Open mike 28/06/2012

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, June 28th, 2012 - 73 comments
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Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

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Step right up to the mike…

73 comments on “Open mike 28/06/2012 ”

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  1. Jenny 1
    28 June 2012 at 6:19 am

    The Greens led campaign really seems to have spooked the government and Key in particular.

    Leading from a back foot position, it is heartening to see what an parliamentary opposition party can do, when they get stuck in.

    http://blog.greens.org.nz/?p=24458

    Let us hope to see much more of this from all the opposition MPs.

    If the mass public campaign being waged by the opposition parties creates enough pressure it will squeeze that political pimple Dunne, and remove Key’s razor thin majority in favor of asset sales.

    Congratulations to all those involved in this campaign.

    Kia kaha keep up the good work.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/7175222/Asset-sales-fight-not-over-vows-Opposition

    • tc 1.1
      28 June 2012 at 6:42 am

      I’d love to believe that Dunne can see sense and modify his stance but let’s face it he sold out to whoever would give him some power and isn’t coming back.

      Weasels like Petey G put the position out there for all to see, morality and equity sold to the highest bidder which in this case was shonkey offering the revenue minister position from which Dunne has presided over tax cuts, abolishing duty etc…..see where this is going.

      • Bored 1.1.1
        28 June 2012 at 8:18 am

        Dunne was student Pres when I started Uni. He was well known to bribe the clubs with funding from the Studass fee, bit here bit there in return for votes. When he eventually lost it was off to a ALAC as CEO, another political sinecure where his well known wowserism fit only too well. Then to Labour as an MP. The rest is history, we have all been well and truly hoodwinked by this ratbag. It has only ever been about Peter, attending events around Karori has only ever been about Peter and votes. The guy is the ultimate chameleon, but under it all he is merely Peter, a charlatan, for sale to the highest bidder, scumbag.

    • prism 1.2
      28 June 2012 at 12:29 pm

      Oh Jenny, ‘squeeze that political pimple Dunne’ – what a funny analogy.

  2. RedLogix 2
    28 June 2012 at 7:20 am

    Given that the entire banking system is based on trust… is this the end of trust?

    • Bored 2.1
      28 June 2012 at 8:21 am

      Mere petty cash compared to the larcenous Jamie Dimond and the big boy banksters on Wall St. Trust? They get lauded as they thumb their noses at deposit holders, the whole facade of trust upheld because the big deposit holders are also busy ripping off you and me.

  3. just saying 3
    28 June 2012 at 8:26 am

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10815932

    This comes as no surprise to me, and makes a lie of the government’s mantra about wanting to make every potential worker, including the sick and disabled, apply for, and take up (primarily shit work for shit pay) as part of a reserve army of casual employees on call for potential employers for their own wellbing. The mantra goes that any paid employment is always better for all individuals in all circumstances, than not undertaking paid work, even where the person is recuperating from illness or injury.

    Unemployed Kiwis have a better overall level of wellbeing than “disengaged” employees, according to consulting company Gallup’s global wellbeing finder.

    Some 72 per cent of New Zealanders are actively disengaged in the workforce, with 59 per cent of disengaged employees behaving poorly with family and friends after a stressful day’s work, the survey found. That compared with 34 per cent of engaged employees who behaved badly…

  4. BLiP 4
    28 June 2012 at 8:32 am

    .

    Some good news . . .

    Sea Shepherd, Sea Shepherd U.K. and Captain Paul Watson have won the lawsuit filed by Maltese fish brokerage firm, Fish & Fish, that was filed in response to the release of 800 illegally caught Bluefin tuna in June 2010 off the coast of Libya . . .

    • grumpy 4.1
      28 June 2012 at 11:46 am

      Very good news, Watson may have faults – arguable, but he gets the job done. An activist you can respect.

  5. Ed 5
    28 June 2012 at 8:46 am

    Does anyone else find this article a little bizarre?
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/7182650/New-contract-to-rebalance-ACC-targets

    “ACC Minister Judith Collins will set out tough new expectations in a new contract with the troubled corporation – to be tabled in Parliament today.

    The document is a rolling three-year service and purchase agreement between the Government and the state insurer. ”

    ACC is of course not an “insurer” in the normally used meaning of the term – it is an arm of government charged with administering aspects of an Act of Parliament. If they need instruction, surely the place to start is with the legislation. Will we see a “rolling three year service and purchase agreement” with Inland Revenue? Will they be tasked with bring in more taxation revenue than can be derived from the basis set out in relevant legislation? Are there plans to contract tax collection to Ernst and Young if IRD don’t provide “value for money”? What about Ministerial services and other government bodies? Does any other part of government have a service and purchase agreement? This appears to be the privatisation agenda being pushed again!

    Parliament has been told that Dispute Resolution Services upheld almost half of the appeals lodged by long-term claimants kicked off ACC’s books in 2012, and that the district court had also overturned half of ACC decisions upheld by Dispute Resolution Services. That is a high proportion of disputed claims being determined against ACC – reinforced by the Prime Minister’s statement that over the past six years the average percentage of disputed decisions found in the corporation’s favour is 71.8 per cent”. Surely the extreme turnaround in results of disputed decisions should have been questioned by the reporter – getting the equivalent figures for the other 5 of those six years would be a suitable information request.

    • Carol 5.1
      28 June 2012 at 9:06 am

      Hmm… but this:

      Parliament has been told that Dispute Resolution Services upheld almost half of the appeals lodged by long-term claimants kicked off ACC’s books in 2012, and that the district court had also overturned half of ACC decisions upheld by Dispute Resolution Services. That is a high proportion of disputed claims being determined against ACC – reinforced by the Prime Minister’s statement that over the past six years the average percentage of disputed decisions found in the corporation’s favour is 71.8 per cent”.

      I wonder how many deals were negotiated to avoid going to the Dispute Resolution Service, as with me over physio? I had some physio, but then was rejected for further physio treatment. I launched a formal process to dispute. 1st stage is it goes to some ACC managers. I then got a phone call to say the managers had upheld the rejection decision.

      However, the person on the phone expressed a willingness to negotiate with me and the physio, some way of getting me some more physio. The main reason for this seemed to be to avoid me taking it to the next stage, which would be going to the Dispute Resolution Service. The person on the phone mentioned how expensive it would be for ACC to go to the resolution service. Result, some more physio, but to be used sparingly over a reasonably long period.

      i.e. if you’re articulate, persistent, and clearly show ACC people you know your rights, they are more likely to bend a little.

    • Carol 5.2
      28 June 2012 at 9:08 am

      And I was puzzled by the reference to ACC as an insurer, also. Also, Collins willingness to renegotiate with ACC according to this rolling agreement, implies that the last agreement with government was too nasty to claimants – i.e. it ultimately puts the blame onto the government for the policy of dis-entitlement, by assuming claimants are fraudsters.

    • just saying 5.3
      28 June 2012 at 9:16 am

      Parliament has been told that Dispute Resolution Services upheld almost half of the appeals lodged by long-term claimants kicked off ACC’s books in 2012, and that the district court had also overturned half of ACC decisions upheld by Dispute Resolution Services…

      So ACC’s own dispute service has found that half of the long-term claimants who appealed being dumped from weekly compensation in the lastest government-directed cull, were unlwafully disentitled. A few wrong decisions are, I suppose, to be expected. But if this were a private company they would be investigated for systematic fraud.

    • Treetop 5.4
      28 June 2012 at 3:26 pm

      The Dispute Resolution Service has become a battle ground between claimants and ACC. I would like to know what the issues are which claimants are taking to the Dispute Resolution Service.

      Yesterday I heard on RNZ that a woman has been trying to get five counselling sessions from ACC and that she will have to pay a $50 surcharge per session. This woman is a sensitive claimant and her privacy was breached, she has told ACC to shove the pathetic $250 offer for having her privacy breached.

      When it comes to Bennett settling claims for children who were harmed while in Social Welfare care, she is actually being constructive, I note that she is not revictimising claimants, this cannot be said for Collins and the way that she is handling sensitive claimants at ACC.

      What Collins needs to get into her brain is that when a person has PTSD there are three essential stages for recovery:
      1. Establishing safety
      2. Reconstructing the traumatic story
      3. Restoring the connection between the survivor and the community.

      http://anjperez.hubpages.com/hub/Stages-of-Recovery-in-PTSD

      There is no room for error when it comes to ACC processing sensitive claimants because, no one would wish it apon themself to contact ACC with a sensitive claim and not be able to get the help that they are entitled to from ACC.

  6. Kotahi Tane Huna 6
    28 June 2012 at 8:53 am

    Got to love those Greens. Eat it and smile.

    Shonkey caught being Shonkey. Again. Another set of dismal figures from ACC provide evidence of right wing incompetence. Again.

    I’m being charitable by describing it as incompetence, because if it’s deliberate it’s despicable.

  7. Carol 7
    28 June 2012 at 9:35 am

    This news about Kiwirail went public yesterday afternoon. I’ve just been re-visiting it, as I didn’t understand what “write down” meant. But it seems now the opposition parties are claiming it means the government is setting up Kiwirail for privatisation…. again!

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/business/109320/kiwirail%27s-balance-sheet-restructured

    KiwiRail’s assets have been written down by more than $6 billion as part of a major restructure, but the Prime Minister insists the move isn’t being done with a view to selling the rail company.
    […]
    KiwiRail’s assets have been written down by more than $6 billion as part of a major restructure, but the Prime Minister insists the move isn’t being done with a view to selling the rail company.

    http://www.3news.co.nz/KiwiRail-will-be-sold-opposition-says/tabid/423/articleID/259356/Default.aspx

    Labour says the Government is setting it up to fail.

    “KiwiRail is being lined up as the next asset to go on the auction block, just 24 hours after a law was passed allowing it to sell off our power companies,” state-owned enterprises spokesman Clayton Cosgrove said.

    “It has no intention of turning the company around, it is simply softening up New Zealand for the news that KiwiRail is part of the asset sales agenda.”

    NZ First leader Winston Peters says KiwiRail is being deliberately devalued so it can be “flicked off cheap” to a private investor.

    “Given our disastrous history of rail infrastructure when it was sold to private owners by National in the 1990s, this latest threat needs to be taken seriously,” he said.

    “The rail network is a critical part of our transport infrastructure, not a financial bauble to be parcelled around to National’s financial friends.”

    • Dv 7.1
      28 June 2012 at 10:33 am

      And in 2 years NACTs will be able to crow that they have doubled the return on assets base.
      Ha

    • Woody 7.2
      28 June 2012 at 7:55 pm

      Kiwirail are to shed 300 jobs. What a pity the workers are bearing the burden of recent poor spending decisions. One may have thought that Management would have mopped up the over paid contractors and consultants before the cuts. How can one justify General Managers on 40k/month (evidence available) especially when they are in these positions for years at a time.

  8. Carol 8
    28 June 2012 at 11:52 am

    Coming up on Question time today, Clayton Cosgrove on KiwiRail, Cunliffe on NZ’s clean green image, Clare Curran on public broadcasting, Gareth Hughes on conservation and oil exploration n marine areas.

    http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QOA/2/f/3/00HOH_OralQuestions-List-of-questions-for-oral-answer.htm

    • Dv 8.1
      28 June 2012 at 12:23 pm

      How about this one?
      MAGGIE BARRY to the Minister of Finance: How will the Better Public Services results targets announced this week contribute to a stronger economy?

    • Carol 8.2
      28 June 2012 at 2:15 pm

      Joyce just danced around trying not to directly answer the question asking for an assurance that the government wouldn’t try to sell KiwiRail. He said he wanted to give context first, showing why it wouldn’t be possible to sell KiwiRail.

  9. prism 9
    28 June 2012 at 12:28 pm

    When well paid (Brit) bank functionaries manipulated a system meant to give clear and transparent signals guiding interest rates (and were found out) they lost their bonuses. Oh dear, a slap on the wrist with a wet bus ticket. While not well-paid people hardly able to function at all – their misdemeanours involve court cases and confinement and obloquy (a word that emerged from the recesses of my mind – I wonder what else is lurking down there?)

    Also on banks – see Red Logix at No.2 today. Wow cybercrime.

  10. prism 10
    28 June 2012 at 12:49 pm

    Brownlee and Heatley coldly put the dampers on Dr Pita Sharples pragmatic suggestion of using houses in the red zones for shelter by people sleeping in cars and less sheltered places in Christchurch during snow, sleet, hail, and bloody cold times.

    Brownlee is disgusting, uncommitted to working for all Christchurch’s wellbeing. He is horribly filling my low expectations of his work level and concern for Christchurch people. Heatley, and all Housing Ministers that don’t try to cope fairly and make concrete efforts to meet the needs of the low income housing sector are just t..ds that should be properly swept away so a smart and humane politician can get in and tackle the job.

    • mike e 11.1
      28 June 2012 at 5:36 pm

      freedom don,t get carried away Michelle Ghee is on her way a right wing con artist who has found away of making lots of money denigrating teachers.

  12. Penny Bright 12
    28 June 2012 at 4:53 pm

    VICTORY FOR OCCUPY AUCKLAND!

    CIV 2011 004 2497, Auckland Council v The occupiers of Aotea Square

    ‘Contempt’ proceedings against Occupy Auckland by Auckland Council have been discontinued.

    Email received from Auckland District Registry Officer 26/6/2012

    “Dear All,

    Please note that the counsel for the plaintiff has filed a Notice of Discontinuance, hence fixture scheduled for 29th June 2012 is vacated.

    Regards

    ……………….
    Court Registry Officer
    Civil and Family Services – Case Management Team
    Auckland District Court
    Ministry of Justice | Tahu o te Ture ”
    ____________________________________________________________________________

    Penny Bright
    ‘Anti-corruption campaigner’

    Named Party in the above-mentioned (now discontinued) proceedings.

    • dd 12.1
      28 June 2012 at 5:06 pm

      Good news.

      I see the DOTCOM search warrants were illegal to. Interesting times.

      • Vicky32 12.1.1
        28 June 2012 at 5:09 pm

        I see the DOTCOM search warrants were illegal to. Interesting times.

        Indeed!

      • Kotahi Tane Huna 12.1.2
        28 June 2012 at 5:22 pm

        Mr.com may walk free from court, and good on the courts for refusing to countenance the craven poodle-hood of the crown, but he will forever be tainted by the stink of John Banks.

        • Reality Bytes 12.1.2.1
          28 June 2012 at 9:57 pm

          The guy hadn’t been here long, and I really doubt with all the exciting stuff he has going on that he would care much about NZ politics. You can’t expect him to understand the politics and history of the likes of Banks on the level a local would. I recon it was far more likely Banks was chasing after the likes of Dotcom anyway. The German guy probably thought ok a former local mayor want’s to hang with me, cool, why not have an ally like this on my side. And then Banks turned out to be a rather fair weather friend, and the rest is history. If anything the whole charade gives quite a good illustration of Banks character, and I thank Mr Dotcom for his contributions on that subject for us all the share.

      • just saying 12.1.3
        28 June 2012 at 5:43 pm

        In a case like this the police must have been more careful than usual. It makes me wonder how many illegal warrants are served on ordinary shmucks who don’t have unlimited resources to pay for top legal teams.

        • Colonial Viper 12.1.3.1
          28 June 2012 at 6:28 pm

          What’s almost of more concern is the NZ Police going after a very high profile, highly resourced target with guns drawn…not having dotted the i’s and crossed the t’s.

          Appalling judgement and preparation, costing the NZ tax payer hugely.

          • RedLogix 12.1.3.1.1
            28 June 2012 at 6:35 pm

            What happens when the case totally falls over and Mr Dotcom sues the NZ govt for the billions of dollars of damage to his business?

            • vto 12.1.3.1.1.1
              28 June 2012 at 10:09 pm

              This National government …

              slapped over Crafar I
              slapped over Akaroa Marine Reserve
              Slapped over dotcom.
              Soon to be slapped over Casino.
              Soon to be slapped over Crafar II
              .
              .
              .
              I guess that’s what you get when you’re simple and slap happy.

              feel free to add more

      • ianmac 12.1.4
        28 June 2012 at 7:35 pm

        Good news true. Lucky away back then, Mr John Key knew absolutely nothing about Dotcom before the raid. The PM wisely kept right out of the months of events leading up to the arrest. Or so says Mr Key?????
        Suppose his minders might have told Key to keep right away because he had nothing to gain. But really! The PM of NZ knew nothing of a mega millionaire who lived in his Electorate? Yeah right!

        • Logie97 12.1.4.1
          28 June 2012 at 9:42 pm

          …particularly when an organisation like the FBI were seeking extradition.
          Time for a Tui add.
          Key and his mates must have been kept very well informed of all stages of this one.
          It’s time for another one of those Fran Mold interviews like the one over the Tranzrail shares. John Campbell was getting there but let the “snake” go.
          Pinnochio’s nose keeps getting longer.

        • Reality Bytes 12.1.4.2
          28 June 2012 at 10:20 pm

          Yeah and a team of FBI arriving, and one of the biggest militarised raids by the police in many a year. And this guy is supposed to be absolute head of internal security or something. So whoever the 2nd in chain of command is, seems to think it’s a brilliant idea to only inform Mr key about such a major raid 24hrs before hand.

          Tui ad right there.

      • Murray Olsen 12.1.5
        28 June 2012 at 9:50 pm

        The police involved should be charged with home invasion.

  13. Vicky32 13
    28 June 2012 at 6:04 pm

    This just in (3News)..
    Bull English lets go his latest brainfart… mandatory drug testing for all beneficiaries!
    The Americans have already suggested that, so we know where his idea comes from…
    (Interesting. The line about Ewen McDonald’s ‘intense personal hatred’ that Stuff has had up all day, comes from the Prosecution it seems.)

    • Vicky32 13.1
      28 June 2012 at 6:07 pm

      Interesting. The line about Ewen McDonald’s ‘intense personal hatred’ that Stuff has had up all day, comes from the Prosecution it seems

      Unbiased media? Probably not…
      They do keep banging on about the public obsession about the case! (I suppose it justifies their 24/7 coverage.)

      • Te Reo Putake 13.1.1
        28 June 2012 at 7:31 pm

        Intense personal hatred seems a good description given the things McDonald has admitted already. Y’know, the poison pen letters, the graffiti. The burning down the house.
         
        I think the big interest comes from the nature of the crime and the relationships of the people involved. Plus the long time before the arrest which led to tons of idle gossip. There’s a Shakespearean element to it, I guess. Or maybe it’s more Kane and Abel?

    • TheContrarian 13.2
      28 June 2012 at 6:39 pm

      While I don’t support mandatory drug testing (for anyone) I don’t want tax dollars meant for life’s necessities being spent on drugs. Though on how to stop it I’d offer few solutions.

      • North 13.2.1
        28 June 2012 at 8:39 pm

        And then of course we could go outside the WINZ office and check their cars for warrants and regos. Not up to scratch…….fuck this underclass ! They’re not getting |”our” money.

        Ridiculous……..of course. Equally ridiculous to suggest denying the benefit for a positive drugs test. At the very worst, the very worst ……..if a former beneficiary comes along to WINZ asking for reinstatement because he lost his job on failing a drug test……..say no. Until you turn up with a negative test.

        You’re discriminating otherwise and you’re a mongrel. Especially when that particular lark, that fomenting of hatred against beneficiaries, is not because you really hate them. It’s simply, in the case of Blinglish et al, to keep their fat undeserving arses in parliamentary seats with ready access to all the baubles that come with that.

        In the case of the non-parliametarians it reflects the pathological need to have someone “below” to kick. And those with that need are weak people who hide from their own secret sense of inadequacy.

        I repeat my advice…….everybody who’s seen a National Party MP sucking on a joint, whenever it happened, come right out and say it. Make these hypoctrites live with the shit they’re so happy to heap on the “despicable poor” they’re so happy to identify and demonise. There’d be quite a few Tory aresholes sweating just a bit I reckon. Do it. Fuck their hypocrisy !

      • mickysavage 13.2.2
        28 June 2012 at 8:55 pm

        I agree.  Politicians should be randomly drug tested to make sure that they are not spending public money on drugs.  No exceptions.  All of them.

  14. TheContrarian 14
    28 June 2012 at 6:23 pm

    I think we can all relate….

    We have probably all been there…

    (Edit: Fixed broken link)

  15. Treetop 15
    28 June 2012 at 6:34 pm

    I see on 3 news that the Royal NZ Navy is turning into ghost ships. May be instead of Aussie mining recruitment going to the Devon Port Base, the NZ Navy should just sail over to Aussie and unload.

    • Ed 15.1
      28 June 2012 at 11:52 pm

      Was that where I thought I saw some comment about the Government having more value in Ministerial cars than in the Airforce – or something like that.

  16. North 16
    28 June 2012 at 6:43 pm

    Blinglish on TV One News tonight musing about denying the benefit to those who don’t pass drug tests. Loud cheering from his Federated Farmers audience.

    How I would love to know the name of everyone of those cheering aresholes……and have the capacity to go through the backgrounds of every single one of them, and their kids.

    We edge inexorably towards a nation utterly without morals while these bastards use any vile tactic to keep their fat arses in parliamentary seats.

    How about every member of their caucus sit down and tell me the truth about what they’ve done in their lives ? I wanna hear Blinglish truthfully tell me about his university days. Also Paula When I Was On The Bennie……..everything about herself.

    Or maybe people who’ve known any number of them in the course of their lives should just make a call to the old talkback tonight. Make no accusations…….just mention a name.

  17. William Joyce 17
    28 June 2012 at 7:55 pm

    The FBI were under pressure from the powerful movie and music industry to send a chilling effect through the world of cyber lockers/file hosts.
     
    So who do they go after?
    – The hosts housed in the US? – no.
    – The hosts in Switzerland? – no.
    – The hosts in Russia? – no.
    – The hosts in Germany? – no.
    Panama, Hong Kong, Canada, Ukraine, China, Italy, Spain?
    No, no, no, no, no, no, no.
     
    The went after someone in NZ. – Why? Because they could.
    What an ideal situation for them.
    A German guy. A fat guy. A larger than life character who could be portrayed as an ostentatious rich guy who is fleecing people of their money and rights. Living in a country do far away that US journalist would not travel to.
    And best of all – a compliant NZ Police ready and waiting with barrels of K.J. – who are far too “aroused” at the thought of partying with the Americans.
     
    The only thing that would have made it a perfect story for the American media would be if the guy was a funder of terrorism, a terrorist himself and he was in fact French!
     
    The raids in the Urewera and Wellington.
    The raid on Kim Dotcom.
    The speeding ticket I got the other day.
    There’s something rotten in the state police.

    • North 17.1
      28 June 2012 at 9:04 pm

      Ain’t it sad for NZ that the only guy who could fuck Botox Banks was the fellow you call the “fat German” ?

      It’s beautiful in the consummation though so Rah Rah Rah Sir Kiwi Dotcom. Even if you were a Tory arse-lick. I’m not even gonna complain about the no-balls of the media or the aspirational wannabe wankers who voted for Smile and Wave…….currently looking like an impatient little bully who reallly can’t be fucked with it all.

      Choice !!!

  18. rosy 18
    28 June 2012 at 8:19 pm

    Happy birthday Jean-Jacques Rousseau. A lot to argue with (which apparently is why he’s encrypted facing Voltaire in the Pantheon in Paris – so they can argue through eternity) but he did theorise the idea of egalitarianism. Something to be remembered for. Also:

    His greatest work, The Social Contract, speaks up for the rights of the citizenry in the teeth of private interests. He would also be struck by the way the democracy he cherished so dearly is under siege from corporate power and a manipulative media. Society, he taught, was a matter of common bonds, not just a commercial transaction. In true republican fashion, it was a place where men and women could flourish as ends in themselves, not as a set of devices for promoting their selfish interests.

    The same, he thought, should be true of education. Rousseau ranks among the great educational theorists of the modern era, even if he was the last man to put in charge of a classroom. Young adults, he thought, should be allowed to develop their capabilities in their distinctive way. They should also delight in doing so as an end in itself.

    • TheContrarian 18.1
      28 June 2012 at 8:27 pm

      Indeed, I did enjoy the works of Rousseau as I did other enlightenment figures. Hume was also particularly interesting

    • prism 18.2
      28 June 2012 at 9:08 pm

      “Young adults, he thought, should be allowed to develop their capabilities in their distinctive way. They should also delight in doing so as an end in itself.”
      Sounds like Neill’s type of education practice.

  19. captain hook 19
    28 June 2012 at 9:30 pm

    Anyway the civil society is very civil these days. No one at Barclays bank is going to lose their jobs after they were found to have manipulated the Libor rate.
    fined 290 millions pounds but the boss only lost his 1.7 million pound bonus.
    nice work if you can get it in the FREE market.

  20. Paul 20
    28 June 2012 at 9:32 pm

    I think people are gradually understanding this government’s agenda. Over 100 000 people have signed the petition for a referendum on assets sales.
    How can we further increase the ripple effect to ensure ‘Mum and Dad investors’ wake up and realise that John Key and his government does not care about them – they are only interested in the 1% investors?
    Ideas please

  21. captain hook 21
    28 June 2012 at 9:34 pm

    So who owns the river bed and does the Supreme Court have the power to make case law.
    These are vital questions especially after the Supreme Court decided it could do away with the supervision of the Privy Council.
    Now they too are just doing what they like.
    I guess Kweewee just gave them a mandate out of his mandate bag?

  22. Dave Kennedy 22
    28 June 2012 at 10:34 pm

    Judging by the numbers in the room, the passion and the quality of those leading the protest…the government should be worried. This could be the “Save Manapouri” for this generation:
    http://localbodies-bsprout.blogspot.co.nz/2012/06/te-anau-turmoil-and-tunnel.html

    • vto 22.1
      28 June 2012 at 11:06 pm

      That s very well written, well expressed, knowledgeable and accurate.

      I recommend everyone reads this and takes note.

      • Colonial Viper 22.1.1
        28 June 2012 at 11:24 pm

        Mate of mine was there. There was talk from farmers about protesting the proposed construction of the tunnel using tractors to block progress.

        And where was English?

        • Dave Kennedy 22.1.1.1
          29 June 2012 at 1:49 am

          Bill English has privately stated, apparently, that he doesn’t think the projects will get final approval and Eric Roy has been heard saying that he doesn’t personally agree with them. Why doesn’t the Government come out and stop this waste of time and energy from both sides and declare the projects incompatible with the values of conservation environments. We could then concentrate on initiatives that bring real value to our country. Turning Fiordland into some sort of theme park is one big “fail”.

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    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Diplomacy needed more than ever
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in TĂŒrkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges.    “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Anzac Commemorative Address, Buttes New British Cemetery Belgium
    Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service.  It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Anzac Commemorative Address – NZ National Service, Chunuk Bair
    Distinguished guests -   It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders.   Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Anzac Commemorative Address – Dawn Service, Gallipoli, TĂŒrkiye
    Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia.   Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • PM announces changes to portfolios
    Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
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    4 days ago

  • New catch limits for unique fishery areas
    Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Minister welcomes hydrogen milestone
    Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Urgent changes to system through first RMA Amendment Bill
    The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
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    5 days ago

  • Overseas decommissioning models considered
    Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Release of North Island Severe Weather Event Inquiry
    Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Justice Minister to attend Human Rights Council
    Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order.  “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Patterson reopens world’s largest wool scouring facility
    Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
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    6 days ago

  • Speech to the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective Summit, 18 April 2024
    Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing  At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin    Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho    Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today.    I am delighted ...
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    6 days ago

  • Government to introduce revised Three Strikes law
    The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • New diplomatic appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions.   “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says.    “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
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    6 days ago

  • Humanitarian support for Ethiopia and Somalia
    New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today.   “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
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    6 days ago

  • Arts Minister congratulates Mataaho Collective
    Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale.  “It is good ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Supporting better financial outcomes for Kiwis
    The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Trade relationship with China remains strong
    “China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says.   Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
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    1 week ago

  • PM’s South East Asia mission does the business
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
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    1 week ago

  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
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    1 week ago

  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
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    1 week ago

  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
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    1 week ago

  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
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    1 week ago

  • Anzac commemorations, TĂŒrkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
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    1 week ago

  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
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    1 week ago

  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Taupƍ takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupƍ as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupƍ International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupƍ Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
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    1 week ago

  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

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