PM’s idiocy goes global

Written By: - Date published: 7:41 am, May 14th, 2010 - 64 comments
Categories: International, john key, leadership, national, racism - Tags: , ,

Hey thanks John, you’ve really helped put New Zealand in the international spotlight yet again. First it was your clown act on Letterman, more recently your cringe-worthy fawning over Biden and attempts to be seen as another Obama, your valiant pro-whaling pandering while leaving a New Zealand hero to languish in a Japanese jail, then your eagerness to mine our national parks, your unwillingness to follow South Africa’s apology to our Maori All Blacks, and now it’s your witty comments about how Maori who don’t like you might be cannibals. What a marvellous job you’re doing as our premier ambassador!

It’s news in the UK here and here, in Australia, Taiwan, the Philipines, in the US here and here and here. Of course the list goes on and on, but you get the ugly picture.

All those years of New Zealand building up an international image of competent and principled statesmanship must be fading pretty quickly in the eyes of the international community.

FFS, this man might be talented at feathering his own nest, but a leader he is not.

hattip: gobsmacked

64 comments on “PM’s idiocy goes global ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Joe Bloggs 1
    14 May 2010 at 8:02 am

    if Billy T James had made a similar quip as John Key you’d all be rolling in the aisles with laughter and patting him on the back…

    if Pete Bethune hadn’t illegally boarded the Japanese ship carrying a weapon he wouldn’t be in a Japanese prison …

    SARU apologised and now the NZRU has apologised – done deal…

    And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

    • Tigger 1.1
      14 May 2010 at 8:05 am

      Are you a real person? Or a computer program that grabs random ignorant remarks and spits them into blog posts?

    • mickysavage 1.2
      14 May 2010 at 8:06 am

      If Billy T James was our prime minister it would be an improvement.

      • lprent 1.2.1
        14 May 2010 at 8:39 am

        Ummm a dead comedian as PM. You could be right. Less shifting of policy and more enhancing what is already there?

    • Marty G 1.3
      14 May 2010 at 8:06 am

      Check out Zet’s piece.

      If you want the standard of behaviour of your hero while he is PM involved in Treaty talks to be a comedian from 30 years ago, that’s your problem.

    • Mike 1.4
      14 May 2010 at 10:47 am

      Let’s test this hypothesis.

      We take a Maori politician, let’s call him Hone Harawira and have him make ‘racist’ remarks in a private e-mail to a constituent. What would happen then?

      We would have a Pakeha PM, let’s call him John Key, come out and say that the remarks were “deeply offensive” and demand immediate disciplinary action.

      But of course the situations are completely different. One MP has brown skin and the other has white skin. One is a back-bencher and the other is Prime Minister. One is now characterised as a ‘racist’ and the other was ‘just telling a joke’.

      • the sprout 1.4.1
        14 May 2010 at 11:12 am

        one is a PM who is meant to represent the nation, another is a back bench MP who represents the views of some of his constituents. consequently different focuses and standard are expected. not to complicated for you follow i hope

  2. exbrethren 2
    14 May 2010 at 8:08 am

    “if Billy T James had made a similar quip as John Key you’d all be rolling in the aisles with laughter and patting him on the back ”

    Billy T was a comedian. Captain Beaky is meant to be PM. He does seem to think he’s a chilled out entertainer though.

    Bloody slave traders all have ideas above their stations.

    • Salsy 2.1
      14 May 2010 at 8:30 am

      Captain Beaky..! lol

      • Ministry of Justice 2.1.1
        14 May 2010 at 9:25 am

        Captain Beaky

        Is that an anti-semetic slur?

        I think that no one is particularly offended – jokes about cannibalism are part of our tourist industry.

        The fake offense taken is about political/financial gain – that’s why Tamati Kruger made his “poor taste” quip. Tuhoe will be laughing all the way to the bank.

        • exbrethren 2.1.1.1
          14 May 2010 at 9:33 am

          Is that an anti-semetic slur?

          Fuck off you arsehole.

          Its a dig at Keys big hooter pure and simple. Now piss off back to slave trading.

        • gobsmacked 2.1.1.2
          14 May 2010 at 9:58 am

          “jokes about cannibalism are part of our tourist industry.”

          Really? Please provide evidence, with reference to any NZ tourist organisations / companies.

          Thanks.

          • Ministry of Justice 2.1.1.2.1
            15 May 2010 at 10:06 am

            A cultural performance and dinner I attended had jokes about eating people – I’m not sure which organisation they were but I think it’s unlikely that I attended the only dinner where such jokes were made.

            Caution: The following video contains material that white liberals may find offensive.

            • felix 2.1.1.2.1.1
              15 May 2010 at 1:59 pm

              I didn’t know someone had done a song about this back in the 60s.

              I guess that makes it ok then.

              Hey have you heard this one, MoJ?

              So it’s cool to make jokes about beating women too eh? Tell John, won’t you?

  3. vto 3
    14 May 2010 at 8:19 am

    You know the really biggest dumb thing Key has done is allow himself to be photographed like that. Looking half boozed slugging back on a beer from the bottle with the future Kinf of England. The poms will love that ha ha ha ha… how crass

  4. illuminatedtiger 4
    14 May 2010 at 8:52 am

    John Key is an international embarrassment, a nation’s shame.

    • the pinkpostman 4.1
      14 May 2010 at 3:31 pm

      For a person of Jewish decent to make a racist joke about another race is
      unbelievable. The Jewish community of Aotearoa must be cringing in embarassment. He is an insult to the Jewish people a shmuck !.
      Enough said.

  5. Craig Glen Eden 5
    14 May 2010 at 9:06 am

    I think he would be described by the conservative elite back in the home country as new money!

    If Billy T was still alive Key certainly would have given him a lot of material.

    It does make me think what would Billy Ts take on it all be?

  6. Hamish 6
    14 May 2010 at 9:19 am

    heh heh, some comments from Aussie:

    “Maoris have been in New Zealand for 700 years and are given indigenous status. Our peoples have inhabited parts of Europe and the British Isles for tens of thousands of years, and yet we are denied indigenous status. I say if we can’t have it, they shouldn’t be allowed it either.”

    “Who cares! The world has gone soft.”

    “well if they did eat people… who cares what he said. so sensitive nowadays arnt we… boohoo…”

    • vto 6.1
      14 May 2010 at 9:22 am

      Yes Hamish I have always wondered why the Brits and Germans and Chinese etc are never invited to such things as Indigenous Olympics or any other Indigienous Conference on Whatever…

      Anyone know?

    • Bright Red 6.2
      14 May 2010 at 10:06 am

      Hamish, you and your family are a bunch of murderers and rapists.

      ha ha, just joking!

      Anyway, it’s true that your ancestors’ people (no matter who they are) did just that. So don’t get up tight about it.

      • Lew 6.2.1
        14 May 2010 at 10:08 am

        And by the way, Hamish — that important contract we’ve been talking about? You can Golf Foxtrot Yankee. LOLZ!

        L

  7. Hamish 7
    14 May 2010 at 9:21 am

    Found this little gem:

    Yes, I can just see it now.

    Grace: Frank! Cancel that export order for $2m worth of beef! John Key just made what I perceive to be an off colour remark!”

    Frank: who’s John Key?

    Grace: You know….kiwi bloke…took over from whats her name?

    Frank: Helen Clarkson?

    Grace: Yes, that’s the one.

    This really is storm in a tea cup stuff. Good to see the softies are going to town. Got to keep them amused somehow. Meanwhile, back in the real world……..

    • Craig Glen Eden 7.1
      14 May 2010 at 10:15 am

      And Hamish goes wild laughing at his own attempted joke.

      Yeah good on ya Hamish have a good day wont you fella

      Kids who would have them aye?

  8. Hamish 8
    14 May 2010 at 9:30 am

    >>>Yes Hamish I have always wondered why the Brits and Germans and Chinese etc are never invited to such things as Indigenous Olympics or any other Indigienous Conference on Whatever

    Anyone know?

    [sigh]

    ‘Just watch – Keys popularity will rise because of it, and the left are already looking like humorless, opportunist fools who are out of touch with New Zealanders.

    No wonder Goff made no comment…..’ 😀

  9. gobsmacked 9
    14 May 2010 at 9:44 am

    John Key has struck gold: BBC World News …

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8681655.stm

    Now, you can’t have it both ways. Remember that comedy routine on Letterman? Remember how it was hailed as a coup for marketing NZ?

    Let’s be very generous and say John Key did a great job on Letterman (I don’t think that, but never mind – let’s pretend every American viewer thought he did).

    Letterman has an audience of 4 to 5 million, in one country (source: Tourism New Zealand).

    BBC World has an audience of 75 million, in countries across the globe.

    So to undo the damage from his “harmless joke”, all he needs is 15 more Lettermans.

    But here’s a better idea, for the sake of our image and our marketing, around the world. He could just shut up.

  10. tc 10
    14 May 2010 at 10:07 am

    Hamish has a point….most of the world have a more mature view with a media to match so Sideshow John’s bracketed with Little Johnny Howard/John Major/George Dubleyuh as good comedic value as they think they’re actually running a country…yeah right.

  11. joe bloggs 11
    14 May 2010 at 10:18 am

    All those years of New Zealand building up an international image of competent and principled statesmanship must be fading pretty quickly in the eyes of the international community.

    How short the memories are…

    Anyone remember that international image of competent and principled statesmanship created by Helen Clark when she “autographed” a local artist’s painting? Here’s a couple of reminders:
    http://www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/RN/2002-03/03rn09.pdf
    http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/new-zealand-leader-fails-to-brush-off-paintergate-fiasco-649586.html

    IMHO a prima facie case of forgery is way more damaging to our international reputation than a mere throw-away line …

    Thou hypocrites, cast out first the beams out of thine own eyes, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother’s eye.

    • zonk 11.2
      14 May 2010 at 3:45 pm

      Yes I see the point you are making there…One leader leads quite a busy schedule apologising to the Samoans for our administration of their country, to the Chinese for our treatment of them with the poll tax, to the Vietnam vets (I think?) for the way they were treated on their return from service and signs a picture for charity that isn’t her own- though the profits benefit a charitable cause.

      Another leader arbitrarily scuttles two years of negotiation to prop up his poll rating, and calls the tribe he has already inulted (on top of the century or so of abysmal treatment by the crown ) by this cannibals.

      • joe bloggs 11.2.1
        14 May 2010 at 5:51 pm

        …One leader leads quite a busy schedule apologising to the Samoans for our administration of their country…

        that would be the same leader who provided all the impetus in the world for the Maori MPs to break away from Labour and form the Maori party. Pretty strategic blunder that one…

        and that would also be the same leader who took the Greens for granted and locked them out of government for three elections…

        and the same leader who described Don Brash as cancerous and corrosive…. who described foreshore and seabed protesters as “haters and wreckers’…who hung her DPS staff out to dry by ‘not noticing they were travelling at 180km/hr’…

        Oh and Helen apologised but never said sorry to the Vietnam Vets – that was John Key.

        http://www.w3vietnam.org.nz/story_27.htm

        • the sprout 11.2.1.1
          14 May 2010 at 5:56 pm

          irrelevant, ancient history. nobody cares.
          lots of people care about Key making a laughing stock of us with the international community though.
          Key has screwed up big time.
          get used to it, there’s lots more to come

    • the pinkpostman 11.3
      16 May 2010 at 3:05 pm

      I was amazed then and still are at the continued references to a painting signed on the back by Helen Clark. Never once did the critics mention that it raised a lot of money for child cancer!
      The whole episode was from the same creppy lot who reported that the PM was speeding. Its know as Crosby/Textor in other words the National Party dirty Tricks brigade ,

  12. gobsmacked 12
    14 May 2010 at 10:31 am

    Ah, there’s just too much media coverage to keep up with …

    National Public Radio in the USA has around 20 million listeners, and – crucially for our tourism industry – they tend to be older and richer and more interested in the world, the kind of people that like to go overseas to … guess where.

    http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/05/new_zealand_leader_sorry_for_c.html

    The quote is from AP – Associated Press. That’s the agency who provide your local paper with international news, every day. It’s impossible to know how many newspapers have picked up AP reports on “NZ cannibal gaffe”, but it’s probably hundreds.

    New Zealand very rarely makes international headlines. You’d have to go back to the death of Sir Edmund Hillary, to find a really big global story. Key’s idiocy hasn’t made it that big (yet), but he’s doing his best.

  13. vto 13
    14 May 2010 at 10:38 am

    Regarding the so-called going global damage… have you not heard the one about any publicity being good publicity (well, within reason).

    It gets NZ onto the front page at least. And when it comes to industry and business that is bloody great.

    Any potential Americans, europeans or anyone thinking of going distant holidaying will now have had NZ thrown smack in their faces. Will definitely have an effect of getting those people to consider, however briefly, coming to NZ…

    • Armchair Critic 13.2
      14 May 2010 at 10:47 am

      Hmm, no. I don’t think I want to encourage the kind of tourist who thinks the highlights of NZ would be a tour the mines in the National Parks, going one one of those Japanese-lead whaling cruises and having a tradition Maori feast of roast speculator.
      I’d prefer the type who want to cycle around the country – all we need is a cycleway.

    • gobsmacked 13.3
      14 May 2010 at 11:07 am

      “It gets NZ onto the front page at least.”

      World News Latest: VTO runs down Queen St with sub-machine gun, takes out twenty-three Japanese tourists and a pigeon. “This is publicity you can’t buy” says Prime Minister, while expressing his sincere condolences to the families.

    • Bright Red 13.4
      14 May 2010 at 11:09 am

      (well, within reason).

      you answered yourself.

      ‘racist PM cracks about cannibal savages’ is not good publicity.

  14. coolas 14
    14 May 2010 at 10:41 am

    Te Mana Motuhake o Tuhoe doesn’t suffer from Key’s ‘bad taste’ remark.

    Some Guardian readers will go to their libraries, and others all over will ‘google’ Tuhoe, and read the history. Judith Binney’s excellent book “Encircled Lands” deserves more sales. It tells a story of betrayal and genocide. Anyone reading it will sympathise with Tuhoe, and many will support Tuhoe’s claim to Urewera.

    The unintended consequence of Key’s ‘bad taste’ joke is international publicity for Tuhoe’s struggle to re-claim Urewera. And he’s played the part of Crown, once again, betraying Tuhoe.

  15. toad 15
    14 May 2010 at 10:46 am

    Remember that Key is Minister of Tourism, as well as PM. A stunningly cunning plan by Key.

    Should have the tourists flocking here in their millions to see our quaint cannibal tribes you know, the ones who tried to cook and eat the Prime Minister.

    • Alexandra 15.1
      14 May 2010 at 11:44 am

      Oh yeah right, the maori are gunna eat me will have tourist flocking here in droves…so cunning you can stick a tail on it!

  16. sweetd 16
    14 May 2010 at 11:49 am

    yeah, it is flooding the comment pages on the standard.co.uk. One single comment!!!!!!!

    “They WERE cannibals, or they weren’t. If they were, then complaining about it is stupid. Are the campaigners too shy to bring up the faults of the settlers in the same time period? Obviously not, with their complaints about what was ‘stolen’ from them. It ain’t a one-way street.”

  17. Bill 17
    14 May 2010 at 11:53 am

    So John Boy claims self deprecating humour. And with a single masterful and remarkable stroke of arrogance obliterates the credence of the sensibilities of those he targeted with his quip. According to John Boy he, as a piece of dead and boiled meat, retains more importance than any would be diners…that’s the only possible interpretation of his strange ‘self deprecating’ claim.

    Which leads on to the fact that I care less for the quip, delivered with a certain degree of bitterness as it was, than the aftermath which has John Boy flying his ‘utterly selfish prick with little or no capacity for empathy’ colours high and proud.

    That aside. Surely it goes without saying that when you the premier of a former white colony, that you acknowledge the fact that stupid statements revolving around race and/or culture can carry fairly weighty emotional baggage and act and speak accordingly?

  18. kerry 18
    14 May 2010 at 12:32 pm

    The mans a god……a saint……savour of mankind…….healing hands…….simply placing his hands on you can cure any ill…….well so says Mathew Hoooten on breakfast this morning!!!

    Personally I wish he was a duck!

  19. Rharn 19
    14 May 2010 at 1:07 pm

    No half decent beer aficionado would dare drink beer from a bottle. Like wine, beer needs a little aeration to bring out the full flavour. Key’s pathetic attempt to portray himself as the ‘typical’ kiwi bloke is about as crass as his tasteless joke.

    • Tigger 19.1
      14 May 2010 at 1:12 pm

      I was always more concerned that he looked like he was demonstrating his bj technique.

  20. Fisiani 20
    14 May 2010 at 3:59 pm

    We no longer live in Helengrad.
    We no longer have to watch out for the humour police.
    Whats that smell? Its the sweet smell of freedom
    Freedom of speech. Freedom to have fun.

    The freedom to be stupid, and it goes right to the top

    [lprent: If you want to be free around here, you should avoid words that activate the spam trap (and give me reason to enhance your comment). I guess the wordpress anti-spam checker has finally learnt some of the standard troll lines. ]

    • Armchair Critic 20.1
      14 May 2010 at 9:52 pm

      The freedom to wear whatever you want in Whanganui – oh, no, scrub that, National legislated out the freedom to wear certain clothes.
      The freedom to drive where you want, when you want – oh, no, scrub that, National legislated away the freedom to drive up and down the main street of every town and city in the country.
      The freedom to speak out against the government – oh, no, scrub that, Paula Bennett squashed that.
      The freedom to vote for whoever you want in Canterbury – oh, no, scrub that, National legislated that away until at least 2013.
      Thanks National, you guys really support freedom. Not.

  21. Irascible 21
    14 May 2010 at 5:57 pm

    The joke is certainly doing NZ well.. his self serving abandonment of an important trade mission in the ME and now his cannibal “joke” demonstrate the child that is John Key. We are seeing, all the more starkly, that the “emperor” has no clothes.

  22. Irascible 22
    14 May 2010 at 8:36 pm

    Key’s gaffe has made the news in the Gulf States… as news of the weird!
    Suitable classification really after Key scuttled back to NZ during the Trade Delegation to the ME. Really like the statesmanlike behaviour displayed by Key… it’s impressive!!!

  23. SHG 23
    14 May 2010 at 9:03 pm

    And with one small slip of the tongue, Key defuses all the right-wing critics who have been accusing him of “going native” and of pandering to Maori concerns and issues.

    Yep, that sure was one convenient spontaneous little accident. Did I mention that it was spontaneous? And an accident?

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    The Official Information Act has always been a battle between requesters seeking information, and governments seeking to control it. Information is power, so Ministers and government agencies want to manage what is released and when, for their own convenience, and legality and democracy be damned. Their most recent tactic for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • 'Let's build a motorway costing $100 million per km, before emissions costs'

    TL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:Transport and Energy Minister Simeon Brown is accelerating plans to spend at least $10 billion through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to extend State Highway One as a four-lane ‘Expressway’ from Warkworth to Whangarei ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Lester's Prescription – Positive Bleeding.

    I live my life (woo-ooh-ooh)With no control in my destinyYea-yeah, yea-yeah (woo-ooh-ooh)I can bleed when I want to bleedSo come on, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)You can bleed when you want to bleedYea-yeah, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)Everybody bleed when they want to bleedCome on and bleedGovernments face tough challenges. Selling unpopular decisions to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Casey Costello gaslights Labour in the House

    Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone icon on the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Why is the Texas grid in such bad shape?

    This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Headline from 2021 The Texas grid, run by ERCOT, has had a rough few years. In 2021, winter storm Uri blacked out much of the state for several days. About a week ago, Hurricane Beryl knocked out ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on a textbook case of spending waste by the Luxon government

    Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • LXR Takaanini

    As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    3 days ago
  • Four kilograms of pain

    Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Luxon gets caught out

    NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • A worrying sign

    Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Are we fine with 47.9% home-ownership by 2048?

    Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloitte report for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Let's Win This

    You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Waimahara: The Singing Spirit of Water

    There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    4 days ago
  • A major milestone: Global climate pollution may have just peaked

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’s Oliver LewisScoop: Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announced the Board of Te Whatu Ora- Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • HealthNZ and Luxon at cross purposes over budget blowout

    Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2500-3000 more healthcare staff expected to be fired, as Shane Reti blames Labour for a budget defic...

    Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • Might Kamala Harris be about to get a 'stardust' moment like Jacinda Ardern?

    As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    5 days ago
  • Solutions Interview: Steven Hail on MMT & ecological economics

    TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
    The KakaBy Steven Hail
    5 days ago
  • Reported back

    The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Vandrad the Viking, Christopher Coombes, and Literary Archaeology

    Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On The Biden Withdrawal

    History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    5 days ago
  • Joe Biden's withdrawal puts the spotlight back on Kamala and the USA's complicated relatio...

    This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Why we have to challenge our national fiscal assumptions

    A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Existential Crisis and Damaged Brains

    What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • A speed limit is not a target, and yet…

    This is a guest post from longtime supporter Mr Plod, whose previous contributions include a proposal that Hamilton become New Zealand’s capital city, and that we should switch which side of the road we drive on. A recent Newsroom article, “Back to school for the Govt’s new speed limit policy“, ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #29

    A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago
  • I'd like to share what I did this weekend

    This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • For the children – Why mere sentiment can be a misleading force in our lives, and lead to unex...

    National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Order image, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A friend in uncertain times

    Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • The Chaotic World of Male Diet Influencers

    Hi,We’ll get to the horrific world of male diet influencers (AKA Beefy Boys) shortly, but first you will be glad to know that since I sent out the Webworm explaining why the assassination attempt on Donald Trump was not a false flag operation, I’ve heard from a load of people ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • It's Starting To Look A Lot Like… Y2K

    Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 20

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Pharmac Director, Climate Change Commissioner, Health NZ Directors – The latest to quit this m...

    Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Flooding Housing Policy

    The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • A Voyage Among the Vandals: Accepted (Again!)

    As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā's Chorus for Friday, July 19

    An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-July-2024

    Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: A market-led plan for failure

    TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Tobacco First

    Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Trump’s Adopted Son.

    Waiting In The Wings: For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSA announced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Hoon around the week to July 19

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent talking about the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s release of its first Emissions Reduction Plan;University of Otago Foreign Relations Professor and special guest Dr Karin von ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #29 2024

    Open access notables Improving global temperature datasets to better account for non-uniform warming, Calvert, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society: To better account for spatial non-uniform trends in warming, a new GITD [global instrumental temperature dataset] was created that used maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) to combine the land surface ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

  • Joint statement from the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    16 hours ago
  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

    Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago
  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

    New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts.  “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

    An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    24 hours ago
  • Funding confirmed for regions affected by North Island Weather Events

    The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

    Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.   “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Strengthening partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto

    He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Transport Minister thanks outgoing CAA Chair

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Test for Customary Marine Title being restored

    The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says.  “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Opposition united in bad faith over ECE sector review

    Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet.  “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Kiwis having their say on first regulatory review

    After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks.  “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government upgrading Lower North Island commuter rail

    The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government moves to ensure flood protection for Wairoa

    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM speech to Parliament – Royal Commission of Inquiry’s Report into Abuse in Care

    Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.  At the heart of this report are the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges torture at Lake Alice

    For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges courageous abuse survivors

    The Government has acknowledged the nearly 2,400 courageous survivors who shared their experiences during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care. The final report from the largest and most complex public inquiry ever held in New Zealand, the Royal Commission Inquiry “Whanaketia – through ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Half a million people use tax calculator

    With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Paid Parental Leave improvements pass first reading

    Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says a bill that has passed its first reading will improve parental leave settings and give non-biological parents more flexibility as primary carer for their child. The Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill (No3), passed its first reading this morning. “It includes a change ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Rebuilding the economy through better regulation

    Two Bills designed to improve regulation and make it easier to do business have passed their first reading in Parliament, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill and Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Bill make key changes to legislation administered by the Ministry ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • ‘Open banking’ and ‘open electricity’ on the way

    New legislation paves the way for greater competition in sectors such as banking and electricity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Competitive markets boost productivity, create employment opportunities and lift living standards. To support competition, we need good quality regulation but, unfortunately, a recent OECD report ranked New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Charity lotteries to be permitted to operate online

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries for charitable purposes, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, and local hospices, will soon be allowed to operate online permanently. “Under current laws, these fundraising lotteries are only allowed to operate online until October 2024, after which ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Accelerating Northland Expressway

    The Coalition Government is accelerating work on the new four-lane expressway between Auckland and Whangārei as part of its Roads of National Significance programme, with an accelerated delivery model to deliver this project faster and more efficiently, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “For too long, the lack of resilient transport connections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Sir Don to travel to Viet Nam as special envoy

    Sir Don McKinnon will travel to Viet Nam this week as a Special Envoy of the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.    “It is important that the Government give due recognition to the significant contributions that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made to New Zealand-Viet Nam relations,” Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Grant Illingworth KC appointed as transitional Commissioner to Royal Commission

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says newly appointed Commissioner, Grant Illingworth KC, will help deliver the report for the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons, due on 28 November 2024.  “I am pleased to announce that Mr Illingworth will commence his appointment as ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ to advance relationships with ASEAN partners

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters travels to Laos this week to participate in a series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led Ministerial meetings in Vientiane.    “ASEAN plays an important role in supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Mr Peters says.   “This will be our third visit to ...
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