Oravida: Collins, Goodfellow, Key.

Written By: - Date published: 4:34 pm, March 5th, 2014 - 38 comments
Categories: accountability, corruption, grant robertson, john key, Judith Collins, national - Tags:

John Key has stated that Judith Collins was cleared by the Cabinet Office of any conflict of interest, with respect to her visit to Oravida in China: a company for which her husband is director:

Justice Minister Judith Collins has been cleared of any conflict of interest after she visited a company for which her husband is a director while on a taxpayer funded trip to China, Prime Minister John Key says.

Collins visited the Chinese offices of Auckland-based dairy company Oravida, which later claimed on its website that she had endorsed its products.

Labour says a translation from Oravida’s website claims Collins’ endorsement after she drank some of its milk.

Endorsing products is a breach of the Cabinet manual.

Collins said today she had asked Oravida to remove any references to her visit that did not comply with the Cabinet manual but was unapologetic about her visit to the company.

However, Grant Robertson disagrees.

Furthermore, Grant Robertson and Chris Hipkins have made claims, in the General Debate today, that there are connections between Peter Godfellow (as National Party President) and the promotion of Oravida.  On top of that there is apparently evidence/photos on a Chinese website of Key playing golf with with one of Oravida’s directors.

Robertson claims that Collins also opened the Auckland office of Oravida in 2013.  Oravida donated over $55,000 to the National Party in 2011.

Further information from the Oravida website apparently shows that when Oravida sponsored business people to come to NZ in 2012, they met with, as stated by the website, “The National Party chairman” Peter Goodfellow to:

Discuss the exciting opportunity of extensively developing a foundation for bi-lateral collaboration.

In the General debate Hipkins also had a go at National and John Key’s non-transparent use of trusts, as well as claiming that John key played golf with a director of Oravida.

38 comments on “Oravida: Collins, Goodfellow, Key. ”

  1. Ant 1

    It’s completely sketchy behaviour, and that’s completely ignoring the begrudging reporting of the issue 🙂

    • Sosoo 1.1

      Don’t you worry. The great and the good will be there to remind us that the real issue is David Cunliffe refusing to identify donors who had been promised confidentiality, and forgetting minor details of the baby bonus policy.

      Have some perspective, Ant…

      • Zorr 1.1.1

        No mention of this on Stuff at all… but apparently derp face is important enough to be high up there… >_<

        http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9793533/John-Key-does-derp-face

        If you ask me, that looks like his natural resting face

        • Sosoo 1.1.1.1

          He’s on there, in the politics section, under the headline that says “Collins cleared”.

          Just don’t forget how tricky and shifty David Cunliffe is. Remember, tricky, shifty…

        • North 1.1.1.2

          Nah, that’s the pissed just emerged from slumber gonna be a nasty bully face. Round about 2.00 pm on a parliamentary sitting day. In another office bottle blonde Louise Upstart’s smearing the lippy and stretching the neck in readiness for a couple of hours of extreme nodding behind God ShonKey in the House. Oh Fuck. Monty Python. Cow gets paid for that shit ?

      • Ant 1.1.2

        Yeah nah don’t worry about Collins, lets “scrutinise” David Cunliffe over a glorified savings account that he’s already declared!

        Trevett says “David Cunliffe facing further scrutiny over trusts” but leaves out who is doing the scrutiny or why… what an absolute hack, at least try to pretend you haven’t just put your name to a story send directly from the Nats.

        http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11214530

        Tricky David aye trying to hide the trust in broad daylight by declaring it, very tricky… a bold gambit.

  2. Skinny 2

    Yes National Party, President, Peter Goodfellow purchased a new party headquarters especially for ushering in their big business friends to ‘gloat and donate’ to the National Party’s coffers.

    You will find their new digs has a purpose built photography studio, complete with a special effects setup provided by their grateful friend Peter Jackson’s Weta Work (Sweat) Shop. Business/Donators will of course have easy access to Government Ministers for photo opportunities from near by parliament.

  3. Clemgeopin 3

    One law for Pansy Wong and a different one for Fancy Collins!

    It would be interesting to see what soft National gloves the Gutter Rat Gower will be wearing in his 6 pm TV3 reporting of this seriously shady goings on of this government.

    • Clemgeopin 3.1

      No, Sewer Gower did not touch on this issue, but was once again, as usual, vicious towards Cunliffe.

      Sabin did a report on the Collin’s suspect goings on in China with her hubby’s Oravida, but certainly not in an as vicious and destructive manner as Gower when he attacks Cunliffe.

  4. captain hook 4

    according to Collins asking about this is a hypothetical question. So how much does a hypothesis cost?

  5. John 5

    So Collins got her photo taken and suddenly that’s the huge payback in some corrupt conspiracy?

    Careful you don’t all start to look just a little bit more than desperate.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 5.1

      Careful you all don’t start to look just a little bit more than corrupt. The “payback”, by the way, looks like a bit more than a photo-op. $56,000 more.

    • felix 5.2

      Er no, it’s not just a photo.

      Collins flew across the world – god knows how many times – paid for with public money, AND while being paid her salary, AND taking her husband at our expense, to conduct private business and use her Ministerial office to publicly endorse a company(s?) her husband and other senior National Party people are involved with, and who also gave the National party $56,000 that we know of so far.

      • Hayden 5.2.1

        Wasn’t the stated reason for her trip to study the Chinese justice system? Does she want a new nick-name?

      • John 5.2.2

        Except everything has already been cleared by parliamentary services.

        • Skinny 5.2.2.1

          And in the eyes of the public John she is being crucified. Wong, now Collins caught out gaming the system putting Key and the shadowy Goodfellow under the spotlight. Like I say below the book will revel plenty more dodgy deals. By all reports sounds like The hollow Men x2. Can not wait for the release.

          Perhaps the sensible thing to do is Collins join the other 14 National MP’s calling it a day, however common sense has never been Judith’s style. I personally hope she sticks it out to get even amongst her clan.

        • Clemgeopin 5.2.2.2

          Key’s cabinet office is the parliamentary services, now? I learn something new everyday! Do you personally think that her dealings are a bit dodgy or not? What is the difference between this shady goings on and that of Pansy Wong that got kicked out?

        • North 5.2.2.3

          Cleared by Parliamentary Services. “So what ?” to quote Collins.

          Like Hone’s trip to South Africa was approved by Mr Speaker ?

          Didn’t seem to matter to Mr Wonderful did it ?

          Get real troll.

      • newsense 5.2.3

        wonder if Gerry Brownlee can think of a ‘c’ word to describe that?

    • Skinny 5.3

      We will gladly take the vote leakage John. Bad news is it’s all in a new book that will be released right on cue prior to this years general election. I understand it’s being made available free online. Ouch there goes more votes!

  6. xtasy 6

    Judith Collins can cheekily laugh this off, as under this government, conflicts of interest are as common as snails and worms in your garden, and they are found everywhere, if only people would look. The MSM have no interest in digging too deep, as they do not want to unseat their much cheered on John Key and National, and rather focus on burying the chances for Labour.

    Conflicts of interest do not only exist for MPs, but also for “advisors” of government departments, like MSD, and they seem to be treated as rather “acceptable”.

    See some of my earlier comments from 22 and 23 January 2014:
    http://thestandard.org.nz/welfare-profiteers/#comment-761243
    http://thestandard.org.nz/welfare-profiteers/#comment-761738

    On their so-called “Health and Disability Panel”, which was appointed by MSD as a supposedly “independent external advisory panel” on welfare reform, there was one “Strategic Policy Advisor” by the name of Helen Lockett, employed by “Workwise”, a company as part of the “Wise Group”.

    Now, Workwise was successful under a tendering process not long ago, to run a trial contract, to “assist” mentally ill into open employment on the job market.

    So their “Strategic Policy Advisor” was one of the more senior “panel members” that “advised” MSD and Paula Bennett on what do do under the recent welfare reforms, and surprise, surprise, her company was REWARDED with a well paying contract (nice fees for successful placements) with MSD:

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11190002
    (see list at bottom of Simon Collins’ article)

    http://accforum.org/forums/index.php?/topic/15264-welfare-reform-the-health-and-disability-panel-msd-the-truth-behind-the-agenda/

    http://waitemataunite.blogspot.co.nz/2013/10/who-are-health-and-disability-panel-and.html

    Another senior advisor on welfare reforms was a Dr David Beaumont, formerly from ATOS in the UK (the assessor for sick and disabled beneficiaries in the UK, with an appalling track record), who also has vested interests, but apparently did not win a tender contest this time:

    http://www.pathwaystowork.co.nz/contact-us
    http://nz.linkedin.com/pub/david-beaumont/2a/780/943

    As one of UK professor Mansel Aylward’s top and most faithful disciples he was also maneuvered into a crucial top position as “President Elect” of one of the leading medical practitioners’ organisations for Australasia:

    http://www.racp.org.nz/page/racp-faculties/australasian-faculty-of-occupational-and-environmental-medicine/realising-the-health-benefits-of-work/latest-news/

    “Work will set you free” is totally accepted by the medical training profession now, thanks to him and others!!!

    http://www.racp.org.nz/page/racp-faculties/australasian-faculty-of-occupational-and-environmental-medicine/realising-the-health-benefits-of-work/may-2010-video-presentation-professor-sir-mansel-aylward

    P.S.: If only Labour Party (and perhaps also the Green Party) researchers would bother doing their jobs, then Labour (and Greens) should have a field-day with raising such matters! Perhaps they should start by “studying” info published here on TS?

  7. dave 7

    i want here more adout nationals dirty money trusts

  8. Penny Bright 8

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11214451

    But Mr Key this afternoon said his office yesterday sought clarification from the Cabinet Office to ensure she hadn’t broken the rules.

    “They unequivocally came back and said no there’s no breach.”

    Who is ‘they’ Prime Minister?

    Where’s a copy of that advice?

    http://cabinetmanual.cabinetoffice.govt.nz/2.50

    Conduct, public duty, and personal interests

    General
    2.50To protect the integrity of the decision-making process of executive government and to maintain public trust in the Executive, Ministers and Parliamentary Under-Secretaries must conduct themselves in a manner appropriate to their office. Accordingly, the guidance in paragraphs 2.52 – 2.96:

    explains the standards of personal conduct expected of Ministers;
    assists Ministers to identify those personal interests that might be seen to influence their decision making;
    sets out options for managing conflicts of interest where necessary.

    2.51The guidance on conduct, public duty, and personal interests applies to all Ministers (inside and outside Cabinet) and Parliamentary Under-Secretaries. References to Ministers in this guidance include Parliamentary Under-Secretaries.

    Conduct of Ministers
    2.52A Minister of the Crown, while holding a ministerial warrant, acts in a number of different capacities:

    in a ministerial capacity, making decisions, and determining and promoting policy within particular portfolios;
    in a political capacity as a member of Parliament, representing a constituency or particular community of interest;
    in a personal capacity.

    2.53 In all these roles and at all times, Ministers are expected to act lawfully and to behave in a way that upholds, and is seen to uphold, the highest ethical standards. Ultimately, Ministers are accountable to the Prime Minister for their behaviour.

    2.54 Holding ministerial office is regarded as a full-time occupation and is remunerated as such. Accordingly:

    accepting additional payment for doing anything that could be regarded as a ministerial function is not permissible;

    accepting payment for any other activities requires the prior approval of the Prime Minister.

    Register of Pecuniary Interests of Members of Parliament

    2.55 All members of Parliament are required to disclose certain assets and interests in an annual Register of Pecuniary Interests of Members of Parliament. This register, administered by the Registrar of Pecuniary Interests of Members of Parliament, is designed to promote accountability and transparency by identifying personal financial interests that might influence members of Parliament. The detailed requirements are set out in appendix B of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives (the Standing Orders) and in the explanatory notes on members’ financial interests in the “MPs and parties” section on Parliament’s website, http://www.parliament.nz. See also paragraphs 2.78 – 2.85 on gifts.

    Ministers’ interests

    2.56 Additional requirements apply to Ministers’ interests. Conflicts of interest may arise between Ministers’ personal interests and their public duty because of the influence and power that Ministers exercise, and the information to which they have access, both in the individual performance of their portfolio responsibilities and as members of the Executive.

    2.57 Ministers are responsible for ensuring that no conflict exists or appears to exist between their personal interests and their public duty. Ministers must conduct themselves at all times in the knowledge that their role is a public one; appearances and propriety can be as important as an actual conflict of interest. Ministers should avoid situations in which they or those close to them gain remuneration or other advantage from information acquired only by reason of their office.

    ………………………..

    Penny Bright

  9. jbc 9

    It’s all here: http://www.oravida.com/lwl/newsen/

    and here: http://www.elections.org.nz/parties-candidates/registered-political-parties-0/party-donations/donations-exceeding-30000/returns

    dating all the way back to 2011. Office purchase in Quay Street, Tim Groser visit, donation declaration, golf photo pose,…

    Anyone who was interested could have seen all this a couple of years ago and followed it. Go through the donation returns, Google the names, browse the sites. I would not believe for a second that this is news to anyone who was interested. No blind trusts to obscure the donation details.

    That someone transparently donates to a political party isn’t news.
    That a politician poses for a photo-op isn’t news either. The cheesy grins of MPs nailed to the wall are a hallmark of companies struggling to show off something of note (and an immediate warning sign to the wary visitor).

    Oh how fickle the attention spans of the ADHD generation are. I just wish they had called out Williamson on his inability to distinguish a Star Trek replicator from a poor imitation of decades-old CNC technology. FFS, I made bucket-loads of gunpowder as a teen in the early ’80s.

    The Internet has succeeded in connecting idiots with old news and sparking shock reactions.

    Thank you Maurice, and the journo who just learned how to google Oravida.

    • lprent 9.1

      I just wish they had called out Williamson on his inability to distinguish a Star Trek replicator from a poor imitation of decades-old CNC technology. FFS, I made bucket-loads of gunpowder as a teen in the early ’80s.

      Hey, I tried. You can’t much less subtle than this…
      http://thestandard.org.nz/nat-techhead-needs-3d-brain-transplant/

      BTW: The site might be a bit jittery for a wee while. I’m just testing a new configuratin for the web servers.

      • jbc 9.1.1

        Aha.. yes you totally nailed it. Rather comprehensively. But somehow the MSM really dropped the ball on that one.

        Excuse my grumpy geek-side but that whole 3D printing gold and whatnot was so astonishingly dumb that it didn’t even deserve to be called wrong. Not even in the same universe as wrong.

        But I digress, I need to stay ahead of things relevant to my job so I get rather dismissive of stuff that is ‘last year’s news’, and if it is something that I missed then I’m humbled. I’d be too embarrassed to trumpet something that Google could have turned up long before I did. And so it was with the topic at hand.

        Now.. back to assembling my robot army…

        • xtasy 9.1.1.1

          jbc

          “But somehow the MSM really dropped the ball on that one.”

          Hey, it is rather that the MSM do not want to bother, or do not want to dig into all that, as too many of them are on “mates terms” with National ministers and MPs!

          We have one Shaun Plunket on Radio Live, and my impression is that he is rather “friendly” towards Judith Collins, as callers have in the past exposed Collins for lies and misleading the public, but he does not want to hear about it and swiftly moves on.

          This morning he asks people what they think of Collins using a “photo op” for drinking milk at her hubbies China export enterprise facility in Shanghai (photos were up on the company’s website for quite some time, and she pretends she did not know or so). He takes again a very “dismissive” approach to it and lets his personal view be known. Plunket and others trivialise the incident with Collins. That rubs off on many listeners, and most then call in to basically show their “NO tall poppy allowed” like behaviour and thinking, and agree with him.

          And the MSM is full of Nat friendly journalists and “media personalities”, hence we never get much attention on all this, but daily “revelations” about David Cunliffe and his alleged hypocrisy or “misconduct”.

          I see this country as resembling something similar to a sophisticated plutocracy or even defacto “dictatorship”, where it is a very powerful elite, that is using the political forces like National and ACT (and media), to manipulate the system and media, in order to keep people poorly informed and misinformed, and thus maintain the status quo, which only benefits the top wealthy business interests, and a section of the mostly upper middle class, that serve as their excuse to be able to claim, they have “wider support”.

          Sadly too many of the rest of the middle class cling to what they have and think they will be better off also, to continue with this lot governing us.

    • karol 9.2

      So you are quite comfortable with crony capitalism then, jbc?

      • jbc 9.2.1

        No, it’s quite toxic. Ensuring the government is not captured by business is particularly important, and something I’d stand up for any day.

        That said, I don’t think it’s bad for the government to recognise companies that are promoting NZ abroad. As long as they don’t get too chummy.

        This thing with Oravida is a little bit whiffy with Collins connection, Groser visit, and the golf game with Key but everything in the news lately is old news and hasn’t been deliberately hidden by anyone involved.

        I’m surprised nobody has noticed the oddity of having a politician endorse a food product (and Judith Collins in particular). That would totally put me off and I’m guessing most people would feel the same way. That makes it all the more unwitting in my mind.

        What would be nice would be to put all of the political connections on one page – a kind of ‘map’ – showing influence, financial connections, frequency of connection, etc. The whole landscape. Then it would be much easier to judge the significance of any particular event or relationship.

        • karol 9.2.1.1

          It’s no more “old news” than Cuinliffe’s late submission of a trust to the parliamentary register.

          Yes such a map would be useful. I lack the skills to make such a graphic.

  10. swordfish 10

    testing ome tyyy

  11. Whatever next 11

    I realise we won’t get any sense out of Collins and her tribe, but saying she tells people she uses their toilet paper, which doesn’t mean she endorses it…..eh?
    Would say, Fonterra announce on their website ” Judith Collins uses the toilets when she visits Fonterra ” and a lovely big group photo surrounding her on it?

  12. Tautoko Viper 12

    In April 2013 Frankly Speaking had a very illuminating post on the origins of Oravida called part tahi.
    “Crafar Farms/Shanghai Pengxin/National Government”

    http://fmacskasy.wordpress.com/tag/oravida-ltd

    The Collins visit is the tip of the iceberg. National Party Campaign Funds feature strongly in this timeline.

  13. Tracey 13

    uphold, the highest ethical standards. ”

    we need to understand that what collins did IS The highest ethical standard of this govt. thats how low the bar is. i recall the rabidness of ththe press and nact over that evil act of helen clark, signing a picture to raise money for a charity! collins drank milk to help make money for a company and one her husband directs. HOW can you all not see the difference?

  14. AB 14

    How many milk companies did Collins visit (as Justice minister) that her husband is not associated with?

    How many milk companies did Collins visit (as Justice minister) that haven’t donated $55k to the National party?

    Why would a Justice minister visit a milk company and why this one as opposed to any possible others?

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  • Under New Management
    1. Which of these best describes Aotearoa?a. Progressive nation, proud of its egalitarian spirit and belief in a fair go b. Best little country on the planet c. Under New Management 2. Which of these best describes the 100 days of action announced this week by the new government?a. Petulantb. Simplistic and wrongheaded c. ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • While we wait patiently, our new Minister of Education is up and going with a 100-day action plan
    Sorry to say, the government’s official website is still out of action. When Point of Order paid its daily visit, the message was the same as it has been for the past week: Site under maintenance Beehive.govt.nz is currently under maintenance. We will be back shortly. Thank you for your ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • DAVID FARRAR: Hysterical bullshit
    Radio NZ reports: Te Pāti Māori’s co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer has accused the new government of “deliberate .. systemic genocide” over its policies to roll back the smokefree policy and the Māori Health Authority. The left love hysterical language. If you oppose racial quotas in laws, you are a racist. And now if you sack ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #48 2023
    Open access notables From this week's government/NGO section, longitudinal data is gold and Leisorowitz, Maibachi et al. continue to mine ore from the US public with Climate Change in the American Mind: Politics & Policy, Fall 2023: Drawing on a representative sample of the U.S. adult population, the authors describe how registered ...
    4 days ago
  • ELE LUDEMANN: It wasn’t just $55 million
    Ele Ludemann writes –  Winston Peters reckons media outlets were bribed by the $55 million Public Interest Journalism Fund. He is not the first to make such an accusation. Last year, the Platform outlined conditions media signed up to in return for funds from the PJIF: . . . ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 1-December-2023
    Wow, it’s December already, and it’s a Friday. So here are few things that caught our attention recently. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt covered the new government’s coalition agreements and what they mean for transport. On Tuesday Matt looked at AT’s plans for fare increases ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    4 days ago
  • Shane MacGowan Is Gone.
    Late 1996, The Dogs Bollix, Tamaki Makaurau.I’m at the front of the bar yelling my order to the bartender, jostling with other thirsty punters on a Friday night, keen to piss their wages up against a wall letting loose. The black stuff, long luscious pints of creamy goodness. Back down ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to Dec 1
    Nicola Willis, Chris Bishop and other National, ACT and NZ First MPs applaud the signing of the coalition agreements, which included the reversal of anti-smoking measures while accelerating tax cuts for landlords. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • 2023 More Reading: November (+ Writing Update)
    Completed reads for November: A Modern Utopia, by H.G. Wells The Vampire (poem), by Heinrich August Ossenfelder The Corpus Hermeticum The Corpus Hermeticum is Mead’s translation. Now, this is indeed a very quiet month for reading. But there is a reason for that… You see, ...
    4 days ago
  • Forward to 2017
    The coalition party agreements are mainly about returning to 2017 when National lost power. They show commonalities but also some serious divergencies.The two coalition agreements – one National and ACT, the other National and New Zealand First – are more than policy documents. They also describe the processes of the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    5 days ago
  • Questions a nine year old might ask the new Prime Minister
    First QuestionYou’re going to crack down on people ram-raiding dairies, because you say hard-working dairy owners shouldn’t have to worry about getting ram-raided.But once the chemist shops have pseudoephedrine in them again, they're going to get ram-raided all the time. Do chemists not work as hard as dairy owners?Second QuestionYou ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • Questions a nine year old might ask the new Prime Minister
    First QuestionYou’re going to crack down on people ram-raiding dairies, because you say hard-working dairy owners shouldn’t have to worry about getting ram-raided.But once the chemist shops have pseudoephedrine in them again, they're going to get ram-raided all the time. Do chemists not work as hard as dairy owners?Second QuestionYou ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • Finally
    Henry Kissinger is finally dead. Good fucking riddance. While Americans loved him, he was a war criminal, responsible for most of the atrocities of the final quarter of the twentieth century. Cambodia. Bangladesh. Chile. East Timor. All Kissinger. Because of these crimes, Americans revere him as a "statesman" (which says ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Government in a hurry – Luxon lists 49 priorities in 100-day plan while Peters pledges to strength...
    Buzz from the Beehive Yes, ministers in the new government are delivering speeches and releasing press statements. But the message on the government’s official website was the same as it has been for the past several days, when Point of Order went looking for news from the Beehive that had ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • DAVID FARRAR: Luxon is absolutely right
    David Farrar writes  –  1 News reports: Christopher Luxon says he was told by some Kiwis on the campaign trail they “didn’t know” the difference between Waka Kotahi, Te Pūkenga and Te Whatu Ora. Speaking to Breakfast, the incoming prime minister said having English first on government agencies will “make sure” ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Top 10 at 10 am for Thursday, Nov 30
    There are fears that mooted changes to building consent liability could end up driving the building industry into an uninsured hole. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Here’s my pick of the top 10 news and analysis links elsewhere as of 10 am on Thursday, November 30, including:The new Government’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on how climate change threatens cricket‘s future
    Well that didn’t last long, did it? Mere days after taking on what he called the “awesome responsibility” of being Prime Minister, M Christopher Luxon has started blaming everyone else, and complaining that he has inherited “economic vandalism on an unprecedented scale” – which is how most of us are ...
    5 days ago
  • We need to talk about Tory.
    The first I knew of the news about Tory Whanau was when a tweet came up in my feed.The sort of tweet that makes you question humanity, or at least why you bother with Twitter. Which is increasingly a cesspit of vile inhabitants who lurk spreading negativity, hate, and every ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Dangling Transport Solutions
    Cable Cars, Gondolas, Ropeways and Aerial Trams are all names for essentially the same technology and the world’s biggest maker of them are here to sell them as an public transport solution. Stuff reports: Austrian cable car company Doppelmayr has launched its case for adding aerial cable cars to New ...
    5 days ago
  • November AMA
    Hi,It’s been awhile since I’ve done an Ask-Me-Anything on here, so today’s the day. Ask anything you like in the comments section, and I’ll be checking in today and tomorrow to answer.Leave a commentNext week I’ll be giving away a bunch of these Mister Organ blu-rays for readers in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 days ago
  • National’s early moves adding to cost of living pressure
    The cost of living grind continues, and the economic and inflation honeymoon is over before it began. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: PM Christopher Luxon unveiled his 100 day plan yesterday with an avowed focus of reducing cost-of-living pressures, but his Government’s initial moves and promises are actually elevating ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Backwards to the future
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has confirmed that it will be back to the future on planning legislation. This will be just one of a number of moves which will see the new government go backwards as it repeals and cost-cuts its way into power. They will completely repeal one ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • New initiatives in science and technology could point the way ahead for Luxon government
    As the new government settles into the Beehive, expectations are high that it can sort out some  of  the  economic issues  confronting  New Zealand. It may take time for some new  ministers to get to grips with the range of their portfolio work and responsibilities before they can launch the  changes that  ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    6 days ago
  • Treaty pledge to secure funding is contentious – but is Peters being pursued by a lynch mob after ...
    TV3 political editor Jenna Lynch was among the corps of political reporters who bridled, when Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters told them what he thinks of them (which is not much). She was unabashed about letting her audience know she had bridled. More usefully, she drew attention to something which ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • How long does this last?
    I have a clear memory of every election since 1969 in this plucky little nation of ours. I swear I cannot recall a single one where the question being asked repeatedly in the first week of the new government was: how long do you reckon they’ll last? And that includes all ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • National’s giveaway politics
    We already know that national plans to boost smoking rates to collect more tobacco tax so they can give huge tax-cuts to mega-landlords. But this morning that policy got even more obscene - because it turns out that the tax cut is retrospective: Residential landlords will be able to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • CHRIS TROTTER: Who’s driving the right-wing bus?
    Who’s At The Wheel? The electorate’s message, as aggregated in the polling booths on 14 October, turned out to be a conservative political agenda stronger than anything New Zealand has seen in five decades. In 1975, Bill Rowling was run over by just one bus, with Rob Muldoon at the wheel. In 2023, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • GRAHAM ADAMS:  Media knives flashing for Luxon’s government
    The fear and loathing among legacy journalists is astonishing Graham Adams writes – No one is going to die wondering how some of the nation’s most influential journalists personally view the new National-led government. It has become abundantly clear within a few days of the coalition agreements ...
    Point of OrderBy gadams1000
    6 days ago
  • Top 10 news links for Wednesday, Nov 29
    TL;DR: Here’s my pick of top 10 news links elsewhere for Wednesday November 29, including:The early return of interest deductibility for landlords could see rebates paid on previous taxes and the cost increase to $3 billion from National’s initial estimate of $2.1 billion, CTU Economist Craig Renney estimated here last ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Smokefree Fallout and a High Profile Resignation.
    The day after being sworn in the new cabinet met yesterday, to enjoy their honeymoon phase. You remember, that period after a new government takes power where the country, and the media, are optimistic about them, because they haven’t had a chance to stuff anything about yet.Sadly the nuptials complete ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago
  • As Cabinet revs up, building plans go on hold
    Wellington Council hoardings proclaim its preparations for population growth, but around the country councils are putting things on hold in the absence of clear funding pathways for infrastructure, and despite exploding migrant numbers. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Cabinet meets in earnest today to consider the new Government’s 100-day ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • National takes over infrastructure
    Though New Zealand First may have had ambitions to run the infrastructure portfolios, National would seem to have ended up firmly in control of them.  POLITIK has obtained a private memo to members of Infrastructure NZ yesterday, which shows that the peak organisation for infrastructure sees  National MPs Chris ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago
  • At a glance – Evidence for global warming
    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 ...
    6 days ago
  • Who’s Driving The Right-Wing Bus?
    Who’s At The Wheel? The electorate’s message, as aggregated in the polling booths on 14 October, turned out to be a conservative political agenda stronger than anything New Zealand has seen in five decades. In 1975, Bill Rowling was run over by just one bus, with Rob Muldoon at the wheel. In ...
    7 days ago
  • Sanity break
    Cheers to reader Deane for this quote from Breakfast TV today:Chloe Swarbrick to Brook van Velden re the coalition agreement: “... an unhinged grab-bag of hot takes from your drunk uncle at Christmas”Cheers also to actual Prime Minister of a country Christopher Luxon for dorking up his swearing-in vows.But that's enough ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    7 days ago
  • Sanity break
    Cheers to reader Deane for this quote from Breakfast TV today:Chloe Swarbrick to Brook van Velden re the coalition agreement: “... an unhinged grab-bag of hot takes from your drunk uncle at Christmas”Cheers also to actual Prime Minister of a country Christopher Luxon for dorking up his swearing-in vows.But that's enough ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    7 days ago
  • National’s murderous smoking policy
    One of the big underlying problems in our political system is the prevalence of short-term thinking, most usually seen in the periodic massive infrastructure failures at a local government level caused by them skimping on maintenance to Keep Rates Low. But the new government has given us a new example, ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    7 days ago
  • NZ has a chance to rise again as our new government gets spending under control
    New Zealand has  a chance  to  rise  again. Under the  previous  government, the  number of New Zealanders below the poverty line was increasing  year by year. The Luxon-led government  must reverse that trend – and set about stabilising  the  pillars  of the economy. After the  mismanagement  of the outgoing government created   huge ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    7 days ago
  • KARL DU FRESNE: Media and the new government
    Two articles by Karl du Fresne bring media coverage of the new government into considerations.  He writes –    Tuesday, November 28, 2023 The left-wing media needed a line of attack, and they found one The left-wing media pack wasted no time identifying the new government’s weakest point. Seething over ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 days ago
  • PHILIP CRUMP:  Team of rivals – a CEO approach to government leadership
    The work begins Philip Crump wrote this article ahead of the new government being sworn in yesterday – Later today the new National-led coalition government will be sworn in, and the hard work begins. At the core of government will be three men – each a leader ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 days ago
  • Black Friday
    As everyone who watches television or is on the mailing list for any of our major stores will confirm, “Black Friday” has become the longest running commercial extravaganza and celebration in our history. Although its origins are obscure (presumably dreamt up by American salesmen a few years ago), it has ...
    Bryan GouldBy Bryan Gould
    7 days ago
  • In Defense of the Media.
    Yesterday the Ministers in the next government were sworn in by our Governor General. A day of tradition and ceremony, of decorum and respect. Usually.But yesterday Winston Peters, the incoming Deputy Prime Minister, and Foreign Minister, of our nation used it, as he did with the signing of the coalition ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    7 days ago
  • Top 10 news links at 10 am for Tuesday, Nov 28
    Nicola Willis’ first move was ‘spilling the tea’ on what she called the ‘sobering’ state of the nation’s books, but she had better be able to back that up in the HYEFU. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Here’s my pick of top 10 news links elsewhere at 10 am ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    7 days ago
  • PT use up but fare increases coming
    Yesterday Auckland Transport were celebrating, as the most recent Sunday was the busiest Sunday they’ve ever had. That’s a great outcome and I’m sure the ...
    7 days ago
  • The very opposite of social investment
    Nicola Willis (in blue) at the signing of the coalition agreement, before being sworn in as both Finance Minister and Social Investment Minister. National’s plan to unwind anti-smoking measures will benefit her in the first role, but how does it stack up from a social investment viewpoint? Photo: Lynn Grieveson ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Giving Tuesday
    For the first time "in history" we decided to jump on the "Giving Tuesday" bandwagon in order to make you aware of the options you have to contribute to our work! Projects supported by Skeptical Science Inc. Skeptical Science Skeptical Science is an all-volunteer organization but ...
    1 week ago
  • Let's open the books with Nicotine Willis
    Let’s say it’s 1984,and there's a dreary little nation at the bottom of the Pacific whose name rhymes with New Zealand,and they've just had an election.Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, will you look at the state of these books we’ve opened,cries the incoming government, will you look at all this mountain ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago
  • Climate Change: Stopping oil
    National is promising to bring back offshore oil and gas drilling. Naturally, the Greens have organised a petition campaign to try and stop them. You should sign it - every little bit helps, and as the struggle over mining conservation land showed, even National can be deterred if enough people ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago
  • Don’t accept Human Rights Commission reading of data on Treaty partnership – read the survey fin...
    Wellington is braced for a “massive impact’ from the new government’s cutting public service jobs, The Post somewhat grimly reported today. Expectations of an economic and social jolt are based on the National-Act coalition agreement to cut public service numbers in each government agency in a cost-trimming exercise  “informed by” head ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 week ago

  • New Zealand welcomes European Parliament vote on the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement
    A significant milestone in ratifying the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was reached last night, with 524 of the 705 member European Parliament voting in favour to approve the agreement. “I’m delighted to hear of the successful vote to approve the NZ-EU FTA in the European Parliament overnight. This is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Further humanitarian support for Gaza, the West Bank and Israel
    The Government is contributing a further $5 million to support the response to urgent humanitarian needs in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel, bringing New Zealand’s total contribution to the humanitarian response so far to $10 million. “New Zealand is deeply saddened by the loss of civilian life and the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

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