Prophylactic ignorance

Written By: - Date published: 7:23 am, September 19th, 2012 - 60 comments
Categories: accountability, john banks, john key - Tags: , ,

Notice how the only people who “believe” John Banks are the ones who haven’t (and won’t) read the police report?

Key:

But Prime Minister John Key is clinging onto Mr Banks – a crucial vote that keeps him in power. In fact, Mr Key refuses to even read the 126-page police report on the investigation. …

ACT:

The Act Party board is standing by leader John Banks, despite damning evidence in a police report into donations from Kim Dotcom and SkyCity in his 2010 mayoral campaign.

Act president Chris Simmons said Mr Banks still had the board’s confidence but did not say whether he hoped Mr Banks would stand again in 2014. He said he had not read the police report…

I wish I had coined the phrase “prohylactic ignorance” – I didn’t it was Gordon Campbell – because it is perfect. The only way Key can even pretend to “believe” Banks is to deliberately avoid the reality that everyone knows exists. It’s as slippery as a snake in wet grass, it’s “Keyvasive”, it’s pathetic. What a farce this government has become.

60 comments on “Prophylactic ignorance ”

  1. Uturn 1

    It’s inconceivable that a PM wouldn’t read a police report on a mattter concerning the stability of his government. It would be counter to strategy and sound information security. If Key hasn’t literally sat down with a cup of tea and read it, then he has certainly been briefed in detail about it’s contents and plans will already be in place to meet the likely Banks outcome. All it takes is one good interviewer to tease out the obvious.

    • RedLogix 1.1

      In fact Key is almost certainly lying about NOT having read it … and at the very least is well informed of it’s contents.

      • Lightly 1.1.1

        David Shearer: What details of the report of the police investigation into John Banks led him to comment “I think he did exactly what he’d always said, which was comply with the law.”?

        Rt Hon JOHN KEY: That is my reading of the police report.

        http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QOA/6/e/a/50HansQ_20120731_00000001-1-Hon-John-Banks-Donations-to-Member-s-Political.htm

        31st July 2012

        • r0b 1.1.1.1

          Well found.

        • CnrJoe 1.1.1.2

          well spotted sir!

        • Kotahi Tāne Huna 1.1.1.3

          That still gives Slippery a fair amount of wriggle room.

          He can claim that when he said “my reading of it” he meant it in the sense of his understanding of it. There’s no doubt he should now be forced to answer the question though, so that the camera can focus relentlessly on his bored, shifty eyes.

          • Uturn 1.1.1.3.1

            Yeah I thought that too, however, “reading” and “understanding” aren’t special technical terms. It would be a hard sell. They might get a day or two delay out of it. But there’s also one more problem in trying for a word interpretation angle. In the final line, he openly admits that he can override the Cabinet Manual if it suits him; the only “test” of ethics is whether it pleases him or not. An attitude like that doesn’t bother to hide itself behind subtlties.

            A PM doing whatever to get what they want, and admitting it, is not new to NZ. During this last term, the idea of extra privileges for the powerful has been pushed out even further and is gaining popular support. I’d be quite interested to see how the National support base have shifted their discretionary limits. Measuring outrage by Lefty standards is not much use in this matter.

          • Mary 1.1.1.3.2

            Yes, on his dead looking shark eyes.

        • bbfloyd 1.1.1.4

          hang on a minute…… Did he say “that is my reading of the report”? I thought he was adamant that he hadn’t read it?? So he DID read the police report? or not?

          Is it just my impression, or has johnny sparkles been telling straight out lies to parliament, the news media, and the country?

          Isn’t that grounds for a privileges inquiry….?

    • Majella 1.2

      “One good interviewer” – so NOT Shane Taurima then..! Kim Hill? Chris Laidlaw? Where’s David Axel or Ian Johnstone when you need them?

  2. vto 2

    .
    Can’t trust the man at the top.

    Can’t trust anyone.

    Don’t trust anyone. What the fuck am i doing back in so-called civilization again. What a hole.

  3. ianmac 3

    “I did not have sexual intercourse ….”
    “I have not read………”
    But he has no doubt had it read to him or given extracts to read. Then he can truthfully say, “I have not read….”

  4. MikeG 4

    The National Party’s chief blogger is strangely quiet on this issue – it would seem that he can’t even bring himself to defend the (non)actions of Key.

  5. In Vino Veritas 5

    Let us remember Darren Hughes. Police say “insufficient evidence to prosecute”. Mallard says “he’s cleared his name”. Goff says “he has integrity”. Then there is always Helen Clark.

    And there is also the small matter of context. Banks was not an elected offical at the time of the alleged misdemeanours. However, Hughes? Clark?

    Labour Party will take the super sized hypocrisy, with a side of dishonesty and a drink of blind stupidity.

    • MikeG 5.1

      Just remember that Key promised higher standards. We are yet to see them.

    • ak 5.2

      Thanks Vino. “They did it too sir” is the most cast-iron admission of guilt possible. In this case it also drags your golden boy down into the the same synthetic gutter you created for the examples you give. Well done.

      • In Vino Veritas 5.2.1

        Ak, you mistake me for someone defending Banks. All I am doing is pointing out that the same people lambasting Banks now, are those who have refused, on multiple occasions, to react with the same vigour when it has been one of theirs that stepped out of line.

        • Te Reo Putake 5.2.1.1

          Except the example you gave was pretty poor, given that Hughes stood down in advance of the police ruling. Wanna try again?

        • RedLogix 5.2.1.2

          In all the cases you mention the politicians involved were stood down pretty promptly once it was clear that a real investigation was underway.

          But it’s nice to see you acknowledge that Key is vigorously defending a Minister whom you implicitly agree is guilty as sin. So are you defending John Key as well?

          And are you arguing that the Opposition should remain silent here? That when they see corruption and lies that they should have nothing to say?

        • Dr Terry 5.2.1.3

          VV Would that not be perfectly natural? What’s the problem?

    • framu 5.3

      but he was an elected official, a member of govt no less, when he claimed a position that is completely at odds with the findings of the police investigation

      remember there were two issues – one of which the evidence shows he is likely guilty of, but cant be prosecuted for due to time limitation

      waht the hell happened to higher standards of conduct and the rights sainted “personal responsibility”?

    • Te Reo Putake 5.4

      Actually, Key’s problem is not what Banks did when he was a mayoral candidate, IVV. It’s the now apparent fact that Banks (a cabinet Minister) lied to Key (a Prime Minister) earlier this year when he said he didn’t know who the donations were from.
       
      Key promised higher standards from his cabinet, now he is reduced to the Sargeant Shultz defense ( I know nuzzink …nuzzink!).

    • RedLogix 5.5

      @vino

      The main reason why the Police chose not to prosecute was that there was a time limitation that had expired.

      But if you want to go ahead and argue that Banks had no idea who those donations came from and that he is perfectly innocent … please go right ahead and make the case for us.

      • In Vino Veritas 5.5.1

        Red, you could try this, straight from the report:

        39. Police concluded that this would satisfy the requirement of “False” in respect to The Return, but believe that the circumstances do not reach the Evidential Sufficency Test (assessed against the Prosecution Guidelines) in the Police cannot prove that Mr BANKS knowingly signed The Return in respect to Section 134 (1) of the Act.

        and also:

        Conclusions

        41. The allegations do not meet the evidential threshold in respect to Section 134 (a) of the Local Electoral Act 2001.

        Yup, that pretty much sums it up. The fact that the statute of limitations excluded the possibility of prosection is also backed up by the fact that that the Police say they couldnt prove that Banks was guilty. I’m sure Red, that you will argue that he is guilty until proven innocent. Since Socialists like their law that way.

        • RedLogix 5.5.1.1

          So you are arguing that Banks was completely unaware of where those donations came from?

          • In Vino Veritas 5.5.1.1.1

            No Red, I am arguing that the Police could not undertake a successful prosecution because there was not enough evidence to prove Banks guilty. Therefore I argue that in the eyes of the law, he is innocent. Action should not be taken against people just because the likes of you, and your politically motivated friends say it should be.

            • RedLogix 5.5.1.1.1.1

              But you failed to answer the question. Do you believe that Banks was unaware of where those two $25k donations came from?

              I’m quite aware that Banks has not been prosecuted. But no Minister holds onto his/her warrant until after a successful prosecution has been made… claiming that ‘in the eyes of the law’ he is innocent is a totally untenable defense.

        • Pascal's bookie 5.5.1.2

          hahaha.

          You quote 39 and 41, but not 40.

          tell us about 134(2)

          • In Vino Veritas 5.5.1.2.1

            I believe I mentioned 40 in closing Pascal. Having read the report, the Police say in 40 that ‘elements” of 134 (2) were met, not saying whether they were referring to 134(2) (a) or (b). Bottom line, they didnt have enough evidence to prove his guilt. It would appear Pascal, that you are another “guilty until proven innocent” man.

            • Colonial Viper 5.5.1.2.1.1

              Bottom line, they didnt have enough evidence to prove his guilt.

              Your words, not theirs. My read is that they would have pressed charges to have it tested in court, had it been within the 6 month limit.

            • Pascal's bookie 5.5.1.2.1.2

              You should read 40 again.

              they say that “the elements” of 134(2) are met. That would be both of them. They then say that they cannot charge because of the statute of limitations.

              The bottom line is that there is plenty of evidence that Banks has lied to the public and the PM about the extent of his dealings with Dot Com, and that the return was false, and that the PM is actively trying to avoid getting confirmation of those things.

    • Craig Glen Eden 5.6

      Banks was a candidate and is required to abide by electoral law. I think you have been drinking from that cup of stuidity that you so quickly accused others of sipping.

      • In Vino Veritas 5.6.1

        I remember you Craig, from a good long time ago, and you made baseless, factually incorrect statements even then, and I see nothing has changed. The only person drinking from a cup of stupidity is you. Read my posts. The police said the allegations do not meet the evidentiary threshold, Banks cannot be proven guilty and therefore he is innocent in law. Therefore he abided by Electoral Law.

        • Colonial Viper 5.6.1.1

          Wow, the police NEVER made that comment about the evidentiary threshold apart for one small part of the potential complaint. Seems you are the one making baseless, factually incorrect statements now mate.

          • In Vino Veritas 5.6.1.1.1

            read the report Viper. Its at 41, just to help you. Wow.

            • Colonial Viper 5.6.1.1.1.1

              Technicalities mate. Looks like the only reason Banks escaped 134(2) is the statute of limitations. Do you agree?

              Banks is a bad liar, almost as bad as Key. He knew where those donations came from, as surely as he knows which side of the bed he rolls out of in the morning.

              • Pascal's bookie

                He’s stopped talking about 134(2) after he read section 40 of the police report wrong and completely misrepresented it. To be charitable about it.

        • Te Reo Putake 5.6.1.2

          “The police said the allegations do not meet the evidentiary threshold, Banks cannot be proven guilty and therefore he is innocent in law. Therefore he abided by Electoral Law.”
           
          The last sentence has no relationship to the first. Banks did not abide by electoral law. In fact, he deliberately broke electoral law by arranging ‘anonymous’ donations from known donors. The sad fact that he cannot be prosecuted does not change what he did or its illegality.
           
          Please note that every other candidate in the council elections that year managed to get it right, from the humblest community board applicant right up to the mayors of every other city and district in the country. But then, those candidates weren’t trying to rort the system.

          • In Vino Veritas 5.6.1.2.1

            How do you know Te Reo? Did Len Browns donations for the Mayoralty campaign come from a Trust? And if so, how do you know anything about it?

            • Kotahi Tāne Huna 5.6.1.2.1.1

              Nice attempt at diversion. The evidence shows that John Banks broke the law. He escapes through the statute of limitations. There’s no way to spin that or get people to believe your silly narrative. If you’ve got evidence that there are problems with other candidates’ returns then present it.

              This particular episode will keep on giving and giving, since, quite apart from his manifest criminality, Banks lied to the public too, repeatedly and brazenly, again as evidenced by the police report.

              Oh, and the longer the shifty, slippery, bored Prime Minister lets it drag on, the more damage the National Party will sustain 😀

              [lprent: You are getting close to the edge of what is acceptable with that “manifest criminality” comment because you are stating it as being an objective fact rather than an opinion. I realize what the police report said about the limitation period. However the police do not determine criminality (regardless how the individual police sometimes operate). That is the role of the courts. A little more care please. ]

              • In Vino Veritas

                Kotahi, hardly a diversion, since Te Reo claimed “every other candidate”. I asked him how he knew. And then asked another question. At no time did I say I had a problem with any other candidates return, though I think you will find that it is a fact that Len Brown ran $499K of his $582K of donations for the 2010 Mayoralty through a trust. Oh, you can read it here:
                http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10693580

                • Kotahi Tāne Huna

                  IVV: Yawn. Who was it again who escaped prosecution because the statute of limitations applied? That’s right it was John Banks. What are people discussing? That’s right it’s John Banks, oh, and how he taints the National Party with every day his Ministerial warrant continues.

                  So witter on about Len Brown, the Mayor of Auckland, all you like – we’re talking about John Banks, the dodgiest MP Epsom has ever elected, and John Key, the bored and compromised Prime Minister.

                  LPrent: right you are guvnor.

                • Pascal's bookie

                  think you will find that it is a fact that Len Brown ran $499K of his $582K of donations for the 2010 Mayoralty through a trust.

                  The money went through a trust, but there is nothing to suggest that the identity of the donors was known by Len Brown, as your phrasing would imply.

    • Robert M 5.7

      He was of course the leading candidate for the Mayor of Auckland-on the citizens and ratepayers ticket,or whatever.
      The extraordinary thing about John, is why was he selected as a Nat canditdate.Why was he selected as an Act Candidate for NZ’s second richest seat. How could somebody who failed UE three times become Mayor of Auckland and be reselected as a Candidate.
      What on earth are his talents.He appears to have none,but arrogance, agression and lip and the fact for some inconcievable reason Sue Wood, Matthew Hooton etc smiled nicely on him.Why would the wet,right nats support a distant relation of Alan McCready ( an inexplicable promotion to the Marshall cabinet in 72). No 20 undoubtedly.
      Of course apparently John ran some lamb chop and red wine joints that employed a lot of waiters in the 1970’s. How much whisky and gin did Muldoon and his fellow racehorse owner Dud Mouldey sink after the laugh of making that young chubby guy John, the noted police reject an MP for the red neck and unenlightened borough of Whangarei.
      What on earth is the interest of Dot Com and his fifth size bead (‘the most beautful women, I have seen ‘)- John Banks MP for Remmers- noted connesueir of Russian dolls)- in this dull ,unintersting and very ugly Auckland MP.Why would he give him ten cents , let alone $50,000.
      I mean Eccelstone and Blair were both intelligent right wingers with attractive wives and their own children and a mutual interest in the Middle East and German politics. What an earth was the mutual interest of dot.com and John B. Champers,Matchbox 20,Pink Cangles, Political favours,payoffs for easing copyright and licensing laws, residency certificates, citizenship support letters.The Nick Smith type letter of support beyond the call of duty for a former friend and partier.
      What on earth do John and his party mates,discuss at the Act Party booze ups. There must be cake of course. Read the Basset review of the Goldsmith bio of JB.

  6. freedom 6

    As Mr Key enjoys semantics so much, let’s change the question
    ‘To the PM, Has anyone read the Police report to you?’

  7. marsman 7

    It may be wishful thinking but the title of this Post keeps giving me a mental image of Johnny with a ‘johnny’ stretched over his head.

  8. Herbert 8

    Did anyone mention David Garrett and offences committed while not a MP?
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Garrett_%28politician%29

  9. The Bank’s affair has not touched the opinion polls.
    To the MSM it is a try again at their “Ambrose” moment when one of their precious accidentally left a recorder on at a ptrivate conversation, and Key took exception (to an unexceptional conversation according to the Winston release) but the “Ambrose” was one of them, and they won’t forget it – despite “Ambrose” writing a letter of apology to Key, which was
    accepted.
    Subject getting a bore with nothing better to do in Parliament, which is getting close to year end wrap up and long holiday in Hawaii.
    There are pressing points to be made to new social legislation – let the oppositions get on with that and stop buggering around with Banks, which is water off a duck’s back.

    • lprent 9.1

      You really are a stupid politically unaware dork. That is probably because no polls have been taken through the period of maximum damage and then published.

      The OIA’s came back on about September 12th and this particular part of the saga with some definitive information only started then. Before that, it was largely supposition. After that then there has been a steadily rising firestorm (which I anticipate will continue for quite some time based on people expressing their indignation to me (usually they avoid the politically aware)).

      So there have been no polls published covering the last 7 days.

      But any way Act can’t get much lower than they already are. The story over this week has been about how Key has been too gutless to sack Banks for his perfidy of being economical with the truth with the public. Typically before this kind of screwup penetrates the polls jumping from the idiot politician to the person protecting them, it usually takes between 4 and 8 weeks. I suspect I’m going to enjoy looking at the Morgan polls towards the end of next month.

      This one has considerable traction…

      • King Kong 9.1.1

        Why are you looking forward to the next round of polls?

        If I recall correctly on numerous occaissions you have waxed lyrical about their lack of importance and how they dont matter or is that just when Labour is getting its nose rubbed in the dirt.

        • lprent 9.1.1.1

          Yes and no. If people are trying to divine the shape of a government from the numbers in a poll, then polls are about as useful as reading sheeps entrails to predict climate. The systematic sampling errors in how they pull their samples makes a mockery of the calculation or margins of error when looking at the voting populations.

          What they are measuring is the voting intentions of the population of people who have a landline, a listed phone number, landlines, and who certain enough of their voting intentions to be willing to answer. In other words an audience that is more affluent than the voting population (they have a landline), more conservative than the voting population (they listed their landline despite the telemarketers and they didn’t ignore calls from people with no caller id), older than the voting population (they have a listed landline and were at home to answer the phone), etc. By any stretch of statistics the population of who phone pollsters can get at is distinctly different to the voting population these days.

          BTW: For all of the distraction waffle I have seen about automated dialers and the like for doing polls, I haven’t seen any evidence that anyone with an unlisted phone number gets called for political polls. I certainly haven’t in a few decades of being unlisted, and nor has a sufficient sample of others I’ve asked. And of course trying to find someone under 30 with a listed landline in urban areas these days is like finding a dodo. Besides which, it will be cheaper to either scan the whitepages or buy a list from them than to auto-dial a analogue circuit..

          However I have also always said that the longer term trends in polls are useful and important. They won’t tell you the shape of election result. They will indicate shifts in voters opinions. That’s why whenever you see me looking at polls I look at the long-term charts like the Morgan poll produces. Which is why I saying that we’d have to wait for a number of the same poll to be able to see any trend (you need more than one data point to look for trends)…. The Morgan poll is published about every two weeks for the about the two weeks prior.

        • McFlock 9.1.1.2

          Indeed, ’tis the trends that matter, KK.
                 
          But trends end with the last observation.
          As an exercise, look at the current morgan polls.  Now imagine the short trend if nat go up say 1.5% (i.e. margin of error). Now down 1.5%. What does that do to the trend?
               
          Much of the time when tories post links to the polls they gloat about e.g. the feb22-mar11 poll, with a last minute upswing on a down trend. So they get called on their stupidity.
             
          Basically, since the election nat have been static/leaking support slightly, while their support parties have remained pretty constant (including Maori party). Oh, and according to RM the nats lost 1 or 2% in the last week of the election campaign. If that’s survey bias rather than a real drop, all this year the nats would have had great difficulty remaining in govt in the event of a snap election. Contrast that with the trend from the previous election

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    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
    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
    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
    2 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
    4 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
    4 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
    5 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
  • Echoes of 1968 in 2024?  Pocock on the repetitive problems of the New Left
    Mike Grimshaw writes – Recent events in American universities point to an underlying crisis of coherent thinking, an issue that increasingly affects the progressive left across the Western world. This of course is nothing new as anyone who can either remember or has read of the late ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Two bar blues
    The thing about life’s little victories is that they can be followed by a defeat.Reader Darryl told me on Monday night:Test again Dave. My “head cold” last week became COVID within 24 hours, and is still with me. I hear the new variants take a bit longer to show up ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 13
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Angus Deaton on rethinking his economics IMFLocal scoop: The people behind Tamarind, the firm that left a $500m cleanup bill for taxpayers at Taranaki’s Tui oil well, are back operating in Taranaki under a different company name. Jonathan ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • AT Need To Lift Their Game
    Normally when we talk about accessing public transport it’s about improving how easy it is to get to, such as how easy is it to cross roads in a station/stop’s walking catchment, is it possible to cycle to safely, do bus connections work, or even if are there new routes/connections ...
    6 days ago
  • Christopher's Whopper.
    Politicians are not renowned for telling the truth. Some tell us things that are verifiably not true. They offer statements that omit critical pieces of information. Gloss over risks, preferring to offer the best case scenario.Some not truths are quite small, others amusing in their transparency. There are those repeated ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago
  • Funding hole for tax cuts growing by the day
    The pressure is mounting on the Government as it finalises its Budget Policy Statement, but yet more predicted revenue ‘goes missing’. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Climate Commission has delivered another funding blow to the National-ACT-NZ First coalition Government’s tax-cutting plans, potentially carving $1.4 billion off the ‘climate ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Luxon’s brave climate change promise
    The Government now faces the prospect of having to watch another tax raise the price of petrol when, only six days ago, it abolished the Auckland Regional Fuel tax. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon argued that the regional fuel tax imposed costs on lower-income people with less fuel-efficient vehicles  and that ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days 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
    3 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
    5 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
    5 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
    19 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
    23 hours 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
    Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024.  “Lower fruit and vege ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
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  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
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