President Pence

Written By: - Date published: 6:21 pm, May 21st, 2017 - 47 comments
Categories: us politics - Tags: , ,

Mensch and Taylor report that:

Judiciary Committee considering Articles of Impeachment

“Multiple sources close to the intelligence, justice and law enforcement communities say that the House Judiciary Committee is considering Articles of Impeachment against the President of the United States.”

Sources further say that the Supreme Court notified Mr. Trump that the formal process of a case of impeachment against him was begun, before he departed the country on Air Force One. The notification was given, as part of the formal process of the matter, in order that Mr. Trump knew he was not able to use his powers of pardon against other suspects in Trump-Russia cases. Sources have confirmed that the Marshal of the Supreme Court spoke to Mr. Trump. …

That would be consistent with:

Sources: White House lawyers research impeachment

White House lawyers have begun researching impeachment procedures in an effort to prepare for what officials still believe is a distant possibility that President Donald Trump could have to fend off attempts to remove him from office, two people briefed on the discussions tell CNN. …

Brace yourselves for President Pence. He’ll be worse for America because he might actually get stuff done. If he restarts the TPP he’ll be worse for NZ.

47 comments on “President Pence ”

  1. One Anonymous Bloke 1

    Bring on the 2018 midterms.

  2. Andre 2

    For those that missed it yesterday, a wee blurb about Mensch and Taylor.

    https://www.vox.com/world/2017/5/19/15561842/trump-russia-louise-mensch

    Basically they’re the lefty equivalents of Rush Limbaugh or Alex Jones or Glenn Beck…to be treated with extreme skepticism.

    • weka 2.1

      how do we know if vox or Zack Beauchamp are trustworthy?

      • Andre 2.1.1

        Trustworthy? Probably not. But their track record seems to be a lot better than Mensch and Taylor’s.

      • Andre 2.1.2

        Another worthwhile backgrounder about Mensch.

        “But readers are now being confronted with an even tougher challenge: decoding the work of writers whose track records of faulty reporting are occasionally interrupted by stories that are actually true.”

        https://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/may/16/fake-news-sites-reports-facts-louise-mensch

        • Bill 2.1.2.1

          Pretty rich of The Guardian given its penchant for peddling bullshit these days, no?

          Haven’t you noticed that there will be a piece by the likes of The Washington Post that uses the same flimsy framework of “someone” said “blah” (no evidence) as Menche’s piece above? But that unlike the bloggers stories, it gathers a sense of solidity because when the likes of The Guardian report the exact same shit, they refer to the source as being The Washington Post … which, y’know, what could possibly be wrong with a story coming from The Washington Post?

          And so the fact the original story had no named or identifiable sources and no evidence gets ‘papered over’ and the story gains legs and then further ‘flesh’ as various liberal outlets play ‘pass the parcel’ and repeat the basic lines, using one another as ‘back-up’ – as sources of credibility.

          Critical reading. When did it die?

          • weka 2.1.2.1.1

            got an example or two? (or just next time you see one).

            • Bill 2.1.2.1.1.1

              Go to The Washington Post site or the Guardian site and pick just about any piece at random concerned with Russia/White House/ Trump/ ‘connections’ etc.

              If The Guardian is citing the Washington Post, go to their piece (it’ll usually be linked) and see what their sources are…and burrow on down to the very first instance of “whatever allegations” being reported.

              More often than not there is no more to any of it than what’s in that Mensch and Taylor piece. They’re a wee bit more sophisticated insofar as they’ll use each new “snippet” as a springboard to re-hash and re-inforce previous stuff mind.

              The “Trump gave away sensitive secrets to the Ruskies” is quite a good one. Recent too.

              • He did give away classified info he admitted it and said he was allowed to didn’t he no yes no?

                Do you think he didn’t do that?????

                • Bill

                  He gave info to Russians about bomb plots for airliners that were going to utilise laptops. That’s as best as I can remember – but would have to go back and read the original Washington Post piece.

                  Sharing info that potentially saved the lives of civilians – not a bad thing in and of itself, is it?

                  But what the Washington Post has suggested is that there was some kind of wholesale divulging of state secrets that were so secret that even unspecified allies had not been told – and so secret that only a select few people within the administration knew.

                  Now, the Washington Post was not at the meeting and didn’t use a single source from the meeting, and provided not a single piece of evidence to back their allegations. Interesting, given that the info was so top secret that ‘no-one’ knew what it was, that the Washington Post also claimed to have the info but was withholding it in the interests of ‘national security’ or some such.

                  How’s that work?

                  You might also recall they claimed that an unnamed country was pretty pissed about having been revealed to be the source of the supposed intel, but that they were not going to name the country because of security reasons.

                  A couple of days later and they’re reporting it was Israel.

                  How’s that work?

                  And so it goes on and on and on. And over what?

                  Oh that’s right – some info was relayed to Russia that may have saved civilian lives. Was a portion of that info secret? Maybe. What level of secrecy had been afforded that portion of info (if it existed)? No-one is in any position to say. is it possible that the Russians could have inferred some other stuff from what they were told? Possibly. But again – no-one is in any position to know because no-one bar the people in the room know what details or info was passed on.

                  And not a single report from The Washington Post or The Guardian et al is basing any allegation on detailed information or discussion known to have happened at that meeting…or even on detailed discussion that anyone at the meeting claims took place.

                  • He said he was allowed to say whatever he liked – he had discretion and responsibility. And he did say stuff considered sensitive. In a quickly evolving situation other participants make decisions and statements/non statements as they see fit. Ho hum.

                    It is arrogance to think that unless some subjective evidence that convinces you is produced then the whole thing is a lie and just made up fake news. You know better and so much more than everyone else especially those agents of the system and deep system at that lol. Yeah nah.

                    • Bill

                      You’re being a dick marty. If you have a news piece that’s based on anonymous sources and no evidence, you don’t have a news story.

                      If all you want to do is peddle propaganda though, those things don’t matter. But then what you need is penetration and repetition.

                      The Washington Post (in this case) provided the penetration and the Guardian and all the other outlets that front paged that story on day two pushed the penetration further and provided the element of repetition.

                      And as I’ve said elsewhere, their methodology also involves using the latest unsubstantiated report to replay similar stories and allegations from the past – ie, repetition.

                      It’s not arrogance to demand some level of proof; it’s complete fucking idiocy to not demand it.

                      You say – And he did say stuff considered sensitive. What exactly was that stuff? Because unless we know exactly what it was, we’re in no position to judge how sensitive it was/is.

                  • rhinocrates

                    Sharing info that potentially saved the lives of civilians – not a bad thing in and of itself, is it?

                    Sharing too much information to a second party that may share it with a third party allied to the second but hostile to the first that allows the sources and methods to be deduced can be reckless and counterproductive. If it enables a source to be identified and then killed, then a valuable source is most likely killed and the leak is plugged, meaning that the flow of information is stopped and no further information will follow that would prevent more deaths.

                    That doesn’t mean that information shouldn’t be shared, but it should be shared judiciously and Trump is anything but judicious. Sharing specific data with the Russians might be in their mutual interest, but the Russians sharing that and what they deduce from it with others to suit their own interests may not be in anyone else’s interests.

                    I don’t think that Putin’s ‘evil’ for the sake of being evil, simply that he is ruthless in his promotion of Russian interests and that these are not those of anyone else’s and it is naive to assume otherwise and therefore sensible to tell him as little as possible.

                    Indeed neither you nor I are in a position to assess what is or isn’t safe to pass on, but to by one’s own admission say that since it’s superficially a good thing, it must be made open?

                    Really?

                    Sure, you can stamp your foot and demand ‘proof’ of this or that and hope for the best, but in the real world that’s simply not available. Sources will not give themselves away and spooks and reporters will protect them (I notice that Nicky Hager hasn’t yet told us who ‘Rorschach’ is and never will, for obvious reasons). Thus caution is essential as a policy.

                    • Bill

                      I was with you for most of that comment rhinocrates.

                      But then you lost me where you contend that in the absence of a named or identifiable source, we should just believe what we’re being asked to believe.

                      In the absence of sources (and yes, there are definitely times when it’s crucial that source remains unknown), then evidence is supplied.

                      And if it’s not direct evidence, it’s at least other verifiable secondary evidence that points very strongly to the unreleased evidence being actual and true.

                      But we have none of the above for any of this ‘Trump told the Russians our top secret shit’ clatter that’s been falling around the western msm front pages of late…just anonymous sources shooting their mouths off and generating banner headlines off the back of their pains.

                      If I was a bookie I’d be giving ‘odds-on’ for it coming from people very close to the Clinton/McCain tag team.

                    • rhinocrates

                      I think we can agree to respectfully disagree, Bill.

                      Clinton et al don’t have access to the inner circle while it’s been obvious for a while that Trump’s court is showing the factionalism and backstabbing that’s standard for any authoritarian regime surrounding a charismatic idiot. Each faction tries to push the leader in one direction or another and leaks or sabotages to express their profound disenchantment or rivalry with another faction. The clearest ideological split is between the White Nationalism of Bannon and the globalism of Kushner while junior staffers have been leaking anonymously for some time out of sheer frustration.

                      But then you lost me where you contend that in the absence of a named or identifiable source, we should just believe what we’re being asked to believe.

                      Thanks for reminding me of that (no irony intended).

                      I was told by someone I know (nudge nudge wink wink) that intelligence agencies trying to exploit assets in an enemy regime look at the most fanatical believers because they are most likely to react most extremely when disappointed and when vetting applicants for jobs in their own offices, they reject any fanatic patriots because they’re likely to sell out to the enemy out of sheer spite when their leaders fail to meet their idealistic standards.

                      My imaginary bet (a chocolate fish, since I have no cash to spare) is on a Republican or Orange Supremacist insider.

                    • Bill

                      Clinton et al don’t have access to the inner circle…

                      Correct. but they do have extensive networks built up and probably nurtured tover many years. Clinton et al want the Washington Post to run a headline? Done.

                      Whatever schisms and divides that exist within the admin, they may be different fault-lines to those that existed within other admins, but schisms and factions are ‘par for the course’.

                      How does this work? while junior staffers have been leaking anonymously for some time out of sheer frustration

                      First up, junior staffers anywhere in the world are ‘loose lips’. Second up, they tend to not have access to any really important stuff. Juicy stuff, yes. Important stuff, no.

                      But, if as you say, they’ve been leaking anonymously, then how is it known that it’s junior staffers that have been leaking?

                      If you can be arsed, I’d be interested to follow up on any links you can give to news stories claiming something of import came from a junior staffer.

                      You know that odds-on means that if you’re right to bet it’s a Republican, that you’ll only get your chocolate fish back plus maybe a fish head, yes? 😉

                    • rhinocrates

                      Well the best known are

                      Rogue POTUS Staff

                      and

                      Trump Leaks

                      There are others.

                      Plus, a run down of historical leakers in the various presidential administrations here:

                      https://theconversation.com/why-trumps-white-house-leaks-77651

                      I include this because it is from Fox news, traditionally on Trump’s side:

                      http://insider.foxnews.com/2017/05/19/krauthammer-trump-white-house-leaks-are-loyalty-problem-president-admin

                      ‘Par for the course’ I’m afraid undersells the effects of leakers. Junior staff see and hear everything and ignored equals invisible, ignored equals overlooked, which equals ambitious, which equals resentful, which equals vengeful.

                      Leakers as we know, and as Nixon knew can be devastating, hence Nixon’s ‘Plumbers’:

                      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House_Plumbers

                      Moreover, a lot of intelligence work is secondary, such as ‘the curious incident of the dog in the night-time.’ A classic example, perhaps apocryphal, is that of a top secret plane the Americans had developed that they carefully hid in a hangar while Russian spy satellites were passing overhead… however, while the plane was parked on the runway, it shaded the concrete, leaving it cooler. The Russian spysats using infrared were able to discern a silhouette of the plane from the ‘heat shadow’ it left, and the shape and size of its wing tells a tremendous amount about its capabilities.

                      There’s an image that people have of evil empires being all shiny floors and efficiency like the Empire in Star Wars. Yet in reality all government is shambolic and leaky, the Emperor doesn’t know everything that’s going on and graft is rife.

                      No, nothing is going to be empirically verifiable yet. At the moment it’s just persistent patterns that we’ll see. There may be no one Deep Throat this time, there may be many little ones. We’ll see what emerges and what corroboration comes along, but I doubt very much that Trump’s White House is going to be disciplined.

                      You know that odds-on means that if you’re right to bet it’s a Republican, that you’ll only get your chocolate fish back plus maybe a fish head, yes?

                      My doctor cautions me against too much sugar, so that’s reasonable.

                    • rhinocrates

                      PS, a perennial nerd debate is whether the Enterprise could defeat an Imperial Star Destroyer. Clearly the Enterprise would win – they simply have to beam over a load of ball bearings. Smooth floors and a lack of guard rails…

                    • Bill

                      At the moment it’s just persistent patterns that we’ll see.

                      Maybe where we’re diverging is that I’m picking ‘the pattern’ is largely being drawn up and coloured in by the same “affiliated” groups of people (ie – those with a common cause, like the McCain and Clinton camps and networks), rather than being revealed by the somewhat incidental actions or revelations of disparate and unconnected sources.

                      In that respect, I see it as being akin to the Corbyn stuff.

  3. Ad 3

    Trump needs to hang in there for a full term.

    The great Washington Refresh can’t happen without him.

    Democrat renewal can’t happen without him.

    In the absence of a Gandalf, we need Lord Sauron.

    • adam 3.1

      Ad, trump is at best a Saruman, for Lord Sauron have a wee look at pence, and be prepared to be very afraid.

      trump is an idiot, whilst pence really is a christian-fascist – those two words just look wrong together. There is this radical hate-fulled sect within Christendom, which pence is the paramount political figure of.

      • Ad 3.1.1

        Remember the last time Trump was underestimated?
        It was about three moths ago.

        • adam 3.1.1.1

          I don’t underestimate trump, I think he is an idiot in that he is a lay person in a job outside his skill set – way, way outside his skill set.

          That said, I think the alternative is worse. I’ve been asking about, and looking into pence more and more, and he really worries me.

          • Bill 3.1.1.1.1

            I think people need to get their focus off of Trump and start bloody well organising. “The left” should be getting ready instead of jumping on any old rickety bandwagon that happens to be passing.

            At this rate, the McCains and Clintons are going to be waltzing back into power.

            Now, I know there are plenty of liberals would be happy enough with that. And that’s fine. But for the rest of us, if we want some meaningful measure of change…

            • Incognito 3.1.1.1.1.1

              Crikey Bill, if you’re saying what I think you’re saying then we, the TS community, should pay heed IMO.

              The Trump circus is an enormous distraction, a red flag to a bull, a Pavlovian signal for all or most of us to drop everything (incl. our critical faculties) and fight the windmills.

              Closer to home we have our own smaller circuses to which we react and respond in inevitably predictable ways.

              As you correctly point out, none of this leads to meaningful solutions or change! In fact, it wastes our precious time and energy.

              We take our eyes off the ball and play the man or the messenger (or t-r-o-l-l); it’s becoming tedious.

              • Chris

                That was always Pence’s plan since when he saw that nobody wanted to be Trump’s running mate. Pence saw this as his way to the presidency. Quite clever, really, because he’s betting on Trump’s incompetence and the chances of a broken term, whatever the reason, it doesn’t matter. Whatever it is it’ll come down to Trump not knowing how to be the president. And if it’s impeachment it’ll be sooner than usual because both sides want him gone. Clever, clever Pence.

                But Pence is more dangerous than Trump in so many ways. That’s because he’s part of the respected right. Trump isn’t. His own fucking party is a hindrance to him. The likes of Pence, Carson, Rubio, Cruz, they’re all nasty fuckers but because they’re part of the respected right can do nasty stuff. Trump might be capable of starting a nuclear war with North Korea, but the establishment will oust him before he can. Then it’s back to core business for the republicans, which is fucking citizens over, let alone non-citizens. Heaven help America.

            • Molly 3.1.1.1.1.2

              Sorry, moved myself to Open Mike.

  4. Bill 4

    I’m actually with Andre and/or Vox on this, but if I may…

    Multiple sources close to the intelligence, justice and law enforcement communities say…
    Sources further say that…
    It was reported this week that…

    Those are the only premises provided for every single piece of info in that wee article. Now, reported by who ffs! And all these sources, not a one of them named and not a single shred of evidence provided – just a whole pile of “someone said” leading into various arm wavy OMGosh and what not.

    This bit’s probably true.

    Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein met with the House Judiciary Committee this week in closed session.

    So one piece of innocuous info in a splatter of bullshit.

    Now here’s the scary bit.

    The same simple exercise can be done on articles from the Guardian, The Washington Post, the NYT on a pile of US related stuff at the moment…and the same result of ‘nothing there’ pops up….just unsubstantiated rumours being spread by unnamed people.

    This is where I part company with Andre though. Because the very same bullshit he rightly lambasts Mench and Taylor for, somehow doesn’t matter when the outlets are the likes of The Guardian, NYT, Washington Post etc.

    • weka 4.1

      If you have a look under Mensch’s tweet of the article, there’s a whole bunch of people saying she doesn’t understand how impeachment and pardons work, but then they all argue with each other over how it works. #clusterfuck.

      “Multiple sources close to the intelligence, justice and law enforcement communities say that the House Judiciary Committee is considering Articles of Impeachment against the President of the United States.”

      There’s this dude,

      “I am on the House Judiciary Committee. This is what I am going to read this evening.”

      https://twitter.com/tedlieu/status/865772627469754368

      That’s an impeachment legal document. I have no idea if they are playing silly buggers. Or why he doesn’t just say what is going on. Is it meant to be a secret?

      I take your point about Mensch’s post, all the points she makes are innuendo. I’m less concerned about anonymous sources than the fact that she made zero attempt to back any of it up.

      • Andre 4.1.1

        Ted Lieu is a Democrat that’s been about the loudest about trying to remove Trump asap. If anyone bothered to look, he was probably talking about how to remove Trump even before the election. It’s partisan posturing, like Trey Gowdy and Benghazi or Jason Chaffetz and Hillary’s e-mails, except Lieu doesn’t have the clout of being a member of the majority party.

      • Bill 4.1.2

        It’s the new news Weka. It’s great! /sarc

        As I try to lay out above, it’s not just bloggers who’re scraping this low. Interestingly (well, I think it is) the Guardian link Andre gives seems to be suggesting that it’s terrible that all this ‘gunk’ is forcing readers to discern truth for themselves.

        I must have been brought up on a planet near here – y’know the one? Where critically evaluating reading material was just an integral part of normal reading. I guess Jon Swaine – the guy who wrote the Guardian piece – wasn’t.

        • Ad 4.1.2.1

          We are no longer in a political economy of singular truth.
          That planet is cold.

  5. Andre 6

    While it’s likely a more sober critique of the patribotics piece will come along shortly, the Twitter reaction is a reasonable pass-time.

    http://www.mediaite.com/online/twitter-loses-it-when-louise-mensch-says-marshal-of-the-supreme-court-told-trump-about-impeachment/

    But just to remind everyone, impeachment will have one or more “Articles of Impeachment” which get voted on by the House. Any of the Articles that get passed by a simple majority in the House then go to the Senate for trial, where a 2/3 majority vote is needed for conviction. If the president is convicted on any one or more of the Articles, he is removed.

    In practical terms, that means at least 24 (I think) Republican Representatives and at least 17 Republican Senators have to vote for impeachment on the same Article of Impeachment (assuming all Democrats and independents vote for impeachment). And wear the eternal wrath of the Trumpkins for doing so. They show no signs of being anywhere close to that yet.

    • Andre 6.1

      Sorry, that’s 19 Republican senators that would have to vote for conviction.

      • Ad 6.1.1

        It’s a second term issue.
        This term has plenty to play out before 19 will turn.
        We’re in a mythic saga not a short story.

        • Andre 6.1.1.1

          Yeah. I just don’t see any Republican senators wishing to get re-elected turning on Trump until after he’s lost the Trumpkins.

          On the other hand, I think the odds have increased of Trump deciding he’s not having fun and he’s fleeced the rubes for all he can, figuring out some way to say he’s “won”, quitting and walking away from the wreckage. He’s got form for that.

  6. Brendan 7

    Ol’ Bradbury has lost his way over the last couple of years, but I think he’s spot on with this analysis.

    http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2017/05/20/the-dangerous-fantasy-of-removing-trump/

    As incompetent and dangerous as Trump is he needs to be curtailed then removed democratically by the will of the American people for there to be any sense of legitimacy. That is, mid-term elections in 2018 to seriously hamper his legislative agenda, then finally removing him in 2020. It seems like a long wait, but Pence would do far less damage to the GOP. On the other hand, how much damage can Trump do in the meantime?

    • Ad 7.1

      His first paragraph was fine, but Bradbury needs to show patience.
      The arc of this narrative is pretty clear – just let it play out.

  7. Tricledrown 8

    Pence is deeply involved with the Russians as well that’s why Trump chose him.

  8. rhinocrates 9

    Gerald Ford wasn’t Nixon’s first VP, he was just the last man left standing. We’ll see how this plays out.

    • rhinocrates 9.1

      That said, Pence is the one that the Republicans would most want to succeed Trump and was chosen for that reason as a deal he made with them.

      Also, Trump was pressured into signing a pledge that if he was not selected as the Republican candidate, he would not campaign as an independent and effectively split the vote – now I don’t think that he would have honoured that agreement for a second, but nonetheless it reveals the calculations at work in the party.

  9. rhinocrates 10

    Noted:

    http://proudemocrats.com/2017/05/21/watch-as-these-notre-dame-students-get-up-and-walk-out-during-mike-pences-commencement-speech/

    A coalition of student activist groups at Notre Dame called We StaND For planned a walkout to protest policies Pence pursued as governor that they say targeted the most vulnerable. Pence was planning to seek reelection as governor when Trump selected him to be his vice presidential running mate in the summer of 2016, but Pence was unpopular at the time in his own state and many thought he would lose his reelection bid.

    School officials knew of the student walkout plans and did not try to stop them. The students — more than 100 — walked quietly out, and there were some cheers and boos sounded, though only briefly. Paul Browne, vice president for public affairs and communications, said Notre Dame has been the site of protests of presidents and vice presidents in the past, and as long as the students did not disrupt the ceremony, it would be allowed to take place.

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  • Why Are Bosses Nearly All Buffoons?
    Note: As a paid-up Webworm member, I’ve recorded this Webworm as a mini-podcast for you as well. Some of you said you liked this option - so I aim to provide it when I get a chance to record! Read more ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    13 hours ago
  • Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6.06 pm on March 18
    TL;DR: In my ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Monday, March 18:IKEA is accused of planting big forests in New Zealand to green-wash; REDD-MonitorA City for People takes a well-deserved victory lap over Wellington’s pro-YIMBY District Plan votes; A City for PeopleSteven Anastasiou takes a close look at the sticky ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Peters holds his ground on co-governance, but Willis wriggles on those tax cuts and SNA suspension l...
    Buzz from the Beehive Here’s hoping for a lively post-cabinet press conference when the PM and – perhaps – some of his ministers tell us what was discussed at their meeting today. Until then, Point of Order has precious little Beehive news to report after its latest monitoring of the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • Labour’s final report card
    David Farrar writes –  We now have almost all 2023 data in, which has allowed me to update my annual table of how  went against its promises. This is basically their final report card. The promise The result Build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • “Drunk Uncle at a Wedding”
    I’m a bit worried that I’ve started a previous newsletter with the words “just when you think they couldn’t get any worse…” Seems lately that I could begin pretty much every issue with that opening. Such is the nature of our coalition government that they seem to be outdoing each ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Geoffrey Miller writes – Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on Dune 2, and images of Islam
    Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture ...
    1 day ago
  • New Rail Operations Centre Promises Better Train Services
    Last week Transport Minster Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre. The new train control centre will see teams from KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Auckland One Rail working more closely together to improve train services across the city. The Auckland Rail Operations Centre in ...
    1 day ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things at 6.36am on Monday, March 18
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in an exit interview with Q+A yesterday the Government can and should sustain more debt to invest in infrastructure for future generations. Elsewhere in the news in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 6:36am: Read more ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than just a happy ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    2 days ago
  • The Kaka’s diary for the week to March 25 and beyond
    TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Bitter and angry; Winston First
    New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • Out of Touch.
    “I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The bewildering world of Chris Luxon – Guns for all, not no lunch for kids
    .“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    3 days ago
  • Expert Opinion: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
    3 days ago
  • Manufacturing The Truth.
    Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet –  is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
    3 days ago
  • A Powerful Sensation of Déjà Vu.
    Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
    3 days ago
  • Can you guess where world attention is focussed (according to Greenpeace)? It’s focussed on an EPA...
    Bob Edlin writes –  And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Further integrity problems for the Greens in suspending MP Darleen Tana
    Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Greens’ transparency missing in action
    For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    4 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    5 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    5 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • There’s a name for this
    Every year, in the Budget, Parliament forks out money to government agencies to do certain things. And every year, as part of the annual review cycle, those agencies are meant to report on whether they have done the things Parliament gave them that money for. Agencies which consistently fail to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago

  • Government moves to quickly ratify the NZ-EU FTA
    "The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 hour ago
  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
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