If ability was the deciding factor, the small but perfectly formed Metiria Turei and her slightly built co-leader would hold the next prime ministership of NZ.
Over the weekend they catapulted themselves boldly into the political ring, aiming high and hitting hard with a welfare policy designed to address child poverty. The media took a solid left to the bread basket and exclaimed loudly, “Eeek, they want to tax the rich!”
Meanwhile, tireless volunteers pressed the flesh, chewed the fat and handed out far too many red balloons at markets across Auckland – markets that ask quite a hefty fee from political parties.
Supporting this effort, from a bunker I imagine is deep within a labyrinth of lava tunnels under Mt. Albert, the Labour leadership faxed in their welfare policy… for battery chickens.
There is the growing suspicion from this observer that the metaphorical powder left over from a Labour leader who used a teaspoonful to take pot-shots at sickness beneficiaries, a powder that must be keep dry at all costs, isn’t black at all and they’ve begun to snort it.
Yes, yes, yes .. a great start to the week. Key’s Crosby/Textor rehearsed lines sounding shallow and utterly insincere. Just the man he is. Well done Guyon. Hope others follow and grill the prick at every opportunity.
Suzie Ferguson trying to do Slater, Farrar and Key’s job.
As Laila Harre said, amplifying his smears.
RNZ – you are a public broadcaster.
Remember that.
Well done Guyon, obviously the slimy ones have nothing on you. I very much appreciate you asking Key to account for his relationship with Slater and his acceptance of unethical actions of his staff.
I’ll listen out more carefully for the slurs. I’ve never heard them as bad as they were today.
The sucking air through the teeth/hissing sound, prior to attempting to get out of a tight spot I am more familiar with. I had put the slurs down to tiredness. I guess lies get all mangled up in the mouth and come out in a slippery slurry mess.
Bridges does something similar when he is lying and bending the the truth. His isn’t a slur though, it’s more like the words come out they have had a steam roller go over them. They squish out of his mouth as his conscience battles with telling a lie. Then they go a bit gravelly at the end, in an attempt to distort the lies further and to protect himself from further scrutiny.
It is true that when we are under a lot of stress and adrenalin is pumping around our body, our breathing becomes shallower and shorter, having an effect on our speech.
Knew that Key had made a mistake at the beginning with his smarmy “Take a breath…” comment to Guyon. Losing control of the Crosby/Textor script for a schoolboy taunt.
Perfect vto-I’ve never bought into the PR myth of the charming folksy Mr. Key. The facade is crumbling at a rate of knots.
What price TeamKey now?
This is not the first time that Guyon has surprised with an excellent interview. If he can maintain equal treatment of left and right (crucial) he could become a broadcasting legend.
I was shocked and pleasantly surprised by E Spinner. It was if he had woken up from a dream and seen the light of day. He also sounded quite offended that Key placed Slater in the same category as journalists from RNZ and other media too. At approximately 7 minutes in when E Spinner was asking Key whether it was ok for public servants to receive death threats it was like they broke into an analogue version of looping, as Key was trying so hard to evade the question and E Spinner wouldn’t let it go.
E Spinner: “Is it ok…….”.Key” People can see…………” repeated about 5 times. Dotcom could use that as a loop on his next release. The song could be “Is it ok?” there’s a lot of material for lyrics available.
(Sounds like Key still hasn’t read The Book. Has he?)
Excellent line of questioning that really had Key straining to answer in his regular finely honed brand of spin. More interviews like this please.
I suspect Guyon read the book over the weekend. Although he is a conservative and a supporter of the National Party, I do not think he would approve of the Lusk/Slater/Collins behaviour and would have expected Key to distance himself from them. Suzie, on the other hand, is happy to continue the Slater line that Dotcom is involved in an attempt to divert attention from the issues raised in Nicky Hager’s book.
I wondered that too Karen. E Spinner conveyed a sense of disgust and seemed to have a good grasp on the allegations, which made me think he had read The Book.
Even for conservatives like him there is a moral boundary that should never be breached, and it sounds like he views the behaviour of the characters in the book having done that.
While there are many RW’ers denying denying denying without having even read a single sentence there must be at least some National voters who do have a well developed sense of fairness and also see their leader and their government as having had a serious drop in standards. There will be some groups of Nat voters who will be quite disappointed and shocked by all this and view this behaviour as a serious breach of moral and social decency.
What Geddis relates in that piece is the psychopathy of National. Especially this bit:
Or is it when this same Simon Lusk states:
I’m just motivated to cut throats. Unfortunately the biggest buzz I get is when I wreck someone, only done it three times, but I was on a massive high. (p. 65-6)
Sounds like Guyon Espiner has only just found out his friend Duncan Garner was under discussion for being blackmailed, he is so angry. Kudos to him for standing over Key and his rubbish answers. Key sounded to me like he was admiring himself in a mirror the whole time,.(That must be teflon falling off all over his bathroom floor.)
Methinks we could be heading into some deep and dark constitutional issues before this day is done with the email dump coming up.
And just how decent is our GG General Jerry Mateparae ? Is he fully owned by Key and Key’s masters? I hope we don’t need to find out, but this is what Watergate felt like as the truth inevitably unravelled in to full public sunlight .. ripples are the promises the waves make to the flood.
Key now admits Ede was looking at Labours site then said nothing wrong in that Guyon had him on about his moral compass as Prime Minister of New Zealand
Then Key said it was ok for Slater to be calling ChCh people scum
Collins as police and electoral commission to be involved in having a public servant facing death threats Key put his foot in it and now is in big trouble!
Collins must resign and be prosecuted !
Key is in massive trouble.
Yep. ‘At the end of the day’….’In the end’….’No but what I can say is…’
It appears that Keys focus word, ‘look!’ has run it’s course after Melissa Lee overused it 15 or more times in one interview.
Memo from John Key to Crosby Textor:
Quick give me another mantra.
Bloody Espiner’s rendered the old ones ineffective.
(Never thought I’d say it, but well done Mr Espiner.)
I was pleasantly surprised by Espiner’s tenacity this morning as he’s usually ineffectual when dealing with ‘important people’. I suspect it might be down to; a) having read the book he actually knew what he was talking about for a change, and b) wasn’t prepared to let Key make him look like a patsy.
Whenever anyone says to me “At the end of the day….” I hear them saying they believe the end (however desireable from their viewpoint) justifies the means (however dubious), which is a slippery slope Key is all too obviously at the bottom of.
Key admitted Jason Eded spied on the labour website to pass on material to Slater
and Collins also.
Key then tries to say Hagers book had nothing in it ShonKeys involvement with the SIS must be True as well
National are in the shit right up to their necks and now When the Emails are released and proven not to come from Dotcom Key and Slater are Toast!
Last week it was the allegations were baseless now they are all true!
Key said it was OK for a police ministe electoral commissiner to be involved in this behaviour!
Shonkey has admitted then he was using the SIS for political purposes by default!
Media now need to ask John Key about his scuriless behaviour around the SIS!
Key is in deep do do’s!
This is not to say I think he handled the interview well – I do not, and I am glad he is rattled by Hager’s book. He has gotten away with too much for too long. But nonetheless, I don’t think he was admitting to having rehearsed his answers, in the definition (1) sense.
It really looks like a cliff hanger election coming up: my fervent hope is that this election will finish the single party rule of elected dictatorships (left or right).
Should the government be a true MMP coalition their diversity of opinions will require compromise and consideration. Imagine ta parliament that for the first time in living memory actually debated issues without the knowledge that the result was a foregone conclusion. Would that not be a delight!
It would be nice but you’re not going to get that from a representative democracy. You’ll only get it from a participatory democracy where it’s the people making the decisions and not some elected dictators.
You are stating now, and have previously stated, the we should be a participatory democracy to which I have asked, now and previously, how this would work given 200+ bills are passed per year.
This is neither loaded (because you can answer it with a proper solution) nor personal incredulity (because it doesn’t imply it is not true, just that you have yet to give an coherent explanation of how it would work).
How would it work? Do we vote on every bill in your participatory democracy? Or just some?
These questions are pertinent to the the idea of a participatory democracy and are not logically fallacious.
Also you have engaged in an Tu Quoque fallacy above…and an attempted fallacy fallacy argument (which was incorrect but, hey, you tried to play it)
MMP has had the effect of cementing in the reforms of Douglas and then Richardson. Clark dabbled with the idea of tweaking the neo liberal “consensus” but drew back from the brink in repsonse to some serious push back. Nothing will change going forward. FPP is less “democratic” but it did allow a welfare state to be created. Hard to see how the existing “consensus” can ever be significantly altered under MMP.
The same way it was created under FPP – the government passes the legislation and the people keep voting them in until they vote them out. The more different the Left become from National the more chance they have of staying in government.
TheGodKey’s media trainers (Wilson…Ralston?) will be sorely concerned by their subject’s pathetic effort on RNZ Morning Report this morning.
Espiner got it perfectly right with his approach – “I’m not asking for your critique of Hager’s book…….I’m asking you if it’s OK for a minister to…….” “Is it OK ?” “The minister’s admitted it……” “Is it OK ?”
The media’s been doing it for years…….allowing TheGodKey to get away with posing as some sort of objective academic analyst of matters political. Allowing him the (fake) ‘authority’ of someone not intimately personally involved in the matter at hand.
So patently TheGodKey for all his vaunted theistic qualities ain’t much better than an obfuscating punk with every reason to lie when it comes to the ‘real questions’ format employed by Espiner this morning.
“Thank you Prime Minister” takes on new meaning. Looking forward to Hooten’s ‘spray’ at 11.00 am today on RNZ with Kathryn Ryan. Will be telling if we’re witness to another ‘shouty’ episode.
to lead effectively the prime minister MUST uphold the law.
these utterings of: the left would have done it so its ok…. remind me of the justification of a guilty child caught with their hand in the cookie jar.
a poorly bought up child with no moral compass.
its awkward when you tell a lie then have to tell another lie, then remember those two lies while telling another lie..
I am almost starting to feel sorry for him. (secretly rubbing hands together in glee).
“pisspictive” for perspective …. “ginirilly” for generally. Hangover much! New Zealand’s Prime Minister.
I hang my head in shame and embarrassment.
And what about this quote in respect of the Slater OIA to the SIS:
No. I knew nothing about it. It didn’t go through me. Acshully, I’ve been amazed at what has been released by the SIS. – sucks in breath.
That is more than a lie. To claim such an agency regularly hands out secret info. to any Tom, Dick or Harry – which was the clear tone of the comment – without any reference to him is bordering on libel.
And what’s this Warren bit? His name is Warren Tucker. He was head of the SIS at the time. Is it not totally out of order to refer to him as Warren… as if he was a personal mate? So unprofessional!!
It is disgusting that a Minister of the Crown, a Minister of Justice, admits that she gave personal details of a civil servant to a member of the general public.
What faith are we going to have in governments irrespective who they are if this type of action is condoned.
Makes one wonder, if she is still here after all this, when the Oravida saga should have finished her, what dirt does Collins have on Key that she has so much power over him? He seems scared of her.
Remove all ministerial warrants from Judith Collins, and particularly the ministerial warrant relating to her role as minister in charge of the Electoral Commission.
Post-script:
Looks like someone has already got on to an online petition:
Now we need to makeBroadcasting Standards complaints to Media Works and other Networks that are running patsy questions and Joyces propaganda!
We need to stand up for Democracy and Fairness in our News Media otherwise Joyce and Key will win!
The more complaints the Media will have become Fair Media Works is running Whale Oils line without Question!
Media Works are running a concerted campaign to lower voter turnout!
A lot of snide remarks and pro Key endorsements Berlusconi style bought off Media!
Making threats to a woman?, that’s outrageous.!!!!
Poor wee Helen, being a women she’ll have no doubt collapsed into an emotional pile of nonsense, Williams would have known that too, but attacked Kelly anyway.
What a total bastard!!
Excellent work, BM. Sarcasm and belittling language. Kinda like the PM’s response to the Wellington attempted rape and his later accusation that Laila Harre is a bought woman. Stay classy, National.
Gee the elections got interesting (and fun) again, Hager has an book full of smears, lies and half-truths out, everyone from bloggers to MPs (on the right of course) have their lap tops and offices broken into and the left-wing media show their true colours
Any evidence to back up your claims that Hager’s book is full of smears, lies and half truths? Especially given the fact that it is mostly made up of documented correspondence between National staff, MPs and Cameron Slater? Especially given the fact that Hager is a meticulous researcher, who has in past refused to document many things he knows to be true simply for the fact that he didn’t have the evidence to back it up. Especially given the fact that John Key has now gone on record (RNZ interview) accepting that some of the main claims in the book really did happen (Judith Collins leaking innocent civil servant name to Slater, SIS document being declassified and given directly to Slater – Although he denys personal involvement, National staff exploiting a security flaw in the Labour Party’s website to take private information for political gain.)
Or are you just talking out your ass, and regurgitating John Key’s verbal ejaculate verbatim?
Well, to be fair to PR, he could just be referring to the source material. As we know, most of what National staff, MPs and Cameron Slater write actually is smears, lies and half truths.
How about the denials from the parties named for starters? (Sorry I forgot anything unproven from Hager is true) How about he claims he doesn’t know who his sources are but knows it isn’t Dot Con?
Don’t get me wrong, I think its great. This shows what politics is really like and, according to Willie Jackson, the lefts just as bad if not worse.
He gets it wrong with his support Carlos Spencer thats for sure but yeah the left is just as bad as the right, its just that the right are better at it
Bad PR Spencer ran out of ideas and became a one trick pony who could only bully his way through the opposition and no one wanted him in the end!
Ironic
One of the most despicable traits of an authoritarian mind is the defense of the indefensible when their leaders do it. They will always defend their leaders – no matter what the evidence is.
So what does Judith Collins have over John Key. Why is he so desperate to hold on to her, despite her rapidly growing unpopularity, many questionable if not downright disgusting actions, not the least of which is leaking the name of (later discovered to be) innocent civil servant directly to Cameron Slater whom she wanted to see “fired and tarred and feathered”, the man – Mr. Pleasants, later receiving death threats. On the RNZ interview Key refused to answer whether he had known about Collins doing this. Pretty categorical imo, since if Key hadn’t known about it you can guarantee he would have said no.
Sounds to me like Key is afraid of the damage Collins would do if he gave her the axe.
What does Collins have over Key? Perhaps it’s something to do with China, milk, and corruption. There are interesting linkages. The person who headhunted Key into politics, Jenny Shipley, chairs CCB New Zealand, a fully-owned subsidiary of the state-controlled China Construction Bank, one of the biggest banks in the world, with a pre-tax profit in 2013 of US$45.85 billion. Think Shanghai Pengxin, Crafer farms, Lochinver, and Synlait, and Ruth Richardson, former National finance minister, is a director on Synlait milk, which is Shanghai Pengxin’s Sth Island operation. I just can’t imagine Key hasn’t got his hand out for either $$ or a job later on. Maybe?
Puckish, I am sure your comment is a wind up, However. if Hagers book is “full of smears, lies and half-truths”, surly that would be libelous. That being the case why has no one sued Hager for libel, and why has Collins, a Minister of the Crown admitted that she had given Slater details of a civil servant.
Everything in the book is true. Puckish Rogue approves of it, which is why he’s here defending it. Unfortunately the fool just contradicted Dear Leader, who, far from denying the books contents, says “Labour did it too”.
It’s all lies. Labour does it too. Franks Ogilvie pay my rent. Judith Collins is innocent. John Banks will be found not guilty because he’s not guilty.
This week has shown something I think we have all missed, it’s not Key that has cultivated Slater but Collins. Anything Slater has got on Key is for Collins benefit not vice versa. If she goes Key is in deep shit. Can anyone here the jet idling at Mangere ?
It has been interesting to notice which commentators have been most eager to downplay and tacitly condone what has been reported in Hager’s book. I suspect there would be a reasonable correlation with the contents of Slater’s speed dial.
As for those amongst them who pupport to represent the left, let the purge begin.
edit: naturally, most of those concerned have suggested that a few things described in the book cross a line, but have not condemned the majority of the behaviour nor the substance
yep a wiki style release looks likely, of course the ‘hacker’s account is hosted on Mega just to annoy people and includes Julian Assanges st address at the embassy, what a wind up merchant.
I’m with you Tracey .. had similar thoughts. But maybe it’s very clever to choose NZH .. if the Herald is convinced, then it will nullify one of Key’s biggest public weapons.
I decided it’s real .. and can’t wait now :popcorn:
Yes Kathryn Ryan was pointed in stating at the beginning that Hooton has a PR company and features three times in Hager’s book ‘Dirty Politics’.
(Hooton gave Hager’s address to Odgers…which could have amounted to a physical threat to Hager…personally I think Hooton should be barred from Radio New Zealand )
no Hooton has not denied it, that I have heard……(nor has Hooton said he has been defamed by Hager’s book ‘Dirty Politics’…..or Bomber Bradbury on ‘Daily Blog’ , where these claims are made)
…but no one seems to have asked him that question outright..I was waiting for Mike Williams to ask him that question or Kathryn Ryan….why not?
if Hooton has replied to that ‘providing of Hager’s address allegation’ I have not heard it…and if it was done last week i would be interested to see a link up with his reply
…because to me it is a VERY serious allegation
…i mean if Hager had been assassinated …would his blood be on the hands of those who provided his address and those who suggested such a possibility and asked for his address? ..and would they be legally culpable in the event?
( as regards payment for Hooton and Williams ….i would expect that this is the case for regular political commentators…but strange radionz is not replying to a simple request for the facts)
This needs to be transcribed…but from what i can ascertain from that link:
the question (in context of Odgers and Hager’s address) was not asked directly by Kathryn Ryan
…there was a tentative, once over lightly, question by Ryan to Hooton as to whether he had released Hager’s address…Hooton said he had “no recollection” and “sure it is true”…but Hager’s address is “no secret” because it is on all Hager’s submissions to Select Committees
My conclusion is that the question was not asked properly and nor was it answered directly …the question was not put in its ‘damning’ and ‘threatening’ context….it was tentative , oblique and hasty… and the answer by Hooton was a fudging
…IMO the whole section of the interview needs to be transcribed so others can make up their minds….also I look forward to the emails being directly released on this in order to clarify exactly the dialogue and context in which Hooton released Hager’s address
Matthew Hooten said he believed David Cunliffe would be Prime Minister by the end of the year. I nearly fell over, except I was sitting down. I think he’s read the writing on the wall
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Slater: “People with much more to lose than I do will now fall in behind me and others who don’t break the law to hunt down everyone involved with this. Poor Nicky Hager. He’s really been minced here.”
Yes Cam, everyone is going to ‘fall in behind you’. Of course they are.
Let’s remember that it’s not just Slater. As well as Odgers and Hooton publicising Nicky Hager’s address and smacking their lips over the prospect of harm – or worse – coming to him, we have the Penguin’s mate, Jordan Williams issuing a threat to Helen Kelly as well: https://twitter.com/JordNZ/status/501113656784863232
“Be very careful”, he says. Bluster or not, effective or not, there you have an insight into their personalities. Pure evil.
Don’t know how to publish this but as Lynn says funny numbers of Whaleoil traffic scores. Graphs included.
Retweeted 207 times
Kim Dotcom @KimDotcom Aug 16
I did a traffic analysis on WhaleOil. Turns out it’s ShrimpOil. Lots of fake traffic & bots. #HagerBook check this: pic.twitter.com/NH6ZuI2owu
Embedded image permalink
Found the whaleoil lower visits via Pete above inside http://t.co/GEBuowOQDr. #hagerbook— Tim Murphy (@tmurphyNZH) August 17, 2014
Correction #hagerbook
Some thoughts overnight .. not fully formed ( need coffee!) but would enjoy some discussion … no page numbers yet but will get them in … I just need to get this in here now …
Lusk features substantially in Dirty Politics, including his manifesto of how to control the future of politics in NZ and move National hard right by bringing in young men and ‘training’ them. He is quoted as saying he has been able to get three of his ‘candidates’ elected including Jamie Lee-Ross and Mark Mitchell.
Now we know of Slater’s payments from big tobacco via Carrick Graham. And now, isn ‘t it true there are three young National candidates all from tobacco backgrounds ? (Have to do my research on names but you’ll be getting my drift.)
Clutha is the most obvious with English’s replacement in such a safe Blue seat ( or is it ?) — can someone down there ( journalist or constituent) ask this of the new National candidate: ” Are you employing Lusk, or have you employed Lusk at any time as an adviser of any type whatsoever? Have you ever paid him any money for any contracted services?”
Likewise, the other two young tobacco-backed candidates ? Let’s out the discussion on them now as probable Lusk ‘operatives’ before it goes any further, for the sake of NZ and our democracy.
(And please, feel free to add in the gaps I have missed in my urgency!)
I’ve been thinking about the fag lobby candidates too yeshe. Todd ‘baby tory boy’ Barclay is the Nat candidate in Clutha Southland and Chris Bishop is in Hutt South.
Their path to candidacy needs to be investigated – no time to speculate now, gotta dash, but I do agree, a mighyt big spot light needs to shine on them
Ha! https://twitter.com/whaledump. A couple of followers this morning, a couple of thousand at lunchtime. I think I know what’s leading the 6 o’clock news tonight!
The dump is mainly screenshots of emails between Cam Slater and Jason Ede. Oddly Cam writes to Ede, but someone called ‘political.animal’ replies. The same person appears to use the handle nzedjed.
NZedJed has some interesting habits, including a porn portfolio.
nzedjed also copies DPF into some email exchanges with Slater.
Slater claims Jami Lee Ross as ‘his mate’. Some relationship! JLR will “do as he is told”.
One of the screenshots is of an email exchange on how to organise an OIA request but it must be a fake because according to Slater: “I don’t think I’ve ever received an email from a Jason Ede detailing Official Information Act requests.”
When has NZ politics been this car crash fascinating? And I thought this election was going to be a boring Nat walkover smugfest. I feel we should all buy Mr Hager a beer. This Twitter stuff must mean that heads will roll now, surely? How can that nice Mr Key get away with this ‘whatever’ denial sh*t? He must sacrifice raging boot Collins at least.
Just wondering at what stage John Armstrong calls for John Key to resign? I mean, the Don Liu thing looks like kindergarten compared to what we are seeing in Dirty Politics.
IF the no surprises policy was in place before the sis declassified and/or released OIA stuff to slater, as opposed to dminion, then does the following make a liar of the liar in chief, again?
As some here may know i have been pursuing the underlying facts to a statement made by bill english to the data forum. Following a request for an extension by the MSD i complained to the Ombudsmen. That office has chased it up and two things emerged. The one relevant to the PM is contained in this from the MSD
” In terms of providing the information to the Minister’s Office, this is required of the Ministry as part of the “no surprises” approach. All requests made under the Official Information Act, regardless of their content and nature, must be provided to the Responsible Minister for their information as part of this approach. The “no surprises” approach is consistent with guidelines provided by the State Services Commission and the Cabinet Manual which emphasise that a Department or Ministry ought to advise the Responsible Minister of issues that may be discussed in the public arena or that may require a ministerial response, preferably ahead of time or otherwise as soon as possible “
Have just written to Canon Managing Director copying their PR officer to ask if they understand that Canon 2014 Blogger of the Year Cameron Slater’s website is called Well I’ll Be Fucked when it is spoken out loud. Can’t imagine what Head Office Japan would make of it !
Have asked them to withdraw the 2014 Blogger of the Year award, outlining numerous reasons.
This is email addy for Canon managing director if you wish to do something similar …
The note back from Canon encourages me to think that if more people complain directly to Canon, it can give them weight to use. I do not think they are very happy at all about this.
Anyone out there a Canon customer with cameras, printers etc .. drop them a line pse !
I don’t really think John Key is a bad man. Sure, he’s been a money trader all his life which is a profession that we on the more socially conscious end of the political spectrum find bewildering and distasteful. Common belief is that it is a non productive sector of the financial industry and serves no purpose to the enrichment of mankind. Money traders seem to me to be laughing, parasitic ticket clippers.
Anyway as I said, that notwithstanding, I don’t think John Key is evil. He is arrogant, but not evil. That arrogance though has caused him to lose his office somewhere along the line. I think Eagleson, Ede, Lusk, Slater, and Collins are evil and John Key has allowed that culture to flourish under his preference for light touch management.
I think what he did to NZ currency when he was a trader was downright evil. And if this has flourished, as you suggest, because his arrogance confused him because of his ‘light touch’ then he is not fit to hold any office, much less our PM. Sorry Weepu’s B .. can’t agree.
I agree he’s not fit to hold office. The hands off, two stage style he’s brought to NZ government is very damaging, and NZ would be a better place this boil having been lanced, imo. John Key has brought a culture of personality to NZ politics not really seen since JFK, and we all know what happened to him.
But could you really see John Key thinking the same things as the vipers in his office, and their odious connections think? I can’t.
It’s the hands-off, hands-clean style of government while underhandedness has been allowed to operate that has been his mistake. I do blame him for that and he should take responsibility for it.
There are many many active voters who still see John Key as a modern deity and these voters are much more active than those who can’t or won’t vote for whatever reason.
Even if National do win this I think JK, and more particularly, The Trout won’t last long afterwards.
Read slater’s description of key’s communication concerning the South Island West Coast mother, then review your opinion…. key leads this destruction of political ethics.
Yes I haven’t read Dirty Politics unfortunately so I might have to change this opinion when I have but I was just trying to say that I don’t think it’s John Key’s overriding evilness that is driving this black ops, but rather his laissez faire attitude to political management which has now got him into trouble. He’s over delegated to some proper evil men and women as far as I can see and for that he has to go.
My view is that the ‘hands-off’ approach to management is done quite deliberately by Key so that (a) he can dump any bad consequences on others without taking any responsibility (or losing any popularity), and (b) he can get the benefit of their activities while not being himself implicated should they ‘stretch’ the ethical boundaries.
It’s a form of ‘benign’ neglect which I think he has learnt gets him off the hook in many situations for which he actually bears formal responsibility.
I also don’t think it was any accident that Key brought someone like Ede into his project to be Prime Minister. And I don’t think that Key ‘misjudged’ Ede’s character. I don’t think John Key is easily fooled by young, politically ambitious things.
Key would have known what he was getting with Ede. I think Key reads people quite well. (I’m assuming Key had something to do with Ede being brought on board – I don’t know that for certain.)
I also think this kind of management style is probably pretty much how Key has operated most of his life.
I don’t think a word like ‘evil’ is useful to describe this approach either, but largely because it is too vague and simplistic.
Key’s value set – from what I can gather from his public behaviour – is largely centred on his own personal ‘achievement’ which, I think, leads him to minimise – and disown – the ethical issues surrounding the means to the end of that ‘achievement’ (hence ‘deals’ that ‘cut corners’ and seeing culpability as a tactical problem rather than a moral issue).
Remember that he came to adulthood at pretty much the same time that the Douglas reforms opened up massive opportunities for people keen to ‘succeed’ – at least materially and in terms of status.
I think he rode along with the self-centred values of those days, largely because they were compatible with the goals he formed as a result of his earlier developmental experiences – an outsider’s background, a doting mother who favoured him over his sisters and a growing desire not just to run with the cool crowd but to beat it at its own game. (He has always wanted to be top dog.)
He has been able to ‘beat it’ through cultivating an extreme disjunction between the persona he presents to others (relaxed, not too bothered about things, smiley) and his own, private strategic goal-setting (very determined, very serious and of utmost priority to him).
The latter self apparently comes to the fore when he is challenged or needs to ‘deal’ with someone – his acquaintances and colleagues have called it a ‘core of steel’, I think.
Or you could call it a ‘two track‘ kind of persona/self, if you like.
But, who knows, I could be wrong and he might actually be this very straightforward chap for whom the line ‘what you see is what you get’ was originally coined.
W.B. Your kind remarks about John Key are very generous of you, and a credit to your character. I must agree with you that John Key is not “evil” as such. For that man, selling out our country, selling out our people, selling out our future, is simply business, not personal.
Yeah, that’s it. It’s an ideology of his. We, as more socially inclusive and socially conscious people, hold an opposite ideology.
I just think the guy must be extremely embarrassed at the moment hence the attacking of the messanger, Hager, but he must have known about all this stuff, having read WO and having kept up with the the new media, blogs, as he himself has claimed to have done.
Maybe he’s too reliant on Crosby Textor speak, and that has been his undoing.
He’s a crook, way back when .. do you remember when he was first outed on his Trans Rail shares ? And that was so minor compared with what has gone on. If you stand it Weepu, read the book. I knew it would be awful, yet still I was very shocked and am still trying to rid myself of their filth. Key is not innocent, much as I have faith in my fellow humans. I cannot find a single instance where he might be right; sorry !!
And I don’t believe that he is embarrassed in any way .. he doers not have integrity to feel it.
is it a deliberate distraction or a meddled mind trying to stick to a script.
a tactic I used as a young fella in the military was during a barrack inspection I would have something minor or trivial wrong eg crooked beret. this would attract attention, often away from a more serious shortcoming.
kinda like pointing away and saying “look! a baby wolf”
haha I’ve used the same trick on building inspectors before. There’s a certain breed of authoritarian who won’t be happy until they’ve picked you up on something, so you’re best to throw them a small bone.
End of the day? Could it be a subconscious acknowledgement that the clock is running out?
I think “end of the day” is a bit of a stalling tactic. It is similar to “let’s take a step back”. It is aimed at giving Key time to take a breath and regain his composure, and regain control of the interview.
I noticed in that RNZ interview I transcribed today: the “end of the day” kept being repeated about the time Key’s voiced squeaked, as he tried to defend Collins – that squeak is a sign that he’s physically feeling under extreme pressure.
Just read on Bomber’s site that at this end of the day brought a new post at whaledump of a Carpenters’ album cover .. Close To You. And the first track is We’ve Only Just Begun !
All this and humour too ? Love it and making more popcorn ….
Then the google of Conferences in Tel Aviv came up with a self help psychology self help conference may well be true!
Lets keep to criticising the behaviour and not the Man !
The last thing we need is for us to be seen as the bad guys!
…
I don’t know anyone who is more ethical than Nicky (god knows, I wish I was!) He is a deep thinker, with an incredibly sharp mind, and always practices what he preaches. And he is a compulsively thorough researcher and a bloody good writer (a fact it grieves me to see so often overlooked by the writing establishment). And, here’s the most important thing, folks, nothing of importance that he has written has ever ultimately been discredited or disproved. The ignorant spin that he ‘makes things up’ and is a ‘left-wing conspiracy theorist’ could not be further from the truth. People wonder why he gets such extraordinary information leaked to him. The answer is really simple: he’s easy to talk to, honest, respects those he deals with, and he is totally ethical, therefore they can feel confident in him and assured he will protect their confidences. It’s as simple as that. No conspiracy – more likely a relief that there is at least one journalist out there who will take the time to explore issues of national significance and be prepared to put himself on the line to disclose them. Why else would such experts as Stephen Price work with him and Craig Potton be prepared to publish him? Why else would he have such a huge group of loyal and loving friends and supporters? Why else would the world’s journalists (bar NZ) think so highly of him that they invite him to speak at conferences all over the world and award him prizes?
The slur that he is left wing is hardly a king hit. If left wing means valuing people and the environment more than the god of money, then damn right he is. But he is not a member of any political party and if he goes after the Right more than the Left, then this is because he is a staunch defender of an open and transparent democracy – and the Right need to look into their on hearts to join the dots on that. It didn’t stop him exposing Labour’s GE games in The Seeds of Distrust and derailing their election campaign.
[…]
What truly disturbs me is the part so-called ‘mainstream’ media have played in this. The abusive and partisan coverage by people such as Mike Hosking, Paul Henry and co., when dealing with such vitally important national issues, is a disgrace to journalism – and any decent journalist should be up in arms (and vocally so.) They should stop asking patsy questions and start digging down deep. They should be exposing PR ‘lines’ for what they are, and refusing to let our Prime Minister and his ‘team’ get away with their obfuscation and blocking techniques.
That said, it has been refreshing to see a little movement on this. It was great to hear Guyon Espiner holding the line on RNZ’s Morning Report this morning (18.8.14) (please, RNZ don’t let Susie near this again!) and The Nation’s excellent Lisa Owen. But too often I hear reporters allowing the agenda to be set by the spin, and not pushing past it. Or else focussing on only some of the issues, and not getting out to the public some of the more insidious and terrifying revelations. …
Don’t get me wrong, I like a good meme but this is a juvenile way to be delivering this important information and opens the door for National to ridicule it.
If the emails had to be released, which I don’t think they did, wouldn’t it have been better to do it without comment? Once anonymous, always anonymous?
Better to let the media fight it in a professional way at this stage.
What do we think of the current SIS Boss, Rebecca Kitteridge coming out and backing up Key’s story of the events surrounding releasing OIA information to Slater, the same day it was asked for, in a couple of hours I believe. How would Miss Kitteridge know everything that went on that day, she would only have written documents to go on, what about phone calls and private conversations with the PM or members of his staff? Why is Warren Tucker, the SIS boss at the time, not confirming Key’s story? Apparently, from what I can work out, he was SIS boss till the end of April this year.
Exactly. Kitteridge’s assurances are not worth jack. She wasn’t even employed by the SIS at the time this was going down. She won’t know anything that isn’t on the official record and if Key used SIS info as a political hit, there won’t be a single document in existence confirming that. It would all be done off the record in private conversations between Key and Tucker.
Only Tucker can give the assurance that he and only he was behind it. And then he will still be left with the question of how Cameron Slater knew ahead of time that his request was not only being granted, but expedited, and also what it contained.
Phil Goff should follow up on that as we have seen if the right question Key Collins etc turn that into false allegations conspiracy theory allegation cunning character assassinations
I ran across a recent essay from The Brothers Krynn, which attempts to map common horror monsters onto the Seven Deadly Sins: https://canadianculturecorner.substack.com/p/horror-monsters-and-vice My interest, however, is not in the meat of the piece, but rather the opening paragraph: It is an interesting fact that in recent decades, Vampires have ...
Buzz from the Beehive Transport Minister Simeon Brown dutifully issued advice to all road users to keep safe on our roads during the Easter weekend. He encouraged them to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. ...
Oliver Hartwich writes – New Zealanders recently learned about a new feature film. It will be about former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern – and taxpayers will subsidise it to the tune of NZ$800,000. Ardern had nothing personally to do with either the film or the subsidy. But her government’s ...
TL;DR: Here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above that was recorded yesterday afternoon above between and The Kākā’s climate correspondent : An independent review panel into the emergency response to Cyclone Gabrielle in Hawkes Bayconcluded “that ...
There are now only a few days left to give feedback on the Draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport 2024-34 (see our earlier post this week on GPS submission guides). As we’ve reported, the GPS is a disaster for Local Government, so we were particularly interested to hear ...
Willis has pledged to go ahead with the debt-funded tax cuts, despite growing opposition from her own supporters worried about appearing fiscally irresponsible. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for ...
Open access notables A survey of interventions to actively conserve the frozen North, van Wijngaarden et al., Climatic Change:The frozen elements of the high North are thawing as the region warms much faster than the global mean. The dangers of sea level rise due to melting glacier ice, increased ...
Bryce Edwards writes – New Zealand’s biggest-ever political donations scandal is finally at an end. But what is the conclusion? No one can really be sure. The Court of Appeal released its judgement on Tuesday about the Serious Fraud Office case against the NZ First Foundation. On ...
In 2015, then-Prime Minister John Key announced plans for a huge ocean sanctuary around the Kermadec Islands, banning fishing and mining from 15% of Aotearoa's EEZ. It was bold, it was ambitious, and it suggested that National might actually care about the environment. Except they fucked it up: Key failed ...
1. Who has just been given the accolade New Zealander of the Year?a. The Kokakob. The Cook Strait Ferryc. Fair God. Dr Jim Salinger 2. Which of these is an affront to decent society?a. Dame Edna Everageb. Mrs Doubtfire c. Dr. Frank-N-Furterd. Brian 3. Who is Penny Simmonds?a. The aspiring actress in Big ...
New Zealand’s biggest-ever political donations scandal is finally at an end. But what is the conclusion? No one can really be sure.The Court of Appeal released its judgement on Tuesday about the Serious Fraud Office case against the NZ First Foundation. On the face of it, the court found ...
Buzz from the Beehive Waves of rain are set to lash much of the North Island during Easter Weekend as a low-pressure system forms east of New Zealand, according to a weather forecast published in the past day or so. Niwa was warning of a “moisture-laden” long weekend, with rain expected ...
Look around us…Nicola Willis’ promises of balancing the books, of cutting spending without reducing services, and of delivering game changing tax cuts are disappearing before her eyes.Everyday we see stories of violent crime ending in horrific injuries, or worse. The cost of living worsens, whereas the PM claimed renters would ...
TL;DR: My top six news of note on the morning of Thursday, March 28 include:The Government will have to borrow between $10 billion to $15 billion more than previously expected in order to make up for a slowing economy and to pay for $14.9 billion of tax cuts, according to ...
This story by Naveena Sadasivam and Kate Yoder was originally published by Grist and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. The long-awaited jobs board for the American Climate Corps, promised early in the Biden administration, will open next month, according to details shared exclusively ...
Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don’t think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of ...
Treasury’s first report on the economy since the change of government presents a damning indictment of Labour’s economic management. The problem for National is that it is so damning that logically, coupled with a rapidly slowing economy, Finance Minister Nicola Willis should respond to it by postponing or even cancelling ...
Budget tensions are becoming evident within the Coalition Government. Winston Peters made numerous political points in his speech to the NZF annual conference. But the attack on his own government’s fiscal policies raised issues of substance. ‘Today in the Sunday Star Times, journalist and former advisor to the Labour ...
Buzz from the Beehive The media – sure enough – have been binging on Finance Minister Nicola Willis’ release of the Budget Policy Statement and a statement headed Government announces Budget priorities This assures us – or rather, this parrots the Luxon team mantra – that the Budget “will deliver ...
The Ides of March brought me COVID followed by a bereavement. No wonder they tell you to be careful of them.I’m home now and have resumed the interrupted recuperation. Very much looking forward to getting back to regular things. Meanwhile, some thoughts…OneThis new Prime Minister guy just keeps getting more dire. ...
News that the Chinese ATP 40 cyber-hacking unit penetrated parliamentary internet networks in 2021 has renewed concerns about the PRC’s malign intentions in Aotearoa. But is the hack that significant given the length of time that has passed since its … Continue reading → ...
When Parliament passed the Intelligence and security Act in 2017, they assured us all that it was full of safeguards. Any intrusive surveillance of New Zealanders would be subject to a "triple lock", requiring the approval of the Minister and (supposedly independent) Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants, as well as post-facto ...
Eric Crampton writes – Richard Harman’s Politik newsletter provides a bit of the context that ought to have been showing up in other media reports on potential reductions in public service staffing. Media has been reporting on staffing cuts on the order of about 7%. Is that ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – It’s becoming increasingly apparent that many perceive free speech to have become the preserve of the politically right wing, the religiously conservative, the libertarian fringe, the anti-trans, the anti-Māori and…. well, just fill in with whatever groups or individuals you don’t like and don’t ...
Don Brash writes – As everybody who is not blind and deaf is aware, there is a huge political preoccupation with climate change at the moment, a widespread (though by no means unanimous) belief that global temperatures are rising mainly as a result of the greenhouse gases created ...
TL;DR: My six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy on Wednesday, March 27 include:Chris Bishop laid out his vision for filling Aotearoa-NZ’s $100 billion infrastructure deficit in a speech yesterday, emphasising user pays and private funding, but failed to say how to achieve bipartisanship on population, public borrowing and ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Former Finance Minister Grant Robertson and former Prime Minister Chris Hipkins have been conveying how unhappy they are with the tax system. Last week in his valedictory speech, Robertson called for the introduction of a wealth or capital gains tax. And this week Hipkins ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
Buzz from the Beehive China has loomed large in Beehive considerations over the past 24 hours, largely because of that country’s mischief-making in the cyber espionage department. Two media statements emerged on that subject hard on the heels of the PM baulking at questions put to him on RNZ’s Morning ...
Chris Trotter writes – WHY IS THE NATIONAL PARTY doing so much for landlords, property developers, trucking, and construction companies, and so little for everybody who isn’t already pretty well-off? It’s as if protecting landlords’ investments and building apartments and roads now constitute the whole of National’s ...
Bryce Edwards writes – When she was campaigning to be Minister of Finance last year, Nicola Willis pledged that she would resign from the job if she failed to deliver tax cuts in her first Budget. Now, it’s that pledge, along with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s ...
Robert MacCulloch writes – The Reserve Bank has doubled staff numbers in five years to 510, with personnel costs rising to $80 million in 2023 from $32 million in 2018 – up by a whopping 150%. I guess when you print $50 billion and flood markets with liquidity, ...
The furore. In case you didn’t notice there was a controversy in the weekend involving dolphins in a little town off the South Island. Don’t panic, they haven’t declared independence and resumed whaling, this was simply a sailing event.The problem began when racing was cancelled on the opening day of ...
For 20 years or more, the case for a meaningful capital tax gains has been mulled over and analysed to death, including by the tax working group chaired by Sir Michael Cullen. More than once, the International Monetary Fund has said a CGT would be a good idea for New ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: The Public Health Communications Centre (PHCC) call for urgent preventive action and a risk assessment survey of long covid in this briefing noteLocal scoop: NZ road deaths surpass OECD rates, so why is the govt reversing safety plans? ...
This story was originally published by Grist and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. This story is part of a collaboration with Grist and WABE to demystify the Georgia Public Service Commission, the small but powerful state-elected board that makes critical decisions about everything from raising ...
This is a guest post from Robert McLachlan Global warming is accelerating; 2023 was off the charts. We need to stop burning fossil fuels. In New Zealand, transport accounts for half of all fossil fuels burnt. In the Emissions Reduction Plan, transport emissions fall 41% by 2035. As the ...
Labour productivity has been receding rapidly over the past two years, reversing a post-lockdown rise. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy as at 6:26am on Tuesday, March 26 include:Workers have been treading water in output per hour worked for 12 years, ...
TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 2 include:Today, Parliament resumes sitting at 2pm for the second week of a two-week session. Officials for SIS and GCSB report their annual reviews in public to the Intelligence and Security Select Committee from 5.10pm.Tomorrow, ...
Faced with a barrage of criticism over the promised tax cuts from usually supportive commentators, Finance Minister Nicola Willis yesterday reaffirmed her intention to include them in this year’s Budget. The Government is up against it over the cuts just about every way it turns. Commentators like Fran O’Sullivan, Matthew ...
Here’s my pick of today’s substack posts as of 6:26pm on Monday, March 25: writes via his substack that Market-rate housing will make your city cheaper writes via his substack about the problems talking to double-cab ute (truck) drivers about their vehicles. today about moments of radicalisation in ...
Buzz from the Beehive Just before Christmas, Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivered something that was pitched as a mini-budget and brayed about the decisive action being taken to repair the Government books and support income tax relief in Budget 2024. In a statement headed Fiscal repair job underway. she introduced ...
My sister Belinda asked Dad yesterday what one word would describe Mum best. He said: vivacious.If you only knew her from the photos on the slideshow we've made for today,you might wonder about that, because the camera tended to lie with Mum.If ever she saw a camera pointed at her, she ...
There are two major public consultations closing in the next week, Auckland Council’s Long Term Plan (LTP), and the draft Government Policy Statement on Land Transport (GPS). Closing dates and times: LTP closes Thursday 28 February, at 11.59pm – a minute to midnight! GPS closes Tuesday 2 April, at 12pm noon – note that’s ...
From Kiwiblog’s David Farrar – Bryce Wilkinson writes: Senior Fellow Bryce Wilkinson’s analysis reveals that since March 2009, New Zealand has spent $158 billion more overseas than it has earned, but its NIIP has only fallen by $32 billion.Statistics New Zealand shows that receipts from overseas reinsurers have ...
Is she hinting that the Coalition Government will have to back down on key promises it made in Opposition? Brian Easton writes – The Minister of Finance, Nicola Willis, is telling an evolving story about her fiscal challenges. In Opposition she was confident that she could ...
Dear Nicola Willis,Right now you’ve probably got lots of competing demands coming at you. Ministers who’ve inherited quite a mess, or so you’ve told us, looking for money in the budget to improve things. I imagine that’s why they came to parliament - to make things better.You’ll have to make ...
The Local Government, Transport and Auckland Minister hasthreatened councils with intervention if they don’t merge water assets to take them off balance sheet, just as the now-repealed Three Waters plan directed. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My six things of note this morning for Monday, March 25 include:Simeon ...
A listing of 36 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 17, 2024 thru Sat, March 23, 2024. Story of the week Thanks to John Mason having the stamina to sit down to watch "Climate - the Movie" ...
This morning the Q&A programme had Simeon Brown on to talk about National’s replacement for Three Waters. In case anyone’s forgotten the three are - drinking water, waste water, and sewerage. It’s quite important not to get them mixed up. In much the same way that you wouldn’t want to ...
Today’s newsletter comes with a mini-podcast conversation between me and my buddy Liv Tennet, talking about her time as a child actor in Lord of the Rings. It’s a conversation with a lot of giggles as she talks about falling off a horse, and becoming a meme. Read ...
The Desmog Climate Disinformation Database documents, "individuals and organisations that have helped to delay and distract the public and our elected leaders from taking needed action to reduce greenhouse gas pollution and fight global warming." It's a who's who of the organised climate change denial movement, in other words. In ...
Bob Edlin writes – A High Court judge has decided miscreants who have mana – or who claim to have mana – should be treated differently from miscreants who have none. It’s a ruling that suggests indigenous law-breakers have a better chance of securing a discharge without conviction ...
Welcome to the first, and possibly last, edition of Brickbats, Bouquets and Bull’s Wool. In which I’ll take a look at the events of the last week or so, and rate them.In such ratings the numbers usually have more to do with the opinions of the reviewer, than the actual ...
Roger Partridge writes – My earlier column this month, New Zealand’s highest court could be facing a turning point, prompted a flood of feedback from business readers and lawyers alike. A common query was what Parliament can do to restrain an overreaching judiciary. This week I discuss two steps Parliament ...
TL;DR: In today’s ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.16pm on Friday, March 22: writes about New Zealand's Building Boom—And What the World Must Learn From It over at his substack. challenges the Auckland Council’s use of a 3.8 degrees of warming forecast to oppose a wave-park and data centre project ...
Is she hinting that the Coalition Government will have to back down on key promises it made in Opposition?The Minister of Finance, Nicola Willis, is telling an evolving story about her fiscal challenges. In Opposition she was confident that she could deliver her promised income tax cuts. Appointed minister, she ...
Buzz from the Beehive Ministers of the Crown have drawn attention to one sector of the science sector which is unlikely to be subjected to heavy spending cuts, a state-funded broadcaster which is doing nicely, thank you, and a sporting event that had $5.4 million from the public purse puffed ...
Abbott’s Freestyle Libre sensors allow continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). The sensor is applied to the back of the patient’s arm, with a thin filament under the skin measuring glucose levels constantly. But it costs around $100 per sensor and must be replaced once every 14 days. Photo by BSIP/Universal Images ...
The Inspector General of Intelligence and Security (IGIS) recently released a report in which he exposes the existence of a foreign intelligence partner-controlled technological “capability” inside the headquarters of the GCSB, NZ’s 5 Eyes-affiliated signals intelligence collection and analysis agency. … Continue reading → ...
Peter Dunne writes – Nearly three decades after the introduction of MMP and multiparty governments there should be a greater level of understanding about their finer points than often appears to be the case. The reaction to the despicable outburst from the Deputy Prime Minister at the weekend highlights ...
The sweet kisses from fruit of summerHave slowly been turning dullerYou say, "those times"And "remember the daysWhen we went outside and there still was the shade?"Taking no reason into play…Autumn. Clear, blue days shortening to longer nights, growing colder. Aotearoa.That’s us. The temperature dropping, the looming car crash - so ...
Bryce Edwards writes – “It is often said that behind every great man is a great woman”. This is the pitch by the National Party Botany electorate branch to attend their “Ladies Afternoon Tea with Amanda Luxon”. For $110 including GST, you can turn up on Saturday 20 April ...
David Farrar writes – The Electoral Commission has published the expense returns for political parties for the 2023 election. I’ve put them in a table with how many votes a party got so we can see the spend per vote. National only spent $3.34 for every vote they got, almost ...
Winston Peters’ headline-making actions over the past week may have been a show of political power intended to strengthen his hand in Budget negotiations. It was no accident that his State of the Nation speech was as it was. He made it as New Zealand First Leader, not as Deputy ...
Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:Former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson bowed out of politics this week, giving a series of exit ...
Graham Adams writes — If you love the law or sausages, as the saying goes, best not to look too closely at how they are made. And after watching the orgy of self-pity when Newshub’s closure was announced on February 28, television journalism should definitely be added to the list of those ...
Venerable New Zealand political commentator, Chris Trotter (https://bowalleyroad.blogspot.com/), is a sad creature these days. Once one of the most reliable Leftist writers out there – Economic Left at that – Trotter seems to have absorbed the worldview of Auckland culture-war obsessives. It is not for me to categorise what he ...
The Coalition Government’s plan to ‘get Auckland moving’ is a cuts cover-up that will ultimately cost Aucklanders more to move around the city, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Slashing the Ministry of Pacific Peoples by 40% will have a devastating impact on pacific communities and further highlights how little this government cares about anything other than cutting taxes for the wealthiest few. ...
Labour has proposed an urgent inquiry to investigate the ever-increasing profits of supermarkets, aiming to lower costs for shoppers and food producers alike, says Labour Spokesperson for Commerce and Consumer Affairs Arena Williams and Primary Production Spokesperson Cushla Tangaere-Manuel. ...
With 14% of jobs on the line at the Ministry for Ethnic Communities, the responsible Minister Melissa Lee is failing to stand up for the very communities she’s meant to be representing. ...
COURT OF APPEAL: TRIFECTA OF VICTORY FOR NZ FIRST, TRIFECTA OF FAILURE FOR OPPONENTS For the third time since April 2020, New Zealand First has defeated the Serious Fraud Office and all those complicit in a malicious attack against a political party going about its lawful business in a lawful ...
The Green Party stands with people who live in public housing, people in dire housing need, experts and advocates in demanding better than the Government’s archaic approach to housing those who need our support the most. ...
New Zealand has recently lost the hosting rights of some major international sporting events including the America’s Cup, the Rugby Championship, Netball World Cup, and the Wellington Sevens. We are now at a huge risk of losing SailGP as well. And it won’t stop there. The recent issues with SailGP ...
A Member’s Bill drawn this week would modernise insurance law and make things fairer and more transparent for consumers, Christchurch Central MP Duncan Webb said. ...
The Minister for Disability Issues has confirmed she was aware of funding issues in mid-December and did nothing to stop it. On 14 March, she signed off on changes that were announced and implemented on 18 March without any consultation with disability communities. ...
Green Party MP Julie Anne Genter says her members' bill is an opportunity for the coalition government to plug the gap in electric vehicle incentives. ...
The National Government continues to talk about irresponsible tax cuts that will only drive up inflation, despite the country entering a technical recession. ...
The Minister for Disability Issues must act urgently to reinstate flexibility around the funding for disability support and apologise to disabled carers. ...
This story has been initiated by a leftie shill reporter who proactively sought to call a member of a former band, which disbanded twelve years ago, give their biased appraisal of what was said in my speech, and concocted a ham-fisted attempt at a story that does nothing but show ...
The Government has accepted Labour’s change to the Road User Charge (RUC) discount for hybrid vehicles, meaning there will still be some incentive for people to buy greener vehicles. ...
Many in the mainstream media have taken what was said in New Zealand First’s State of the Nation Speech in Palmerston North on Sunday and deliberately, deceitfully, and ignorantly misrepresented what I said and why I said it. The headlines and commentary on the news stated that I compared ‘co-governance ...
Kicking the most vulnerable people out of state housing and pushing them towards homelessness will result in a proliferation of poverty and trauma across our most vulnerable communities. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader and MP for Waiariki, Rawiri Waititi has penned a letter asking MPs to support his members bill to remove GST from all food. The bill is expected to go through its first reading in parliament this Wednesday. “I’m calling on all political parties to support my ...
Good afternoon. Thank you for, in your very busy lives, turning up to this meeting today. On October 14th last year New Zealanders overwhelmingly voted for change. That is exactly what this new government is bringing. New Zealand First campaigned to ‘take back our country’ and stop the disastrous economic ...
This year is about getting real with Kiwis and discussing the tough issues, as the National Government exacerbates inequality and divides New Zealand, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said ...
The Government adding Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) to its already roaring environmental policy bonfire is an assault on the future of wildlife that makes Aotearoa unique. ...
After 12 years of fighting to protect our moana we are finding ourselves back at square one and back at court. Today, the Environmental Protection Agency is sitting in Hawera to reconsider an application from Trans-Tasman Resources to dig up 50 million tonnes of the seabed in South Taranaki. This ...
Minister Shane Jones’ decision to step away from a seabed mining project is evidence of the murky waters surrounding the Government’s fast-track legislation. ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The Coalition Government’s miscalculation saga continues as it has forgotten an eyewatering $90 million gap in its interest deductibility cost figures, say Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds and Revenue Spokesperson Deborah Russell. ...
He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission has today released advice that says if the Government doesn’t act now New Zealand is at risk of not meeting its climate goals. ...
The Coalition Government has today confirmed it is abandoning first home buyers who are struggling to get ahead, says Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds. ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April. “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates. Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend. “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says. Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track. “Dam safety regulations ...
The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis. “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says. “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says. “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009. ...
The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function. The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union. “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says. “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
Good morning, it’s great to be here. First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning. I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed. “Northland has faced a number ...
New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
COMMENTARY:By Ronny Kareni Since the atrocious footage of the suffering of an indigenous Papuan man reverberates in the heart of Puncak by the brute force of Indonesia’s army in early February, shocking tactics deployed by those in power to silence critics has been unfolding. Nowhere is this more evident ...
Analysis - Nicola Willis is holding firm on tax cuts despite the economic outlook being worse than forecast and critics urging her to wait, writes Peter Wilson for The Week In Politics. ...
Opposition MPs and unions are criticising a proposal by New Zealand’s Ministry of Pacific Peoples to cut staff by 40 percent. The country’s largest trade union — The Public Service Association — says the ministry has informed staff that it is looking to shed 63 of 156 positions. Opposition MPs ...
A poem by Poetry Aotearoa Yearbook 2024 featured poet Carin Smeaton. Daughtr of the 90s when she gets promoted to usherette a baby blu eel carries her all the way up to mothership she’s hovering high she lets the underaged in to see keanu reeves she lets the only lonely ...
Analysis by Keith Rankin. Keith Rankin, trained as an economic historian, is a retired lecturer in Economics and Statistics. He lives in Auckland, New Zealand. My earlier article – Can ‘Good’ be the Greater Evil? – looked at the issue of how wars should end, and how Good versus Evil ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 AMMA by Saraid de Silva (Moa Press, $38)A stunning debut novel reviewed by Brannavan ...
From Steve Martin to Ricky Stanicky, a pick’n’mix of things worth watching and listening to this long weekend. This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. If you’re at a loss for something to occupy yourself with this Easter, don’t panic: The Spinoff’s got ...
Jesus had dinner with his 12 disciples right before he died. Noted historian Madeleine Chapman finds out who really deserved to be there.First published in 2018 but let’s be honest, the subject is timeless. As you sit on your couch this Easter Sunday, eating a chocolate egg you know ...
The newly-promoted Northern League club is on a mission to return to the National League for the first time in two decades. Plenty about domestic football in New Zealand has changed in that time – but the sense that this amateur competition is not an entirely level playing field remains. ...
Comment: Every year on February 2, a dozen men in tuxedos and top hats approach the burrow of a groundhog in Gobbler’s Knob, Pennsylvania and entice the beaver-like rodent to emerge and predict the weather. If the groundhog, named Punxsutawney Phil, sees its own shadow when it is summoned, legend ...
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Auckland Council has put a deadline on new weather-impacted property owners applying for categorisation as government funding looks set to run out. Councillors have voted to support a deadline of September 30 for property owners who haven’t accessed support to come forward and engage with the council’s recovery office. It ...
NONFICTION 1 BBQ Economics by Liam Dann (Penguin Random House, $40) “It’s official,” wrote Dann nine days ago in the Herald, where he works as business editor at large, “we’re in recession.” Yeah, great. He delivered the bad stats: “GDP fell 0.1 percent in the December 2023 quarter, compared with ...
By Anneke Smith, RNZ News political reporter A petition urging the New Zealand government to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people has been tabled in the House. More than 200 people gathered on Parliament’s forecourt today and they were met by MPs from Labour, the Greens and Te ...
Pacific Media Watch The Paris-based global media freedom watchdog RSF (Reporters Without Borders) has appealed for information about the “disappearance” of Palestinian journalist Bayan Abusultan. She was reportedly last seen on March 19 among people “sequestered” in this week’s raid and siege of Al Shifa hospital by Israeli troops in ...
EDITORIAL:The Jakarta Post It happens again and again; indigenous Papuans fall victim to Indonesian soldiers. This time, we have photographic evidence for the brutality, with videos on social media showing a Papuan man being tortured by a group of plainclothes men alleged to be the Indonesian Military (TNI) members. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robyn J. Whitaker, Director of the Wesley Centre for Theology, Ethics, and Public Policy & Associate Professor, New Testament, Pilgrim Theological College, University of Divinity A strange and eclectic range of activities takes place across these few weeks of the year. Some ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Panizza Allmark, Professor Visual & Cultural Studies, Edith Cowan University It’s Easter weekend, which means many of us will be kicking back with the greatest hits on repeat. But whether you’re a boomer, or an ‘80s or ’90s kid, you might be ...
RNZ Pacific Fiji’s Acting Public Prosecutor has filed an appeal against the sentences of former prime minister Voreqe Bainimarama and suspended police chief Sitiveni Qiliho in their corruption case. Bainimarama was granted an absolute discharge for attempting to pervert the course of justice while Qiliho received a conditional discharge with ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Arosha Weerakoon, Senior Lecturer and General Dentist, School of Dentistry, The University of Queensland Casezy idea/Shutterstock How does toothpaste work? What did people use before toothpaste was invented? – Amelia, age 7, Meanjin (Brisbane) Thanks for your ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brett Hallam, Associate professor, UNSW Sydney IM Imagery/Shutterstock Solar SunShot is well named. The Australian government announced today it would plough A$1 billion into bringing back solar manufacturing to Australia, boosting energy security, swapping coal and gas jobs for those ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Clare Dix, Research Fellow in Nutrition & Dietetics, The University of Queensland Easter is the time for chocolate. The shops are full of fantastically packaged and shiny chocolates in all shapes and sizes, making trips to the supermarket with children more challenging ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emma Felton, Adjunct Senior Researcher, University of South Australia Even in a stubborn cost-of-living crisis, it seems there’s one luxury most Australians won’t sacrifice – their daily cup of coffee. Coffee sales have largely remained stable, even as financial pressures have ...
Mining company Trans-Tasman Resources has unexpectedly withdrawn its application for a consent to suck the valuable metals vanadium and titanium from the Taranaki seafloor, as it apparently wagers on the Government’s new fast-track process. It had spent two-and-a-half days putting its case to the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision-making committee, at ...
Contrary to the Associate Minister of Education’s claims, analysis of Healthy School Lunches Programme - Ka Ora, Ka Ako assessments has revealed it provides excellent value for the taxpayer dollar, as a groundswell of public opposition to Government ...
Greenpeace says wannabe Taranaki seabed miner Trans-Tasman Resources is likely banking on Christopher Luxon’s fast-track process to side-step proper scrutiny of its Taranaki seabed mining proposal by bailing out of the Environmental Protection Agency hearing ...
Kiwis Against Seabed mining today slammed Australian owned would-be seabed miner Trans Tasman Resources (TTR) for abandoning its application to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to mine the seabed of the South Taranaki Bight. The company ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katie Attwell, Associate Professor, School of Social Sciences, The University of Western Australia Ground Picture/Shutterstock Months after COVID vaccines were introduced in 2021, governments and private organisations mandated them for various groups. Health and aged care workers were among the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Dzurak, Scientia Professor Andrew Dzurak, CEO and Founder of Diraq, UNSW Sydney Diraq For decades, the pursuit of quantum computing has struggled with the need for extremely low temperatures, mere fractions of a degree above absolute zero (0 Kelvin or ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne A national Essential poll, conducted March 20–24 from a sample of 1,150, gave the Coalition a 50–44 lead including undecided, a reversal ...
The Taxpayers’ Union has today made a formal request under the Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on Open Government Information () for information held about how New Zealand Members of Parliament are spending taxpayer ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert Nelson, Honorary Principal Fellow, The University of Melbourne A Byzantine depiction of the Eucharist in Saint Sophia Cathedral, Kyiv.Jacek555/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA A nasty quarrel arose in the 11th century over what kind of bread should be used in holy ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Patrick Hesp, Professor, Flinders University Patrick Hesp In some parts of Australia, coastal dunes are retreating from the ocean at an alarming rate, as waves carve up the beach and wind blows the sand inland. But coastal communities are largely ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Luke Heemsbergen, Senior Lecturer, Digital, Political, Media, Deakin University With an impressive 60% of the US smartphone market, Apple is undeniably big, but not a clear monopoly. Yet, years of innovation by Apple have effectively given the company its own exclusive ...
Whether you’re facing layoffs or are just an emotional junior staffer, it’s always a good idea to scout out a good crying place before you need it. It’s an incredibly hard time for Wellington. Across the city, thousands of public servants are hearing tough news about redundancies and layoffs. Government ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Miller-Jones, Professor, Curtin University Nuclear explosions on a neutron star feed its jets. Danielle Futselaar and Nathalie Degenaar, Anton Pannekoek Institute, University of Amsterdam, CC BY-SA How fast can a neutron star drive powerful jets into space? The answer, it ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daryl Adair, Associate Professor of Sport Management, University of Technology Sydney Earlier this week, independent MP Andrew Wilkie accused the AFL of conducting “off the books” illicit drug testing to identify players using substances of abuse, then inappropriately withdrawing them from matches ...
The Government’s announcement that it will scrap plans for a vast marine sanctuary around the Kermadec Islands is ‘shameful’ and will make it impossible for Aotearoa New Zealand to meet its international commitments, says the World Wide Fund for Nature ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland Shutterstock The federal government has bowed to pressure from the car industry, announcing it will relax proposed emissions rules for utes and vans and delay enforcement of the new standards ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Suzanne Rutland, Professor Emerita, University of Sydney In his latest book, Jewish Life in Medieval Spain, Jonathan Ray focuses on the tumult of the 14th century in Spain – a time of the plague, civil strife and war between the two largest ...
While creating a slate of world-class shows, Whakaata Māori also developed a generation of world-class creatives. Television is an odd word. It mixes the Ancient Greek and Latin languages, and its most literal meaning is “far-off sight”. In the contemporary and living language of te reo Māori, “whakaata” as a ...
Yesterday the UN Security Council passed a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Israel’s war on Gaza. This significant step and the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza prompted an urgent debate in the New Zealand Parliament. Leader ...
The Government’s decision to reduce access to continuous glucose monitors (CGM) not only threatens the lives of children with type 1 diabetes and increases the potential for ‘Dead in Bed’ syndrome, but also threatens the health of their parents an ...
Apples are available year-round, but the wide variety on offer involves intensive scientific research – and large-scale commercialisation. What’s beautiful, red, sweet and crunchy? Tony Martin’s favourite kind of apple: Sassy. The CEO of apple and pear breeding organisation Prevar, Martin’s fondness for Sassy represents professional success as well as ...
Family violence specialist service Shine is calling on employers to stop asking for proof of domestic violence in order for employees to access domestic violence leave. The call comes five years after the introduction of the Domestic Violence ...
The Deputy Chairperson of the Finance and Expenditure Committee is calling for public submissions on the Budget Policy Statement 2024. The Budget Policy Statement 2024 (BPS) sets out the Government's priorities for the 2024 Budget. It explains the approach ...
Brutal government spending cuts that will see the size of the Ministry for Pacific Peoples slashed by 40% will hit Pasifika communities hard, the PSA says. The Ministry has told staff that it is seeking voluntary redundancies, and to redeploy and reassign ...
I live with five people I mostly love, but our different ideas about generosity are starting to really irk me.Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to helpme@thespinoff.co.nzDear Hera,This is a bit of a random one but here goes. I’m 22 and work an OK job (OK meaning I get paid ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Maria Nicholas, Senior Lecturer in Language and Literacy Education, Deakin University Earlier this month, the New South Wales government announced it would roll out programs for gifted students in every public school in the state. This comes amid concerns gifted school ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christopher Rudge, Law lecturer, University of Sydney Massachusetts General Hospital In a world first, we heard last week that US surgeons had transplanted a kidney from a gene-edited pig into a living human. News reports said the procedure was a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Tombs, Howard Paterson Chair of Theology and Public Issues, University of Otago The 5th-century Maskell panel showing Jesus in a loincloth.British Museum, CC BY-NC-SA When Jesus is shown on the cross, he is almost always depicted wearing a loincloth around ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Panizza Allmark, Professor Visual & Cultural Studies, Edith Cowan University Shutterstock When you think about a red object, you might picture a red carpet, or the massive ruby in the Queen’s crown. Indeed, Western monarchies and marketing from brands such ...
COMMENTARY:Jewish Voice for Peace The UN Security Council passed a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza on Monday — and for the first time since the beginning of the Israeli military’s genocide of Palestinians, the United States abstained rather than vetoing it. Security Council resolutions are legally binding, ...
Asia Pacific Report A New Zealand investigative journalist and author says the US spy system hosted by the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) appears to be a controversial intelligence system used in global capture-kill operations. Writing a commentary for RNZ News today, Nicky Hager, author of Secret Power, a 1996 ...
While Nicola Willis wouldn’t give any details on its size, she said a package of tax cuts is definitely still coming in this year’s budget, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming the investigation into the Department of Internal Affairs after it was revealed that the Department’s Chief Executive personally reached out to expedite a DJs passport application. Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns ...
Finance minister Nicola Willis delivers her first budget statement, and unwittingly helps Joel MacManus save his relationship. Nicola Willis strode into the Beehive Theatrette. Around me, on the green foldout seats, were the country’s top business and political journalists. They were all here to see her announce the Budget Policy ...
Twenty years ago today, Māori Television launched after much controversy. Jamie Tahana looks back on its survival and impact across two decades. Chad Chambers stepped onto the stage, the brim of his cap casting a shadow across his face. His smile beamed as bright as his white freezing works gumboots, ...
Tauranga, Rotorua, Wellsford, Onehunga, Westhaven marina – Gavin Strawhan walks the meanish streets of New Zealand in his entertaining debut novel The Call, almost sure to roar into the number 1 position on the Nielsen bestseller chart, its front cover bearing a rave from somebody: “A really good and genuinely ...
If ability was the deciding factor, the small but perfectly formed Metiria Turei and her slightly built co-leader would hold the next prime ministership of NZ.
Over the weekend they catapulted themselves boldly into the political ring, aiming high and hitting hard with a welfare policy designed to address child poverty. The media took a solid left to the bread basket and exclaimed loudly, “Eeek, they want to tax the rich!”
Meanwhile, tireless volunteers pressed the flesh, chewed the fat and handed out far too many red balloons at markets across Auckland – markets that ask quite a hefty fee from political parties.
Supporting this effort, from a bunker I imagine is deep within a labyrinth of lava tunnels under Mt. Albert, the Labour leadership faxed in their welfare policy… for battery chickens.
There is the growing suspicion from this observer that the metaphorical powder left over from a Labour leader who used a teaspoonful to take pot-shots at sickness beneficiaries, a powder that must be keep dry at all costs, isn’t black at all and they’ve begun to snort it.
Lisa Owen
Brilliant interview with Cameron Slater
http://www.tv3.co.nz/tabid/3692/MCat/2910/Default.aspx
Key is totally floundering on Morning Report.
Guyon Esipiner is nailing John Key…a must listen too.
Yes. And this is why I think Guyon is a good interviewer.
I’ve always liked Guyon.
Apparently he writes poetry too.
Yes, yes, yes .. a great start to the week. Key’s Crosby/Textor rehearsed lines sounding shallow and utterly insincere. Just the man he is. Well done Guyon. Hope others follow and grill the prick at every opportunity.
Wow. Guyon is doing his job this morning!
I must buy a Lotto ticket today.
p.s. Keith Ng may have something to say as the PM has just roped him into a false analogy?
Guyon espiner on fire this morning Key put in his place!
Suzie Ferguson trying to do Slater, Farrar and Key’s job.
As Laila Harre said, amplifying his smears.
RNZ – you are a public broadcaster.
Remember that.
Harre kept her cool
Fuck listen to this
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/20146025/prime-minister-stands-by-minister-and-staff
Key is fucked
I never thought i would say this but Guyon was brilliant
well,well,well…
Guyon “you’re not getting away with this” “answer the question” Great interview.
I thought Key had given up drinking…..
Well done Guyon, obviously the slimy ones have nothing on you. I very much appreciate you asking Key to account for his relationship with Slater and his acceptance of unethical actions of his staff.
And what was that ‘…haven’t rehearsed…’ bit?
It sounded like he had a late night and was hungover. Quite slurry.
He goes slurry when he needs to quickly rush over something i.e. lie
Spot on vto. It’s transparent – a much bigger ‘tell’ than that hissing noise he makes.
I’ll listen out more carefully for the slurs. I’ve never heard them as bad as they were today.
The sucking air through the teeth/hissing sound, prior to attempting to get out of a tight spot I am more familiar with. I had put the slurs down to tiredness. I guess lies get all mangled up in the mouth and come out in a slippery slurry mess.
Bridges does something similar when he is lying and bending the the truth. His isn’t a slur though, it’s more like the words come out they have had a steam roller go over them. They squish out of his mouth as his conscience battles with telling a lie. Then they go a bit gravelly at the end, in an attempt to distort the lies further and to protect himself from further scrutiny.
It is true that when we are under a lot of stress and adrenalin is pumping around our body, our breathing becomes shallower and shorter, having an effect on our speech.
Don’t forget Key’s habit of rubbing his nose – another tell!
Where abouts was the “…haven’t reheasred…” bit?
Key’s shallow self is being rubbed raw…
Guyon definitely did his job superbly this time.
Knew that Key had made a mistake at the beginning with his smarmy “Take a breath…” comment to Guyon. Losing control of the Crosby/Textor script for a schoolboy taunt.
All Key has ever had has been schoolyard mannerisms.
Sneering.
Screwing his nose up.
Little taunts.
Rolling his eyes.
Smirks
I tells ya – the man is the most shallow we have ever had as a Prime Minister and that is why he is being rubbed raw – he has no depth.
Perfect vto-I’ve never bought into the PR myth of the charming folksy Mr. Key. The facade is crumbling at a rate of knots.
What price TeamKey now?
This is not the first time that Guyon has surprised with an excellent interview. If he can maintain equal treatment of left and right (crucial) he could become a broadcasting legend.
Just finished listening to it. Asking questions Key can’t answer, because if he answers them truthfully he’s finished.
How will National respond? The ethical wing of the party is awfully quiet.
National doesn’t appear to have an ethical wing any more. It seems to have died with Muldoon.
Perhaps that explains the silence 😉
I was shocked and pleasantly surprised by E Spinner. It was if he had woken up from a dream and seen the light of day. He also sounded quite offended that Key placed Slater in the same category as journalists from RNZ and other media too. At approximately 7 minutes in when E Spinner was asking Key whether it was ok for public servants to receive death threats it was like they broke into an analogue version of looping, as Key was trying so hard to evade the question and E Spinner wouldn’t let it go.
E Spinner: “Is it ok…….”.Key” People can see…………” repeated about 5 times. Dotcom could use that as a loop on his next release. The song could be “Is it ok?” there’s a lot of material for lyrics available.
(Sounds like Key still hasn’t read The Book. Has he?)
Excellent line of questioning that really had Key straining to answer in his regular finely honed brand of spin. More interviews like this please.
I suspect Guyon read the book over the weekend. Although he is a conservative and a supporter of the National Party, I do not think he would approve of the Lusk/Slater/Collins behaviour and would have expected Key to distance himself from them. Suzie, on the other hand, is happy to continue the Slater line that Dotcom is involved in an attempt to divert attention from the issues raised in Nicky Hager’s book.
Andrew Geddis on Pundit is an essential read this morning.
http://pundit.co.nz/content/cri-du-c%C5%93ur
I wondered that too Karen. E Spinner conveyed a sense of disgust and seemed to have a good grasp on the allegations, which made me think he had read The Book.
Even for conservatives like him there is a moral boundary that should never be breached, and it sounds like he views the behaviour of the characters in the book having done that.
While there are many RW’ers denying denying denying without having even read a single sentence there must be at least some National voters who do have a well developed sense of fairness and also see their leader and their government as having had a serious drop in standards. There will be some groups of Nat voters who will be quite disappointed and shocked by all this and view this behaviour as a serious breach of moral and social decency.
What Geddis relates in that piece is the psychopathy of National. Especially this bit:
Geez. That must be the first decent interview of Key by any NZ media, ever.
Sounds like Guyon Espiner has only just found out his friend Duncan Garner was under discussion for being blackmailed, he is so angry. Kudos to him for standing over Key and his rubbish answers. Key sounded to me like he was admiring himself in a mirror the whole time,.(That must be teflon falling off all over his bathroom floor.)
Methinks we could be heading into some deep and dark constitutional issues before this day is done with the email dump coming up.
And just how decent is our GG General Jerry Mateparae ? Is he fully owned by Key and Key’s masters? I hope we don’t need to find out, but this is what Watergate felt like as the truth inevitably unravelled in to full public sunlight .. ripples are the promises the waves make to the flood.
Key now admits Ede was looking at Labours site then said nothing wrong in that Guyon had him on about his moral compass as Prime Minister of New Zealand
Then Key said it was ok for Slater to be calling ChCh people scum
Collins as police and electoral commission to be involved in having a public servant facing death threats Key put his foot in it and now is in big trouble!
Collins must resign and be prosecuted !
Key is in massive trouble.
Ever heard a man say ‘at the end of the day’ so many times in such a short period ?! Key to Espiner on MR. Lesson in how to dissemble.
Yep. ‘At the end of the day’….’In the end’….’No but what I can say is…’
It appears that Keys focus word, ‘look!’ has run it’s course after Melissa Lee overused it 15 or more times in one interview.
Memo from John Key to Crosby Textor:
Quick give me another mantra.
Bloody Espiner’s rendered the old ones ineffective.
(Never thought I’d say it, but well done Mr Espiner.)
I was pleasantly surprised by Espiner’s tenacity this morning as he’s usually ineffectual when dealing with ‘important people’. I suspect it might be down to; a) having read the book he actually knew what he was talking about for a change, and b) wasn’t prepared to let Key make him look like a patsy.
Whenever anyone says to me “At the end of the day….” I hear them saying they believe the end (however desireable from their viewpoint) justifies the means (however dubious), which is a slippery slope Key is all too obviously at the bottom of.
well, the end of this day sees the beginning of the whole email dump … shonkey might have to ask CrosbyText for a new phrase !
Carole Cadwalladr on Dotcom in The Observer
http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/aug/17/kim-dotcom-megaupload-new-zealand-interview
Key admitted Jason Eded spied on the labour website to pass on material to Slater
and Collins also.
Key then tries to say Hagers book had nothing in it ShonKeys involvement with the SIS must be True as well
National are in the shit right up to their necks and now When the Emails are released and proven not to come from Dotcom Key and Slater are Toast!
Last week it was the allegations were baseless now they are all true!
Key said it was OK for a police ministe electoral commissiner to be involved in this behaviour!
Shonkey has admitted then he was using the SIS for political purposes by default!
Media now need to ask John Key about his scuriless behaviour around the SIS!
Key is in deep do do’s!
Shorter Prime Minister: “They did it too!”
Yes Miravox, I’m glad you heard that , I thought I must have misheard it.
“WE HAVEN’T REHEARSED THAT”
Has to be the headline quote of the election.
… was at 3.15 for those who want to hear it…
Far be it from me to defend the PM, but it seemed to me that he was making slightly clumsy use of the other meaning of rehearsed, eg, https://www.google.co.nz/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=rehearse – see definition (2).
This is not to say I think he handled the interview well – I do not, and I am glad he is rattled by Hager’s book. He has gotten away with too much for too long. But nonetheless, I don’t think he was admitting to having rehearsed his answers, in the definition (1) sense.
It really looks like a cliff hanger election coming up: my fervent hope is that this election will finish the single party rule of elected dictatorships (left or right).
Should the government be a true MMP coalition their diversity of opinions will require compromise and consideration. Imagine ta parliament that for the first time in living memory actually debated issues without the knowledge that the result was a foregone conclusion. Would that not be a delight!
It would be nice but you’re not going to get that from a representative democracy. You’ll only get it from a participatory democracy where it’s the people making the decisions and not some elected dictators.
We’ve been over this before Draco – a participatory democracy would be a cluster-fuck.
Like I say to you every time you bring this up – in the 2012/2013 some 200+ bills were passed in parliament. Are we all to vote on them all?
https://yourlogicalfallacyis.com/personal-incredulity
https://yourlogicalfallacyis.com/loaded-question
Now fuck off.
Well actually it’s neither of those.
You are stating now, and have previously stated, the we should be a participatory democracy to which I have asked, now and previously, how this would work given 200+ bills are passed per year.
This is neither loaded (because you can answer it with a proper solution) nor personal incredulity (because it doesn’t imply it is not true, just that you have yet to give an coherent explanation of how it would work).
How would it work? Do we vote on every bill in your participatory democracy? Or just some?
These questions are pertinent to the the idea of a participatory democracy and are not logically fallacious.
Also you have engaged in an Tu Quoque fallacy above…and an attempted fallacy fallacy argument (which was incorrect but, hey, you tried to play it)
Unfortunately the shot-gun wedding of the Tories and LibDems in the UK has been no great advert for the delights of coalition Government.
MMP has had the effect of cementing in the reforms of Douglas and then Richardson. Clark dabbled with the idea of tweaking the neo liberal “consensus” but drew back from the brink in repsonse to some serious push back. Nothing will change going forward. FPP is less “democratic” but it did allow a welfare state to be created. Hard to see how the existing “consensus” can ever be significantly altered under MMP.
The same way it was created under FPP – the government passes the legislation and the people keep voting them in until they vote them out. The more different the Left become from National the more chance they have of staying in government.
TheGodKey’s media trainers (Wilson…Ralston?) will be sorely concerned by their subject’s pathetic effort on RNZ Morning Report this morning.
Espiner got it perfectly right with his approach – “I’m not asking for your critique of Hager’s book…….I’m asking you if it’s OK for a minister to…….” “Is it OK ?” “The minister’s admitted it……” “Is it OK ?”
The media’s been doing it for years…….allowing TheGodKey to get away with posing as some sort of objective academic analyst of matters political. Allowing him the (fake) ‘authority’ of someone not intimately personally involved in the matter at hand.
So patently TheGodKey for all his vaunted theistic qualities ain’t much better than an obfuscating punk with every reason to lie when it comes to the ‘real questions’ format employed by Espiner this morning.
“Thank you Prime Minister” takes on new meaning. Looking forward to Hooten’s ‘spray’ at 11.00 am today on RNZ with Kathryn Ryan. Will be telling if we’re witness to another ‘shouty’ episode.
prime minister = first servant.
to lead effectively the prime minister MUST uphold the law.
these utterings of: the left would have done it so its ok…. remind me of the justification of a guilty child caught with their hand in the cookie jar.
a poorly bought up child with no moral compass.
its awkward when you tell a lie then have to tell another lie, then remember those two lies while telling another lie..
I am almost starting to feel sorry for him. (secretly rubbing hands together in glee).
Just listened to the interview:
“pisspictive” for perspective …. “ginirilly” for generally. Hangover much! New Zealand’s Prime Minister.
I hang my head in shame and embarrassment.
And what about this quote in respect of the Slater OIA to the SIS:
No. I knew nothing about it. It didn’t go through me. Acshully, I’ve been amazed at what has been released by the SIS. – sucks in breath.
That is more than a lie. To claim such an agency regularly hands out secret info. to any Tom, Dick or Harry – which was the clear tone of the comment – without any reference to him is bordering on libel.
And what’s this Warren bit? His name is Warren Tucker. He was head of the SIS at the time. Is it not totally out of order to refer to him as Warren… as if he was a personal mate? So unprofessional!!
We heard,
At three minutes into the RNZ discussion on 18th August 2014 between Guyon Espiner & P.M. Key the following was said;
Question from Guyon Espiner. To PM;
“You said it was o/k for Jason Edes to look and poke around in that (Labour Party) material?”
John Key relied ; –
“One – as I understand it, haven’t rehearsed the whole thing,”
Key on the ropes as Guyon comes out swinging
for truth “is it ok, – is it ok – is it ok?
and Key wont answer yes or no.
Gone by lunch anyone?
Sounds like “and we can rehearse the whole thing”. If it’s a slip of the tongue (rehash?) then it’s comically revealing.
Thats what I heard too
Collins Has got to go. Like NOW.
It is disgusting that a Minister of the Crown, a Minister of Justice, admits that she gave personal details of a civil servant to a member of the general public.
What faith are we going to have in governments irrespective who they are if this type of action is condoned.
@halfcrown-probably better if she stays as the gift that just keeps on giving.
It means Key’s credibility will be destroyed in the election campaign and debates.
So true bearded, but I feel we must all be vigilant if we want to keep the democracy we have.
Key’s credibility must be destroyed over this for the reasons I stated.
Makes one wonder, if she is still here after all this, when the Oravida saga should have finished her, what dirt does Collins have on Key that she has so much power over him? He seems scared of her.
Collins has to go.
Can someone please set up an online petition for the NZ Public to register their concerns?
A suggested petition:
Remove all ministerial warrants from Judith Collins, and particularly the ministerial warrant relating to her role as minister in charge of the Electoral Commission.
Post-script:
Looks like someone has already got on to an online petition:
http://www.change.org/en-AU/petitions/john-key-sack-judith-collins
Now we need to makeBroadcasting Standards complaints to Media Works and other Networks that are running patsy questions and Joyces propaganda!
We need to stand up for Democracy and Fairness in our News Media otherwise Joyce and Key will win!
The more complaints the Media will have become Fair Media Works is running Whale Oils line without Question!
Media Works are running a concerted campaign to lower voter turnout!
A lot of snide remarks and pro Key endorsements Berlusconi style bought off Media!
I thought that Collins was on a last warning after Oraivita?
Oh dear, Jordan Williams appears to have cracked. He’s reduced to making threats to women on Twitter.
Jordan Williams @JordNZ
@helenkellyCTU my advice is to be very careful.
Making threats to a woman?, that’s outrageous.!!!!
Poor wee Helen, being a women she’ll have no doubt collapsed into an emotional pile of nonsense, Williams would have known that too, but attacked Kelly anyway.
What a total bastard!!
Excellent work, BM. Sarcasm and belittling language. Kinda like the PM’s response to the Wellington attempted rape and his later accusation that Laila Harre is a bought woman. Stay classy, National.
lol, yep, they cannot help but let their true nature shine on through …..
Boorish Misogynist complicit behaviour desperation is no excuse for misogyny
Hilarious, you’ll so oblivious to your own misogyny, you completely missed what I was getting at.
That god for that
Blatantly Miopic In the end you always know best(inuendo)
Gee the elections got interesting (and fun) again, Hager has an book full of smears, lies and half-truths out, everyone from bloggers to MPs (on the right of course) have their lap tops and offices broken into and the left-wing media show their true colours
Its all good 🙂
Any evidence to back up your claims that Hager’s book is full of smears, lies and half truths? Especially given the fact that it is mostly made up of documented correspondence between National staff, MPs and Cameron Slater? Especially given the fact that Hager is a meticulous researcher, who has in past refused to document many things he knows to be true simply for the fact that he didn’t have the evidence to back it up. Especially given the fact that John Key has now gone on record (RNZ interview) accepting that some of the main claims in the book really did happen (Judith Collins leaking innocent civil servant name to Slater, SIS document being declassified and given directly to Slater – Although he denys personal involvement, National staff exploiting a security flaw in the Labour Party’s website to take private information for political gain.)
Or are you just talking out your ass, and regurgitating John Key’s verbal ejaculate verbatim?
Well, to be fair to PR, he could just be referring to the source material. As we know, most of what National staff, MPs and Cameron Slater write actually is smears, lies and half truths.
😆 😈
How about the denials from the parties named for starters? (Sorry I forgot anything unproven from Hager is true) How about he claims he doesn’t know who his sources are but knows it isn’t Dot Con?
Don’t get me wrong, I think its great. This shows what politics is really like and, according to Willie Jackson, the lefts just as bad if not worse.
do you believe everything willie jackson says
He gets it wrong with his support Carlos Spencer thats for sure but yeah the left is just as bad as the right, its just that the right are better at it
Bad PR Spencer ran out of ideas and became a one trick pony who could only bully his way through the opposition and no one wanted him in the end!
Ironic
Denials is a new word for confessions, from Judith Collins, from John Key. Yes, she passed on Pleasant’s details, yes, Ede works for him.
Meanwhile, PR is still parroting the disastrous “stolen lies” line. Polly wanna cracker?
look who just punched his clock this morning !
you working the late morning shift P(ublic) R(elations) ?
couldnt post til after the monday morning briefing
Had to put my invoices in, you know how it is
good man ! You must be due some kind of bonus youve been working hard ?
The Authoritarianism* is strong in this one.
So what does Judith Collins have over John Key. Why is he so desperate to hold on to her, despite her rapidly growing unpopularity, many questionable if not downright disgusting actions, not the least of which is leaking the name of (later discovered to be) innocent civil servant directly to Cameron Slater whom she wanted to see “fired and tarred and feathered”, the man – Mr. Pleasants, later receiving death threats. On the RNZ interview Key refused to answer whether he had known about Collins doing this. Pretty categorical imo, since if Key hadn’t known about it you can guarantee he would have said no.
Sounds to me like Key is afraid of the damage Collins would do if he gave her the axe.
What does Collins have over Key? Perhaps it’s something to do with China, milk, and corruption. There are interesting linkages. The person who headhunted Key into politics, Jenny Shipley, chairs CCB New Zealand, a fully-owned subsidiary of the state-controlled China Construction Bank, one of the biggest banks in the world, with a pre-tax profit in 2013 of US$45.85 billion. Think Shanghai Pengxin, Crafer farms, Lochinver, and Synlait, and Ruth Richardson, former National finance minister, is a director on Synlait milk, which is Shanghai Pengxin’s Sth Island operation. I just can’t imagine Key hasn’t got his hand out for either $$ or a job later on. Maybe?
+100…other dispassionate observers are also thinking Collins has John Key in a Devil’s blackmail hold
… and if Key pushes Collins over the cliff she will grab his leg and take him with her
…so what corrupt NACT can of worms is there to be brought to light?
sounds like a fine Tom Scott cartoon .. lovely imagery over the cliff, Chooky 😀
Puckish, I am sure your comment is a wind up, However. if Hagers book is “full of smears, lies and half-truths”, surly that would be libelous. That being the case why has no one sued Hager for libel, and why has Collins, a Minister of the Crown admitted that she had given Slater details of a civil servant.
Everything in the book is true. Puckish Rogue approves of it, which is why he’s here defending it. Unfortunately the fool just contradicted Dear Leader, who, far from denying the books contents, says “Labour did it too”.
So PRs gist seems to be that Hager is a lying smearing devil, and Slater is?
I hope he and others get paid to write this crap.
Its more Hager is on the left so hes a lying smearing devil whereas Slater is on the right therefore he isn’t
I have never received email from that man. I am not a crook. It’s nothing to do with the National Party. Labour does it too.
Spin version: We don’t want to give Hager anymore oxygen
Real version: If it comes to court then he’ll probably be proven correct whereas this way we can just discredit him so why take the chance
Its all good
It’s all lies. Labour does it too. Franks Ogilvie pay my rent. Judith Collins is innocent. John Banks will be found not guilty because he’s not guilty.
This week has shown something I think we have all missed, it’s not Key that has cultivated Slater but Collins. Anything Slater has got on Key is for Collins benefit not vice versa. If she goes Key is in deep shit. Can anyone here the jet idling at Mangere ?
The best thing Prime Minister Key can do for the country and to give a good lasting legacy?
Take the axe to Collins, Slater and Ede.
Then apply the broom to himself to clean out the Executive Government.
It has been interesting to notice which commentators have been most eager to downplay and tacitly condone what has been reported in Hager’s book. I suspect there would be a reasonable correlation with the contents of Slater’s speed dial.
As for those amongst them who pupport to represent the left, let the purge begin.
edit: naturally, most of those concerned have suggested that a few things described in the book cross a line, but have not condemned the majority of the behaviour nor the substance
More details at http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11310429
yep a wiki style release looks likely, of course the ‘hacker’s account is hosted on Mega just to annoy people and includes Julian Assanges st address at the embassy, what a wind up merchant.
why would you give stuff to the herald. Good to see them doing some old fashioned verification work.
I’m hoping that the hacker has given all the stuff to Wikileaks.
for teh lulz !
Im too cynical, begun onndering if its the real hacker or a black ops version…
I’m with you Tracey .. had similar thoughts. But maybe it’s very clever to choose NZH .. if the Herald is convinced, then it will nullify one of Key’s biggest public weapons.
I decided it’s real .. and can’t wait now :popcorn:
Hager doesnt need tomake stuff up, imo.
No he does not ! Never did make stuff up .. didn’t mean to imply that.
it was me thinking out loud not suggesting you thought that.
power has gone in epsom. literally and metaphorically… am posting from my phone
I just heard Matthew Hooten say David Cunliffe will be PM at the end of the year!
if you heard hooton last week, do you know his response to having given over hagers street address to cathy odgers.
Btw ms odgers and ms collins, both tax lawyers
Karen that was a dog whistle to hard core National supporters to get out and Vote from the cunning dead rat eater
On reflection, I think you are right tricledrown.
Yes Kathryn Ryan was pointed in stating at the beginning that Hooton has a PR company and features three times in Hager’s book ‘Dirty Politics’.
(Hooton gave Hager’s address to Odgers…which could have amounted to a physical threat to Hager…personally I think Hooton should be barred from Radio New Zealand )
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11309750
http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2014/08/16/hagers-dirty-politics-death-threats-or-hit-jobs/
Kathryn Ryan also made sure that Mike Williams ( who is usually over-ridden by Hooton ) had a fair go for a change
…..and Mike Williams was damning about the filth surrounding John Key’s NACT strategy PR emails ….
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/20146062/political-commentators-matthew-hooton-and-mike-williams
did he deny he passed on the street name.
no Hooton has not denied it, that I have heard……(nor has Hooton said he has been defamed by Hager’s book ‘Dirty Politics’…..or Bomber Bradbury on ‘Daily Blog’ , where these claims are made)
…but no one seems to have asked him that question outright..I was waiting for Mike Williams to ask him that question or Kathryn Ryan….why not?
i emailed nine to noon this morning. Their reply to my request to put the address allegation to hooton was that was done last week.
They havent responded at all to my question in the same email if hooton and williams are paid to be on that slot.
if Hooton has replied to that ‘providing of Hager’s address allegation’ I have not heard it…and if it was done last week i would be interested to see a link up with his reply
…because to me it is a VERY serious allegation
…i mean if Hager had been assassinated …would his blood be on the hands of those who provided his address and those who suggested such a possibility and asked for his address? ..and would they be legally culpable in the event?
( as regards payment for Hooton and Williams ….i would expect that this is the case for regular political commentators…but strange radionz is not replying to a simple request for the facts)
they said i would find it here
“This was raised with Mr Hooton last week
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/20145654/dirty-politics-nicky-hager%27s-book “
This needs to be transcribed…but from what i can ascertain from that link:
My conclusion is that the question was not asked properly and nor was it answered directly …the question was not put in its ‘damning’ and ‘threatening’ context….it was tentative , oblique and hasty… and the answer by Hooton was a fudging
…IMO the whole section of the interview needs to be transcribed so others can make up their minds….also I look forward to the emails being directly released on this in order to clarify exactly the dialogue and context in which Hooton released Hager’s address
and despite my pressing, no response on whether hoots and williams are paid. I asked if they were really going to make me do an OIA… no reply
sounds like they are under stress
Matthew Hooten said he believed David Cunliffe would be Prime Minister by the end of the year. I nearly fell over, except I was sitting down. I think he’s read the writing on the wall
Karen -Hooten us usually wrong. Hope not this time.
‘is’ not ‘us’
Methinks key will be having a few more fainting fits soon.
Breaking right now on TV3News .. hacker to release docs today via Twitter …
http://www.3news.co.nz/Whale-Oil-hacker-promises-more-details/tabid/1607/articleID/357289/Default.aspx
(oops .. I see Pete has posted above with direct link to Herald .. but all good news !
657kb .zip file has been linked to from the @WhaleDump twitter account.
Don’t usually open .zip files so will have to look for a good software to do so… but it is there for others better prepared than me.
They’ve been reposted to https://imgur.com/a/i8lQT – a handful of image files.
molly .. I can’t see where the zip file attached on that acct ? Can you help me with where to look pse ? thx
https://twitter.com/whaledump/status/501171743806214144
Link’s dead already. That was damn fast. Lucky enough of us got hold of the material before it went down.
interesting isn’t it ?
So what does that mean? Can’t we get to see them now?
see Pete’s post at 29.1.1
I run all my internet-based apps, and anything I have the slightest uncertainty about, in a Sandboxie instance:
http://www.sandboxie.com
“Protection from rogue software, spyware and malware by isolating your browser, PDF reader, and applications in a sandbox
Run programs in a sandbox to prevent rogue software, unwanted programs, spyware, viruses, worms, and other malware from making permanent changes to your machine
Protect yourself from a wide variety of attacks - ranging from botnets to banking Trojans and ransomware to run of the mill viruses
Configure your own sandboxes to meet your specific needs - install new software directly into a sandbox, run multiple copies of the same on-line game, turn a single-instance application into a multi-user application."
And it’s free (and hopefully not bugged!).
Slater: “People with much more to lose than I do will now fall in behind me and others who don’t break the law to hunt down everyone involved with this. Poor Nicky Hager. He’s really been minced here.”
Yes Cam, everyone is going to ‘fall in behind you’. Of course they are.
Pretty bold for a convicted criminal.
Let’s remember that it’s not just Slater. As well as Odgers and Hooton publicising Nicky Hager’s address and smacking their lips over the prospect of harm – or worse – coming to him, we have the Penguin’s mate, Jordan Williams issuing a threat to Helen Kelly as well: https://twitter.com/JordNZ/status/501113656784863232
“Be very careful”, he says. Bluster or not, effective or not, there you have an insight into their personalities. Pure evil.
Hooton was very subdued on Ryan’s show this morning, but he shouldn’t be there at all.
Agreed Hooton shouldn’t be on radionz!
And Bomber Bradbury is also having a go at their shoddy editorial policy and journalism
‘Open letter to Radio NZ – you need to make a retraction now’
By Martyn Bradbury / August 18, 2014
“I have just sent this off to Radio NZ right now…
Don’t know how to publish this but as Lynn says funny numbers of Whaleoil traffic scores. Graphs included.
Retweeted 207 times
Kim Dotcom @KimDotcom Aug 16
I did a traffic analysis on WhaleOil. Turns out it’s ShrimpOil. Lots of fake traffic & bots. #HagerBook check this: pic.twitter.com/NH6ZuI2owu
Embedded image permalink
Found the whaleoil lower visits via Pete above inside
http://t.co/GEBuowOQDr. #hagerbook— Tim Murphy (@tmurphyNZH) August 17, 2014
Correction #hagerbook
Better https://twitter.com/hashtag/hagerbook?src=hash
Vast majority visits from bots.
Two key stats struck me from the data
Only 30% of visits from NZ
and 81% from from safari (mainly mac browser)
Chrome 1%
Some thoughts overnight .. not fully formed ( need coffee!) but would enjoy some discussion … no page numbers yet but will get them in … I just need to get this in here now …
Lusk features substantially in Dirty Politics, including his manifesto of how to control the future of politics in NZ and move National hard right by bringing in young men and ‘training’ them. He is quoted as saying he has been able to get three of his ‘candidates’ elected including Jamie Lee-Ross and Mark Mitchell.
Now we know of Slater’s payments from big tobacco via Carrick Graham. And now, isn ‘t it true there are three young National candidates all from tobacco backgrounds ? (Have to do my research on names but you’ll be getting my drift.)
Clutha is the most obvious with English’s replacement in such a safe Blue seat ( or is it ?) — can someone down there ( journalist or constituent) ask this of the new National candidate: ” Are you employing Lusk, or have you employed Lusk at any time as an adviser of any type whatsoever? Have you ever paid him any money for any contracted services?”
Likewise, the other two young tobacco-backed candidates ? Let’s out the discussion on them now as probable Lusk ‘operatives’ before it goes any further, for the sake of NZ and our democracy.
(And please, feel free to add in the gaps I have missed in my urgency!)
Todd Barclay is Clutha Southland National candidate who needs to be asked about Simon Lusk.
And correction .. Lusk claims to have two of his three candidates elected, not three as I posted above. ( Wonder who the lost cause was ?)
Thats a bit weird. I replied to you yeshe at your 12.27 post and didn’t see the 12.38 post above where you mention Todd Barclay.
After I posted my reply at 5.37 I returned to find the 12.38 post………………
So sorry, I wasn’t intending to double up on naming Todd Barclay.
I’ve been thinking about the fag lobby candidates too yeshe. Todd ‘baby tory boy’ Barclay is the Nat candidate in Clutha Southland and Chris Bishop is in Hutt South.
Their path to candidacy needs to be investigated – no time to speculate now, gotta dash, but I do agree, a mighyt big spot light needs to shine on them
thx rosie .. we can keep on it … I think it’s important to us all.
Ha! https://twitter.com/whaledump. A couple of followers this morning, a couple of thousand at lunchtime. I think I know what’s leading the 6 o’clock news tonight!
First release … some teasers. I’m working my way through the list.
https://t.co/a4frPqb7nf
The Kevin Taylor ones are about some questions beign asked at the time on the Standard.
Mega says the file no longer exists ?? TRP — can you help pse ?
https://imgur.com/a/i8lQT
thx joe
The dump is mainly screenshots of emails between Cam Slater and Jason Ede. Oddly Cam writes to Ede, but someone called ‘political.animal’ replies. The same person appears to use the handle nzedjed.
NZedJed has some interesting habits, including a porn portfolio.
nzedjed also copies DPF into some email exchanges with Slater.
Slater claims Jami Lee Ross as ‘his mate’. Some relationship! JLR will “do as he is told”.
First news bulletin:
http://www.3news.co.nz/Whale-Oil-hacker-uploads-email-screenshots/tabid/1607/articleID/357289/Default.aspx
One of the screenshots is of an email exchange on how to organise an OIA request but it must be a fake because according to Slater: “I don’t think I’ve ever received an email from a Jason Ede detailing Official Information Act requests.”
Chapter two: The PM’s black ops man, p.28.
Ede was also at a political.animal101 address as well as nzedjed. So it was Ede replying.
When has NZ politics been this car crash fascinating? And I thought this election was going to be a boring Nat walkover smugfest. I feel we should all buy Mr Hager a beer. This Twitter stuff must mean that heads will roll now, surely? How can that nice Mr Key get away with this ‘whatever’ denial sh*t? He must sacrifice raging boot Collins at least.
Courtesy of Mr Brown over on Public Address.
https://imgur.com/a/i8lQT
http://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-dirty-politics/?p=320231#post320231
Just wondering at what stage John Armstrong calls for John Key to resign? I mean, the Don Liu thing looks like kindergarten compared to what we are seeing in Dirty Politics.
IF the no surprises policy was in place before the sis declassified and/or released OIA stuff to slater, as opposed to dminion, then does the following make a liar of the liar in chief, again?
As some here may know i have been pursuing the underlying facts to a statement made by bill english to the data forum. Following a request for an extension by the MSD i complained to the Ombudsmen. That office has chased it up and two things emerged. The one relevant to the PM is contained in this from the MSD
” In terms of providing the information to the Minister’s Office, this is required of the Ministry as part of the “no surprises” approach. All requests made under the Official Information Act, regardless of their content and nature, must be provided to the Responsible Minister for their information as part of this approach. The “no surprises” approach is consistent with guidelines provided by the State Services Commission and the Cabinet Manual which emphasise that a Department or Ministry ought to advise the Responsible Minister of issues that may be discussed in the public arena or that may require a ministerial response, preferably ahead of time or otherwise as soon as possible “
Have just written to Canon Managing Director copying their PR officer to ask if they understand that Canon 2014 Blogger of the Year Cameron Slater’s website is called Well I’ll Be Fucked when it is spoken out loud. Can’t imagine what Head Office Japan would make of it !
Have asked them to withdraw the 2014 Blogger of the Year award, outlining numerous reasons.
This is email addy for Canon managing director if you wish to do something similar …
Yusuke.Mizoguchi@canon.co.nz
It’s a little thing to do, but it matters.
They have referred me to this which explains in the last paragraphs that Canon have not complained or asked for the award to be withdrawn:
http://www.canonmediaawards.co.nz/announcements/newspaper-publishers-rebuff-attacks-on-canon
The note back from Canon encourages me to think that if more people complain directly to Canon, it can give them weight to use. I do not think they are very happy at all about this.
Anyone out there a Canon customer with cameras, printers etc .. drop them a line pse !
I don’t really think John Key is a bad man. Sure, he’s been a money trader all his life which is a profession that we on the more socially conscious end of the political spectrum find bewildering and distasteful. Common belief is that it is a non productive sector of the financial industry and serves no purpose to the enrichment of mankind. Money traders seem to me to be laughing, parasitic ticket clippers.
Anyway as I said, that notwithstanding, I don’t think John Key is evil. He is arrogant, but not evil. That arrogance though has caused him to lose his office somewhere along the line. I think Eagleson, Ede, Lusk, Slater, and Collins are evil and John Key has allowed that culture to flourish under his preference for light touch management.
Now he finds himself in a spot of bother.
I think what he did to NZ currency when he was a trader was downright evil. And if this has flourished, as you suggest, because his arrogance confused him because of his ‘light touch’ then he is not fit to hold any office, much less our PM. Sorry Weepu’s B .. can’t agree.
I agree he’s not fit to hold office. The hands off, two stage style he’s brought to NZ government is very damaging, and NZ would be a better place this boil having been lanced, imo. John Key has brought a culture of personality to NZ politics not really seen since JFK, and we all know what happened to him.
But could you really see John Key thinking the same things as the vipers in his office, and their odious connections think? I can’t.
It’s the hands-off, hands-clean style of government while underhandedness has been allowed to operate that has been his mistake. I do blame him for that and he should take responsibility for it.
There are many many active voters who still see John Key as a modern deity and these voters are much more active than those who can’t or won’t vote for whatever reason.
Even if National do win this I think JK, and more particularly, The Trout won’t last long afterwards.
Read slater’s description of key’s communication concerning the South Island West Coast mother, then review your opinion…. key leads this destruction of political ethics.
Yes I haven’t read Dirty Politics unfortunately so I might have to change this opinion when I have but I was just trying to say that I don’t think it’s John Key’s overriding evilness that is driving this black ops, but rather his laissez faire attitude to political management which has now got him into trouble. He’s over delegated to some proper evil men and women as far as I can see and for that he has to go.
Hi Weepu’s beard,
My view is that the ‘hands-off’ approach to management is done quite deliberately by Key so that (a) he can dump any bad consequences on others without taking any responsibility (or losing any popularity), and (b) he can get the benefit of their activities while not being himself implicated should they ‘stretch’ the ethical boundaries.
It’s a form of ‘benign’ neglect which I think he has learnt gets him off the hook in many situations for which he actually bears formal responsibility.
I also don’t think it was any accident that Key brought someone like Ede into his project to be Prime Minister. And I don’t think that Key ‘misjudged’ Ede’s character. I don’t think John Key is easily fooled by young, politically ambitious things.
Key would have known what he was getting with Ede. I think Key reads people quite well. (I’m assuming Key had something to do with Ede being brought on board – I don’t know that for certain.)
I also think this kind of management style is probably pretty much how Key has operated most of his life.
I don’t think a word like ‘evil’ is useful to describe this approach either, but largely because it is too vague and simplistic.
Key’s value set – from what I can gather from his public behaviour – is largely centred on his own personal ‘achievement’ which, I think, leads him to minimise – and disown – the ethical issues surrounding the means to the end of that ‘achievement’ (hence ‘deals’ that ‘cut corners’ and seeing culpability as a tactical problem rather than a moral issue).
Remember that he came to adulthood at pretty much the same time that the Douglas reforms opened up massive opportunities for people keen to ‘succeed’ – at least materially and in terms of status.
I think he rode along with the self-centred values of those days, largely because they were compatible with the goals he formed as a result of his earlier developmental experiences – an outsider’s background, a doting mother who favoured him over his sisters and a growing desire not just to run with the cool crowd but to beat it at its own game. (He has always wanted to be top dog.)
He has been able to ‘beat it’ through cultivating an extreme disjunction between the persona he presents to others (relaxed, not too bothered about things, smiley) and his own, private strategic goal-setting (very determined, very serious and of utmost priority to him).
The latter self apparently comes to the fore when he is challenged or needs to ‘deal’ with someone – his acquaintances and colleagues have called it a ‘core of steel’, I think.
Or you could call it a ‘two track‘ kind of persona/self, if you like.
But, who knows, I could be wrong and he might actually be this very straightforward chap for whom the line ‘what you see is what you get’ was originally coined.
W.B. Your kind remarks about John Key are very generous of you, and a credit to your character. I must agree with you that John Key is not “evil” as such. For that man, selling out our country, selling out our people, selling out our future, is simply business, not personal.
Vote them all out.
Yeah, that’s it. It’s an ideology of his. We, as more socially inclusive and socially conscious people, hold an opposite ideology.
I just think the guy must be extremely embarrassed at the moment hence the attacking of the messanger, Hager, but he must have known about all this stuff, having read WO and having kept up with the the new media, blogs, as he himself has claimed to have done.
Maybe he’s too reliant on Crosby Textor speak, and that has been his undoing.
He’s a crook, way back when .. do you remember when he was first outed on his Trans Rail shares ? And that was so minor compared with what has gone on. If you stand it Weepu, read the book. I knew it would be awful, yet still I was very shocked and am still trying to rid myself of their filth. Key is not innocent, much as I have faith in my fellow humans. I cannot find a single instance where he might be right; sorry !!
And I don’t believe that he is embarrassed in any way .. he doers not have integrity to feel it.
http://www.medialawjournal.co.nz/?p=635
by Steven Price, Nicky Hager’s lawyer. Great read.
‘How @whaledump might destroy the popular vote for National’
By Martyn Bradbury / August 18, 2014
“National are in meltdown, they just don’t know it yet…
.
– See more at: http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2014/08/18/how-whaledump-might-destroy-the-popular-vote-for-national/#sthash.YQ900WKe.dpuf
Rattled and closing out with a wee wobble of the voice.
http://www.3news.co.nz/Full-interview-Judith-Collins-on-Aaron-Bhatnagar/tabid/1607/articleID/357338/Default.aspx
amazing interview
look at her face when he first mentions Aaron Bhatnagar
yes .. Collins did all the classic rapid eye movements of the proven caught-out liar .. smells of fear almost !
Where have all the right wing diverters, and distractors gone?
Yes karol. Especially the diverter extradinaire – – – Steven Joyce ?
Waiting for cam to tell them it aint so, as they sob into their warm moet.
“At the end of the day.”……..
yes.. what is with ” …at the end of the day…”?
is it a deliberate distraction or a meddled mind trying to stick to a script.
a tactic I used as a young fella in the military was during a barrack inspection I would have something minor or trivial wrong eg crooked beret. this would attract attention, often away from a more serious shortcoming.
kinda like pointing away and saying “look! a baby wolf”
haha I’ve used the same trick on building inspectors before. There’s a certain breed of authoritarian who won’t be happy until they’ve picked you up on something, so you’re best to throw them a small bone.
End of the day? Could it be a subconscious acknowledgement that the clock is running out?
buying time, buying a breathing space, not wanting to deal with the turmoil of the here and now.
I think “end of the day” is a bit of a stalling tactic. It is similar to “let’s take a step back”. It is aimed at giving Key time to take a breath and regain his composure, and regain control of the interview.
I noticed in that RNZ interview I transcribed today: the “end of the day” kept being repeated about the time Key’s voiced squeaked, as he tried to defend Collins – that squeak is a sign that he’s physically feeling under extreme pressure.
Remember when they used to just literally go “Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahh” until they thought of something?
Annoying, but more honest than this post-modern “as long as it sound like words” nonsense.
Just read on Bomber’s site that at this end of the day brought a new post at whaledump of a Carpenters’ album cover .. Close To You. And the first track is We’ve Only Just Begun !
All this and humour too ? Love it and making more popcorn ….
Dirty Politics – 11,000 sold and orders still coming at a great rate according to the bookshops. Not going away any time soon.
That’s weird, little Matty Hooten said on rnz this morning that there were only 4000 printed.
He wouldn’t just make up blatant lies, would he!? Not on the radio, surely!!
@tracey .. you asked earlier about any response from Duncan Garner .. it’s here for you and it’s angry and decisive.
http://www.radiolive.co.nz/Duncan-Garner-Dirtiest-election-campaign-ever—and-mud-sticks/tabid/674/articleID/52542/Default.aspx
Speaking of filthy fucking disgusting pigs, did anyone catch the warning shot Slater fired in his Tel Aviv interview?
The bit about how mates are supposed to stick by one another?
I reckon that one was aimed right at the top.
Yeah these types are all great mates until one of them becomes a serious liability. At which stage they won’t even take your calls.
Then the google of Conferences in Tel Aviv came up with a self help psychology self help conference may well be true!
Lets keep to criticising the behaviour and not the Man !
The last thing we need is for us to be seen as the bad guys!
Must read blog post by Nicky Hager’s sister, on Nicky and Dirty Politics:
The Whaledump thing is a bit silly.
Posting memes, etc.
Don’t get me wrong, I like a good meme but this is a juvenile way to be delivering this important information and opens the door for National to ridicule it.
If the emails had to be released, which I don’t think they did, wouldn’t it have been better to do it without comment? Once anonymous, always anonymous?
Better to let the media fight it in a professional way at this stage.
Nah you can’t fucking trust the mainstream news without leveraging them with alternative media and other alternative channels.
READ THE BOOK weepu.
What do we think of the current SIS Boss, Rebecca Kitteridge coming out and backing up Key’s story of the events surrounding releasing OIA information to Slater, the same day it was asked for, in a couple of hours I believe. How would Miss Kitteridge know everything that went on that day, she would only have written documents to go on, what about phone calls and private conversations with the PM or members of his staff? Why is Warren Tucker, the SIS boss at the time, not confirming Key’s story? Apparently, from what I can work out, he was SIS boss till the end of April this year.
Exactly. Kitteridge’s assurances are not worth jack. She wasn’t even employed by the SIS at the time this was going down. She won’t know anything that isn’t on the official record and if Key used SIS info as a political hit, there won’t be a single document in existence confirming that. It would all be done off the record in private conversations between Key and Tucker.
Only Tucker can give the assurance that he and only he was behind it. And then he will still be left with the question of how Cameron Slater knew ahead of time that his request was not only being granted, but expedited, and also what it contained.
Key has dug himself a bigger hole!
Phil Goff should follow up on that as we have seen if the right question Key Collins etc turn that into false allegations conspiracy theory allegation cunning character assassinations