Blighty’s point was that Key is free to travel to Hawaii for regular holidays (from what btw?) not because of the innate freedom of movement we share as citizens of a democracy but because he has accumulated a grossly disproportionate share of the world’s resources for his own personal benefit.
‘Cos he wants to do some personal hands-on promotion of our 100% pure brand to the USA group who are among the biggest spenders of our overseas visitors?
(He invites them to a hangi and hands out leaflets and free samples.)
Could it be to get away from the shithole he’s turning NZ into?
Heck, he wouldn’t want to walk amongst the great unwashed and view his handiwork – you know the minimum wage earners, the minorities who are responsible for all of society’s ills and those who dare to speak out about his vicious policies.
All the dumb prick can do is look like stunned mullet every time any question requiring some basic requisite intellect is put to him.
To be fair, Helen used to go on walking tours overseas, no? And if I could go to Hawaii I would…full time actually since Key is turning this place into such a dump.
I’m more concerned as to how he always manages to be overseas when bad news comes out. No surprises that he missed the GST rise I imagine…
Somehow I can’t see Smile & Wave wandering too far away from the limo and doing the Milford, Routeburn or any other of the fantastic scenic tracks New Zealand has to offer.
Keyt is a man who is in dire need of fresh air and excercise.
You mean Key made South Auckland a dump, wow, that is impressive in 2 years.
BTW guys, you always go on about how good Oz is, why don’t you go there so you can have higher wages or are jobs in Canberra hard to get as they have enuf beauracrats? I know contributors to this site would not know a hard days work is being pen pushers.
That doesn’t mean you have to be lazy yourself! (I don’t suppose you get your PA to write your posts, but you could take my advice and do it as well as she would – write them in Word then copy-and-paste… But first, check that your Word spell-and-grammar checks are set to English NZ, not US, which is the default..)
Deb
@nilats. Your language here demonstrates the sort of esteem you hold your employees in. Probably indicates what sort of employer you are as well. I am sure your P.A. would love to be described as a pen-pusher.
Good job Tolley wasn’t around when (if) you went onto college. You wouldn’t have met her standards and you’d have “failed”.
Further, isn’t it Key who bangs on about how good Australia is and that he wants to close the gap.
I hope you were never connected with leaky homes nilats. And watch the careful anchoring of those concrete slabs won’t you with the right gauge and metal bolts.
Perhaps it’s because he wants to holiday where he is a complete unknown. Where he can wander down to the shops in jandals and a ratty old t-shirt or just relax a the beach without people coming up to talk to/harrang/button hole him all the time.
While I actually like the aspect of New Zealand politics that means that you can see MPs out on the street or sit next to them on planes etc I could see how constantly having to be “on show” would get tiresome.
True. I wonder what a “full time lamp post replacer – on call 24hrs” gets paid. Actually between Lindsay,Tiger and Paris you could probably justify a whole crew.
Then there’s the drug and alcohol industry (both supply-side and treament).
Hell, she’s veritable walking (staggering?) job summit. Someone should get on to immigration toot sweet!
Jesus give up on the class war, boo hiss rich person bs.
The majority of NZ know thinks along the same line as the US now, money and fame is something you aspire to.
Apart from the ex poms on this site this class divide English bollocks doesn’t resonate with anyone.
Oh my friend, it is a class war, and the elites are waging it on everyone else, awarding themselves generous tax breaks, bailing themselves out of their own financial speculation with our tax dollars, making working life tougher and more insecure for the many while the few live it up.
And everyone else is starting to wake up to it.
Jesus give up on the class war
Pffft. Somehow I don’t think he anointed you His spokesperson.
Yes but VP, not sure that elite describes rich folk. Elite to me means superior intellectual and/or artistic merit. Being rich does not necessarily mean being of the elite. And in fact money traders are just unscrupulous takers. Envy? Not me.
“The majority of NZ know thinks along the same line as the US now, money and fame is something you aspire to.
Apart from the ex poms on this site this class divide English bollocks doesn’t resonate with anyone”
Thanks be to God you are wronger than a very wrong thing! As one of those Poms you denigrate, I am here to tell you that the class system in NZ is just as bad, if not worse than overseas. Enough money would be nice, but you can stick your fame where the monkey stuck its ninepence, and I would rather be dead than American…
Sincerely meant, I am afraid… Judging by Americans I know, paranoia coupled with unthinking patriotism, and a lack of education coupled with a stubborn refusal to admit ignorance, in *any* context, are pretty much universal North American characteristics.
(Plus of course, having the need to defend indefensible wars would drive me insane. Kudos to the Americans who are *anti-war* – pity there aren’t more of them!
No Brett we don’t need to have a copy of class ridden Brit, we proudly can hold up our heads and say we are creating our own (always of course with an eye on what the other countries are doing).
cause hes a wanker and a tosser there are many great places here for a holiday,but he would have trouble going to them as he knows what hes done to the average worker and if he went out for lunch they may spit in his food.
I would
Because it’s in keeping with his international and national reputation as “Smile & Wave, Scuttle & Run”- the PM who disappears when the going gets tough.
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Associate Health Minister Julie Anne Genter has received the report back from a surgical mesh restorative justice process undertaken by Victoria University. The process heard stories, either in person or online submission, from more than 600 people affected by surgical mesh. “The report made for heart-breaking and confronting reading,” says ...
The Water Services Regulator Bill – Taumata Arowai , introduced to Parliament today, is a milestone for drinking water safety in New Zealand and will help improve environmental outcomes for urban waterways, rivers and lakes. “This is a breakthrough for New Zealanders in terms of providing safe drinking water throughout ...
Kia ora koutouE ngā mana, e ngā reo, e ngā matā wakaTēnā koutou katoaHaere ngā, moe maiKoutou ma ngā Rangatira Ko Anaru ahauKo au te Minita mo ngā TureHe Honore tino nui kei roto I ahau No reira tena koutou katoa Today, we are releasing two reports that are the ...
The Government is looking to turn around the long-term challenges of criminal justice by taking a new approach to break the cycle of offending to ensure there are fewer victims of crime. Justice Minister Andrew Little released two reports today, Turuki! Turuki! from Te Uepū Hāpai I te Ora, and ...
New Zealand firms expanding beyond the start-up phase are set for more support after today’s passage of the Venture Capital Fund Bill, Associate Finance Minister David Parker said. The Bill, which establishes a $300 million Venture Capital Fund, puts in place a key initiative of the Wellbeing Budget’s economic package. ...
E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e ngā iwi, e ngā rau rangatira mā. Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa. Señora Presidenta, Excellencies, Delegates. International action A common thread that runs through the Paris Agreement is the commitment we have made to each other to do what we can to ...
The Government is lifting capital investment to the highest level in more than 20 years as it takes the next step to future-proof New Zealand. Finance Minister Grant Robertson has announced $12 billion of new investment, with $8 billion for specific capital projects and $4 billion to be added to ...
The Government is forecast to run $12 billion worth of surpluses across the four years to 2023/24 as the economy continues to grow. The surpluses will help fund day-to-day capital requirements each year. These include fixing leaky hospitals, building new classrooms to cover population growth and take pressure off class ...
Budget 2020 will continue the Coalition Government’s focus on tackling the long-term challenges facing New Zealand while also investing to future-proof the economy. When the Government took office in 2017 it was left with crumbling infrastructure, severe underinvestment in public services, degraded rivers and lakes, a housing crisis and rising ...
The Minister responsible for the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act 2011 (te Takutai Moana Act 2011), Andrew Little has welcomed the launch of an online geospatial tool that provides data-rich, dynamic coastline maps that will significantly boost research and evidence-gathering under the Act. Te Kete Kōrero a Te ...
The Chief Victims Advisor to Government Dr Kim McGregor, QSO, has been reappointed in her role for a further two years. Dr McGregor has held the role since it was established in November 2015. She provides independent advice to government on how to improve the criminal justice system for victims. ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters and Civil Defence Minister Peeni Henare have today announced the deployment of a network of DART (Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunami) buoys. “New Zealand and the Pacific region are particularly vulnerable to natural disasters. It is vital we have adequate warning systems in place,” ...
DART Buoys Announcement Aotea Wharf, 9.30am 11 December 2019 Acknowledgements Acknowledgements to Minister for Civil Defence Hon Peeni Henare also here today. White Island It is with regret that this event shadows the tragic natural disaster two days ago. The volcanic eruptions on White Island have claimed 5 lives, ...
Racing Minister Winston Peters has welcomed the first reading of the Racing Industry Bill in parliament today. This is the second of two Bills that have been introduced this year to revitalise New Zealand’s racing industry. “Our domestic racing industry has been in serious decline. The Government is committed to ...
Minister for Disability Issues, Carmel Sepuloni, is pleased to announce that $291,321 is to be awarded to national and local community initiatives to maintain and promote the use of New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL). “New Zealand is one of the few countries in the world where Sign Language is an ...
Minister for Veterans Ron Mark has announced today the Coalition Government’s initial response to work completed by the independent statutory body, the Veterans’ Advisory Board. “When Professor Ron Paterson completed his review of the Veterans’ Support Act in 2018, he made a number of recommendations, including one which I referred ...
The Government will fund the bulk of the cost of a rural water supply for the Ohakea community affected by PFAS contamination, Environment Minister David Parker announced today at a meeting of local residents. This new water scheme will provide a reliable and clean source of drinking water to the ...
I have had the opportunity to be briefed on the details of the volcanic eruption of Whakaari/White Island, off the coast of Whakatane in the Bay of Plenty. The eruption happened at 2.11pm today. It continues to be an evolving situation. We know that there were a number of tourists ...
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Minister of Civil Defence Peeni Henare have today confirmed initial Government support of $100,000 for communities affected by the severe weather that swept across the South Island and lower North Island over the weekend. The contribution will be made to Mayoral relief funds across the ...
New Zealand's High Commissioner to the Cook Islands, Tessa Temata, died in Palmerston North over the weekend, Foreign Minister Winston Peters said today. Ms Temata, 52, had recently returned to New Zealand for medical treatment. "On behalf of the Government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, we extend ...
Transport Minister Phil Twyford today announced construction is underway on Wellington commuter rail upgrades which will mean more frequent services and fewer breakdowns. The upgrades include converting the Trentham to Upper Hutt single track section to a double track, with a new signalling system, upgraded stations and level crossings, and ...
Minister of Defence Ron Mark and Minister for Climate Change James Shaw have announced the release of a Defence Climate Change Implementation Work Plan, titled Responding to the Climate Crisis: An Implementation Plan. The plan sets out a series of recommendations based on the 2018 New Zealand Defence Assessment, The ...
A medium-scale adverse event has been declared for the South Canterbury district, which will see up to $50,000 in funding made available to support farming communities which have been significantly affected by recent heavy rain and flooding in the area, says Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor. “Two weeks of solid rain ...
Thank you Professor Juliet Gerrard and your team for the comprehensive and extremely helpful report and recommendations. Thank you too to all the stakeholders and interested parties who have contributed ideas and thinking to it. “Making best practice, standard practice” is a great framework for change and the action plan ...
The Government will phase out more single-use plastics following the success of its single-use plastic bag ban earlier this year and the release today of a pivotal report for dealing with waste. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has welcomed the Rethinking Plastics in Aotearoa New Zealandreport, released by her Chief Science Advisor ...
International education continues to thrive as the Government focuses on quality over quantity, Education Minister Chris Hipkins said. The tuition revenue from international education increased to $1.16 billion last year with the average tuition fee per student increasing by $960. The total number of international students enrolled in New Zealand ...
I want to talk about one of the most pressing issues in our national life: the housing crisis and the poor performance of our cities. The argument I want to make to you is that generations of urban land use policy have lacked a decent grounding in economics. The consequences ...
Health Minister Dr David Clark says new appointments to DHBs represent a significant changing of the guard, with 13 new chairs including four Māori chairs. Today 76 appointments have been announced to complement elected board members, as well as eight elected members appointed as either chair or deputy chair. Four ...
Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Fletcher Tabuteau, is travelling to Germany, Poland, Austria, and Spain next week to bolster New Zealand’s political and trade relationships in Europe. While in Spain, Mr Tabuteau will represent New Zealand at the 14th Asia-Europe (ASEM) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Madrid. “New Zealand strongly supports ...
“I’ve spoken to Minister Faafoi, who has apologised for his poor handling of this issue,” Jacinda Ardern said. “I have confidence in Kris as a hardworking and effective Minister, but this should have been dealt with in a much clearer manner, and I’ve made my views on that very clear ...
Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters met with Tongan Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa in Wellington today. The pair signed a Statement of Partnership setting out joint priorities for cooperation out to 2023. “We welcomed Prime Minister Tu'i'onetoa on his first visit to New Zealand as Prime Minister. Tonga ...
The Minister of Police Stuart Nash says his sympathies are with the family of a man who died after being shot by Police in Kurow. “Initial reports are that Police were called by a family member to help the man who was threatening to harm himself,” Mr Nash says. “However ...
Ethnic communities will be able to plan and deliver more community initiatives thanks to an increase in Government funding, Minister for Ethnic Communities Hon Jenny Salesa said today. “Ensuring Aotearoa New Zealand is a place we can all be proud to call home has been a key priority of our ...
Healthier waterways, better productivity and farmer wellbeing are front and centre in a new project involving more than 1000 Southland farmers and growers. Minister of Agriculture Damien O’Connor today announced that the Thriving Southland Change and Innovation Project is the first region-wide extension programme supported by the $229 million Sustainable ...
Work to look after nature and restore freshwater quality in Te Hoiere/Pelorus River catchment is getting a significant boost, thanks to new Government funding support Minister for Conservation Eugenie Sage announced in Canvastown today. “Every New Zealander should be able to swim in their local river without getting sick, and ...
Eight Queen’s Counsel have been appointed under a process that includes the new criterion of a commitment to improving access to justice, Attorney-General David Parker announced today. “The new criterion was included this year. It emphasises that excellence and leadership in the profession can be seen through a wider, community ...
Onslow College in Wellington will get 20 new classrooms for more than 400 students, Education Minister Chris Hipkins announced today. The much-needed investment will relieve growth pressure the school has been experiencing for some time. Seven existing classrooms which have deteriorated over time will also be replaced, bringing the total ...
More than 250 young New Zealanders will add international experience to their education, thanks to the latest Prime Minister’s Scholarships for Asia (PMSA) and Latin America (PMSLA), Education Minister Chris Hipkins announced today. This round of scholarships supports 252 recent graduates or current students to undertake study, research or internships ...
The Taxpayers’ Union has published the 2019 ‘Public Sector CEO Rich List’ at www.taxpayers.org.nz/ceo_rich_list Taxpayers’ Union spokesman Louis Houlbrooke says, “This year taxpayers will pay $62 million in salaries for just 140 people. ...
The first step in making things fairer, for those that have experienced a miscarriage or stillbirth, got closer with the passing of the first reading of Labour MP Ginny Anderson’s Holidays Act (Bereavement Leave for Miscarriage) Amendment Bill on Tuesday. ...
All over the world, driver error and risk-taking is a leading cause of road crashes [1]. For many employees, driving is the riskiest activity they undertake at work. Organisations looking to encourage and manage safe driving behaviours will benefit ...
The greatest show to ever air on New Zealand TV screens, and arguably any screens ever, had a tenure of just three tragically short years.It was on air from March 1997 to September 1999. It had an ensemble of impossibly jazzy New Zealand children and a live studio audience. It ...
Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage.New Zealand Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand.Government infrastructure spending, fiscal policy Chris Trotter: Grant Robertson Spends Up Large – On The Establishment Thomas Coughlan (Stuff): Politics and economics ...
Thursday, 12 December: Great South has today released a profile of Southland’s emission sources for the 2018 calendar year. It shows that agricultural-related emissions were identified to be the largest emission source for Southland, representing 69% ...
Britain votes today in an election brought on by the ongoing failure of the House of Commons to approve any of the Brexit deals put before it over the last couple of years by successive Prime Ministers, Theresa May and now Boris Johnson. Mr Johnson ...
The case for a complete relocation of Auckland’s Waitematā Harbour freight port is far from established. Nevertheless, Auckland will grow over the long term, and the freight operations need to move away from the area close to the downtown Ferry Terminal. This area should become like Sydney’s Circular Quay. The ...
Climate change crisis; - “transport emissions are a major culprit causing horrendous weather events.” At CEAC; we will watch with interest of how the transport funds will be used to improve our transport infrastructure and lower our climate change ...
Finance Minister Grant Robertson unveiled a $12 billion infrastructure spending boost that was at the top end of most short-term political expectations. ...
From unpaid teachers to match fixing to sex in a toilet, these are the news stories that outraged New Zealand in the 2010s.Paul HenryThe decade in NZ scandal started out strong thanks to TV and radio host Paul Henry (for the edification of younger readers, he was like Mike Hosking, ...
The Minister for the Environment, Hon David Parker, has this evening launched EDS’s final report on its Resource Management Law Reform Project at a function in Wellington. The project took a first-principles look at how New Zealand’s resource management ...
The power of government to order users and companies to decrypt encrypted data and devices needs stronger privacy protections and additional safeguards, according to a study published by researchers at the University of Waikato. ...
The final Cabinet meeting of the year is on Monday, but an announcement on the future of public broadcasting may not be made until next year given there's only be two of after that. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rob Manwaring, Senior Lecturer, Politics and Public Policy, Flinders University The cost of running the 2017 UK general election was estimated at £140 million (A$270 million). It’s likely to be higher this time. In 2017, the Conservatives, Labour and the Liberal Democrats ...
National Leader Simon Bridges is accusing the Government of "screwing up the economy," after new Treasury figures revealed the books would be going into deficit next year. ...
Government unveils $12b infrastructure boost, much of it focused on roads and rail; and much awaited report on combatting foreign interference in elections delivered. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adam Brumm, ARC Future Fellow, Griffith University Our team has discovered a cave painting in Indonesia that is at least 44,000 years old and which may cast new light on the beginnings of modern religious culture. This ancient painting from the island ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Sweller, Emeritus Professor, UNSW This is the first of two essays exploring key theories – cognitive load theory and constructivism – underlying teaching methods used today. Explicit guidance and feedback from teachers is more effective in teaching students new content and ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Chris Hartley, Research Fellow (Housing and Homelessness) at the Centre for Social Impact, UNSW A private member’s bill, moved by Labor MP Josh Burns, recently called on the Australian government “to help build more affordable homes” in response to the growing homelessness ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Salvatore Ferraro, PhD candidate, RMIT University The board of Australia’s second-biggest bank is in for some stick at its annual general meeting today, as Westpac shareholders vent their displeasure at the scandal involving breaches of anti-money-laundering rules. But though it will be ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ayesha Scott, Senior Lecturer – Finance, Auckland University of Technology In the 12 years since New Zealand introduced the retirement fund KiwiSaver, nearly three million New Zealanders have enrolled and 30 KiwiSaver providers are now collectively managing NZ$57 billion in investments. But ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tanya Dalziell, Associate Professor, English and Literary Studies, University of Western Australia Nick Broomfield’s latest documentary, Marianne & Leonard: Words of Love tells the story of the fabled relationship between Leonard Cohen and Marianne Ihlen, which unfolded after they met on the ...
Two more victims of the Whakaari-White Island eruption have died overnight, taking the death toll to eight, with eight others believed dead on the island. ...
Two new reports both recommend fresh approaches to the way criminal justice is approached. Today, changes to the system will come into effect immediately. ...
Good morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Capacity constraints loom large in spending stimulus, pilot speaks out about slow Whakaari recovery efforts, and carbon monoxide levels are high.The fundamentally conservative approach of finance minister Grant Robertson has continued, even as he has moved to loosen the purse ...
Regional councils will decide for themselves how to account for water, leading to difficulties in comparing water quality and use. Australia has a far better nationwide system. ...
Four young Kiwi women are sharpening their combs and cutters to set a nine-hour world shearing record, as the call for a women's shearing world title grows louder. ...
Yesterday Ian Foster was announced as the new coach of the All Blacks, having already spent eight years as part of the coaching setup. Here, Jamie Wall recounts first meeting Foster in Buenos Aires, and how he marks a departure from Steve Hansen. It was a Friday night earlier this year ...
After a year spent reporting on and analysing the chaos enveloping New Zealand’s media industry, The Spinoff managing editor Duncan Greive has finally cracked and started a podcast to cover it. Here is a short and necessarily incomplete list of things that have happened in New Zealand’s media in 2019:Three was ...
Those reflecting on the aftermath of the White Island eruption might take a little time to study this article in Discover Magazine by Erik Klemetti.Published in August 2012, he asked the question “How Dangerous is Visiting New Zealand’s White Island?” and offered some sober opinions.On the inherent risk ...
The Chief Ombudsman is launching a follow up investigation to see whether government agencies have improved their Official Information Act compliance. ...
How to watch the Rugby World Cup? How to make spaghetti bolognese? Who is James Charles? Google just released what New Zealanders looked for the most in 2019, and it says a lot about us.Another year on the internet, another year of Google searches you hope nobody excavates. Until now!Our Google ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachael Burgin, Research associate, Monash University The NSW Law Reform Commission will hand down its final recommendations for a reformed definition of sexual consent in the new year, following draft proposals in October. The commission’s inquiry is largely the result of the ...
Auckland Mayor Phil Goff says he welcomes the government’s announcement of $12 billion in extra infrastructure investment, including $6.8 billion for new transport projects, and looks forward to working with the government to ensure that a fair ...
“We’re delighted with today’s announcement of $12 billion in new capital investment by the Government,” says Infrastructure New Zealand CEO Paul Blair. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Eric Brymer, Reader, Psychology with Outdoor and Adventure studies, Leeds Beckett University Review: Finke: There & Back, directed by Dylan River The Finke Desert Race takes place in the harsh desert environment near Alice Springs. Scores of motorbikes and cars are raced ...
Climate action organisations 350 Aotearoa and Coal Action Network Aotearoa commend New Zealand’s Crown Research Institutes’ phase-out of coal burning in their operations, with the final two users, Plant and Food Research and Landcare Research decommissioning ...
The government’s books are now expected to go into the red this financial year with a forecast deficit of $900 million, down from a budget forecast surplus of $1.3 billion.The government will borrow $12 billion to spend on transport, schools, hospitals and investment in the regions over the next five ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Blanche Verlie, Postdoctoral research fellow, University of Sydney I moved to Sydney less than five weeks ago and the city has been shrouded in smoke haze on and off since then. I joke this is my “Sydney hazing” but it’s only now ...
Curator and art writer Justin Paton on the process of writing McCahon Country, homesickness, and uncontemporary art. Plus his top tips for art writers. Justin Paton is theauthor of the award-winning How to Look at a Painting. A book so popular it inspired aTV series of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jacob Blokland, Palaeontology PhD Candidate and Casual Academic, Flinders University A new species of extinct penguin has been discovered. It’s helping us bridge the gap between modern penguins and their counterparts from the Paleocene epoch – the 10-million-year period following dinosaur extinction. ...
The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) is placing greater controls on the use of the herbicide paraquat. Paraquat is the first active ingredient on our priority chemicals list, announced in October 2018, to be reassessed. ...
Today the Government revealed its plan to spend an extra $12bn on infrastructure projects following public pressure for them to do more. Irrigation New Zealand supports government investment to ensure New Zealand is future-ready however, the organisation ...
The grim statistics set out in the Child Poverty Monitor report issued this week underscore yet again the need for bolder action to reduce entrenched inequality, Peter Malcolm, spokesperson for the income equality project Closing the Gap, said ...
The Public Service Association strongly supports Labour MP Ginny Andersen’s bill to give three days paid leave to parents who experience a miscarriage or stillbirth. ...
From Waipukurau to Waipawa, Hastings to Havelock North, how did a humble crumbed meatball reach cult status? Fiona Fraser investigates the origins of this east coast delicacy.I was halfway out the door of a client’s premises when he bellowed “Have you had lunch? I’m just nipping out to get some ...
Back in September, when the NZ Herald issued its supplement “Mood of the Boardroom”, Commerce Minister Kris Faafoi featured as the politician who most impressed top chief executives on ministerial performance. The newspaper reported it was the first time in the history of the Mood of the Boardroom survey that ...
"The Government’s announcement that an additional $12 billion capital will be available to address backlogs in our deteriorating schools, hospitals and rail infrastructure and for regional development is welcome news and sensible policy", ...
Whether tourists should have been allowed to visit Whakaari-White Island in the past and whether tourists should be allowed to visit in future are among the questions inevitably raised in the aftermath of the tragic volcanic eruption this week. Concerns have extended beyond the operations of White Island Tours, which ...
Government books are now expected to go into the red this financial year with a forecast deficit of $900 million, down from a Budget forecast surplus of $1.3 billion. ...
Responding to the Minister of Finance’s Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update , which includes a $900 million deficit for the next financial year, New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union spokesman Louis Houlbrooke says: “At at time of high commodity ...
The Maniapoto Māori Trust Board (MMTB) is pleased the Waitangi Tribunal’s report has agreed that the Crown was correct to recognise it as the appropriate body to hold the settlement mandate for Maniapoto. ...
Government books are now expected to go into the red this financial year with a forecast deficit of $900 million, down from a Budget forecast surplus of $1.3 billion. ...
Quick question 
by Daphna Whitmore This week 800 unionised bus drivers in Auckland were suspended from work after they refused to collect fares as part of a campaign of industrial action. Drivers working for Auckland’s largest bus company NZ Bus are asking for more pay and better working conditions after being offered ...2 hours ago
As details emerge about what unfolded on Whakaari / White Island two days ago, my thoughts go out to all the families affected by this terrible event. My thoughts are also with the first responders who worked in perilous circumstances to assist and protect those affected. Both local and ...2 hours ago
BMG research have unleashed their final poll of the 2019 campaign:Westminster voting intention: CON: 41% (-)LAB: 32% (-)LDEM: 14% (-)GRN: 4% (-)BREX: 3% (-1)via @BMGResearch , 06 - 11 Dec Chgs. w/ 06 Dec That's a bit of a "Dunno why we bothered" sort of poll. "Phillip, I'm afraid I've been a ...4 hours ago
Grant Keeps On Trucking: Out of the $12 billion Robertson has announced for infrastructure investment, $8 billion will be allocated to specific projects, with the balance of $4 billion held in reserve. What does it say about this Government's "transformational" ambitions that 85 percent of that $8 billion is to ...5 hours ago
Back in 2015, then Ombudsman Beverley Wakem conducted a review of the OIA, Not a game of hide and seek. The "review" was a whitewash, which found no need for legislative change, and instead criticised the media and requesters - which destroyed Wakem's reputation, and undermined that of the Office ...23 hours ago
I love data. It’s amazing the sort of “discoveries” I can make given a data set and computer statistical package. It’s just so easy to search for relationships and test their statistical significance. Maybe relationships which ... 2 days ago
The state of the United Kingdom is fractured, torn up, shredded. The Empire is gone, it died a long time ago. And yet, the country is still tracking with a lead in favour of the ones who play to the ingrained, class-bound division for political gain. It is a disgrace ...5 days ago
It should be obvious by now but let’s be clear: The same folk who regularly traffic in disinformation, misinformation and “fake news” are also those who most strongly claim that their freedom of expression rights are being violated when moves are made to curb hate speech (as opposed to protected ...5 days ago
“Free at last, Free at last, Thank God almighty we are free at last.” ― Martin Luther King Jr. A long and bitter court feud between former Conservative Party leader Colin Craig and Jordan Williams has been settled, with an apology and compensation from Williams. On Tuesday, Craig sent out ...7 days ago
In an unreliable, strange and confusing world, Public Address is proud to present a measure of comfort and stability by annually asking everyone what words or phrases sum up the year that's been – and then giving some of them consumer goods as prizes for being clever or simply lucky.Well, ...1 week ago
While much of the NZ left has transitioned to postmodern and identity politics in relation to transgender ideology, there are some very good articles about that deploy Marxist methodology in relation to this subject. The one below is from the British marxist group Counterfire and appeared on their site here ...1 week ago
“America the Beautiful!”, staunch defender of democracy, freedom and… a whole lot of despotic tyrants that play nice with what is called “the Washington Consensus.” America is indeed capable of immense good, but like any Nation, and most assuredly any aspirant to the mantle of Empire, great, immense evil. All ...2 weeks ago
Image credit: The beginner’s guide to blogging I notice a few regulars no longer allow public access to the site counters. This may happen accidentally when the blog format is altered. If your blog is ... 2 weeks ago
New Zealand First MP Darroch Ball’s bill introducing a six-month minimum sentence for assaults on first responders has passed its first reading in Parliament. Mr Ball said the new offence of "injuring a first responder or prison officer with intent" would target people who attacked paramedics, police, firefighters, and corrections ...19 hours ago
Live from the Whanganui Opera House, on the final day of the 2019 Labour Party Conference, Jacinda Ardern announced the largest investment in school property in 25 years. ...1 week ago
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has congratulated the Government of Papua New Guinea and the Autonomous Bougainville Government for completing a well-conducted referendum on the future political status of Bougainville. “New Zealand supported the referendum process by providing technical advice through the New Zealand Electoral Commission and leading a Regional Police ...38 mins ago
The Taxpayers’ Union has published the 2019 ‘Public Sector CEO Rich List’ at www.taxpayers.org.nz/ceo_rich_list Taxpayers’ Union spokesman Louis Houlbrooke says, “This year taxpayers will pay $62 million in salaries for just 140 people. ...23 mins ago
The greatest show to ever air on New Zealand TV screens, and arguably any screens ever, had a tenure of just three tragically short years.It was on air from March 1997 to September 1999. It had an ensemble of impossibly jazzy New Zealand children and a live studio audience. It ...1 hour ago
NZ's media industry has found a surprising ally - of sorts - in the NZ First leader. ...2 hours ago
Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage.
NZ First leader Winston Peters says NZ needs to have a public voice and that means RNZ needs to be protected. ...2 hours ago
Finance Minister Grant Robertson unveiled a $12 billion infrastructure spending boost that was at the top end of most short-term political expectations. ...3 hours ago
The Finance Minister says reducing carbon emissions is one of the focus of a $12 billion boost to infrastructure. ...3 hours ago
National Leader Simon Bridges is accusing the Government of "screwing up the economy," after new Treasury figures revealed the books would be going into deficit next year. ...4 hours ago
Government unveils $12b infrastructure boost, much of it focused on roads and rail; and much awaited report on combatting foreign interference in elections delivered. ...4 hours ago
Two more victims of the Whakaari-White Island eruption have died overnight, taking the death toll to eight, with eight others believed dead on the island. ...4 hours ago
The National leader on NZ First, finding coalition friends, and whether his party is promoting misleading social media attacks. ...6 hours ago
ReadingRoom literary editor Steve Braunias selects the 10 best New Zealand novels of 2019. ...6 hours ago
Regional councils will decide for themselves how to account for water, leading to difficulties in comparing water quality and use. Australia has a far better nationwide system. ...6 hours ago
Four young Kiwi women are sharpening their combs and cutters to set a nine-hour world shearing record, as the call for a women's shearing world title grows louder. ...6 hours ago
Editorial cartoonists tread a fine line between satire and offensiveness ...7 hours ago
Those reflecting on the aftermath of the White Island eruption might take a little time to study this article in Discover Magazine by Erik Klemetti. Published in August 2012, he asked the question “How Dangerous is Visiting New Zealand’s White Island?” and offered some sober opinions. On the inherent risk ...11 hours ago
The infrastructure industry is pleased, but wants more detail. ...15 hours ago
Will reform of the Resource Management Act and a brand new Future Generations Act put an end to wind farm Nimbyism? ...18 hours ago
Two companies involved in health, wellness, and skincare products businesses are headed on to the stock exchange through the backdoor. ...19 hours ago
Jim Kayes says Ian Foster was a good steady first-five for Waikato who could make a good steady All Black head coach. ...20 hours ago
Back in September, when the NZ Herald issued its supplement “Mood of the Boardroom”, Commerce Minister Kris Faafoi featured as the politician who most impressed top chief executives on ministerial performance. The newspaper reported it was the first time in the history of the Mood of the Boardroom survey that ...21 hours ago
Whether tourists should have been allowed to visit Whakaari-White Island in the past and whether tourists should be allowed to visit in future are among the questions inevitably raised in the aftermath of the tragic volcanic eruption this week. Concerns have extended beyond the operations of White Island Tours, which ...22 hours ago
Because it is a free country.
Funny how you have to have to be rich to be truely free
Just regulate mandatory richness then? Whats your point again?
Blighty’s point was that Key is free to travel to Hawaii for regular holidays (from what btw?) not because of the innate freedom of movement we share as citizens of a democracy but because he has accumulated a grossly disproportionate share of the world’s resources for his own personal benefit.
What was yours again?
Baron,,, that was just stupid… say something real would you..
‘Cos he wants to do some personal hands-on promotion of our 100% pure brand to the USA group who are among the biggest spenders of our overseas visitors?
(He invites them to a hangi and hands out leaflets and free samples.)
Could it be to get away from the shithole he’s turning NZ into?
Heck, he wouldn’t want to walk amongst the great unwashed and view his handiwork – you know the minimum wage earners, the minorities who are responsible for all of society’s ills and those who dare to speak out about his vicious policies.
All the dumb prick can do is look like stunned mullet every time any question requiring some basic requisite intellect is put to him.
To be fair, Helen used to go on walking tours overseas, no? And if I could go to Hawaii I would…full time actually since Key is turning this place into such a dump.
I’m more concerned as to how he always manages to be overseas when bad news comes out. No surprises that he missed the GST rise I imagine…
Somehow I can’t see Smile & Wave wandering too far away from the limo and doing the Milford, Routeburn or any other of the fantastic scenic tracks New Zealand has to offer.
Keyt is a man who is in dire need of fresh air and excercise.
You mean Key made South Auckland a dump, wow, that is impressive in 2 years.
BTW guys, you always go on about how good Oz is, why don’t you go there so you can have higher wages or are jobs in Canberra hard to get as they have enuf beauracrats? I know contributors to this site would not know a hard days work is being pen pushers.
Good job you don’t push a pen with those grammar skills.
I run an international company in NZ in the construction industry. I delegate pen pushers who use spell check on PCs.
That doesn’t mean you have to be lazy yourself! (I don’t suppose you get your PA to write your posts, but you could take my advice and do it as well as she would – write them in Word then copy-and-paste… But first, check that your Word spell-and-grammar checks are set to English NZ, not US, which is the default..)
Deb
@nilats. Your language here demonstrates the sort of esteem you hold your employees in. Probably indicates what sort of employer you are as well. I am sure your P.A. would love to be described as a pen-pusher.
Good job Tolley wasn’t around when (if) you went onto college. You wouldn’t have met her standards and you’d have “failed”.
Further, isn’t it Key who bangs on about how good Australia is and that he wants to close the gap.
I hope you were never connected with leaky homes nilats. And watch the careful anchoring of those concrete slabs won’t you with the right gauge and metal bolts.
nilats.
You delegate *to* pen pushers.
And no, you don’t.
Perhaps it’s because he wants to holiday where he is a complete unknown. Where he can wander down to the shops in jandals and a ratty old t-shirt or just relax a the beach without people coming up to talk to/harrang/button hole him all the time.
While I actually like the aspect of New Zealand politics that means that you can see MPs out on the street or sit next to them on planes etc I could see how constantly having to be “on show” would get tiresome.
wander down to the shop in jandals ? They why does he take his DPS security with him.
A ‘complete unknown’ with a couple of bodyguards.
Who does he think he is ? . Lindsay Lothan
I’m guessing because the DPS wouldn’t let the PM go anywhere without some form of protection.
Lindsay could probably create jobs…
True. I wonder what a “full time lamp post replacer – on call 24hrs” gets paid. Actually between Lindsay,Tiger and Paris you could probably justify a whole crew.
Then there’s the drug and alcohol industry (both supply-side and treament).
Hell, she’s veritable walking (staggering?) job summit. Someone should get on to immigration toot sweet!
Helen used to often manage without them.
Your link (and Trevor) seems to indicate that Helen managed with fewer, not none.
I’m pretty sure that’s what he thinks “Minister of Tourism” means.
IT MUST BE BECAUSE HE HATES THIS COUNTRY AND IS A MUSLIM TERRORIST!!
[lprent: DO NOT SHOUT ! It annoys me ]
No one can keep on eye on who he’s entertaining.
Jesus give up on the class war, boo hiss rich person bs.
The majority of NZ know thinks along the same line as the US now, money and fame is something you aspire to.
Apart from the ex poms on this site this class divide English bollocks doesn’t resonate with anyone.
Oh my friend, it is a class war, and the elites are waging it on everyone else, awarding themselves generous tax breaks, bailing themselves out of their own financial speculation with our tax dollars, making working life tougher and more insecure for the many while the few live it up.
And everyone else is starting to wake up to it.
Pffft. Somehow I don’t think he anointed you His spokesperson.
Yes but VP, not sure that elite describes rich folk. Elite to me means superior intellectual and/or artistic merit. Being rich does not necessarily mean being of the elite. And in fact money traders are just unscrupulous takers. Envy? Not me.
“The majority of NZ know thinks along the same line as the US now, money and fame is something you aspire to.
Apart from the ex poms on this site this class divide English bollocks doesn’t resonate with anyone”
Thanks be to God you are wronger than a very wrong thing! As one of those Poms you denigrate, I am here to tell you that the class system in NZ is just as bad, if not worse than overseas. Enough money would be nice, but you can stick your fame where the monkey stuck its ninepence, and I would rather be dead than American…
“…and I would rather be dead than American.”
Why’s that it’s a big country and not everyone is as portrayed in their TV programmes.. just a throw-away line ?
Sincerely meant, I am afraid… Judging by Americans I know, paranoia coupled with unthinking patriotism, and a lack of education coupled with a stubborn refusal to admit ignorance, in *any* context, are pretty much universal North American characteristics.
(Plus of course, having the need to defend indefensible wars would drive me insane. Kudos to the Americans who are *anti-war* – pity there aren’t more of them!
Oh so you’re a bigoted retard then……. fair enough
What’s the matter, comedy, worried that your monopoly on retarded bigotry is under threat?
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
@Brett. for your info Key and his lackey journalist profilers use the “working class” hard times nomenclature.
No Brett we don’t need to have a copy of class ridden Brit, we proudly can hold up our heads and say we are creating our own (always of course with an eye on what the other countries are doing).
cause hes a wanker and a tosser there are many great places here for a holiday,but he would have trouble going to them as he knows what hes done to the average worker and if he went out for lunch they may spit in his food.
I would
We make their meals, teach their children, repair their plumbing, guard them while they sleep,…and they still dare to **** with us.
captcha: sadly
Because it’s in keeping with his international and national reputation as “Smile & Wave, Scuttle & Run”- the PM who disappears when the going gets tough.