others) sit, just means our expenses have grown and nothing else!

      • Tracey 14.2.2
        15 April 2014 at 2:18 pm

        cunliffe needs to talk about rising interest rates, likely to rise further, so the only thing national has done is prevent young and lower income getting a house, while landlords pass on interest hikes through increasing the same folks rent. thats not housing affordability its preserving home ownership for the wealthy and investors.

    • framu 14.3
      15 April 2014 at 12:39 pm

      “Key does and he’s very very good at it.”

      yeah – nah.

      i dont know where you get that idea from – the same place as cunliffes faux bro accent perhaps?\

      jesus wept – you seriously think that key does well when hes off script?

      note – off script doesnt mean the appearance of making off the cuff remarks in an environment where you control or know the questions before hand

      • Puckish Rogue 14.3.1
        15 April 2014 at 3:09 pm

        Worked for Winston Churchill and it works for John Key

        • framu 14.3.1.1
          15 April 2014 at 3:18 pm

          no it doesnt

          on what do you base this weird opinion? – when ever key is put on the spot in an unscripted or unprepared environment he makes an ass of himself

          note – major point here – unscripted and unprepared, so dont bring up the campbell live thing because that was a planned prepared appearance

          could you provide some examples?

          • Puckish Rogue 14.3.1.1.1
            15 April 2014 at 3:59 pm

            I’m agreeing with you, when Keys prepared he makes it look like hes not prepared similar to Churchill saying his best come-backs were thought of ahead of time

            • framu 14.3.1.1.1.1
              15 April 2014 at 4:43 pm

              thats not even remotely what im saying or asking you

              you claimed key is good off the cuff

              i disagreed and asked you to further explain your opinion, specifically asking if there was anything you could bring to the discussion that showed how you formed this opinion

              and you came back with churchill

              • Tracey …
                15 April 2014 at 4:47 pm

                if pr can compare key to churchill, we must be able to compare his lying about ian fletcher, his use of the gcsb and his disdain for democracy with hitler.

    • Tracey 14.4
      15 April 2014 at 2:12 pm

      id say its the opposite. key needs time to prepare and be prepared.

      • framu 14.5.1
        15 April 2014 at 3:21 pm

        “Yeah, we’ll call it the first debate, I’m looking forward to it.”

        He says the Prime Minister does not start debating with the Leader of the Opposition prior to the debates.”

        thats almost pythonesque

  15. captain hook 15
    15 April 2014 at 9:42 am

    what a lot of shit bm. wait a moment. thats what a bm is. a load of crap.

  16. prosper 16
    15 April 2014 at 11:08 am

    Why did Cunnliffe cancel. Labour needs an effective leader. Shane Jones would be far more effective. Labour is no longer the opposition party. It is the Labour Greens and the greens don’t even have an elected representative. Come on the Unions get your party back up the polls. NZ needs a decent opposition and one that has the potential to govern NZ effectively.

    • weka 16.1
      15 April 2014 at 11:56 am

      The GP has 14 elected representatives. You may have noticed that change to our electoral system in the 1990s, whereby we moved to a more representative and fairer system.

      Jones may or may not be more effective for Labour than DC, but he would be a disaster for the left and any hope of NZ shifting away from neoliberalism, relieving poverty, addressing AGW/PO/GFC etc, ie doing the things we desperately need to do. Jones = BAU.

    • Draco T Bastard 16.2
      15 April 2014 at 12:22 pm

      Shane Jones should probably shift to National. Not a great endorsement for a Labour Party leader.

  18. joe90 18
    15 April 2014 at 11:22 am

    The Taranaki regional council assurance does seem rather convenient.

    http://www.trc.govt.nz/seismologists-find-nothing-to-fear/

    .

    State geologists in Ohio have for the first time linked earthquakes in a geologic formation deep under the Appalachians to gas drilling, leading the state to issue new permit conditions in certain areas that are among the nation’s strictest.

    A state investigation of five small tremors in the Youngstown area, in the Appalachian foothills, last month has found the high-pressure injection of sand and water that accompanies hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, in the Utica Shale may have increased pressure on a small, unknown fault, said State Oil & Gas Chief Rick Simmers. He called the link “probable.”

    […]

    Under the new permit conditions, all new drilling sites in Ohio within 3 miles of a known fault or seismic activity of 2.0 magnitude or higher will be conditioned on the installation of sensitive seismic-monitoring equipment. Results will be directly available to regulators, Simmers said, so the state isn’t reliant on drilling operators providing the data voluntarily.

    If seismic activity of 1.0 magnitude or greater is felt, drilling will be paused for evaluation. If a link is found, the operation will be halted

    http://www.cnbc.com/id/101576489

  19. Chooky 19
    15 April 2014 at 11:49 am

    On ‘Martin Bradbury’s New Zealand’ ( cf Alistair Cooke’s America):

    Maori National Party vs Mana Socialist Party…and BIG Money connections

    Q: who is the biggest hypocrite?…

    A:.Maori National Party

    ‘Comparing Maori Party $5000 per ticket John Key Fundraiser at sexist Northern Club to MANA’s Internet Party alliance’ –

    http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2014/04/15/comparing-maori-party-5000-per-ticket-john-key-fundraiser-at-sexist-northern-club-to-manas-internet-party-alliance/

    • Tracey 19.1
      15 April 2014 at 2:24 pm

      In 1991 the Club voted to admit women and today has a thriving membership of men and women. Membership of the Northern Club attracted many leaders of the Auckland community, and the Club has played an active and sometimes pivotal role in the history of New Zealand’s largest city.

      In 2010, the Auckland Club[5] was absorbed by The Northern club, adding over $3,000,000 in assets to the club, and 250 members. Exclusively male in its membership for over 120 years, facilities for women were introduced only gradually. The first female member was admitted in 1990, shortly after the earliest woman after-dinner speaker, the Minister of Finance Ruth Richardson, who addressed the club in 1989.

      The Northern Club Building is significant as the oldest surviving gentlemen’s club in Auckland, and one of the city’s oldest hotels. It has strong links to early colonial institutions, such as the provincial government and British army, as well as prominent individuals in New Zealand history.

      It is representative of important aspects of colonial society, such as all-male associations and business networks. It demonstrates the implanting and nurturing of traditions introduced from Britain, particularly among the social elite. The building’s well-preserved interiors yield information about nineteenth- and twentieth-century life in New Zealand, from the use of decor to attitudes about gender and class. The building is particularly significant for its association with other early colonial structures in the area, such as the Albert Barracks Wall and former Government House.

  20. weka 20
    15 April 2014 at 12:03 pm

    Very interesting interview on RNZ, with Dr Michael Stevens on the historical importance of Bluff. Lots of good stuff on Kāi Tahu culture, southern Māori and a bit of myth busting too.

    Dr. Michael Stevens, history lecturer at Otago University and a proud “Bluffie”, has received a Marsden Fund Fast-Start grant to research the history of Bluff between the years 1800 and 2000. He believes his historical case study of the port will re-shape thinking about New Zealand’s economic development and race relations. Of Kai Tahu descent, Dr. Stevens is descended from some of Bluff’s oldest Maori and Pakeha families and grew up in the port town.

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2592674/dr-michael-stevens-traces-the-history-of-bluff

    • marty mars 20.1
      15 April 2014 at 12:21 pm

      Thanks weka – will listen to that later on. The deep south has much to teach us all about how to get on.

    • Pete George 20.2
      16 April 2014 at 5:36 am

      Thanks, I missed that, it was good to listen to the interview. I’ve got multiple family connections with Bluff.

      Dr Stevens’ research will be interesting. He advises:

      I am in the process of developing a “blog” to help spread the word about this project and progressively disseminate some of its findings in advance of the book that will come out of it.

  21. marty mars 21
    15 April 2014 at 12:39 pm

    I really like Dame Anne Salmond and this article is awesome imo

    Echoing the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, Sir David argues that in choosing between intensive farming and dirty and degraded waterways, the country faces “a classic economy versus the environment dilemma”.

    This kind of framing, which speaks as though the interests of the economy and the environment are at odds, is based on a logic that splits mind from matter, subject from object, and people from the world around them.

    The difficulty with this logic is that it has been rendered obsolete by the findings of contemporary science – brain science, quantum physics and the social and environmental sciences, for example.

    Economics, too, has moved on. To quote Herman Daly, a senior economist at the World Bank, “the economy is a wholly owned subsidiary of the environment”.

    As Daly points out, it is an oxymoron to separate people from the ecosystems that sustain us. This is certainly true in New Zealand, a country that derives so much of its wealth from the land, waterways and the sea.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11238114

    Yep we really need to see with fresh eyes and be open to other options than the duopoly often presented as ‘the only options’ – there are infinite options if we allow our minds to consider and be open.

    • Chooky 21.1
      15 April 2014 at 1:11 pm

      On polluted Seas and Land in Taranaki due to oil drilling and dairying …Film maker Eruera Ted Nia, a child of Parihaka and Taranaki, has produced documentaries.

      In 1986 Eruera formed Rangiatea Films and Produced/Directed the 48 minute documentary ‘Te Atiawa o Runga te Rangi’ that was commissioned for TVNZ. A portrait of the remaining kuia and koro from Taranaki, they discuss in 100% Taranaki mita, their families, education and way of life.

      On Tuesday 24 July 2013 Eruera traveled to Wellington thanks to NZ Film Archives and screened his films ‘Te Atiawa o Runga Te Rangi’ (1986) ‘ Huakina (1987) a look at the polluted seas and land in Taranaki due to oil drilling, ‘Nga Tai o Makiri’ (1987) a study of four Taranaki rivers, with three being almost destroyed due to dairy farming and oil drilling, ‘Te Ara Puoro o Aotearoa’ (1996) a portrait of long time colleague and fellow artist Hirini Melbourne to a largely Taranaki audience.

      http://falamedia.com/category/polynesian-screen-production/pasefika-filmmakers/

    • karol 21.2
      15 April 2014 at 1:11 pm

      Excellent.

    • Molly 21.3
      15 April 2014 at 1:25 pm

      The connectedness of all things….

      Just watched “How Wolves Change Rivers” narrated by George Monbiot. I had read of this effect, but 4 mins on Youtube provides a pretty effective summary.

      • Chooky 21.3.1
        15 April 2014 at 1:44 pm

        thanks for that ‘How Wolves Change Rivers’ …it is lovely

        • srylands 21.3.1.1
          15 April 2014 at 4:19 pm

          You need to keep dairying in context. NZ has about 2% of the world’s dairy cows. If we reduce dairying the slack will just get taken up elsewhere. Brazil has FOUR TIMES our dairy cow numbers with poorer environmental standards. Do you want to see more pollution in Brazil? No of course you don’t.

          Better have dairying in clean green New Zealand where we can keep an eye on it rather than send it off to Brazil and destroy more rainforest. PLUS Brazil is NEVER going to bring its agriculture sector into any future agreement on GHG reductions. Do you want to increase global greenhouse emissions? No of course you don’t.

          So I encourage you to think globally. Get out on your next vacation and go and check out dairying in Brazil. It will allow you to keep perspective.

          So unless you want to stuff our economy and stuff Brazil’s environment there is no alternative.

          Dairy in New Zealand is a win win for the economy and the environment.

          • marty mars 21.3.1.1.1
            15 April 2014 at 4:39 pm

            LOL that was awesome comedy slylands.

            • Populuxe1 21.3.1.1.1.1
              15 April 2014 at 4:50 pm

              Actually, in an own goal sort of way, he has a point.
              It’s the same with the big Greens push for solar – great for NZ, but ignores the strip mining of rare earths, inhuman working conditions, and coal-powered production in China which makes the pannels in the first place.

          • Draco T Bastard 21.3.1.1.2
            15 April 2014 at 6:37 pm

            You need to keep dairying in context. NZ has about 2% of the world’s dairy cows. If we reduce dairying the slack will just get taken up elsewhere. Brazil has FOUR TIMES our dairy cow numbers with poorer environmental standards. Do you want to see more pollution in Brazil? No of course you don’t.

            You know, there’s actually a better solution and it’s one that will probably work because, no matter what we do, chances are Brazil will end up having more cows than us anyway meaning that we will lose the income from all those dirty, filthy cows that are polluting our waterways. That better solution is tariffs specifically linked to environmental policy and enforcement. Basically, no country gets to export unless it meets minimum environmental standards. There, looking after the environment in a way that might actually work.

            Of course, I don’t think international trade works so I’ll take that with a grain of salt.

          • Murray Olsen 21.3.1.1.3
            16 April 2014 at 12:28 am

            Where should we go to check out dairying in Brazil, SSLands? How far is it from the rainforest that is being destroyed? Which states are involved? I’d love to hear your version. Who runs the largest grass fed dairy farm in Brazil?

    • Tracey 21.4
      15 April 2014 at 2:29 pm

      slylands says its the only way to grow and make everyone better off…

    • Tracey 21.5
      15 April 2014 at 3:57 pm

      egosystem versus ecosystem

  22. prosper 22
    15 April 2014 at 12:50 pm

    Is Cunnliffe working for National.His transport policy has just been announced and ridiculed by MSM. IF Shane Jones is unpalatable try Robinson or Parker please.

    [lprent: If you just want to be a fuckwit and just write trite trollisms, then just go elsewhere please.
    Next time I see you utter one under any handle, you will get a permanent ban for basic stupidity.

    To make sure you see this, I’m adding you to auto-moderation. ]

    • One Anonymous Bloke 22.1
      15 April 2014 at 1:08 pm

      Today, on Irrelevant Trivia, we will explore why the Labour Party doesn’t take advice from pseudonymous right wing wankers.

    • Tracey 22.2
      15 April 2014 at 2:31 pm

      common sense to get trucks out of the fast lane.. but seriously prosper did you read the policy or just the headline?

      • srylands 22.2.1
        15 April 2014 at 2:55 pm

        All slow moving vehicles are already required to keep left. So why not police the current rule?

        As for the changes, they are stupid. They simply introduce cross subsidies.

        Whatever.. both issues are so trivial why would they go there for an announcement? It is like someone was bored.

        • freedom 22.2.1.1
          15 April 2014 at 3:19 pm

          Trucks should not be in the fast lane in the first place.
          All heavy traffic is meant to stick to 90km/hr or under when on the open road.
          It is not just a rule it is actually a law.

          ” So why not police the current rule?”
          please srylands, you want the rules enforced, an honest answer from you on this topic would be very interesting.

          Why do the powers that be not actively police this consistently ignored law ?

      • Draco T Bastard 22.2.2
        15 April 2014 at 10:42 pm

        Can someone please show me where in the road code and in legislation that it says that our highways have a fast lane.

  23. prosper 23
    15 April 2014 at 1:13 pm

    A little bit presumptuous don’t you think? Is Cunnliffe taking advice from anybody?

  24. Draco T Bastard 24
    15 April 2014 at 1:32 pm

    NRT is wrong on this one:

    Seriously? With the country facing unemployment, inequality, a housing crisis and climate change, and Labour is relentlessly talking about regulatory subsidies for the caravan-rental industry.

    So much for “talking about the real issues”.

    When we’ve got thousands of people without houses to live in to the point that people are buying caravans to park up on friends and neighbours lawns to live in then those people will probably find the extra few hundred a year to be a serious drain on their finances.

    • just saying 24.1
      15 April 2014 at 2:11 pm

      I think NRT is dead right. If Labour was concerned about the thousands of people living in caravans it would say so. This is what they did say to explain the policy:

      “There’s nothing Kiwis like more than getting on the road and going on holiday. But on public holidays like Easter and Anzac Weekend fun can quickly turn to frustration when the family realises the rego for the caravan has expired or there’s a big truck hogging the fast lane,” he said.

      Last week it was Kauri trees.

      It’s just the same old crap from Labour. There is now a leader who is able to string a sentence together, but still the same refusal to stand up for anything substantial for fear of upsetting the well-to-do. It is beyond pathetic. Labour doesn’t desrve to continue to exist it has no reason to exist, National looks after the top 20 percent just fine.

      • Draco T Bastard 24.1.1
        15 April 2014 at 2:20 pm

        Ok, then, Labour are still barking up the wrong tree.

      • weka 24.1.2
        15 April 2014 at 2:27 pm

        More on the whole policy here http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11238595

        There is some good stuff in there (including reversing the idiotic charges on motorhomes as if they were freight vehicles). But I tend to agree js. Labour should be fronting up with the big, important policies. That someone has spent time on that graphic so Cunliffee can tweet it makes me despair, as does the ignorance about the two kinds of people in NZ that have caravans – those that go on holidays, and those that don’t have anywhere else to live.

      • Pete George 24.1.3
        15 April 2014 at 3:27 pm

        Weekend fun can quickly turn to frustration when the family realises the rego for the caravan has expired or there’s a big truck hogging the fast lane,” he said.

        So they are going to ban trucks that have a speed limit of 90 kph from the fast lane so cars and caravans can go on holiday faster – with a speed limit of 90 kph.

        • framu 24.1.3.1
          15 April 2014 at 4:46 pm

          theres an “or” in their pete – nearly gave you a “well spotted” myself there – but the “or” in cunliffes statement changes the meaning from what you (and i) first read it to mean

          situation (A) can turn to frustration if (B) OR (C)

  25. prosper 25
    15 April 2014 at 1:48 pm

    One anonymous bloke. Sorry about the mistake my P.A.is away. Also where is the reply button? Anyway you understood.What’s wrong with Robertson or Parker?

  26. captain hook 26
    15 April 2014 at 1:58 pm

    all the tory kiss arses are out in full strength today.
    I guess they are taking their lead from guyon epsiner.
    he wont last long though.
    his arrogance and contempt for average kiwis is already showing through but I guess as long as he is there to help swing the election for national then he has a job.
    this country gets creepier and crepier by the day.

  27. prosper 27
    15 April 2014 at 2:03 pm

    Draco.That could be it. I am using a Kindle that runs on android.The auto correct drives me nuts. It keeps spelling your name as Drake.

    • weka 27.1
      15 April 2014 at 2:17 pm

      turn it off then.

      • freedom 27.1.1
        15 April 2014 at 3:02 pm

        Do you get that defensive yet quizzical look from people when you say that to them?
        Like you have just offered to brush their hair with a fetid dingo tail 🙂

        • Chooky 27.1.1.1
          15 April 2014 at 7:10 pm

          yes i know that look( fetid dingo tail)…so i never say it.( “turn it off”)…but i think to myself …”you dont know you are alive”…”you are already half an automated moron”….my daughters friend lost her cell phone in a pub for an hour and she just about had a nervous or mental breakdown..it was like she had lost a vital part of her Self…she was all at sea….she had lost her pilot and her pivot…WEIRD

    • McFlock 27.2
      15 April 2014 at 2:24 pm

      Now I’m imagining Game of Thrones with giant fire-breathing ducks…

  28. karol 28
    15 April 2014 at 2:15 pm

    It seems, according to exchanges in the House, that John Key has backed down on his challenge to have a specific debate with Cunliffe on TV on housing policy.

  29. Penny Bright 29
    15 April 2014 at 2:25 pm

    http://www.nbr.co.nz/ask-don-brash

    My question to Don Brash (not yet published).

    Do you think it was ‘incredible luck’, or it was your political connections that helped to ensure that ‘one law for all’ did not apply to yourself or John Banks as former fellow Directors of Huljich Wealth Management (NZ ) Ltd, and you were never charged or prosecuted for signing Registered Prospectuses which contained misleading information?

    https://docs.google.com/file/d/1OfbKNxoyZgDs1gZtA1zJLTYAl7sqjYDZgKrIXdUU21S2WRG2D7quY_VyXOKA/edit?pli=1

    Penny Bright

  30. Puckish Rogue 30
    15 April 2014 at 3:13 pm

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11238656

    Does anyone really believe he had a sitting MP?

  31. Penny Bright 31
    15 April 2014 at 4:00 pm

    FYI folks – this is rather politically significant given that the Committee for Auckland is like a HERD of mammoth elephants in the room, that apparently hardly anyone dare mention??

    THE COMMITTEE FOR AUCKLAND HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED MY PRIVACY ACT REQUEST. THIS SHOULD NOW GET VERY INTERESTING ………..

    9 April 2014

    To whomever is responsible for handling PRIVACY ACT requests for the Committee for Auckland

    On 20 February 2014, I made a copy of the membership list of the Committee for Auckland, which included Auckland Council CEO, Stephen Town.

    The next day, the name of Auckland Council CEO Stephen Town, was removed from the Committee for Auckland membership list, which now still lists Auckland Council, and their website, but the name column is now blank:

    http://www.committeeforauckland.co.nz/membership/member-organisations

    Auckland Council www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

    Please provide all copies of information (including, but not limited to: emails, reports, letters, memos, diary notes, meeting minutes, text messages, telephone messages which contain my name, Penny Bright (Penelope Mary Bright), or make referral to me, in relation to the removal of Auckland Council CEO Stephen Town’s name from the Committee for Auckland membership list.

    Please be reminded that the Committee for Auckland is covered by the Privacy Act.

    I look forward to your prompt reply.

    Kind regards,

    Penny Bright

    Attendee Australian Public Sector Anti-Corruption Conference 2009
    Attendee Transparency International Anti-Corruption Conference 2010
    Attendee Australian Public Sector Anti-Corruption Conference 2013

    Auckland Mayoral candidate 2013 (polling 4th with 11,723 vote, campaigning against corrupt corporate control of the Auckland region)

    11 April 2014

    ‘Admin’
    Committee for Auckland

    To whom it may concern

    Please be reminded that it it is ‘good business practice’ to acknowledge correspondence?

    I look forward to your prompt acknowledgement of this correspondence.

    Kind regards,

    Penny Bright

    from: Committee for Auckland Administration admin@committeeforauckland.co.nz
    to: Penny Bright
    date: Tue, Apr 15, 2014 at 2:13 PM

    subject: RE: ‘Open Letter / Privacy Act request’
    – When and why was Auckland Council CEO Stephen Town removed from the Committee for Auckland membership list?

    Dear Penny,

    Thank you for your email. Receipt of your correspondence is acknowledged.

    Regards,

    Committee for Auckland
    T: + 64 9 300 1234 | E: admin@committeeforauckland.co.nz
    Level 21, SAP Tower, 151 Queen Street, Auckland
    PO Box 3403, Shortland Street, Auckland 1140
    http://www.committeeforauckland.co.nz

  32. Puckish Rogue 32
    15 April 2014 at 4:02 pm

    For all the nut bars who think Cameron Slater had anything to do with the assult on Blomfield:

    http://www.whaleoil.co.nz/2014/04/press-release-regarding-certain-rumours-circulating-around-recent-assault/

    • fender 32.1
      15 April 2014 at 4:37 pm

      Only a nut-bar would instantly conclude that a creep like Slater couldn’t possibly be involved.

  33. karol 33
    15 April 2014 at 4:20 pm

    Conservative Party’s 5 things:

    Craig’s speech theme – “five things we shouldn’t be afraid to say” – acted as a launching pad for his concerns about becoming a nanny state and his push to remove bureaucracy and legislation, such as the anti-smacking law.
    […]
    The five things were:

    1. Say no to drugs, special interest groups, and don’t give added significance to Maori spirituality.

    2. Say yes to business opportunities, freeing up land particularly.

    3. Take responsibility – make people work for the dole, make prisoners work.

    4. Let people decide – more consultation with the public.

    5. Don’t be afraid to be politically active.

    Isn’t #1 actually 3 things? That makes 7 things.

    And they are very spirashional – aiming for up to 10% of the vote. Reminds me of Don Brash’s ACT, aiming for 15% of the vote.

    • Tracey 33.1
      15 April 2014 at 4:39 pm

      will he be mauled like the internet party for masquerading fluff as policy?

      • karol 33.1.1
        15 April 2014 at 4:49 pm

        Well, the report was hidden in a local newspaper, so I don’t think it’s getting much traction – not worthy of a full post – just a passing reference on open mike to his punitive approach to the less well off – and as for lumping “drugs, special interest groups and Maori spirituality” into one “thing”… not a lot to recommend his 7 things and an empty aspiration.

    • marty mars 33.2
      15 April 2014 at 4:48 pm

      “1. Say no to drugs, special interest groups, and don’t give added significance to Maori spirituality.”

      Oh dear – the heathens are at the gate.

    • framu 33.3
      15 April 2014 at 4:49 pm

      “1. Say no to drugs, special interest groups, and don’t give added significance to Maori spirituality.”

      like most religious tub thumpers he hasnt spotted the massive slippery slope hes just made with that comment – in fact hes made two

    • Populuxe1 33.4
      15 April 2014 at 4:54 pm

      If we’re saying no to special interest groups, can we start with rich white fundementalist bigots?

  34. prosper 34
    15 April 2014 at 4:54 pm

    Given that perception is almost everything in politics Cunnliffe has made so many mistakes that even if he comes up with decent policy it won’t be heard by the MSM let alone the swing voter that will decide the outcome of the election. Please fix him up.I am not a Labour supporter nor am I happy with National but the Greens and their Australian leader scare the hell out of me.

    • karol 34.1
      15 April 2014 at 4:57 pm

      Goodness – just as well you aren’t living in the 1930s – the Savage government would be one long horror show for you.

    • framu 34.2
      15 April 2014 at 4:59 pm

      well for a start hes a co-leader

      maybe you would be less afraid if you took the time to get to know them and their policies?

      the greens are widely recognised across parliament for both their professional behaviour and the detail level of their policies

    • Tracey 34.3
      15 April 2014 at 5:03 pm

      what does that make you, an ACT voter??? the greens are also led by a maori woman, i bet that bunches up your undies bigtime.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 34.4
      15 April 2014 at 5:21 pm

      Prosper, you can’t even prosper as a concern tr*ll. If your PA ever realises what a failure you are, expect to be drinking a lot more sputum in your coffee.

  35. prosper 35
    15 April 2014 at 6:04 pm

    Just heard Cunliffe on Radio live. He sounded good, quite natural and a reasonable explanation as to why he failed to front on TV. Keep it up. Much better.

  37. Penny Bright 37
    15 April 2014 at 6:58 pm

    In my considered opinion, as an ‘anti-corruption / anti-privatisation Public Watchdog’, Minister for Justice Judith Collins is CORRUPT and should be sacked FORTHWITH.

    http://www.parliament.nz/en-nz/pb/business/qoa/50HansQ_20140415_00000007/7-justice-minister%E2%80%94compliance-withcabinet-manual

    Justice, Minister—Compliance withCabinet Manual

    [Sitting date: 15 April 2014. Volume:698;Page:7. Text is subject to correction.]

    Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Leader—NZ First) to the Minister of Justice: Does she maintain that it is not in the public interest to answer all questions regarding Oravida?

    Hon JUDITH COLLINS (Minister of Justice) :I have never made that statement.

    Rt Hon Winston Peters: How can she give that answer, when it is crystal clear that her pre-arranged meeting with a senior Chinese customs official at the height of the botulism scare was not just dinner with close personal friends but a serious conflict of interest that she and the Prime Minister are trying to cover up?

    Hon JUDITH COLLINS: I can make that statement because it is the truth.

    Rt Hon Winston Peters: Well, if that is the case, why will she not give the name and position of the customs official, when she arranged to meet the customs official at the very time that her husband’s company was having huge issues getting its product through customs and had enlisted her willing intervention?

    Hon JUDITH COLLINS: The member is quite wrong in his question. If he goes back and looks at previous questions he has asked of that nature, he will see that I have corrected him.

    Rt Hon Winston Peters: Is it not the case that, when she was told that joining her and her close personal friends at the dinner was a senior customs official, it did not raise alarm bells, because meeting this customs official was the whole reason for the dinner in the first place?

    Hon JUDITH COLLINS: The member is quite wrong. I have never said that there was any senior customs official, and he knows it.

    Rt Hon Winston Peters: Why is the Minister now claiming that there is no connection with the senior customs official, and does she not understand that her arranged meeting with that official was a serious conflict of interest and a corrupt abuse of her Cabinet position?

    Hon JUDITH COLLINS: No. The member is quite wrong again. He continues to state in his question matters that are incorrect. I would say to that member that if he is worrying about corruption, I think he should consider a member of Parliament who asks questions in this House and written questions to help his girlfriend in her position with a major global company.

    Rt Hon Winston Peters: Does the Minister not understand that throwing out those sorts of allegations will not save her when she was moonlighting for her husband’s company, that her DNA is all over this issue, and that if she answers questions fully, she would no longer get the Prime Minister’s defence and would be sacked for corruption?

    Hon JUDITH COLLINS: The only member of this House who should be sacked for corruption is that member who has asked the question.

    Rt Hon Winston Peters: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. [Interruption]

    Mr SPEAKER: Order! This is a point of order. It will be heard in silence.

    Rt Hon Winston Peters: That Minister is not within the Standing Orders attempting to answer that question that way. She has been asked a serious question on a very serious matter—as serious as this House has ever seen—and she is seeking now to deflect it by attacking the questioner.

    Mr SPEAKER: In my opinion, the Minister addressed the question.

    Grant Robertson: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker.

    Mr SPEAKER: Before I hear any more, I just want to clarify the member is not in any way questioning the decision I have just made.

    Grant Robertson: No, it is a different point of order. I am under the impression that in this House a member cannot accuse another member directly of being corrupt, and that is what the Minister just did.

    Mr SPEAKER: No, I have already ruled that the answer was addressing the question and I think on this occasion, in light of the tone of the question, it adequately addressed it.

    Rt Hon Winston Peters: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker.

    Mr SPEAKER: Again, before I hear the member, is he raising a fresh point of order?

    Rt Hon Winston Peters: I am raising a fresh point of order. The Minister made an allegation for which she has no evidence whatsoever, and I want an apology.

    Mr SPEAKER: If the member is now saying that he took offence, well, on that basis, if the member, the Rt Hon Winston Peters, was offended by that answer, I ask the honourable Minister to stand and withdraw.

    Hon JUDITH COLLINS: Well, I withdraw—is it? I withdraw. But I am happy—

    Mr SPEAKER: Order! It is not helpful to do that. The withdrawal does help the order of the House.

    Rt Hon Winston Peters: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker.

    Mr SPEAKER: If the member is attempting to trifle with the Chair, I will take a very dim view of that.

    Rt Hon Winston Peters: I am not trifling with the Chair, Mr Speaker. That Minister did not apologise as required under the Standing Orders—

    Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member will resume his seat. [Interruption] The member will resume his seat. I did not ask the Minister to apologise; I asked her to withdraw the remark, and she did so.

    Penny Bright

  38. captain hook 38
    15 April 2014 at 7:14 pm

    just tried to read this through but all the tory twerps are basically illiterate and functionally imbecilic.
    I really cant understand what they are trying to say except that they are all shifty key arse kissers and desperate to please their masters. all in all a thundering herd of lobotomised warthogs.

  39. Not a PS Staffer 39
    15 April 2014 at 7:18 pm

    Ohariu is Labours.

    Peter Dunne is killed off politically by TV One 7oc show tonight.

    The Legal High industry’s key advocate and government liaison person is none other that his son James Dunne!

    http://www.chenpalmer.com/people/james-dunne/
    http://tvnz.co.nz/seven-sharp

    • karol 39.1
      15 April 2014 at 7:43 pm

      I can’t find anything that says James Dunne is “the Legal High Industry’s key advocate” or that shows Peter Dunne in a bad light? James Dunne deals with legal issues around such recreational drugs. Article that includes comments from James Dunne on legal highs.

      • Not a PS Staffer 39.1.1
        15 April 2014 at 7:49 pm

        The Seven Sharp site has a teaser on their site and on their Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/sevensharp?ref=stream&hc_location=stream

        ”
        Tonight … a Seven Sharp exclusive! … Revelations that a lawyer is acting on behalf of the legal high companies is none other than the son of Minister Peter Dunne.
        What do you think about this? ”

        ps correction on my post. “Labour’s”. I missed the apostrophe key in my excitement

        • karol 39.1.1.1
          15 April 2014 at 8:05 pm

          Hmmmm… I still need to see more information to show that this is a problem for Peter Dunne.

          • Draco T Bastard 39.1.1.1.1
            15 April 2014 at 8:51 pm

            Perception is everything. No one is going to believe that father and son don’t talk and that daddy doesn’t listen to his son.

            • Not a PS Staffer 39.1.1.1.1.1
              15 April 2014 at 10:24 pm

              +1 DTB

              Add to that Dunne’s very recent “economy of truth” about leaking some report and Dunne’s poor judgement in his behaviour towards some young journalist of the opposite gender.

              The Legal Highs story is being pumped by the RadioLive/TV3 stable, under the Duncan Garner brand, on a daily basis. The problems arising from Dunne’s legislative approach is very hot in call-back land. TV3 will be pissed that TV One has trumped them with this explosive story. Each will now try to out-do the other on milking this story. Alfa-laval don’t make milking machines as effective as a miffed media outlet!

              On top of that Ohariu is middle-class to the core. Even beggars in Ohariu are middle class! They will not like this narrative: Your local “independent” MP and serial government minister is failing to crack down on scummy legal-high peddlers. Co-incidentally that scummy industry is paying that Minister’s son a big wad of cash on a regular basis to negotiate with the Ministers civil servants….

              Dunne’s other problem is that he is sanctimonious. Very very sanctimonious. Many many people love love seeing sanctimonious people fall.

              • McFlock …
                15 April 2014 at 10:40 pm

                that’s an optimistic scenario, i reckon

                Even if the family relationship doubles as a backchannel, it’s not gonna go anywhere.
                Oravida has more leg-power.

  40. Draco T Bastard 40
    15 April 2014 at 10:03 pm

    Oh dear, it appears that the Beehive hasn’t been reading the cabinet manual.

    • srylands 40.1
      15 April 2014 at 10:49 pm

      No of course not. You will know much more about the Cabinet Manual.

      • Draco T Bastard 40.1.1
        15 April 2014 at 10:57 pm

        Cabinet Manual 2,89

        2.89 When accepting an invitation, a Minister should inform the organisation that it may not:

        use any photos taken of the Minister at the event; or
        publicise the event,
        in a way that could be perceived as an endorsement by the Minister of the organisation, or its products or services.

        Seems fairly clear to me that our PMs pic is being used as an endorsement and so is a few other ministers.

      • McFlock 40.1.2
        15 April 2014 at 10:58 pm

        So what do you think 2.89 actually says, SSpylands?

        Gonna try to tell us that ministers appearing in advertisements is cool?

      • the pigman 40.1.3
        15 April 2014 at 11:29 pm

        [distantly, you can hear the screams of a troll being burned to the ground]

        Gonna say sry now?

  41. Jrobin 41
    15 April 2014 at 10:20 pm

    The accusations that Judith Collins made about girlfriends and corruption, anyone have any idea what she was on about? Had a distinctly whaleoilish smell about it. What a dreadful old gossip she is. Parliament gets more like absurdist theatre and pantomime every day.

    • Not a PS Staffer 41.1
      15 April 2014 at 10:30 pm

      Jrobin, it was very specifically directed at her accuser, Winston. It has been reported elsewhere that Winston’s lady was a senior exec of a pharmaceuticals related business.

      Perhaps Collins is suggesting that Winston asked loaded questions in Parliament?

  42. Not a PS Staffer 42
    15 April 2014 at 10:34 pm

    James Dunne
    SENIOR ASSOCIATE – LEADER PARLIAMENT TEAM

    James has valuable inside knowledge of how Parliament works in New Zealand, and is New Zealand’s leading specialist in the regulation of new psychoactives under the Psychoactive Substances Act 2013. He has an LLB and a BA (History) from Victoria University, and has worked at Chen Palmer since his admission to the bar in 2008. At Chen Palmer he specialises in policy and law reform, and has developed a wide range of expertise in a number of areas:

    Policy and law reform: James has advised on a range of law reforms including liquor law reform, psychoactives law reform, real estate agents law reform, taxation law reform, and child support law reform;
    Parliament: James advises on how Parliament works and on interacting with Parliamentary processes including the passage of legislation, Select Committees, financial reviews and issues of Parliamentary privilege; and
    Regulatory affairs: James advises on the interface with a range of regulators including the Overseas Investment Off

  43. redfred 43
    16 April 2014 at 7:08 am

    Bill English want us to live in cupboards

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11238867

    Wanker!

    • weka 43.1
      16 April 2014 at 10:33 am

      hmmm, that’s tricky. Minimum house sizes set too high prevent people from building small, more energy efficient and cheaper houses for themselves. The problem with NACT setting policy is that it’s bound to be to the advantage of developers, not the community. Also smacks of squashing as many low paid workers into one block as possible. At the other end, people of means are building houses that are too big in terms of ecological footprinting. Lots of problems here, not too many easy solutions.

Links to post

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Stories of varying weight

    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on anything you may have missed. Share Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 hours ago
  • Balancing External Security and the Economy

    New Zealand is again having to reconcile conflicting pressures from its military and its trade interests. Should we join Pillar Two of AUKUS and risk compromising our markets in China? For a century after New Zealand was founded in 1840, its external security arrangements and external economics arrangements were aligned. ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    17 hours ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: The unravelling of the offsets

    The ‘50 Shades of Green’ farmers’ protest in 2019 was heavy on climate change denial, but five years on, scepticism and criticism about the idea that pine forests can save us is growing across the board. File photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top six news items of note in climate ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    22 hours ago
  • What makes us tick

    This morning the sky was bright.The birds, in their usual joyous bliss. Nature doesn’t seem to feel the heat of what might angst humans.Their calls are clear and beautiful.Just some random thoughts:MāoriPaul Goldsmith has announced his government will roll back the judiciary’s rulings on Māori Customary Marine Title, which recognises ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    23 hours ago
  • Foreshore and seabed 2.0

    In 2003, the Court of Appeal delivered its decision in Ngati Apa v Attorney-General, ruling that Māori customary title over the foreshore and seabed had not been universally extinguished, and that the Māori Land Court could determine claims and confirm title if the facts supported it. This kicked off the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the Royal Commission report into abuse in care

    Earlier this week at Parliament, Labour leader Chris Hipkins was applauded for saying that the response to the final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care had to be “bigger than politics.” True, but the fine words, apologies and “we hear you” messages will soon ring ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: In news breaking this morning:The Ministry of Education is cutting $2 billion from its school building programme so the National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government has enough money to deliver tax cuts; The Government has quietly lowered its child poverty reduction targets to make them easier to achieve;Te Whatu Ora-Health NZ’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Weekly Roundup 26-July-2024

    Kia ora. These are some stories that caught our eye this week – as always, feel free to share yours in the comments. Our header image this week (via Eke Panuku) shows the planned upgrade for the Karanga Plaza Tidal Swimming Steps. The week in Greater Auckland On ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 day ago
  • God what a relief

    1. What's not to love about the way the Harris campaign is turning things around?a. Nothingb. Love all of itc. God what a reliefd. Not that it will be by any means easye. All of the above 2. Documents released by the Ministry of Health show Associate Health Minister Casey ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago
  • Trust In Me

    Trust in me in all you doHave the faith I have in youLove will see us through, if only you trust in meWhy don't you, you trust me?In a week that saw the release of the 3,000 page Abuse in Care report Christopher Luxon was being asked about Boot Camps. ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • The Hoon around the week to July 26

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking about the Royal Commission Inquiry into Abuse in Care report released this week, and with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on a UN push to not recognise carbon offset markets and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 26, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Transport: Simeon Brown announced $802.9 million in funding for 18 new trains on the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines, which ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Radical law changes needed to build road

    The northern expressway extension from Warkworth to Whangarei is likely to require radical changes to legislation if it is going to be built within the foreseeable future. The Government’s powers to purchase land, the planning process and current restrictions on road tolling are all going to need to be changed ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #30 2024

    Open access notables Could an extremely cold central European winter such as 1963 happen again despite climate change?, Sippel et al., Weather and Climate Dynamics: Here, we first show based on multiple attribution methods that a winter of similar circulation conditions to 1963 would still lead to an extreme seasonal ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • First they came for the Māori

    Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedFirst they came for the doctors But I was confused by the numbers and costs So I didn't speak up Then they came for our police and nurses And I didn't think we could afford those costs anyway So I ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Join us for the weekly Hoon on YouTube Live

    Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on UnsplashWe’re back again after our mid-winter break. We’re still with the ‘new’ day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when we have our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Will the real PM Luxon please stand up?

    Notes: This is a free article. Abuse in Care themes are mentioned. Video is at the bottom.BackgroundYesterday’s report into Abuse in Care revealed that at least 1 in 3 of all who went through state and faith based care were abused - often horrifically. At least, because not all survivors ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Will debt reduction trump abuse in care redress?

    Luxon speaks in Parliament yesterday about the Abuse in Care report. Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:PM Christopher Luxon said yesterday in tabling the Abuse in Care report in Parliament he wanted to ‘do the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Olywhites and Time Bandits

    About a decade ago I worked with a bloke called Steve. He was the grizzled veteran coder, a few years older than me, who knew where the bodies were buried - code wise. Despite his best efforts to be approachable and friendly he could be kind of gruff, through to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Why were the 1930s so hot in North America?

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters and Bob Henson Those who’ve trawled social media during heat waves have likely encountered a tidbit frequently used to brush aside human-caused climate change: Many U.S. states and cities had their single hottest temperature on record during the 1930s, setting incredible heat marks ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • Throwback Thursday – Thinking about Expressways

    Some of the recent announcements from the government have reminded us of posts we’ve written in the past. Here’s one from early 2020. There were plenty of reactions to the government’s infrastructure announcement a few weeks ago which saw them fund a bunch of big roading projects. One of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Thursday, July 25 are:News: Why Electric Kiwi is closing to new customers - and why it matters RNZ’s Susan EdmundsScoop: Government drops ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • The Possum: Demon or Friend?

    Hi,I felt a small wet tongue snaking through one of the holes in my Crocs. It explored my big toe, darting down one side, then the other. “He’s looking for some toe cheese,” said the woman next to me, words that still haunt me to this day.Growing up in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • Not a story

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent talking about the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s release of its first Emissions Reduction Plan;University of Otago Foreign Relations Professor and special guest Dr Karin von ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #29 2024

    Open access notables Improving global temperature datasets to better account for non-uniform warming, Calvert, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society: To better account for spatial non-uniform trends in warming, a new GITD [global instrumental temperature dataset] was created that used maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) to combine the land surface ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-07-26T23:46:51+00:00