Police – ignoring their job in Southland

Written By: - Date published: 8:57 am, August 12th, 2019 - 49 comments
Categories: crime, Economy, Environment, farming, law, law and "order", police, Social issues - Tags: , , ,

I’ve just been reading an article from yesterday in Stuff. “Allegations of trespassing and intimidation as Southland winter grazing protest escalates“. I think that the reporter completely missed the most important salient point – the police don’t seem to be doing their job.

The background 

Environmentalist Angus Robson, who launched a nationwide campaign against winter grazing last week, said two members of his campaign were in Southland on Saturday taking photos of “cows in mud up to their bellies” when they were approached by a farmer.

Robson would not say which part of Southland the photographers were in, but he said the farmer allegedly rammed their vehicle and then followed the environmentalists back to a property at Mossburn, in Northern Southland.

Photographing stock from a  public place like a road or verge which appears to be what was happening isn’t a problem and is in fact something that is required for any civil society.  This is (I think) one of the images or similar, obviously after recent rain. And that indicates at least one reason for this to be of interest to the public – I don’t see how anyone could justify this as being good stock handling.

Cattle in winter grazing in southland

However that is rather irrelevant to subsequent actions. 

Ramming a car is pretty clear assault and property damage – probably an offense under at the Crimes Act level if it happened at any speed. Should be pretty damn easy to establish if it happened. Just look at the vehicles.

During that time he alleges the farmer made calls to other farmers, who joined him.

He said police were called and after they left, the farmers sat at the end of the driveway of the property, “blockading the house.”

“They’re at the end of the driveway drinking stubbies now,” he said on Sunday morning.

FFS: Those allegations are just simple and obvious intimidation under at least section 21(1)(a), (b), (c), and (e) of Summary Offenses Act 1981.  

Intimidation: Section 21 of the Summary Offenses Act 1981 (click to see larger image)

The allegation is that the farmer damaged the property of the environmentalists which is an offense under (a), followed them which is an offense under (b), probably hindered them in the use of their property if he blocked the driveway at all (c), and stopped or confronted them in a public place (e).  His lynch mob buddies are probably offending against (c) if they are preventing use of the .

I don’t even see the dimitted est-while spokesperson for the ugly mob of farmers denying any of this. 

Former Southland Federated Farmers president Allan Baird called Stuff from outside the Mossburn property on Sunday afternoon and said at that time, about 10 or 15 farmers were “having a barbecue.”

“Police have been here on a couple of occasions. We’re not trying to intimidate them but they haven’t exited to go out and take more photos today.

“The intent is not to intimidate, if they want to come and talk, they can come and talk.”

And that last statement is clearly a blatant lie. There is absolutely no requirement for the people that this thug and his buddies has bottled up in the house to talk to them. And what this lynch mob is doing is just as clearly meant to intimidate and prevent the people in the house from taking more photos.

It simply doesn’t matter what the ‘intent’ is – that is a matter for the courts. What the police should be doing is acting on the acts. That is what their job is. And there is clearly a prima facie case against the original hothead farmer, at a bare minimum, to be charged with multiple summary offenses under section 21. He should be locked up until he sees judge because he appears to be a idiotic lunatic.

So why hasn’t that happened? I invite readers to speculate in the comments. But I suspect it is part of the very selective and timid practices of the police when it comes to dealing with activism. They are usually perfectly happy rapidly charge young or poor activists, but seem to have a completely separate set of rules about well heeled conservatives breaking the law. 

As for the barbeque at the end of the drive. Well to me that seems like it is an offense under section 21(1)(c) and maybe 21(1)(d)

The legal position around the latter is by now very well -established. In fact I helped my niece to establish in an appeal in the High Court related to 21(1)(d) more than a decade ago. She was charged under it for intimidation by loitering at a protest on a public footpath outside a shop selling animal furs.

That was the only offense that she and another activist was charged under, and personally I’m sure that the only reason she was charged was because a particular group of police at Otahuhu wanted to fraudulently obtain a search warrant on their properties, phones and computers.

As the appeal to the High Court established, simply protesting  isn’t intimidation. It costa  great deal of money to establish that. But according to Allan Baird, this isn’t a protest. According to him, it appears that this is an attempt to these idiot farmers to force the environmentalists to come out an be confronted. That is clearly intimidation under section 21(1)(d), and that is something that just isn’t allowed under section 21. 

Perhaps these foolish farmers and their subservient local police should learn the rules about what is allowed in our civil society about the balance of rights. Acting like a pack of self-entitled propertied pissed fuckwits forming a lynch mob to intimidate because others are legally observing their actions isn’t part of it.

I’d suggest that this appears to be exactly the circumstances that the private prosecutions were introduced in legislation for. If the police are unwilling to act appropriately, then do their damn job for them. File a prima facie case to the court.

49 comments on “Police – ignoring their job in Southland ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. lprent 1
    12 August 2019 at 9:05 am

    Oops. I see weka did a post on this as well. Fortunately she did it from quite a different perspective. Totally shit farming

    While I have a level of farming background, I was far more outraged that the police were allowing this kind of level of intimidation.

    • weka 1.1
      12 August 2019 at 9:35 am

      Perfect having both up at the same time from two different angles.

    • Rosemary McDonald 1.2
      12 August 2019 at 9:36 am

      From personal experience lprent, having had the audacity to challenge the right of a farming neighbour to treat our tiny acre as if it were his own, none of this surprises me in the least.

      The way the local plod conducted themselves in my case completely and utterly changed my opinion of the police. Likewise the regional council and the CCA.

      I had the very good fortune to have my charge come before a Judge with an operating bullshit detector. http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/5450970/Hunting-bow-charge-dismissed

      And mine was not an isolated case, and others I've spoken to experienced the same bias from the cops and council.

  2. Potato 2
    12 August 2019 at 9:11 am

    Interesting that the spokesman for the driveway thugs has himself been fined for polluting Southland waterways

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/104605695/former-southland-feds-boss-sentenced-for-effluent-spill

    • weka 2.1
      12 August 2019 at 10:04 am

      thanks, I added that to the other post. I see he went through some kind of restorative justice process. Looks like that failed.

      • greywarshark 2.1.1
        12 August 2019 at 12:54 pm

        Some farmers are determined recidivists. Give all farming a bad name. But people get to the forefront of any group when they are the more outspoken, determined, and can downplay anyone else who has a thoughtful approach.

        I did a search for something about Trump's early years which had an influence on his present' I think his sort of laissez faire role modelling and guidance from parents is the training ground for mindless money-men. In NZ when they are farmers and 'rugged individualists' they will defiantly and triumphantly drive their tractors up our carefully built Parliament steps, rather than adjust their behaviour as rational, responsible citizens.

    • woodart 2.2
      12 August 2019 at 2:36 pm

      a large percentage of sthland farming land is now owned by corporates, so those dickheads having a barbie are being sucked into supporting many of the same corporates who have, or are in the process of forcing the barbies of there own land. its a case of turkeys voting for an early christmas, and buying the cranberry sauce.fed farmers should wake up to the fact they are speaking for a shrinking amount of farmers, and being used as dupes.

  3. Ad 3
    12 August 2019 at 9:37 am

    Drone footage will get into the web video companies and straight to EU and Asian consumers.

    This is a Fonterra and MFAT pr disaster.

    • weka 3.1
      12 August 2019 at 9:39 am

      Good. Might make them do something about it.

    • Muttonbird 3.2
      12 August 2019 at 9:54 am

      Phew. I thought you were going to say it's a PR disaster for the country too.

    • Potato 3.3
      12 August 2019 at 10:29 am

      Fonterra sent a rep down to this area earlier this year to be shown some of the worst offenders. His comment "we knew it was bad but not this bad".

      • Ad 3.3.1
        12 August 2019 at 10:47 am

        Good.

        But since they knew, the supermarkets will roast them.

        • marty mars 3.3.1.1
          12 August 2019 at 11:50 am

          ummm very little will happen imo – some cosmetic adjustment for the cameras and next year mostly business as usual – all of the battles for farmed animal welfare are like this. The win will come and it may take a while.

        • greywarshark 3.3.1.2
          12 August 2019 at 12:55 pm

          I'll look in the precooked heating cabinets each time I go shopping then.

      • weka 3.3.2
        12 August 2019 at 1:06 pm

        Did Fonterra do anything?

        • woodart 3.3.2.1
          12 August 2019 at 2:38 pm

          yes. fonterra has just announced a whopping financial lose. apparantley its the labour gov fault…..?

  4. weka 4
    12 August 2019 at 9:38 am

    You'd think the Southland Times would have someone in Te Anau who could have gone and taken a photo.

    Conservative communities have conservative farmers, media and police.

    • Ad 4.1
      12 August 2019 at 9:51 am

      And too many hunting rifles

      • greywarshark 4.1.1
        12 August 2019 at 1:02 pm

        Is there a country mafia with a code of omerta in Southland? They get pretty hot about looking after what is their rights. Down south they didn’t muck around with McKenzie and killed his faithful dog too.

        I wondered if there was some cover-up in Feilding, that night-time damage and slaughter could happen, going on for months. Are the police afraid to do their job and investigate fully?

        I recall the rape and murder example in the Canadian town of The Pas, Manitoba. Police asked people to bring any evidence to them, but didn't cause any hostility by looking too hard. It was an 'outsider' who had been assaulted so apparently priority was low.

  5. marty mars 5
    12 August 2019 at 9:41 am

    Yep if they were brown or young activists the riot squad would be there – always a double standard in this country, always.

  6. Sanctuary 6
    12 August 2019 at 9:53 am

    Massey's Cossacks are alive and well in 2019.

  7. Psycho Milt 7
    12 August 2019 at 10:12 am

    Former Southland Federated Farmers president Allan Baird … said at that time, about 10 or 15 farmers were “having a barbecue.”

    Wot, no duelling banjos?

    • Stuart Munro. 7.1
      12 August 2019 at 10:32 am

      Pretty lousy weather for a barbeque – I don't buy it.

      • woodart 7.1.1
        12 August 2019 at 2:41 pm

        sitting in yr double cab ute, drinking speights , telling dirty jokes and moaning about the rugby. taking turns farting to keep warm..kulture

  8. AB 8
    12 August 2019 at 10:34 am

    It's too narrow to view this as just a rural/farmer thing. When capital loses moral legitimacy or public support, it does not go gently into that goodnight. Are a bunch of (potential) thugs on your driveway worse than Thompson & Clark spying on you?

  9. Graeme 9
    12 August 2019 at 10:45 am

    I’d cut the plods a bit of slack here. They’ve got 15 – 20 slightly liquored farmers and probably just one cop. So they’ll make a couple of phone calls and diffuse the situation, one of those was to tip off a local journalist, and just let the thing pan out as it has.

    Cooler heads will prevail and a few are probably assisting police with their enquiries. Rural cops are generally very smart people who know their limitations.

    How this pans out in the Southland community will be the teller. My pick is that these guys may be feeling a little isolated. Not the first time a local fed farm president has been given the arse, it’s a lively organisation.

    • weka 9.1
      12 August 2019 at 10:56 am

      Rural cops in my experience are good at diffusing situations, but that doesn't mean they always do the rest of their job well. There's a level of public good here that needs to be attended to as well, that's beyond the immediate situation. A clear message needs to be sent on that.

      Looks to me like farmer Baird notified the press. Baird is the one with convictions for discharging cow shit into water ways. This cost him standing as a candidate for National, and he also resigned from his role at Fed Farmers. Stuff say he got restorative justice, I'd love to know if that affected his sentencing, but it looks to me like he hasn't learned anything. Will be interesting to see what happens if he's up before a judge again.

      I agree how this pans out in the wider community will tell us much. Environment Southland are discussing the winter cropping issues at their meeting on Wednesday.

      • Graeme 9.1.1
        12 August 2019 at 1:33 pm

        Thanks for filling on the details on farmer Baird’s form, I am on the hill and doing this from my phone and didn’t want to say anything that may have been incorrect.

        Thanks to for the timing of the SDC discussion. Farmer Baird and his crew have done a fine job of pouring many many buckets of sunshine all over the issue. A very full media turnout is on the cards.

        • weka 9.1.1.1
          12 August 2019 at 1:40 pm

          Bloody interesting timing with the Fonterra non-payout in the news today too. Ooops.

    • lprent 9.2
      12 August 2019 at 12:25 pm

      Problem is that the basis of police actions and why they get support is because they supposedly treat everyone equally before the law.

      Effectively if you think about it, what you are saying is that if a group of outraged meat worker unionists set up a picket line outside the bosses house, theh should do it pissed. Yeah and I can just see exactly what would happen then. We’d have a ‘riot’ with paddy wagons heading out from the city within minutes.

      Can you hear yourself? You sound like a damn stupid fool who doesn’t bother to think.

      There are enough issues with peoples poor perception of the police without that kind of differential.

      • weka 9.2.1
        12 August 2019 at 1:07 pm

        The way I could justify the rural cops doing the job their way thing is if they do further investigations and lay charges today. I'm guessing that won't happen though. I'd also like to know how long it went on, whether the drive was blocked, and why the police didn't move them on.

    • greywarshark 9.3
      12 August 2019 at 1:37 pm

      Getting an idea of what is going on about farmers in Northland and Southland. Both ends seem similar in their desire not to accept responsibility for good practice, and regard change as obtruding on their sacred practices, and costing them while not increasing profit.

      Fed Farmers Northland sounded a lively note. 16/4/2019

      https://www.nzherald.co.nz/farming/news/article.cfm?c_id=195&objectid=12222766

      GE-Free Northland v Federated Farmers 26/4/2018 http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK1804/S00612/federated-farmers-slammed-by-judge.htm

      Farmers who actually don't farm: Northland 3/7/2018 https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2018/07/03/137685/contract-milker-still-working-with-cows

      In Southland:

      https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/114577852/federated-farmers-slams-shadbolt-comments-about-cows 4 August 2019
      Comments made by Invercargill mayor Sir Tim Shadbolt that cows were like freedom campers because "they love nothing better than pooing in rivers" has riled Southland Federated Farmers president Geoff Young.

      Young has taken aim at some of Southland's civic leaders, who have recently blamed farmers for the state of the province's waterways.
      Young said most farmers are doing their best for the environment and the attack on the industry " has to stop".

      Also Fed Farmers have the money to pay their own planner – Sycamore, sounds exotic, and complain against doing anything themselves, but only the same as the rest of the community. Everyone picks on farmers; it is so unfair.

      https://www.nzherald.co.nz/environment/news/article.cfm?c_id=39&objectid=12227569

      Opinion: Southland Water and Land Plan adversely targets farmers 3 May 2019 (Federated Farmers Southland senior policy adviser Darryl Sycamore)
      Southland Federated Farmers has identified 27 aspects of the plan that will adversely affect farming in Southland.

      Read more from Federated Farmers here.

      What is abundantly clear is farming in Southland will change as a consequence of the new plan.
      While we note there is a need for change in environmental regulations to improve water quality in some local catchments, any work has to be done in a way that brings everyone along so changes can be meaningful and the community doesn't feel disempowered by the process.

      https://www.odt.co.nz/rural-life/rural-people/change-top-southland-farmers Change at top for Southland farmers

      The retiring Fed Farmers Southland President came from Dipton. From his final address: 9 May 2018

      In his final president's report, Mr Baird said it was with mixed emotions he gave his final address as president.
      ''I have been honoured to lead this organisation over the last three years and I thank the support of the Southland executive.
      ''It is a demanding role, however it gives as well as it takes.''

      In his time as president, he said pressures had came on farming from many directions, including Mycoplasma bovis and Environment Southland's Water and Land Plan.
      Coming to the tail end of the plan, after much consideration, Federated Farmers had decided to appeal the plan, Mr Baird said.

      Stories Southland farmers can point to with pride: https://www.nzfeatrust.org.nz/great-farming-stories/c/21

    • woodart 9.4
      12 August 2019 at 2:45 pm

      :lively organisation"? yeah nah. they might change the local sargeant at arms, but are still stuck in the sixties.

  10. adam 10
    12 August 2019 at 11:40 am

    And not a week ago police attacked protestors at Ihumātao.

    Who would have thunked it…

    Double standard – nope just the long term reality of NZ.

    White and money = Law, we are the law.

    Brown and poor = Law, it's to keep these degenerates in there place.

    • bwaghorn 10.1
      12 August 2019 at 12:03 pm

      Have they moved the protestors on. Or are they just keeping the peace while they have the months long bbq.

      This by no means i support the knuckle dragging Southland cockies.

      • marty mars 10.1.1
        12 August 2019 at 12:20 pm

        sure we believe you

        seems you still like putting the boot into land protectors – the two groups – land protectors and profit farmers couldn't be more opposite – in pretty well everything. Wake up.

      • weka 10.1.2
        12 August 2019 at 12:33 pm

        the issue for me was the intimidation, the report of a car being rammed, and what the leader said to the press about just wanting to talk. They might have thought they were being funny, but I bet the people in the house weren't seeing it that way. This is miles away from what is happening at Ihumātao, on many levels.

        • bwaghorn 10.1.2.1
          12 August 2019 at 1:15 pm

          of course they should be getting charged if they rammed cars etc. I have known more than a few arsholes that would fit right in the Southland farming community.

          Just pointing out that cops certainly aren't going hardline against the ihimatao protesters like adam claims .

          • weka 10.1.2.1.1
            12 August 2019 at 1:37 pm

            I don't think the cops attacked the protectors, but there clearly is a double standard that we see time and again.

            • adam 10.1.2.1.1.1
              12 August 2019 at 11:49 pm

              Should have known intimidation with pistols/automatic weapons is not an attack – my bad.

              http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1908/S00017/police-remove-guns-from-ihumatao-protesters-worried.htm

              • weka …
                13 August 2019 at 12:40 am

                yes, I'd call that intimidation, not an attack.

                I just listened to an ER talk, where the dude told the story of his mate studying unions in Egypt and when he visited them there they told stories of being arrested and tortured. Putting that in perpsective with ER people getting arrested in the UK and being relatively safe. Admittedly his experience of that as an older white English guy is doing go be different than a young black man or an Irish man, but even so, how we describe things matters.

  11. Grey Area 11
    12 August 2019 at 12:22 pm

    Thanks lprent for highlighting the apparent police inaction. It was that aspect of this shameful episode that immediately stood out for me.

    The police should uphold the law, protect citizens and apprehend law-breakers. In this case they seem to be doing none of those things.

    • tc 11.1
      12 August 2019 at 2:23 pm

      National's police selectively enforce the law. Just ask Nicky hagar.

      Fed farmers seem to be aiding and abetting here. Disgraceful but not surprising.

  12. Tiger Mountain 12
    12 August 2019 at 1:31 pm

    As a veteran of many a Union Picket, as well as issue based rallies etc. my experience has been that Police generally attend on twin turbo boost within minutes of getting an employer call about a Union Picket, particularly if it is an effective picket, i.e. blocking a driveway, entrance/exit way or impeding the passage of the holy ones–“shoppers”…

    Something about access to property rights gets them excited. They should have intervened sooner in the case of this apparent “BBQ Blockade” and moved the good ’ol boys on.

    Stereotyping is not a useful thing, but rural people with a little power do regularly act like this. It is what keeps poor people voting National in the countryside, “we’re blue around here mate, and if you want the contract don’t you forget it”…is the tenor of many a conversation at the provincial Lodge, Sports Club, Fire/Police Station, Business Association, School BOT.

    I helped set up a beach care group in the Far North and I received home visits from burly locals waving the letters page of the paper at me while grunting some shit. Our members were harassed when doing weed control in small groups, and one time a “convoy” of 4wds headed down the beach to intimidate us. 10 years later there is a vehicle ban on most of the applicable peninsula, spinnifex dune replanting and a strict 30kmh speed limit supported by all. Good on those supporting the Cows is all I can say!

  13. mike 13
    12 August 2019 at 6:47 pm

    farmers owe a mountain of debt

    • Sacha 13.1
      12 August 2019 at 8:17 pm

      Yep, these redneck munters are working for the bank while they wave their willies on the roadside.

  14. Jenny - How to Get there? 14
    13 August 2019 at 6:35 pm

    Army of the poor, friends of the environment. Did I get that right?

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    The suppression of individual thought in our universities spills over into society, threatening free speech everywhere. Elizabeth Rata writes –  Indigenising New Zealand’s universities is well underway, presumably with the agreement of University Councils and despite the absence of public discussion. Indigenising, under the broader umbrella of decolonisation, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the skewed media coverage of Gaza
    Now that he’s back as Foreign Minister, maybe Winston Peters should start reading the MFAT website. If he did, Peters would find MFAT celebrating the 25th anniversary of how New Zealand alerted the rest of the world to the genocide developing in Rwanda. Quote: New Zealand played an important role ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    3 days ago

  • “Your Circus, Your Clowns.”
    It must have been a hard first couple of weeks for National voters, since the coalition was announced. Seeing their party make so many concessions to New Zealand First and ACT that there seems little remains of their own policies, other than the dwindling dream of tax cuts and the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • Weekly Roundup 8-December-2023
    It’s Friday again and Christmas is fast approaching. Here’s some of the stories that caught our attention. This week in Greater Auckland On Tuesday Matt covered some of the recent talk around the costs, benefits and challenges with the City Rail Link. On Thursday Matt looked at how ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    3 days ago

  • End-of-week escapism
    Amsterdam to Hong Kong William McCartney16,000 kilometres41 days18 trains13 countries11 currencies6 long-distance taxis4 taxi apps4 buses3 sim cards2 ferries1 tram0 medical events (surprisingly)Episode 4Whether the Sofia-Istanbul Express really qualifies to be called an express is debatable, but it’s another one of those likeably old and slow trains tha… ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • The Hoon around the week to Dec 8
    Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro arrives for the State Opening of Parliament (Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)TL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:New Finance Minister Nicola Willis set herself a ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • New Zealand’s Witchcraft Laws: 1840/1858-1961/1962
    Sometimes one gets morbidly curious about the oddities of one’s own legal system. Sometimes one writes entire essays on New Zealand’s experience with Blasphemous Libel: https://phuulishfellow.wordpress.com/2017/05/09/blasphemous-libel-new-zealand-politics/ And sometimes one follows up the exact historical status of witchcraft law in New Zealand. As one does, of course. ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    4 days ago

  • No surprises
    Don’t expect any fiscal shocks or surprises when the books are opened on December 20 with the unveiling of the Half Yearly Economic and Fiscal Update (HYEFU). That was the message yesterday from Westpac in an economic commentary. But the bank’s analysis did not include any changes to capital ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #49 2023
    113 articles in 48 journals by 674 contributing authors Physical science of climate change, effects Diversity of Lagged Relationships in Global Means of Surface Temperatures and Radiative Budgets for CMIP6 piControl Simulations, Tsuchida et al., Journal of Climate 10.1175/jcli-d-23-0045.1 Do abrupt cryosphere events in High Mountain Asia indicate earlier tipping ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • Phone calls at Kia Kaha primary
    It is quiet reading time in Room 13! It is so quiet you can hear the Tui outside. It is so quiet you can hear the Fulton Hogan crew.It is so quiet you can hear old Mr Grant and old Mr Bradbury standing by the roadworks and counting the conesand going on ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • A question of confidence is raised by the Minister of Police, but he had to be questioned by RNZ to ...
    It looks like the new ministerial press secretaries have quickly learned the art of camouflaging exactly what their ministers are saying – or, at least, of keeping the hard news  out of the headlines and/or the opening sentences of the statements they post on the home page of the governments ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • Xmas  good  cheer  for the dairy industry  as Fonterra lifts its forecast
    The big dairy co-op Fonterra  had  some Christmas  cheer to offer  its farmers this week, increasing its forecast farmgate milk price and earnings guidance for  the year after what it calls a strong start to the year. The forecast  midpoint for the 2023/24 season is up 25cs to $7.50 per ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • MICHAEL BASSETT: Modern Maori myths
    Michael Bassett writes – Many of the comments about the Coalition’s determination to wind back the dramatic Maorification of New Zealand of the last three years would have you believe the new government is engaged in a full-scale attack on Maori. In reality, all that is happening ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • Dreams of eternal sunshine at a spotless COP28
    Mary Robinson asked Al Jaber a series of very simple, direct and highly pertinent questions and he responded with a high-octane public meltdown. Photos: Getty Images / montage: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR The hygiene effects of direct sunshine are making some inroads, perhaps for the very first time, on the normalised ‘deficit ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • LINDSAY MITCHELL: Oh, the irony
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – Appointed by new Labour PM Jacinda Ardern in 2018, Cindy Kiro headed the Welfare Expert Advisory Group (WEAG) tasked with reviewing and recommending reforms to the welfare system. Kiro had been Children’s Commissioner during Helen Clark’s Labour government but returned to academia subsequently. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Transport Agencies don’t want Harbour Tunnels
    It seems even our transport agencies don’t want Labour’s harbour crossing plans. In August the previous government and Waka Kotahi announced their absurd preferred option the new harbour crossing that at the time was estimated to cost $35-45 billion. It included both road tunnels and a wiggly light rail tunnel ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    4 days ago

  • Webworm Presents: Jurassic Park on 35mm
    Hi,Paying Webworm members such as yourself keep this thing running, so as 2023 draws to close, I wanted to do two things to say a giant, loud “THANKS”. Firstly — I’m giving away 10 Mister Organ blu-rays in New Zealand, and another 10 in America. More details down below.Secondly — ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    4 days ago

  • The Prime Minister's Dream.
    Yesterday saw the State Opening of Parliament, the Speech from the Throne, and then Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s dream for Aotearoa in his first address. But first the pomp and ceremony, the arrival of the Governor General.Dame Cindy Kiro arrived on the forecourt outside of parliament to a Māori welcome. ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • National’s new MP; the proud part-Maori boy raised in a state house
    Probably not since 1975 have we seen a government take office up against such a wall of protest and complaint. That was highlighted yesterday, the day that the new Parliament was sworn in, with news that King Tuheitia has called a national hui for late January to develop a ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago

  • Climate Adam: Battlefield Earth – How War Fuels Climate Catastrophe
    This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Adam Levy. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). War, conflict and climate change are tearing apart lives across the world. But these aren't separate harms - they're intricately connected. ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • They do not speak for us, and they do not speak for the future
    These dire woeful and intolerant people have been so determinedly going about their small and petulant business, it’s hard to keep up. At the end of the new government’s first woeful week, Audrey Young took the time to count off its various acts of denigration of Te Ao Māori:Review the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • Another attack on te reo
    The new white supremacist government made attacking te reo a key part of its platform, promising to rename government agencies and force them to "communicate primarily in English" (which they already do). But today they've gone further, by trying to cut the pay of public servants who speak te reo: ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • For the record, the Beehive buzz can now be regarded as “official”
    Buzz from the Beehive The biggest buzz we bring you from the Beehive today is that the government’s official website is up and going after being out of action for more than a week. The latest press statement came  from  Education Minister  Eric Stanford, who seized on the 2022 PISA ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago

  • Climate Change: Failed again
    There was another ETS auction this morning. and like all the other ones this year, it failed to clear - meaning that 23 million tons of carbon (15 million ordinary units plus 8 million in the cost containment reserve) went up in smoke. Or rather, they didn't. Being unsold at ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell On The Government’s Assault On Maori
    This isn’t news, but the National-led coalition is mounting a sustained assault on Treaty rights and obligations. Even so, Christopher Luxon has described yesterday’s nationwide protests by Maori as “pretty unfair.” Poor thing. In the NZ Herald, Audrey Young has compiled a useful list of the many, many ways that ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    5 days ago

  • Rising costs hit farmers hard, but  there’s more  positive news  for  them this  week 
    New Zealand’s dairy industry, the mainstay of the country’s export trade, has  been under  pressure  from rising  costs. Down on the  farm, this  has  been  hitting  hard. But there  was more positive news this week,  first   from the latest Fonterra GDT auction where  prices  rose,  and  then from  a  report ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    5 days ago

  • ROB MacCULLOCH:  Newshub and NZ Herald report misleading garbage about ACT’s van Veldon not follo...
    Rob MacCulloch writes –  In their rush to discredit the new government (which our MainStream Media regard as illegitimate and having no right to enact the democratic will of voters) the NZ Herald and Newshub are arguing ACT’s Deputy Leader Brooke van Veldon is not following Treasury advice ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Top 10 for Wednesday, December 6
    Even many young people who smoke support smokefree policies, fitting in with previous research showing the large majority of people who smoke regret starting and most want to quit. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s my pick of the top 10 news and analysis links elsewhere on the morning of Wednesday, December ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • Eleven years of work.
    Well it didn’t take six months, but the leaks have begun. Yes the good ship Coalition has inadvertently released a confidential cabinet paper into the public domain, discussing their axing of Fair Pay Agreements (FPAs).Oops.Just when you were admiring how smoothly things were going for the new government, they’ve had ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • Why we're missing out on sharply lower inflation
    A wave of new and higher fees, rates and charges will ripple out over the economy in the next 18 months as mayors, councillors, heads of department and price-setters for utilities such as gas, electricity, water and parking ramp up charges. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Just when most ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • How Did We Get Here?
    Hi,Kiwis — keep the evening of December 22nd free. I have a meetup planned, and will send out an invite over the next day or so. This sounds sort of crazy to write, but today will be Tony Stamp’s final Totally Normal column of 2023. Somehow we’ve made it to ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 days ago

  • At a glance – Has the greenhouse effect been falsified?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • New Zealaders  have  high expectations of  new  government:  now let’s see if it can deliver?
    The electorate has high expectations of the  new  government.  The question is: can  it  deliver?    Some  might  say  the  signs are not  promising. Protestors   are  already marching in the streets. The  new  Prime Minister has had  little experience of managing  very diverse politicians  in coalition. The economy he  ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    6 days ago

  • You won't believe some of the numbers you have to pull when you're a Finance Minister
    Nicola of Marsden:Yo, normies! We will fix your cost of living worries by giving you a tax cut of 150 dollars. 150! Cash money! Vote National.Various people who can read and count:Actually that's 150 over a fortnight. Not a week, which is how you usually express these things.And actually, it looks ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago

  • Pushback
    When this government came to power, it did so on an explicitly white supremacist platform. Undermining the Waitangi Tribunal, removing Māori representation in local government, over-riding the courts which had tried to make their foreshore and seabed legislation work, eradicating te reo from public life, and ultimately trying to repudiate ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago

  • Defence ministerial meeting meant Collins missed the Maori Party’s mischief-making capers in Parli...
    Buzz from the Beehive Maybe this is not the best time for our Minister of Defence to have gone overseas. Not when the Maori Party is inviting (or should that be inciting?) its followers to join a revolution in a post which promoted its protest plans with a picture of ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Threats of war have been followed by an invitation to join the revolution – now let’s see how th...
     A Maori Party post on Instagram invited party followers to ….  Tangata Whenua, Tangata Tiriti, Join the REVOLUTION! & make a stand!  Nationwide Action Day, All details in tiles swipe to see locations.  • This is our 1st hit out and tomorrow Tuesday the 5th is the opening ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Top 10 for Tuesday, December 4
    The RBNZ governor is citing high net migration and profit-led inflation as factors in the bank’s hawkish stance. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s my pick of the top 10 news and analysis links elsewhere on the morning of Tuesday, December 5, including:Reserve Bank Governor Adrian Orr says high net migration and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • Nicola Willis' 'show me the money' moment
    Willis has accused labour of “economic vandalism’, while Robertson described her comments as a “desperate diversion from somebody who can't make their tax package add up”. There will now be an intense focus on December 20 to see whether her hyperbole is backed up by true surprises. Photo montage: Lynn ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • CRL costs money but also provides huge benefits
    The City Rail Link has been in the headlines a bit recently so I thought I’d look at some of them. First up, yesterday the NZ Herald ran this piece about the ongoing costs of the CRL. Auckland ratepayers will be saddled with an estimated bill of $220 million each ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    6 days ago

  • And I don't want the world to see us.
    Is this the most shambolic government in the history of New Zealand? Given that parliament hasn’t even opened they’ve managed quite a list of achievements to date.The Smokefree debacle trading lives for tax cuts, the Trumpian claims of bribery in the Media, an International award for indifference, and today the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • Cooking the books
    Finance Minister Nicola Willis late yesterday stopped only slightly short of accusing her predecessor Grant Robertson of cooking the books. She complained that the Half Yearly Economic and Fiscal Update (HYEFU), due to be made public on December 20, would show “fiscal cliffs” that would amount to “billions of ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago

  • Most people don’t realize how much progress we’ve made on climate change
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The year was 2015. ‘Uptown Funk’ with Bruno Mars was at the top of the music charts. Jurassic World was the most popular new movie in theaters. And decades of futility in international climate negotiations was about to come to an end in ...
    Skeptical Science
    7 days ago

  • Of Parliamentary Oaths and Clive Boonham
    As a heads-up, I am not one of those people who stay awake at night thinking about weird Culture War nonsense. At least so far as the current Maori/Constitutional arrangements go. In fact, I actually consider it the least important issue facing the day to day lives of New ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    7 days ago

  • Bearing True Allegiance?
    Strong Words: “We do not consent, we do not surrender, we do not cede, we do not submit; we, the indigenous, are rising. We do not buy into the colonial fictions this House is built upon. Te Pāti Māori pledges allegiance to our mokopuna, our whenua, and Te Tiriti o ...
    Bowalley Road
    7 days ago

  • You cannot be serious
    Some days it feels like the only thing to say is: Seriously? No, really. Seriously?OneSomeone has used their health department access to share data about vaccinations and patients, and inform the world that New Zealanders have been dying in their hundreds of thousands from the evil vaccine. This of course is pure ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    7 days ago

  • A promise kept: govt pulls the plug on Lake Onslow scheme – but this saving of $16bn is denounced...
    Buzz from the Beehive After $21.8 million was spent on investigations, the plug has been pulled on the Lake Onslow pumped-hydro electricity scheme, The scheme –  that technically could have solved New Zealand’s looming energy shortage, according to its champions – was a key part of the defeated Labour government’s ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    7 days ago

  • CHRIS TROTTER: The Maori Party and Oath of Allegiance
    If those elected to the Māori Seats refuse to take them, then what possible reason could the country have for retaining them?   Chris Trotter writes – Christmas is fast approaching, which, as it does every year, means gearing up for an abstruse general knowledge question. “Who was ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 week ago

  • BRIAN EASTON:  Forward to 2017
    The coalition party agreements are mainly about returning to 2017 when National lost power. They show commonalities but also some serious divergencies. Brian Easton writes – The two coalition agreements – one National and ACT, the other National and New Zealand First – are more than policy documents. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 week ago

  • Climate Change: Fossils
    When the new government promised to allow new offshore oil and gas exploration, they were warned that there would be international criticism and reputational damage. Naturally, they arrogantly denied any possibility that that would happen. And then they finally turned up at COP, to criticism from Palau, and a "fossil ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago

  • GEOFFREY MILLER:  NZ’s foreign policy resets on AUKUS, Gaza and Ukraine
    Geoffrey Miller writes – New Zealand’s international relations are under new management. And Winston Peters, the new foreign minister, is already setting a change agenda. As expected, this includes a more pro-US positioning when it comes to the Pacific – where Peters will be picking up where he ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 week ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the government’s smokefree laws debacle
    The most charitable explanation for National’s behaviour over the smokefree legislation is that they have dutifully fulfilled the wishes of the Big Tobacco lobby and then cast around – incompetently, as it turns out – for excuses that might sell this health policy U-turn to the public. The less charitable ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    1 week ago

  • Top 10 links at 10 am for Monday, December 4
    As Deb Te Kawa writes in an op-ed, the new Government seems to have immediately bought itself fights with just about everyone. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Here’s my pick of the top 10 news and analysis links elsewhere as of 10 am on Monday December 4, including:Palau’s President ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • Be Honest.
    Let’s begin today by thinking about job interviews.During my career in Software Development I must have interviewed hundreds of people, hired at least a hundred, but few stick in the memory.I remember one guy who was so laid back he was practically horizontal, leaning back in his chair until his ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago

  • Geoffrey Miller: New Zealand’s foreign policy resets on AUKUS, Gaza and Ukraine
    New Zealand’s international relations are under new management. And Winston Peters, the new foreign minister, is already setting a change agenda. As expected, this includes a more pro-US positioning when it comes to the Pacific – where Peters will be picking up where he left off. Peters sought to align ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    1 week ago

  • Auckland rail tunnel the world’s most expensive
    Auckland’s city rail link is the most expensive rail project in the world per km, and the CRL boss has described the cost of infrastructure construction in Aotearoa as a crisis. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The 3.5 km City Rail Link (CRL) tunnel under Auckland’s CBD has cost ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • First big test coming
    The first big test of the new Government’s approach to Treaty matters is likely to be seen in the return of the Resource Management Act. RMA Minister Chris Bishop has confirmed that he intends to introduce legislation to repeal Labour’s recently passed Natural and Built Environments Act and its ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 week ago

  • COP28 National Statement for New Zealand
    Tēnā koutou katoa Mr President, Excellencies, Delegates. An island nation at the bottom of the Pacific, New Zealand is unique.          Our geography, our mountains, lakes, winds and rainfall helps set us up for the future, allowing for nearly 90 per cent of our electricity to come from renewable sources. I’m ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Ministers visit Hawke’s Bay to grasp recovery needs
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon joined Cyclone Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell and Transport and Local Government Minister Simeon Brown, to meet leaders of cyclone and flood-affected regions in the Hawke’s Bay. The visit reinforced the coalition Government’s commitment to support the region and better understand its ongoing requirements, Mr Mitchell says.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • New Zealand condemns malicious cyber activity
    New Zealand has joined the UK and other partners in condemning malicious cyber activity conducted by the Russian Government, Minister Responsible for the Government Communications Security Bureau Judith Collins says. The statement follows the UK’s attribution today of malicious cyber activity impacting its domestic democratic institutions and processes, as well ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Disestablishment of Te Pūkenga begins
    The Government has begun the process of disestablishing Te Pūkenga as part of its 100-day plan, Minister for Tertiary Education and Skills Penny Simmonds says.  “I have started putting that plan into action and have met with the chair and chief Executive of Te Pūkenga to advise them of my ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Climate Change Minister to attend COP28 in Dubai
    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will be leaving for Dubai today to attend COP28, the 28th annual UN climate summit, this week. Simon Watts says he will push for accelerated action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement, deliver New Zealand’s national statement and connect with partner countries, private sector leaders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • New Zealand to host 2024 Pacific defence meeting
    Defence Minister Judith Collins yesterday announced New Zealand will host next year’s South Pacific Defence Ministers’ Meeting (SPDMM). “Having just returned from this year’s meeting in Nouméa, I witnessed first-hand the value of meeting with my Pacific counterparts to discuss regional security and defence matters. I welcome the opportunity to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Study shows need to remove distractions in class
    The Government is committed to lifting school achievement in the basics and that starts with removing distractions so young people can focus on their learning, Education Minister Erica Stanford says.   The 2022 PISA results released this week found that Kiwi kids ranked 5th in the world for being distracted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Minister sets expectations of Commissioner
    Today I met with Police Commissioner Andrew Coster to set out my expectations, which he has agreed to, says Police Minister Mark Mitchell. Under section 16(1) of the Policing Act 2008, the Minister can expect the Police Commissioner to deliver on the Government’s direction and priorities, as now outlined in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • New Zealand needs a strong and stable ETS
    New Zealand needs a strong and stable Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) that is well placed for the future, after emission units failed to sell for the fourth and final auction of the year, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says.  At today’s auction, 15 million New Zealand units (NZUs) – each ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • PISA results show urgent need to teach the basics
    With 2022 PISA results showing a decline in achievement, Education Minister Erica Stanford is confident that the Coalition Government’s 100-day plan for education will improve outcomes for Kiwi kids.  The 2022 PISA results show a significant decline in the performance of 15-year-old students in maths compared to 2018 and confirms ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Collins leaves for Pacific defence meeting
    Defence Minister Judith Collins today departed for New Caledonia to attend the 8th annual South Pacific Defence Ministers’ meeting (SPDMM). “This meeting is an excellent opportunity to meet face-to-face with my Pacific counterparts to discuss regional security matters and to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to the Pacific,” Judith Collins says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Working for Families gets cost of living boost
    Putting more money in the pockets of hard-working families is a priority of this Coalition Government, starting with an increase to Working for Families, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says. “We are starting our 100-day plan with a laser focus on bringing down the cost of living, because that is what ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Post-Cabinet press conference
    Most weeks, following Cabinet, the Prime Minister holds a press conference for members of the Parliamentary Press Gallery. This page contains the transcripts from those press conferences, which are supplied by Hansard to the Office of the Prime Minister. It is important to note that the transcripts have not been edited ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Lake Onslow pumped hydro scheme scrapped
    The Government has axed the $16 billion Lake Onslow pumped hydro scheme championed by the previous government, Energy Minister Simeon Brown says. “This hugely wasteful project was pouring money down the drain at a time when we need to be reining in spending and focussing on rebuilding the economy and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • NZ welcomes further pause in fighting in Gaza
    New Zealand welcomes the further one-day extension of the pause in fighting, which will allow the delivery of more urgently-needed humanitarian aid into Gaza and the release of more hostages, Foreign Minister Winston Peters said. “The human cost of the conflict is horrific, and New Zealand wants to see the violence ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Condolences on passing of Henry Kissinger
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters today expressed on behalf of the New Zealand Government his condolences to the family of former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who has passed away at the age of 100 at his home in Connecticut. “While opinions on his legacy are varied, Secretary Kissinger was ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Backing our kids to learn the basics
    Every child deserves a world-leading education, and the Coalition Government is making that a priority as part of its 100-day plan. Education Minister Erica Stanford says that will start with banning cellphone use at school and ensuring all primary students spend one hour on reading, writing, and maths each day. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • US Business Summit Speech – Regional stability through trade
    I would like to begin by echoing the Prime Minister’s thanks to the organisers of this Summit, Fran O’Sullivan and the Auckland Business Chamber.  I want to also acknowledge the many leading exporters, sector representatives, diplomats, and other leaders we have joining us in the room. In particular, I would like ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Keynote Address to the United States Business Summit, Auckland
    Good morning. Thank you, Rosemary, for your warm introduction, and to Fran and Simon for this opportunity to make some brief comments about New Zealand’s relationship with the United States.  This is also a chance to acknowledge my colleague, Minister for Trade Todd McClay, Ambassador Tom Udall, Secretary of Foreign ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • India New Zealand Business Council Speech, India as a Strategic Priority
    Good morning, tēnā koutou and namaskar. Many thanks, Michael, for your warm welcome. I would like to acknowledge the work of the India New Zealand Business Council in facilitating today’s event and for the Council’s broader work in supporting a coordinated approach for lifting New Zealand-India relations. I want to also ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Coalition Government unveils 100-day plan
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has laid out the Coalition Government’s plan for its first 100 days from today. “The last few years have been incredibly tough for so many New Zealanders. People have put their trust in National, ACT and NZ First to steer them towards a better, more prosperous ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • New Zealand welcomes European Parliament vote on the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement
    A significant milestone in ratifying the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was reached last night, with 524 of the 705 member European Parliament voting in favour to approve the agreement. “I’m delighted to hear of the successful vote to approve the NZ-EU FTA in the European Parliament overnight. This is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

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