Petition: It’s Not OK Prime Minister

Written By: - Date published: 10:37 am, November 13th, 2015 - 46 comments
Categories: human rights, john key, petition - Tags:

This petition at ActionStation is closing in on 5,000 signatures:

Dear John Key,

We call on you to stand up, apologise for the offence your comment has caused to survivors of sexual violence throughout New Zealand, and withdraw the statement.

We also call on you to show that you and your Government ‘back’ victims and survivors of sexual violence by committing to fully fund specialist sexual violence agencies to provide core services, especially kaupapa Māori services.

46 comments on “Petition: It’s Not OK Prime Minister ”

  1. Michelle Bunt 1

    I find your comments distasteful particularly after you were the one who closed christchurch’s rape crisis service. Who is supporting rapists now?

  2. weka 2

    That’s a well worded petition.

  3. Stuart Munro 3

    His hubris is costing him now – if he’d done his usual insincere withdraw & apologise he wouldn’t have had an issue – this one won’t make him any political capital.

    • sweetd 3.1

      Costing Key how?

      Haters going to hate, the left isn’t going to vote for him ever and this will push him further up with the right.

      Expect a poll boost from this for Key.

      Just like the ponytail campaign by the left, had no effect with actual NZers as reflected in the polls, but was considered a huge thing in the twittersphere.

      Meanwhile, the rest of the country goes about their business without taking offence and faux outrage.

      • RedLogix 3.1.1

        Expect a poll boost from this for Key.

        You may well be right.

        I note however you don’t defend Key; implicitly you know he’s playing a manipulative and deceptive game here. And that you believe a majority of the electorate will swallow it. Or maybe even approve of it.

        Which is all fine and good … but don’t you find living with such a cynical view of your fellow citizens just a little wearing?

      • weka 3.1.2

        “Just like the ponytail campaign by the left, had no effect with actual NZers as reflected in the polls,”

        Maybe not, but the culture is being changed which is actually more important. It’s probably good you aren’t noticing that.

      • Daniel Cale 3.1.3

        Agreed, and your comment about faux outrage is particularly pertinent. It is this penchant for taking offence at everything that is destroying the left because it is so alien to the way most NZ’ers think.

        • BM 3.1.3.1

          The left love being offended it’s what gives them purpose.

          • Tracey 3.1.3.1.1

            There is a reason you and Daniel ended up talking to and agreeing with each other. Cling onto each other boys so that you can find comfort in your stupidity

        • Paul 3.1.3.2

          You are rapidly becoming a unwelcome. And unsavoury bore with your ill educated hate speech.

      • Paul 3.1.4

        ‘Haters going to hate’

        Are people standing up for civil rights ‘haters’?
        Are people asking for rape not to be used by the PM ‘haters’?
        Or do you just describe anyone whose views you oppose a ‘hater’?
        Or do you just operate in slogans?

      • Stuart Munro 3.1.5

        There is little or no political capital to be made from this. As many or more people will be turned off Key by his treacherous desertion of New Zealanders in a concentration camp as might do the knee-jerk ‘ah… they’re all crooks anyway’. If he had to choose an issue on which to make an immoral stand, Key could’ve chosen better.

  4. Anne 4

    Michelle Boag adds her opinion:

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/74006095/mps-who-shared-sexual-assault-stories-paraded-their-victimhood–michelle-boag

    If anyone feels like ‘discussing’ the matter her work email is:

    michelle@boagpirie.co.nz

    This bitch (no, I don’t resile from calling her a bitch because that is exactly what she is) is attempting to equate low level offending such as inappropriate explicitly language, bottom patting and/or breast touching with the serious high end of the scale where women have been subjected to serial raping as children/teenagers and other horrific sexually related acts.

    i

    • veutoviper 4.1

      I agree with your last paragraph completely, Anne.

      The Stuff article is mild compared to Boag’s performance on RNZ National’s The Panel yesterday afternoon.

      Warning! Dangerous for those with blood pressure problems!

      http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/thepanel/audio/201778485/the-panel-with-brian-edwards-and-michelle-boag-part-1

      Discussion on this subject starts at 7.15 in; Boag begins at about 8.15.

      Boag must have watched a different video of what happened in the House to what I saw.

      She starts by trying to defend Carter’s hearing deficit; puts down Marama Davidson suggesting that she does not yet know the rules of the House; goes on to belittle the women who stood up in the House; and totally misleads by implying that they were making personal statements rather than points of order; and also maintains that they all walked out – denying that any of them were thrown out.

      Brian Edwards makes some feeble attempts to intervene and put some differing views, BUT in effect agrees that the women MPs walked out rather than some being ordered out of the House. Mora is useless as usual.

      I am still angry at the complete spin offered up by Boag.

      • Anne 4.1.1

        Yes I heard it veutoviper – an attempt to provide cover for Key by attacking those whom she perceived to be a threat to him. The C/T ‘dead cat on the table’ routine is not confined to just the Nat politicians but their “Dirty Politics” acolytes as well.

        I have never forgotten her reaction 15 plus years ago when I was attending a function in Auckland. I happened to arrive at the bottom of the stairs to the entrance at exactly the same moment as Madam Boag. She gave me the most demeaning and contemptuous look I have ever experienced from anyone even though she had no idea who I was. She is a vain, vicious woman who will stop at nothing to get her own way – something that has been amply demonstrated over many years.

        • RedLogix 4.1.1.1

          Anne I read this article a few hours ago – and when I came to add a comment on it, I found I had to delete it.

          Like you I found I couldn’t do it without including the b-word; and I didn’t want to start a distraction with that.

          And secondly I was struck by the fact that the Nats have deliberately wheeled a woman out to do this knife work. I can’t quite put words on it – but there is something degenerate going on I can’t quite name properly.

          • Colonial Viper 4.1.1.1.1

            Similar rationale to why the NATs put a woman in charge of Social Welfare to do the “knife work” on benes and those on the DPB.

            • weka 4.1.1.1.1.1

              Yes all the way back to Shipley.

              Red, I agree, there is something really off about this whole thing. Seriously off. I felt like that the first time I watched Key in the house the other day. Something very fucked up is going on here, and I think they are playing with fire.

          • BM 4.1.1.1.2

            You seem to view women as weak and pathetic creatures, this may come as a shock but women can have their own thought and ideas.

            Boag spoke how she spoke because these women pissed her off, not because she was forced to do so.

            • sabine 4.1.1.1.2.1

              Trigger Warning:

              BM you have absolutely no idea what weak or strong means.
              And it seems this women does not either.

              But you know what, fondling/touching/groping without consent is sexually violating someone, cat calling is harrasment, having your hair pulled without your consent is assault and could be considered to be sexual assault, having someone shove a penis – or any other tool or instrument up your bodily orifices without your consent is rape.

              And survivors of such treatment, by they male or female, young or old, regardless if they reported the crime, regardless if they went to the hospital for a rape kit, regardless of any of what ever you want have mentioned and talked about, are strong.
              They are strong because in most cases they survive without medical attention of any kind, they survive often without any moral or spiritual support, they survive not because society offers help and compassion – and clearly this National Government has been excellent in cutting the funds for help, and for compassion, it could be said that this National Government embodies the lowest common denominator – but despite it, or maybe in spite of what society has to offer.

              You know why these women where thrown out of parliament? Because they stood up, because a long time ago they stopped being afraid. They looked at teh bully and told him that they knew him, they had met him, and he does not frighten them any more. , They made clear that they don’t stand for being accused to ‘support murderers, rapists, and child molesters”, by someone who has more that a shoddy record on dealing with sexual abuse other then shrugging the shoulder and mumbling “Boys will be Boy”

              As for rape not being rape when it is not reported to the family, I was raped at an age I did not even have the vocabulary to voice what had happened to me. By the time i fully understood what was happening to me I believed that this is what happened to all the girls at a certain age, by the time I ran away from home I knew it did not happen to all the girls from a certain age onwards.

              Now at a much different age, I can assure you that many if not most girls of a certain age onwards will encounter sexual harassment (touching of hair, legs, butt, breast – smile baby you be prettier, I’d hit that – to name just a few) to outright rape. They will be raped by their fathers, stepfathers, brothers, cuzzies, oncles, mates, boyfriends, husbands and strangers. It is that fucking normal. And we have a PM, and a spokes person that wants to make it normal, “It is just feel good about that phrase? BM – assuming you are a man? Do you feel good about this particular phrase? Are you a boy that will be a boy? )
              But there is nothing normal about someone forcing another someone into intercourse. Absolutely nothing. Rape is not normal and our PM should know that, and behave accordingly.

              Now, I understand that you support John Key and the national party. Good for you. You know what you like and you stand up for it.

              I just want you to understand that women, men, boys and girls get raped. Every day, while I type this someone somewhere is getting raped. And most will never speak up, because of people like John Key, and Michelle Boag. And one of these boys, girls, women, men could be your spouse, daughter, son, friend, mother, father.

              So, no, rape is never ever a fucking excuse to score political point.
              At long last have you no fucking shame.

              • Tracey

                Bravo. I wonder if BM read my post about the opposition is the enemy… he hadnt read it before he posted to you.

              • BM

                What the hell has any of that have to do with what I wrote?

                My point was , Boag, disagreed with what these women said and voiced her opinion, she wasn’t trotted out to voice the “opinion” of the National party and it is incredibly sexist and demeaning to think that she was.

                • sabine

                  And that is where you are wrong.

                  She was trotted out, and she did ‘voice’ the opinion of the national party.

                  And no it is not. if it walks like a duck, and it quacks like a duck it is.

                  You know what I find interesting, that you seem to have no issues with a Prime Minister who would accuse the opposition party of being ‘supporters of rapists, murderers, and child molesterers’.
                  It does not offend your good manners or your sense of civility.
                  It does not offend you that instead of answering a straight forward question, the Prime Ministers accuses a group of Men and Women of a certain standing, representing New Zealanders in Parliament, of being ‘supporters of rapists, murderer, and child molesterers”.

                  But then, your support for John Key and the national party makes all this ok.

                  Btw. Do you like being a boy? Cause we all know Boys will be Boys. Have you ever been that “boy”?

                  Ooh, opps, just horsing around and having a bit of fun, ey, no harm done. The Prime Minister does it too.

                  • BM

                    For some reason I always thought you were a man.

                    • sabine

                      i am not, never was, never pretended to be.

                      I am just one of those uppity women that would have walked out of parliament in protest of John Key.

                      and other then that, any comment on what you feel/think about the comments of the Prime Minister? Do you think that he was just horsing around again, and that those women that were offended did over react? Come BM, boy or girl, who cares, got any comment on anything other then National all good, Labour all bad?

                    • RedLogix

                      BM your original comment has merit; women are indeed not weak and helpless creatures. But equally they also experience vulnerability and powerlessness in many situations.

                      And until just the last generation or so, this experience went mostly ignored and suppressed. Now it is getting articulated, and it is not a comfortable nor pleasing voice to listen to.

                      And for many men, no longer having the dominant voice (even for a time) is something we find even less pleasing. Respectful listening does not come naturally to many men.

                      At the same time this does not imply men must always remain silent, and I believe eventually we will find our own voice on this. There is much more to be said, much more to be negotiated before we find our path through this.

                      But what happened in Parliament on Wednesday belongs to those women who had the guts to stand up to the unacceptable. And no man (or woman) has any business diminishing that.

                    • BM

                      I’d say the driver of John Keys comment would have been Kelvin Davis getting in his face.

                      Like any guy, Key would have been really fucked off about that, Davis got in his personal space and disrespected him, so he gave Labour a broadside in return.

                      Personally I thought there was a lot of truth with what Key said, lefties seem to be all about crims.

                    • mickysavage []

                      Kelvin did not get in Key’s face and his tone of voice was quite muted. If Key gets that upset by what Kelvin did then Key needs to be removed from his office ASAP.

                    • RedLogix

                      lefties seem to be all abut crims.

                      Mainly because we believe human rights are universal and inalienable. This was the lesson we learnt largely in the wake of WW2.

                      By contrast righties all too often are happy to divide society into the deserving and undeserving, the insiders and outsiders. It’s an ancient, animal instinct, but regressive.

                    • BM

                      Nah, Righties tend to be more about you’re in purgatory until you’ve proven you’ve made amends and shown you’ve learn’t from whatever you’ve done and won’t do it again.

                      Lefties seem to be all about finding excuses to why someone did what they did, personal responsibility seems to be an anathema to left thinking people.

                    • RedLogix

                      Yet curiously enough, while you believe these things, you never deliver on them.

                      Nations like the USA that run it’s prison’s as purgatory, seem to just keep on needing more of them. Nations like the Netherlands (which try to seek out and fix the root causes of crime) are having to close them.

                      Everywhere you look, the solutions righties insist will work, keep on failing. And yet oddly enough none of you ever seem to want to take any personal responsibility for this.

                • weka

                  My point was , Boag, disagreed with what these women said and voiced her opinion, she wasn’t trotted out to voice the “opinion” of the National party and it is incredibly sexist and demeaning to think that she was.

                  How do you know she wasn’t running NACT’s lines?

                  The idea that she is isn’t a comment about her so much as a comment about how National do dirty politics. Boag fronting for National in the way she did yesterday is exactly what we would expect at this stage of things. Makes sense that people would speculate on that.

              • left for deadshark

                Great post sabine, and as weka said this is very dark.
                Boag lied an deceived on natrad and I will use the links weka put up, an remonstrate will her and complain bitterly every time she re-appears on that show.
                but I have to say, the likes of Boag, Edwards etc have made a lot of money out of political games an that wont be changing any time soon, sadly.
                Best we support those members of Parliament that will stand up for us.

          • Anne 4.1.1.1.3

            – but there is something degenerate going on I can’t quite name properly.

            Well, Redlogix I think it has a lot to do with Labour’s very successful conference. I wasn’t there but everything I read about it suggests Andrew Little has shown himself to be a strong and principled person who genuinely cares about this country and the democratic rights of it’s citizens. Even the MSM were impressed with him and were not backward in saying so. I think the Nats and JK in particular were rocked by their response. They didn’t see it coming. Hence the ‘dead cat on the table’ reaction. We can look forward to many more “dead cats” as Andrew’s star begins to rise and I’m certain in due course it is going to happen.

      • Paul 4.1.2

        Edwards has spent too long in Herne Bay.
        The complete failure of ‘liberals’ to stand for anything has been wedlock documented by Chris Hedges.

        • greywarshark 4.1.2.1

          Edwards is Brian Edwards. And this refers to 4.1 written by veutoviper. (For the benefit of anyone reading from the middle of the comments.)

      • Paul 4.1.3

        Thanks – another reminder never to listen to Mora.
        The invitees to the Panel some dire reactionaries.
        Mora is mediocrity personified.

    • Paul 4.3

      It’s amazing how vicious and degenerate some people can be to defend their privilege

    • veutoviper 4.4

      I have been in ‘time out’ for a few hours and have just come back online a short while ago. I am sad (kia kaha, Sabine) but at the same time hopeful at the reaction that Boag’s response to the brave actions of the Opposition MPs in calling out the actions of Key and Carter has sparked.

      Too tired to say any more tonight, but I wanted to post this excellent and from the heart response by Alison Mau, also on Radio Live, to Boag’s interview on the same radio station.

      https://t.co/vA4nDRNbDx

      The voices will not be silenced.

  5. NZJester 5

    If they want an apology they can change their name to Cameron Slater just like every other person the PM has ever apologized to.

  6. Paul 6

    Our culture is gradually being corrupted.
    A sad time to be living in this once progressive country.

  7. Jenny Kirk 7

    ShonKey has escaped out of the country – for about 10 days. He’ll be hoping the furore will have died down by the time he gets back.

    This petition will help keep it alive, as will Andrew Little’s visit to the Australian select committee meeting.

    By the way, Sabine – terrific statements up above @4.1 – wish I was as articulate as you.

    And Anne – I regret to think you may well be right about why this degeneration from ShonKey is happening : looks like we’re all going to be in for a rough ride to the end of 2017. The Nats will try everything they can think of to retain power. Yuck.

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  • 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 ...
    24 hours 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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 ...
    1 day 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
    1 day 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 ...
    1 day 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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 ...
    3 days ago
  • Apposite Quotations.
    How Long Is Long Enough? Gaza under Israeli bombardment, July 2014. This posting is exclusive to Bowalley Road. ...
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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 ...
    3 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
    3 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 ...
    3 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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 ...
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #15
    A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 7, 2024 thru Sat, April 13, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week is about adults in the room setting terms and conditions of ...
    5 days ago
  • Feline Friends and Fragile Fauna The Complexities of Cats in New Zealand’s Conservation Efforts

    Cats, with their independent spirit and beguiling purrs, have captured the hearts of humans for millennia. In New Zealand, felines are no exception, boasting the highest national cat ownership rate globally [definition cat nz cat foundation]. An estimated 1.134 million pet cats grace Kiwi households, compared to 683,000 dogs ...

    5 days ago
  • Or is that just they want us to think?
    Nice guy, that Peter Williams. Amiable, a calm air of no-nonsense capability, a winning smile. Everything you look for in a TV presenter and newsreader.I used to see him sometimes when I went to TVNZ to be a talking head or a panellist and we would yarn. Nice guy, that ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • Fact Brief – Did global warming stop in 1998?
    Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Did global warming stop in ...
    6 days ago
  • Arguing over a moot point.
    I have been following recent debates in the corporate and social media about whether it is a good idea for NZ to join what is known as “AUKUS Pillar Two.” AUKUS is the Australian-UK-US nuclear submarine building agreement in which … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    6 days ago
  • No Longer Trusted: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    Turning Point: What has turned me away from the mainstream news media is the very strong message that its been sending out for the last few years.” “And what message might that be?” “That the people who own it, the people who run it, and the people who provide its content, really don’t ...
    6 days ago
  • Mortgage rates at 10% anyone?
    No – nothing about that in PM Luxon’s nine-point plan to improve the lives of New Zealanders. But beyond our shores Jamie Dimon, the long-serving head of global bank J.P. Morgan Chase, reckons that the chances of a goldilocks soft landing for the economy are “a lot lower” than the ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    6 days ago
  • Sad tales from the left
    Michael Bassett writes –  Have you noticed the odd way in which the media are handling the government’s crackdown on surplus employees in the Public Service? Very few reporters mention the crazy way in which State Service numbers rocketed ahead by more than 16,000 during Labour’s six years, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • In Whose Best Interests?
    On The Spot: The question Q+A host, Jack Tame, put to the Workplace & Safety Minister, Act’s Brooke van Velden, was disarmingly simple: “Are income tax cuts right now in the best interests of lowering inflation?”JACK TAME has tested another MP on his Sunday morning current affairs show, Q+A. Minister for Workplace ...
    6 days ago
  • Don’t Question, Don’t Complain.
    It has to start somewhereIt has to start sometimeWhat better place than here?What better time than now?So it turns out that I owe you all an apology.It seems that all of the terrible things this government is doing, impacting the lives of many, aren’t necessarily ‘bad’ per se. Those things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days 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
    50 mins 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
    12 hours 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
    18 hours 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
    19 hours 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
    21 hours 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
    22 hours ago
  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    7 days ago
  • Health Minister thanks outgoing Health New Zealand Chair
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board.   “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti.  “I have asked her to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Roads of National Significance planning underway
    The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Navigating an unstable global environment
    New Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.   “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States.    “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • NZ welcomes Australian Governor-General
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Pseudoephedrine back on shelves for Winter
    Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • NZ and the US: an ever closer partnership
    New Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Joint US and NZ declaration
    April 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
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