Polity: Herald poll

Written By: - Date published: 3:14 pm, June 17th, 2014 - 60 comments
Categories: election 2014, internet mana party, labour, maori party, national, polls - Tags: , , ,

polity_square_for_lynnRob Salmond at Polity looks at the Herald poll published this morning and looks at what ground the left has to make up. Over recent polls the right vote appears to have been consolidating more and more strongly behind National over the course of this year.

In your New Zealand Herald this morning:

The Internet-Mana Party would get two seats in Parliament based on the first major poll since the two parties cut a deal to stand together.

But, three months shy of the election, Labour is still struggling and the left bloc is well adrift from National, which could easily govern alone based on the Herald-DigiPoll survey.

The actual numbers are:

  • National 50.4%
  • Labour 30.5%
  • Greens 10.7%
  • NZ First 3.6%
  • Conservative 1.5%
  • Internet MANA 1.4%
  • Maori Party 0.8%
  • ACT 0.7%
  • United Future 0.1%

I’m not going to sugar-coat this. This is no comfort to the left, with solid left bloc stuck on around 41%, only rising to around 46% with a potential wider coalition of Internet MANA and New Zealand First. Even with either Danyl McLaughlin’s or Gavin White’s proposed corrections for (industry-wide) bias, National would likely still win.1 Also, and importantly, New Zealand media polls generally do not account for turnout effects.

Clare Trevett continues:

The results for the Mana Party, Internet Party and Internet-Mana Party totalled 1.4 per cent in the survey – a modest start for the newly launched party which was the centre of attention in the lead-up to the polling period.

That is enough to get new Internet Party leader Laila Harre into Parliament if Mana leader Hone Harawira holds his Te Tai Tokerau electorate.

I’m not sure about that. If Internet MANA stays on 1.4% and Annette Sykes wins Waiariki, then the delegation would be Harawira and Sykes, regardless of what happens in Te Tai Tokerau. Sykes performed strongly there in 2011 off the back of a truncated campaign. With the Maori party slipping nationally, I think she is a real threat to take the seat.

1. Under Danyl’s corrections, a National victory without Winston would be touch and go even today, and would rely on many and varied Cups of Tea. But my view is that these corrections are likely too extreme.

Also look at the bias corrected poll of polls at Dimpost and other poll of polls commentary at Occasionally erudite.

60 comments on “Polity: Herald poll ”

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  1. Bifter 1
    17 June 2014 at 3:28 pm

    How many left voters are telling pollsters that they are voting National in order to lull them into a false sense of security?
    I know that my friends and I have done this. Don’t lose heart comrades we are probably leading in the “official polls”.

    [lprent: Probably another idiot brairpatch astroturfer. ]

  2. Colonial Viper 2
    17 June 2014 at 3:37 pm

    I’m not going to sugar-coat this. This is no comfort to the left, with solid left bloc stuck on around 41%, only rising to around 46% with a potential wider coalition of Internet MANA and New Zealand First.

    There are a whole 94 days to go before election day. Plenty of time to turn the narrative around and put some serious left leaning policy out there. Right?

    • Lanthanide 2.1
      17 June 2014 at 4:33 pm

      Well the full advertising onslaught hasn’t even started yet.

    • infused 2.2
      17 June 2014 at 10:33 pm

      Yes. The Kiwisaver one today was excellent. Hope they keep putting this policy out.

    • swordfish 2.3
      18 June 2014 at 12:06 am

      I disagree with a number of Rob’s points. In a few days, I’ll set out (on Sub-Zero Politics) the poll trends of 2007-2008 and 2010-2011 for all of the parties (and for the two Blocs) in order to highlight the degree to which parties were over/under-stated relative to their ultimate support in the subsequent Election. (I’ve done this on The Standard for the Nats and the Right but not, yet, for Labour/The Greens/NZ First/The Left Bloc). They’ll be more comprehensive than anything I’ve put on The Standard so far and I’m going to outline my theories (partly grounded in political science) to explain these very consistent patterns.

      The aim, then, is to test the arguments made not only by various Tories like Cameron Slater, Farrar, Chris73 and James (re: the relevance of the Cup of Tea saga for the Nats’ 2011 nose-dive) but also by Gavin White, Danyl McLaughlin and Rob Salmond regarding poll biases for the various parties. I’m going to try and provide a very comprehensive over-view.

      That’s Part 1. Following that, Part 2 will give a detailed over-view of the poll trends over the last two-and-a-half years to clarify precisely where we are at the moment (relative to both 2008, 2011 and 2012-2013). I’ll also have one or two things to say about Opinion Poll methodology.

      I’ll link to it on Open Mike once it’s ready (probably in about a week or so – depends on how much spare time’s available).

  3. Chooky 3
    17 June 2014 at 3:54 pm

    Have to say this again sorry…NEVER trust the POLLS…they warp elections and make the faint hearted stay at home:

    Bugger the polls( the pollsters are not to be trusted or their polls…as Jim Bolger found out!)

    …and Winston always defies the polls…he will be BACK in or i will eat my cat!

    Winnie the darls will bring in a Left coalition government!

    …and John Key and the NACTS and Goldman Sachs will eat their hearts out

    • James 3.1
      17 June 2014 at 4:04 pm

      “…and Winston always defies the polls…he will be BACK in or i will eat my cat!”

      Can we hold you to that?

      I hate cats.

      EDIT FWIIW – I think Winny has run his course. I know you can never write the guy off – But I think this might just be an election too far.

      edit 2: 4.85% of the vote would make me very happy tho’

      • Colonial Viper 3.1.1
        17 June 2014 at 4:17 pm

        It’s very important that you write Winston Peters off as history.

      • Chooky 3.1.2
        17 June 2014 at 6:02 pm

        @ James ..the cat is a fast runner…but it is not worried because it is a Winnie supporter….. and it knows Winnie will be back! …the cat thinks it is a great joke ( a Winnie smile on the Cheshire Cat) …and you are a NAct Mad Hatter to think otherwise!…Winnie is stalking around the country….

  4. Will@Welly 4
    17 June 2014 at 4:14 pm

    About time the Labour Caucus got off it’s fat ass!!
    The Greens, Internet/Mana are smart, one or two in the Labour Party are showing hope – Cunliffe, Parker, Little, but the rest (exception, Shearer, stuck in N.Y., working on ‘our’ bid for the Security Council) – where the hell are they?

  5. thechangeling 5
    17 June 2014 at 4:26 pm

    The Roy Morgan Poll is the only consistently accurate poll over time that mirrors most closely election outcomes so why do we bother focusing on all the other polls which fluctuate to varying extents in their validity and inaccuracy? I guess it’s just plain interesting and/or tortuous.

    [lprent: Because it was a well written and interesting analysis, as were the two other links I provided. ]

    • AmaKiwi 5.1
      17 June 2014 at 4:44 pm

      Personal opinion:

      We (the Left) have to damage John Key’s image.

      A friend (Nat supporter) told me the thing he likes about Key is “he’s so honest.”

      Despite years of lies, his public persona is of a genuinely honest chap.

      My personal regret is that I did not tell my friend I thought Key was the crookedest politician in living memory. My personal resolution is to never be silent again.

      Attack Key!

      • Gosman 5.1.1
        17 June 2014 at 5:11 pm

        The opposition and specifically Labour have been attempting that for the past 7 years or so with little effect. Perhaps you should try another method.

        • Steve 5.1.1.1
          17 June 2014 at 6:09 pm

          Totally agree – voters like Key despite the policies. The opposition either need to have something fatal to his reputation, say a serious crime with enoughevidence that results in him being charged with the offence or stop with the minor stuff that is not getting traction and if character attacks are to continue, instead pick off the rest of the Cabinet. At the same time, they also need to unify some of the policies so that a clear programme is shown e.g. by themselves CGT, Kiwibuild, variable Kiwisaver etc are not high impact, but together they have more impact that would be the case otherwise.

          • poem 5.1.1.1.1
            17 June 2014 at 8:48 pm

            Well the voters didn’t like key that much, not only did he not get the support the polls were touting all through 2011 and despite a vote rigging cup of tea with the now defunct john banks, national did not govern alone either. Most NZers have not fared well in key’s second term and have taken a hammering. Personally, I dont think national will do as well as some like to think, particularly should more people turn up at the ballot box on Sept 20. Hoodwinking polls just might not work for john key this time round.

          • poem 5.1.1.1.2
            17 June 2014 at 9:10 pm

            You got to wonder about those “polls” You know what’s interesting, David Cunliffe has thousands more people following him on twitter than john key and Judith Collins combined.

        • poem 5.1.1.2
          17 June 2014 at 9:03 pm

          Well Gosman, it has helped that john key has always had the media onside to deflect and minimize damaging truths. You know, the funny thing about teflon is that eventually it wears off and then all manner of unsavoury things begin to stick.

          • McFlock 5.1.1.2.1
            18 June 2014 at 1:00 am

            not to mention 2 disasters and the RWC to play politics at. Fucking fluoro vests and hardhats…

            Not so much of that this time (touch wood)

          • Markymark 5.1.1.2.2
            18 June 2014 at 11:21 am

            Loony lefty, Poem, is really losing the plot with his latest nonsensical claim on Cunliffe vs John Key’s twitter followers.

            But to be fair this sort of behaviour is standard for most partisan half wits on this website, who claim that the last 6-7 statistical polls are rougue, simply because they show National on 47-50% and Labour on 30%.

            You people are largely deluded as to the support for the National government that is out there.
            It’s from people that work, pay a mortgage and have kids. Most are not well off, but are in the middle classes. The respect competence, hence are happy with National. In contrast, Labour is filled with incompetant trade unionist and student politican hacks who have no basic skillset outside of being a career politican

            Perhaps reality will only bite home for you people on September 20th, when Key will romp home to a third term

            • Colonial Viper 5.1.1.2.2.1
              18 June 2014 at 11:25 am

              But to be fair this sort of behaviour is standard for most partisan half wits on this website, who claim that the last 6-7 statistical polls are rougue, simply because they show National on 47-50%

              Hmmmm. National’s numbers are down 5% to 8% on 2011 figures. Surely that must concern you as a Righty?

              In contrast, Labour is filled with incompetant trade unionist and student politican hacks who have no basic skillset outside of being a career politican

              Do you mean career politicians like Bill English?Or are you talking about cigarette marketing skillsets a la Todd Barclay, Clutha Southland?

              • swordfish …
                18 June 2014 at 11:58 am

                And why is it that Tory Tr*lls seemingly find it impossible to spell the word Rogue ?

                Both James and Nakiman were fairly wide of the mark on yesterday’s Open Mike by spelling it “Rouge” (possibly betraying a surreptitious belief that the latest Herald-Digi is in fact positive for the Red team) and now Markymark has a wild stab at it with “Rougue”.

                They’ll be learning to tell the time next.

                • McFlock …
                  18 June 2014 at 1:17 pm

                  I always figured “rouge” was an intentional typo like “moran”.

                  Heck, I’ve used it myself, I believe 🙂

                  But the trouble with ironic mispellings is that they are often indistinguishable from genuine incompertance :p

                  • swordfish …
                    18 June 2014 at 1:32 pm

                    Ahhh, I hadn’t thought of that.

                    Mind you, both James and Nakiman both agreed they’d unintentionally misspelt. Like me, they don’t do irony.

                    Here

              • Markymark …
                18 June 2014 at 1:30 pm

                Barlcay is a rarity in National – that being a wanabe careerist with no experience. In my opinion he should not have been selected, and it would be good if Clutha Southland voters reneged against him to keep him, out of parliament.

                In Labour, it cannot be doubted that career politicians dominate. Lets go through the list shall we: Robertson (future leader), Arden (alleged future leader), King, Goff, Mallard, Hipkins, Sepuloni, Cosgrove, David Clark, Ruth Dyson, Sue Moroney, Megan Woods, Clare Curran etc – it’s a large majority

            • poem 5.1.1.2.2.2
              18 June 2014 at 4:48 pm

              You and James can’t read, I never said “followERS” I said “FOLLOWING’ and I find that a bit rich, commentary from john key cult followers like yourself are generally the most deluded and hypocritical, you never know, maybe its you who will get that much needed reality check on Sept 20.

      • chris73 5.1.2
        17 June 2014 at 5:30 pm

        🙂

        • AmaKiwi 5.1.2.1
          17 June 2014 at 11:36 pm

          I am not a political strategist, so this is shoot from the hip.

          What about a “negative campaign,” a relentless attack on your opponent. Forget about policies and idealism. Smear him day in and day out. His lies. His rich associates. His questionable dealings. His callousness to the needy and less fortunate. His personality defects.

          It’s not pretty. But I see the other side do it constantly.

          With 94 days to go, is it time to take the gloves off?

          • Colonial Viper 5.1.2.1.1
            17 June 2014 at 11:47 pm

            Labour doesn’t have the skills to pull it off; the Tories are better at it and the Tories have the support of the MSM.

            But it certainly is time for the gloves to come off. Either Labour comes up with a clear left wing narrative and alternative vision for the country right now, backed by courageous and positive action, or it will struggle to achieve 32%-33% on Election Day.

            • blue leopard 5.1.2.1.1.1
              18 June 2014 at 11:50 am

              @ CV

              “…or it will struggle to achieve 32%-33% on Election Day.”

              According to Gavin White’s analysis (linked to in this posts article), I think it is fair to conclude Labour are already on at least 31% and this is prior to the election campaign proper. Why do you base your conclusions on the faith that the polls are fairly representing public opinion when there is plenty of evidence and analysis to prove otherwise?

              If the ‘trends’ keep up – i.e. Labour remains in the low 30 area – I suspect the biggest error Labour are making are coming across as antagonistic toward the other left-wing parties. and therefore I would suspect that is the area they could most easily improve their performance. That is, ‘if’ the trends keep up – in actual fact this poll is an improvement on the last ones for Labour so it isn’t conclusive that the aggressive approach some in Labour appear have taken re Mana/Int (maybe Greens too) is hurting them – suspect it is – but no real conclusive proof yet seeing as their polling has been recorded as slightly up from last one. (Actually this lift is within the margin of error isn’t it? So that means there is no statistical evidence of a lift in their rating at all.)

          • fdx 5.1.2.1.2
            18 June 2014 at 9:47 am

            I am surprised no one has had a go at knocking the bugger off, even with his entourage of security he is still an easy target.

            • Colonial Viper 5.1.2.1.2.1
              18 June 2014 at 11:22 am

              No suggestions of violence please, peaceful civil resistance only.

              • karol …
                18 June 2014 at 11:34 am

                Agreed, CV. I think fdx is getting close to breaching the Standard policy – I think this may come under legal issues. i.e. threats of violence, or inciting people to violence.

                • swordfish …
                  18 June 2014 at 12:09 pm

                  Perhaps fdx meant knocking the bugger off purely in the Edmund Hillary sense of the term ? The notion that we should be the first to climb Mt John Key, possibly establishing base-camp on the outer edge of his right nostril, pushing past the dark forest of his nasal hair, scaling the boney escarpment of the bridge of his nose and then making the final push past his right eyebrow and ultimately – with the help of an experienced Sherpa – on to the summit of his increasingly balding head.

                  • Colonial Viper …
                    18 June 2014 at 12:13 pm

                    it’s the “even with his entourage of security…” which makes the meaning plain.

                    • swordfish …
                      18 June 2014 at 12:41 pm

                      Yeah, I know. I shouldn’t have joked about it. Found myself shaking my head when I read his comment. Also found myself wondering if he’s one of the spooks assigned with the task of bringing the Left into disrepute.

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      18 June 2014 at 12:53 pm

                      OK good point.

  6. fambo 6
    17 June 2014 at 4:44 pm

    On the bright side, Labour has lifted to over 30 percent, and the Greens are still sitting above 10 percent despite being the most vulnerable to IMP. I like what Chris Trotter recently had to say on the subject which is very much worth reading in full

    http://bowalleyroad.blogspot.co.nz/2014/06/keep-calm-and-carry-on-why-left-should.html

    “BRACE YOURSELVES, COMRADES, for some horrendous poll results. The next round of surveys ….will almost certainly register a major slump in the Centre Left’s support and a concomitant rise in National’s numbers – quite possibly to 55 percent-plus. Labour and the Greens will both take nasty hits and the Internet-Mana Party (IMP) will be very lucky to make it above 1 percent.

    ….The polls will be bad because the framing of Kim Dotcom’s latest intervention in New Zealand politics has been so near-universally and overwhelmingly negative….

    ….Labour and the Greens, simply by sharing the left of the ideological spectrum with the IMP, will be judged guilty by association with the controversial German entrepreneur…..

    ….They should think of the next round of polls as the Right’s all-or-nothing artillery barrage – something to panic them into a headlong retreat. But, as the shells loaded with appalling results burst over the heads, they should simply tighten their helmet-straps and hold tight.”

  7. Tracey 7
    17 June 2014 at 4:53 pm

    note the use of the word “rort” in the survey. straight from john keys playbook.

    yesterday fizzy said this was going to be a roy morgan and bad news for the left. I asked him how he saw the results in advance. despite his dedication as a mental health professional to the truth he didnt say…knowing the heralds results in advance is more understandable…

    so paying for a poll and then writing a story is journalism at the herald

    • lprent 7.1
      17 June 2014 at 8:19 pm

      The last RM was on the 6th? Wouldn’t expect another one until after the 20th.

      • veutoviper 7.1.1
        18 June 2014 at 7:36 am

        The last fortnightly RM was until 1 June, released about three days later, Therefore the next should cover the period, 2 – 15 June inclusive. So it should be out any day now. Perhaps today or tomorrow.

  8. Bill 8
    17 June 2014 at 5:07 pm

    Again. 12.2% undecided. And, as previously stated in a similar discussion, most of that 12.2 % is likely to be undecided between one or other of the left leaning parties.

    But sure, this bullshit barrage of right leaning policy announcements from Labour under the guise of pragmatism has to end. I know they won’t reverse the tosh of raising the retirement age, or forcing workers to part with a portion of their earnings until after their extended working life has ended and they are maybe still alive – but they really need to come out with avowedly non-neo-liberal or neo-classical policies that have an immediate and direct impact on workers, now. And they need to roll them and keep putting people first from now on in. Otherwise their vote is assuredly gone and the right within the party will ascend on the back of a post election Labour Party disaster.

    • Colonial Viper 8.1
      17 June 2014 at 5:15 pm

      It seems to me that the Right in Labour IS ascendent.

      • Bill 8.1.1
        17 June 2014 at 5:24 pm

        Well aye, there is that.

      • Bill 8.1.2
        18 June 2014 at 2:39 pm

        It seems to me that the Right in Labour IS ascendent

        They are stirring. Like wee bastards. And this ‘analysis’ from Rob Salmond is a nice follow up to his rusty hatchet job of the other week.

        I fully believe that right wing elements within and outwith the Labour Party are ‘at it’ in an attempt to be rid of Cunliffe post-election in order to preserve a moribund, right leaning party and it’s equally moribund champions within caucus.

        Meanwhile, that poll. Put the 12.2% back into the calculations and you get 44% voting National, 36% voting Green/Labour alongside 12.2% being undecided. (I had to round the fcking numbers because as far as I can make out 91.5 people from 750 were undecided)

        So things don’t need ‘sugar coated’ (it’s an 8% gap)… and people really do need to get down to their local Labour electorate office meanwhile, and kick some wee pricks in the head until said wee pricks pull their fcking heads right in.

  9. Blue 9
    17 June 2014 at 7:11 pm

    Herald DodgyPolls are garbage. Statistically they’re not even worth doing. But the Herald keeps on desperately plugging them.

    The editorial this morning was good for a laugh – ‘but why doesn’t National think they can win an outright majority? Three of the dodgiest polls in the country say they can! Three dodgy polls can’t be wrong!’

  10. fisiani 10
    17 June 2014 at 7:51 pm

    It will be very close in September. Will the Greens be able to form a government with NZF, Internet Mana and Labour? Who knows? Would it be stable and effective? No way.Is that what people want? Of course not. For 20 years we have had MMP and each time we got a government that NO ONE voted for. Time for a strong majority government that also incorporates willing support parties and is around for another four or five terms.

    • Steve Reeves 10.1
      18 June 2014 at 3:11 am

      Man…how hard is it to understand?

      The House represents the people’s choices, and pretty faithfully under MMP (and very much less so under FPP).

      Once the House is constituted to follow the voting of the people, those elected thrash out who governs.

      Is the current government, with National, ACT, UF and MP (oh look! four of them…just like your example) stable and effective. Well, yes, clearly they are since they have got a lot of what they each want into law.

      And…a government being around for four or five terms doesn’t (why should it?) = a good government. It simply reflects, probably, an undemocratic voting system.

  11. john 11
    17 June 2014 at 11:28 pm

    The problem Labour has is a vote for them, is a vote for the seven headed monster.

    What centre voters want Crim Dotcon and the “don’t like pakeha” party.

    • Colonial Viper 11.1
      17 June 2014 at 11:51 pm

      Yes much better with Colin “Moon Lander” Craig.

      At least Winston Peters and Laila Harre are experienced Cabinet Ministers, and Harawira is a seasoned fighting MP. The Greens will be a major block with ~20 MPs, most already experienced. Bonus: they are not Area 51 chem trailing conspiracy theorists.

      • fisiani 11.1.1
        18 June 2014 at 12:40 am

        Have you got a link to any site where Colin Craig actually states that he agrees with the various conspiracy theories. My reading is that he somewhat naively stated that cannot rule any conspiracy out. That is not the same as saying he believes them.
        20 MP’s equates to 18% ie double current polling.

        • weizguy 11.1.1.1
          18 June 2014 at 8:11 am

          He didn’t say he agreed with the conpiracy theories, he merely demonstrated his inability to distinguish truth from fiction. Craig’s position on Chemtrails and the moon-landing point to a dangerous style of thinking. It’s the “well if someone disagrees with the generally accepted scientific consensus, there must be a real controversy here…” Essentially, he’s gullible.

          He’s welcome to make himself sound silly by lending some credence to conspiracy theories, but I worry about him becoming part of the next government and advocating for science teachers to start “teaching the controversy” that creationists/intelligent design proponents claim exists.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 11.2
      18 June 2014 at 10:02 am

      The problem John has is that everything he says is a frail pastiche of someone else’s material. He hasn’t had a single original thought since he arrived here. Feeble.

  12. john 12
    18 June 2014 at 10:16 am

    Ah – there’s my abusive stalker at work again.

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    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 ...
    Skeptical Science
    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 ...
    Skeptical Science
    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 ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on a textbook case of spending waste by the Luxon government

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • 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
    18 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
    21 hours ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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