I have to wonder what govt has to do when NZ hears today that despite what some people claimed was "impossible" only 6 farms out of 230 farms are left with Mycco Bovis saving $1.3 billion in exports Many in the affected sector still seems to have issues with the far-sighted approach by govt surely working with them has been proven to be the best was y forward for them & NZ
Once again, Jacinda and c/o listening to the science. Great results we are having from that. Expecting the various parties to be thankful? Well some are, but some … just the recalcitrant few diehards want to "Do it their way". Farmers are now leaning on their own to use NAIT . National Animal Identification Tracing.
Dilara’s entire family are model citizens. Her parents are also fluent Chinese speakers – slightly unusual for Uighurs of their generation. During the 1990s, they were among the only Uighurs working at a big, state-owned utility in Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang.
Her mother had landed the coveted position because she was the top student at her school, which was almost entirely Han. Dilara grew up amongst Han Chinese, in a modern apartment complex in a desirable part of town. Like her mother, she was the top student in school, and attended a prestigious university on China’s east coast.
But then Dilara made a mistake. She moved to Turkey with her husband in 2015.Her mother came to visit, staying a year to help care for their newborn baby. When her mother returned to China in early 2018, she was told she needed “education”. Her passport was confiscated and she was imprisoned in an internment campfor nearly a year.
Since 2017, up to 1.8 million Uighurs and other Muslims have been held in what researcher Adrian Zenz calls “probably the largest incarceration of an ethno-religious minority since the Holocaust”. Many have been interned for reasons as trivial as wearing headscarves or long beards, declining to eat pork, or in the case of Dilara’s mother, having travelled abroad.Many of them, according to Dilara, have also had their assets seized.
Human rights investigators say an outright genocide is taking place. As Uighur men have disappeared into prison or forced labor compounds while mosques and other religious sites have been demolished, Uighur women are being forcibly sterilised, given abortions and IUDs. Many Uighurs abroad fear that speaking out will incur retaliation against their family members back home. For that reason, Dilara asked to use only her first name. Lawyers have filed evidence to the international criminal court calling on it to investigate senior Chinese officials, including Xi Jinping, for genocide and crimes against humanity.
As 2018 dragged on with no word of her mother’s whereabouts, Dilara’s anxiety mounted. Her relatives deleted her from their phones and a Han Chinese stranger moved into her 85-year-old grandmother’s house, part of a surveillance campaign that has sent more than a million Chinese citizens to occupy Uighur households. Her grandmother, Dilara learned later, would curse the man every day in Uighur, a language he couldn’t understand. “She wasn’t afraid, because she’s so old,” Dilara said.
Finally, after close to a year, Dilara received a message from an aunt: “She’s out.” Dilaraand her husband worked for Chinese companies in Turkey who had sent letters on the family’s behalf, “telling them we love China, we’re not bad people, and we’re not terrorists”.
What is most upsetting to Dilara – and what compels her to speak out – is that none of her Han Chinese friends know what is happening. During the year her mother was interned, she tried to tell her colleagues about the camps, but “they would always say, ‘No you must be wrong, that can’t be.’”. Her company paid for return trips to China every few months, and each time, her colleagues would ask why she wasn’t coming home too. “I kept telling them, we can’t go back, but they don’t believe me,” she said. To this day, Dilara thinks of herself as both Uighur and Chinese; the identities are not mutually exclusive.
Thanks for that info Dennis F. I had heard that something bad was going on but hadn't seen details. If enough people wrote to the Chinese asking why they don't let the people live freely as long as they are living good lives, would sheer weight of numbers have an affect I wonder? Like Amnesty International have done for years. It is so sad that people everywhere are so inventive in ways of being inhuman, and the leaders decide inhumanity is the most efficient way to treat other humans – but not themselves.
No, almost zero chance of any effect. The problem is a collective mentality combined with hegemony. Imperialism being recycled via communist ideology. Conformity is required by the system.
In ecosystems, biodiversity normally prevails and stabilises the system via mutual interactions. Hierarchies in nature are bounded by that holistic context. Our problem is the UN fails at such operational holism, allowing the monoculture in China to suppress biodiversity.
Our problem is the UN fails at such operational holism
The problem is that the UN and the international law it represents is voluntary and so some countries simply both even if they've signed on to being part of the UN.
But can you imagine the outcry from the US/China/Russia and permanent members of the UNSC if the UN was made mandatory and with the teeth to enforce international law? They all have, in one way or another, been breaking international law for decades.
It's a press release from the company developing the treatment, not a peer-reviewed independent report, and the sample size of 100 is small. But the claimed improvements in outcomes are much stronger than any other treatments, and delivering it as an aerosol (more or less like an inhaler) sounds simple and easy. So it's definitely one to watch.
That is what I'd expect to see first out of gate – a series of treatments to alleviate severe symptoms and death rates.
The front-leading vaccines are currently completing phase II testing. That is small trials testing that the vaccine candidate isn't immediately toxic, and that there are signs it may have something of the desired effect. Now they have the slower statistical study on efficiacy.
Clinical development is a three-phase process. During Phase I, small groups of people receive the trial vaccine. In Phase II, the clinical study is expanded and vaccine is given to people who have characteristics (such as age and physical health) similar to those for whom the new vaccine is intended. In Phase III, the vaccine is given to thousands of people and tested for efficacy and safety.
Many vaccines undergo Phase IV formal, ongoing studies after the vaccine is approved and licensed.
As Treetop says, the Oxford crowd appear to be getting particularly close.
The Phase III issue I'm most curious about is whether anybody jumps into the ethical minefield of doing challenge trials to accelerate finding out how effective their vaccine actually is. Then what the reaction might be if a group somewhere say in China or Russia 'proved' their vaccine was safe and effective using -ahem- involuntary challenge trials.
Well,well,well. Judith has been sent info from somebody accusing a Labour MP of SOMETHING, possibly INNAPROPRIATE She had passed info to Jacinda for her deal with. Cough. And so it begins.
The key exchange happens at around the seven minute mark., The question about Labour comes completely out of the blue. There was no reason to ask it unless he knew the answer would be "yes". Collins is not surprised or phased by the question at all and doesn't miss a beat before answering. Garner does not seem surprised or phased at all by the answer given. If you believe Garner wasn't told to ask that question, I have a bridge to sell you.
She was going to be heavily attacked today about the 'mental health' line both Falloon and herself peddled on Monday. It was a clear attempt to deceive in order to minimise the damage, but the media didn't agree and were to continue to question her on it.
Collin's says "I am not going to be indulging in any attacks on Labour on these things.” The hyppcrisy beggars belief. If the media doesn't pick up on this there's something extremely wrong.
Judith Collins told the media on the Monday (after receiving the info. from the PM’s Office the previous Friday) by way of announcing Falloon was stepping down at the election for mental health reasons. It subsequently changed when she learned the extent of his behaviour and he was effectively sacked.
There are some people who have mental consequences because of how serious historical complaints were not cleared up when a person took their complaint to their then MP, the then police minister, the then PM or the then minister of justice and the then police commissioners were incompetent.
This is not to say that the issue is serious and needs to be dealt with.
What is obvious, is the tactics have changed. Instead of tipping off a bottom feeding blogger, they are peddling dirt to a sympathetic, cash strapped TV show.
AND, Collins had to defend the observation she is putting it in the public domain. 'I was asked a question and I answered it…' type shenanagins.
I would like to know the date of the alleged incident and what action was taken by the complainant and if no action taken then there could be a reason e.g. loss of income, protecting family, a he said I said situation.
I would not hesitate in going to the PM or the current police commissioner with a current issue as I think they are honest and serving the public is a core belief.
Is this a credible allegation of “something or another”? If it is not a genuine case, Labour should not turn the other cheek yet again. The Boag, Woodhouse and ‘whites only’ Walker Covid playbook, surely has got the point through to Labour HQ–the Nats ARE out to get you!
The NZ National dirty tricks dept. never sleeps–it will be operating on twin turbo boost with nitrous until it exhumes or manufactures something that will stick.
Mrs Collins has been humiliated with a backbencher’s behaviour so egregious, and proven, as to be undeniable–she will not let that go–she will attempt to “pay back double” with lashings of caustic interest.
Nigel Latta needs to do a special episode of Beyond the Darklands dediciated to Collins. Her many disorders makes her closer to evil than anyone Latta's studied.
If Collins is really clever, she will have something that is substantiated, but will have no intention of letting the Prime Minister know what it is. Note that she has simply arranged to have some unspecified third party get in touch with Ardern. As to whether that person has any intention of doing so, or whether they even exist… who knows? At some point closer to the election, Collins could arrange to have some proxy release the information, and then say, "Remember when I said weeks ago that someone got hold of me with some information on a Labour minister? This was it, and look, the Prime Minister knew way back then, and she's done nothing about it." When the inevitable objection is raised that Ardern is only proven to have heard that there was something, but not what or in connection with whom, Collins could rejoin, "Well, I told her what I knew, if she's so incompetent or her ministers so untrustworthy that she can't get to the bottom of it, that's nothing to do with me."
If Collins were to pull that off convincingly, and the media were to play along, it wouldn't even really matter how serious the allegation was. The smear on the Prime Minister would stick. Of course, if Collins were too transparent about it, she would end up looking like as much of a dickhead as Boag, Falloon or Walker.
I have noticed Collins reactions to this whole saga are swinging back and forth. First it was a mental health issue and we must be respectful and back off. Then it was, he is a liar and I'm angry. Today, it's back to being a health issue and we were extremely concerned for his well being.
The inconsistency is shameful. What is being manipulated is shameful.
Collins was asked a direct question? Could she have confirmed in a better way without raising further questions?
Of course she could. She could have said that, as an electorate MP and National front-bencher, she is in constant receipt of various allegations, but that it is important always to do due diligence on the credibility of any claim before making it public in any way, and that it's seldom her place to put anything in the public domain unless it is directly related to government business or concerns members of her own caucus.
As above, my strong suspicion is that Garner was tipped off in advance about what the answer would be if he happened to ask that question. Stripped of any background context, it was a bizarre question to ask in circumstances where Collins has been leader of the National Party for less than a week. She would have been rightly left fuming if she had been asked that question out of the blue and had to answer "no".
If being an apologist for unacceptable practices is your thing, why not work for tobacco companies?
There are 100 ways for a seasoned MP to answer that question and shut down the line of enquiry. E.g., the time when Collins was being grilled about her time in China, trips to airports, sly visits etc
That is, IF the seasoned politician wanted to shut it down….
I'm not apologising for anyone, and I have always been staunchly against tobacco use (both my parents died of smoking related illnesses, emphysema and cancer and both deterred me from smoking) so that's an offensive comment.
There are a hundred ways for determined journalists to persist and to expose any half answers.
It's unsubstantiated speculation that Collins set up the question.
The Latin American countries of Ecuador and Uruguay, for example, have been pioneers of media reform in the 21st Century. These countries launched programs of media reform that challenged their previously corporatized and overwhelmingly right-leaning press. As a result, new community-based media thrived and the public square benefited from a greater diversity of points of views.
If media reform is possible in Latin America, then one can only wonder why it’s never been attempted in the US or UK, especially during previous Democratic or Labour party governments. The answer to this is that recent presidents and prime ministers from these parties (particularly Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and Tony Blair) were ideologically in support of neoliberal domestic policies and neoconservative foreign policies.
But guys, the reason leftist govts in western countries don't do media reform is because they want to defend the establishment against progress. If that isn't obvious to you by now, you really are a bunch of slow learners.
Ruling and exploiting society is only any good if the society remains functional to some extent. Trump is taking it too far even for the likes of our capitalist rulers.
Collins publicly passing on allegations. Fuck she is toxic and undeniably delving into Dirty Politics. Isn’t Brownlee head of their newSecret Service disinformation division?
So now I can send the leader of the opposition a letter alleging something about the behaviour of one of her MPs, tell leaders of other parties I've done that, let one media person know and it's all on?
Yeah I get that there will be some shit thrown back at Labour, and of course Collins is going to publicise it being the dick she is. However there is a principle of not being there in the first place. – ie keeping above the level and genuine integrity. Hopefully it is not substantiated but I will be seriously pissed off with any Labour MP who thinks they are so entitled that they think they can get away with stuff. FFS they have one job – to keep their noses clean and carry on doing the good work they are doing and support their awesome leader and not give her any frigging shit to deal with
That is true. There can be and will be MP's on the lefter side of politics who do the wrong thing – and let progressives everywhere down in the process. As individuals we can control that and reduce our exposure to dirty dealings of the right.
Lenore I suggest that you don't emote about something before you know it has happened, and get full details of it. There is plenty to be concerned about that is definitely happening. Try reading Dennis Frank's comment on the Chinese treatment of Uighurs at 2 above. Now that breaks my heart and should also concern you. So why not think about the real problems in the world. Labour being called out for some possibly slanderous infraction should not be a reason to create negativity about the Party which is doing well in trying times.
This is a dead cat on the table moment no doubt organised by Crosby Textor and Topham Guerin to take away the blow-torch which was on Judith for the deceitful way she treated the Andrew Fallon mental health claim.
Yesterday even Duplicity-Allen didn’t buy that story.
This is National Party Dirty Politics continuing apace. It never really stopped, did it.
I would say it was cooked up by some Nat lackeys who arranged for someone to report something directly to Collins who would have been left out of the loop to enable plausible deniability when the shit hit the fan.
I'm picking Chris Bish or M Woodhouse to be secret informer. Followed by Homeless Man, who seems to be quite sneaky. If none of the above has to be a Young Nat.
There’s a chronic leaker in Dunedin. Apparently, somebody tipped off Judith Collins that David Clark allegedly has been spotted riding a bike in his backyard wearing lycra.
"I have complete faith in my officials" They come across as really nice people.
Oh shit, maybe I shouldn't have unquestioning faith in my officials:
"That message should have been brought to my attention. It wasn't. That does not meet my expectations and I've made that clear." ….. not withstanding previous examples such as all those "scummy" people; demographic spreadsheets; "we have enough Labour Inspectors"; under-resourcing; "Kaiser Smol"; curvy screens; failed restructures, etc., etc…….
Never mind! Once again, Jacinda to the rescue:
"What I can assure anyone potentially involved in a case is regardless of whether they are present or not we have a track record of pursuing cases where there is exploitation of workers regardless of whether or not they are able to testify in court."
(That's of course if we decide to pursue a case in the first place)
Great to hear all your thoughts about this. Just listening to RNZ feedback and people saying that this is dirty politics and the difference about Jacinda not going public and Judith mentioning it in the media.
How come this scuttlebutt becomes top priority? We have plenty of other things concerning us. The country can't be put on hold every time someone is accused of an obscene gesture, or says something inappropriate.
James identifies their tactic of `ankle-tapping'. But if you have a political party that was designed as reactionary, why wouldn't they default to reacting? Being pro-active in signalling their response at the start of policy development is ideal, and I see James as coming from that position, but I recall checking out the NZF website a long time ago and not encountering any policy. Conservatives just defend the status quo!
On Farrar's blog on Sunday he was suppressing a few posts and later posters & from the gleeful tone of the tiny bits that were left it did not seem to be about the Falloon upheaval.
Sounded more like an unsubstantiated 'scandal'/dirt or what qualifies as dirt in Nats' eyes, to do with Labour. Mind you with them it is a bit of shock horror still to have an PM who was pregnant and gave birth while still being PM.
What was Falloon doing in 2014? How many of those young nats of 2014 are now in parliament? If they got away with that behaviour then, they must surely believe they can do it now.
This is an old comment but has anything really changed? When national mps try to tell me that Falloon’s behaviour is not their party’s values or mps’ values or their favoured bloggers’ values, they are spinning.
I must read Dirty Politics again – renew my understanding of something I hoped might not be happening in 2020.
Judith Collins has not changed her attack culture. Good to see that proved. New Zealanders need to see it anew. Nat acquaintances now saying they forgot her history; I remind them. And now, so is Judith Collins.
"There is speculation that Lees-Galloway has already resigned. He has deleted his Twitter account."
Jacinda appears to be acting quickly. That is good. If the "crime" is serious then he will not stand at the next election. Wonder if these behaviours have always been in Parliament but out of sight?
There has been "speculation" for a while. Rumours both true and false
JA has handled this well. extremely well
There are further questions of course …… such as how the matter has been handled with "the agency" itself, and whether or not the incident has had any effect on the way they operate 'ethically'.
Jacinda did a brilliant job. May be we should question whether men should be in politics at all, they do let their hormones run away with them. I do worry when I get on a plane with a male pilot – will they be ok? Men have historically had a great difficulty dealing with complexity and I know we are all for equal rights, but scientific studies do show… 🙂
He he I've wondered that myself. Plus should they pay higher tax to offset the costs of police, corrections, justice which are consumed pretty much by males?
Not only should there be a cabinet manual, but probably a cabinet crib sheet. It could include various 'demographic profiles' like
1. If you are a male who is possibly going through your mid-life crisis ………..
Various DOs and DONT's like
– get a prostitute and pay well (not on the taxpayer), or if you don't fit the 'straight' profile, then go to the Tory Street Temple (because what plays in Vegas, stays in Vegas – unless there's a fire alarm, in which case all bets are off)
– Never get a taxi with your bit of fluff, and if you do need transport, better a friend or even an UBER or OLA because chances are it'll all be kept within the community, even though you have been a party to allowing most of them to be ripped off.
– etc.
2. If you are a male who has campaigned on the importance of "the family"……..
-etc.
I'm not sure I'm an expert though. I seem to be the only person I know that wasn't "shocked" and horrified at Todd Muller's resignation (after having witnessed his managerial brilliance) in the Bay of Plentyness.
The senior ranks of the Public Service of course would need something similar.
Collins did not manage her first as Leader in Question very well yesterday.
Today she will try to embarrass Jacinda with this question:
1. Hon JUDITH COLLINS to the Prime Minister: Does she stand by her statement that “when we’re talking about infrastructure, it’s not just about the projects we in the Government are responsible for, we also have the opportunity to partner with communities, with iwi and local government. That’s what the $2.6 billion worth of shovel-ready projects we announced earlier this week were all about”?
JC , like a jack-in-the-box, will run to the media again with a new thought tomorrow, pose with her flirty "finger guns" and announce a new ' tough on crime' policy….. the stoning of adulterers
Speaking to reporters outside the House, Seymour said Peters was simply repeating "sleazy, baseless innuendo saying things that never happened" in the House.
"I categorically deny involvement in that leak – I had nothing to do with it."
He said that Morton did not give him information and he did not pass on any information, as alleged by Peters in the House.
"The reason this accusation is being made is we're in a personal relationship – he's abusing that fact and I think that's a new low for New Zealand politics."
Seymour said Peters is struggling in the polls and is "finished and is now trying to drag other people down with him".
"Winston Peters is a desperate man making it up and in this case, telling lies."
He said he didn't know anything about Peters superannuation payments until they hit headlines.
As I understand the legal process he may struggle to use new information on an appeal. Especially as here he seems to be claiming that someone other than the five people he took to court were guilty – that effectively would confirm he got his original case wrong.
He could take Morton and Seymour and Watkins and Farrar to court in a separate case perhaps. but I think all Peters is targeting at the moment is the election.
If the appeal is part of the election campaign it could be the most expensive after National’s ‘Lose Yourself’ one. How stupid naive is WP when it comes to legal affairs, in your opinion?
I don't know in general, but he seems to have really botched his legal action against Bennett, Tolley, Hughes, Boyle and the Ministry of Social Development.
Even if he somehow manages to successfully appeal the $320k costs he can't recover what it has cost him directly.
He has admitted he had the wrong people in court.
And I'm sure he can't substitute five defendants for another however many people he claims were actually guilty in an appeal. If he proves it was someone else it proves his original court action was flawed.
He will be able to argue that the level of costs is overstated, and that ultimately the MSD was responsible for the information being leaked due to their negligence in providing the information outside of the allowed usage. Basically the MSD should pay much of the costs for the consequences of their actions as a legal entity. Offhand I think that he has a far better case against the costs than he had in trying to identify the perpetrator of the leak.
I suspect that there are quite a lot of grounds to argue on. Especially as this is a civil rather than a criminal case and one that has a high public interest component. I don’t know about you, but if I had someone leaking any private information about me from the MSD of IRD or MOH or anywhere, then I’d start by considering how to abolish that part of the public service and making everyone there unemployable – then I’d work down to how I could run the vendetta to get close to that objective.
There is essentially no difference between this and Hager winning a case against the banks for passing out information to the police without going through the mandated procedures like getting a production order from the court.
and that ultimately the MSD was responsible for the information being leaked due to their negligence in providing the information outside of the allowed usage.
MSD has played a large part in this whole business.
I'm not sure that Peters has a great chance of success on the appeal – the evidential difficulties in proving who leaked the information to news media remain. There remains some hope for Peters, the High Court judge was very close to finding that even release of Peters' name to the ministers by the relevant departmental chief executives was improper, but determined that in the circumstances of the case, with close proximity to an investigation of another Member of Parliament, Metiria Turei, there was a heightened need for the minister to be informed.
He addresses another issue:
But there is another aspect of this case that concerns me today. Peters lost and as usually happens when someone loses a civil claim in New Zealand, the Court ordered that the party that lost make a contribution towards the legal fees of the party that succeeded. In this case, Peters was ordered to pay around $320,000. He wasn't ordered to pay all of the defendants' costs, which are likely to have been substantially higher.
This is an utterly ridiculous sum. The numbers don't surprise me: I know that litigation is expensive, but the legal system should be embarrassed that a claim of this nature, even one that was ultimately unsuccessful, could result in the losing party being ordered to pay so exorbitant a sum.
Now, Peters' claim was probably more complex than most civil claims. There were five defendants and three sets of lawyers. And while it's well short of the most complex commercial disputes, an eight-day civil trial is relatively lengthy. But still. $320,000 in costs covering only some of the expense incurred in defending the claim shows how expensive legal action has become. A $320,000 bill would be ruinous for most people, without even taking account of the costs of taking the action, and given the finding that Peters' privacy was breached, and the Court accepts it was (albeit Peters was unable to prove by whom).
Equally, of course, people defending claims shouldn't be put in the position where they have to spend ruinously large sums either (although, in this case, the defence was government-funded).
The court system should not be so hideously expensive that it is beyond the reach of ordinary people. And it clearly is. This isn't the only case where this is apparent.
You know how expensive court cases can be when someone pursues an agenda with an absence of adequate evidence.
Peters may have also been using the cost of litigation as a way of punishing those he thought responsible.
There is another way he could have tried to fix the no surprises problem.
There is another option, of course: the no surprises principle isn't "law" – it's simply stated in the Cabinet Manual, which Cabinet could change. Peters is the deputy prime minister, and a member of Cabinet: and as he didn't have success in the Courts in vindicating his rights, he could push for it to be changed for the rest of us. That wouldn't fix the breach of privacy that occurred in his case, but it would hopefully make similar breaches less likely in the future.
That would be for the good of the country, but Peters seems more intent on his own good regardless of the costs to the country.
Peters may have also been using the cost of litigation as a way of punishing those he thought responsible.
Unlikely, as far as I am aware all of the parties apart from Peters were lawyer-ed up using the taxpayer as the funding agency. It would appear that the only person at risk of financial damage was Peters. Which makes the premise of your argument look ridiculous.
Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters must pay the Crown $317,818 in legal costs connected to his failed privacy case against top public servants, a ministry and two former National ministers.
The High Court has ordered Peters to pay close to the full amount sought by the Crown on a scale of costs used by the courts – but it is understood the full bill to the taxpayer is around $1.07 million.
And the New Zealand First leader's debt to the Crown is higher than it might have been because he had turned down an offer from Crown lawyers to end his action against the two top public servants, State Services Commissioner Peter Hughes and former Ministry of Social Development chief executive Brendan Boyle.
The point is that the disclosure of the private information appears to have only had one source – it was disclosed from the MSD. Almost certainly leaked through ministerial disclosures one way or another.
That means that the MSD violated its commitments. I'm pretty sure that the crown isn't allowed to do that for any reason that isn't part of legislation – which none of this appears to have been. Needless to say there has been no-one held accountable for this breach. Indeed, so far the courts appear to have been giving a license for public servants to disclose whatever information that they wish, without being given explicit permission to do so – provided there is a minister in the route.
I'm pretty sure that the supreme court will have some issues with that. I know that I damn well do.
I'd be very surprised given that Collins referred the supplier of information to Ardern.
And I'd be very surprised if Collins does anything that would directly connect her to Slater now. That would be political madness, and I think she's smart enough to know that. As far as I have observed she's kept a distance at least on political matters since 2014.
By the sound of things the information about ILG could have come from any number of sources, given how it seems to have been common knowledge in journalist circles for months.
I've seen it mentioned but can't remember where.
Do you think that Ardern nor her office knew nothing about it until alerted by Collins?
"I'd be very surprised given that Collins referred the supplier of information to Ardern."
Don't you think this is just part of Collins trying to look uninvolved and completely blameless? How do you explain Garner's patsy question? How can you "observe" whether Collins and Slater haven't been communicating since 2014? There's no way they wouldn't be communicating and every reason for them to hide that commincation. These people aren't the type to be scared off by Hager's book. Regardless of anything they will continue to do exactly what they do, and the only thing that changes are their methods of attempting to remain undetected and to look squeaky clean.
I think Slater would easily have masked his involvement in this issue; after all, he's well-practiced in deception, as you know. Collins and Slater are besties; their relationship won't have ended because the muggles got a sniff of it, Pete! Or do you reckon they're playing fair now
Do you think that Ardern only found out about it when advised by Collins this week? Surely senior MPs would keep her informed of possible problems in the ranks.
It now appears that Collins has played politics timed for effect, but Ardern may also be guilty of that.
Please tell me which iconic PM came in to Government and instantly dismissed all MPs in their party who were known to be having illicit sex.
Your attempt at equating Jacinda and Judith fails. Jacinda has obviously tried to do the minimum, and refrain. Judith appears to have introduced old material at the time she wanted, and used a patsy question from Garner to publicise the thing in a way that Jacinda did not. Judith could have told Garner that it was not appropriate for her to give any details, which I believe Jacinda would have done. But Judith did not.
It may well be that Garner was primed, that's very common in politics. It happened to me in one of my first political interviews (a lame attempt to embarrass me on local TV by Te Reo Putake as it happens).
But it really didn't make any difference. Ardern says she had already dumped ILG the day before. So why had she not advised the public? Organising PR and timing to suit her? She seems to have been playing the public as much as Collins.
Lame? It worked a treat! You looked like a possum in the headlights, Pete.
However, as I believe I said at the time, you at least had the courage of your convictions and put yourself forward for election. That's very much to your credit.
Didn't John Key steal a pebble from Antarctica and pretend he had forgotten he picked it up? Like the rest of his past and current stable of 'privileged' mps and pretend bipartisan supporters, no morals, no integrity.
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Negative yesterday, negative today. Negative all year, according to one departing reader telling me I’ve grown strident and predictable. Fair enough. If it’s any help, every time I go to write about a certain topic that begins with C and ends with arrrrs, I do brace myself and ask: Again? Are ...
Bryce Edwards writes – It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support ...
Inspirational: The Family of Man is a glorious hymn to human equality, but, more than that, it is a clarion call to human freedom. Because equality, unleavened by liberty, is a broken piano, an unstrung harp; upon which the songs of fraternity will never be played.“Somebody must have been telling lies about ...
Tax Lawyer Barbara Edmonds vs Emperor Justinian I- Nolo Contendere: False historical explanations of pivotal events are very far from being inconsequential.WHEN BARBARA EDMONDS made reference to the Roman Empire, my ears pricked up. It is, lamentably, very rare to hear a politician admit to any kind of familiarity ...
It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support for the various parties in ...
Buzz from the Beehive Housing Minister Chris Bishop delivered news – packed with the ingredients to enflame political passions – worthy of supplanting Winston Peters in headline writers’ priorities. He popped up at the post-Cabinet press conference to promise a crackdown on unruly and antisocial state housing tenants. His ...
Ele Ludemann writes – The Reserve Bank is advertising for a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion advisor. The Bank has one mandate – to keep inflation between one and three percent. It has failed in that and is only slowly getting inflation back down to the upper limit. Will it ...
Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency Waka KotahiThe fact that a ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Gavin Jacobson talks to Thomas Piketty 10 years on from Capital in the 21st CenturyThe SalvoLocal scoop: Green MP’s business being investigated over migrant exploitation claims StuffSteve KilgallonLocal deep-dive: The commercial contractors making money from School ...
It’s a home - but Kāinga Ora tenants accused of “abusing the privilege” may lose it. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Government announced a crackdown on Kāinga Ora tenants who were unruly and/or behind on their rent, with Housing Minister Chris Bishop saying a place in a state ...
This is a guest post by Connor Sharp of Surface Light Rail Light rail in Auckland: A way forward sooner than you think With the coup de grâce of Auckland Light Rail (ALR) earlier this year, and the shift of the government’s priorities to roads, roads, and more roads, it ...
Note: As a paid-up Webworm member, I’ve recorded this Webworm as a mini-podcast for you as well. Some of you said you liked this option - so I aim to provide it when I get a chance to record! Read more ...
TL;DR: In my ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Monday, March 18:IKEA is accused of planting big forests in New Zealand to green-wash; REDD-MonitorA City for People takes a well-deserved victory lap over Wellington’s pro-YIMBY District Plan votes; A City for PeopleSteven Anastasiou takes a close look at the sticky ...
Buzz from the Beehive Here’s hoping for a lively post-cabinet press conference when the PM and – perhaps – some of his ministers tell us what was discussed at their meeting today. Until then, Point of Order has precious little Beehive news to report after its latest monitoring of the ...
David Farrar writes – We now have almost all 2023 data in, which has allowed me to update my annual table of how labour went against its promises. This is basically their final report card. The promiseThe result Build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 ...
I’m a bit worried that I’ve started a previous newsletter with the words “just when you think they couldn’t get any worse…” Seems lately that I could begin pretty much every issue with that opening. Such is the nature of our coalition government that they seem to be outdoing each ...
Geoffrey Miller writes – Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. ...
Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture ...
Last week Transport Minster Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre. The new train control centre will see teams from KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Auckland One Rail working more closely together to improve train services across the city. The Auckland Rail Operations Centre in ...
Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in an exit interview with Q+A yesterday the Government can and should sustain more debt to invest in infrastructure for future generations. Elsewhere in the news in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 6:36am: Read more ...
Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than just a happy ...
TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
“I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
.“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
“It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet – is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
Bob Edlin writes – And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ HeraldThomas CoughlanSimeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
TL;DR:Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it: We want our country to be a ...
The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading → ...
Ele Ludemann writes – The government is omitting general Treaty references from 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 public service on Treaty ...
What was that judge thinking?Peter Williams writes – That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read:Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop:Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
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:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
Buzz from the BeehiveThe text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary. It can be quickly analysed ...
For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
Questions need to be asked on both sides of the worldPeter Williams writes – The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read:Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop:The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
TL;DR:Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
Bob Edlin writes – The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
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. ...
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 ...
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. ...
The New Zealand public voted for a change in direction at the 2023 general election and that is exactly what this coalition government has been delivering in its first 100 days. There was an immediate focus on the economy, easing the cost of living, cracking down on law and order ...
The Government has left the health system as an afterthought, announcing half-baked targets at the last minute of their 100-day plan, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
Kiwis are still waiting for their promised cost of living support after 100 days of a National Government that is taking us backwards, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The National Government has spent its first 100 days stopping, cutting and reversing. They have scrapped stuff for stuff for the sake of it, without putting up any solutions of their own – and it’s hardworking New Zealanders who will pay for it. ...
100 days of National taking NZ backwardsThe National Government has spent its first 100 days stopping, cutting and reversing. They have scrapped stuff for stuff for the sake of it, without putting up any solutions of their own – and it’s hardworking New Zealanders who will pay for it. ...
The Government must commit to funding free and healthy school lunches, as thousands of people sign the petition to keep them, education spokesperson Jan Tinetti says. ...
If the Government was serious about moving families into public housing, they would build more houses so there is actually somewhere for people to go. ...
The free and healthy school lunches programme feeds our kids, helps them to learn, and saves families money – but it is at risk under this Government, education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
The Government’s proposed changes to Firearms Prohibition Orders (FPO) add almost nothing new and are merely an attempt to distract from its plans to loosen gun laws, police spokesperson Ginny Andersen and justice spokesperson Dr Duncan Webb said. ...
The great Victorian era English politician Lord Macauley stood in the British House of Parliament and said, "The gallery in which the reporters sit has become a fourth estate of the realm".He understood and outlined even way back then, the significant role and influence media have in a democracy. ...
"The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April. ...
Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand. Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships. “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland Acknowledgements and opening Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says. “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024 Acknowledgements and opening Morena, Nga Mihi Nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country. “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week. “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee. “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today. “The Amendment Paper represents ...
Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level. “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024. “Lower fruit and vege ...
Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all. Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all. Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction. Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness. It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology. It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
Pacific Media Watch Earthwise hosts Lois and Martin Griffiths. Earthwise presenters Lois and Martin Griffiths on Plains FM 96.9 community radio talk to Dr David Robie, a New Zealand author, independent journalist and media educator with a passion for the Asia-Pacific region. David talks about the struggle to raise awareness ...
Pacific Media Watch Ismail al-Ghoul, an Al Jazeera Arabic correspondent who was held for 12 hours at Gaza’s al-Shifa hospital, says Israeli forces rounded up Palestinian journalists at the facility and made them kneel on the ground for hours, while naked and blindfolded. “The occupation forces handcuffed and blindfolded us ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tony Wood, Program Director, Energy, Grattan Institute chinasong, Shutterstock Electricity customers in four Australian states can breathe a sigh of relief. After two years in a row of 20% price increases, power prices have finally stabilised. In many places they’re ...
Chumbawamba have reportedly issued the deputy PM a cease-and-desist notice after he used their song 'Tubthumping' before his state of the nation speech. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Deborah Lupton, SHARP Professor, Vitalities Lab, Centre for Social Research in Health and Social Policy Centre, and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society, UNSW Sydney kitzcorner/Shutterstock The assertion from Queensland’s chief health officer John Gerrard that ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Shutterstock Why are musicians so keen to get played on the radio? It can’t be because of the money. In Australia they are paid at rates so low they ...
"Farmers make a point not to tell our urban cousins how to live, yet Chlöe from central Auckland is hell-bent on having her say about farmers," says ACT Rural Communities spokesman Mark Cameron. “On her first day in the House as Green ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards – Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)Political scientist, Dr Bryce Edwards. It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Curran, Associate Professor of Ecology, Lincoln University, New Zealand Getty Images/Gerald Corsi In the latest move to reform environmental laws in New Zealand, the coalition government has introduced a bill to fast-track consenting processes for projects deemed to ...
Uber has argued it does not have as much control over drivers as the unions suggest, and wants a judgment ruling that drivers are employees and not contractors set aside and sent back to the Employment Court. The 2022 ruling followed a three-week hearing in which four drivers sought to ...
What can and can’t be purchased by disabled people or their carers has been slashed in an effort by the Ministry of Disabled People Whaikaha to save money. The purchasing guidelines, a set of rules that sets out what can be purchased using the various streams of Government disability funding, ...
The Treasury has published today a new Analytical Note by Tod Wright and Hien Nguyen, Fiscal incidence in New Zealand: The effects of taxes and benefits on household incomes in tax year 2018/19 . Analyses of the distributional impact of taxation and government ...
The Treasury has published today a new Analytical Note by Cory Davis, Boston Hart and Benjamin Stubbing, Household cost-of-living impacts from the Emissions Trading Scheme and using transfers to mitigate regressive outcomes . This Analytical Note ...
A coalition of public transport and climate organisations, united as ‘Transport for All’, is actively opposing the government’s transport proposals. The draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) includes plans for higher fares for public transport, ...
Greater Wellington is inviting feedback on proposed changes to its Revenue and Financing Policy. The Revenue and Financing Policy covers the Council’s various sources of funding, and how the cost of services is shared across the region. This includes ...
Labour has conceded it could have done more to deal with disruptive state housing tenants while in government but says the current coalition is going too far. ...
The band has asked their record label to issue a cease and desist to stop the NZ First leader using their 1997 hit to support his ‘misguided political views’. “I get knocked down, but I get up again,” blared through the speakers on Sunday as Winston Peters took the stage ...
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist Food rationing is underway in remote areas in Papua New Guinea’s Highlands following torrential rain and flash flooding. More than 20 people have been reported dead in Chimbu Province. In nearby Enga Province, the centre of last month’s massacre, a 15-year-old boy has been ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Hughes, Lecturer, Research School of Management, Australian National University After months of debate and intrigue, the AFL’s 19th and newest team, the Tasmania Devils, finally launched its jumper, logo and colours in Devonport this week. The Devils will wear green, ...
Brannavan Gnanalingam reviews the debut novel by Saraid de Silva.One of the most baffling things for children who move to a new country is what their parents’ (or grandparents’) lives were like prior to moving – for kids in particular, they’re too busy trying to fit in in their ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Gaunson, Associate Professor in Cinema Studies, RMIT University Narelle Portanier/Binge “If you don’t know who your mob are, you don’t know who you are,” Detective Andrea “Andie” Whitford (played by Leah Purcell) is told early into the new crime ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elise Klein, Associate professor, Australian National University It’s commonly accepted that women do the vast majority of caregiving in Australian society. But less appreciated is that Indigenous women do larger amounts of unpaid care than any other group. Working with the Aboriginal ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne Joe Biden and Donald Trump have both secured their parties’ nominations for the November 5 United States general election by winning a ...
Comment: There has been a striking contrast in trans-Tasman interest about Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi’s visit to New Zealand and Australia. While the Australian press has been full of articles about the visit – including his curious decision to meet with former prime minister and China booster Paul Keating ...
After years of pressuring banks and other institutions to stop investing in fossil fuels, climate campaigners are making some progress. So how does divestment work?For years, climate activists have been pushing banks and other big institutions to divest from fossil fuels. New research from climate advocacy group 350 Aotearoa ...
For Boba, Ethan and Ashley, K-pop is a place to belong, a way to express themselves, and a bridge to connect with others. The three young Polynesians are part of a K-pop fan community in Tāmaki Makaurau. It’s one of many that have sprung up worldwide as K-pop has gone ...
For Boba, Ethan and Ashley, K-pop is a place to belong, a way to express themselves, and a bridge to connect with others. This one-off documentary presents three intimate portraits of young Polynesians who are pulled into a Korean cultural phenomenon. K-POLYS is directed by Litia Tuiburelevu, Produced by Hex ...
There’s ample evidence demonstrating free school lunch programmes provide wide benefits across schools, households and communities according to public health researchers. ACT Minister David Seymour wants to reduce the spending on Aotearoa New Zealand’s ...
By Wata Shaw in Suva Fiji is facing an exodus of Fijians as many are leaving for overseas seeking employment and education and others are migrating, says Opposition MP Viliame Naupoto. Speaking in Parliament, he said: “His Excellency’s speech (Ratu Wiliame Katonivere) comes after a little over one year of ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming comments from Christopher Luxon this morning recommitting to ‘no new taxes’ as part of Budget 2024. “Mr Luxon’s refusal at the Post-Cabinet press conference yesterday to repeat the ‘no new taxes’ promise ...
SAFE is urgently calling on the Environment Committee to reject the Government’s Fast-Track Approvals Bill, and is urging New Zealanders to rally behind the call. The proposed Bill, currently under consideration with the Environment select committee, ...
Teammates who spend all their time picking fights with spectators are only helpful for the other team, writes Madeleine Chapman. Anyone who has ever played a team sport competitively, particularly as a child and particularly, for some reason, basketball, will know that there’s a lot of politics involved. While there ...
The long-running Wellington music festival is too focused on the Jim Beam-ness and not enough on the Homegrown-ness.There is something about Homegrown that’s difficult to place. A barely perceptible-ness. Like feeling a ghost is watching you from the corner of the room but when you look, there’s nothing there. ...
The latest Ipsos New Zealand Issues Monitor reveals that fewer New Zealanders believe crime / law and order is one of the top issues facing our country. In 2018, Ipsos New Zealand started tracking the key issues facing New Zealand. In this wave ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Griffiths, Deputy Program Director, Budgets and Government, Grattan Institute Australia’s political donations rules are woefully inadequate, but donations reform is finally on the agenda. The federal government has signalled its interest in reform and will soon begin briefing MPs on its ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Patrick Taylor, Chief Environmental Scientist, EPA Victoria; Honorary Professor, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University Naiyana Somchitkaeo/Shutterstock A recent study published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine has linked microplastics with risk to human health. The study ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Albert Van Dijk, Professor, Water and Landscape Dynamics, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Global climate records were shattered in 2023, from air and sea temperatures to sea-level rise and sea-ice extent. Scores of countries recorded their hottest year ...
As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a teacher explains why he and his partner are in frugal mode – and how they’re making it work. Gender: Male Age: 35Ethnicity: Pākehā Role: I am an intermediate school teacher and my partner is ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Bendall, Senior Lecturer, Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences, Australian Catholic University Binge Mary & George, the new British television drama series, depicts the real-life story of Mary Villiers and her son George, and their social climbing at the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jason Nassios, Associate Professor, Centre of Policy Studies, Victoria University This article is part of The Conversation’s series examining the housing crisis. Read the other articles in the series here. Australian state and federal governments spend money in many ways to ...
The finance minister is denying that there’s a $5.6b shortfall in paying for the government’s campaign promises, including tax cuts. At his post-cabinet press conference yesterday, the PM refused to rule out new taxes to pay for the cuts, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s ...
Kāinga Ora tenants abused by their neighbours are doubting the government's crackdown on disruptive tenants will make a difference on their behaviour. ...
Kāinga Ora is New Zealand’s biggest residential landlord, housing more than 180,000 vulnerable people in more than 67,000 properties. Yesterday the government announced a crackdown on its tenants who fall behind on rent. One longtime Kāinga Ora tenant shares her experience.For 18 years I lived in a 1960s standalone ...
Why does this myth persist, and what’s the real reason our skin is suffering?It’s one of the biggest international grievances New Zealanders hold, up there with the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior and 1981’s underarm incident. We’re quick to tell international travellers that the world’s pollution led to the ...
SailGP’s races feature in-your-face action, with agile, hydro-foiling catamarans tacking and jibing for the title over several days. However, public comments ahead of the global series’ return to New Zealand have left this past year’s controversy in the shadows, as a key appointment attracts criticism from dolphin advocates. A year ...
Opinion: We are fast approaching a fundamental change in prisons. As the number of people on custodial remand looks set to overtake the number of sentenced prisoners, the main function of prisons in New Zealand may become incarcerating un-sentenced people who may not be guilty of offending. We have already ...
A huge seven months lies in store for the White Ferns, beginning this week with the visit of England and culminating with the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh in September and October. Starting on Tuesday in Dunedin, the world ranked No. 2 visitors will play five T20s and three ODIs, ...
Opinion: In a move that has shocked road safety advocates across the country, the new Minister of Transport, Simeon Brown, is poised to abandon the previous government’s speed limit reduction policy, particularly around schools. Even more alarmingly, he wants school speed limits to be variable rather than full-time, arguing ...
Auckland Council is opposing a fast-track development backed by Sir John Kirwan and Spark NZ, because it doesn’t meet stringent new climate adaptation requirements The post Surf-data centre faces new 3.8C climate warming rules appeared first on Newsroom. ...
When the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act was introduced in 2009 it was firmly targeted at gangs and drugs. The legislation means police no longer need a conviction to seize assets that criminals can’t prove were paid for legitimately, as long as their alleged offences are punishable by more than a ...
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Bob’s relationship with certain members of Lincoln’s academic staff continued to deteriorate in the 1990s. Others supported him publicly, though articles such as Roland Clark’s 1993 piece in Growing Today cannot have pleased the university management. Clark wrote that Bob was selling onions from the Biological Husbandry Unit to a ...
The letters, which were published last week, were addressed to Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Chairperson Megawati Sukarnoputri, National Democrat Party (NasDem) Chairperson Surya Paloh, National Awakening Party (PKB) Chairperson Muhaimin Iskandar, Justice and Prosperity Party (PKS) President Ahmad Syaikhu and United Development Party (PPP) Chairperson Muhammad Mardiono. In ...
Evicting more people from state housing is ignorant to the consequences of poverty, the Greens say, but the Housing Minister says it's a privilege that can be taken away if abused. ...
Evicting more people from state housing is ignorant to the consequences of poverty, the Greens say, but the Housing Minister says it's a privilege that can be taken away if abused. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emerald L King, Lecturer in Humanities, University of Tasmania IMDB Between Netflix’s 2023 live-action version of One Piece, and its latest take on Avatar: The Last Airbender, fans are once again asking: why are live-action anime adaptations so tricky to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emerald L King, Lecturer in Humanities, University of Tasmania IMDB Between Netflix’s 2023 live-action version of One Piece, and its latest take on Avatar: The Last Airbender, fans are once again asking: why are live-action anime adaptations so tricky to ...
The government says it still intends to deliver tax cuts by July, but will not lock them in until they have got them past their coalition partners. ...
I have to wonder what govt has to do when NZ hears today that despite what some people claimed was "impossible" only 6 farms out of 230 farms are left with Mycco Bovis saving $1.3 billion in exports Many in the affected sector still seems to have issues with the far-sighted approach by govt surely working with them has been proven to be the best was y forward for them & NZ
Once again, Jacinda and c/o listening to the science. Great results we are having from that. Expecting the various parties to be thankful? Well some are, but some … just the recalcitrant few diehards want to "Do it their way". Farmers are now leaning on their own to use NAIT . National Animal Identification Tracing.
The RNZ vox pops about Collins yesterday said "we will always vote National here, we're farmers", & that is that. Well I thank Labour on their behalf.
Guardian provides an insight into China's concentration camps: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/21/the-perfect-uighur-outgoing-and-hard-working-but-still-not-safe-from-chinas-camps
Thanks for that info Dennis F. I had heard that something bad was going on but hadn't seen details. If enough people wrote to the Chinese asking why they don't let the people live freely as long as they are living good lives, would sheer weight of numbers have an affect I wonder? Like Amnesty International have done for years. It is so sad that people everywhere are so inventive in ways of being inhuman, and the leaders decide inhumanity is the most efficient way to treat other humans – but not themselves.
No, almost zero chance of any effect. The problem is a collective mentality combined with hegemony. Imperialism being recycled via communist ideology. Conformity is required by the system.
In ecosystems, biodiversity normally prevails and stabilises the system via mutual interactions. Hierarchies in nature are bounded by that holistic context. Our problem is the UN fails at such operational holism, allowing the monoculture in China to suppress biodiversity.
The problem is that the UN and the international law it represents is voluntary and so some countries simply both even if they've signed on to being part of the UN.
But can you imagine the outcry from the US/China/Russia and permanent members of the UNSC if the UN was made mandatory and with the teeth to enforce international law? They all have, in one way or another, been breaking international law for decades.
This shit has been on liveleak and other sites (reddit) for years. Not sure why it's coming to light now when no one cared before.
Because China is now regarded as bad whereas before they were seen as the engine of the world by world leaders.
It isn't that China has changed but that the view of the world leaders has.
Possible progress on treating COVID and reducing the number of moderate cases that become severe or deadly cases:
https://www.sciencealert.com/promising-new-covid-19-treatment-slashed-death-risk-in-randomised-trial
It's a press release from the company developing the treatment, not a peer-reviewed independent report, and the sample size of 100 is small. But the claimed improvements in outcomes are much stronger than any other treatments, and delivering it as an aerosol (more or less like an inhaler) sounds simple and easy. So it's definitely one to watch.
This is the sort of break through which is required. Also the Oxford vaccine is looking the most promising.
The UK appears to be the front runner in treatment and a vaccine.
That is what I'd expect to see first out of gate – a series of treatments to alleviate severe symptoms and death rates.
The front-leading vaccines are currently completing phase II testing. That is small trials testing that the vaccine candidate isn't immediately toxic, and that there are signs it may have something of the desired effect. Now they have the slower statistical study on efficiacy.
American CDC says it more concisely..
As Treetop says, the Oxford crowd appear to be getting particularly close.
The Phase III issue I'm most curious about is whether anybody jumps into the ethical minefield of doing challenge trials to accelerate finding out how effective their vaccine actually is. Then what the reaction might be if a group somewhere say in China or Russia 'proved' their vaccine was safe and effective using -ahem- involuntary challenge trials.
https://sptnkne.ws/DcUX
Russias on the verge
Here's a really good overview of rare-earth elements – what they are, what they do, where they are found, recycling challenges …
https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/07/are-we-ready-to-recycle-the-rare-earths-behind-an-energy-revolution/
Well,well,well. Judith has been sent info from somebody accusing a Labour MP of SOMETHING, possibly INNAPROPRIATE She had passed info to Jacinda for her deal with. Cough. And so it begins.
That was inevitable. Tit for tat response.
Note: Judith Collins puts it out into the public arena. Jacinda Ardern did not do that.
Who is the leader with integrity?
Spot on, Anne.
Collins trying to have her cake and eat it too.
Copying the Prime Ministers actions… but couldn't help herself and has to Blah Blah during her media rounds.
Feels very familiar, seemingly arms distance from the story enough but up to her eyeballs in it.
Dirty Politics 2.0.
Yep. Collins clearly dealing in Dirty Politics here. Fed the line to Garner who obliged for the sake of his ratings.
Despite her protestations she would not get involved, she already is in the thick of it.
Watch the whole interview here. – https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/07/nz-election-2020-judith-collins-claims-to-have-received-tip-off-about-labour-minister-passed-to-prime-minister.html
The key exchange happens at around the seven minute mark., The question about Labour comes completely out of the blue. There was no reason to ask it unless he knew the answer would be "yes". Collins is not surprised or phased by the question at all and doesn't miss a beat before answering. Garner does not seem surprised or phased at all by the answer given. If you believe Garner wasn't told to ask that question, I have a bridge to sell you.
The rest of the media need to be asking serious questions of Mr Garner.
Hopefully he'll be looking for work soon.
Watched it. Ugh. She couldn’t even brush the hair out of her eyes.
Garner says “ministers” first, then corrects himself to include MPs…
The whole thing was staged, Collins was humiliated yesterday in Parliament by Adern, the whole house erupted into laughter, Collins was not impressed
Payback time from Collins.
We'll have to wait and see if there's any substance to her claims
She's in a very risky situation if it's found to be baseless.
Is she just digging a deeper hole for herself and the party..
She was going to be heavily attacked today about the 'mental health' line both Falloon and herself peddled on Monday. It was a clear attempt to deceive in order to minimise the damage, but the media didn't agree and were to continue to question her on it.
So, time for the dead cat.
Collin's says "I am not going to be indulging in any attacks on Labour on these things.” The hyppcrisy beggars belief. If the media doesn't pick up on this there's something extremely wrong.
How did the Falloon story reach the media?
Judith Collins told the media on the Monday (after receiving the info. from the PM’s Office the previous Friday) by way of announcing Falloon was stepping down at the election for mental health reasons. It subsequently changed when she learned the extent of his behaviour and he was effectively sacked.
But I think you know this EiE so why ask?
Thanks Anne
A case of pay back double?
Depends what the allegation is???
There are some people who have mental consequences because of how serious historical complaints were not cleared up when a person took their complaint to their then MP, the then police minister, the then PM or the then minister of justice and the then police commissioners were incompetent.
This is not to say that the issue is serious and needs to be dealt with.
What is obvious, is the tactics have changed. Instead of tipping off a bottom feeding blogger, they are peddling dirt to a sympathetic, cash strapped TV show.
AND, Collins had to defend the observation she is putting it in the public domain. 'I was asked a question and I answered it…' type shenanagins.
This is the sort of break through which is required. Also the Oxford vaccine is looking the most promising.
The UK appears to be the front runner in treatment and a vaccine.
Please remove 5.2.1.1 as a duplicate. Error at my end which I do not fully understand.
What for the National Party recalibrating the campaign agenda & moving on from Falloon ?
And you’re suggesting the best way for the Nats to sooth voter concerns about Falloon’s behaviour is via the upcoming Oxford vaccine ?
I would like to know the date of the alleged incident and what action was taken by the complainant and if no action taken then there could be a reason e.g. loss of income, protecting family, a he said I said situation.
I would not hesitate in going to the PM or the current police commissioner with a current issue as I think they are honest and serving the public is a core belief.
Is this a credible allegation of “something or another”? If it is not a genuine case, Labour should not turn the other cheek yet again. The Boag, Woodhouse and ‘whites only’ Walker Covid playbook, surely has got the point through to Labour HQ–the Nats ARE out to get you!
The NZ National dirty tricks dept. never sleeps–it will be operating on twin turbo boost with nitrous until it exhumes or manufactures something that will stick.
Mrs Collins has been humiliated with a backbencher’s behaviour so egregious, and proven, as to be undeniable–she will not let that go–she will attempt to “pay back double” with lashings of caustic interest.
Nigel Latta needs to do a special episode of Beyond the Darklands dediciated to Collins. Her many disorders makes her closer to evil than anyone Latta's studied.
I’ve heard they caught a homeless Labour MP man staying in a quarantine hotel for a holiday! Woodhouse told me.
Here's the link.
Collins has failed already by telling the media
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12349898
If Stuff reports this I'll withdrawl my funding, I don't want my hard earned going towards DP.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300062623/judith-collins-claims-to-have-tipoff-about-labour-minister
IFL Thats where I read the first story, and then checked other news outlets and all the RW media are spreading it like the Corona virus
Yeah stuff 'em, I work too hard to pay for that crap.
If Collins is really clever, she will have something that is substantiated, but will have no intention of letting the Prime Minister know what it is. Note that she has simply arranged to have some unspecified third party get in touch with Ardern. As to whether that person has any intention of doing so, or whether they even exist… who knows? At some point closer to the election, Collins could arrange to have some proxy release the information, and then say, "Remember when I said weeks ago that someone got hold of me with some information on a Labour minister? This was it, and look, the Prime Minister knew way back then, and she's done nothing about it." When the inevitable objection is raised that Ardern is only proven to have heard that there was something, but not what or in connection with whom, Collins could rejoin, "Well, I told her what I knew, if she's so incompetent or her ministers so untrustworthy that she can't get to the bottom of it, that's nothing to do with me."
If Collins were to pull that off convincingly, and the media were to play along, it wouldn't even really matter how serious the allegation was. The smear on the Prime Minister would stick. Of course, if Collins were too transparent about it, she would end up looking like as much of a dickhead as Boag, Falloon or Walker.
I have noticed Collins reactions to this whole saga are swinging back and forth. First it was a mental health issue and we must be respectful and back off. Then it was, he is a liar and I'm angry. Today, it's back to being a health issue and we were extremely concerned for his well being.
The inconsistency is shameful. What is being manipulated is shameful.
Collins was asked a direct question? Could she have confirmed in a better way without raising further questions? Hard to see how.
Or should she have lied?
If it was later revealed she had been informed and lied about it publicly she would probably have been damned as well.
Of course she could. She could have said that, as an electorate MP and National front-bencher, she is in constant receipt of various allegations, but that it is important always to do due diligence on the credibility of any claim before making it public in any way, and that it's seldom her place to put anything in the public domain unless it is directly related to government business or concerns members of her own caucus.
As above, my strong suspicion is that Garner was tipped off in advance about what the answer would be if he happened to ask that question. Stripped of any background context, it was a bizarre question to ask in circumstances where Collins has been leader of the National Party for less than a week. She would have been rightly left fuming if she had been asked that question out of the blue and had to answer "no".
If being an apologist for unacceptable practices is your thing, why not work for tobacco companies?
There are 100 ways for a seasoned MP to answer that question and shut down the line of enquiry. E.g., the time when Collins was being grilled about her time in China, trips to airports, sly visits etc
That is, IF the seasoned politician wanted to shut it down….
I'm not apologising for anyone, and I have always been staunchly against tobacco use (both my parents died of smoking related illnesses, emphysema and cancer and both deterred me from smoking) so that's an offensive comment.
There are a hundred ways for determined journalists to persist and to expose any half answers.
It's unsubstantiated speculation that Collins set up the question.
It looks like we may find out more at 11 am.
Her bloody comment has so far been unsubstantiated! Hence the bouncing cat.
Any reasonably intelligent person can see that was a set up.
You are being wilfully blind to body-language and context here.
I haven't seen body language, only verbal and printed reports.
I'm aware that body language perceptions in politics can be affected by partisan bias.
Perhaps you'd better take a look at it. Impartially if at all possible.
I took the time to.
It would only be an offensive comment if gsays knew the background of your parents but he/she didn't know so it is not offensive.
Indeed. Pete George doesn't have the right to be offended by that one.
I think I have a right to be offended by whatever offends me.
Having a right and being right are still two completely different things, Pete. You’re a tad unreasonable.
With rights, come responsibilities.
Perhaps, if you are truly offended by my comments, maybe you have a responsibility to not participate in discussions playing devil's advocate.
Neocons for Biden! The Canary muses upon Rupert Murdoch's heir donating to the Dem. https://www.thecanary.co/us/us-analysis/2020/07/18/murdoch-family-mobilizes-behind-joe-biden-and-its-not-the-first-time-pseudo-progressives-have-courted-the-corporate-media/
But guys, the reason leftist govts in western countries don't do media reform is because they want to defend the establishment against progress. If that isn't obvious to you by now, you really are a bunch of slow learners.
Ruling and exploiting society is only any good if the society remains functional to some extent. Trump is taking it too far even for the likes of our capitalist rulers.
Collins publicly passing on allegations. Fuck she is toxic and undeniably delving into Dirty Politics. Isn’t Brownlee head of their newSecret Service disinformation division?
The PM did the right thing over the Falloon issue, ignoring it was not an option.
I have it from an impeccable source that Jucov’s informant is the homeless man.
So now I can send the leader of the opposition a letter alleging something about the behaviour of one of her MPs, tell leaders of other parties I've done that, let one media person know and it's all on?
In best Judith tone: "Just saying."
Yeah I get that there will be some shit thrown back at Labour, and of course Collins is going to publicise it being the dick she is. However there is a principle of not being there in the first place. – ie keeping above the level and genuine integrity. Hopefully it is not substantiated but I will be seriously pissed off with any Labour MP who thinks they are so entitled that they think they can get away with stuff. FFS they have one job – to keep their noses clean and carry on doing the good work they are doing and support their awesome leader and not give her any frigging shit to deal with
What 'stuff' is this Labour Minister supposed to have gotten away with?
That is true. There can be and will be MP's on the lefter side of politics who do the wrong thing – and let progressives everywhere down in the process. As individuals we can control that and reduce our exposure to dirty dealings of the right.
Lenore I suggest that you don't emote about something before you know it has happened, and get full details of it. There is plenty to be concerned about that is definitely happening. Try reading Dennis Frank's comment on the Chinese treatment of Uighurs at 2 above. Now that breaks my heart and should also concern you. So why not think about the real problems in the world. Labour being called out for some possibly slanderous infraction should not be a reason to create negativity about the Party which is doing well in trying times.
Did National leak the allegation to Mediaworks ?
They certainly did.
This is a dead cat on the table moment no doubt organised by Crosby Textor and Topham Guerin to take away the blow-torch which was on Judith for the deceitful way she treated the Andrew Fallon mental health claim.
Yesterday even Duplicity-Allen didn’t buy that story.
This is National Party Dirty Politics continuing apace. It never really stopped, did it.
I would say it was cooked up by some Nat lackeys who arranged for someone to report something directly to Collins who would have been left out of the loop to enable plausible deniability when the shit hit the fan.
She was very sure of her answer. Almost scripted. She's good, but not that good.
No proof they did obviously, but the proposition that Garner decided to ask that question apropros of nothing off his own bat is very hard to believe.
Druncan needs to be asked directly.
On second thoughts it would be better if thousands contacted all party leaders with accusations.
I was contacted recently about an MP and his attitude. I can't say anything more about who it was or the behaviour……….
Walks out the door…….
I'm picking Chris Bish or M Woodhouse to be secret informer. Followed by Homeless Man, who seems to be quite sneaky. If none of the above has to be a Young Nat.
Precisely. Whoever it is would've been waiting for Collins' call: "I'm ready for that tip-off now, cheers, JC."
Oh yes lets do that.
Dear Judith
My mother's brother's cousin's uncle's mechanic told of some stuff about a Labour MP
You want?
Lotsa love etc
p.s.
What're you paying?
There’s a chronic leaker in Dunedin. Apparently, somebody tipped off Judith Collins that David Clark allegedly has been spotted riding a bike in his backyard wearing lycra.
That's stretching it.
Excellent!
Can't be Mamil – he's now based in Nelson.
Episode 4: ‘We are black … we are human beings’
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/we-are-blackwe-are-human-beings
"I have complete faith in my officials"
"I have complete faith in my officials"
"I have complete faith in my officials" They come across as really nice people.
Oh shit, maybe I shouldn't have unquestioning faith in my officials:
"That message should have been brought to my attention. It wasn't. That does not meet my expectations and I've made that clear." ….. not withstanding previous examples such as all those "scummy" people; demographic spreadsheets; "we have enough Labour Inspectors"; under-resourcing; "Kaiser Smol"; curvy screens; failed restructures, etc., etc…….
Never mind! Once again, Jacinda to the rescue:
"What I can assure anyone potentially involved in a case is regardless of whether they are present or not we have a track record of pursuing cases where there is exploitation of workers regardless of whether or not they are able to testify in court."
(That's of course if we decide to pursue a case in the first place)
Great to hear all your thoughts about this. Just listening to RNZ feedback and people saying that this is dirty politics and the difference about Jacinda not going public and Judith mentioning it in the media.
The PM is calling an unexpected news conference re the allegation about a Labour Minister. How do we know where/when that will be?
How come this scuttlebutt becomes top priority? We have plenty of other things concerning us. The country can't be put on hold every time someone is accused of an obscene gesture, or says something inappropriate.
If the allegation turns out to be nothing Collins will be really in the pooh.
If it is serious then it will be a distraction away from Collins. The PM calling a conference means she will front it and deal with it straight away.
In a four-minute interview, Hosking discusses `working with NZF' with Greens co-leader: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/video.cfm?c_id=280&gal_cid=280&gallery_id=222293
James identifies their tactic of `ankle-tapping'. But if you have a political party that was designed as reactionary, why wouldn't they default to reacting? Being pro-active in signalling their response at the start of policy development is ideal, and I see James as coming from that position, but I recall checking out the NZF website a long time ago and not encountering any policy. Conservatives just defend the status quo!
TV, radio or other?
Kathryn said that they will broadcast it on RNZ. May be on TV as well?
Channel 50 is my pick as it is the RNZ channel.
If its a press conference it will include all of them.
On Farrar's blog on Sunday he was suppressing a few posts and later posters & from the gleeful tone of the tiny bits that were left it did not seem to be about the Falloon upheaval.
Sounded more like an unsubstantiated 'scandal'/dirt or what qualifies as dirt in Nats' eyes, to do with Labour. Mind you with them it is a bit of shock horror still to have an PM who was pregnant and gave birth while still being PM.
Hmmmm. So my reading between the lines Farrar's concern on Sunday was about Labour and not Nat upheaval.
All sides need to get together with their leaders and say is there anything you need to let us know.
This is distracting from the release and discussion of policies.
Barry Soper just said on ZB that he understands the minister is iain lees galloway
Looking forward to 11am
Do you need a bib, James?
Annnnnd he’s gone.
Bye bye iain
as reported by one news on Twitter.
Rapidly cauterized, that.
Yep, he passed his used-by date around 18 months ago. A disaster just waiting to happen. Will be missed about as much as that other incompetent Clark.
Just leaves Twyford the remaining dead wood to be cleared out.
So Barry Soper is a Judith Collins gnome. Thanks for that.
http://thehandmirror.blogspot.com/2014/08/national-party-alleged-rape-culture.html
What was Falloon doing in 2014? How many of those young nats of 2014 are now in parliament? If they got away with that behaviour then, they must surely believe they can do it now.
This is an old comment but has anything really changed? When national mps try to tell me that Falloon’s behaviour is not their party’s values or mps’ values or their favoured bloggers’ values, they are spinning.
I must read Dirty Politics again – renew my understanding of something I hoped might not be happening in 2020.
Judith Collins has not changed her attack culture. Good to see that proved. New Zealanders need to see it anew. Nat acquaintances now saying they forgot her history; I remind them. And now, so is Judith Collins.
Jacinda appears to be acting quickly. That is good. If the "crime" is serious then he will not stand at the next election. Wonder if these behaviours have always been in Parliament but out of sight?
There has been "speculation" for a while. Rumours both true and false
JA has handled this well. extremely well
There are further questions of course …… such as how the matter has been handled with "the agency" itself, and whether or not the incident has had any effect on the way they operate 'ethically'.
Episode 5 ………
Jacinda did a brilliant job. May be we should question whether men should be in politics at all, they do let their hormones run away with them. I do worry when I get on a plane with a male pilot – will they be ok? Men have historically had a great difficulty dealing with complexity and I know we are all for equal rights, but scientific studies do show… 🙂
Lenore, ha! & the PM has set the bar very high…
He he I've wondered that myself. Plus should they pay higher tax to offset the costs of police, corrections, justice which are consumed pretty much by males?
Not only should there be a cabinet manual, but probably a cabinet crib sheet. It could include various 'demographic profiles' like
1. If you are a male who is possibly going through your mid-life crisis ………..
Various DOs and DONT's like
– get a prostitute and pay well (not on the taxpayer), or if you don't fit the 'straight' profile, then go to the Tory Street Temple (because what plays in Vegas, stays in Vegas – unless there's a fire alarm, in which case all bets are off)
– Never get a taxi with your bit of fluff, and if you do need transport, better a friend or even an UBER or OLA because chances are it'll all be kept within the community, even though you have been a party to allowing most of them to be ripped off.
– etc.
2. If you are a male who has campaigned on the importance of "the family"……..
-etc.
I'm not sure I'm an expert though. I seem to be the only person I know that wasn't "shocked" and horrified at Todd Muller's resignation (after having witnessed his managerial brilliance) in the Bay of Plentyness.
The senior ranks of the Public Service of course would need something similar.
It generally takes two to tango!
At this rate the male politician will become an extinct species. Then, they'll be demanding a male quota…
You're saying that like it's a bad thing.
Collins did not manage her first as Leader in Question very well yesterday.
Today she will try to embarrass Jacinda with this question:
Sounds like a Yes to me.
JC , like a jack-in-the-box, will run to the media again with a new thought tomorrow, pose with her flirty "finger guns" and announce a new ' tough on crime' policy….. the stoning of adulterers
"
"People had become so “casual” about their relationship with cars and vans they had forgotten it was one and a half tonne of unforgiving steel.
“It can mash you like a bug instantly."
Don't try to stop your car's progress with your puny human strength!
https://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/news/122209011/death-of-woman-hit-by-her-own-van-not-as-uncommon-an-accident-as-you-might-think-expert-says
am now mentally reviewing all those times as a young woman push starting a car with the drivers door open and jumping in one the car started rolling.
lol, i had a mini..
Or pushing one car with another with a 4×2 between them.
Shudder
Did Winston drop a bomb in the house today when, under parliamentary privilege, he named the source of the leak of his superannuation mistake?
He certainly got up the noses of both Seymour and Bishop!
https://twitter.com/RachelMortonNZ/status/1285791307743424512
Peters doing dirty under parliamentary privilege?
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12350174
I'll bet it is true but Peters might have got some of the detail wrong and they're using it to deny it is true.
No wonder Tova baby seems to be getting so much insider info.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12350174
$317k double or nothing.
As I understand the legal process he may struggle to use new information on an appeal. Especially as here he seems to be claiming that someone other than the five people he took to court were guilty – that effectively would confirm he got his original case wrong.
He could take Morton and Seymour and Watkins and Farrar to court in a separate case perhaps. but I think all Peters is targeting at the moment is the election.
Dirty deeds in desperate times.
Labour should rule out doing anything with him.
If the appeal is part of the election campaign it could be the most expensive after National’s ‘Lose Yourself’ one. How
stupidnaive is WP when it comes to legal affairs, in your opinion?I don't know in general, but he seems to have really botched his legal action against Bennett, Tolley, Hughes, Boyle and the Ministry of Social Development.
Even if he somehow manages to successfully appeal the $320k costs he can't recover what it has cost him directly.
He has admitted he had the wrong people in court.
And I'm sure he can't substitute five defendants for another however many people he claims were actually guilty in an appeal. If he proves it was someone else it proves his original court action was flawed.
He will be able to argue that the level of costs is overstated, and that ultimately the MSD was responsible for the information being leaked due to their negligence in providing the information outside of the allowed usage. Basically the MSD should pay much of the costs for the consequences of their actions as a legal entity. Offhand I think that he has a far better case against the costs than he had in trying to identify the perpetrator of the leak.
I suspect that there are quite a lot of grounds to argue on. Especially as this is a civil rather than a criminal case and one that has a high public interest component. I don’t know about you, but if I had someone leaking any private information about me from the MSD of IRD or MOH or anywhere, then I’d start by considering how to abolish that part of the public service and making everyone there unemployable – then I’d work down to how I could run the vendetta to get close to that objective.
There is essentially no difference between this and Hager winning a case against the banks for passing out information to the police without going through the mandated procedures like getting a production order from the court.
I think that Peters was remarkably restrained.
Yes got it in one.
MSD has played a large part in this whole business.
Graeme Edgeler (an actual lawyer):
He addresses another issue:
You know how expensive court cases can be when someone pursues an agenda with an absence of adequate evidence.
Peters may have also been using the cost of litigation as a way of punishing those he thought responsible.
There is another way he could have tried to fix the no surprises problem.
That would be for the good of the country, but Peters seems more intent on his own good regardless of the costs to the country.
Unlikely, as far as I am aware all of the parties apart from Peters were lawyer-ed up using the taxpayer as the funding agency. It would appear that the only person at risk of financial damage was Peters. Which makes the premise of your argument look ridiculous.
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/peters-must-pay-up-in-privacy-case
The point is that the disclosure of the private information appears to have only had one source – it was disclosed from the MSD. Almost certainly leaked through ministerial disclosures one way or another.
That means that the MSD violated its commitments. I'm pretty sure that the crown isn't allowed to do that for any reason that isn't part of legislation – which none of this appears to have been. Needless to say there has been no-one held accountable for this breach. Indeed, so far the courts appear to have been giving a license for public servants to disclose whatever information that they wish, without being given explicit permission to do so – provided there is a minister in the route.
I'm pretty sure that the supreme court will have some issues with that. I know that I damn well do.
More like 5% or nothing.
Seymour’s odds were always better: 0.50% and one Seat in Parliament.
Pete – do you reckon Slater supplied Collins with the dirt on Galloway?
I'd be very surprised given that Collins referred the supplier of information to Ardern.
And I'd be very surprised if Collins does anything that would directly connect her to Slater now. That would be political madness, and I think she's smart enough to know that. As far as I have observed she's kept a distance at least on political matters since 2014.
By the sound of things the information about ILG could have come from any number of sources, given how it seems to have been common knowledge in journalist circles for months.
I've seen it mentioned but can't remember where.
Do you think that Ardern nor her office knew nothing about it until alerted by Collins?
"I'd be very surprised given that Collins referred the supplier of information to Ardern."
Don't you think this is just part of Collins trying to look uninvolved and completely blameless? How do you explain Garner's patsy question? How can you "observe" whether Collins and Slater haven't been communicating since 2014? There's no way they wouldn't be communicating and every reason for them to hide that commincation. These people aren't the type to be scared off by Hager's book. Regardless of anything they will continue to do exactly what they do, and the only thing that changes are their methods of attempting to remain undetected and to look squeaky clean.
I think Slater would easily have masked his involvement in this issue; after all, he's well-practiced in deception, as you know. Collins and Slater are besties; their relationship won't have ended because the muggles got a sniff of it, Pete! Or do you reckon they're playing fair now
I wouldn't trust Slater on anything.
I'd be very surprised if Collins would risk doing anything that could be linked back to Slater.
There seems to have been quite a few possible sources of the information.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12350209
Do you think that Ardern only found out about it when advised by Collins this week? Surely senior MPs would keep her informed of possible problems in the ranks.
It now appears that Collins has played politics timed for effect, but Ardern may also be guilty of that.
Pete
Please tell me which iconic PM came in to Government and instantly dismissed all MPs in their party who were known to be having illicit sex.
Your attempt at equating Jacinda and Judith fails. Jacinda has obviously tried to do the minimum, and refrain. Judith appears to have introduced old material at the time she wanted, and used a patsy question from Garner to publicise the thing in a way that Jacinda did not. Judith could have told Garner that it was not appropriate for her to give any details, which I believe Jacinda would have done. But Judith did not.
Big difference, Pete.
It may well be that Garner was primed, that's very common in politics. It happened to me in one of my first political interviews (a lame attempt to embarrass me on local TV by Te Reo Putake as it happens).
But it really didn't make any difference. Ardern says she had already dumped ILG the day before. So why had she not advised the public? Organising PR and timing to suit her? She seems to have been playing the public as much as Collins.
Lame? It worked a treat! You looked like a possum in the headlights, Pete.
However, as I believe I said at the time, you at least had the courage of your convictions and put yourself forward for election. That's very much to your credit.
What about this one then … needs to be addressed by Winston Peters in his capacity as Antarctica minister.
… https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300062674/winston-peters-friends-went-to-antarctica-on-taxpayer
Peters giving wealthy friends the opportunity to visit Antarctica courtesy of us, the taxpayer!
https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/122211917/winston-peters-i-was-trying-to-shake-antarctica-nz-from-its-torpor
I trust Winston Peters’ friends donated those $50 million Antarctica NZ was looking for.
Or how much did they actually donate?
Didn't John Key steal a pebble from Antarctica and pretend he had forgotten he picked it up? Like the rest of his past and current stable of 'privileged' mps and pretend bipartisan supporters, no morals, no integrity.
Kia Ora
Newshub.
That's is sad sharks becoming extinct around the world.
Those construction companies will have to change their testing system so they are not biased against weed.
The progressive home ownership fund looks great.
Ka kite Ano
Kia Ora
Te Ao Maori Marama.
That's a good looking trophy.
Teno pai to the fund for mahi in rual comunitys.
I think building dams to store water for the dry season is good but not for irrigating 24 7.
Ka kite Ano
Kia Ora.
Newshub.
That's is good $25 million for the regions to help the health system cope with PEE.
That's is cool mammoth bones find.
Its great to see rear flax being preserved weavers make Awsome art with flax.
Awsome looking Waka.
Ka kite Ano
https://youtu.be/qQfetkoGrpU
Kia Ora
Newshub.
Cool $30 million study for Pumped hydro electricity storage. That's the way of the future Green energy.
Ka kite Ano.
Kia Ora
Te Ao Maori Marama.
That's is cool Waikato Tainui looking into providing a better health service for their people in their rohi.
Good to see wananga teaching people about the Maori God's and traditions in their district.
Ka kite Ano.