Pretty Legal: SFO to Investigate Nat Donation

Written By: - Date published: 10:36 am, March 12th, 2019 - 77 comments
Categories: same old national, you couldn't make this shit up - Tags: , , , ,

NZ Police have released a statement confirming that the Serious Fraud Office is investigating donations received by the National Party.

This appears to be the $100k donation MP Jami-Lee Ross claimed was split into smaller amounts to avoid detection. Ross put in a formal complaint to Police about the matter in October last year.

The statement says:

“Police have referred to the Serious Fraud Office a complaint received in October last year in relation to the disclosure of political donations under the Electoral Act.

“The complaint has been referred to the SFO as they hold the appropriate mandate to look further into matters raised by the investigation to date.”

No response from National yet, though I’m picking they won’t be claiming it was ‘pretty legal’.

That defence doesn’t seem to work any more.

77 comments on “Pretty Legal: SFO to Investigate Nat Donation ”

  • Comments are now closed

  2. Fireblade 2
    12 March 2019 at 10:51 am

    Newshub:

    On Tuesday, Mr Bridges said it was a “matter for the National party to fully cooperate with the SFO”, but he had received no contact from the SFO.

    He said it was “possible” Mr Ross could face prosecution, but remained adamant that National had “done nothing wrong”.

    “I’ve got nothing that concerns me about any of this… I don’t think National MPs have anything to worry about. We have nothing to hide. We do want to see swift justice here.”

  3. Anne 3
    12 March 2019 at 10:54 am

    Mr Bridges says any Serious Fraud Office investigation is a matter for the National Party and not him.

    Nah… it’s got nothing to do with me folks. You’re getting me muddled with the National Party. I’m not the National Party. 😕

    https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/384516/sfo-to-investigate-jami-lee-ross-complaint-on-national-party-donations

    • Rapunzel 3.1
      12 March 2019 at 12:27 pm

      Ahhh the old “other hat” trick aye?

    • mary_a 3.2
      12 March 2019 at 6:11 pm

      Anne (3) … yep, Bridges in typical Key mode there .. “not me”. Must be a hangover from the great pretender’s time as PM.

  4. Ankerrawshark 4
    12 March 2019 at 10:55 am

    “Possibly Ross could face prosecution”………..typical national, try and implicate someone else to deflect blame………

  5. patricia bremner 5
    12 March 2019 at 11:09 am

    “Swift Justice” What is wrong with “Justice”? Swift implies a kangaroo court to rid Simon of his embarrassing ex friend, JLR who is proving to be a threat.

    This could be devastating for National. Got my popcorn ready.

    • Anne 5.1
      12 March 2019 at 11:20 am

      The point is, it leads back to John Key. It was during his years as Prime Minister that this type of fraudulent behaviour became prevalent inside the National Party. They regarded it as normal practice. If the law is against us then we’ll just circumvent the law.

      To be fair there’s been a bit of it in all political parties but to my knowledge they never actually broke the law. National on the other hand took it to a whole new level.

      • ankerawshark 5.1.1
        12 March 2019 at 12:07 pm

        Anne, I think you are correct. I would imagine/hope that the SFO would be very thorough in their investigations. I hope Key gets fingered. He deserves it.

        Apparently according to No right turn, this is the first time a political party has been investigated by the SFO.

      • Sacha 5.1.2
        12 March 2019 at 12:29 pm

        It leads to Goodfellow. I do wish people would stop giving Key so much credit for stuff. He was the hired help.

      • Nick K 5.1.3
        13 March 2019 at 10:08 pm

        Labour or its apparatchiks have broken electoral law many times recently.

        The Pledge Card is the best recent example.

        • Anne 5.1.3.1
          13 March 2019 at 10:31 pm

          The Pledge Card is the best recent example.

          I wondered when someone would come up with that one.

          They were never prosecuted for breaking the law because they didn’t break the law. They submitted the Pledge Card to Parliamentary Services for approval and it was given approval. The Auditor General was asked by the Nats to look into the decision and he concluded that Parliamentary Services were incorrect. His view was not backed up by experts in the field of electoral law but Labour accepted his ruling and the rules were accordingly changed to take it into account.

          They also paid back the $800,000 it had cost to produce the card even though they didn’t need to because they hadn’t broken any law. Call it an act of good faith, which is more than National would ever contemplate.

  6. DirkDirkin 6
    12 March 2019 at 11:27 am

    Mr Bridges says any Serious Fraud Office investigation is a matter for the National Party and not him…… wasnt he on tape discussing the matter with JLR
    Will Simon now stand down while the SFO investigates? How many times over the past year has he demanded JA does just that

  7. Blazer 7
    12 March 2019 at 11:44 am

    To be fair to Bridges,even though Ross was trying to entrap him ,he maintained his integrity on this matter.

  8. mosa 8
    12 March 2019 at 12:03 pm

    I don’t have any confidence in the police or the SFO taking this matter seriously.
    The National party and it’s defense ” it’s pretty legal ” shows their contempt for the law and how it is applied.
    They have proved time and again to be above the law otherwise John Key should have faced prosecution for his misdemeanours with the Parnell waitress.
    They apply the law when it suits their interests to do so and manipulate it when it doesn’t.

    • tc 8.1
      12 March 2019 at 12:21 pm

      National hobbled the SFO so a wet bus ticket or whitewash is imminent.

      Probably the usual blah about ‘no specific law was broken…’ as they doctored the EFA under urgency to suit their cause.

    • James 8.2
      12 March 2019 at 7:01 pm

      Perhaps if she went to the police and not a left wing blog ?

  9. John Irving 9
    12 March 2019 at 12:28 pm

    What took the police so long. They received the compliant months ago!

    • Sacha 9.1
      12 March 2019 at 12:30 pm

      Possibly confused about whose boots to lick these days.

    • mosa 9.2
      12 March 2019 at 12:57 pm

      Why did it take the police so long ?

      They seem too suffer from amnesia when they are faced with politically sensitive espionage

      If they ignore it for long enough we will all forget and no crime to see here.

      https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2019/03/01/top-cop-forgets-to-follow-up-on-state-sanctioned-corporate-spies-of-course-he-forgot/

    • Wensleydale 9.3
      12 March 2019 at 1:38 pm

      They probably just ‘forgot’. There’s a lot of that about these days, apparently.

    • alwyn 9.4
      12 March 2019 at 2:41 pm

      The Labour party were waiting for some really nasty things about the Government coming to light. Now there are a whole lot all at once and they are calling in a marker with the Police Commissioner.
      I would say it is just a squirrel to try and distract the public gaze from the plethora of Government misdeeds.

      The Labour Party sex-camp case is coming up for trial, isn’t it?
      The Shane Jones shenanigans with his slush fund and his lying to Parliament about his meetings.
      Lees-Galloway having given permanent residency to the (reputedly) friend of senior members of the Government and their families.
      The favours being given to New Zealand First donors in the fishing industry.
      The way that already existing houses are being brought into the KiwiBuild system.
      The amount of money, already more than the promised $2 billion, that has been committed to the same scheme.
      The rapidly worsening DHB situation that is rapidly getting worse and where the coverups are starting to collapse.

      No wonder the Government are calling in all the favours they can find to try and divert attention from their shambolic situation.

      • te reo putake 9.4.1
        12 March 2019 at 2:57 pm

        That’s quite a list, alwyn. If only NZ voters gave a flying one, aye? You might recall us lefties had a similar list of all the bad things the Nats did under Key. Fat lot of good it did us. Hell, Key even got caught perving on ponytails and that didn’t move the polls an inch. We had to wait for Key to quit before we really had a sniff at winning. Sound familiar?

        I do give Bridges some credit, though. He’s got his team tightly focussed on all the passing cars, barking furiously as they drive around the beltway. Still, as the bard said, it’s full of sound and fury; signifying nothing.

      • ankerawshark 9.4.2
        12 March 2019 at 3:14 pm

        Alwyn,,,, ha ha ha ha ha. I predicted (but not on the Standard) that one of you right wing types would bring up the Labour Party youth camp and the sexual assault…………….your so predictable its hilarious.

        BTW Labour have dealt with their part re the Labour youth camp and the sexual assault. It is now the individual concerned who is facing the law, not the Labour Party………

        • Rapunzel 9.4.2.1
          12 March 2019 at 3:44 pm

          And other than the adults concerned in regard to being reckless as to who got their hands on alcohol it never was the “Labour Party”.
          Personally with my “kids” my first rule of law was not to “trust” them or anyone they may encounter and that extended right out to any other parents I might not know. Does that sound harsh?
          Trust me it was safer that way and got them through to a point where they and any decisions they might make or any circumstances they might be confronted with were of a nature they could handle.
          One thing I’m a bit disappointed about is that adults who stuffed up with the access of alcohol to minors didn’t then treat that as a valuable lesson to them not to “trust” everyone and that the whole episode was not held up to young people that age as to what exactly are some of the dangers out there. That approach should be used again and again to keep young people out of cars and away from awful outcomes that can happen with that and reckless behaviour.

        • alwyn 9.4.2.2
          12 March 2019 at 5:17 pm

          “Labour have dealt with their part re the Labour youth camp and the sexual assault.”
          Really? They appear to have kept that very quiet.
          What was the punishment for the “adults” and MPs in charge who did not report the offences to the Police and tried to persuade the victims to keep quiet about the matter?
          In France I see that Cardinal Barbarin, Archbishop of Lyon, received a six month sentence for exactly that crime. Were the Police in NZ persuaded by the CoL to simply look away about this matter too?

          OK. Who were the people who arranged the disgraceful affair? What was their punishment for attempting a cover-up? Who were the MPs who were there and have they been required to resign?
          Come on. If it is all over I’m sure you want to tell us what happened.
          After all, your leader assured us that she was going to lead the most open and transparent Government that New Zealand has ever had.
          Well START.

          • Rapunzel 9.4.2.2.1
            12 March 2019 at 5:31 pm

            Are they in court? No.
            I passed my opinion on how we managed, carefully managed our own teens/young adults to get to the point where they were very aware of where to go, where not to go and when to speak up and how.
            I don’t actually care if you disagree with that and if you are trying to maintain that that event and others are not things that should be confronted and used as lessons to reduce such occurrences and that they have not happened before and after you are naive.
            I don’t post here often but rather than care about the situation those young people ended up in you have dragged that out to politicise it just to deflect from the embarrassing situation Bridges and the National Party find themselves in

          • Ankerrawshark 9.4.2.2.2
            12 March 2019 at 5:35 pm

            Yes Alwyn. Labour launched an internal enquiry. They chose to keep it quiet because there were no charges laid against any of the organizers of the events or the MPs who attended the event. The police pressed charges against the perpetrator. He is entitled under the law to have name suppression right now. In their investigation the police charged no one else. So there clearly wasn’t any law broken by the Labour Party officials

            Labour’s investigation was for their own purposes so they could ensure a repeat was less likely to occur in the future. Labour was under no compulsion to do this enquiry. It happened because our PM wanted to find out what happened.

            So to make it clear the only charges that were pressed were against the perpetrator. I have heard he isn’t a member of the Labour Party, but even if he is, he is the person who is responsible for the criminal act.

            • alwyn 9.4.2.2.2.1
              12 March 2019 at 7:24 pm

              “So there clearly wasn’t any law broken by the Labour Party officials”.

              No. The Police chose not to prosecute any of the Labour Party MPs or officials who had anything to do with the affair.
              There would appear to a layman like myself to be a prima facie case that they had supplied liquor to minors and that they had attempted to procure the victims to not make a complaint.

              The Police are, however, very obliging where the Labour Party are concerned.
              Look at that, I believe unique, announcement by the Commissioner that they were not investigating Mr Gayford.
              Can you tell me of any other occasion that such an announcement has been made by a Commissioner about anyone?

              • Rapunzel …
                12 March 2019 at 7:57 pm

                The situation Bridges and the National Party are in today has brought about an acute case of finger pointing, even as a pleb and ordinary NZer I am well aware of instances with a Mr Farrar and the National Party at an event that was not entirely “sober” plus another last year.
                Now with the fact that Dowie as a “married person” was part of the behaviour deemed “not fit”, Maggie Barry’s overbearing and over-use of staff and other various indications of bullying I am surprised you dare to point your finger at anyone.

              • Ankerrawshark …
                12 March 2019 at 8:16 pm

                Alywyn I don’t believe the Labour Party supplied liquor to minors.

                I don’t believe they tried to procure minors not to make a complaint. That would be very serious indeed as witnessed in a recent trial of an Auckland business man. If you have evidence to the contrary take it to the police.

                Re Clark gayford. Yes an unusual and possibly an unpresidented move. In my opinion a good move given the scurrilous rumours circulating on the internet, the motivation for which was likely to get at the PM. Disgusting behaviour by such trolls. I am glad the police spoke up and I don’t see how or why anyone would object to them doing so. I would hold that view for any politician

          • Observer Tokoroa 9.4.2.2.3
            12 March 2019 at 9:31 pm

            Hello Alwind

            Could you be brave enough to name the Persons you are attacking here and in France.

            What charges have you laid on the Archbishop Of Lyon. What role did he have in the National Party ? Or was it in some other Organisation. For it certainly wasn’t the NZ Coalition Government.

            Why do you abuse Jacinda Ardern – constantly ? You dirty far right hypocrite boy.. Pick on someone like John Key who interfered with little girls, and got his evil Jollies off. Did you assist with Sir John key’s pernicious activities.

            Pick on Billy English who tried to run away with more than his entitlement. Did you advise Billy what to do. You completely deal in falsehood.

            You always will be a confused anti-female dirty false tongued creature Alwind. No help at all to struggling National!

      • McFlock 9.4.3
        12 March 2019 at 3:49 pm

        I don’t know what’s funnier:

        the concept that the timing of the big reveal was orchestrated by the government; or

        the idea that it’s some sort of dirty trick for the SFO to be investigating evidence of criminal activity by the national party. sense of entitlement, much?

  10. daveski 10
    12 March 2019 at 12:43 pm

    Simple precedent. Just change the law retrospectively.

  11. Tiger Mountain 11
    12 March 2019 at 1:09 pm

    It will take SFO long enough to get into Mr Goodfellow’s mansion gate, never mind investigating–they have been obstructed by experts over the years!

    But nonetheless worth a crack, why should the powerful be allowed to buy their way into office? JLR’s audio releases gave a glimpse into the top level behaviour of the NZ National Party that they did not like being exposed to public view one little bit.

    Jami Lee could be implicated too perhaps, but hey, there is always the old “I was only following orders” defence
and the authorities do not always let electoral finance matters slide, as ex MP Banksie found out.

  12. Fireblade 12
    12 March 2019 at 1:18 pm

    This could be messy.

    Twitter Jami-Lee Ross
    I am happy to answer the media’s questions around donation matters at 1.30pm on the black and white tiles.

  13. ianmac 13
    12 March 2019 at 1:34 pm

    Audrey Young:
    “The police are the only organisation who can confirm 100 per cent that the phone used to leak Bridges’ travel expenses last year belonged to Ross.”
    A very cunning sentence Audrey.
    Did the police confirm 100% that Jamie leaked the travel expenses? If not it shifts the blame onto Jamie anyway.
    Audrey Rose Tinted Spectacles Young sure likes to spin things.

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12211908

  14. AB 14
    12 March 2019 at 1:44 pm

    Nothing will happen because “there is no real corruption in NZ” and we “consistently score well” on anti-corruption indices.
    Rugby is also the most interesting sport ever invented, we have outstanding race relations, a pristine natural environment and the friendliest people on the planet who are deeply concerned about each other, we can do anything with no.8 wire and have the bravest soldiers of any nation.

  15. RedLogix 15
    12 March 2019 at 1:44 pm

    Good. National have actively sought to evade transparency around their donations for far too long. Time for the sun to shine in some dark corners …

    In this modern era where elections are increasingly vulnerable to outside influences we MUST learn to effectively deal to these issues across the board.

    • ianmac 15.1
      12 March 2019 at 1:50 pm

      I wonder if this issue will find its way into the Select Committee enquiry into foreign donations intruding on NZ democracy?

  17. WILD KATIPO 17
    12 March 2019 at 4:24 pm

    Bunny Walters – Take the Money & Run. 1972. – YouTube

  18. Pat 18
    12 March 2019 at 7:26 pm

    Would pay to wait until the result of the SFO investigation…and remember that they will be doing their best to find a reason not to prosecute

  19. solkta 19
    12 March 2019 at 7:58 pm

    Soyman Bridge ‘s falling down,
    Falling down, falling down
    Soyman Bridge ‘s falling down,
    My fair lady

  20. Peter 20
    12 March 2019 at 8:55 pm

    I see someone called Alwyn saying “The Police are, however, very obliging where the Labour Party are concerned.”

    is that the same police force which went through Nicky Hager’s house but not Cameron Slater’s when to ordinary people it seemed that if there was cause for one there was equal cause for the other?

    • WILD KATIPO 20.1
      12 March 2019 at 9:10 pm

      Yeah mate. How the other half squeal like stuck pigs when the boots on the other foot, eh?

      Down to Zero

      Joan Armatrading

      ————————-

      Oh the feeling
      When you’re reeling
      You step lightly thinking you’re number one
      Down to zero with a word
      Leaving
      For another one
      Now you walk with your feet back on the ground
      Down to the ground
      Down to the ground
      Down to the ground
      Down to the ground

      Joan Armatrading – – – ” Down To Zero ” – YouTube

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    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 KƍreroBy 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 KƍreroBy 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 KƍreroBy 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 KƍreroBy 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 KƍreroBy 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 PokapĆ« 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 kƍrero, he kƍrero, he kƍrero. 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 kƍrero 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 Manawatƫ rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government moves to ensure flood protection for Wairoa

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters travels to Laos this week to participate in a series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led Ministerial meetings in Vientiane.    “ASEAN plays an important role in supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Mr Peters says.   “This will be our third visit to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Backing mental health services on the West Coast

    Construction of a new mental health facility at Te Nikau Grey Hospital in Greymouth is today one step closer, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “This $27 million facility shows this Government is delivering on its promise to boost mental health care and improve front line services,” Mr Doocey says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ support for sustainable Pacific fisheries

    New Zealand is committing nearly $50 million to a package supporting sustainable Pacific fisheries development over the next four years, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announced today. “This support consisting of a range of initiatives demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment to assisting our Pacific partners ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Students’ needs at centre of new charter school adjustments

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour says proposed changes to the Education and Training Amendment Bill will ensure charter schools have more flexibility to negotiate employment agreements and are equipped with the right teaching resources. “Cabinet has agreed to progress an amendment which means unions will not be able to initiate ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Commissioner replaces Health NZ Board

    In response to serious concerns around oversight, overspend and a significant deterioration in financial outlook, the Board of Health New Zealand will be replaced with a Commissioner, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today.  “The previous government’s botched health reforms have created significant financial challenges at Health NZ that, without ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
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  • Minister to speak at Australian Space Forum

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