Rambo has been constrained. Now about those other semi-automatics?

Written By: - Date published: 4:39 pm, March 21st, 2019 - 80 comments
Categories: jacinda ardern, Politics - Tags: , ,

From Radio NZ

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced a ban on all military-style semi-automatic weapons and all assault rifles.

This afternoon, she announced that every semi-automatic weapon used in the terrorist attack on two mosques in Christchurch last Friday would be banned under more stringent gun laws.

As of 3pm today an order in council took effect. The changes to the regulations would mean the firearms were now catergorised as needing an E-class licence endorsement.

This means no one will be able to buy the weapons without police approval. Ms Ardern said there was no point in applying for one.

For those who are already in possession of these weapons, Ms Ardern said the firearms would be tightly regulated, while for everyone else, the weapons would now be effectively out of reach.

She also said the government would be establishing a buyback scheme to take the firearms out of circulation.

There is quite a lot of detail more. (and you have to love the bad editing on ‘catergorised ‘ – someone needs a better spell-checker ).

Now that is a good first step. It is what can be done immediately  within the current legislation using an order in council. That gets a military style weapons from being sold (updated: and means most existing MSSA need to be turned in).

They will proceed to banning them, having a buyback, and giving substantial fines and prison sentences for possession of up to 3 years  via legislation. 

The Police Association has called for semi-automatic weapons to be banned, while Fish and Game said it supported a ban on military-style semi-automatic weapons.

I agree with the Police Association on this.

As much as I like working and playing with semi-automatic (and automatic) weapons, there is substantially no real difference between a military style semi-auto and other semi-autos. The self-arming mechanism is exactly the same. The MSSA style just have other features that make them easier to use.

But anyone moderately skilled with an enhanced magazine and a few judicial structural cuts with a non-military semi-auto firearm can get very close to the same fire rates and killing convenience.

Immediately Updated

My understanding updated via Dennis Frank:

Police Commissioner Mike Bush: “for many people, you will now be in unlawful possession of your firearm. Given this is an immediate change, there is an amnesty to allow the notification and hand in their firearms to Police.”http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK1903/S00640/police-announce-process-to-hand-over-reclassified-mssas.htm

He then outlines what folks must do to become law-abiding. There will be thousands of attack weapons flooding in – I hope the media gets photos of the result, because it will have a profoundly positive effect on youngsters!

Of course that is the case. If someone has a class A gun license, they can no longer possess what is now a class E weapon. 

80 comments on “Rambo has been constrained. Now about those other semi-automatics? ”

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  1. WILD KATIPO 1
    21 March 2019 at 4:45 pm

    Jacinda Adern ,- our Queen Boudica of peace.

    Christchurch mosque shootings: Military-style semi-automatics and …
    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12214988

    • OnceWasTim 1.1
      21 March 2019 at 7:23 pm

      /Agree.
      She hasn’t really put a foot or a knee jerk wrong. About the only thing a cynic like me can find fault with is that someone should tell her the difference between bought and brought. (Just in case she needs to pass IELTS level 7.5)

      And for those that now seek to circumvent the change, it’s pretty clear what the intent of the new legislation will be.

    • Chris T 1.2
      21 March 2019 at 10:37 pm

      Hang on

      You just compared Jacinda Ardern to Boudica?

      Far out.

      • McFlock 1.2.1
        21 March 2019 at 10:52 pm

        Funny how a little thinking time changes a quick skim.

        I was flicking through and thought “her of the scythed chariot? seems odd, but I guess ‘strong women’ yadda yadda”. Then this evening I see your comment and had another think, and it went from “odd” to “yeah, a bit off”, then I remembered the treatment of the captured cities and it all went “oh fuck no”.

        tldr: yeah fair call 🙂

        • WILD KATIPO 1.2.1.1
          22 March 2019 at 10:25 am

          That’s why i changed it from war to ‘peace’.

          Ie … warrior of peace.

          Remember the ‘Rainbow Warrior’ ?

          Enough said. Churlishness is not nice.

          • McFlock 1.2.1.1.1
            22 March 2019 at 2:59 pm

            I just think that maybe you could have picked a comparison who didn’t slaughter thousands of innocent civilians – in this case, y’know?

  2. Rosemary McDonald 2
    21 March 2019 at 4:52 pm

    Rambo can still get off fifteen rounds before having to reload….

    http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1903/S00135/nz-bans-military-style-semi-automatics-and-assault-rifles.htm

    “2. What semi-automatic firearms will NOT be affected by the ban?
    There is a balance to be struck between public safety and legitimate use. The changes exclude two general classes of firearms which are commonly used for hunting, pest control, stock management on farms, and duck shooting:
    • Semi-automatic .22 calibre rimfire firearms with a magazine which holds no more than ten rounds
    • Semi-automatic and pump action shotguns with a non-detachable tubular magazine which holds no more than five rounds”

    Hmmm…. and 100-200million to buy back the toys from the boys who can’t shoot straight.

    Because, like, we have to strike a balance.

    It’d be 1/2 the cost to buy less depreciation and if they’ve not been relinquished within four weeks ….

    • lprent 2.1
      21 March 2019 at 5:02 pm

      Should be 3 years in prison for possessing or manufacturing or selling or trying to import magazines with more than that capacity without a license.

      I suspect that would get the attention of those with a limited understanding of obeying the law.

      • Rosemary McDonald 2.1.1
        21 March 2019 at 6:01 pm

        I’m still struggling with a five (shotgun) and 10 (.22) round magazines when Fish and Game…

        ” Military style semi-automatic weapons could fire 15 to 20 shots without the need to reload, whereas duck hunters only needed three or four shots, he said.

        “We are supporting any limitation to the magazine capacity … on semi-automatic shotguns.

        “In some areas in New Zealand now, Fish and Game already has a regulation that you can’t have more than a two shot magazine.””

        So the new laws double this….why not set the limit lower, then make those who ‘need’ larger capacity magazines jump through mega hoops to get a permit….and then only under strict conditions.

        Methinks there have been major compromises made here, and I’d be very interested to know who were the stakeholders demanding the extra capacity.

        • Exkiwiforces 2.1.1.1
          21 March 2019 at 6:23 pm

          Shooting animal and a person on the run is bloody hard and even bloody hard if your is body under stress or if you are on a two range which is even harder still.

          I shot a wild dog on run at just under or over 200m with my 30. 30 lever action in which I fired 3rds at it and hit it with the third rd which didn’t kill it until I finished it off with the 4th rd.

  3. WeTheBleeple 3
    21 March 2019 at 4:53 pm

    A big shout out to all our political parties who have worked together for New Zealand on this matter.

    That’s some stellar leadership.

    Thank you.

  4. marty mars 4
    21 March 2019 at 4:56 pm

    Good move. Love it. Well done.

  6. Stuart Munro. 6
    21 March 2019 at 5:08 pm

    Next step would be to commission some artist to make surrendered guns into something uplifting.

    • Rosemary McDonald 6.1
      21 March 2019 at 5:20 pm

      I was hoping the metal would be recovered and sold for scrap. The $$$ raised to go towards funding for much needed mobility equipment…?

      • Stuart Munro. 6.1.1
        21 March 2019 at 5:35 pm

        Wouldn’t hurt – or they’d make great high spec rebar for the Christchurch rebuild.

        • WILD KATIPO 6.1.1.1
          21 March 2019 at 5:46 pm

          Actually a monument dedicated to the victims made out of these things would not be too bad an idea. One dedicated to peace… such as several monuments in the USA between the Native Americans and the Federal govt… though,… that would involve so much… or may even be viewed by some as tacky and insensitive.

          Probably better just to destroy them.

          • WeTheBleeple 6.1.1.1.1
            21 March 2019 at 6:00 pm

            It sounds a bit Game of Thrones. But a creative option.

            • WILD KATIPO 6.1.1.1.1.1
              21 March 2019 at 6:17 pm

              Heh… I haven’t had a telly since about 2004… so all I hear is what others tell me and lookin’ things up on the net .

              I sure don’t miss TV.

              I just have found memory’s of this :

              Used to love Ena , Albert and Minie… highlights of the show…

              Ena Sharples and Albert Tatlock get drunk (3 November … – YouTube

            • Dukeofurl 6.1.1.1.1.2
              21 March 2019 at 8:07 pm

              Awful choice.
              If they are used for anything it should be for a monument for ‘stupidity ‘

      • Chris T 6.1.2
        22 March 2019 at 12:23 am

        Would have thought if you were going that way some sort of tributes outside the mosques would be more relevant but dig your idea

  7. Sam 7
    21 March 2019 at 5:08 pm

    Never had a doubt

  8. marty mars 8
    21 March 2019 at 5:09 pm

    I have to say thanks to Simon Bridges the National Party leader. Good work that man. So very pleased you are there not anyone else, really pleased in fact.

  9. I feel love 9
    21 March 2019 at 5:12 pm

    Great leadership.

  10. joe90 10
    21 March 2019 at 5:12 pm

    Now, about those weapons bought during the past week’s panic buying…

    • I feel love 10.1
      21 March 2019 at 5:23 pm

      Did you see that story of the courier van left unattended with boxes of recently bought guns? I always thought we were a lucky country, but I now think we were just complacent.

    • McFlock 10.2
      21 March 2019 at 5:25 pm

      heh

      hopefully they’re like cars – used price as soon as they’re driven off the lot.

  11. Dennis Frank 11
    21 March 2019 at 5:22 pm

    Yes, I agree we ought to give credit to the Nat leader for his appropriate role in support of the ban:

    “National has been clear since this devastating attack that we support changes to our regime and that we will work constructively with the Government. We agree that the public doesn’t need access to military style semi-automatic weapons. National supports them being banned along with assault rifles. We also support the Government’s proposals to limit the access to other high powered semi-automatic weapons and ammunition,” he said. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=12214988

    But this is an immense victory for the coalition plus Greens. Oz did it in 12 days, we did it in 6 days, and that demonstrates undeniable political competence at the top level. Those who are thinking `but wait, the legislation isn’t till early April’ may not be aware that the law has been changed by order-in-council. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_in_Council

    • WILD KATIPO 11.1
      21 March 2019 at 5:36 pm

      Yeah it is overwhelming, though we don’t have states with the power of veto like Australia does… that aside,… despite political expediency and ‘image’… it is a good work that there is unanimity between the party’s.

  12. mac1 12
    21 March 2019 at 5:35 pm

    “Brunetti had no interest in hunting, judging it an endeavour that was expensive, inconvenient and excessively loud. Further, experience as a policeman as well as his habit of reflecting upon human behaviour had too often suggested a frightening correlation between a man’s interest in firearms and feelings of sexual inadequacy.” P48 “Uniform Justice” by Donna Leon.

    Just happened to be reading this today……..

    The weapons announcements are a good move by this government. I listened to a replay of Parliament last night and am not surprised by the announcements today from what I heard, especially from Chris Bishop, National’s police spokesperson. He, like the dozen I heard, spoke very well, from the heart and with considered wisdom.

    I was very surprised by the quality. At the end, the Speaker announced a ruling that banned the use of coloured document boxes that adorned the tops of the desks. They had already gone I noticed by then.

    In line with what Seymour said about identity politics and how easy it is to go to a place where opponents are demonised and then killed, this is too a good move. It might force MPs into consideration of each other as human beings, as listening to each other’s hearts did yesterday, and following the superb lead from the PM also acknowledged by them yesterday.

    A good day in Parliament.

  14. WILD KATIPO 14
    21 March 2019 at 5:57 pm

    Already the shit from the small balled die hard’s is starting.

    One lone Simon Lusk and co and his murky mates. The trainer for far right wing neo liberal Dirty Politics attack politics fame…

    Changes to gun law overseen by Jacinda Ardern criticised | Stuff.co.nz
    https://www.stuff.co.nz/…/changes-to-gun-law-overseen-by-jacinda-ardern-described-…

    • Rosemary McDonald 14.1
      21 March 2019 at 6:23 pm

      WK….I believe you’re linking to a headline on Stuff describing the changes to the gun laws that came into effect before Christmas…

      “Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern oversaw recent changes which meant gun licence holders did not need to visit police stations when applying for permits for assault rifles, but could instead apply online.

      Previously under the Arms Act, if someone wanted to become a gun dealer, get a firearms licence, import a restricted weapon, or get a permit to buy a MSSA [military style semi-automatic], they had to physically deliver an application to their nearest police station.

      For example, if someone with an E-category endorsement was buying an MSSA, they would have to visit their police station for a permit, show the permit to the seller, and then take the weapon back to police.

      Under the changes, which came in just before Christmas, that process could be done online, and the firearm shown by video call. Police could ask to see the weapon in person if they were not satisfied they had identified it.

      A critic of the change, firearms lawyer Nicholas Taylor, said: “It’s been done for all the wrong reasons – this is exactly an example of the type of problem that’s caused this event [in Christchurch].””

      https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/christchurch-shooting/111438784/changes-to-gun-law-overseen-by-jacinda-ardern-described-as-crazy

      Stuff’s coverage has been technically abysmal to the point of incomprehensibility.

      The video accompanying that piece has Simon ( everbody’s bff if you pay me enough) Lusk scaremongering over the potential $$$ cost to the gummint if the PM goes wild with reforms. He can breathe easy as the worst failed to happen.

      • Dukeofurl 14.1.1
        21 March 2019 at 8:03 pm

        It would be a change driven by Police, while there would probably be a cabinet paper to cover that , it might have been numerous other changes included. I doubt if Ardern was even aware in more than a casual way that these things happen. Orders in Council are made by the Governor General plus some other senior cabinet ministers with a pile of paperwork after the cabinet decision. Technically cabinet is a sort of committee of ‘The Council’

  15. Sabine 15
    21 March 2019 at 6:02 pm

    good.

    well done NZ government and opposition. It was the right thing to do.

  16. Morrissey 16
    21 March 2019 at 6:03 pm

    Take them off our military and police as well. Haven’t goons like this fellow done enough damage?

    https://static2.stuff.co.nz/1264718680/915/3253915.jpg

    • WILD KATIPO 16.1
      21 March 2019 at 6:08 pm

      Yeah , give the Police rubber bands to shoot at criminals armed with rifles and shotguns…. send our peacekeepers overseas with rolled up newspapers…

      I’m sorry but… hey…

      • Morrissey 16.1.1
        21 March 2019 at 7:36 pm

        Yeah , give the Police rubber bands to shoot at criminals armed with rifles and shotguns….

        I never suggested that, of course. Argumentum ad absurdum: the lowest form of sarcasm.

        … send our peacekeepers overseas with rolled up newspapers…

        “Peacekeepers”? New Zealand’s notorious SAS thugs are under investigation right now for provoking firefights, for strapping the corpses of their victims to the bonnets of military vehicles and driving them into villages to intimidate the locals, for kicking in doors, and flexi-cuffing innocent civilians. How is that “peacekeeping?”

        https://morrisseybreen.blogspot.com/2018/10/the-disturbing-story-behind-willie.html

        I’m sorry but… hey…

        Your inability to formulate a coherent response has been noted.

        • left_forward 16.1.1.1
          22 March 2019 at 8:36 am

          Take them off our military and police as well.

          Yeah, give the Police rubber bands…

          WTs response was appropriate, funny and coherent Morrie. It was a signal that you made a pretty absurd statement that needed further explanation.

      • Morrissey 16.1.2
        21 March 2019 at 7:38 pm

        One “WILD KATIPO” has attempted, unwisely, to be clever….

        Yeah , give the Police rubber bands to shoot at criminals armed with rifles and shotguns….

        I never suggested that, of course. Argumentum ad absurdum: the lowest form of sarcasm.

        … send our peacekeepers overseas with rolled up newspapers…

        “Peacekeepers”? New Zealand’s notorious SAS thugs are under investigation right now for provoking firefights, for strapping the corpses of their victims to the bonnets of military vehicles and driving them into villages to further terrorize the locals, for kicking in doors, and flexi-cuffing innocent civilians. How is that “peacekeeping?”

        https://morrisseybreen.blogspot.com/2018/10/the-disturbing-story-behind-willie.html

        I’m sorry but… hey…

        Your inability to formulate a coherent response has been noted.

        • WILD KATIPO 16.1.2.1
          21 March 2019 at 7:55 pm

          Go have a cup of tea and a lie down and don’t take yourself so seriously. I notice it took you hours to put your reasons up. Don’t blame me if your original post lacked the full backings of your findings either. What are we to make of it when you dont supply it and put such an inane comment in isolation?

          Anyways. whatever.

          And that smart shit little piece of garbage at the end?

          … ” Your inability to formulate a coherent response has been noted ” …

          What a real Rick the Prick you are.

          Just another far Left wing screamer.

          Rick from The Young Ones Cliff Poem – YouTube

          • Morrissey 16.1.2.1.1
            21 March 2019 at 8:02 pm

            ….and don’t take yourself so seriously.

            What I take seriously is the role of our government, via the crimes and atrocities committed by the thugs of the SAS, in the agony inflicted on Afghanistan.

            I must say I like your response this time. Always appreciate a Rick-pick. Well done, ‘Po.

          • Puckish Rogue 16.1.2.1.2
            21 March 2019 at 9:26 pm

            Every arguement is better with Rik

            (Also I’m drunk)

    • Chris T 16.2
      22 March 2019 at 12:28 am

      “Take them off our military and police as well. Haven’t goons like this fellow done enough damage?”

      (shakes head. Re-reads thinking I got it wrong. No. I didn’t)

      FFS

  17. Puckish Rogue 17
    21 March 2019 at 6:47 pm

    First off I’m sure everyone will be pleased to know this doesn’t affect me at all, my .22 semi auto is safe

    Secondly I’m pissed with the police, yeah they can talk about banning and shit but how about they do their jobs properly and then maybe we won’t have these nutters killing people in the first

    Lastly I did say that I thought all semi autos should be moved from A category to E endorsement so I’m glad to see that Jacinda agrees with me, she obviously reads this site

      • Puckish Rogue 17.1.1
        21 March 2019 at 6:58 pm

        Shes all good 🙂

        • Drowsy M. Kram 17.1.1.2
          21 March 2019 at 7:40 pm

          Pucky’s pleased as piss, after contributing over 70 comments on three recent ‘ban guns’ posts, including this gem:

          “Maui, Maui, Maui silly little Maui, it’s quite easy to go back and check my statements, they even have the date and time on them

          Have a nice cup of tea and lie down silly little Maui and then come back and try again“

          Pucky Pucky Pucky, teeny-weeny tiny-whiny silly little Pucky.

          Have a nice warm cup of tea and a wee lie down rinky-dinky runty-stumpy sawn-off silly Pucky.

          Brought to you by the Puckish Rogue University of Debating Etiquette – good Judith-hunting.

    • Muttonbird 17.2
      21 March 2019 at 9:32 pm

      Reckon the Police will be paying a bit more attention to licensing checks. Not sure you’d get a gun in the new environment!

      • Puckish Rogue 17.2.1
        21 March 2019 at 9:39 pm

        The police need to own this, this is caused by their complacency, their laziness, their…whatever, they facilitated this, the blood of 50 dead are on their hands

        • Muttonbird 17.2.1.1
          21 March 2019 at 9:41 pm

          Edgy. You’re definitely not getting another gun now.

          • Puckish Rogue 17.2.1.1.1
            21 March 2019 at 9:53 pm

            Might have to look at the Ruger Mini-14, looks pretty good and not a MSSA or assualt rifle

            • Exkiwiforces 17.2.1.1.1.1
              21 March 2019 at 10:34 pm

              What about a de mil M21 with a 5 round box attach? Or one of these de mil
              https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragunov_sniper_rifle very user friendly for you righties to use.

              • Puckish Rogue …
                22 March 2019 at 1:13 am

                I really just want my nice, cheap, reliable little ruger 10/22

                • Exkiwiforces …
                  22 March 2019 at 2:49 am

                  From the looks of it mate, you may get to keep it at this stage unless there is blowback at the proposed law changes atm. But it will always depends on the thin blue line upholding the letter of IRT the Firearms Law which appears they still didn’t uphold the letter of Law this time again IRT the current act.

                  New Zealand’s vetting process for any type of firearms license is stricter than anything here in Oz. But cops in NZ don’t won’t to enforce the strict vetting requirements and the law, then this shit will keep happening. There is a lot of piss off cops atm because due process wasn’t followed IRT to the vetting and complaints about this…….. and at the Bruce Rifle Range won’t followed up.

                  Wish the damm Fourth Estate started to follow up on some the leaks and people’s comments coming out of Dunedin and in CHCH atm.

                  As one source has said, it maybe the reason why Bushy is in CHCH not Wally atm?

          • Puckish Rogue 17.2.1.1.2
            21 March 2019 at 9:57 pm

            Good point, I’ll sell the .22 and buy the completely legal bolt action .50 cal instead

            Big budda boom! 🙂

  18. Exkiwiforces 18
    21 March 2019 at 6:49 pm

    It’s going to depend on the wording, type of semi auto rifle as well as there are a number of old school rifles like the
    M1 Grand
    M1 Carbine
    SKS
    M14 and M21 Sniper Rifle
    G43 the W2 German Sniper Rifle (hardly this these now Rifles now due the bolt cracking on them due low quality metal being use at the time manufacturing)
    The Johnson Rifle from Canada?
    There are 3 10 shot Semi Auto’s from France, Belgium and Italy which I’ve forgotten their names in .308, .223, 7mm

    Those can be De- Mil to take a five shot mag along with all other stuff taken off like bayonet lugs, flash suppressors and Rifle Grenade Attachments etc would still fall in with the A Cat Licence requirements. Most of these weapons have a fixed Magazine with a quick release at the bottom of the mag for unloading so cutting , welding a stopper or making a 5rd mag to size and to fit would quite easily to by an certify police approved gunsmith.

    It would be interesting to see what happens to those that have the C Cat Licence? I know a few single seat Vampire and Venom owners might be sweeting atm, as you can’t De Mil the Aircarft because you will upset the CoG if you tinker with the 20mm guns as they keep the A/C finely balanced.

    PS, there is a Russia Sniper and its many variants callled the Dragnov or whatever it’s name is, fires a half decent round a 7.62x 51mm from memory a little bit larger than the 7.62 NATO or .308 rd. Could also fall under a Cat A Licence and I know a few NZ Coppers who use it from target shooting to deer shooting etc

    • McFlock 18.1
      21 March 2019 at 7:43 pm

      Thing is, most people don’t have a problem with museums and that sort of level of curated firearms storage. And I’m not sure that an aircraft cannon is so finely balanced that one can’t compensate for wedling it shut by drilling a bit of metal off somewhere else on the barrels.

      But what I found to be particularly gobsmacking is that you can buy ammunition without a license. You can’t buy explosives or fireworks beyond a certain level without permits, but you can muy ammunition by the crate? WTF? Let alone the magazines – I thought we’d restricted MSSAs after Aramoana (another one just down the road from me), but it turns out we’d just implemented a pinky-swear system that people wouldn’t buy big magazines if they owned an ar15 on an A licence.

      • RedLogix 18.1.1
        21 March 2019 at 8:16 pm

        Even 0.5 Cal if an article I read recently is correct. I mean hell those things are small cannons …

        Today’s announcement is of course welcome and in the correct direction, but a more comprehensive and formal review is at least months away, and a lot more complex.

        • Dennis Frank 18.1.1.1
          21 March 2019 at 8:22 pm

          Have the coalition announced that? All I saw was notice of follow-up legislation for April 10. I get that the devil may be lurking in those details, but he’s always real good at hiding, enough to make politicians weary with the effort of nailing the bugger, and thus forever turning away towards something easier…

      • Exkiwiforces 18.1.2
        21 March 2019 at 9:20 pm

        Some individuals that hold a C Cat License, have some amazing collections of weapons with armouries that would put most police and NZDF/ ADF to shame IRT security and management to shame. I know when I was shooting with own SLR and SKS in Service Rifle Shooting Comps and semi formal shoots with the SEA veterans IOT maintain a good level of marksmanship during the big to the NZDF under National whilst I with 3 Land Force Group in the 90’s, That I had the opportunity to shoot some famous well known and equally some not so famous for obvious reasons aka technical and manufacturing. These collections also provide those members understanding of various weapons and they sounded, yes all weapons have a very distinctive sound when fired prior to deployment to such places to Bosnia, Somalia, the Solly’s and ET under a UN Missions or UN Supported Missions aka INTERFET.

        Yes, there were so many loop holes in the Firearms Act it wasn’t funny and I almost assemble a .303 Mk3 and Mk4 Bren Gun (had the Tech Pam as well) by buying bit and pieces here and there and I only need a the body to complete it. I believe this loophole and many others within the act was meant to have been closed under the recommendations that Bennett was given in last Government but did SFA on it.

        Well the Act was meant to work if the Police followed the letter to the law, with all other firearm users if informing the local Firearms Officers, office on breaches of the Act. But once everyone realise the coppers weren’t doing their job in uphold the Firearms Act, then it became a big F…. you towards the system. What Jim posted today and what I’ve heard/ posted today though my sources have said sort’ve confirms the Police Firearms Officer/ Office in Dunedin did SFA about this ……. or what was happening at Bruce Range in South Dunedin. Then this would’ve never have happened all because of soppy work from the Police in Dunedin either because of the restructuring of Firearms Office, lack of money or something else.

        I hope Jandals holds a Royal Commission at arm’s lengths from the Police and has the power to summons the Police Firearms from Dunedin and those members of the public that warned the Police in Dunedin and in CHCH at was going on/ certain trends that were developing at certain events.

      • Puckish Rogue 18.1.3
        21 March 2019 at 9:29 pm

        Yeah I’d agree with that, no license no ammo

        • Exkiwiforces 18.1.3.1
          21 March 2019 at 9:37 pm

          It’s the law here in Oz btw. Semi Auto’s aren’t ban here either in Oz but are highly regulated for those who require one aka professional hunters for feral animal control, large land holders and wildlife control people within government or council departments.

  19. OnceWasTim 19
    21 March 2019 at 8:41 pm

    It’s actually pretty clear what the intent of all this is, and it’s understandable that after only 6 days it’s not surprising the exact legalese is not yet in place.
    But for those screaming ‘nanny state’ nanny state’ ,’shower heads, shower heads’ – especially some that comment on here with a modicum of intelligence, please don’t moan when things go tits up for you in future, or when you find yourselves on some sort of watch list.
    Times, they are a changing – unfortunately not fast enough.

  20. mosa 20
    21 March 2019 at 10:02 pm

    To the NRA and Mr Trump.
    That is how you do it !

  21. Puckish Rogue 21
    22 March 2019 at 1:16 am

    Jagear bombs for the win! Woohoo! Sleeps overrated anyway 🙂

  22. KJT 22
    22 March 2019 at 3:12 pm

    Anyone who has delusions that we are a democracy, should note that it took 50 deaths, sadly, for politicians to do what most of us, and a select committee which spent a year on it, wanted since Aramoana.

    Same with Pike River and industrial safety.

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  • Thinking About the Property Rights in Resource Decisions As Well As Transaction Costs.
    The Fast-Track Approvals Bill enables cabinet ministers to circumvent key environmental planning and protection processes for infrastructure projects. Its difficulties have been well canvassed. This column suggests a different way of thinking about the proposal. I am going to explore the Bill from the perspective of its proponents with their ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    2 hours ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Can Shane Jones be trusted in making Fast-track decisions?
    New Zealand First Cabinet Minister Shane Jones has become the best advertisement against the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill. In selling the radical new resource consenting processes, in which ministers can green light any mine, dam, or other major development, Jones seems to be shooting the proposal in the foot. ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 hours ago

  • Seymour appeals to PPTA to call off meetings on charter schools – but does he seriously believe he...
    Buzz from the Beehive Associate Education Minister David Seymour is urging the PostPrimary Teachers Association to put learning ahead of ideology. He wants the union leaders to call off their teachers meetings around the country where they hope to muster the strength to undo the government’s plans to establish several ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 hours ago

  • Police don’t fight crime
    What are police for? "Fighting crime" is the obvious answer. If there's a burglary, they should show up and investigate. Ditto if there's a murder or sexual assault. Speeding or drunk or dangerous driving is a crime, so obviously they should respond to that. And obviously, they should respond to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 hours ago

  • Two central banks
    Michael Reddell writes –  I got curious yesterday about how the Australia/New Zealand real exchange rate had changed over the last decade, and so dug out the data on the changes in the two countries’ CPIs. Over the 10 years from March 2014 to March 2024, New Zealand’s ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 hours ago

  • TVNZ hīkoi documentary needs a sequel
    Graham Adams writes that 20 years after the land march, judges are quietly awarding a swathe of coastal rights to iwi. Early this month, an hour-long documentary was released by TVNZ to mark the 20th anniversary of the land-rights march to oppose Helen Clark’s Foreshore and Seabed Act. The account ...
    Point of OrderBy gadams1000
    7 hours ago

  • The missing Green MP
    David Farrar writes –  The Herald reports: Suspended Green MP Darleen Tana has passed an unpleasant milestone: she has now been absent for as many parliamentary sitting days as she has been present for this year. Tana is on full pay while she is suspended, and will benefit from a ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 hours ago

  • The contest for the future heart and soul of the Labour Party
    Peter Dunne writes –  It is no coincidence that two Labour should-have-been MPs are making the most noise about public sector cuts. As assistant general secretary of the Public Service Association, Fleur Fitzsimons has been at the forefront of revealing where the next round of state sector job ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 hours ago

  • Lobbying for Waikato’s Medical School causing problems for the Govt
    Bryce Edwards writes –  It’s becoming a classic case study for why lobbying deals with politicians need greater scrutiny. Former National Minister Steven Joyce runs a lobbying company with a major client – the University of Waikato. The University desperately wants $300m+ of taxpayer funding to establish a ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    8 hours ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the psychological horror film Possession
    This is one of the (extra) weekly columns on music or movies. Plenty of solid analyses of Possession exist online and most of them – inevitably – contain spoilers. This column is more in the way of a first-timer’s aid to getting your initial bearings. You don’t need to have ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    9 hours ago

  • Portrait of a Man.
    I am painting in oil, a portrait of a manWho has taken all the heart aches,And all the pain he can stand.I am using all the colors of blue,I have here on my stand.I am painting in oil, a portrait of a man.This has been an interesting week for me. ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    11 hours ago

  • The Hoon around the week to May 17
    Helen Clark joins the Hoon as a special guest talking whether Aotearoa should join Aukus II, and her views on the fast track legislation and how Luxon and the new Government are performing. File Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for subscribers features co-hosts ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    12 hours ago

  • Weekly Roundup 17-May-2024
    We’re at the end of another week. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked if the Herald’s poor journalism will cost lives On Tuesday Matt covered Wayne Brown’s proposal for public transport in the Long ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    12 hours ago

  • Rishi’s relaunch
    With an election due in less than nine months, Britain’s embattled PM, Rishi Sunak, gave a useful speech earlier this week. He made a substantial case for his government, perhaps as compelling as is possible in the current environment. Quite an achievement. His overall theme was security, first pulling ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    21 hours ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #20 2024
    Open access notables Publicly expressed climate scepticism is greatest in regions with high CO2 emissions, Pearson et al., Climatic Change: We analysed a recently released corpus of climate-related tweets to examine the macro-level factors associated with public declarations of climate change scepticism. Analyses of over 2 million geo-located tweets in the U.S. showed that climate ...
    Skeptical Science
    24 hours ago

  • The thrilling possibilities of charter schools
    You can be all negative about these charter schools if you want, but I’m here to accentuate the positive. You can get all worked up, if you want to, by the contradiction of Luxon saying We’re going to make sure that every school in the country is teaching exactly the same ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago

  • This Unreasonable Government.
    Losing The Room: One can only speculate about what has persuaded the Coalition Government that it will pay no electoral price for unreasonably pushing ahead with policies that are so clearly against the national interest. They seem quite oblivious to the risk that by doing so they will convince an increasing ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 day ago

  • Supreme Court weighs in on name suppression
    Name suppression decisions can be tough sometimes. No matter your views on free speech, you have to be hard-hearted not to be torn by the tug of the competing arguments. I think you can feel the Supreme Court wrestling with that in M v The King. The case for ...
    Media Law JournalBy Steven
    1 day ago

  • Is This A “Merchants” Government?
    The Merchants of Menace: The Coalition Government has convinced itself that the “Brahmins’” emollient functions have become much too irksome and expensive. Those who see themselves as the best hope of rebuilding New Zealand’s ailing capitalist system, appear to have convinced themselves that a little bit of blunt trauma is what their mollycoddled ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 day ago

  • This is what corruption looks like
    When National first proposed its Muldoonist "fast-track" law, they were warned that it would inevitably lead to corruption. And that is exactly what has happened, with Resources Minister Shane Jones taking secret meetings with potential applicants: On Tuesday, in a Newsroom story, questions were raised about a dinner Jones ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago

  • Take that, Vladimir – and be warned: we have plenty more sanctions (at least, we hope so) in our ...
    Buzz from the Beehive One day – hopefully – we will push that Russian rascal, Vladimir Putin, beyond breaking point.  Perhaps it will happen today, when he learns that Foreign Minister Winston Peters is again tightening the thumbscrews. Peters announced further sanctions, this time on 28 individuals and 14 entities ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago

  • More Harm Than Good.
    How Labour’s and National’s failure to move beyond neoliberalism has brought New Zealand to the brink of economic and cultural chaos.TO START LOSING, so soon after you won, requires a special kind of political incompetence. At the heart of this Coalition Government’s failure to retain, and build upon, the public ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 day ago

  • The Ombudsman fails again
    In 2020, the Operation Burnham inquiry reported back, finding that NZDF had lied to Ministers and the New Zealand public about its actions in Afghanistan. The inquiry saw a large number of documents declassified and released, which raised another problem: whether they had also lied to the Ombudsman in his ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago

  • No Time To Think: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    “Members of Parliament don’t work for us, they represent us, an entirely different thing. As with so much that has turned out badly, the re-organising of MPs’ responsibilities began with the Fourth Labour Government. That’s when they began to be treated like employees – public servants – whose diaries had ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 day ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Lobbying for Waikato’s Medical School causing problems for the Govt
    It’s becoming a classic case study for why lobbying deals with politicians need greater scrutiny. Former National Minister Steven Joyce runs a lobbying company with a major client – the University of Waikato. The University desperately wants $300m+ of taxpayer funding to establish a third medical school in New Zealand, ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    1 day ago

  • Picking Sides.
    Time To Choose: Like it or not, the Kiwis are either going into AUKUS’s  “Pillar 2” – or they are going to China.HAD ZHENG HE’S FLEET sailed east, not west, in the early Fifteenth Century, how different our world would be. There is little reason to suppose that the sea-going junks ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 day ago

  • Universities offer course in self-serving cowardice
    Henry Ergas writes –  When in Randall Jarrell’s Pictures from an Institution, a college president is accused of being a hypocrite, the novel’s narrator retorts that the description is grossly unfair. After all, the man is still far from the stage of moral development at which the charge ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • The teacher trainee challenge
    David Farrar writes –  Radio NZ reports: The Education Review Office says too many new teachers feel poorly prepared for their jobs. In a report published on Monday, the review office said 60 percent of the principals it interviewed said their new teachers were not ready. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • Words and (in)actions
    New Zealand’s economic performance and the PM’s vision   Michael Reddell writes –  When I wrote yesterday morning’s post, highlighting how poorly both New Zealand and its Anglo peer countries have been doing in respect of productivity in recent times (ie, in the case of New ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • What do you hope for/fear from the budget?
    Hi all,Firstly - thank you! You guys are awesome. The response I’ve received to last night’s mail has been quite overwhelming. It’s a ghastly day outside, but there are no clouds in here.In case you didn’t read my email and are wondering what on earth I’m talking about you can ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago

  • Gordon Campbell on ACT’s charter schools experiment
    If there was still any doubt as to who is actually running this government – and it isn’t the buffoon from Botany – then this week’s announcement of a huge spend up on charter schools has settled the matter. While jobs and public services continue to be cut in the ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    1 day ago

  • Drought fuels wildfire concerns as Canada braces for another intense summer
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Gaye Taylor As widespread drought raises expectations for a repeat of last year’s ferocious wildfire season, response teams across Canada are grappling with the rapidly changing face of fire in a warming climate. No longer quenched by winter, nor quelled by the ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 day ago

  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus and pick ‘n’ mix for Thursday, May 16
    Half of Christchurch City Holdings Ltd’s directors and its chair resigned en masse last night in protest at Christchurch City Council’s demand to front-load dividends File Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The chair of Christchurch City Council’s investment company and four of its independent directors resigned in protest last ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Controversial proposal could threaten coalition
    The University of Waikato has reworded an advertisement that begins the tender process for its new $300 million-plus medical school even though the Government still needs to approve it. However, even the reworded ad contains an architect’s visualisations of what the school might look like. ACT leader David Seymour told ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago

  • Of Rings of Power Annatar, Dramatic Irony, and Disguises
    As a follow-up to the Rings of Power trailer discussion, I thought I needed to add something. There has been some online mockery about the use of the same actor for both the Halbrand and Annatar incarnations of Sauron. The reasoning is that Halbrand with a shave and a new ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    2 days ago

  • The future of Nick's Kōrero.
    This isn’t quite as dramatic as the title might suggest. I’m not going anywhere, but there is something I wanted to talk to you about.Let’s start with a typical day.Most days I send out a newsletter in the morning. If I’ve written a lot the previous evening it might be ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago

  • The PM promises tax relief in the Budget – but will it be enough to satisfy the Taxpayers’ Union...
    Buzz from the Beehive The promise of tax relief loomed large in his considerations when  the PM delivered a pre-Budget speech to the Auckland Business Chamber. The job back in Wellington is getting government spending back under control, he said, bandying figures which show that in per capita terms, the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • Fucking useless
    Yesterday de facto Prime Minister David Seymour announced that his glove puppet government would be re-introducing charter schools, throwing $150 million at his pet quacks, donors and cronies and introducing an entire new government agency to oversee them (the existing Education Review Office, which actually knows how to review schools, ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago

  • Setting things straight.
    Seeing that, in order to discredit the figures and achieve moral superiority while attempting to deflect attention away from the military assault on Rafa, Israel supporters in NZ have seized on reports that casualty numbers in Gaza may be inflated … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    2 days ago

  • Far too light a sentence
    David Farrar writes – Newstalk ZB report: The man responsible for a horror hit and run in central Wellington last year was on a suspended licence and was so drunk he later asked police, “Did I kill someone?” Jason Tuitama injured two women when he ran a red ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Unwinding Labour’s Agenda
    Muriel Newman writes –  Former US President Ronald Reagan once said, “Freedom is a fragile thing and it’s never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by way of inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation.” The fight for ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Sequel to “Real reason Waitangi Tribunal could not summons Chhour”
    Why Courts should have said Waitangi Tribunal could not summons Karen Chhour Gary Judd writes – In the High Court, Justice Isacs declined to uphold the witness summons issued by the Waitangi Tribunal to compel Minister for Children, Karen Chhour, to appear before it to be ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • The Govt’s Fast-Track is being demolished by submissions to Parliament
    Bryce Edwards writes –  The number of voices raising concerns about the Government’s Fast-Track Approvals Bill is rapidly growing. This is especially apparent now that Parliament’s select committee is listening to submissions from the public to evaluate the proposed legislation. Twenty-seven thousand submissions have been made to Parliament ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • A generation is leaving at a rate of one A320-load per day
    An average of 166 New Zealand citizens left the country every day during the March quarter, up 54% from a year ago.Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The economy and housing market is sinking into a longer recession through the winter after a slump in business and consumer confidence in ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • NZUP RORS back to life
    The government has made it abundantly clear they’re addicted to the smell of new asphalt. On Tuesday they introduced a new term to the country’s roading lexicon, the Roads of Regional Significance (RoRS), a little brother for the Roads of National (Party) Significance (RoNS). Driving ahead with Roads of Regional ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    3 days ago

  • School Is Out.
    School is outAnd I walk the empty hallwaysI walk aloneAlone as alwaysThere's so many lucky penniesLying on the floorBut where the hell are all the lucky peopleI can't see them any moreYesterday morning, I’d just sent out my newsletter on Tama Potaka, and I was struggling to make the coffee. ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • How Are You Doing?
    Hi,I wanted to check in and ask how you’re doing.This is perhaps a selfish act, of attempting to find others feeling a similar way to me — that is to say, a little hopeless at the moment.Misery loves company, that sort of deal.Some context.I wish I could say I got ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    3 days ago

  • The Rings of Power: Season Two Teaser Trailer
    I have hitherto been fairly quiet on the new season of Rings of Power, on the basis that the underwhelming first season did not exactly build excitement – and the rumours were fairly daft. The only real thing of substance to come out has been that they have re-cast Adar ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    3 days ago

  • At a glance – What ended the Little ice Age?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

  • Talking Reo with the PM
    “The thing is,” Chris Luxon says, leaning forward to make his point, “this has always been my thing.”“This goes all the way back to the first multinational I worked for. I was saying exactly the same thing back then. The name of our business needs to be more clear; people ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Waitangi Tribunal’s authority in Chhour case is upheld – but bill’s introduction to Parliament...
    Buzz from the Beehive It’s been a momentous few days for Children’s Minister Karen Chhour.  The Court of Appeal has overturned a High Court decision which blocked a summons order from the Waitangi Tribunal for her. And today she has announced the Government is putting children first by introducing to ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • Australia jails another whistleblower
    In 2014 former Australian army lawyer David McBride leaked classified military documents about Australian war crimes to the ABC. Dubbed "The Afghan Files", the documents led to an explosive report on Australian war crimes, the disbanding of an entire SAS unit, and multiple ongoing prosecutions. The journalist who wrote the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • Some “scrutiny”!
    Back in February I blogged about another secret OIA "consultation" by the Ministry of Justice. This one was on Aotearoa's commitment in its Open Government Partnership Action Plan to "strengthen scrutiny of Official Information Act exemption clauses in legislation" (AKA secrecy clauses). Their consultation paper on the issue focused on ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • TVNZ is loss-making, serves no public service due to bias, and should be liquidated
    Rob MacCulloch writes –  According to the respected Pew Research Centre, “In seven of eight [European] countries surveyed, the most trusted news outlet asked about is the public news organization in each country”. For example, “in Sweden, an overwhelming majority (90%) say they trust the public broadcaster SVT”. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • The conflicted Covid Chair
    David Farrar writes –  Kata MacNamara reports:    Details of Tony Blakely’s involvement in the New Zealand Government’s response to the pandemic raise serious questions about the work of the Covid-19 Royal Commission of Inquiry over which he presides. It has long been clear that Blakely, a ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Attacking the smartest and most resilient people in the room is never a good idea
    Chris Trotter writes – Are you a Brahmin or a Merchant? Or, are you merely one of those whose lives are profoundly influenced by the decisions of Brahmins and Merchants? Those are the questions that are currently shaping the politics of New Zealand and the entire West. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • A fortune-telling failure, surely, if the tarot cards can’t see a bulldozer coming
    RNZ reports –  It’s supposed to be a haven of healing and spiritual awakening but residents of the Kawai Purapura community say they’ve been hurt and deceived. It’s the successor to the former Centrepoint commune, and has been on the bush block opposite Albany shopping centre since 2008. It ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • The climate battleground heats up
    TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. Usually we have a video chat to go with this wrap, but were unable to do one this week. We’ll be back next week.Several reports ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Bernard’ s Dawn Chorus & Pick ‘n’ Mix for Tuesday, May 14
    The Transport Minister has set a hard 'fiscal envelope' of $6.54 billion for transport capital spending. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The economy is settling into a state of suspended animation as the Government’s funding freezes and job cuts chill confidence and combine with stubbornly high interest rates to ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on why anti-Zionism is not anti-Semitic
    To be precise, the term “anti- Zionism” refers to (a) criticism of the political movement that created a modern Jewish state on the historical land of Israel, and to (b)the subjugation of Palestinians by the Israeli state. By contrast, the term “anti-Semitism” means bigotry and racism directed at Jewish people, ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    3 days ago

  • Climate change is making hurricanes more destructive
    This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Because hurricanes are one of the big-ticket weather disasters that humanity has to face, climate misinformers spend a lot of effort muddying the waters on whether climate change is making hurricanes more damaging. With the official start to the hurricane ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

  • Wayne Brown’s PT Plan
    Yesterday the Mayor released what he calls his “plan to save public transport” which is part of his final proposal for the Council’s Long Term Plan (LTP). This comes following consultation on the draft version that occurred in March which showed, once again, that people want more done on transport, especially ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    4 days ago

  • Potaka's Private Universe.
    And it's a pleasure that I have knownAnd it's a treasure that I have gainedAotearoa’s coalition government is fragile. It’s held together by the obsequious sycophancy of Christopher Luxon, who willingly contorts his party into the fringe positions of his junior coalition partners and is unwilling to contradict them. The ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • Our slow regional councils
    The Select Committee hearing submissions on the fast-track consenting legislation is starting to become a beat-up of regional councils. The inflexibility and slow workings of the Councils were prominent in two submissions yesterday. One, from the Coromandel Marine Farmers Association, simply said that the Waikato Regional Council’s planning decisions were ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago

  • Ministers are not above the law after all
    Back in April, the High Court surprised everyone by ruling that Ministers are above the law, at least as far as the Waitangi Tribunal is concerned. The reason for this ruling was "comity" - the idea that the different branches of government shouldn't interfere with each other's functions. Which makes ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • NZTA takes the wheel after govt gives it the road map for regional roads (and puts a speed governor ...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Tolling was mentioned when Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced the government was re-introducing the Roads of National Significance (RoNS) programme, with 15 “crucial” projects to support economic growth and regional development across New Zealand. All RoNS would be four-laned, grade-separated highways, and all funding, financing, and ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • Change in Catalonia?
    or the past 14 years, ever since the Spanish government cheated on an autonomy deal, Catalonia has reliably given pro-independence parties a majority of seats in their regional parliament. But now that seems to be over. Catalans went to the polls yesterday, and stripped the Catalan parties of their majority. ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • Having an enrolment date is not depriving anyone of a vote
    David Farrar writes –  Radio NZ report: Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins said the Electoral Commission should make sure the system ran smoothly and “taking away the right of thousands of people to vote” was not the answer. “Thousands of people enroled and voted on the day. If ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Perhaps house prices don’t always go up
    Don Brash writes –  There was a rather revealing headline in the Herald on Sunday today (12 May). It read “One in 8 Auckland homes on market were bought during boom, may now sell for loss”. The first line of text noted that “New data shows one in ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Can’t read, can’t write, can’t comprehend – and won’t think…?
    Mike Grimshaw writes –  At a time when universities are understandably nervous regarding the establishment of the University Advisory Group (UAG) and the Science System Advisory Group (SSAG) it may seem strange – or even fool-hardy – to state that there are long-standing issues in the tertiary sector ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Time for some perspective
    Lindsay Mitchell writes –  A lack of perspective can make something quite large or important seem small or irrelevant. Against a backdrop of high-profile, negative statistics it is easy to overlook the positive. For instance, the fact that 64 percent of Maori are employed is rarely reported. For ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Will NZ Herald’s ‘poor journalism’ cost lives?
    Earlier this year, the Herald ran a series of articles amounting to a sustained campaign against raised pedestrian crossings, by reporter Bernard Orsman. A key part of that campaign concerned the raised crossings being installed as part of the Pt Chevalier to Westmere project, with at least 10 articles over ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    5 days ago

  • The Kaka’s diary for the week to May 19 and beyond
    TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to May 19 include:PM Christopher Luxon is expected to hold his weekly post-cabinet news conference at 4:00pm on Monday.Parliament is not sitting this week. It resumes next week for a two-week sitting session up to and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • Webworm Popup Photos!
    Hi,Thanks to all the beautiful Worms who came to the LA Webworm popup on Saturday.It was a way to celebrate the online store we launched last week — and it was super special.As I talk about a lot, I really value our community here — and it was a BLAST ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 days ago

  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #19
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, May 5, 2024 thru Sat, May 11, 2024. (Unfortunate) Story of the week "Grief that stops at despair is an ending that I and many others, most notably ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • DJ Fred Again – Assurance report received
    "On the 27th of March, I sought assurances from the Chief Executive, Department of Internal Affairs, that the Department’s correct processes and policies had been followed in regards to a passport application which received media attention,” says Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden.  “I raised my concerns after being ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 hours ago

  • District Court Judges appointed
    Attorney-General Judith Collins has announced the appointment of three new District Court Judges, to replace Judges who have recently retired. Peter James Davey of Auckland has been appointed a District Court Judge with a jury jurisdiction to be based at Whangarei. Mr Davey initially started work as a law clerk/solicitor with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago

  • Unions should put learning ahead of ideology
    Associate Education Minister David Seymour is calling on the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) to put ideology to the side and focus on students’ learning, in reaction to the union holding paid teacher meetings across New Zealand about charter schools.     “The PPTA is disrupting schools up and down the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago

  • Craig Stobo appointed as chair of FMA
    Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly today announced the appointment of Craig Stobo as the new chair of the Financial Markets Authority (FMA). Mr Stobo takes over from Mark Todd, whose term expired at the end of April. Mr Stobo’s appointment is for a five-year term. “The FMA plays ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago

  • Budget 2024 invests in lifeguards and coastguard
    Surf Life Saving New Zealand and Coastguard New Zealand will continue to be able to keep people safe in, on, and around the water following a funding boost of $63.644 million over four years, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Associate Transport Minister Matt Doocey say. “Heading to the beach for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago

  • New Zealand and Tuvalu reaffirm close relationship
    New Zealand and Tuvalu have reaffirmed their close relationship, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters says.  “New Zealand is committed to working with Tuvalu on a shared vision of resilience, prosperity and security, in close concert with Australia,” says Mr Peters, who last visited Tuvalu in 2019.  “It is my pleasure ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • New Zealand calls for calm, constructive dialogue in New Caledonia
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