O’Sullivan: Key a poor manager, Smith needs to go

Written By: - Date published: 1:08 pm, October 17th, 2009 - 36 comments
Categories: john key, national/act government - Tags:

Fran O’Sullivan’s piece today tries to resurrect the ‘Key=Obama’ line for some reason. She even refers to Obama as Key’s ‘alter ego’. I’m not quite sure she understands what the term means. Alter egos are like ying and yang, contrasting parts of the same whole.

Does she think they’re one person with different personas at different times like Bruce Wayne and Batman? Is Key Bruce Wayne, the selfish hedonistic party boy, while Obama is Batman the lone sentinel protecting society against the dark unknown. Maybe Key is Clark Kent, the meek bumbler and Obama is Superman the confident, all-powerful hero.

Anyway, shifting through the dross, which I suspect is primarily there to open the Nats’ minds to her substantive messages, she makes some strong points:

“If Key does not want to preside over a one-term Government…”

It’s not sown up, not if this government continues being this bad and Labour starts doing the basics better.

“[Key is] prime political firefighter who repeatedly rides to the rescue to save his Government from fiascos caused by his own lax political management.”

Too lazy to do the job right in the first place, he finds himself scrambling to limit the damage.

Cabinet Minister Nick Smith is making a pig’s arse of shepherding through both issues [gutting the ETS and ACC]. Business is squealing over the lack of time to make submissions to the climate change select committee and Smith failed to get the Government’s support partners – Act and the Maori Party – on side before moving on ACC…If Key isn’t thinking Cabinet reshuffle by now he needs his head read.

I think that if he hadn’t destroyed all his credibility by nicking hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars he wasn’t entitled to, Bill English would be fronting both these issues by now. Just as Cullen would take the lead when a minister was in trouble. With English walking dead himself, it’s been left to Smith to screw up. Will he get shuffled out? If he does who will replace him? There’s only two options I guess – Power or Joyce.

The problem at the end with O’Sullivan’s thesis though is that she thinks all Key needs to do is ‘stop playing Mr Nice Guy’ and get serious about his job. That fails to recognise that this is as good as Key gets – lazy, image-obsessed, impossible to pin down on a serious issue, always looking for the easy way out. I’m afraid that this Bruce Wayne is not going to become her dark knight.

36 comments on “O’Sullivan: Key a poor manager, Smith needs to go ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. gingercrush 1
    17 October 2009 at 1:30 pm

    It’s not sown up, not if this government continues being this bad and Labour starts doing the basics better. But Labour aren’t doing the basics. And they’re not getting Goff out there. To think just weeks ago they had a great conference with plenty of media around it then Goff appeared to have simply dropped off. The key for Labour is to get Goff out there and in the media. He’s still far too forgotten. The fact very few people in New Zealand even knew Goff was off overseas doesn’t help.

    National had a very bad week. They’ve actually had a number of them. But Labour doesn’t seem to be able to capitalise on them. Hence, National gets away with so much because the opposition isn’t there to make money on it.

    I agree with your points about English. He should keep his head down for the rest of the year and try to rejuvenate himself next year. In regards to Goff. Next year he has to start getting himself noticed and they Labour have to do far better than they are currently. The Greens need to fix themselves as well. National needs better organisation behind the scenes. That is what seems to be causing problems.

    • mickysavage 1.1
      17 October 2009 at 9:57 pm

      But GC

      All that Labour has had to do is sit back and witness this train wreck of a Government. Stop trying to take attention off the Nats.

      • gingercrush 1.1.1
        17 October 2009 at 11:23 pm

        Well good luck with that Mickey. I don’t see how Labour can possibly win if no one knows who the hell Goff is.

  2. Ianmac 2
    17 October 2009 at 2:06 pm

    Fair comments Ginge. But it takes a while for the general population to start seeing a reason to slide support downwards. A bit like a leaky home- it takes a while for the rot to show. I just can’t see that Mr Key has a passion for his job in the same way as say Nick Smith does.

  3. Jim McDonald 3
    17 October 2009 at 2:13 pm

    Good piece.

    To reinforce the point, has someone informed the PM the latest about his Education Minister (11:25am NZ Herald piece today)? He should tally up Tolley’s questionable and disturbing comments especially for their further downstream effect:
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10603766

    Hardly sage ministerial comments. Perhaps the PM should put her back firmly in her cabinet trolley?

    I’d say leave Goff where he is at the moment and the Labour party would be wiser to balance their time and focus on policy development, strategies and alternatives that can be rolled out later in the electoral cycle. And build support within the wider community, slowly and surely. Sometimes (with some caveats) there is little point in getting too embroiled in Nat’s own self-generated shambles as that would just give the Govt an excuse to distract and draw Labour in closer when the shit is flying.

    The point is, however it has turned out, the sum total of voters in 2008 has voted for this zany combo of multi-headed political beast that sometimes seem to be running around like a monstrously awkward headless chook! The parties in Govt should be given full opportunity to display their competence and argue for their superb policies to put into action, especially on this side of the electoral cycle.

    I’d say to members of the opposition benches that sometimes you justifiably can give the political parties in Government the oxygen to burn up.
    Labour/Greens/Progressive: breathe easy yourselves.

    Long week for some. Maybe the PM should contemplate another break overseas to reassess his work-life balance.

    Have a good weekend folks. Ka kite ano!

    • BLiP 3.1
      17 October 2009 at 7:33 pm

      That’s a remarkable photo – especially if you compare it with the “authorised” version. It looks like she’s been on P since the election.

      • RedLogix 3.1.1
        17 October 2009 at 7:40 pm

        Hey BLiP, I can understand the temptation, after all the right dished it out to HC in spades, but I reckon it’s a bit beneath you to be casting aspertions about personal appearances like that.

        Call me old fashioned megasauras if you like.

        • BLiP 3.1.1.1
          18 October 2009 at 1:27 am

          Okay you’re an old fashioned megasaurus 🙂

          I’m actually a bit conflicted about it myself – 12 months ago I would have launched into a tirade of justification complete with reference links to the filth posted in the sewer – but I’ve cooled down a lot since then. I still doubt very much that the next election will be won using ideas and rational debate but I have taken your comments in the spirit I am sure you intended and shall back off on the personal appearances thing.

          I’m certainly no portrait myself.
          [that’s just uncalled for, BLiP. I’m sure you bring Adonis or Venus (pick the correct gender) to shame. Marty]

          • felix 3.1.1.1.1
            18 October 2009 at 8:36 am

            BLiP that photo is actually a much better publicity pic, in terms of what the herald/national is trying to say to their readership/base. Note the low angle, the stern jaw, the fixed gaze – this is intended to look like a woman in control, not to be trifled with. She’s large, in charge and she won’t let anyone spend YOUR money.

            The reality is the complete opposite of course. The woman is a fool, a simple drone with no authority to make ministerial decisions, not even allowed to speak in public without word-for-word approval from her handlers.

            Tricksy Heraldses.

  4. Ianmac 4
    17 October 2009 at 2:26 pm

    Yes Jim and I wondered how said kid would fit into National Standards. The National Standards will apparently cost about $80 mil to instal and run. But surprise there is not $60mil to help success on the frontline. Time passes and you will need more than an ambulance at the bottom of the cliff. Bring back Trevor!

  5. JD 5
    17 October 2009 at 2:26 pm

    I’m not sure about key being too lazy since I would rather have our PM addressing issues such as the recession and deficit than ensuring adequate rugby coverage on TV but hey that’s just me.

    • Pascal's bookie 5.1
      17 October 2009 at 2:36 pm

      Doing that, is he?

    • Marty G 5.2
      17 October 2009 at 2:40 pm

      I don’t see him addressing the recession or the deficit.

      cycleway anyone?

    • Jim McDonald 5.3
      17 October 2009 at 2:41 pm

      … and the Cycleway that will ensure we grandly ride out of this recession!

      Seems to me the RWC Minister and his good company of Cabinet ministers were caught napping and then suddenly had their eyes on Elections 2011 and RWC (?Sep, Oct 2011). Hence, a few hands quickly slammed on the ‘PANIC’ button.

      At this rate, given there’s 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and after firefighting the issues of the week, our industrious and Letterman-illustrious PM may be finding himself in deficit with his time to work on The Plan for recovery.

    • BLiP 5.4
      17 October 2009 at 7:37 pm

      You’ll be concerned, then, to learn that the Goober is off for another wee holiday; this time to Japan at the end of the month for the final All Blacks / Wallabies match on the 31st.

      • mickysavage 5.4.1
        18 October 2009 at 9:08 am

        Can we persuade Japan to keep him?

        • sk 5.4.1.1
          18 October 2009 at 11:28 am

          BLiP, where did you see that?

          If correct, what a joke. What is this foreign policy around All Black rugby matches?

          • Ianmac 5.4.1.1.1
            18 October 2009 at 12:43 pm

            And this is the same bloke who couldn’t remember the Springbok Tour.

          • BLiP 5.4.1.1.2
            18 October 2009 at 1:57 pm

            Ita funny you should mention that – the original story has “disappeared” off the site but can still be found in Google cache – I wonder why the original was pulled? You might want to see if you can get an invitation to attend a function he is hosting while over there.

            • Jim McDonald 5.4.1.1.2.1
              18 October 2009 at 5:47 pm

              To avoid NZ taxpayers needing to bail out Rugby World Cup 2011 (the latest news report a conservative estimate of $39m loss), the PM will be going overseas to talk about outsourcing the event to Japan???

  6. Sanctuary 6
    17 October 2009 at 2:45 pm

    I am a firm believer that newspapers send a message with their choice of image, and that one of Tolley in the linked article above might just indicate a subtle change of mood towards this government is in the air…

    • RedLogix 6.1
      17 October 2009 at 2:59 pm

      Yes, they were very fond of using unflattering images of Helen Clark when it suited them. It’s a particularly effective tactic against women politicians and reflective of the sad, unexamined undercurrents of sexism alive and well in our society.

    • Stacktwo 6.2
      17 October 2009 at 5:44 pm

      This is a picture of smug superiority – hardly an accurate depiction of a minister far from achieving her unit standards at this point in her career.

      Shirley Maihi deserves to be listened to. She is a superb educational leader with a deep understanding and involvement in the Manurewa community.

  7. sk 7
    17 October 2009 at 2:53 pm

    The most revealing interview with John Key of late, dare I say it, was in the Women’s Weekly, where he said that he always wanted to know what it was like to be the PM – and that that was his apparent motivation for being in politics. That he did not want to die without having experienced it!

    Well, now he is. And what we are seeing is the mix of Muldoon and Lange, Muldoon populism with Lange’s low work rate. Nothing in John Key’s background has prepared him for the complex task of governance – something love her or hate her, Helen Clark had.

    Bottom line is he is a populist but weak PM, surrounded by an even weaker cabinet.

    I suspect we may look back and see this week as a tipping point. With English wounded, it is not clear how Key can get the toothpaste back in the tube.

  8. gitmo 8
    17 October 2009 at 5:51 pm

    I think Fran’s comparison of Key and Obama was summed up a couple of paragraphs in.

    “Like Obama, Key has succeeded in one critical area: changing “the vibe” around his nation’s capital. Like Obama he is perceived as a Mr Nice Guy in large part because he is not his predecessor: Helen Clark in Key’s case, or George W. Bush (Obama).”

    I think she’s spot on here – to date they’re both hot air and very little substance and popular for who they are not rather than who they are.

  9. Greg 9
    17 October 2009 at 6:37 pm

    “It’s not sown up, not if this government continues being this bad”

    Thats your opinion. The rest of NZ (in general) does not agree. Do you read the polls?

    • Armchair Critic 9.1
      17 October 2009 at 9:12 pm

      Good point Greg – obviously it must be time for a snap election, those polls can’t be that wrong, can they?
      But maybe not. I mean the government has had a couple of bad weeks so their popularity can only head further up once they start doing things right, right? Who knows, in two years time they might be getting 150% in the polls and then we can make that nice Mr Key PM For Life. Then we wouldn’t need to read the polls at all.

    • sk 9.2
      17 October 2009 at 9:32 pm

      Greg,

      It is now that it gets real interesting. Sure, the polls are fantastic for National and John Key. But every government is tested early in their term. For Labour it was mid-2000, but Clark and Cullen came through it,

      The issue for John Key is that he has never being tested in his political career the way Clark was. It has all come too easy, just as it did at Merrill Lynch. The question now is does he want it bad enough; or is Sir John Key, Director of Goldman Sachs, resident in London an attractive enough alternative to being NZ PM? So that when it comes to the crunch, he des not want it bad enough.

      John Key won by cobbling together a coalition of National and centrists. That coalition is now coming apart. Take a look at Kiwiblog, and the fraying is clear. Suddenly, 2011 feels a long way away. A lot can happen . . . .

  10. GFraser 10
    17 October 2009 at 7:01 pm

    Sorry Greg, but your head is in the sand. This government is a train wreck. The media are turning and the polls will not be far behind.

    • Ron 10.1
      17 October 2009 at 8:39 pm

      I hope the media ARE turning because they’ve given the bastards a free run until now.
      When I see them hounding this lot over their lies and theft like they houded Peters then I’ll believe they’re not just Tory lackies.

    • mickysavage 10.2
      17 October 2009 at 10:10 pm

      Key’s two basic problems are that he is surrounded by incompetents and he does not have the ability to manage the incompetents so that the end result is acceptable.

      He must think about Helen Clark and marvel at how good she was at the job.

      Hell I do this every day!

  11. Pascal's bookie 11
    17 October 2009 at 10:38 pm

    Key’s two basic problems are that he is surrounded by incompetents and he does not have the ability to manage the incompetents so that the end result is acceptable

    I dunno about this. (I dunno much about Key at all in fact, anyone got any clues about where he stands on anything?).

    I’m getting the impression that his ministers have been given a lot of autonomy though. It looks as if Key is happy enough to let them have free reign in their areas with little or no political oversight in terms of strategy. Just let them run, if they succeed, good. If they conflict, let them fight till either one backs down or it becomes a political threat, and only then does the PM need to swoop down and pick and a winner/enforce a deal.

    Look at how everyone was running around the MTS/WRC bunfight, or the way Smith has had his not very good days. Going further back, the way Wilkinson didn’t know what others were planning re her portfolio. It looks like Minsters are doing their own thing, and absent a broader strategy being managed from above, are having to do the political management and deal making themselves. The older hands are either playing games (McCully and co) or not coping (Smith not having the numbers on ACC).

    If they have Key’s confidence, they remain in place. Those that have made him look bad, (Lee and Worth) are just abandoned.

  12. sk 12
    17 October 2009 at 11:02 pm

    Micky / Pascal,

    I think you are on to something here, in terms of Key’s management of the cabinet.

    Micky; When he was in opposition he did not form close relationships with his caucas colleagues. In fact, he was very aloof, and did not see the need to interact with them at a personal level. So there is none of the Bolger-Birch dynamic of resolving issues over a late night whiskey, Now that they are in government, those personal channels don’t exist. Hence the dysfunctional interaction we have seen over the RWC – and everything else.

    Pascal; What you describe is investment banking management 101, which was all in vogue in the 1990’s and early part of this decade, when John Key was learning the ropes of senior management. Create tension it was called, but it helped create the global credit crisis – as senior management gave too much autonomy to managers down the line. and did not manage or control them.

    The worst example of this was Stan O’Neal at Merrill – who ironically promoted John Key. It is no coincidence that John Key had his management experience at Merrill, and that they were the investment bank to blow up. The problems in the NZ cabinet right now are straight out of Merrill. It is amazing that the Right still present his experience at Merrill as a positive.

    This is a very fascinating moment . .. .

  13. George.com 13
    18 October 2009 at 12:00 am

    John Key is quickly becoming Joe Key. Jo Key and his bungling ministers. The bungling has been of Nationals own making, rather than events beyond their control.

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    Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Faxing from Your Computer A Modern Guide to Sending Documents Digitally
    While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Protecting Your Home Computer A Guide to Cyber Awareness
    In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Server-Based Computing Powering the Modern Digital Landscape
    In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Vroom vroom go the big red trucks
    The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • Jones finds $410,000 to help the government muscle in on a spat project
    Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • Again, hate crimes are not necessarily terrorism.
    Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    2 days ago

  • Despair – construction consenting edition
    Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Coalition promises – will the Govt keep the commitment to keep Kiwis equal before the law?
    Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • An impermanent public service is a guarantee of very little else but failure
    Chris Trotter writes –  The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • What happens after the war – Mariupol
    Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    2 days ago

  • Babies and benefits – no good news
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Should the RBNZ be looking through climate inflation?
    Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours, as of 9:16 am on Thursday, April 18 are:Housing: Tauranga residents living in boats, vans RNZ Checkpoint Louise TernouthHousing: Waikato councillor says wastewater plant issues could hold up Sleepyhead building a massive company town Waikato Times Stephen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the public sector carnage, and misogyny as terrorism
    It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    2 days ago

  • Meeting the Master Baiters
    Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago

  • How extreme was the Earth's temperature in 2023
    This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blog In 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • Backbone, revisited
    The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Ministers are not above the law
    Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • What’s the outfit you can hear going down the gurgler? Probably it’s David Parker’s Oceans Sec...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point  of Order first heard of the Oceans Secretariat in June 2021, when David Parker (remember him?) announced a multi-agency approach to protecting New Zealand’s marine ecosystems and fisheries. Parker (holding the Environment, and Oceans and Fisheries portfolios) broke the news at the annual Forest & ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Bryce Edwards writes  – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Matt Doocey doubles down on trans “healthcare”
    Citizen Science writes –  Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • A TikTok Prime Minister.
    One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • Texas Lessons
    This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    3 days ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links at 6:06 am
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours as of 6:06 am on Wednesday, April 17 are:Must read: Secrecy shrouds which projects might be fast-tracked RNZ Farah HancockScoop: Revealed: Luxon has seven staffers working on social media content - partly paid for by taxpayer Newshub ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Fighting poverty on the holiday highway
    Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago

  • Bernard's six-stack of substacks at 6:26 pm
    Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • At a glance – Is the science settled?
    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
    3 days ago

  • Apposite Quotations.
    How Long Is Long Enough? Gaza under Israeli bombardment, July 2014. This posting is exclusive to Bowalley Road. ...
    Bowalley Road
    4 days ago

  • What’s a life worth now?
    You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Howling at the Moon
    Karl du Fresne writes –  There’s a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere – mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Newshub is Dead.
    I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • Seymour is chuffed about cutting early-learning red tape – but we hear, too, that Jones has loose...
    Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago

  • Was Hawkesby entirely wrong?
    David Farrar  writes –  The Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled: Comments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. It is a fact such patients are prioritised. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • PRC shadow looms as the Solomons head for election
    PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time. A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that won’t compromise Beijing’s plans. Cleo Paskall writes – On April 17th the Solomon Islands, a country of ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Climate Change: Criminal ecocide
    We are in the middle of a climate crisis. Last year was (again) the hottest year on record. NOAA has just announced another global coral bleaching event. Floods are threatening UK food security. So naturally, Shane Jones wants to make it easier to mine coal: Resources Minister Shane Jones ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • Is saving one minute of a politician's time worth nearly $1 billion?
    Is speeding up the trip to and from Wellington airport by 12 minutes worth spending up more than $10 billion? Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me in the last day to 8:26 am today are:The Lead: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Long Tunnel or Long Con?
    Yesterday it was revealed that Transport Minister had asked Waka Kotahi to look at the options for a long tunnel through Wellington. State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    4 days ago

  • Smoke And Mirrors.
    You're a fraud, and you know itBut it's too good to throw it all awayAnyone would do the sameYou've got 'em goingAnd you're careful not to show itSometimes you even fool yourself a bitIt's like magicBut it's always been a smoke and mirrors gameAnyone would do the sameForty six billion ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • What is Mexico doing about climate change?
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The June general election in Mexico could mark a turning point in ensuring that the country’s climate policies better reflect the desire of its citizens to address the climate crisis, with both leading presidential candidates expressing support for renewable energy. Mexico is the ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • State of humanity, 2024
    2024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?When I say 2024 I really mean the state of humanity in 2024.Saturday night, we watched Civil War because that is one terrifying cliff we've ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • Govt’s Wellington tunnel vision aims to ease the way to the airport (but zealous promoters of cycl...
    Buzz from the Beehive A pet project and governmental tunnel vision jump out from the latest batch of ministerial announcements. The government is keen to assure us of its concern for the wellbeing of our pets. It will be introducing pet bonds in a change to the Residential Tenancies Act ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago

  • The case for cultural connectedness
    A recent report generated from a Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) survey of 1,224 rangatahi Māori aged 11-12 found: Cultural connectedness was associated with fewer depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms and better quality of life. That sounds cut and dry. But further into the report the following appears: Cultural connectedness is ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Useful context on public sector job cuts
    David Farrar writes –    The Herald reports: From the gory details of job-cuts news, you’d think the public service was being eviscerated.   While the media’s view of the cuts is incomplete, it’s also true that departments have been leaking the particulars faster than a Wellington ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell On When Racism Comes Disguised As Anti-racism
    Remember the good old days, back when New Zealand had a PM who could think and speak calmly and intelligently in whole sentences without blustering? Even while Iran’s drones and missiles were still being launched, Helen Clark was live on TVNZ expertly summing up the latest crisis in the Middle ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    5 days ago

  • Govt ignored economic analysis of smokefree reversal
    Costello did not pass on analysis of the benefits of the smokefree reforms to Cabinet, emphasising instead the extra tax revenues of repealing them. Photo: Hagen Hopkins, Getty Images TL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me at 7:26 am today are:The Lead: Casey Costello never passed on ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • True Blue.
    True loveYou're the one I'm dreaming ofYour heart fits me like a gloveAnd I'm gonna be true blueBaby, I love youI’ve written about the job cuts in our news media last week. The impact on individuals, and the loss to Aotearoa of voices covering our news from different angles.That by ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • Who is running New Zealand’s foreign policy?
    While commentators, including former Prime Minister Helen Clark, are noting a subtle shift in New Zealand’s foreign policy, which now places more emphasis on the United States, many have missed a key element of the shift. What National said before the election is not what the government is doing now. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
    Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector.    "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
    The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
    Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
    Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.   Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ ties
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.  During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Antarctica New Zealand Board appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner.  The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Finance Minister travels to Washington DC
    Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.  “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Pet bonds a win/win for renters and landlords
    The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being considered
    State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • New Zealand condemns Iranian strikes
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel.    “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says.    "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Huge interest in Government’s infrastructure plans
    Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
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  • Health Minister thanks outgoing Health New Zealand Chair
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