Police raid on Hager ruled illegal

Written By: - Date published: 4:41 pm, December 17th, 2015 - 264 comments
Categories: accountability, Dirty Politics, police - Tags: , , , , , ,

Reprinted from Scoop.


High Court finds police raid on Nicky Hager was illegal
Thursday, 17 December 2015, 4:15 pm
Press Release: Felix Geiringer

Wellington High Court judge Justice Clifford issued his judgement today on the legality of the police search of Nicky Hager’s home on 2 October 2014.

The judge found that the search was illegal. He said that the Police had failed to disclose relevant information to the Judge who issued the warrant. As a result, he formally declared that the warrant was “fundamentally unlawful”. He also found that the search was therefore unlawful. Justice Clifford also expressed concerns about other aspects of the Police’s actions.

Mr Hager said he is very happy about the decision, for his family and because of the important principles it upholds.

“The heart of the case is the public’s right to receive information about the actions of people in positions of authority. This decision acknowledges that confidential sources used in investigative journalism, in this case my book Dirty Politics, deserve legal protection.”

More hearings will follow on other police actions taken against Mr Hager and on the subject of costs and damages. But Mr Hager said this decision was the most important one, affecting all news media and also present and future whistle blowers. “This decision is very good news for New Zealand journalism,” he said.

Mr Hager thanked the large numbers of people who donated money to help cover court costs and the experts who wrote affidavits supporting his case.

264 comments on “Police raid on Hager ruled illegal ”

  1. mickysavage 1

    Wow. There needs to be an inquiry. I am pretty sure the Crown will appeal tho …

  2. NZJester 2

    At the next chance they get we will see National put in a law under urgency making it a retroactively legal raid and to prevent him claiming any money over the raid!

    • Johan 2.1

      I can’t see National being that stupid, the negative press would be unbearable.

      • Lara 2.1.1

        I dunno. I think much of middle NZ would be okay with that actually.

        They think that because Dirty Politics was written based on information which was stolen, that therefore Nicky Hagar received stolen goods and is a criminal.

        That’s as deep an understanding of investigative journalism as they have.

        And so for Hagars home to be raided is okay with them. Because he’s just a lefty criminal anyway. They’d probably be okay with him being thrown in prison without trial for a rather long time.

        • Tautuhi 2.1.1.1

          Unfortunately JK and the Natz don’t understand investigative journalism and they believe it should be outlawed, any journalist or reporter in NZ who writes anything remotely controversial will be removed from their positions.

          One has to a pet parrot like Mike Hoskins on the State Broadcasting Channel or Paul Henry at TV3

  3. Tracey 3

    The only people surprised will be supporters of Key and this government. I reckon the crown told the police (if the police didnt already know) that it was pushing shit uphill. So who made the Crown push the shit? The documents I read made this very clear.

  4. ropata 4

    (repeating my comment from Open Mike...)

    Great result for Nicky and his team. A true Kiwi standing up against a sick establishment. I hope he wins some kind of compensation after this saga. Were the cops attempting to stifle his next book about Police malfeasance?

  5. Paul 5

    Key will have fled to Hawaii.

  6. One Anonymous Bloke 6

    That’s made a good day even better, apart from the awful spectre of poverty haunting so many of our peers.

  7. Manuka AOR 7

    “The heart of the case is the public’s right to receive information about the actions of people in positions of authority. This decision acknowledges that confidential sources used in investigative journalism, in this case my book Dirty Politics, deserve legal protection.” …bears repeating

  8. Bill 8

    Question. Unlawful as it may have been, am I right in supposing the polis got to trawl the stuff they seized anyway? I mean, I know some stuff was meant to be sealed and whatever, but does anyone really believe they didn’t go through at least some of the stuff they had before any ‘sealing’? Meaning that they got what they wanted, if what they wanted was there, and lawful/unlawful or legal/illegal is a retrospective nicety they don’t have to give a flying fuck about.

    • Lanthanide 8.1

      Yip, that seems to be the problem with these things.

      There needs to be some sort of fines and punishment, as well as taking the information away.

      If there’s no penalty, or even if there is a penalty but they still get to enjoy the fruit of the crime, then there’s no true disincentive not to simply do it all again in the future if the cause is decided to be worth the penalty.

      • Draco T Bastard 8.1.1

        I like the idea that the management in the police that organised/carried out the raid all get fired at the very least. A good fine and possible imprisonment would go a long way as well. They should also never be employed, either directly or indirectly, by the government again and they should be banned from a management position anywhere for at least five years.

        • Bill 8.1.1.1

          I like that. Throw in loss of pension…

          • One Anonymous Bloke 8.1.1.1.1

            Prosecution for perjury would be just, and yet I cannot help but observe that a society that tolerates the National Party gets what it deserves: criminal cops are an inevitable consequence of right wing thinks.

    • Chooky 8.2

      +100…we still dont know why they did it and what they wanted…and whether they got it…and who they were acting for

      • Draco T Bastard 8.2.1

        They did it because, IMO, they were told to by this government and they were acting to protect this government. If they were acting for the people then Dirty Politics should have had the police investigating this government and bringing criminal charges.

        • ropata 8.2.1.1

          how f*cked up is that.
          i thought the police were supposed to enforce the law on behalf of the Courts.
          not act like the PM’s personal militia and bust into people’s homes without due process.

          this theme of cops acting fast and loose with the law is totally wrong and heads must roll.

          • One Anonymous Bloke 8.2.1.1.1

            Yeah nah: rolling heads will roll straight into private security positions and nominations for the National Party list.

            Prosecute them for perjury, burglary, oath-breaking, human rights abuses, wasting police time, and conspiring – with Cameron Slater and the National Party – to commit hate crimes.

          • Lara 8.2.1.1.2

            IKR

            That’s what we expect of tin pot dictatorships.

            NZ is looking more and more like a tin pot dictatorship everyday.

        • Anne 8.2.1.2

          As simple as that!! Thanks DTB.

          What I want to know is: who else has been protecting this government? The Ministerial offices? The Public Service and SOE chiefs? The Banks? The high level business and professional organisations? The media? The police and the security services? None of them did – or even needed – to cover to protect the Clark govt. so why are they covering up for this corrupt bunch of incompetents?

          I would appreciate what others think might be the answer to the conundrum.

          • ropata 8.2.1.2.1

            lots of toadies, leeches, PR men, dirty operators like whaleoil, big polluters, big profiteers, bullshitters and con artists, and the self styled “elite” of society, all have a lot invested in NatCorp™ and will do anything to keep the property bubble party rolling as long as possible

        • Johan 8.2.1.3

          You forget that in the type of society that we live in, people with wealth call the shots. There are always lots of followers awaiting crumbs that may fall their way.

      • dave 8.2.2

        hacking labour party computers no action ,trying to hack the standard no action ,molesting a waitress no action from the police . there 3rd world banana republic police force who are now a tool of political oppression to maintain a corrupt ruling elite in power

    • One Anonymous Bloke 8.3

      I think it depends how the evidence was “sealed”, given that at that point (from memory) a lawyer was involved. Breaking a seal should be obvious: that’s what they’re for.

      • weka 8.3.1

        How would that work with an external HDD that they need to search for traces of Rawshark?

        • One Anonymous Bloke 8.3.1.1

          For example: bag it, then seal the bag with a sticky paper label signed by the evidence officer and a lawyer.

          • weka 8.3.1.1.1

            I thought they had access to some material and not others?

            • One Anonymous Bloke 8.3.1.1.1.1

              I’m just explaining how I think sealed evidence works.

              • weka

                yes, and I was suggesting that something like a HDD that has material that needs to be accessed and material that shouldn’t be accessed makes that tricky.

                • One Anonymous Bloke

                  Not really: you put the hard drive in a bag – the lawyer and the cop both sign the label, which is then stuck over the opening of the bag in such a way as to prevent access without damage to the label or the bag.

                  If the court decides the cops get to open the bag they get to search the HDD.

                  All this presupposes that the cops can act with integrity and honesty, naturally, and if they’ve gone that far over the line it’s probably the Odgers-Hooton chop-chop for Nicky anyway.

                  • weka

                    Ok, so you *are saying that all the seized material was to be sealed not just some of it?

                    • One Anonymous Bloke

                      That’s what I think was supposed to have happened.

                      Whether Bill’s scenario is correct depends on whether the “authorities” had time to illegally copy Hager’s stuff. We know they took a few steps down the path of conspiring to do so, because they admitted as much. I’m just not sure they had enough time to commit the offence with respect to all but the trivial material.

                      The thing is, the damage has been done: there’s a possibility that right wing criminal elements within the police force have successfully conspired to steal Nicky Hager’s confidential work-related information.

                    • weka

                      Thanks OAB, I couldn’t remember the details or the timeline.

            • Bill 8.3.1.1.1.2

              So ‘here’ I have a pile of electronic shit that I’ve been ordered to ‘seal’. Thing is, if I anticipated that possibility, the first thing I did was copy the whole damned lot. And if I didn’t foresee that instruction, then I’ll stall for the 30 min or so it will take to copy every damned thing.

              Of course, the copies never exist and any action I take in the future has no reliance on any info that was in the copied materials. It won’t be based on or prompted any of that info either – honest.

              • One Anonymous Bloke

                From the court file:

                Seized and cloned material is taken to Auckland and stored at the Auckland High Court.

                So they had time to make copies. There was also an email exchange.

                10:13 am
                Det Abbott finds a piece of paper containing two email addresses and a password relating to another of Mr Hager’s confidential sources. Police use the information to try to access the accounts.
                11.32 am
                Det Abbott finds another piece of paper containing information
                about accessing an internet storage service. This contained
                information provided by another of Mr Hager’s confidential
                sources. Two officers photograph the paper. One photo is sent to the National Cyber Crime Centre. Staff there point out that it will take a new warrant to access it. They then try to access it without obtaining a warrant.
                1:36 pm
                Det Abbott finds a printout of an email exchange between Mr
                Hager and a confidential source. Det Teo takes a photo of it and
                emails it to DC Smith, saying “can you do some inquiries please”.
                1:47-2:14pm
                DC Smith sends a series of five emails to Det Teo recording various aspects of searches she has made on the internet for information taken from the document she was sent by Det Teo

                From the get-go they were dead set on breaching privilege.

              • Tracey

                In 2001 the POlice seized evidence under a search warran tfor theft (despite knowing the evidence was lawfully purchased) and took it back to Auckland Central. They then called Citibank and allowed 2 of its staff to go through everything, without any police supervision.

                That was also under a National Government.

                • D'Esterre

                  Tracey: ” That was also under a National Government.”

                  Not in 2001; the Clark administration was in power by then. Though whatever the issue was, it may have dated back to before 2000.

      • Tracey 8.3.2

        If you have the time, or the inclination, read this exchange between Peters, Prebble, Banks and East in 1992/93 over police ocnduct in similar circumstances.

        You need to scroll down a bit, Use “White” as yofu find.

        http://www.vdig.net/hansard/archive.jsp?y=1992&m=09&d=17&o=28&p=74

        Or

        just read here from page 24

        http://briefingroom.typepad.com/files/paradiseconpreview.pdf

        23 years ago and Nothing. Has. Changed.

    • Tracey 8.4

      Yes. You cant unread what you read. A huge damages payout is needed. Not joking, in these cases, big damages. I presume high level resignations will now follow? Cue Tui

    • greywarshark 8.5

      I remember lprent stating that police have been known to return computers so full of bugs, loaded with pornography that they are practically munted.

      Can they be sued on the basis of being a restraint to trade amongst other things. A person cannot go about his business or his trade if others are stealing or interfering with his resources,information, and equipment, and he is brought into disrepute by police interest in his life and work?

      • lprent 8.5.1

        They certainly did on one of rocky’s windows computers back in the mid-2000s. It was fully protected when they grabbed it with Kaspersky.

        They’d turned off the anti-virus and anti-malware. Then they must have hopped on to the internet completely unprotected.

        When we got it back more than a year later and went to clean the system out, it was full of viruses, trojans, and other malware. We killed more than 70 in the first scan. Had to wipe it down to bare metal to get it clean again – including the boot sectors on the hard drives.

    • weka 8.6

      Hager was working on a separate investigation/book that was critical of the police. Safe to assume that at the least they now know what he is intending.

      • Whispering Kate 8.6.1

        I agree Weka, Nicky was working on other research and the police probably had an inkling of it so they did a fishing expedition, took this new research along with the Dirty Politics files and although everything was sealed supposedly, you can betcha the police did a thorough sift through his documents hard drive etc. I wonder how long Justice Clifford will now keep his job. How are Judges appointed, is it political appointment or through their own Justice systems??

    • They did indeed look at stuff – the court papers revealed, for instance, that they illegally took photos of papers and emailed them, despite knowing he had sought privilege.

  9. Richie 9

    So i take it the police officers who sought the warrant will be prosecuted? why not if not? Who’s responsible what are the consequences? if any. whats the point in having a law if the police can abuse it all the time..and i mean all the time.

    Why can the police break laws but only get a employment reprimand as i thought it goes.

    Because if i broke the law well….

    • mickysavage 9.1

      Privilege applies as long as they did not tell fibs to the court when they applied for the warrant.

      • One Anonymous Bloke 9.1.1

        What applies when they fail their “duty of candour”, in such a way as to render the warrant “fundamentally unlawful”?

  10. Jenny Kirk 10

    Good news. But does this mean Nicky Hagar gets any sort of compensation, and does he get all his documents/computers back ?

  11. Chooky 11

    maybe this is why Key is acting so strangely in the cage with the soap?

    … a jonkey jokey diversion…and a psychological sign /metaphor for something?

    …maybe jonkey thinks he is the one who should be locked up?

    • Jones 11.1

      Well he was (and still is) a rising star in the criminal cartel that masquerades as high-finance.

  12. AmaKiwi 12

    Thank you to the judges.

    Parliament: The elected dictatorship detesting any outspoken opposition

    Police: Handmaiden of the National government

    Civil Servants: Bullied into silence and forced to take early retirement so they can be replaced with more compliant servants

    Media: John Campbell is an example of anyone not towing the Government’s line.

    The ideal business is a monopoly claiming to be part of a free market.

    For politicians in power, the ideal is a monopoly claiming to be a democracy.

    Welcome to Planet Key.

    • Tracey 12.1

      +1

      Withheld info from judge when seeking a warrant.

      That is fundamental stuff right there. The highest ranking person with any knowledge of the process needs to go. No PERF. No handshake. A sacking for misconduct.

    • ropata 12.2

      `
      NatCorp™

      Enemies: Scientists, teachers, reporters, anyone who questions the Regime

      Friends: Foreign Corporations, Banks, Oil companies, Casinos, and other vehicles of the one percent

      Purpose: Keeping the elites happily ensconced in power and extracting the wealth of NZ into their offshore tax havens

    • Tautuhi 12.3

      National are always quoting free market ideology?

  13. Muttonbird 13

    Ironic that the only people who committed a crime in the whole Dirty Politics event was…

    … the Police?

    • Naturesong 13.1

      The original hack that led to it’s uncovering was also a crime.

      Despite much good coming from it, the motivation behind the hack was retribution not public service (also not a defence).

      • Muttonbird 13.1.1

        The original hack that led to it’s uncovering was also a crime.

        – Naturesong

        Was it? That has not been proven in a court of law. The Police breaking New Zealand law (for political purposes) has been.

        • Naturesong 13.1.1.1

          Seems clear to me: Crimes Act 1961 #249 Accessing computer system for dishonest purpose

          The parties directly involved (WO and Rawshark) as well as those in the periphery (Hagar, other journalists with access to the source material) are all agreed that the hack occurred and was a crime.

          I seem to remember either Edgeler or Geddis pointing this out at some stage when separating the criminal / privacy aspects of the case.

          Rawshark was even more explicit when he/she signed off advising kids NOT to try this at home.

          • ianmac 13.1.1.1.1

            Rawshark committed the crime of “stealing” the data. Nicky did not.
            National announced the other day that they would create a law that would make it illegal to have/store said data. eg Hagar crime.

            • One Anonymous Bloke 13.1.1.1.1.1

              *Hager.

              National announced…link?

            • acrophobic 13.1.1.1.1.2

              Nicky knowingly received stolen property. Surely that’s a crime?

              • Gangnam Style

                public interest, moron, its like you are being an idiot on purpose.

                • acrophobic

                  There is no public interest in permitting the receipt of stolen property.

                  • Pascals bookie

                    That depends on the nature of the property, this is pretty basic stuff.

                    • acrophobic

                      There is no ‘depends’. Theft is theft. If someone hacks into your computer and steals your emails, that is theft. If they then go on to publish those in the public domain, that is ratbaggery of the highest order. Whatever I think of the victim.

                    • Pascals bookie

                      So, hypotheitically,
                      Say a military officer was planning a coup,
                      and was working with some terrorist group to seize power and institute a military dictatorship
                      and a hacker discovered it all a few weeks before the plan was launched into operation

                      and gave the info to a journalist..

                      you are saying there would be no public interest in that information coming to light because it was stolen information, and the damage of that theft outweighs the damage of the existence of terrorist plotters

                      Seems perverse.

                    • Tracey

                      Actually there are depends, and they usually unfold in the defence to the alleged crime.

                      Many journalists have printed information based on employee’s telling them things to which the employee is subject to confidentiality with their employer.

                      So there are depends, no matter how much it aggrieves your soul. Just as supporters of John Key use depends all the time to defend his lies and selective memory and broken promises.

                  • Tracey

                    I wish some peopel who keep trotting this stuff out would take the time to actually educate themselves about public interest, in legal terms.

                    It’s not hard and yet some just steadfastedly refuse to do so.

                    It’s diversion of the most annoying type.

                    • One Anonymous Bloke

                      diversion

                      Obsession, more like. Either that or incoherent attempts at ‘social engineering’ – a Bellman lacking both rhyme and meter.

                    • acrophobic

                      Oh I fully understand the public interest. It is a very subjective concept, that can be used to justify anything, such as the current and prurient interest over Jonah Lomu’s finances. My view is the public interest should never trump a persons right to the protection of their personal communications unless peoples lives are in danger.

              • Lara

                And so consider this.

                If it is a crime for which someone can be charged and punished, then how would investigative journalism work?

                Generally when people who are in positions of power are abusing that power they try to hide it. And when they try to hide it someone close to them might notice. And that person we call a “whistleblower” might steal some documents to show how power was being abused, and the dodgy goings of on of those in power.

                Generally the evidence of wrong doing in powerful places is NOT just lying about for everyone to see. It has to be taken and then handed to the media for exposure.

                So generally that is how this kind of investigative journalism works.

                So if we make it a crime for those journalists to receive this kind of information by making it a crime for them to hold and access this kind of stolen material, how exactly would the public get to hear about the dodgy dealings of those in power?

                And that is why we have a “public interest” caveat.

                To let journalists do their jobs. And hold those in power to account.

                • acrophobic

                  Journalists have been exposing wrongdoing and corruption for centuries without knowingly accepting stolen property.

                  • One Anonymous Bloke

                    I’m sure you would make a much better high court judge if only you knew one section of the crimes act from another.

                    No, wait, you’d be a corrupt partisan shill, wouldn’t you.

                  • McFlock

                    lol
                    Some examples would be nice.

                  • Lara

                    They’ve also been knowingly receiving information based on documents stolen by whistleblowers.

                    For centuries also probably.

                    So in your world if there’s any possible theft of documents then no journalist ever can report on it. And so it stays hidden.

                    How do you think that would work out?

                    • acrophobic

                      Fine. I tend to consider personal and private communication to be personal and private, unless someones life is at risk.

                    • Pascals bookie

                      that ‘unless’ there blows your whole argument away.

                      You conceed that in some instances there is a public good in realeasing private comms, so now we just arguing over the threshold.

                      So much for your black and white ‘theft is theft never any public interest’ malarcky.

              • Pascals bookie

                “Nicky knowingly received stolen property. Surely that’s a crime?”

                Nothing ‘surely’ about it. ‘Knowingly’ would imply he knew it was stolen. To know that he would have to assume you can ‘steal’ info, which is a controversial idea. ‘property’ implies copies of data all belong to the original owner.

                But think about it, if a journo recieving ‘stolen property’ is ‘surely’ commiting a crime, then what about leaked data? How is that not ‘stolen’? In what way is it different from an employee stealing money? Every newspaper in the world worth its salt would be shut down. You are basically saying journalism is a crime.

                That’s whay I think it’s silly to think of hacking someone’s network and copying data (which is a crime) is the same crime as ‘stealing’. So while the fuits of that crime were illegally ontained, they are not ‘stolen property’

                • acrophobic

                  A fine, but unsuccessful attempt to dance on the head of a pin. Hager was well aware the emails were stolen. They were, after all, hacked. Receipt of stolen property is a crime. Good journalists don’t publish information they know to be stolen. They may use it to prompt them to do some real investigative work, but simply republishing with commentary for personal gain is lazy and dishonest.

                  • Pascals bookie

                    Yes they were hacked. But there has been a lot of dispute over whether hacked data is stolen. Google will be your friend on this if you won’t take my word for it.

                    You think it is ‘just obvious’ and that claim is doing all the work in your argument. But the fact that it has been a matter of great dispute shows that it is not obvious at all. At which point your arguemnt falls on its face and gets walked on by laughing law students, various QCs and the neighbourhood dogs.

                    Journalists write stories based on leaked data all the time, for example, the Pentagon Tapes.

                    Under your argument, isn’t it obvious that every newspaper that stories based on those tapes is ‘in receipt of stolen property’? And what about when you buy the paper? Are you then also in receipt of the ‘stolen’ property reproduced in the journalism?

                    Perhaps you can point me to an example of a newspaper being charged with receipt of stolen property for publishing leaked data. Seeing it is so obvious that this is what is going on.

                    • acrophobic

                      The arguments are ongoing, true enough. So here’s my argument. To ‘hack’ data, you have to illegally access the victims property (their computer). You then have to remove (electronically) copies of their private data. To me that is no different than entering someones home, copying their private videos and posting them on youtube. It is theft.

                      I would also argue there are similarities to what is known as ‘identity theft’. With identity theft there is no physical asset removed, but it is theft nonetheless.

                      As for criminal proceedings, this is a very new area of law, but this is a sign of things to come http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/13789336.Five_men_charged_with_theft_of_data/.

                    • Pascals bookie

                      “To ‘hack’ data, you have to illegally access the victims property (their computer). ”

                      That is what hacking in the criminal sense means yes.

                      “You then have to remove (electronically) copies of their private data. ”

                      this is more problematic, because copying is not removing. Theft implies that you deprive the victim of their property. That is why the ‘hacking = theft’ analogy is controversial. I’m not being snarky when I say google will be your friend on this. It’s a fascinating area of law

                      “To me that is no different than entering someones home, copying their private videos and posting them on youtube.”

                      If I’m following you here, I think that would be breaking and entering, followed by a breach of copywrite law.

                      “if it was you affected, I’ll bet you’d be arguing the same thing”

                      this is what I call the ‘hypothetical hypocrite’ argument, and it’s bullshit even if it was true, which we have no way of knowing.

                      Because even if I did argue that, (and I think I wouldn’t), that wouldn’t make the argument any better, it might just be that I was being stupid due to my emotional involvement

                      EDIT I see you edited some stuff out, but that’s cool. ‘Identity theft’ is fraud, you aren’t charged with stealing someones uidentity, but with impersonating them. You seem to be suggesting the police lay charges based on colloquial language use.

                      I could murder a beer right now, whoops.

                    • Tracey

                      acrophobic

                      What about leaked information? Don’t jounralists of the political type almost rely on this for their bread and butter?

                    • acrophobic

                      Identity theft is theft, not just impersonation. It involves the theft of private data, and then the subsequent use of that data.

                    • Pascals bookie

                      “Identity theft is theft, not just impersonation. It involves the theft of private data, and then the subsequent use of that data.”

                      nah, loads of ‘identity theft’ occurs with data that is obtained quite legally. It’s a metaphor, not an actual theft, An identity theft victim isn;t running around with no identity because someone stole it, they just have another person out there pretending to be them and clocking up debts in their name. that’s fraud, and it sucks, but their identity hasn’t been stolen you big nonce.

                    • McFlock

                      Identity theft is theft, not just impersonation. It involves the theft of private data, and then the subsequent use of that data.

                      I do admire acrophobic’s unabashed willingness to blatantly invent complete and utter bullshit whenever reality doesn’t suit.

                      Almost MacGuyver-esque, but with lies and cherry-picking instead of duct-tape and a pocket knife.

              • Ross

                Surely that’s a crime?

                Well, it’s a crime for the person who stole the material, assuming it was stolen, but Hager didn’t steal it. You already knew that.

              • Tracey

                That is certainly the most crucial thing arising from the court decision. Well spotted, everyone else here is just diverting.

                🙄

                • acrophobic

                  Hi Tracey. The court case is very important, and clearly holds the police to account, which is healthy. But Hager is not a victim here as he is being painted. He knowingly received stolen work-product and regurgitated it (with selective and often dishonest commentary) for personal gain. That makes him as much of a ratbag as Slater IMHO.

                  • Tracey

                    The constant attempt to put Hager and Slater int he same pot annoys me.

                    Please, just read up on “public interest”. Receiving stolen goods is one thing. In thats ense Slater (Blomfeld) and Hager (Rawshark) are int he same boat. That is where the similarities end, in OH so many places.

                    Slater posted personal information
                    Hager explicitly withheld personal information

                    Slater was acting for a friend who was pissed off
                    Hager was publishing in the public interest to disclose collusion between Ministers and a blogger to create a political advanatge and to misuse processes such as the OIA and the Ministerial warrant

                    The public being interested is not the same as being in the public interest.

                    You appear prepared to harp on about hager receiving stolen goods to the exclusion of everything else.

                    • acrophobic

                      Hager is no better than Slater. He published private and stolen correspondence for personal gain. He’s an opportunist rat with no scruples at all.

                  • lprent

                    That could also make him a journalist talking to a whistle blower. Almost all work-product produced by whistle blowers is ‘stolen’ or in violation of contractual arrangements. The difference is a genuine public interest of the non-prurient sort.

                    Perhaps you should read the Evidence Act and various other acts that provide protections for journalists talking to sources that are put in place specifically to encourage leaking of information for in the interests of public knowledge. You know, like disclosed attacks on people because others paid for them to happen.

                    Comparing Hager’s work which was clearly in the interests of the public to know, with Slater doing something because someone paid him to attack someone else is like comparing food with a turd.

                    What your comment does indicate is that you have a poor understanding of why laws are made, and that you lack a reliable moral and ethical compass.

                    • acrophobic

                      Any public interest in what Slater did was clearly negligible, given that National’s vote increased and Slater’s blog is enjoying increased support. Private communication, stolen and then reproduced by some opportunist journalist is not my idea of a reliable and ethical moral compass.

                    • Draco T Bastard

                      @ acrophobic

                      Just because the scum is popular does not mean that they or what they did is either moral or ethical. And you may not have noticed but Slater is in court meaning that there’s a high probability that what he did was also illegal.

                  • Sacha

                    “with selective and often dishonest commentary”

                    Tell us which parts are dishonest. Go on.

              • Pat

                lets pretend for a moment your right about the receiving aspect and all involved have been identified and prosecuted….what do you think should occur about the actions uncovered by the illegal activity of hacking?

                • acrophobic

                  If the actions are illegal, the perpetrators should prosecuted under the law. If they are not illegal but immoral, then the perpetrators will be judged in the court of public opinion.

                  • One Anonymous Bloke

                    How would you know? Everything you say is other people’s warmed up effluent.

                  • Draco T Bastard

                    If they’re immoral but not illegal then we need the government to pass legislation making them illegal.

                    Do you think that this government will do that or will they act immorally and leave such acts legal?

      • One Anonymous Bloke 13.1.2

        Justice also demands retribution: this is a fundamental aspect of the social contract, and why we don’t tolerate lynch mobs like the National Party

        • Naturesong 13.1.2.1

          Justice also demands retribution?

          Are you asserting that retribution is a fundamental part of justice?

          Or have I misunderstood you.

          • One Anonymous Bloke 13.1.2.1.1

            The courts take the responsibility to pass sentence, and administer punishment, so that the National Party (and other authoritarian bigots) are less able to form lynch mobs the way they used to (I’m paraphrasing).

            Where the courts fail in their responsibility to punish bullies and criminals like Cameron Slater and the National Party, people have a tendency to take the law into their own hands, like Rawshark did.

            That’s how it’s always worked.

            • Naturesong 13.1.2.1.1.1

              Ahh, I understand where you are coming from.

              Yes, it would be a criminal prosecution, so the offense is against the state not the victim.

          • One Anonymous Bloke 13.1.2.1.2

            The courts have negelected their duty to prosecute the Cameron Slater/National Party lynch mob. In these circumstances vigilantes like Rawshark thrive. That’s how it’s always been.

            • North 13.1.2.1.2.1

              Having no legal duty to investigate “the courts” did not fail.

              Other wings of governance in New Zealand did fail. The police principally. Possessed by their typical weakling right winger pose of “following orders” (having already taken sides).

              What is apparent following Hager’s book is that failure in lesser wings of governance was secondary. The primary failure/betrayal was the Prime Minister/Prime Minister’s Office positively setting out to have wings of governance fail.

              These are John Key’s “higher standards”. Oh My God The Fraud The Fraud The Fraud !

            • Sacha 13.1.2.1.2.2

              It is the Police who prosecute – or not, as we have seen. I wish there was a separate prosecution service like some other countries have.

            • Tracey 13.1.2.1.2.3

              Slater’s cronies will soon start trumpetting this

              “he heart of the case is the public’s right to receive information about the actions of people in positions of authority. This decision acknowledges that confidential sources used in investigative journalism, in this case my book Dirty Politics, deserve legal protection.”

              …in support of Slater’s Blomfeld folly. They will, again, deliberately misunderstand phrases like “positions of authority”

  14. gsays 14

    what struck me upon hearing about this on rnz was the quote from nicky hager.

    no anger or reproach.
    very dignified.
    his concern was for the larger principle and the health of democracy.

  15. ianmac 15

    It is probable that the subplot to the invasion of Nicky’s house was to make it as hard and disruptive as possible for Nicky and to send a warning signal to others. The time span so far,and cost has achieved that.
    But now the likely appeal will further extend the disruptive effect until well into next year.

    An expert legal person might tell me if Nick’s gear will be released now or wait until all appeals are exhausted.

    • Jesus Lizard 15.1

      Nicky’s book sold really really well (goal obtained, by Nicky). He is without doubt the most controversial investigative journalist there is. I am sure all of this controversy will make him even more appealing.

      He has made a name for himself.

      • One Anonymous Bloke 15.1.1

        I suspect you are full of shit: only political types remember why Woodward & Bernstein are famous. John Oliver’s Snowden street poll slammed the point home.

        Now, please show me your junk.

        • Jesus Lizard 15.1.1.1

          I have made three points.

          1) His book sold really really well.

          2) All of this controversy (police raids, computer hacking, political mania etc..) makes him the ‘most’ controversial investigative journalist in NZ.

          3) He ‘now’ has made a name for himself, and he knows it. The more media he gets, the better.

          All three points are ‘true’ and ‘correct’.

          I haven’t said anything else.

          • One Anonymous Bloke 15.1.1.1.1

            Junk..I want to see your junk.

            • Jesus Lizard 15.1.1.1.1.1

              Actually, how can you argue that my three points are not ‘true’ and ‘correct’?

              • mickysavage

                We can argue your spin is really transparent and you are cherrypicking some arguable facts

                • Jesus Lizard

                  I am cherrypicking some arguable facts, but they ‘are’ the ‘facts’ nevertheless.

                  (I am not saying he is the ‘best’ am I, or of ‘good intent’?)

                  • mickysavage

                    Nope you picked the three facts that could be presented in the worst possible light and spun them as much as you could. What about saying he is the most respected investigative journalist the country has, that he has without fear attacked both left and right wing governments and fulfils the traditional role that journalists are meant to fulfil.

            • Jesus Lizard 15.1.1.1.1.2

              Actually, how can you argue that my three points are not ‘true’ and ‘correct’?

              • One Anonymous Bloke

                I’m not going to bandy words with a witless fool: show me your junk.

              • North

                Jesus……you are such a withering pedant with your “my three facts”. Are you twelve or something ? This is not the behaviour we expect from grown men/women.

          • Sacha 15.1.1.1.2

            “He ‘now’ has made a name for himself”

            He already had one.

          • Pat 15.1.1.1.3

            3) He ‘now’ has made a name for himself, and he knows it. The more media he gets, the better.

            he made a name for himself years ago so that point is hardly valid, nor the second…so he sold maybe 30,000 copies and may sell a few more in years to come…hardly going to make the rich list on those figures

        • Johan 15.1.1.2

          You mean educated or informed people do remember?

      • North 15.1.2

        Poor Jesus Lizard……your fascination with “making a name” says heaps of rotten shit about you and nothing, nothing about Hager. Thank Christ Lizard that Hager lives at the other end of the spectrum from you.

        • Jesus Lizard 15.1.2.1

          I was pointing out the ‘objective’ truth.

          It wasn’t on my part, a ‘subjective’ opinion.

          The three points are ‘true’ and ‘correct’.

          My argument stands.

          • One Anonymous Bloke 15.1.2.1.1

            My argument is stronger and more relevant: show me your junk.

            • Jesus Lizard 15.1.2.1.1.1

              Ok then, so were you just ‘away’ eating your dinner, all this time?

              • One Anonymous Bloke

                Are you going to show me your junk or not?

                • Jesus Lizard

                  I came here and made THREE POINTS that are TRUE and CORRECT.

                  A simple argument, that I have won.

                  I don’t need to froth at the mouth with some hideous long rambling analytical mumble jumble, that you want to enforce, to hide the fact – you lost.

                  I am going now- you can get back to what you do best – TALKING JUNK.

                  [lprent: Don’t use owned / pwned / won arguments here. Similarly don’t use the idiotic ACToid technique of trying to define the terms of debate for others. That is the job of the authors and the moderators of the site. And learn to agree to disagree or you will find that the only person who ‘wins’ will be the me and the moderators.

                  We really aren’t interested in dickwaving from stupid juvies causing flamewars that cause unreadable comment streams.

                  I’m adding you to auto moderation until I see that you have acknowledged this note. And read the policy before continuing to comment. ]

                  • One Anonymous Bloke

                    You made a transparently dishonest attempt to validate your false narrative: why would I bother arguing with trash?

                    Your junk is the only worthwhile part of you. Show it to me.

                  • North

                    Oh Darling…..such a hissy fit ! OK Jesus Lizard, you’ve WON, and you’ve WON, and you’ve fucking WON, and you’re St Heliers Tennis Club on Tory Twinks Saturday and all that detritus. By which I’m immensely (not) impressed.

                    You are also a fool fishwife type person still hangin’ on screechingly to “my three facts”. Epic fail for FlashKeySucking. Epic fail for knocking down Sir Nicky Hager !

                  • North

                    While you froth and froth and froth ! Hahahahaha !
                    ‘Prent is right……”juvie”. I will add colour. ‘Punk Juvie’. Must say though I love the mock outrageous pen name of “Mr J Lizard”.

          • Naturesong 15.1.2.1.2

            Your argument fails.

            Nicky’s book sold really really well (goal obtained, by Nicky).
            Casting aspersions, nice one. Hager was in fact surprised by the book sales. Like most people, money is not his motivation for doing anything. Exposing corruption and abuse of power is not only what he does, it’s why he does.
            Anyone who thinks a person decides to become a freelance investigative journalist for the money is delusional.

            He is without doubt the most controversial investigative journalist there is. I am sure all of this controversy will make him even more appealing.
            As an investigative journalist he is not controversial at all.
            The only thing that really stands out about his work is its consistently high standard. Likely why he is the only NZ member of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ).
            His subject matter can often be considered controversial, but only because those who are exposed abusing their power, are … the powerful.

            He has made a name for himself.
            Nicky Hager has been a well-known and respected investigative journalist since his first book “Secret Power” was published in 1996.
            Dirty Politics is Nicky Hagers sixth book and adds to the body of work he has created over the last 20 years.

            • Jesus Lizard 15.1.2.1.2.1

              1) The book sold well. You admit yourself “Hager was in fact surprised by the book sales”

              2) He is controversial. You admit yourself “His subject matter can often be considered controversial, but only because those who are exposed abusing their power, are … the powerful.”

              I would like to add, his house got raided, now he is a ‘one-man- revolutionary’.

              3) You forgot to add ‘Dirty Politics’ made him into a ‘media sensation’ – ‘Secret Power’ never did.

              • One Anonymous Bloke

                Junk, I want to see it. It’s the only thing of value you possess. Why won’t you give it up?

              • Naturesong

                That a book sells well was not your point. Your point was that money was his prime motivation. The inference being that journalistic integrity and ethics may be compromised.

                Still doesn’t make Hager, the person, the journalist, controversial.
                As far as his house being raided that speaks to the state of our public institutions, specifically the police in this case far more than it does about Hager.

                If you had seen him speak in public or attended one of his lectures you would know that celebrity and sales volumes are not the motivation for his work.

                Look, I’m sure its fun to go around and write stuff that makes it sound like Hager only does what he does for money and fame. Maybe it makes you feel big and important.
                And that casting aspersions on his character in public forums may cause a reader to question Hagers motivation.

                But all it really does is make you look small minded, hateful and petty.

          • Yeah your argument stands ,like acoat stanbd ib the coirnerNorth 15.1.2.1.3

            You hypocritical mouthy prick Jesus. Objective facts ? You used objective facts to convey your immature pejorative. Your pejorative was an opportunistic mutation of the objective facts. Why must you lie ?

      • Muttonbird 15.1.3

        Nicky’s book sold really really well (goal obtained, by Nicky). He is without doubt the most controversial investigative journalist there is. I am sure all of this controversy will make him even more appealing.

        He has made a name for himself.

        – Jesus Lizard

        Ian Wishart must be crying into his conspiracy theory soup tonight.

        • Jesus Lizard 15.1.3.1

          “Ian Wishart must be crying into his conspiracy theory soup tonight.’

          I have to admit – I do have a soft spot for nutty old Wishart, when you think the guy has completely lost the plot, he pulls a rabbit out of the hat, too much latent talent that one.

          Well they do say – there is a fine line.

      • acrophobic 15.1.4

        Or…
        1. He set out to influence an election. He failed.
        2. He set out to bring down a blogger. He failed.

        Hager is the darling of the left, a fading group if ever there was one.

  16. mickysavage 16

    Interesting that Cameron Slater has not made any comment or post on the decision. I wonder why not?

    • Sacha 16.1

      Too busy busking/washing dishes to support himself?

    • Muttonbird 16.2

      Neither has his Dirty Politics co-conspirator and National Party pollster, David Farrar.

      He must be at a play, or spiking drinks at a young Nat toga party.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 16.3

      Because he’s waiting for the National Party to write the article?

    • lprent 16.4

      I think that this week Cameron paid a court ordered bill to Matthew Blomfield for his costs. The choice was bankruptcy. Expect more fundraising for the Whaleoil “flush the money” game.

      But it could also be the interesting material in the Chisholm enquiry transcripts. The PaePae has some interesting bits on Slater

      How do you say “I made it all up, Judge”?
      I’ve experienced before, and mentioned it here somewhere, how readily Cameron Slater has deployed the ‘Oh, I was lying when I said that’ defence. The most memorable occasion, for me, was in relation to Slater’s admission (to my face) then later slippery denial, that he used fake social media profiles to target and wind up his political enemies. Either lying then, or lying now. Pick one.

      I may be mistaken, but I detect the same approach in sections of the transcript of Cameron Slater’s witness interview/testimony to the Chisholm inquiry into Allegations concerning Judith Collins. You can read/download the whole document here: [Source documents] Judith Collins Lester Chisholm Inquiry evidence, along with other evidence to the inquiry.

      It’s clear from reading Lester Chisholm’s report (available at that same link) that Mrs Collins’ overt denial of any knowledge or participation in the Carrick Graham-orchestrated scheme to undermine the head of the Serious Fraud Office Slater (or “rebalance media debate” as Graham would say) were given considerable weight.

      On the other hand, as we discussed, Slater Jnr’s evidence came to be regarded by Lester Chisholm as requiring “great caution”. Not credible.

      Or it could be something else…. Basically there are so many untold stories around Cameron Slater now, that he appears to be circling close to the event horizon that is where the bathwater is – just before it disappears down the plug hole.

    • Tautuhi 16.5

      I don’t think Whale Slime and Kiwi Bog sites want to enflame the situation we haven’t heard how the Police Investigation is going into the hacking of the Labour Party Website. Probably not high on the Police priority list.

    • acrophobic 16.6

      There was a very good posted on Whale Oil this morning at http://www.whaleoil.co.nz/2015/12/open-letter-to-nicky-hager/. It’s not by Slater, and it’s short and to the point. Well worth the read.

      • One Anonymous Bloke 16.6.1

        Too funny – a Slater-tugger whinging about ethics: not worth the bandwidth never mind the read. 😆

        • Anne 16.6.1.1

          Somebody with the name “Nick Rockel” was making a very good job showing up the commenters for the ignorant bunch of fools and slobs they are on that site. So good, the chief slob, Pete banned him/her. Apparently common sense, reason and having a few brains is regarded as bad for morale.

        • Pascals bookie 16.6.1.2

          Though I do think “ethnically corrupt” is a deliciously Freudian auto-correct fail. ‘Hager is a race Traitor!’

  17. Rodel 17

    I’m pleased for Mr Hagar and pleased that I donated.. We citizens need people like him rather than the Slaters of this world. Who benefits the people of New Zealand and who causes harm? No brainer really.

  18. North 18

    This……from Justice Clifford’s decision wherein Nicky Hager’s words in an interview are quoted thus –

    “……I have never and I would never take information for one of my books for articles from a person who was in a political party or who was a political person. This is a highly valued principle to me.”

    Decent and essentially competent minds will be grateful that NZ has the benefit of Nicky Hager. He is a great New Zealander in the rank of Hilary. In contrast to the appallingly cheap sideshow Key who’ll get a knighthood.

    • Chooky 18.1

      …and the Queen probably doesnt even like him judging by her body language….he will be a self- appointed ‘Sir’ of course

      • North 18.1.1

        When the Queen wants oliagenous she has Sir Alan Sugar.
        When she wants gauche she has John “watch him swoon over the corgis” Key. As I’ve said many time before – “Auckland Old Money must sometimes cringe…..”

    • Sans Cle 18.2

      +1
      Couldn’t agree more. Hager is decent and we as a Public have a lot to thank him for. Kia Kaha Nicky Hager.

  19. Chooky 19

    Imo it was a fishing expedition on Hager to find out what he was working on and who his contacts are …with Rawshark as the the pretext

    …and it looks like a witch hunt against Hager…questions need to be asked who initiated this witch hunt…did it come from beyond the police?

    imo it was political and someone is running scared as to what Hager knows or could know

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11537431

  20. maui 20

    Woohoo! I’m feeling the reflected glory from chipping in on the defence fund.

  21. katipo 21

    Get ready for another Govenment obfuscation offesive.

  22. RedBaronCV 22

    Stuff have buried it way off the front page. BTW I don’t see any spin lines on here yet? RW team caught napping or did they expect to win?

    • ropata 22.1

      Lizard made a weak attempt at spin that was the subject of much derision and hilarity, upthread

    • Napping tonight the North 22.2

      Napping tonight the whitey righties may be……tomorrow they’ll be snapping. “Vile shit rubbish spew hate !” Over the decision of a long serving High Court judge no less.

      Will be fun to watch. All of them suckers slightly desperate of course. The Prime Minister’s shown his dirty arse again. Obfuscate, conceal, distract, prevaricate, be flatulent, bullshit hard, if pressed, flatulence with solids,. Whatever – it’s all in service of protecting the Prime Minister’s dirty arse !

      When are New Zealanders gonna undertstand that the ‘Keynival is Over’ ? It was a a piece of shit to start with but it’s finally over. Unless we want our personification to be that effete shady Keynival person. No thank you !

  23. dave 23

    i would like to see a future government appoint a special prosecutor to investigate any and all possible criminal activity of national party there an organized crime gang.
    i cant any difference between national and the mafia both run rackets except mafia was more honest about being gangsters

    • ropata 23.1

      i would too but it would set a dangerous precedent.

      any criminal proceedings should be absolutely free of political taint and should be purely a matter for the courts to decide.

      it would be likely to turn into a circus like the John Banks farce.

  24. Bruce 24

    Keep coming at Nicky, police and friends, and I will come out with the facts that will cause you to step down, John Key, and the National Party to lose the following snap election.

    You know who I am. You can’t win this. Keep making Nicky’s life hell, and I will continue to put mine aside. Step aside, John. It was under your watch and you cannot recover from this. Leave Nicky alone, and I swear on my father’s grave that I will remain silent.

    If you continue to pursue Nicky, Police and Co., well, you must know what is in the works.

    Your move. Apologise and never do it again.

    The Weatherman

    • That’s all very well, but I doubt that either Key or the Police Commissioner will be following this thread. You may need to communicate your message to them a little more directly.

    • NZSage 24.2

      Bruce, I admire your loyalty to NH but if you have such information then you have an obligation to all New Zealanders to expose these scoundrels.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 24.3

      Why am I suddenly idly speculating about Finlayson’s promotion and surveillance warrants? Just my imagination I’m sure,

  25. NZSage 25

    The police deceived a judge in the course of his duties. Surely there are severe consequences for such actions?

    I’m sure there would be for any right left thinking person.

  26. Ross 26

    From the Judgment:

    “The police conducted an extensive search of Mr Hager’s house, including Ms Wells’ bedroom, her underwear drawer, her private letters, her private photograph album and her cell phone.

    Ms Wells’ laptop computer was searched. It has to be asked whether there was a sufficient evidential basis to allow for a search of Ms Wells’ computer, as opposed to those belonging to and used by her father. That example highlights the difficulties of dealing with such questions on the basis of untested affidavit evidence. Detective Sergeant Beal, in one of his affidavits, said that Ms Wells had told the police her laptop was not used by her father and that they could search it. He went on to say that the police started to search it, but ultimately stopped when it seemed some privileged material might be there after all. In her affidavit, and completely in contrast, Ms Wells said that at no point did she give the police permission to use her laptop in any way.

    I am not persuaded that the approach the police took to enabling Mr Hager to claim privilege was the preferred one. It was only during the second telephone conversation that the police asked Mr Hager if he was claiming privilege. That is not the type of facilitation that I consider the Search and Surveillance Act anticipates. Rather, when they discovered Mr Hager was not at his home, I would have anticipated that the police would have initiated contact with Mr Hager, told him that the Search, if successful, of necessity would disclose evidence protected by s 68, and have positively given him the opportunity to claim privilege.”

    Didn’t police also search the underwear drawer of Heather Du Plessis-Allan?

    I don’t know what police thought they were doing but they should’ve expected that this sort of shit was going to end badly, especially after the Dotcom fiasco. Police can be slow learners.

    • Lara 26.1

      Yes. I believe they did search HDP’s undies drawer.

      The message they have sent is clear. Expose and / or embarrass them or the government and they’ll raid your home and disrupt your life.

      I think I also read that they took Ms Wells’ laptop with them, and she had a masters thesis written on it which was due. What a massive disruption to her life!

      They keep doing it. And they keep getting away with it. Despite this ruling that their search was illegal from the high court, they’ve still gotten away with it. Their point is made.

      After all, apart from the court telling them off, what other repercussions will their be for police breaking this particular law?

      Nothing as far as I can see. Nothing.

  27. ianmac 28

    A great text to Morning Report this morning said, “John Key said he knew who Rawshark was. Why didn’t they search his house?”

  28. Tory 29

    So although many here suggest political interference (with no actual proof) from the National Party to the Police, we can close the circle by suggesting political interference by Labour as Justice Clifford was a Cullen appointment. That conspiracy theory will sit well with many commentators here. Of course that can be dispelled by someone posting the actual link that shows the instructions from the PM”s office to the Police commissioner…..

    • vto 29.1

      you need a tissue – you’re dribbling

    • Whispering Kate 29.2

      Interesting to hear that Justice Clifford was a Cullen appointment. In a reply of mine earlier in this post 8.6.1 I made the suggestion that Clifford’s appointment would be in jeopardy now – it almost certainly will be after what you have just stated. I feel if the Police do appeal it will be overturned like Kim Dot Com’s was. The whole state of our government and how it operates gets dirtier by the day.

  29. savenz 30

    Fantastic outcome! One step backwards for a politically motivated police force in NZ and a step forward for journalistic justice!

  30. Chooky 31

    Winston Peters speaks out on Morning Report…sounding like a statesman…certainly has far more gravitas than John Key and Andrew Little and James Shaw

    ‘Peters says Hager case latest example of police politicisation’

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/201783350/peters-says-hager-case-latest-example-of-police-politicisation

    “The High Court ruling that the Police used an unlawful warrant to raid the house of Dirty Politics journalist and author, Nicky Hager, has fuelled claims the police are prone to political pressure. The police were not prepared to speak on Morning Report today. New Zealand First leader Winston Peters joins us.”

  31. “So here’s my argument. To ‘hack’ data, you have to illegally access the victims property (their computer). You then have to remove (electronically) copies of their private data.”

    What if the hack was ‘legal’? Our govt as part of the 5 eyes can obtain any and all such data can’t it? Not breaking the law afaik.
    What if Rawshark was working in the field where he/she had legal access and decided to pass it on to Hager. ? Sure they may be breaking the terms of their employment contract (like Snowden) but how do we know they had illegal access.?

    Maybe my mind works in funny ways :), but I loved that story “The Falcon and the Snowman”, and also the story of Mordecai Vanunu. I like to hope Rawshark was similarly motivated.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 32.1

      The hack wasn’t legal – everyone involved agrees on that part. Rawshark spoke of a desire to “take down the network” – ie: Slater’s ratfucking machine.

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  • Weekly Roundup 26-July-2024

    Kia ora. These are some stories that caught our eye this week – as always, feel free to share yours in the comments. Our header image this week (via Eke Panuku) shows the planned upgrade for the Karanga Plaza Tidal Swimming Steps. The week in Greater Auckland On ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 day ago
  • God what a relief

    1. What's not to love about the way the Harris campaign is turning things around?a. Nothingb. Love all of itc. God what a reliefd. Not that it will be by any means easye. All of the above 2. Documents released by the Ministry of Health show Associate Health Minister Casey ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago
  • Trust In Me

    Trust in me in all you doHave the faith I have in youLove will see us through, if only you trust in meWhy don't you, you trust me?In a week that saw the release of the 3,000 page Abuse in Care report Christopher Luxon was being asked about Boot Camps. ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • The Hoon around the week to July 26

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking about the Royal Commission Inquiry into Abuse in Care report released this week, and with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on a UN push to not recognise carbon offset markets and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 26, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Transport: Simeon Brown announced $802.9 million in funding for 18 new trains on the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines, which ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Radical law changes needed to build road

    The northern expressway extension from Warkworth to Whangarei is likely to require radical changes to legislation if it is going to be built within the foreseeable future. The Government’s powers to purchase land, the planning process and current restrictions on road tolling are all going to need to be changed ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #30 2024

    Open access notables Could an extremely cold central European winter such as 1963 happen again despite climate change?, Sippel et al., Weather and Climate Dynamics: Here, we first show based on multiple attribution methods that a winter of similar circulation conditions to 1963 would still lead to an extreme seasonal ...
    2 days ago
  • First they came for the Māori

    Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedFirst they came for the doctors But I was confused by the numbers and costs So I didn't speak up Then they came for our police and nurses And I didn't think we could afford those costs anyway So I ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Join us for the weekly Hoon on YouTube Live

    Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on UnsplashWe’re back again after our mid-winter break. We’re still with the ‘new’ day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when we have our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Will the real PM Luxon please stand up?

    Notes: This is a free article. Abuse in Care themes are mentioned. Video is at the bottom.BackgroundYesterday’s report into Abuse in Care revealed that at least 1 in 3 of all who went through state and faith based care were abused - often horrifically. At least, because not all survivors ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Will debt reduction trump abuse in care redress?

    Luxon speaks in Parliament yesterday about the Abuse in Care report. Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:PM Christopher Luxon said yesterday in tabling the Abuse in Care report in Parliament he wanted to ‘do the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Olywhites and Time Bandits

    About a decade ago I worked with a bloke called Steve. He was the grizzled veteran coder, a few years older than me, who knew where the bodies were buried - code wise. Despite his best efforts to be approachable and friendly he could be kind of gruff, through to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Why were the 1930s so hot in North America?

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters and Bob Henson Those who’ve trawled social media during heat waves have likely encountered a tidbit frequently used to brush aside human-caused climate change: Many U.S. states and cities had their single hottest temperature on record during the 1930s, setting incredible heat marks ...
    2 days ago
  • Throwback Thursday – Thinking about Expressways

    Some of the recent announcements from the government have reminded us of posts we’ve written in the past. Here’s one from early 2020. There were plenty of reactions to the government’s infrastructure announcement a few weeks ago which saw them fund a bunch of big roading projects. One of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Thursday, July 25

    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 Thursday, July 25 are:News: Why Electric Kiwi is closing to new customers - and why it matters RNZ’s Susan EdmundsScoop: Government drops ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • The Possum: Demon or Friend?

    Hi,I felt a small wet tongue snaking through one of the holes in my Crocs. It explored my big toe, darting down one side, then the other. “He’s looking for some toe cheese,” said the woman next to me, words that still haunt me to this day.Growing up in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • Not a story

    Yesterday I happily quoted the Prime Minister without fact-checking him and sure enough, it turns out his numbers were all to hell. It’s not four kg of Royal Commission report, it’s fourteen.My friend and one-time colleague-in-comms Hazel Phillips gently alerted me to my error almost as soon as I’d hit ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Thursday, July 25, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day were:The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry published its final report yesterday.PM Christopher Luxon and The Minister responsible for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • A tougher line on “proactive release”?

    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 ...
    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
    4 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 ...
    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
    5 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
    5 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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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
    22 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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

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  • Backing mental health services on the West Coast

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