Open mike 29/05/2019

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, May 29th, 2019 - 60 comments
Categories: open mike - Tags:

Open mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

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

Step up to the mike …

60 comments on “Open mike 29/05/2019 ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. WeTheBleeple 1
    29 May 2019 at 7:25 am

    "American killed when hit by car"….

    "A car flung at his house by a tornado".

    When are they gonna realise their chump in chief will see them all crushed.

    Leaves or Lincolns

    the answers my friend, are blowing in the wind.

    • Robert Guyton 1.1
      29 May 2019 at 7:29 am

      I wonder, WTB, if this is your cup of tea; it is mine:

      https://www.terriwindling.com/blog/2019/05/hard-by-a-great-forest.html

      • WeTheBleeple 1.1.1
        29 May 2019 at 8:33 am

        In the opening comments

        "It is no accident that in the comedies of Shakespeare, people go into the greenwood to grow, learn and change"

        Just yesterday spent time with a gang member suggesting he needs some time out in the bush. We get so caught up in trivial strivings we lose our stillness, that ability to clearly ponder a thing without a hundred other thoughts crowding in. Mindfulness is merely a band aid for the disconnection from nature, natures quiet is the real deal.

        That being said I could do with some time out myself. Sitting here staring at this screen I recall the days of youth with a mountain as my back yard and a waterfall at base camp. Negotiating the tracks and streams on moonlit night, hunting eel and possum with tomahawk. The morepork calls out sharply then only the stream can be heard, but listening, in the distance, the relentless soft thundering of waves on the beach.

        The background noise today is the motorway. Progress…

  2. Muttonbird 2
    29 May 2019 at 7:26 am

    "In my life I have made it my ambition not to follow what Roger Douglas does,'' Mr Robertson shot back.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/390772/national-party-leader-and-finance-minister-in-standoff-over-budget-leak

  3. Robert Guyton 3
    29 May 2019 at 7:28 am

    If you search the meaning of sotto voce and click on the little speaker icon to hear how it's pronounced but forget to turn your laptop speakers down a little, you get a surprise that will make you laugh.

  4. Sanctuary 4
    29 May 2019 at 7:39 am

    Can anyone tell me what the Teacher's union end game is today? I don't get it. The NZEI seems to have determinedly talked themselves into a corner and now seem utterly intent on forcing a showdown with a government that is offering them a lot more than National ever did.

    The NZEI were gutless wonders when Key was the PM.

    But now they are behaving like flat track bullies who think they can force a winner-takes-all showdown, the most likely result of which be a loss of public support at their intransigence and government that may just decide that the teachers are not worth the bother, and join National in union busting law changes?

      • The Chairman 4.1.1
        29 May 2019 at 11:08 am

        The private sector are concerned and don't want the Government setting precedent in public sector wage rounds. Seems the Government are listening to those concerns.

        • CHCoff 4.1.1.1
          29 May 2019 at 12:54 pm

          Defaulting to neo-liberalism because they are unable to represent their constituencies democratically doesn't give the unions much legitimacy – sustainable foundations for more progressive outcomes to them are only possible through positive contributions to ( & possessing the necessary attributes for) the democratic processes that good govt. is based on.

    • Peter 4.2
      29 May 2019 at 10:46 am

      A government offering them a lot more than National ever did?

      Maybe the union attitude would be different if there weren't the same National Party bullshit.

      An impression has been created that teachers are all (by and large) to get $10,000 a year extra. The implication is that the greedy bastards on $65,000 are striking when they've been offered $75,000 a year.

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmqZACfyqZw

      The labels like 'gutless wonders,' and 'flat track bullies' are easy to throw around. Maybe 'weasely bastards' (for the politicians) and 'sucked in simpletons' (for some of the public) are easy to use too. And as equally justified and accurate.

      • Herodotus 4.2.1
        29 May 2019 at 1:53 pm

        Ali should be heading both the wage "discussions" with the govt and media as the NZEI rep.

        Well done. And our Minister stated on Q&A that strike action was not justified. Thank you Minister for your wee part in the continual repression of pay for hard working Kiwi workers, and your govts mis representation of the pay demands of teachers.

        I hope todays actions are not overtaken by other events. Thanks Trev and Simon for this (Both should go )

  5. Robert Guyton 5
    29 May 2019 at 7:46 am

    Dave Kennedy's post on the issue might help answer your questions, Sanctuary.

    http://localbodies-bsprout.blogspot.com/2019/05/the-teacher-strikes-and-fiscal-cap.html

  6. Pete George 6
    29 May 2019 at 7:46 am

    My take on the 'Whale Oil' book – it's about far more than just the blog and Cameron Slater.

    It is primarily about a campaign of harassment against Matt Blomfield and his family over many years. At it's worst it involve an armed attack on them in their home. But it also involved many attacks online, and via text, with threats.

    It is also about the concerning lack of action by police.

    It also has wider interest in the prevalence of bullying online – this is one of the worst cases imaginable, but it is a big and topical issue.

    https://yournz.org/2019/05/29/so-what-is-the-whale-oil-book-about/

    • Sanctuary 6.1
      29 May 2019 at 7:58 am

      The troubling behaviour of Customs officials towards Felix Geiringer and the manuscript needs explaination as well, because the evidence is mounting up to what looks a lot like some sort of conspiracy to protect Slater, presumably originating from an operational level within our state security organs.

      here is an attractive conspiracy theory – Slater was, in my opinion, clearly getting money from the Israelis to run a hard line pro-Israel line on his site. Our "deep state" operators in the likes of the GCSB or SIS who like to think they are important players in the security of the "west" conspired at the behest of Israeli interests to try and shield Slater from be discredited as a slanderer and a fraud.

      Just throwing it out there for any novelists… 😉

      • dv 6.1.1
        29 May 2019 at 8:06 am

        Felix Geiringer and the manuscript and Customs officials- it was the Margie Thomson book?

      • Pete George 6.1.2
        29 May 2019 at 8:15 am

        Here are the Geiringer tweets.

        https://yournz.org/2019/05/28/nz-customs-accused-of-abusing-powers-ahead-of-blomfield-book-launch/

        It has been confirmed that it was Matt and his family who were detained by Customs for several hours when they returned to the country.

        From NZH:

        <blockquote>A conspiracy under the name "Operation Bumslide" saw the former business partner Warren Powell supply Slater and others with a decade of Blomfield's personal and financial records which were then used in an attempt to destroy his reputation.

        The blog posts were then backed up by complaints from "Operation Bumslide" members to a host of government enforcement agencies, leading to Blomfield being described as "one of New Zealand's most investigated people".</blockquote>

        https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12235063

      • Anne 6.1.3
        29 May 2019 at 8:48 am

        Yes, there is another story to be told about how some sections of the establishment behaved throughout the Slater years. Take for example the former director of the SIS, Warren Tucker supplying Cameron Slater with a top secret document containing what turned out to be false/incorrect information about then Labour leader, Phil Goff. Slater used it to discredit Goff on his blog-site Whale Oil.

        There was something rotten going down in the land of milk and honey!

    • mickysavage 6.2
      29 May 2019 at 8:32 am

      Credit to you too Pete for sticking to the story and insisting on publishing details. The acknowledgment of you last night was very appropriate.

    • lilamn 6.3
      29 May 2019 at 1:03 pm

      Sorry , Police have become a weapon for this government so I have no faith in their ability to be impartial.

  7. Observer Tokoroa 7
    29 May 2019 at 8:08 am

    National – Knows everything

    During the reign of the quite strange Pm, Sir John Key, National gathered massive detail about us, the citzens of New Zealand.

    His little Shadow, Mr English – did his bit to please John Key.

    It is remarkable, that high and mighty National can put its chilling hands on any Information it wants.

    It will need to explain to the Citizens of New Zealand how they can wave any document they want – at any time they want – for the benefit of national corrupt politics.

    They remind me of low life…

  9. The Chairman 9
    29 May 2019 at 9:41 am

    Comfortable with this?

    A lobbyist was involved in choosing who became ministers in this government and what portfolios they got. And he got paid for it. Months later he went straight back to his role as a director of his lobbying firm, free to lobby those very same ministers.

    https://mailchi.mp/criticalpolitics/political-roundup-should-we-worry-about-lobbyists-influence-on-the-government

    • Rosemary McDonald 9.1
      29 May 2019 at 10:12 am

      Don't pay it any mind TC…The Hacked Budget Scandal is front and centre now.

      SSDD.

      Having said that….the Ardern fan club hereabouts should be working overtime to explain this….I'll go make toast.

      • The Chairman 9.1.1
        29 May 2019 at 10:44 am

        The Ardern fan club hereabouts should be working overtime to explain this

        It will be interesting to see who will be the first to front and what excuses they will make.

        • Rosemary McDonald 9.1.1.1
          29 May 2019 at 11:00 am

          Don't think….

          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZHj_YZQlUM

          • The Chairman 9.1.1.1.1
            29 May 2019 at 2:12 pm

            Seems (going off the lack of response) most here are comfortable with it. And it seems the defenders have opted for the ignoring it tactic in the hope it will fade away.

            By in large we are a strange lot here on the left. If this was National doing this, there would be a major outcry from the left. Yet, when it’s our side that is playing up, the outcry on here seems to be minimal.

            This failure to hold our on side to account plays a leading role in why Labour aren't delivering more and are getting away with pulling crap like this.

  10. Observer Tokoroa 10
    29 May 2019 at 10:23 am

    Thanks Chairman

    I am not Comfortable with Lobbyist open sesame deals

    Thanks for alerting me Chairman.

    It would be helpful if all Lobbyists were Licensed and checked By Auditors every six months.

    Be aware of the fast talking PR Lobbyist. !

  12. greywarshark 12
    29 May 2019 at 11:29 am

    At present, on just counting through the listed comments available,. Gosman shows with 45 and Sam with 17 I think. This is just two of the RW who infest inflict haunt the site.

  13. Morrissey 13
    29 May 2019 at 11:53 am

    Horrifically, this corpse has risen from the grave to haunt us again. One of the most hapless talk radio tragics is still polluting the airwaves

    Peter Williams on Magic Talk, some time after 11 a.m., Wed. 29 May 2019

    I'm sorry to have to confess that, yes, I found myself listening this morning for five or so minutes to Magic Talk. The host Peter Williams wasn't talking much on this occasion; instead the air was filled with the whining, insistent drone of an elderly male caller.

    As soon as I heard him, I instinctively shivered; I'd heard that voice somewhere before. Where was it? It was the captious, hectoring tone of a small town bore holding forth to some captive audience—the long-suffering "missus", perhaps, or a few extremely bored and indulgent "mates"— in some dying lounge bar in some small town, or lecturing a trapped nephew at some godforsaken family barbecue, or …. [insert your most hellish social situation here]. In a short time, he sounded off against teachers, commented, without any special insights, on the prospects of the Black Caps and then capped it off by calling Masterton a "bit of a hick town" and claiming that the CEO of Air New Zealand is Chris Liddell. Peter Williams, to his credit, corrected him: "Chris Luxon."

    I'd heard that caller's voice before, long in the past. Who WAS it? Thankfully, he was eventually stopped from talking any further, because the host intervened:

    PETER WILLIAMS: Okay, we've got to go for a break now. That was Kieran Smyth, "The Man in the Stand".

    The Man in the Stand!!?!?!? Oh, God, no! No, NO-O-O-O-O-O!!!

    Any sensible person who had been humiliated in public like he was in 2003 would not ever have raised his head above the parapet again. But "The Man in the Stand" is clearly not a sensible person….

    https://morrisseybreen.blogspot.com/2018/01/did-any-of-you-see-this-ugly-violent.html

  14. The Chairman 14
    29 May 2019 at 2:28 pm

    Ardern has pointed any responsibility for the security of the Budget documents to the Treasury, yet Treasury wasn't the only ones to have access to the Budget information. Thus fail to see how she can come to that conclusion. Unless, of course, she is linking the hack as the sole source of National's info.

    • The Chairman 14.1
      29 May 2019 at 2:38 pm

      With National denying it came from a hack, and with no evidence at this stage showing so, shouldn't Jacinda be taking more responsibility to determine how this major breach occurred instead of washing her hands of it?

  15. The Chairman 15
    29 May 2019 at 3:19 pm

    Here's a quick thought

    Poverty, mental health, and family violence are all interrelated, poverty being a driver and in some cases a consequence of the latter two. Therefore, increasing benefits is a quick fire way for the Government to help assist all three. Opposed to spending money (and nothing on benefits) addressing the growing aftermath instead of addressing a root cause.

    Hence, we all should be questioning the Government’s acumen.

    • Sam 15.1
      29 May 2019 at 3:30 pm

      How can you be so sure that if we throw more money at bad it will work this time? If it's the root cause you wish to address why begin at the end users and not at land disposition. So why?

      • The Chairman 15.1.1
        29 May 2019 at 3:45 pm

        When lack of money (and not budgeting) is the problem, there are two solutions, lower costs (which tend to come via subsidies) or increase incomes.

        It's worked in the past and there is no reason it won't work now.

        Not sure on your question re land disposition, can you clarify?

        • Sam 15.1.1.1
          29 May 2019 at 3:53 pm

          It needs to be said that the “means of production” is “privately owned” and we know what they will say about productivity gains going into the welfare state. hooray for democracy.

          John Key brought in major PPP reforms, sold the last of the state assets. As Iv mentioned before. Want benefits to rise, I mean we just don't have the State Own Enterprises to be able to fund it otherwise we end up with a situation where the government borrows for operation expenditure.

          So a decent starting point for a comparative study on welfare would be Esping-Andersen's Three Worlds of Welfare Capitalism, which is the kind of broad brush comparative study of Western welfare states it seems you should look into. It's a bit dated, but you should be able to easily move on from there to more specialised texts or direct policy research so to ask more specific and correct questions.

          • The Chairman 15.1.1.1.1
            29 May 2019 at 4:12 pm

            You'd be surprised how much of the welfare spend actually ends up back in the hands of businesses. Therefore, a benefit increase is good for their returns. Not to mention the productivity gains made from the savings spent on social ills.

            The Government doesn't have to borrow, they have ample options. Plus you forget there will be mass savings as a offsetting result of the initial outlay.

            • Sam 15.1.1.1.1.1
              29 May 2019 at 4:24 pm

              Yeah, and R+L won't equal benefit increases come the next election cycle because democracy, hooray.

              In Denmark, the only state-owned companies are those that are seen as vital for the state to work, like DSB who runs trains and the different bus companies.

              The main energy company also used to be state-owned and but the government there was heavily criticized for selling that one.

              We have a chance to underwrite our own state finances and economic sovereignty with the pricing of the Carbon and the Pollution, and if some are extra carful to compensate beneficiaries at the same time.

    • Muttonbird 15.2
      29 May 2019 at 3:44 pm

      Not much point in throwing money at beneficiaries if they live in damp, cold houses because all that extra money goes out the window, literally.

      Better to fix the houses first (something which you have constantly fought against on this site).

      • The Chairman 15.2.1
        29 May 2019 at 3:52 pm

        Get it right. I'm not against the notion. But against the way the Government has gone about it – i.e. resulting in rent increases. Largely defeating the benefits.

        Re increasing benefits, the Government and their experts all agree it's required and long overdue. Albeit, the Government won't move at pace to get the job done.

        • Muttonbird 15.2.1.1
          29 May 2019 at 3:54 pm

          I have it right, son. You're not against anything, except Labour and the Greens.

          • The Chairman 15.2.1.1.1
            29 May 2019 at 3:59 pm

            Don't be paranoid, I'm more left than most of you. But here we are again, talking about me. Funny that.

            • Sam 15.2.1.1.1.1
              29 May 2019 at 4:08 pm

              Woke, brothers and sisters. Woke.

            • Drowsy M. Kram 15.2.1.1.1.2
              29 May 2019 at 8:04 pm

              Since we're talking about you (Chair), and since you're "more left than most", I'm going to hazard a guess that many who comment and/or read here are suspicious of your true motives because you seem to target most of your criticism at left-leaning political parties, regardless of whether they are in Government or in opposition.

              And sure, that criticism may often be justified and/or constructive, but even so I reckon folk would feel a little more comfortable if you occasionally put the boot into National.

              You wouldn't even have to do it that often – maybe start by proffering just one National/ACT critique for every four or so of your comments critical of Labour and/or the Greens.

              It's only a suggestion – why not give it a go?

              • Sam …
                29 May 2019 at 8:31 pm

                Only thing I was suspect on Chairmen about was the amount he'd desire to raise benefits. Iv always suspected he'd wish to raise it above the 60% outline in the recent welfare working group. But hey, it's just a suspension, it could be 200% increase.

                It also takes a particular person to be able to concede to the devil what belongs to the devil. What I mean by that is could you name a National or Act policy and give a quick speak about it with out googling it. Love the left or hate the left. No matter how one eyed people are of the left, those who are fixated on the left, are probably left.

                The bit that most normal people miss is about the state is this longing for some old, something blue, something new and something used. In reality the state has two major monopolies today, money and violence. Which is more powerful? I'd argue money. To see why look at who outlasted who in the Cold War. Military hegemony vs Economic hegemony. The economic one is still going.

  16. The Al1en 16
    29 May 2019 at 3:29 pm

    Not seen it here today but well done egg boy for giving 100k to the cc terror attack victims.

  17. Muttonbird 17
    29 May 2019 at 3:38 pm

    The number of National staffers and MPs allowed in Opposition's pre-Budget lockup has been slashed.

    The decision "significantly constrains our ability to go through the Budget documents," Amy Adams said.

    This has to be a joke. According to National, they already have the Budget and have been going through the documents for the last two days!

    And as for respecting the lock-up, well, they've shown they can't be trusted with confidential information at all.

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12235454

    • ianmac 17.1
      29 May 2019 at 4:02 pm

      No problem. We could write National's predictable response for them:

      "rubbish, failed, broken promises, poor little kids with rotten teeth, tanks not teeth, misleading, disappointing, same old nothing new …."

  18. ianmac 18
    29 May 2019 at 3:56 pm

    Sir Michael Cullen's view re leak/hack.

    The former Labour Deputy Prime Minister believed external hackers would also not be interested in the information.

    "It's not quite clear why any 'state actor' would have a particular interest in what our spending was going to be on Thursday."

    "The only people who have an interest in getting at that stuff quickly are either people interested in market advantage or it was political, to embarrass."

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/113092600/budget-hack-political-games-to-embarrass-the-government–michael-cullen

    • Sam 18.1
      29 May 2019 at 4:05 pm

      I shake my head at the thought of anyone trying to gain a financial advantage out of trading sensitive information like that. There are so many other ligit ways to make more money than betting on forex or some dumb shit. I mean why wouldn't they just short the U.K. Pound for free??? It makes no sense.

    • Anne 18.2
      29 May 2019 at 4:39 pm

      Winston Peters’ view and I quote in full:

      Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters, is claiming he knows how National got the ‘leaked’ documents but not revealing details.

      He told reporters what they were saying was wrong – the facts were different.

      “Are you saying the cleaner got hold of stuff, I don’t think so … the facts are different to that. The facts are very, very bad for the National party.”

      “The information came to them in circumstances where the behaviour was totally illegal and they should have known it. That’s all I can say right now … it’s my job to know.”

      He said Bridges was being “thoroughly unethical” and cashed in on the material.

      “He has been found out and made a right fool of himself.”

      Bridges should have called up Minister of Finance Grant Robertson to warn him about the documents and tell him something untoward was going on, Peters said.

      “He’s [Bridges] gone-burger now because of this. He had a chance to show that he had ethical views, that he was fit to be a leader …”

      He had no doubt the police would investigate.

      Live from the Stuff news site.

      The over-the-top press stand-up by Simon B this morning convinces me Winnie’s got it in one.

  19. greywarshark 19
    29 May 2019 at 4:00 pm

    Vietnam vets new book by Australian about going as a teenager.

    My Vietnam War Dave Morgan NEW Free ShippingCondition: BRAND NEW
    ISBN: 9781922132772
    Author(s): Dave Morgan
    Format: Paperback
    Language: English
    Year: 2014
    Publisher: Big Sky Publishing
    Pages: 296

    https://www.trademe.co.nz/books/nonfiction/history/other/listing-2164086576.htm?rsqid=10ed25c71804446e896a3b15ace548ff-003

    Vietnam War

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Some Reader Feedback For Your Weekend
    Hi,I think we all made it through another week — congratulations. I’ve been digesting the new Arab Strap record, which is astonishing. In other news, I’m going to be doing a Webworm popup in Auckland, New Zealand on Saturday July 13. I’ll bring a bunch of merch, and some other ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 hours ago

  • Thinking About the Property Rights in Resource Decisions As Well As Transaction Costs.
    The Fast-Track Approvals Bill enables cabinet ministers to circumvent key environmental planning and protection processes for infrastructure projects. Its difficulties have been well canvassed. This column suggests a different way of thinking about the proposal. I am going to explore the Bill from the perspective of its proponents with their ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    13 hours ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Can Shane Jones be trusted in making Fast-track decisions?
    New Zealand First Cabinet Minister Shane Jones has become the best advertisement against the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill. In selling the radical new resource consenting processes, in which ministers can green light any mine, dam, or other major development, Jones seems to be shooting the proposal in the foot. ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    14 hours ago

  • Seymour appeals to PPTA to call off meetings on charter schools – but does he seriously believe he...
    Buzz from the Beehive Associate Education Minister David Seymour is urging the PostPrimary Teachers Association to put learning ahead of ideology. He wants the union leaders to call off their teachers meetings around the country where they hope to muster the strength to undo the government’s plans to establish several ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    15 hours ago

  • Police don’t fight crime
    What are police for? "Fighting crime" is the obvious answer. If there's a burglary, they should show up and investigate. Ditto if there's a murder or sexual assault. Speeding or drunk or dangerous driving is a crime, so obviously they should respond to that. And obviously, they should respond to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    16 hours ago

  • Two central banks
    Michael Reddell writes –  I got curious yesterday about how the Australia/New Zealand real exchange rate had changed over the last decade, and so dug out the data on the changes in the two countries’ CPIs. Over the 10 years from March 2014 to March 2024, New Zealand’s ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    18 hours ago

  • TVNZ hīkoi documentary needs a sequel
    Graham Adams writes that 20 years after the land march, judges are quietly awarding a swathe of coastal rights to iwi. Early this month, an hour-long documentary was released by TVNZ to mark the 20th anniversary of the land-rights march to oppose Helen Clark’s Foreshore and Seabed Act. The account ...
    Point of OrderBy gadams1000
    18 hours ago

  • The missing Green MP
    David Farrar writes –  The Herald reports: Suspended Green MP Darleen Tana has passed an unpleasant milestone: she has now been absent for as many parliamentary sitting days as she has been present for this year. Tana is on full pay while she is suspended, and will benefit from a ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    18 hours ago

  • The contest for the future heart and soul of the Labour Party
    Peter Dunne writes –  It is no coincidence that two Labour should-have-been MPs are making the most noise about public sector cuts. As assistant general secretary of the Public Service Association, Fleur Fitzsimons has been at the forefront of revealing where the next round of state sector job ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    18 hours ago

  • Lobbying for Waikato’s Medical School causing problems for the Govt
    Bryce Edwards writes –  It’s becoming a classic case study for why lobbying deals with politicians need greater scrutiny. Former National Minister Steven Joyce runs a lobbying company with a major client – the University of Waikato. The University desperately wants $300m+ of taxpayer funding to establish a ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    18 hours ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the psychological horror film Possession
    This is one of the (extra) weekly columns on music or movies. Plenty of solid analyses of Possession exist online and most of them – inevitably – contain spoilers. This column is more in the way of a first-timer’s aid to getting your initial bearings. You don’t need to have ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    19 hours ago

  • Portrait of a Man.
    I am painting in oil, a portrait of a manWho has taken all the heart aches,And all the pain he can stand.I am using all the colors of blue,I have here on my stand.I am painting in oil, a portrait of a man.This has been an interesting week for me. ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    22 hours ago

  • The Hoon around the week to May 17
    Helen Clark joins the Hoon as a special guest talking whether Aotearoa should join Aukus II, and her views on the fast track legislation and how Luxon and the new Government are performing. File Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for subscribers features co-hosts ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    22 hours ago

  • Weekly Roundup 17-May-2024
    We’re at the end of another week. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked if the Herald’s poor journalism will cost lives On Tuesday Matt covered Wayne Brown’s proposal for public transport in the Long ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    23 hours ago

  • Rishi’s relaunch
    With an election due in less than nine months, Britain’s embattled PM, Rishi Sunak, gave a useful speech earlier this week. He made a substantial case for his government, perhaps as compelling as is possible in the current environment. Quite an achievement. His overall theme was security, first pulling ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    1 day ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #20 2024
    Open access notables Publicly expressed climate scepticism is greatest in regions with high CO2 emissions, Pearson et al., Climatic Change: We analysed a recently released corpus of climate-related tweets to examine the macro-level factors associated with public declarations of climate change scepticism. Analyses of over 2 million geo-located tweets in the U.S. showed that climate ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 day ago

  • The thrilling possibilities of charter schools
    You can be all negative about these charter schools if you want, but I’m here to accentuate the positive. You can get all worked up, if you want to, by the contradiction of Luxon saying We’re going to make sure that every school in the country is teaching exactly the same ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • This Unreasonable Government.
    Losing The Room: One can only speculate about what has persuaded the Coalition Government that it will pay no electoral price for unreasonably pushing ahead with policies that are so clearly against the national interest. They seem quite oblivious to the risk that by doing so they will convince an increasing ...
    Bowalley Road
    2 days ago

  • Supreme Court weighs in on name suppression
    Name suppression decisions can be tough sometimes. No matter your views on free speech, you have to be hard-hearted not to be torn by the tug of the competing arguments. I think you can feel the Supreme Court wrestling with that in M v The King. The case for ...
    Media Law JournalBy Steven
    2 days ago

  • Is This A “Merchants” Government?
    The Merchants of Menace: The Coalition Government has convinced itself that the “Brahmins’” emollient functions have become much too irksome and expensive. Those who see themselves as the best hope of rebuilding New Zealand’s ailing capitalist system, appear to have convinced themselves that a little bit of blunt trauma is what their mollycoddled ...
    Bowalley Road
    2 days ago

  • This is what corruption looks like
    When National first proposed its Muldoonist "fast-track" law, they were warned that it would inevitably lead to corruption. And that is exactly what has happened, with Resources Minister Shane Jones taking secret meetings with potential applicants: On Tuesday, in a Newsroom story, questions were raised about a dinner Jones ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago

  • Take that, Vladimir – and be warned: we have plenty more sanctions (at least, we hope so) in our ...
    Buzz from the Beehive One day – hopefully – we will push that Russian rascal, Vladimir Putin, beyond breaking point.  Perhaps it will happen today, when he learns that Foreign Minister Winston Peters is again tightening the thumbscrews. Peters announced further sanctions, this time on 28 individuals and 14 entities ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • More Harm Than Good.
    How Labour’s and National’s failure to move beyond neoliberalism has brought New Zealand to the brink of economic and cultural chaos.TO START LOSING, so soon after you won, requires a special kind of political incompetence. At the heart of this Coalition Government’s failure to retain, and build upon, the public ...
    Bowalley Road
    2 days ago

  • The Ombudsman fails again
    In 2020, the Operation Burnham inquiry reported back, finding that NZDF had lied to Ministers and the New Zealand public about its actions in Afghanistan. The inquiry saw a large number of documents declassified and released, which raised another problem: whether they had also lied to the Ombudsman in his ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago

  • No Time To Think: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    “Members of Parliament don’t work for us, they represent us, an entirely different thing. As with so much that has turned out badly, the re-organising of MPs’ responsibilities began with the Fourth Labour Government. That’s when they began to be treated like employees – public servants – whose diaries had ...
    Bowalley Road
    2 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Lobbying for Waikato’s Medical School causing problems for the Govt
    It’s becoming a classic case study for why lobbying deals with politicians need greater scrutiny. Former National Minister Steven Joyce runs a lobbying company with a major client – the University of Waikato. The University desperately wants $300m+ of taxpayer funding to establish a third medical school in New Zealand, ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    2 days ago

  • Picking Sides.
    Time To Choose: Like it or not, the Kiwis are either going into AUKUS’s  “Pillar 2” – or they are going to China.HAD ZHENG HE’S FLEET sailed east, not west, in the early Fifteenth Century, how different our world would be. There is little reason to suppose that the sea-going junks ...
    Bowalley Road
    2 days ago

  • Universities offer course in self-serving cowardice
    Henry Ergas writes –  When in Randall Jarrell’s Pictures from an Institution, a college president is accused of being a hypocrite, the novel’s narrator retorts that the description is grossly unfair. After all, the man is still far from the stage of moral development at which the charge ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • The teacher trainee challenge
    David Farrar writes –  Radio NZ reports: The Education Review Office says too many new teachers feel poorly prepared for their jobs. In a report published on Monday, the review office said 60 percent of the principals it interviewed said their new teachers were not ready. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Words and (in)actions
    New Zealand’s economic performance and the PM’s vision   Michael Reddell writes –  When I wrote yesterday morning’s post, highlighting how poorly both New Zealand and its Anglo peer countries have been doing in respect of productivity in recent times (ie, in the case of New ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • What do you hope for/fear from the budget?
    Hi all,Firstly - thank you! You guys are awesome. The response I’ve received to last night’s mail has been quite overwhelming. It’s a ghastly day outside, but there are no clouds in here.In case you didn’t read my email and are wondering what on earth I’m talking about you can ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on ACT’s charter schools experiment
    If there was still any doubt as to who is actually running this government – and it isn’t the buffoon from Botany – then this week’s announcement of a huge spend up on charter schools has settled the matter. While jobs and public services continue to be cut in the ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    2 days ago

  • Drought fuels wildfire concerns as Canada braces for another intense summer
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Gaye Taylor As widespread drought raises expectations for a repeat of last year’s ferocious wildfire season, response teams across Canada are grappling with the rapidly changing face of fire in a warming climate. No longer quenched by winter, nor quelled by the ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus and pick ‘n’ mix for Thursday, May 16
    Half of Christchurch City Holdings Ltd’s directors and its chair resigned en masse last night in protest at Christchurch City Council’s demand to front-load dividends File Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The chair of Christchurch City Council’s investment company and four of its independent directors resigned in protest last ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Controversial proposal could threaten coalition
    The University of Waikato has reworded an advertisement that begins the tender process for its new $300 million-plus medical school even though the Government still needs to approve it. However, even the reworded ad contains an architect’s visualisations of what the school might look like. ACT leader David Seymour told ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago

  • Of Rings of Power Annatar, Dramatic Irony, and Disguises
    As a follow-up to the Rings of Power trailer discussion, I thought I needed to add something. There has been some online mockery about the use of the same actor for both the Halbrand and Annatar incarnations of Sauron. The reasoning is that Halbrand with a shave and a new ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    2 days ago

  • The future of Nick's Kōrero.
    This isn’t quite as dramatic as the title might suggest. I’m not going anywhere, but there is something I wanted to talk to you about.Let’s start with a typical day.Most days I send out a newsletter in the morning. If I’ve written a lot the previous evening it might be ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • The PM promises tax relief in the Budget – but will it be enough to satisfy the Taxpayers’ Union...
    Buzz from the Beehive The promise of tax relief loomed large in his considerations when  the PM delivered a pre-Budget speech to the Auckland Business Chamber. The job back in Wellington is getting government spending back under control, he said, bandying figures which show that in per capita terms, the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • Fucking useless
    Yesterday de facto Prime Minister David Seymour announced that his glove puppet government would be re-introducing charter schools, throwing $150 million at his pet quacks, donors and cronies and introducing an entire new government agency to oversee them (the existing Education Review Office, which actually knows how to review schools, ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • Setting things straight.
    Seeing that, in order to discredit the figures and achieve moral superiority while attempting to deflect attention away from the military assault on Rafa, Israel supporters in NZ have seized on reports that casualty numbers in Gaza may be inflated … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    3 days ago

  • Far too light a sentence
    David Farrar writes – Newstalk ZB report: The man responsible for a horror hit and run in central Wellington last year was on a suspended licence and was so drunk he later asked police, “Did I kill someone?” Jason Tuitama injured two women when he ran a red ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Unwinding Labour’s Agenda
    Muriel Newman writes –  Former US President Ronald Reagan once said, “Freedom is a fragile thing and it’s never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by way of inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation.” The fight for ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Sequel to “Real reason Waitangi Tribunal could not summons Chhour”
    Why Courts should have said Waitangi Tribunal could not summons Karen Chhour Gary Judd writes – In the High Court, Justice Isacs declined to uphold the witness summons issued by the Waitangi Tribunal to compel Minister for Children, Karen Chhour, to appear before it to be ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • The Govt’s Fast-Track is being demolished by submissions to Parliament
    Bryce Edwards writes –  The number of voices raising concerns about the Government’s Fast-Track Approvals Bill is rapidly growing. This is especially apparent now that Parliament’s select committee is listening to submissions from the public to evaluate the proposed legislation. Twenty-seven thousand submissions have been made to Parliament ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • A generation is leaving at a rate of one A320-load per day
    An average of 166 New Zealand citizens left the country every day during the March quarter, up 54% from a year ago.Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The economy and housing market is sinking into a longer recession through the winter after a slump in business and consumer confidence in ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • NZUP RORS back to life
    The government has made it abundantly clear they’re addicted to the smell of new asphalt. On Tuesday they introduced a new term to the country’s roading lexicon, the Roads of Regional Significance (RoRS), a little brother for the Roads of National (Party) Significance (RoNS). Driving ahead with Roads of Regional ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    3 days ago

  • School Is Out.
    School is outAnd I walk the empty hallwaysI walk aloneAlone as alwaysThere's so many lucky penniesLying on the floorBut where the hell are all the lucky peopleI can't see them any moreYesterday morning, I’d just sent out my newsletter on Tama Potaka, and I was struggling to make the coffee. ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • How Are You Doing?
    Hi,I wanted to check in and ask how you’re doing.This is perhaps a selfish act, of attempting to find others feeling a similar way to me — that is to say, a little hopeless at the moment.Misery loves company, that sort of deal.Some context.I wish I could say I got ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    3 days ago

  • The Rings of Power: Season Two Teaser Trailer
    I have hitherto been fairly quiet on the new season of Rings of Power, on the basis that the underwhelming first season did not exactly build excitement – and the rumours were fairly daft. The only real thing of substance to come out has been that they have re-cast Adar ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    3 days ago

  • At a glance – What ended the Little ice Age?
    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 ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • Talking Reo with the PM
    “The thing is,” Chris Luxon says, leaning forward to make his point, “this has always been my thing.”“This goes all the way back to the first multinational I worked for. I was saying exactly the same thing back then. The name of our business needs to be more clear; people ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Waitangi Tribunal’s authority in Chhour case is upheld – but bill’s introduction to Parliament...
    Buzz from the Beehive It’s been a momentous few days for Children’s Minister Karen Chhour.  The Court of Appeal has overturned a High Court decision which blocked a summons order from the Waitangi Tribunal for her. And today she has announced the Government is putting children first by introducing to ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • Australia jails another whistleblower
    In 2014 former Australian army lawyer David McBride leaked classified military documents about Australian war crimes to the ABC. Dubbed "The Afghan Files", the documents led to an explosive report on Australian war crimes, the disbanding of an entire SAS unit, and multiple ongoing prosecutions. The journalist who wrote the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • Some “scrutiny”!
    Back in February I blogged about another secret OIA "consultation" by the Ministry of Justice. This one was on Aotearoa's commitment in its Open Government Partnership Action Plan to "strengthen scrutiny of Official Information Act exemption clauses in legislation" (AKA secrecy clauses). Their consultation paper on the issue focused on ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • TVNZ is loss-making, serves no public service due to bias, and should be liquidated
    Rob MacCulloch writes –  According to the respected Pew Research Centre, “In seven of eight [European] countries surveyed, the most trusted news outlet asked about is the public news organization in each country”. For example, “in Sweden, an overwhelming majority (90%) say they trust the public broadcaster SVT”. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • The conflicted Covid Chair
    David Farrar writes –  Kata MacNamara reports:    Details of Tony Blakely’s involvement in the New Zealand Government’s response to the pandemic raise serious questions about the work of the Covid-19 Royal Commission of Inquiry over which he presides. It has long been clear that Blakely, a ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Attacking the smartest and most resilient people in the room is never a good idea
    Chris Trotter writes – Are you a Brahmin or a Merchant? Or, are you merely one of those whose lives are profoundly influenced by the decisions of Brahmins and Merchants? Those are the questions that are currently shaping the politics of New Zealand and the entire West. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • A fortune-telling failure, surely, if the tarot cards can’t see a bulldozer coming
    RNZ reports –  It’s supposed to be a haven of healing and spiritual awakening but residents of the Kawai Purapura community say they’ve been hurt and deceived. It’s the successor to the former Centrepoint commune, and has been on the bush block opposite Albany shopping centre since 2008. It ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • The climate battleground heats up
    TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. Usually we have a video chat to go with this wrap, but were unable to do one this week. We’ll be back next week.Several reports ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Bernard’ s Dawn Chorus & Pick ‘n’ Mix for Tuesday, May 14
    The Transport Minister has set a hard 'fiscal envelope' of $6.54 billion for transport capital spending. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The economy is settling into a state of suspended animation as the Government’s funding freezes and job cuts chill confidence and combine with stubbornly high interest rates to ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on why anti-Zionism is not anti-Semitic
    To be precise, the term “anti- Zionism” refers to (a) criticism of the political movement that created a modern Jewish state on the historical land of Israel, and to (b)the subjugation of Palestinians by the Israeli state. By contrast, the term “anti-Semitism” means bigotry and racism directed at Jewish people, ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    4 days ago

  • Climate change is making hurricanes more destructive
    This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Because hurricanes are one of the big-ticket weather disasters that humanity has to face, climate misinformers spend a lot of effort muddying the waters on whether climate change is making hurricanes more damaging. With the official start to the hurricane ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • Wayne Brown’s PT Plan
    Yesterday the Mayor released what he calls his “plan to save public transport” which is part of his final proposal for the Council’s Long Term Plan (LTP). This comes following consultation on the draft version that occurred in March which showed, once again, that people want more done on transport, especially ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    4 days ago

  • Potaka's Private Universe.
    And it's a pleasure that I have knownAnd it's a treasure that I have gainedAotearoa’s coalition government is fragile. It’s held together by the obsequious sycophancy of Christopher Luxon, who willingly contorts his party into the fringe positions of his junior coalition partners and is unwilling to contradict them. The ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • Our slow regional councils
    The Select Committee hearing submissions on the fast-track consenting legislation is starting to become a beat-up of regional councils. The inflexibility and slow workings of the Councils were prominent in two submissions yesterday. One, from the Coromandel Marine Farmers Association, simply said that the Waikato Regional Council’s planning decisions were ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago

  • Ministers are not above the law after all
    Back in April, the High Court surprised everyone by ruling that Ministers are above the law, at least as far as the Waitangi Tribunal is concerned. The reason for this ruling was "comity" - the idea that the different branches of government shouldn't interfere with each other's functions. Which makes ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • NZTA takes the wheel after govt gives it the road map for regional roads (and puts a speed governor ...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Tolling was mentioned when Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced the government was re-introducing the Roads of National Significance (RoNS) programme, with 15 “crucial” projects to support economic growth and regional development across New Zealand. All RoNS would be four-laned, grade-separated highways, and all funding, financing, and ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago

  • Change in Catalonia?
    or the past 14 years, ever since the Spanish government cheated on an autonomy deal, Catalonia has reliably given pro-independence parties a majority of seats in their regional parliament. But now that seems to be over. Catalans went to the polls yesterday, and stripped the Catalan parties of their majority. ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • Having an enrolment date is not depriving anyone of a vote
    David Farrar writes –  Radio NZ report: Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins said the Electoral Commission should make sure the system ran smoothly and “taking away the right of thousands of people to vote” was not the answer. “Thousands of people enroled and voted on the day. If ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Perhaps house prices don’t always go up
    Don Brash writes –  There was a rather revealing headline in the Herald on Sunday today (12 May). It read “One in 8 Auckland homes on market were bought during boom, may now sell for loss”. The first line of text noted that “New data shows one in ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Can’t read, can’t write, can’t comprehend – and won’t think…?
    Mike Grimshaw writes –  At a time when universities are understandably nervous regarding the establishment of the University Advisory Group (UAG) and the Science System Advisory Group (SSAG) it may seem strange – or even fool-hardy – to state that there are long-standing issues in the tertiary sector ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Time for some perspective
    Lindsay Mitchell writes –  A lack of perspective can make something quite large or important seem small or irrelevant. Against a backdrop of high-profile, negative statistics it is easy to overlook the positive. For instance, the fact that 64 percent of Maori are employed is rarely reported. For ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Will NZ Herald’s ‘poor journalism’ cost lives?
    Earlier this year, the Herald ran a series of articles amounting to a sustained campaign against raised pedestrian crossings, by reporter Bernard Orsman. A key part of that campaign concerned the raised crossings being installed as part of the Pt Chevalier to Westmere project, with at least 10 articles over ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    5 days ago

  • The Kaka’s diary for the week to May 19 and beyond
    TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to May 19 include:PM Christopher Luxon is expected to hold his weekly post-cabinet news conference at 4:00pm on Monday.Parliament is not sitting this week. It resumes next week for a two-week sitting session up to and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • Webworm Popup Photos!
    Hi,Thanks to all the beautiful Worms who came to the LA Webworm popup on Saturday.It was a way to celebrate the online store we launched last week — and it was super special.As I talk about a lot, I really value our community here — and it was a BLAST ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 days ago

  • DJ Fred Again – Assurance report received
    "On the 27th of March, I sought assurances from the Chief Executive, Department of Internal Affairs, that the Department’s correct processes and policies had been followed in regards to a passport application which received media attention,” says Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden.  “I raised my concerns after being ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago

  • District Court Judges appointed
    Attorney-General Judith Collins has announced the appointment of three new District Court Judges, to replace Judges who have recently retired. Peter James Davey of Auckland has been appointed a District Court Judge with a jury jurisdiction to be based at Whangarei. Mr Davey initially started work as a law clerk/solicitor with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago

  • Unions should put learning ahead of ideology
    Associate Education Minister David Seymour is calling on the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) to put ideology to the side and focus on students’ learning, in reaction to the union holding paid teacher meetings across New Zealand about charter schools.     “The PPTA is disrupting schools up and down the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago

  • Craig Stobo appointed as chair of FMA
    Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly today announced the appointment of Craig Stobo as the new chair of the Financial Markets Authority (FMA). Mr Stobo takes over from Mark Todd, whose term expired at the end of April. Mr Stobo’s appointment is for a five-year term. “The FMA plays ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago

  • Budget 2024 invests in lifeguards and coastguard
    Surf Life Saving New Zealand and Coastguard New Zealand will continue to be able to keep people safe in, on, and around the water following a funding boost of $63.644 million over four years, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Associate Transport Minister Matt Doocey say. “Heading to the beach for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago

  • New Zealand and Tuvalu reaffirm close relationship
    New Zealand and Tuvalu have reaffirmed their close relationship, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters says.  “New Zealand is committed to working with Tuvalu on a shared vision of resilience, prosperity and security, in close concert with Australia,” says Mr Peters, who last visited Tuvalu in 2019.  “It is my pleasure ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • New Zealand calls for calm, constructive dialogue in New Caledonia
    New Zealand is gravely concerned about the situation in New Caledonia, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.  “The escalating situation and violent protests in Nouméa are of serious concern across the Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says.  “The immediate priority must be for all sides to take steps to de-escalate the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • New Zealand welcomes Samoa Head of State
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon met today with Samoa’s O le Ao o le Malo, Afioga Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II, who is making a State Visit to New Zealand. “His Highness and I reflected on our two countries’ extensive community links, with Samoan–New Zealanders contributing to all areas of our national ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Island Direct eligible for SuperGold Card funding
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has announced that he has approved Waiheke Island ferry operator Island Direct to be eligible for SuperGold Card funding, paving the way for a commercial agreement to bring the operator into the scheme. “Island Direct started operating in November 2023, offering an additional option for people ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Further sanctions against Russia
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters today announced further sanctions on 28 individuals and 14 entities providing military and strategic support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.  “Russia is directly supported by its military-industrial complex in its illegal aggression against Ukraine, attacking its sovereignty and territorial integrity. New Zealand condemns all entities and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • One year on from Loafers Lodge
    A year on from the tragedy at Loafers Lodge, the Government is working hard to improve building fire safety, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “I want to share my sincere condolences with the families and friends of the victims on the anniversary of the tragic fire at Loafers ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Pre-Budget speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Ka nui te mihi kia koutou. Kia ora and good afternoon, everyone. Thank you so much for having me here in the lead up to my Government’s first Budget. Before I get started can I acknowledge: Simon Bridges – Auckland Business Chamber CEO. Steve Jurkovich – Kiwibank CEO. Kids born ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • New Zealand and Vanuatu to deepen collaboration
    New Zealand and Vanuatu will enhance collaboration on issues of mutual interest, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “It is important to return to Port Vila this week with a broad, high-level political delegation which demonstrates our deep commitment to New Zealand’s relationship with Vanuatu,” Mr Peters says.    “This ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Penk travels to Peru for trade meetings
    Minister for Land Information, Chris Penk will travel to Peru this week to represent New Zealand at a meeting of trade ministers from the Asia-Pacific region on behalf of Trade Minister Todd McClay. The annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade meeting will be held on 17-18 May ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Minister attends global education conferences
    Minister of Education Erica Stanford will head to the United Kingdom this week to participate in the 22nd Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers (CCEM) and the 2024 Education World Forum (EWF). “I am looking forward to sharing this Government’s education priorities, such as introducing a knowledge-rich curriculum, implementing an evidence-based ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Education Minister thanks outgoing NZQA Chair
    Minister of Education Erica Stanford has today thanked outgoing New Zealand Qualifications Authority Chair, Hon Tracey Martin. “Tracey Martin tendered her resignation late last month in order to take up a new role,” Ms Stanford says. Ms Martin will relinquish the role of Chair on 10 May and current Deputy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Joint statement of Christopher Luxon and Emmanuel Macron: Launch of the Christchurch Call Foundation
    New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and President Emmanuel Macron of France today announced a new non-governmental organisation, the Christchurch Call Foundation, to coordinate the Christchurch Call’s work to eliminate terrorist and violent extremist content online.   This change gives effect to the outcomes of the November 2023 Call Leaders’ Summit, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Panel announced for review into disability services
    Distinguished public servant and former diplomat Sir Maarten Wevers will lead the independent review into the disability support services administered by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. The review was announced by Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston a fortnight ago to examine what could be done to strengthen the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Minister welcomes Police gang unit
    Today’s announcement by Police Commissioner Andrew Coster of a National Gang Unit and district Gang Disruption Units will help deliver on the coalition Government’s pledge to restore law and order and crack down on criminal gangs, Police Minister Mark Mitchell says. “The National Gang Unit and Gang Disruption Units will ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • New Zealand expresses regret at North Korea’s aggressive rhetoric
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today expressed regret at North Korea’s aggressive rhetoric towards New Zealand and its international partners.  “New Zealand proudly stands with the international community in upholding the rules-based order through its monitoring and surveillance deployments, which it has been regularly doing alongside partners since 2018,” Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • New Chief of Defence Force appointed
    Air Vice-Marshal Tony Davies MNZM is the new Chief of Defence Force, Defence Minister Judith Collins announced today. The Chief of Defence Force commands the Navy, Army and Air Force and is the principal military advisor to the Defence Minister and other Ministers with relevant portfolio responsibilities in the defence ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Government puts children first by repealing 7AA
    Legislation to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act has been introduced to Parliament. The Bill’s introduction reaffirms the Coalition Government’s commitment to the safety of children in care, says Minister for Children, Karen Chhour. “While section 7AA was introduced with good intentions, it creates a conflict for Oranga ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Defence Minister to meet counterparts in UK, Italy
    Defence Minister Judith Collins will this week travel to the UK and Italy to meet with her defence counterparts, and to attend Battles of Cassino commemorations. “I am humbled to be able to represent the New Zealand Government in Italy at the commemorations for the 80th anniversary of what was ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Charter schools to lift educational outcomes
    The upcoming Budget will include funding for up to 50 charter schools to help lift declining educational performance, Associate Education Minister David Seymour announced today. $153 million in new funding will be provided over four years to establish and operate up to 15 new charter schools and convert 35 state ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • COVID-19 Inquiry terms of reference consultation results received
    “The results of the public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has now been received, with results indicating over 13,000 submissions were made from members of the public,” Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says. “We heard feedback about the extended lockdowns in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • The Pacific family of nations – the changing security outlook
    Foreign Minister, Defence Minister, other Members of Parliament Acting Chief of Defence Force, Secretary of Defence Distinguished Guests  Defence and Diplomatic Colleagues  Ladies and Gentlemen,  Good afternoon, tēna koutou, apinun tru    It’s a pleasure to be back in Port Moresby today, and to speak here at the Kumul Leadership ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • NZ and Papua New Guinea to work more closely together
    Health, infrastructure, renewable energy, and stability are among the themes of the current visit to Papua New Guinea by a New Zealand political delegation, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.   “Papua New Guinea carries serious weight in the Pacific, and New Zealand deeply values our relationship with it,” Mr Peters ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Driving ahead with Roads of Regional Significance
    The coalition Government is launching Roads of Regional Significance to sit alongside Roads of National Significance as part of its plan to deliver priority roading projects across the country, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “The Roads of National Significance (RoNS) built by the previous National Government are some of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • New Zealand congratulates new Solomon Islands government
    A high-level New Zealand political delegation in Honiara today congratulated the new Government of Solomon Islands, led by Jeremiah Manele, on taking office.    “We are privileged to meet the new Prime Minister and members of his Cabinet during his government’s first ten days in office,” Deputy Prime Minister and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • New Zealand supports UN Palestine resolution
    New Zealand voted in favour of a resolution broadening Palestine’s participation at the United Nations General Assembly overnight, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “The resolution enhances the rights of Palestine to participate in the work of the UN General Assembly while stopping short of admitting Palestine as a full ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Speech to the 2024 Infrastructure Symposium
    Introduction Good morning. It’s a great privilege to be here at the 2024 Infrastructure Symposium. I was extremely happy when the Prime Minister asked me to be his Minister for Infrastructure. It is one of the great barriers holding the New Zealand economy back from achieving its potential. Building high ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • $571 million for Defence pay and projects
    Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced the upcoming Budget will include new funding of $571 million for Defence Force pay and projects. “Our servicemen and women do New Zealand proud throughout the world and this funding will help ensure we retain their services and expertise as we navigate an increasingly ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Climate change – mitigating the risks and costs
    New Zealand’s ability to cope with climate change will be strengthened as part of the Government’s focus to build resilience as we rebuild the economy, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “An enduring and long-term approach is needed to provide New Zealanders and the economy with certainty as the climate ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Getting new job seekers on the pathway to work
    Jobseeker beneficiaries who have work obligations must now meet with MSD within two weeks of their benefit starting to determine their next step towards finding a job, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “A key part of the coalition Government’s plan to have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Accelerating Social Investment
    A new standalone Social Investment Agency will power-up the social investment approach, driving positive change for our most vulnerable New Zealanders, Social Investment Minister Nicola Willis says.  “Despite the Government currently investing more than $70 billion every year into social services, we are not seeing the outcomes we want for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Getting Back on Track
    Check against delivery Good morning. It is a pleasure to be with you to outline the Coalition Government’s approach to our first Budget. Thank you Mark Skelly, President of the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce, together with  your Board and team, for hosting me.   I’d like to acknowledge His Worship ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • NZ – European Union ties more critical than ever
    Your Excellency Ambassador Meredith,   Members of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassadors from European Union Member States,   Ministerial colleagues, Members of Parliament, and other distinguished guests, Thank you everyone for joining us.   Ladies and gentlemen -    In diplomacy, we often speak of ‘close’ and ‘long-standing’ relations.   ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Therapeutic Products Act to be repealed
    The Therapeutic Products Act (TPA) will be repealed this year so that a better regime can be put in place to provide New Zealanders safe and timely access to medicines, medical devices and health products, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello announced today. “The medicines and products we are talking about ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Decisions on Wellington City Council’s District Plan
    The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop, today released his decision on twenty recommendations referred to him by the Wellington City Council relating to its Intensification Planning Instrument, after the Council rejected those recommendations of the Independent Hearings Panel and made alternative recommendations. “Wellington notified its District Plan on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Rape Awareness Week: Government committed to action on sexual violence
    Rape Awareness Week (6-10 May) is an important opportunity to acknowledge the continued effort required by government and communities to ensure that all New Zealanders can live free from violence, say Ministers Karen Chhour and Louise Upston.  “With 1 in 3 women and 1 in 8 men experiencing sexual violence ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-05-17T18:39:41+00:00