Oh come on, he’s had a full twelve hours to realise how badly he’s been treated. Being forced to apologise like that and then dismissed by a banker. Group hug for Dr. Nick.
What he wants is for an enquiry to reveal how he was removed by his “friends”. And what a twisted mess of joined dots that would be. John Key has spent the last few days saying it’s not the letters, per se, that got him dumped and Boag saying she would naturally help a 15 year old friend – but just out of the blue, a person who she hadn’t seen for so long – and Puller just by chance getting sent those “leaked” ACC files and then targetting Smith with a barrage of email requests. It was a plan that had a large helping of luck, I’d say, drawing in morons from far and wide, like a cyber vortex . The Nats just aren’t smart enough to set it up from scratch.
I guess Smith got to be too much of a liability, owed too much, and politicians being what they are, would have had to remove him in unusual ways if he were not the kind to go quietly. It’s the first sign that Nick Smith may be the unnamed MP so many predicted would end this government’s marginal hold on power.
A thorough independent enquiry of the whole issue would be a good thing to clear up some unanswered questions. But Smith should be careful of what he wishes for.
Smacks of a born-to-rule attitude that he can’t believe he’s fallen from grace.
“He seemed to openly accept responsibility and he emotionally displayed some remorse donât you think”
It does not matter if he or any of them show remorse, they are crocodile tears, of a pathetic man. He may have problems himself, but he has had a negative impact on the lives of thousands of people in this country, and in no way does he deserve a shred of emotion. Quite simply, he is getting a little of what he deserves! Natural Justice will sort out the difference at some stage IMO!
You take take your sad attempt at fellating the flacid Mr Smith, and run along Pete, the eternal fluffer!
@PG
Winston is more amusing than Nick Smith – his misdemeanours are judged with that in mind. Also he appears to puts forward the case for ordinary people, though mostly senior age, and doesn’t seem so focussed on neo lib economics.
Winston’s an old school National economic conservative, from the early 80’s era. Hence his permanent opposition to asset sales. He’s not a rogernome neoliberal.
Smacks of a born-to-rule attitude thanks Carol….as the minutiae of the Smith case disappears into the mists of time we will be left with another cypher born to rule nonentity taking his place. Another neo lib jerk intent on foisting the nasty agenda of privatisation, kill the poor etc.
Does not really matter who the fresh face of plutocracy is, or who the next ideologically driven newbie is, we will still suffer. We are no further ahead.
I see the Wharfies are trying to look like the good guys now ,and the Maritime Union has done acomplete uturn ,and asked please if it workers can go back to work this afternoon.
Mr Parsloe must be feeling very foolish now as his 1951 approach hasnt worked, and he has weakened their bargaining position. Any disruption at all will give POAL the justification to carry on down their path of contracted workers without union involvement
David Shearer has made it clear what standard he expects – as soon as a scandal blows up demand a immediate resignation.
No long winded justice process over years as for a few bomb throwers.
No waiting a day or two to make sure all the facts are known.
No giving the accused reasonable time to fully explain themselves.
Presumably this will apply to his own leadership. The odds are he will get a chance to demonstrate his commitment to instant justice.
I wonder if he will apply it to accusations of undermining leadership.
Did anyone else see the media pack swoop on Nick Smith at Wellington Airport yesterday and feel just a little nauseated?
No, I’ve avoided it, but the thrill of the chase was apparent elsewhere as well. Political blood sport. Our equivalent of a Muslim stoning or a Middle Age witch burning.
I hope that the journalists involved watch the tape again, and reflectâŚ
I doubt it. The story of the moment overrules any emotional quotient.
And while it’s probably not necessary here I did feel sadness for the manner that other MPs have fallen from grace very publicly, like Hughes and Carter. We all make mistakes, some make big career changing ones, but it shouldn’t be an excuse for modern day stocks with maximum public humiliation. We don’t do that in our justice system.
And the political attempts to put the boot into everything around the demise of Smith’s ministerial career, to try and inflict maximum damage on the Government of New Zealand, is also a piss poor abuse.
On Backbenches last night Hone Harawira didnât say much that stood up to scrutiny, but at least he did show real empathy for Nick Smithâs fall from grace.
Unlike Phil Goff who made a sympathetic stament but followed it up by kicking Smith in the guts. He may be more relaxed on the back benches but he retains some political vindictiveness.
NZ still losing our best asset – and for me the other form of a no confidence vote against the govt. NZ has low wages, high cost of living, prohibitative housing costs, and no ability to save. And No political ideas how to overcome these fundamental issues http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10793720
Interesting that one Ianmac. I heard a top cop (might have been the Commissioner) saying about 10-12 days ago on Radio NZ that the decision would be made public in a matter of days rather than weeks.
As far as I know, its normal practice to advise the complainant of any decision – in this case John Key – in advance of publication.
Obviously some significant offending was involved but is this kind of bravado necessary?
If you choose to involve yourself with drugs, we will find out and we will come for you.
– Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Sheridan
It seems someone has been watching too many Rambo movies
It is high time (forgive the pun) that we had a rational approach to drug laws in this country – the war on drugs is a total failure – attitudes of people like Sheridan need to change.
The weakness of central government and our lack of reasonable and necessary measures from it is illustrated by the statement of the coroner on the death of the fireman in a coolstore fire. He is recommending licensing and closer controls which are long overdue. This is just another example to place alongside Pike River, leaky homes and….
The abandonment of regulation is a response to annoyance at the difficulties imposed by excessive bureaucracy, but is an example of taking an extreme position, a sort of puritan approach, which rejects the faulty system instead of problem-solving improvements.
While central government is so prone to this change and reorganising with diminishment of the nation’s services, we must not allow central government to strangle local government.
The abandonment of regulation is a response to annoyance at the difficulties imposed by excessive bureaucracy… Prism, I am not sure that it really is a response to annoyance at red tape, probably more a case of follow the money. I always see the “red tape” argument as one of “we don’t want to pay”.
One might say that if the ********s could be trusted with the welfare of employees, customers, users etc they could self regulate, no cost, no bureaucracy. We would not need ACC etc. Its a bit of a sad commentary on human nature…it is always someone else’s fault……and cost.
I always see the âred tapeâ argument as one of âwe donât want to payâ.
I see it as We want to do whatever we want and not have to ask even though it will affect everyone else. In other words, the people agitating to get rid of regulation want to impose themselves upon everyone else with no come back which is oppression.
The NeoLiberal free market cult has to sacrifice people to the God Free Market!
Extending humanitarian assistance unless this enables free markets is verboten. This is the Cult Ideology the Nats and hangers on adhere to.
Let’s go to the bankrupt U$$$ to see one of God market’s successes!
“Feeding The Homeless BANNED In Major Cities All Over America”
However these hungry homeless could even now obtain a career and commit an offence where they will be redeemed as part of the U$$$ economy again in a privately run prison: Adding to the GDP and GOD PROFIT’s margin with job opportunities for guards and caterers plus maintenance and prison construction. HALELUJAH!!! SAVED AT LAST!!!
They have no assets BUT! They can help in the construction of other’s wealth and assets!
“Charge the bastards for the air they breath! Kill the poor (and send them at state expense to my private funeral service…), privatise bloody everything to which there is a real human need and no alternative and make me profit….”
We are dealing with a sick psychopathic theology that does not even believe in the thing they espouse most.. the “free market”. Oligarchic / monopolistic corporate business hates “free markets”. They love regulation for their benefit.
Moari aspirations, which are based on equality, accountability and fairness, are New Zealand’s aspirations. Read our founding document Te Tiriti o Waitangi (PDF), if you think otherwise.
Per normal PG you lack the intellectual breadth of thought to understand. Read the article and concentrate your meager intellect on the following statement They (some Maori) say the real revolutionaries of Maori aspirations are in suits, carrying law or business degrees, and storming the walls of Pakeha capitalism with no time for distracting sideshows. If you want to find terrorists go to the banks, forex floors etc where financial crime wrecks lives daily. Tama is tame comparatively.
Bore @14.1.1 – I agree that some aspects of the financial world are obscene., but are you suggesting we do away with finance and banks? If so perhaps you should try and argue how that will not wreck any lives.
Work with the real economy rather than the delusional one created by the banks and economists and we’ll fulfil lives and not wreck them the way the present banking system is.
Tried the Northern Gateway Tollroad for the first time the other day.
On the way up it was quite awesome. The spectacular views, the grand feats of engineering, the long, wide, luxurious empty lanes. I felt like a Randian superhero in a futuristic free world and I liked it.
Ditto on the Randian thing….I summited a “minor” Rimutaka hill recently, shrugged momentarily, did an Eros impression…shooting invisible arrows at the unloved spirit of St Ayn….so cool (that she died loveless).
Unconfirmed media reports in Australia suggest the Federal and South Australian governments are expected to announce an $A200 million assistance package for the General Motors brand.
Holden, which has been seeking government support to keep its Australian operations open, will also promise to stay in the country for another 10 years.
The car manufacturing industry has been suffering the effects of the high Australian dollar and faltering domestic sales.
I suppose that one day the politicians (and everyone else) will wake up to the fact that capitalism doesn’t – but I’m not holding my breath.
An interesting line of questioning in the House today from Winston. The PM says he only found out about certain letters yesterday. Winston’s questions met with evasion from English on behalf of Key.
If Key knew earlier than he said then he mislead the house and the country.
Trevor also has some questions about the Attorney General Findlayson since he wrote a letter of support for Fisher during that hoohar over the Judge’s conflict of interest.
So Dr Smith – resigned for writing in support for a person known to him..
Chris Findlayson- writing in support for a person known to him. Result?
Next week should be funny?
I thought it was very interesting that Lockwood Smith jumped up to protect Bill English and informed the house that John Key had answered the question… but when Winston Peters asserted that the question was not previously answered, he quickly backed off and then got petulant!
That’s a pretty big oops for the speaker… to reiterate English misleading the house of representatives. How long will Key remain in hiding I wonder and who else is going to stick their neck out onto the chopping block?
I suggest that you read the Hansard transcript for question time on the 21st March.
John Key DID give the dates and Winston is pretty clearly wrong.
I think you will find that Lockwood didn’t have the transcript immediately to hand and didn’t really want to accuse WP of lying without the proof in front of him.
What Key said, in answer to Shearer’s question, was
“The first letter … I was made aware of on Monday evening … second letter .. I was made aware of this morning”.
Seems to be a pretty definite answer to me.
It’s available on the Parliamentary website but my trying to create a link doesn’t seem to be working.
âStatistics New Zealandâs latest GDP release shows growth was just 0.3 per cent in the December quarter. That is just a third of what the government predicted six months ago in the PREFU.
Well, I suppose the investors in SCF got an aggressive recoveryâŚ
Where has the cetacean been lately in his one-man-crusade for “the-citizen’s-right-to-know” in name suppression cases? Perhaps he is selective when it comes to people close to his political mates.
I think he gave up when he worked out the publicity wasn’t worth the court costs and probably got a contempt of court warning if he kept up with it, too.
There’s a comment on the Jackal saying the Herald would’ve got it right if they’d linked her to the National Front instead of the National Party. I reckon it was a mistake and that’s precisely what the Herald meant to say.
“thinks”? Goodness gracious Rosemary if the front page of the paper with diagram in blue with the title for the subjected lady “National party links and roles” isn’t clear enough for you to see what they did I don’t know what else is.
I liken it to a staunch Green party member at present being stuck on a red diagram among a group of Labour activists and disgraced MPs. They would go ballistic too.
Given I have voted for and have joined the National Party precisely equal to the number of times the National Front, that sounds however to be the most accurate thing ever published on the Crackal’s blog. A step in a positive direction at least.
CK, it can be tough when a group one is associated with is gobbled, digested and subsumed within a larger group.
Particularly if the self-identity of that smaller, now assimilated group, has always been at least partly defined, in the minds of it’s members at least, in distinction to that larger group.
But it’s a dinnimik environment, change is good, you can’t stop progress, the market has its realities. You’ll just have to get on and carry on. Chin up, it’s not as bad as you think.
Along with National’s Pastoral Land (Rent for Pastoral Leases) bill, the Cold Creek Rural Water Supply Bill is designed to gift farmer’s unconditional control of our resources…
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
TL;DR: In today’s ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Tuesday, March 19:Kāinga Ora’s dry rot The Spinoff DailyBill McKibben on ‘Climate Superfunds’ making Big Oil pay for climate damage The Crucial YearsPreston Mui on returning to 1980s-style productivity growth NoahpinionAndy Boenau on NIMBYs needing unusual bedfellows Urbanism SpeakeasyNed Resnikoff's case ...
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 –Â Itâs been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its âFirst 100 Day programmeâ. During this period thereâs 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.âSomebody 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 ...
Itâs been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its âFirst 100 Day programmeâ. During this period thereâs 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 â packed with the ingredients to enflame political passions â worthy of supplanting Winston Peters in headline writersâ 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 â 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 Coughlanâs 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 Coughlanâs 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 Hereâs hoping for a lively post-cabinet press conference when the PM and â perhaps â 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 Chinaâs perspective, this weekâs 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 Chinaâs perspective, this weekâs 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 Governmentâs 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 ...
âIt 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.âTHUNDER 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 â the Internet â 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 âglory daysâ 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 todayâŚ? 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 Trumpâs 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 partyâs 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 âFutures Exchangeâ) 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:Â 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 weekâs government bailout â the fifth in the last eighteen months â of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The governmentâs 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 –Â 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 Labourâs 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 Beehive  The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the governmentâs 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 –Â Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? Thatâs the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Governmentâs 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 –Â Â 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 ârock solidâ $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 MÄori 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 Labourâs 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 PÄti MÄori 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. âIâm 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 Jonesâ decision to step away from a seabed mining project is evidence of the murky waters surrounding the Governmentâs 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 public service 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 public service on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The Coalition Governmentâs 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 doesnât 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 â and itâs 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 â and itâs 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 â but it is at risk under this Government, education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
The Governmentâs 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,â 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 â European ...
New Zealandâs social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. âI want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealandâs social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. âTo 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 todayâs 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. âIt 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 Zealandâs relationship with China, including trade, ...
KÄinga Ora â 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. âEarlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of KÄinga Ora. ...
TÄna 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 Zealandâs indispensable strategic partnerships. Â Â Â âSingapore 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 MĹrena, ngÄ mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Good morning, itâs 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. âMarch 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,â Mr Luxon says. âToday 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. Itâs 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 Asiaâs most populous country. Â âWe are in Jakarta so early in our new governmentâs 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. âWe look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealandâs ...
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. âThe recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Aucklandâs 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. âOver 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 2023â24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today. âThe 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).âAs 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. âParts 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. âA $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.  âWe have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Governmentâs priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,â 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 Governmentâs commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says itâs 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 Governmentâs commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says itâs a great example of taking ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Governmentâs 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. âThe SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Governmentâs 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. âThe 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. âLower fruit and vege ...
TÄnÄ 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 ...
TÄnÄ 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. âFarmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and itâs vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,â ...
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. âThe 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. âCurrently, 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 Parliamentâs Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023â24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. âOne of the ...
Assalaamu alaikum. اŮŘłŮŮŮŮا٠ؚŮŮŮŮ 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. Itâs 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. âSimon 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. âHelp is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Governmentâs restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,â 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. âNew 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 Gazaâs 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. âThe 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 theyâre ...
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 Queenslandâs 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 canât 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 ChlĂśe from central Auckland is hell-bent on having her say about farmers," says ACT Rural Communities spokesman Mark Cameron. âOn her first day in the House as Green ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards – Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)Political scientist, Dr Bryce Edwards. Itâs been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its âFirst 100 Day programmeâ. During this period thereâs 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 canât 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 âTransport for Allâ, is actively opposing the governmentâs 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 Councilâs 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 âmisguided political viewsâ. âI get knocked down, but I get up again,â 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 Guineaâs 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 monthâs 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 AFLâs 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 parentsâ (or grandparentsâ) lives were like prior to moving â for kids in particular, theyâre 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 âIf you donât know who your mob are, you donât know who you are,â Detective Andrea âAndieâ 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 Itâs 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 partiesâ 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 Yiâs visit to New Zealand and Australia. While the Australian press has been full of articles about the visit â 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 TÄmaki Makaurau. Itâs 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 ...
Thereâs 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 Zealandâs ...
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: âHis Excellencyâs speech (Ratu Wiliame Katonivere) comes after a little over one year of ...
The Taxpayersâ Union is welcoming comments from Christopher Luxon this morning recommitting to âno new taxesâ as part of Budget 2024. âMr Luxonâs refusal at the Post-Cabinet press conference yesterday to repeat the âno new taxesâ promise ...
SAFE is urgently calling on the Environment Committee to reject the Governmentâs 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 thereâs 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 thatâs difficult to place. A barely perceptible-ness. Like feeling a ghost is watching you from the corner of the room but when you look, thereâs 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 Australiaâs 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 â and how theyâre making it work. Gender: Male Age: 35Ethnicity: PÄkehÄ 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 Conversationâs 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 thereâs a $5.6b shortfall in paying for the governmentâs 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 Spinoffâs ...
KÄinga Ora tenants abused by their neighbours are doubting the government's crackdown on disruptive tenants will make a difference on their behaviour. ...
KÄinga Ora is New Zealandâs 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 KÄinga Ora tenant shares her experience.For 18 years I lived in a 1960s standalone ...
Why does this myth persist, and whatâs the real reason our skin is suffering?Itâs one of the biggest international grievances New Zealanders hold, up there with the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior and 1981âs underarm incident. Weâre quick to tell international travellers that the worldâs pollution led to the ...
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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Bobâs relationship with certain members of Lincolnâs academic staff continued to deteriorate in the 1990s. Others supported him publicly, though articles such as Roland Clarkâs 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 ...
SailGPâs 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 seriesâ return to New Zealand have left this past yearâs 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 ...
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Nick Smith wants an inquiry to “clear his name”.
I guess that’s a majority of one for an inquiry then… đ
You have to wonder if the man is playing with a full deck at the moment? (No disrespect to anyone else intended)
Oh come on, he’s had a full twelve hours to realise how badly he’s been treated. Being forced to apologise like that and then dismissed by a banker. Group hug for Dr. Nick.
What he wants is for an enquiry to reveal how he was removed by his “friends”. And what a twisted mess of joined dots that would be. John Key has spent the last few days saying it’s not the letters, per se, that got him dumped and Boag saying she would naturally help a 15 year old friend – but just out of the blue, a person who she hadn’t seen for so long – and Puller just by chance getting sent those “leaked” ACC files and then targetting Smith with a barrage of email requests. It was a plan that had a large helping of luck, I’d say, drawing in morons from far and wide, like a cyber vortex . The Nats just aren’t smart enough to set it up from scratch.
I guess Smith got to be too much of a liability, owed too much, and politicians being what they are, would have had to remove him in unusual ways if he were not the kind to go quietly. It’s the first sign that Nick Smith may be the unnamed MP so many predicted would end this government’s marginal hold on power.
Some peoples’ names crop up at odd times, don’t they?
Wine box, Recruitment for Auckland Super Council. ACC issues.
And how much closer are we to discovering the source of the “Hollow Men” emails?
All the work of “close friends” in the National Party, even if “just at an electoral level”.
And how much closer are we to discovering the source of the âHollow Menâ emails?
Ahhhh, yes, speaking of Bill English, whats his relationship with Dr Nick these days?
A thorough independent enquiry of the whole issue would be a good thing to clear up some unanswered questions. But Smith should be careful of what he wishes for.
Smacks of a born-to-rule attitude that he can’t believe he’s fallen from grace.
That struck me too: this is completely consistent with the stereotype.
He seemed to openly accept responsibility and he emotionally displayed some remorse don’t you think?
His downfall does seem to have been due to an arrogant in-power carelessness, but from what I’ve seen he realises that to an extent at least.
Compare that to say Winston Peters who still denies past wrongdoing. I can’t remember if his sign said No or Yes but that doesn’t really matter.
“He seemed to openly accept responsibility and he emotionally displayed some remorse donât you think”
It does not matter if he or any of them show remorse, they are crocodile tears, of a pathetic man. He may have problems himself, but he has had a negative impact on the lives of thousands of people in this country, and in no way does he deserve a shred of emotion. Quite simply, he is getting a little of what he deserves! Natural Justice will sort out the difference at some stage IMO!
You take take your sad attempt at fellating the flacid Mr Smith, and run along Pete, the eternal fluffer!
@PG
Winston is more amusing than Nick Smith – his misdemeanours are judged with that in mind. Also he appears to puts forward the case for ordinary people, though mostly senior age, and doesn’t seem so focussed on neo lib economics.
Winston’s an old school National economic conservative, from the early 80’s era. Hence his permanent opposition to asset sales. He’s not a rogernome neoliberal.
Another wholly enlightening expose from the deep thinking Wormtongue.
Smacks of a born-to-rule attitude thanks Carol….as the minutiae of the Smith case disappears into the mists of time we will be left with another cypher born to rule nonentity taking his place. Another neo lib jerk intent on foisting the nasty agenda of privatisation, kill the poor etc.
Does not really matter who the fresh face of plutocracy is, or who the next ideologically driven newbie is, we will still suffer. We are no further ahead.
@ Bored
Please please stop being so realistic, give us some PR feel-good hope for the future won’t cha.
Bugger, a bit of realism hurts. Might use my spade to hit some “optimistic hope” into myself rather than call it a spade……
I see the Wharfies are trying to look like the good guys now ,and the Maritime Union has done acomplete uturn ,and asked please if it workers can go back to work this afternoon.
Mr Parsloe must be feeling very foolish now as his 1951 approach hasnt worked, and he has weakened their bargaining position. Any disruption at all will give POAL the justification to carry on down their path of contracted workers without union involvement
Alternatively James 111, they might from the get-go have simply tugged the collective forelock to their “superiors”, and reacted not at all.
Beats me how idiots like you think it’s the paramount obligation of anyone being raped to maintain at all costs a “polite” demeanour.
“We have always been at war with Eastasia”.
Doubleplusgood doublethinking James. Top marks.
I don’t think he got it, Pascal’s Bookie. Wee Jimmie was born way after………
David Shearer has made it clear what standard he expects – as soon as a scandal blows up demand a immediate resignation.
No long winded justice process over years as for a few bomb throwers.
No waiting a day or two to make sure all the facts are known.
No giving the accused reasonable time to fully explain themselves.
Presumably this will apply to his own leadership. The odds are he will get a chance to demonstrate his commitment to instant justice.
I wonder if he will apply it to accusations of undermining leadership.
What’s Peter Dunne’s approach to bad behaviour from his Ministers?
Ministers???? What Ministers?? he’s just a one hair party.
Hair today, Gone tomorrow.
More importantly, whatâs Peter Dunneâs approach to fly-away hair?
Mods
My time is up sanity, pragmatism, realism has returned please free up my name for posting
[lprent: we agree on the date this time. Removed from auto moderation. ]
Yay, fresh meat! Well, not exactly fresh, but you know what I mean.
Yay! Month old meat!
The day of the jackals?
No, I’ve avoided it, but the thrill of the chase was apparent elsewhere as well. Political blood sport. Our equivalent of a Muslim stoning or a Middle Age witch burning.
I doubt it. The story of the moment overrules any emotional quotient.
And while it’s probably not necessary here I did feel sadness for the manner that other MPs have fallen from grace very publicly, like Hughes and Carter. We all make mistakes, some make big career changing ones, but it shouldn’t be an excuse for modern day stocks with maximum public humiliation. We don’t do that in our justice system.
And the political attempts to put the boot into everything around the demise of Smith’s ministerial career, to try and inflict maximum damage on the Government of New Zealand, is also a piss poor abuse.
On Backbenches last night Hone Harawira didnât say much that stood up to scrutiny, but at least he did show real empathy for Nick Smithâs fall from grace.
Unlike Phil Goff who made a sympathetic stament but followed it up by kicking Smith in the guts. He may be more relaxed on the back benches but he retains some political vindictiveness.
Dr Nick deserves some sympathy, I agree. Imagine being knifed in the back by your own team like that.
Just awful.
I’m also a bit hurt that you’d say such nasty, cruel things about Phil Goff. A ‘gut-kicker’? What a horrible thing to say, Pete.
You certainly seem to have some political animosity stored up there.
Do we suspect the stiletto blade of Madame Boag?
NZ still losing our best asset – and for me the other form of a no confidence vote against the govt. NZ has low wages, high cost of living, prohibitative housing costs, and no ability to save. And No political ideas how to overcome these fundamental issues
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10793720
Does anyone know exactly what this woman Bronwyn Pullar is demanding from ACC? We know she wants a benefit but how much per week?
We do know she has a branding and marketing job so she’s not unemployed.
She lives in a $700,000 apartment with her accountant boyfriend who is sure to be on a good financial wicket.
She comes from a very good South Island family. Translated: they have pots of dough?
The mind boggles when you consider the harrowing circumstances of some ACC victims.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10793724
Great fortunes, great crimes, and all that. I’d just be happy to see section 237 of the Crimes Act enforced. Dreams are free.
Born to rule wealthy Tories love their state entitlements. Even willing to involve Tory Ministers to get what they think they are due.
Hypocritical, isn’t it.
That reminds me. Where is the decision on Tea-gate?
Where is Bradley Ambrose and who paid his high court costs he said he couldn’t afford ?
Interesting that one Ianmac. I heard a top cop (might have been the Commissioner) saying about 10-12 days ago on Radio NZ that the decision would be made public in a matter of days rather than weeks.
As far as I know, its normal practice to advise the complainant of any decision – in this case John Key – in advance of publication.
We’re still waiting!
Obviously some significant offending was involved but is this kind of bravado necessary?
– Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Sheridan
It seems someone has been watching too many Rambo movies
It is high time (forgive the pun) that we had a rational approach to drug laws in this country – the war on drugs is a total failure – attitudes of people like Sheridan need to change.
The weakness of central government and our lack of reasonable and necessary measures from it is illustrated by the statement of the coroner on the death of the fireman in a coolstore fire. He is recommending licensing and closer controls which are long overdue. This is just another example to place alongside Pike River, leaky homes and….
The abandonment of regulation is a response to annoyance at the difficulties imposed by excessive bureaucracy, but is an example of taking an extreme position, a sort of puritan approach, which rejects the faulty system instead of problem-solving improvements.
While central government is so prone to this change and reorganising with diminishment of the nation’s services, we must not allow central government to strangle local government.
The abandonment of regulation is a response to annoyance at the difficulties imposed by excessive bureaucracy… Prism, I am not sure that it really is a response to annoyance at red tape, probably more a case of follow the money. I always see the “red tape” argument as one of “we don’t want to pay”.
One might say that if the ********s could be trusted with the welfare of employees, customers, users etc they could self regulate, no cost, no bureaucracy. We would not need ACC etc. Its a bit of a sad commentary on human nature…it is always someone else’s fault……and cost.
I see it as We want to do whatever we want and not have to ask even though it will affect everyone else. In other words, the people agitating to get rid of regulation want to impose themselves upon everyone else with no come back which is oppression.
The NeoLiberal free market cult has to sacrifice people to the God Free Market!
Extending humanitarian assistance unless this enables free markets is verboten. This is the Cult Ideology the Nats and hangers on adhere to.
Let’s go to the bankrupt U$$$ to see one of God market’s successes!
“Feeding The Homeless BANNED In Major Cities All Over America”
Link: http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/archives/feeding-the-homeless-banned-in-major-cities-all-over-america
However these hungry homeless could even now obtain a career and commit an offence where they will be redeemed as part of the U$$$ economy again in a privately run prison: Adding to the GDP and GOD PROFIT’s margin with job opportunities for guards and caterers plus maintenance and prison construction. HALELUJAH!!! SAVED AT LAST!!!
They have no assets BUT! They can help in the construction of other’s wealth and assets!
“Charge the bastards for the air they breath! Kill the poor (and send them at state expense to my private funeral service…), privatise bloody everything to which there is a real human need and no alternative and make me profit….”
We are dealing with a sick psychopathic theology that does not even believe in the thing they espouse most.. the “free market”. Oligarchic / monopolistic corporate business hates “free markets”. They love regulation for their benefit.
Ignore where this is and have a good laugh: West Auckland Give Way rules from this weekend.
Some of you have a sense of humour don’t you?
this may be the one and only time you visit the Whale
without needing a decontamination shower afterwards
Tame Iti – Hero of the Week
Moari aspirations, which are based on equality, accountability and fairness, are New Zealand’s aspirations. Read our founding document Te Tiriti o Waitangi (PDF), if you think otherwise.
I doubt many people will view hamming around with weapons playing at being terrorists as being heroic.
Per normal PG you lack the intellectual breadth of thought to understand. Read the article and concentrate your meager intellect on the following statement They (some Maori) say the real revolutionaries of Maori aspirations are in suits, carrying law or business degrees, and storming the walls of Pakeha capitalism with no time for distracting sideshows. If you want to find terrorists go to the banks, forex floors etc where financial crime wrecks lives daily. Tama is tame comparatively.
Bore @14.1.1 – I agree that some aspects of the financial world are obscene., but are you suggesting we do away with finance and banks? If so perhaps you should try and argue how that will not wreck any lives.
I agree that Tama is relatively tame.
“are you suggesting we do away with finance and banks?”
What the fuck are you on about?
Do you know what the word “crime” means?
Work with the real economy rather than the delusional one created by the banks and economists and we’ll fulfil lives and not wreck them the way the present banking system is.
Tried the Northern Gateway Tollroad for the first time the other day.
On the way up it was quite awesome. The spectacular views, the grand feats of engineering, the long, wide, luxurious empty lanes. I felt like a Randian superhero in a futuristic free world and I liked it.
On the way back it was full of commoners.
Ditto on the Randian thing….I summited a “minor” Rimutaka hill recently, shrugged momentarily, did an Eros impression…shooting invisible arrows at the unloved spirit of St Ayn….so cool (that she died loveless).
And another example of corporate welfare:-
I suppose that one day the politicians (and everyone else) will wake up to the fact that capitalism doesn’t – but I’m not holding my breath.
An interesting line of questioning in the House today from Winston. The PM says he only found out about certain letters yesterday. Winston’s questions met with evasion from English on behalf of Key.
If Key knew earlier than he said then he mislead the house and the country.
Trevor also has some questions about the Attorney General Findlayson since he wrote a letter of support for Fisher during that hoohar over the Judge’s conflict of interest.
So Dr Smith – resigned for writing in support for a person known to him..
Chris Findlayson- writing in support for a person known to him. Result?
Next week should be funny?
I thought it was very interesting that Lockwood Smith jumped up to protect Bill English and informed the house that John Key had answered the question… but when Winston Peters asserted that the question was not previously answered, he quickly backed off and then got petulant!
That’s a pretty big oops for the speaker… to reiterate English misleading the house of representatives. How long will Key remain in hiding I wonder and who else is going to stick their neck out onto the chopping block?
I suggest that you read the Hansard transcript for question time on the 21st March.
John Key DID give the dates and Winston is pretty clearly wrong.
I think you will find that Lockwood didn’t have the transcript immediately to hand and didn’t really want to accuse WP of lying without the proof in front of him.
What Key said, in answer to Shearer’s question, was
“The first letter … I was made aware of on Monday evening … second letter .. I was made aware of this morning”.
Seems to be a pretty definite answer to me.
It’s available on the Parliamentary website but my trying to create a link doesn’t seem to be working.
Slip Sliding Awaaaay
Well, I suppose the investors in SCF got an aggressive recoveryâŚ
Where has the cetacean been lately in his one-man-crusade for “the-citizen’s-right-to-know” in name suppression cases? Perhaps he is selective when it comes to people close to his political mates.
I think he gave up when he worked out the publicity wasn’t worth the court costs and probably got a contempt of court warning if he kept up with it, too.
StatsNZ Yearbooks
This has to be the funniest things to come out of the Smith saga, Odgers getting annoyed because she thinks she’s been linked to the National Party.
http://asianinvasion2006.blogspot.com/2012/03/nz-herald-gutter-reporting.html
There’s a comment on the Jackal saying the Herald would’ve got it right if they’d linked her to the National Front instead of the National Party. I reckon it was a mistake and that’s precisely what the Herald meant to say.
Rosemary
“thinks”? Goodness gracious Rosemary if the front page of the paper with diagram in blue with the title for the subjected lady “National party links and roles” isn’t clear enough for you to see what they did I don’t know what else is.
I liken it to a staunch Green party member at present being stuck on a red diagram among a group of Labour activists and disgraced MPs. They would go ballistic too.
Given I have voted for and have joined the National Party precisely equal to the number of times the National Front, that sounds however to be the most accurate thing ever published on the Crackal’s blog. A step in a positive direction at least.
CK
CK, it can be tough when a group one is associated with is gobbled, digested and subsumed within a larger group.
Particularly if the self-identity of that smaller, now assimilated group, has always been at least partly defined, in the minds of it’s members at least, in distinction to that larger group.
But it’s a dinnimik environment, change is good, you can’t stop progress, the market has its realities. You’ll just have to get on and carry on. Chin up, it’s not as bad as you think.
Shane Ardern’s conflict of interest
Along with National’s Pastoral Land (Rent for Pastoral Leases) bill, the Cold Creek Rural Water Supply Bill is designed to gift farmer’s unconditional control of our resources…