Ravi back in the running?

Written By: - Date published: 12:00 pm, May 14th, 2009 - 68 comments
Categories: mt albert, racism, transport - Tags: ,

Over at Red Alert, the Labour MPs’ blog, Trevor Mallard points out that nominations for the Mt Albert by-election don’t close until next week.

If John Key, as Mallard puts it, “has the balls” he can tell Melissa Lee to stand down and the National selection can be held again.

Poor old Ravi Musuku might get his chance to shine after all. He’ll want to finish his website though.

You can hear Lee’s wacky motorway comments and explanations here , here, and here (National should use her for Waterview, she just keeps on digging). The video/donation issue is covered well here.

Lee doesn’t withdraw her comments. In fact, she adds that the motorway would make it easier to catch criminals but, Melissa, won’t it make it easier for them to get away?

Honestly, what a train wreck: “the motorway will divert crime away from Mt Albert”, “obviously I don’t want to divert crime to other areas” “hopefully we could divert them straight to jail”.

68 comments on “Ravi back in the running? ”

  1. Tim Ellis 1

    Interesting Eddie. Last night Young Labour started chanting “bring back Ravi!” quite loudly while Lee was answering a question. Somebody from the audience turned around and yelled back to them: “Where’s Meg Bates tonight?” There was a roar of laughter and all of young labour promptly shut up. They were outnumbered by Greens and National supporters each, and didn’t seem to be very battle-hardened.

    Shearer was struggling against interjectors. Obviously he’s never had to take the heat before. It’s tough campaigning on a tunnel that is so expensive and unfunded, while Norman on his left flank is campaigning against any tunnel at all.

    • Ferdinand 1.1

      Tim, I’m assuming you are on Lee’s campaign team or are advising/working for National in some capacity as you are running relentless, proffesional interference here and over at Trevor’s blog.

      • Pat 1.1.1

        Speaking of Red Alert, it is refreshing to see someone like Cameron Slater can converse with an MP like Trevor Mallard.

        Looks like Labour is finally getting the hang of the whole freedom of speech thing.

      • r0b 1.1.2

        Tim is certainly relentless. He does have rather a tenuous acquaintance with the truth though. Is that professional? In politics, perhaps, I guess…

        • Pat 1.1.2.1

          rob – a “tenuous acquaintance with the truth” as you put it, is an admittance that Tim’s posts are truthful. You know that, because you would be unable to provide an example where Tim has ever posted an untruth.

          That’s what makes him so annoying to the Standardistas.

          • r0b 1.1.2.1.1

            you would be unable to provide an example where Tim has ever posted an untruth.

            How about this one? Or this one (see here)? Or this one?

          • Tim Ellis 1.1.2.1.2

            Pat, r0b’s concept of an untruth is a difference of interpretation.

            I posted links to comments by people I believe are Labour Party activists on the Herald forum, based on their comments history. r0b says I don’t have any evidence that they are Labour Party activists, which is true. That doesn’t mean they aren’t Labour Party activists. The fact I don’t have specific evidence that they are Labour Party activists, but that I am merely basing that opinion on the history of their comments on the Herald website, doesn’t make my statement untrue, in my opinion.

            r0b also disagreed with my statement that there are people within the Labour Party who have a pathological hatred of conservative Christians. He therefore says that my statement was a lie. In my view, it was not a lie. It was an opinion.

            r0b disagreed with my statement that Helen Clark had a history of giving Ministers a lot of long rope, initially supporting them when scandals broke, before gutting them publicly. I stand by that statement. r0b disagrees with it. He also claims this statement, based on his disagreement of interpretation is a lie.

            Fair enough, I suppose. I don’t take it personally. I’m sure he has a lot of opinions about National Party people and methods, which I disagree with, but I don’t call him a liar for having those beliefs.

          • r0b 1.1.2.1.3

            I posted links to comments by people I believe are Labour Party activists on the Herald forum

            You called them “Labour Party activists” with no equivocation, and used them as “evidence” of the Labour Party’s position. Sounds like a lie to me.

            r0b also disagreed with my statement that there are people within the Labour Party who have a pathological hatred of conservative Christians.

            Not “people” Tim, you said “many parts of the Labour Party”. Sounds like a lie to me.

            r0b disagreed with my statement that Helen Clark had a history of giving Ministers a lot of long rope,

            You said that Clark was “spinning an official inquiry to saying he was guilty of doing nothing more than helping people” – which turned out to be a lie again Tim.

            And where were you sitting at the meeting you were at Tim? Did you misspeak here or on Gordon’s blog?

          • Pascal's bookie 1.1.2.1.4

            Your doing it again Tim. You said, as fact, that they were labour party activists. Now you untruthfully claim that you were merely opining, based on your deep and abiding love of the your views section of the Granny herald.

            So there’s a lie. Whether or not they were in fact activists you now admit is unknown, which means your initial claim that they were, was at best, bullshit (in the technical sense, as defined by Harry G. Frankfurt).

          • Tim Ellis 1.1.2.1.5

            r0b and PB, I do note you don’t require the same level of evidence from Eddie, who has jumped to an hysterical conclusion on no evidence that Lee is corrupt and a racist.

            I stand by my previous comments. If you want to suggest a post analysing my previous comments, then please do so. I don’t think it will be very interesting reading, though.

          • r0b 1.1.2.1.6

            I do note you don’t require the same level of evidence from Eddie, who has jumped to an hysterical conclusion on no evidence that Lee is corrupt and a racist.

            No evidence? Is that why John Key is calling her comments stupid?

            I stand by my previous comments.

            Good for you Tim. Nothing like digging yourself in deeper.

    • Eddie 1.2

      So what?

      Is this all you’ve got to run as distraction? – Shearer didn’t handle some questions too well in your opinion and someone heckled the young labs well.

      Do you still support Lee as a candidate? I mean take your pick of reasons to cut her off – she’s a corrupt, arrogant, stupid, racist

      • burt 1.2.1

        Eddie

        That list of qualifications would seem to make her the perfect choice for Mt Albert.

      • Tim Ellis 1.2.2

        I realise you’re a bit excitable Eddie, but there is no need to descend to that kind of rampant abuse. If your posting had any impact, then I would say your statements are libellous. Take a chill pill and get some perspective. Hysteria like that doesn’t help your argument.

      • Daveski 1.2.3

        In fairness Eddie, this post is equally a distraction to suggest that the Nats would dump Lee at this stage with all the connotations inherent in that decision.

        I’m not sure what evidence you have she’s corrupt (on the HC corruption test Lee is still an Angel), she’s undoubtedly come across as stupid and possibly arrogant. As for the last point, I thought it was (according to the western liberal university doctrine so popular within the left) only possible for us white fella’s to be racist?

        Anyway, I agree she’s made an unforgivable stupid comment and Key has deservedly said so as well.

        • Eddie 1.2.3.1

          It’s perfectly possible for a non-European to be racist and there is a racism underlying Lee’s coments about people from South Auckland being criminals.

          Lee’s corruption, short memory? http://www.thestandard.org.nz/the-nats-campaign-vid-that-you-and-i-paid-for/

          • Daveski 1.2.3.1.1

            I asked for evidence Eddie not a post. It’s like asking an Aussie judiciary to make rulings on Kiwi league players!

            I agree with you regards your definition of racism but I have seen many earnest university types repeat the mantra that racism by definition can only be applied to the dominant white culture.

    • Come on Tim

      I am reliably informed that the Young Labour’s performance clearly outshone that of all of the other groups at last night’s meeting.

      Whose candidate got that badly rattled that she is even this morning fluffing her Crosby Textor lines? I feel somewhat sorry for her. She has obviously been instructed to mention crime at every opportunity and to always draw any discussion back to law and order but she has shown that you can take this too far.

      Shearer struggling? Who got all of the headlines this morning?

  2. gobsmacked 2

    Obviously he’s never had to take the heat before.

    Did the interjectors have guns?

  3. Maynard J 3

    David Shearer was not shaken to the extent that he made a comment Phil Goff had to brand as stupid.

    Epic-ouch!!

    So he must have held his own and since Tim thinks there’s nothing at all wrong with what Lee has done so far I would not recommend his views to anyone seeking an impartial perspective of the meeting.

    Tim called it ‘struggling against interjectors’. Maybe he was being polite and did not want to decend to shouting too much, unlike Lee’s aggressive and unpleasant behaviour as demonstrated on Q & A.

    • Tim Ellis 3.1

      Shearer said at the meeting that he agreed that the tunnel would cause more congestion in Mount Albert, couldn’t say where the money for the tunnel was coming from, and couldn’t explain why, if the tunnel would cause more congestion, the tunnel was being proposed by Labour. He couldn’t respond to Norman’s point that a two-lane option would reach capacity in 2015, right at the time when it was due to open.

      A pretty woeful response from Shearer.

      • burt 3.1.1

        Tim

        Shearer knows that this particular electorate likes having a liar for their MP. He is playing his cards well.

        • Maynard J 3.1.1.1

          Same line twice in one comment section – this be the new NACT approach is it? I look forward to the rest of the campaign then.

          • felix 3.1.1.1.1

            Same line twice in one comment section…

            That’s nothing for my homeboy burt. Just wait til he gets going…

        • r0b 3.1.1.2

          Ahh Burt, back to your old tricks I see. Helen was a ‘Lying bitch” eh. Classy stuff from you Nats.

          • Daveski 3.1.1.2.1

            Sadly r0b the mud has flown in both if not multiple directions. not suggesting that you’ve been involved but there’s no doubt it goes both ways.

        • Eddie 3.1.1.3

          Is this going to be the Nat line when Lee is defeated – Mt Albertites(?) were too dumb or whatever to vote for her?

      • Maynard J 3.1.2

        Lucky for Shearer then Tim, that this one is all about law and order, as you told us repeatedly that it is the real issue of this byelection. It sure has been getting all the press lately.

        I can’t comment on your points because I was not there and do not think you are particularly accurate in your representation of events. Anything in the news about Shearer’s poor performance I can refer to?

        • Tim Ellis 3.1.2.1

          Nothing in the news as far as I know, no. It was a pretty grey performance from Shearer. He wasn’t incompetent at all, but he didn’t have any of the answers. He walked into a bit of a door after he said that the tunnel would cause congestion. My impression of him was that he wasn’t expecting the young nats to be as organised as they were and that the young labour crowd would have been much more supportive of him than they were.

          Norman dropped a clanger when he advocated civil disobedience and protesting outside John Key’s home, which didn’t go down well with a lot of the audience.

          The greens seemed to have the biggest crowd of people there, but they were mostly well behaved and civil. There was one moment at the end when the young nats and labour had a chanting match up the back which looked like it might get out of hand, but it turned out to be fine.

          Near the end the chairman announced that there would be one more question, before everybody could go home for some tea and fruitcake. Somebody shouted out: “There are lots of fruitcakes here already!”, which caused a lot of laughs.

          This town hall campaigning stuff is a lot of fun. Despite the media focussing on one comment that Lee made, that didn’t dominate the meeting at all in my view.

          • Maynard J 3.1.2.1.1

            Well done, got the ‘Grey’ line in there.

            Do you have a quota?

            Such meetings are great fun to attend. I would have a very different view of what happened if I attended. I believe you about that not dominating the meeting – it is the msm that runs something like that

      • mickysavage 3.1.3

        Tim

        No one can say where the money is coming from, not even the Minister. As soon as he discovers where it is coming from can he let us all know so we can have a real debate about this?

  4. toad 4

    Aside from the outrageous prejudice inherent in her comments, I’ve been pondering all moring the logic of exactly how building a motorway will keep South Auckland’s criminals out of Mount Albert. The intuitive reasoning would be that it would do the opposite. But I think I might have finally worked it out. Clever Melissa! Seems she secretly agrees with Russel Norman’s analysis of the Waterview connection after all.

  5. randal 5

    lee is a post modernist twit who has watched to much teevee and read too many new right tracts
    in other words she is an illeducated unlettered manque
    anything more and i might run foul of the laws that protect idiots from the truth about their psycholgical disposition and their competencies

  6. Meg 6

    But Tim…I don’t get it? How is the Young Nats shouting “Where’s Meg Bates tonight?’ a comeback?

    I seem to recall Labour had eight talented competent candidates. Maybe the Nats couldn’t remember that many names to yell out as they only had two people to pick from?

    Labour then chose a candidate who is measured, knowledgeable, calm and experienced for Mt Albert. So far he has done a fabulous job and acquitted himself admirably in speaking roles (RNZ, Q+A, public meetings). So why would that be comparable to Melissa Lee and Ravi? At this stage Melissa has made every mistake possible and embarrassed the people that supported her selection. I don’t recall Shearer doing this.

    Maybe the Young Nats and Tim have sense of humour and reality that other people don’t get?

    • Tim Ellis 6.1

      It was enough to stop Young Labour in their tracks, Meg. It evidently hit a raw nerve and they shut up immediately.

      Lee certainly seems to be getting much more exposure than Shearer. I guess that’s what happens when the Labour Party fires its big cannons, like Goff and Mallard, to serve unsupported innuendo and yelling “corruption” and “racism” about National’s candidate.

      • r0b 6.1.1

        Don’t forget the headlines from National’s big cannon, John Key, calling her remarks “stupid” and “silly”

      • burt 6.1.2

        rOb

        So having spent the last few years bagging everything Key says you suddenly agree with him. How predictable for a NZ1 supporter.

        • Eddie 6.1.2.1

          since when was r0b a NZFirst supporter?

          Anyway, it’s Key agreeing with r0b for once, not the other way round.

          • r0b 6.1.2.1.1

            Anyway, it’s Key agreeing with r0b for once, not the other way round.

            Tee hee! Perhaps I should send him a consultancy bill.

          • burt 6.1.2.1.2

            Eddie

            Well I’ve told rOb dozens of times I’m not a National supporter and he even took the piss about Rodney being under the cosh the other day because he knows I’m (generally) and ACT supporter. But he couldn’t help himself earlier in this thread from calling me a National supporter. I though rather than correct him again I would use his tactics. I know it makes me look as big an idiot as rOb but I’ve learned that using reason against reptilian brain stem activity is a waste of time. rOb has some basic fight/flight thing going on with Labour & National.

          • burt 6.1.2.1.3

            “Close enough in a hurry”

            So I was right about some basic fight/flight thing then?

            I’m loving watching you squirm in opposition rOb. All that defending the indefensible is going to bite your ass everytime you take a stand against the govt. Meanwhile I hold the current lot to the same standard as the previous lot.

            You must hate people like me who put principle ahead of partisan politics?

          • r0b 6.1.2.1.4

            Meanwhile I hold the current lot to the same standard as the previous lot. You must hate people like me who put principle ahead of partisan politics?

            That’s quite some self delusion thing you’ve got going there Burt. You’ll be holding this government to the same standards as the last one when you’re over on Kiwiblog ranting the evils of NACT every day, and calling John Key a “lying bastard”.

            Instead you’re still over here calling Helen Clark a liar. Which is kinda sad Burt.

        • r0b 6.1.2.2

          It’s a NACT government now Burty, your guys are all in it together. You didn’t have any trouble trying to hold Labour to account for Winston’s antics did you? So suck it up buddy.

        • burt 6.1.2.3

          So what was this comment about then rOb?

          Classy stuff from you Nats.

          • r0b 6.1.2.3.1

            “Classy stuff” because I can’t understand the lack of mentality behind the level of personal abuse that you right wingers – including you Burt – subjected Helen Clark to. And you were at it yet again.

            “You Nats” because you were covering for Tim. Tim’s a Nat. You support ACT in a NACT government, hence a Nat lead government, hence the Nats. So “you Nats” was close enough in a hurry.

  7. Tim

    It had nothing to do with Goff or Mallard. It was a disgruntled former staffer and a few university students who have caused the damage.

    Lee is getting so much exposure because of what she has done and said.

    Her comments last night were stupid and racist at the same time. She must have some talent because this is not easy to do.

    WHy are you running cover for her? You are acting like Jack the Ripper’s lawyer arguing that he was innocent.

  8. Kaplan 8

    I suspect Lee has confused her dog whistle with her air horn.

  9. Without wanting to wade too deep into this, I was of the understanding that saying something stupid & racist at the same time is very easy: all one needs to do is say something racist. (Is this view not commonly held at The Standard?)

    Personally, I doubt very much racial prejudice is a factor behind Lee’s comment, although I don’t blame her opponents for wanted to portray the comment in that least favourable of lights. That’s politics, sadly.

    My suspicion is that this was a simple case of over-stretch by Lee: she’s trying too hard to make the by-election about “law & order”. If the only conceptual tool the party’s told you you’re allowed to use is a hammer,…

    The video/donation issue has the potential to be much more serious than the gaffe. That said, not all the facts are in yet, so faithful Nat that I am, I’m reserving judgement.

    #Sorry, this is my first comment here, and I can’t figure out how to make the threads work. This was meant to be a response to mickeysavage.

    • gingercrush 9.1

      You click the reply button under their response. Anyway welcome to The Standard.

      • Thanks 🙂

        I’m a little bit scared of this comment-community, but I promise to be extra-nice at all times.

        • r0b 9.1.1.1

          Ahh you’ll soon feel right at home I’m sure. Honest views honestly stated are always welcome.

          Just a hint though – your “Standard = Labour proxies” line from your blog won’t go down too well here. Asked and answered a million times.

        • lprent 9.1.1.2

          Don’t bother worrying about being nice. It gets in the way of a good robust discussion. Worry about getting your point across…

          Just read the About and Policy and don’t do things that attract my attention or the moderators attention – typically trolling, link-whoring, pointless abuse or (as rOb points out) thinking that whaledreck is technically capable of finding his own arse let alone having any idea of who writes for this site (he is a simply a liar).

          It is pretty easy to detect if the moderators get interested in you – we leave bloody great big black notes on your comments.

          Apart from that be prepared to defend your opinions because there is always someone who will want to tear them apart.

          • BK Drinkwater 9.1.1.2.1

            Thanks for the heads-up, Iprent. Point noted about who writes for the site. I won’t do that again 🙂

            I’m not a fan of “whaleoil”; I’m not a fan of anyone who introduces himself in real life by his pseudonym, and will not give a real name when pressed.

      • mickysavage 9.1.2

        BK

        “I was of the understanding that saying something stupid & racist at the same time is very easy: all one needs to do is say something racist”

        I agree by definition that all racist statements are stupid. What I meant to say was the statement was racist, stupid in a racist way and also stupid in a stupid way.

        Thinking that a motorway will make it less likely that South Auckland based burglars will get to Mount Albert where the new motorway will go to needs to be said a few times to realise how bizarre this thought is. I have this overwhelming feeling that I am watching a Monty Python movie.

    • Eddie 9.2

      BK. I think, yes, that’s the sober analysis and well put- she’s trying to make law and order an issue. She saw this a way to work it into the Waterview debate and overreached

      But (and it’s a big but) there is a racist element underlying her comment and that didn’t come from nowhere, that came from her views of the people of South Auckland, clearly the Maori and Polynesian people.

      We don’t have to be mind readers to know the colour of the criminals’ skin that Lee was imagining.

      • Tim Ellis 9.2.1

        She saw this a way to work it into the Waterview debate and overreached

        And with your claim of a racist element in her comment, Eddie, I think you’re trying too hard and over-reaching yourself. You’ve also been over-reaching when you’ve been shrieking “CORRUPTION!”.

        I think you can make your point and be critical of what Lee has said, without resorting to that hyperbole.

      • Maybe, maybe not. My implicit-racial-stereotype radar is rather faulty, so I’m not the best judge.

        Stupid comments, by their nature, don’t have a whole lot of thought behind them. I doubt Lee’s thinking in this case went so deep as to encompass a racial profile.

        Either way, you know you’re in trouble when people are debating The Gaffe: Racist & Stupid, or Just Plain Stupid?

        I’m just waiting to hear some polling numbers.

  10. andy 10

    BK

    Click on the ‘reply’ speech bubble under the comment you want to reply to. Try is on this one.

  11. gobsmacked 11

    Meanwhile both Audrey Young and Colin Espiner use the same word on their blogs – “horror” – to describe National’s mess.

    Here’s Young:

    http://blogs.nzherald.co.nz/blog/audrey-young/2009/5/14/lees-comments-cap-horror-week-national/?c_id=280&objectid=10572293

  12. Joel Walsham 12

    Well despite what Tim says, the comment about Meg Bates did not stuff us Young Labour Party members dead in our tracks, in fact the Torys lost last night, so much that the young Nats couldn’t defend themselves and had to have their candidate speak from the front.

    I loved the end, our chant was awesome

    “Did you see Campbel Live”

    Followed by

    “Pay back the money! Pay back the money! Pay back the money!” etc. etc.

    I mean Melissa Lee didn’t even know the topic, even the Act candidate had to correct her on the amount of houses that have already been bought. And lastly Shearer was not rattled by the supporters, where are Melissa Lee clearly hates people, showing this by rolling her eyes several times at impartial members of the public.

  13. gobsmacked 13

    So, hours after Lee’s ham-fisted attempt at an insincere apology on ‘Morning Report’, the National party hierarchy finally force her to do it properly:

    Statement:

    “I apologise unreservedly for the comments I made regarding South Auckland and the linkage that I drew between the planned Waterview extension and crime.’

    “I was wrong to have implied that crime is solely a South Auckland problem, or that the new motorway would reduce crime.’

    I sincerely regret my remarks.”

    (Ends)

    It took her all day.

  14. Pascal's bookie 14

    “I sincerely regret my remarks”

    That’s true enough.

  15. gobsmacked 15

    Quick heads-up: Lee, Shearer and Norman together on Close-Up at 7.

  16. gobsmacked 16

    So, Close-Up:

    Norman did fine, Shearer did all he needed to do (say nothing), and Lee … almost got it right, and then just couldn’t close out the deal.

    Voice in head: ‘Just say sorry, I was wrong’. So she did, several times. But Paul Henry did his job (tougher on her than the others, it must be said) and pushed her, and she had nothing – just repeated her line. So in the end, it just sounded like a line, not a feeling. (And the others were smart enough NOT to pile on … a lesson for Lee there, up against pros).

    But my biggest gripe is with bloody TV One for cutting this off before anyone had a chance to discuss anything esle. For what? A bungy-jump? Pathetic.

  17. happy 17

    Lee has done nothing wrong, she should have stood by her comments and backed them up with facts. It would have been simple

    • Maynard J 17.1

      What, that a motorway would divert criminals elsewhere?

      Wonder why she didn’t go down that path.

  18. burt 18

    rOb

    The comment indenting features are making a hash of our exchange. I start again here following your 4:15 comment where you said;

    That’s quite some self delusion thing you’ve got going there Burt. You’ll be holding this government to the same standards as the last one when you’re over on Kiwiblog ranting the evils of NACT every day, and calling John Key a “lying bastard’.

    Instead you’re still over here calling Helen Clark a liar. Which is kinda sad Burt.

    Patience rOb, National have started to act like Labour in the sense that they are doing stuff that is not following standard process, lack of consultation, dodgy answering of questions etc. I have voiced my disquiet with this starting trend in their behaviour. You know this, some were recent responses to you.

    National haven’t even delivered a budget yet, they have not yet exonerated people in scandals via toothless inquiries with narrow scope. They haven’t killed off any standing court cases that an MP is involved in. They have not validated anything the Auditor-General said was illegal. When they start doing that sort of shit I’ll be all guns blazing anywhere I think I’m being heard.

    I don’t understand your logic taking me on about this unless you are planning to defend National in the same situations you defended Labour. Otherwise as soon as you and I start agreeing on “bad stuff” – you loose.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • 100 days of something
    It was at the end of the Foxton straights, at the end of 1978, at 100km/h, that someone tried to grab me from behind on my Yamaha.They seemed to be yanking my backpack. My first thought was outrage. My second was: but how? Where have they come from? And my ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    45 mins ago
  • Look who’s stepped up to champion Winston
    There’s no news to be gleaned from the government’s official website today  – it contains nothing more than the message about the site being under maintenance. The time this maintenance job is taking and the costs being incurred have us musing on the government’s commitment to an assault on inflation. ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    18 hours ago
  • What's The Story?
    Don’t you sometimes wish they’d just tell the truth? No matter how abhorrent or ugly, just straight up tell us the truth?C’mon guys, what you’re doing is bad enough anyway, pretending you’re not is only adding insult to injury.Instead of all this bollocks about the Smokefree changes being to do ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    23 hours ago
  • The longest of weeks
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.Friday Under New Management Week in review, quiz style1. Which of these best describes Aotearoa?a. Progressive nation, proud of its egalitarian spirit and belief in a fair go b. Best little country on the planet c. ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    24 hours ago
  • Suggested sessions of EGU24 to submit abstracts to
    Like earlier this year, members from our team will be involved with next year's General Assembly of the European Geosciences Union (EGU). The conference will take place on premise in Vienna as well as online from April 14 to 19, 2024. The session catalog has been available since November 1 ...
    1 day ago
  • Under New Management
    1. Which of these best describes Aotearoa?a. Progressive nation, proud of its egalitarian spirit and belief in a fair go b. Best little country on the planet c. Under New Management 2. Which of these best describes the 100 days of action announced this week by the new government?a. Petulantb. Simplistic and wrongheaded c. ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • While we wait patiently, our new Minister of Education is up and going with a 100-day action plan
    Sorry to say, the government’s official website is still out of action. When Point of Order paid its daily visit, the message was the same as it has been for the past week: Site under maintenance Beehive.govt.nz is currently under maintenance. We will be back shortly. Thank you for your ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago
  • DAVID FARRAR: Hysterical bullshit
    Radio NZ reports: Te Pāti Māori’s co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer has accused the new government of “deliberate .. systemic genocide” over its policies to roll back the smokefree policy and the Māori Health Authority. The left love hysterical language. If you oppose racial quotas in laws, you are a racist. And now if you sack ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago
  • ELE LUDEMANN: It wasn’t just $55 million
    Ele Ludemann writes –  Winston Peters reckons media outlets were bribed by the $55 million Public Interest Journalism Fund. He is not the first to make such an accusation. Last year, the Platform outlined conditions media signed up to in return for funds from the PJIF: . . . ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 1-December-2023
    Wow, it’s December already, and it’s a Friday. So here are few things that caught our attention recently. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt covered the new government’s coalition agreements and what they mean for transport. On Tuesday Matt looked at AT’s plans for fare increases ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    2 days ago
  • Shane MacGowan Is Gone.
    Late 1996, The Dogs Bollix, Tamaki Makaurau.I’m at the front of the bar yelling my order to the bartender, jostling with other thirsty punters on a Friday night, keen to piss their wages up against a wall letting loose. The black stuff, long luscious pints of creamy goodness. Back down ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to Dec 1
    Nicola Willis, Chris Bishop and other National, ACT and NZ First MPs applaud the signing of the coalition agreements, which included the reversal of anti-smoking measures while accelerating tax cuts for landlords. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • 2023 More Reading: November (+ Writing Update)
    Completed reads for November: A Modern Utopia, by H.G. Wells The Vampire (poem), by Heinrich August Ossenfelder The Corpus Hermeticum The Corpus Hermeticum is Mead’s translation. Now, this is indeed a very quiet month for reading. But there is a reason for that… You see, ...
    2 days ago
  • Forward to 2017
    The coalition party agreements are mainly about returning to 2017 when National lost power. They show commonalities but also some serious divergencies.The two coalition agreements – one National and ACT, the other National and New Zealand First – are more than policy documents. They also describe the processes of the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    3 days ago
  • Questions a nine year old might ask the new Prime Minister
    First QuestionYou’re going to crack down on people ram-raiding dairies, because you say hard-working dairy owners shouldn’t have to worry about getting ram-raided.But once the chemist shops have pseudoephedrine in them again, they're going to get ram-raided all the time. Do chemists not work as hard as dairy owners?Second QuestionYou ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Questions a nine year old might ask the new Prime Minister
    First QuestionYou’re going to crack down on people ram-raiding dairies, because you say hard-working dairy owners shouldn’t have to worry about getting ram-raided.But once the chemist shops have pseudoephedrine in them again, they're going to get ram-raided all the time. Do chemists not work as hard as dairy owners?Second QuestionYou ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Finally
    Henry Kissinger is finally dead. Good fucking riddance. While Americans loved him, he was a war criminal, responsible for most of the atrocities of the final quarter of the twentieth century. Cambodia. Bangladesh. Chile. East Timor. All Kissinger. Because of these crimes, Americans revere him as a "statesman" (which says ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • Government in a hurry – Luxon lists 49 priorities in 100-day plan while Peters pledges to strength...
    Buzz from the Beehive Yes, ministers in the new government are delivering speeches and releasing press statements. But the message on the government’s official website was the same as it has been for the past several days, when Point of Order went looking for news from the Beehive that had ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • DAVID FARRAR: Luxon is absolutely right
    David Farrar writes  –  1 News reports: Christopher Luxon says he was told by some Kiwis on the campaign trail they “didn’t know” the difference between Waka Kotahi, Te Pūkenga and Te Whatu Ora. Speaking to Breakfast, the incoming prime minister said having English first on government agencies will “make sure” ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Top 10 at 10 am for Thursday, Nov 30
    There are fears that mooted changes to building consent liability could end up driving the building industry into an uninsured hole. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Here’s my pick of the top 10 news and analysis links elsewhere as of 10 am on Thursday, November 30, including:The new Government’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on how climate change threatens cricket‘s future
    Well that didn’t last long, did it? Mere days after taking on what he called the “awesome responsibility” of being Prime Minister, M Christopher Luxon has started blaming everyone else, and complaining that he has inherited “economic vandalism on an unprecedented scale” – which is how most of us are ...
    3 days ago
  • We need to talk about Tory.
    The first I knew of the news about Tory Whanau was when a tweet came up in my feed.The sort of tweet that makes you question humanity, or at least why you bother with Twitter. Which is increasingly a cesspit of vile inhabitants who lurk spreading negativity, hate, and every ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Dangling Transport Solutions
    Cable Cars, Gondolas, Ropeways and Aerial Trams are all names for essentially the same technology and the world’s biggest maker of them are here to sell them as an public transport solution. Stuff reports: Austrian cable car company Doppelmayr has launched its case for adding aerial cable cars to New ...
    3 days ago
  • November AMA
    Hi,It’s been awhile since I’ve done an Ask-Me-Anything on here, so today’s the day. Ask anything you like in the comments section, and I’ll be checking in today and tomorrow to answer.Leave a commentNext week I’ll be giving away a bunch of these Mister Organ blu-rays for readers in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    3 days ago
  • National’s early moves adding to cost of living pressure
    The cost of living grind continues, and the economic and inflation honeymoon is over before it began. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: PM Christopher Luxon unveiled his 100 day plan yesterday with an avowed focus of reducing cost-of-living pressures, but his Government’s initial moves and promises are actually elevating ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Backwards to the future
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has confirmed that it will be back to the future on planning legislation. This will be just one of a number of moves which will see the new government go backwards as it repeals and cost-cuts its way into power. They will completely repeal one ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • New initiatives in science and technology could point the way ahead for Luxon government
    As the new government settles into the Beehive, expectations are high that it can sort out some  of  the  economic issues  confronting  New Zealand. It may take time for some new  ministers to get to grips with the range of their portfolio work and responsibilities before they can launch the  changes that  ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    4 days ago
  • Treaty pledge to secure funding is contentious – but is Peters being pursued by a lynch mob after ...
    TV3 political editor Jenna Lynch was among the corps of political reporters who bridled, when Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters told them what he thinks of them (which is not much). She was unabashed about letting her audience know she had bridled. More usefully, she drew attention to something which ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • How long does this last?
    I have a clear memory of every election since 1969 in this plucky little nation of ours. I swear I cannot recall a single one where the question being asked repeatedly in the first week of the new government was: how long do you reckon they’ll last? And that includes all ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • National’s giveaway politics
    We already know that national plans to boost smoking rates to collect more tobacco tax so they can give huge tax-cuts to mega-landlords. But this morning that policy got even more obscene - because it turns out that the tax cut is retrospective: Residential landlords will be able to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • CHRIS TROTTER: Who’s driving the right-wing bus?
    Who’s At The Wheel? The electorate’s message, as aggregated in the polling booths on 14 October, turned out to be a conservative political agenda stronger than anything New Zealand has seen in five decades. In 1975, Bill Rowling was run over by just one bus, with Rob Muldoon at the wheel. In 2023, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • GRAHAM ADAMS:  Media knives flashing for Luxon’s government
    The fear and loathing among legacy journalists is astonishing Graham Adams writes – No one is going to die wondering how some of the nation’s most influential journalists personally view the new National-led government. It has become abundantly clear within a few days of the coalition agreements ...
    Point of OrderBy gadams1000
    4 days ago
  • Top 10 news links for Wednesday, Nov 29
    TL;DR: Here’s my pick of top 10 news links elsewhere for Wednesday November 29, including:The early return of interest deductibility for landlords could see rebates paid on previous taxes and the cost increase to $3 billion from National’s initial estimate of $2.1 billion, CTU Economist Craig Renney estimated here last ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Smokefree Fallout and a High Profile Resignation.
    The day after being sworn in the new cabinet met yesterday, to enjoy their honeymoon phase. You remember, that period after a new government takes power where the country, and the media, are optimistic about them, because they haven’t had a chance to stuff anything about yet.Sadly the nuptials complete ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • As Cabinet revs up, building plans go on hold
    Wellington Council hoardings proclaim its preparations for population growth, but around the country councils are putting things on hold in the absence of clear funding pathways for infrastructure, and despite exploding migrant numbers. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Cabinet meets in earnest today to consider the new Government’s 100-day ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • National takes over infrastructure
    Though New Zealand First may have had ambitions to run the infrastructure portfolios, National would seem to have ended up firmly in control of them.  POLITIK has obtained a private memo to members of Infrastructure NZ yesterday, which shows that the peak organisation for infrastructure sees  National MPs Chris ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • At a glance – Evidence for global warming
    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 ...
    4 days ago
  • Who’s Driving The Right-Wing Bus?
    Who’s At The Wheel? The electorate’s message, as aggregated in the polling booths on 14 October, turned out to be a conservative political agenda stronger than anything New Zealand has seen in five decades. In 1975, Bill Rowling was run over by just one bus, with Rob Muldoon at the wheel. In ...
    5 days ago
  • Sanity break
    Cheers to reader Deane for this quote from Breakfast TV today:Chloe Swarbrick to Brook van Velden re the coalition agreement: “... an unhinged grab-bag of hot takes from your drunk uncle at Christmas”Cheers also to actual Prime Minister of a country Christopher Luxon for dorking up his swearing-in vows.But that's enough ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • Sanity break
    Cheers to reader Deane for this quote from Breakfast TV today:Chloe Swarbrick to Brook van Velden re the coalition agreement: “... an unhinged grab-bag of hot takes from your drunk uncle at Christmas”Cheers also to actual Prime Minister of a country Christopher Luxon for dorking up his swearing-in vows.But that's enough ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • National’s murderous smoking policy
    One of the big underlying problems in our political system is the prevalence of short-term thinking, most usually seen in the periodic massive infrastructure failures at a local government level caused by them skimping on maintenance to Keep Rates Low. But the new government has given us a new example, ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • NZ has a chance to rise again as our new government gets spending under control
    New Zealand has  a chance  to  rise  again. Under the  previous  government, the  number of New Zealanders below the poverty line was increasing  year by year. The Luxon-led government  must reverse that trend – and set about stabilising  the  pillars  of the economy. After the  mismanagement  of the outgoing government created   huge ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    5 days ago
  • KARL DU FRESNE: Media and the new government
    Two articles by Karl du Fresne bring media coverage of the new government into considerations.  He writes –    Tuesday, November 28, 2023 The left-wing media needed a line of attack, and they found one The left-wing media pack wasted no time identifying the new government’s weakest point. Seething over ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • PHILIP CRUMP:  Team of rivals – a CEO approach to government leadership
    The work begins Philip Crump wrote this article ahead of the new government being sworn in yesterday – Later today the new National-led coalition government will be sworn in, and the hard work begins. At the core of government will be three men – each a leader ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Black Friday
    As everyone who watches television or is on the mailing list for any of our major stores will confirm, “Black Friday” has become the longest running commercial extravaganza and celebration in our history. Although its origins are obscure (presumably dreamt up by American salesmen a few years ago), it has ...
    Bryan GouldBy Bryan Gould
    5 days ago
  • In Defense of the Media.
    Yesterday the Ministers in the next government were sworn in by our Governor General. A day of tradition and ceremony, of decorum and respect. Usually.But yesterday Winston Peters, the incoming Deputy Prime Minister, and Foreign Minister, of our nation used it, as he did with the signing of the coalition ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Top 10 news links at 10 am for Tuesday, Nov 28
    Nicola Willis’ first move was ‘spilling the tea’ on what she called the ‘sobering’ state of the nation’s books, but she had better be able to back that up in the HYEFU. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Here’s my pick of top 10 news links elsewhere at 10 am ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • PT use up but fare increases coming
    Yesterday Auckland Transport were celebrating, as the most recent Sunday was the busiest Sunday they’ve ever had. That’s a great outcome and I’m sure the ...
    5 days ago
  • The very opposite of social investment
    Nicola Willis (in blue) at the signing of the coalition agreement, before being sworn in as both Finance Minister and Social Investment Minister. National’s plan to unwind anti-smoking measures will benefit her in the first role, but how does it stack up from a social investment viewpoint? Photo: Lynn Grieveson ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Giving Tuesday
    For the first time "in history" we decided to jump on the "Giving Tuesday" bandwagon in order to make you aware of the options you have to contribute to our work! Projects supported by Skeptical Science Inc. Skeptical Science Skeptical Science is an all-volunteer organization but ...
    5 days ago
  • Let's open the books with Nicotine Willis
    Let’s say it’s 1984,and there's a dreary little nation at the bottom of the Pacific whose name rhymes with New Zealand,and they've just had an election.Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, will you look at the state of these books we’ve opened,cries the incoming government, will you look at all this mountain ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Climate Change: Stopping oil
    National is promising to bring back offshore oil and gas drilling. Naturally, the Greens have organised a petition campaign to try and stop them. You should sign it - every little bit helps, and as the struggle over mining conservation land showed, even National can be deterred if enough people ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Don’t accept Human Rights Commission reading of data on Treaty partnership – read the survey fin...
    Wellington is braced for a “massive impact’ from the new government’s cutting public service jobs, The Post somewhat grimly reported today. Expectations of an economic and social jolt are based on the National-Act coalition agreement to cut public service numbers in each government agency in a cost-trimming exercise  “informed by” head ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • The stupidest of stupid reasons
    One of the threats in the National - ACT - NZ First coalition agreements was to extend the term of Parliament to four years, reducing our opportunities to throw a bad government out. The justification? Apparently, the government thinks "elections are expensive". This is the stupidest of stupid reasons for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • A website bereft of buzz
    Buzz from the Beehive The new government was being  sworn in, at time of writing , and when Point of Order checked the Beehive website for the latest ministerial statements and re-visit some of the old ones we drew a blank. We found ….  Nowt. Nothing. Zilch. Not a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • MICHAEL BASSETT: A new Ministry – at last
    Michael Bassett writes – Like most people, I was getting heartily sick of all the time being wasted over the coalition negotiations. During the first three weeks Winston grinned like a Cheshire cat, certain he’d be needed; Chris Luxon wasted time in lifting the phone to Winston ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Luxon's Breakfast.
    The Prime Minister elect had his silver fern badge on. He wore it to remind viewers he was supporting New Zealand, that was his team. Despite the fact it made him look like a concierge, or a welcomer in a Koru lounge. Anna Burns-Francis, the Breakfast presenter, asked if he ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago
  • LINDSAY MITCHELL:  Oranga Tamariki faces major upheaval under coalition agreement
     Lindsay Mitchell writes – A hugely significant gain for ACT is somewhat camouflaged by legislative jargon. Under the heading ‘Oranga Tamariki’ ACT’s coalition agreement contains the following item:   Remove Section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 According to Oranga Tamariki:     “Section ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • BRIAN EASTON:  Peters as Minister
    A previous column looked at Winston Peters biographically. This one takes a closer look at his record as a minister, especially his policy record. Brian Easton writes – 1990-1991: Minister of Māori Affairs. Few remember Ka Awatea as a major document on the future of Māori policy; there is ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Cathrine Dyer's guide to watching COP 28 from the bottom of a warming planet
    Is COP28 largely smoke and mirrors and a plan so cunning, you could pin a tail on it and call it a weasel? Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: COP28 kicks off on November 30 and up for negotiation are issues like the role of fossil fuels in the energy transition, contributions to ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Top 10 news links at 10 am for Monday, Nov 27
    PM Elect Christopher Luxon was challenged this morning on whether he would sack Adrian Orr and Andrew Coster.TL;DR: Here’s my pick of top 10 news links elsewhere at 10 am on Monday November 27, including:Signs councils are putting planning and capital spending on hold, given a lack of clear guidance ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the new government’s policies of yesteryear
    This column expands on a Werewolf column published by Scoop on Friday Routinely, Winston Peters is described as the kingmaker who gets to decide when the centre right or the centre-left has a turn at running this country. He also plays a less heralded but equally important role as the ...
    6 days ago
  • The New Government’s Agreements
    Last Friday, almost six weeks after election day, National finally came to an agreement with ACT and NZ First to form a government. They also released the agreements between each party and looking through them, here are the things I thought were the most interesting (and often concerning) from the. ...
    6 days ago
  • How many smokers will die to fund the tax cuts?
    Maori and Pasifika smoking rates are already over twice the ‘all adult’ rate. Now the revenue that generates will be used to fund National’s tax cuts. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The devil is always in the detail and it emerged over the weekend from the guts of the policy agreements National ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • How the culture will change in the Beehive
    Perhaps the biggest change that will come to the Beehive as the new government settles in will be a fundamental culture change. The era of endless consultation will be over. This looks like a government that knows what it wants to do, and that means it knows what outcomes ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago
  • No More Winnie Blues.
    So what do you think of the coalition’s decision to cancel Smokefree measures intended to stop young people, including an over representation of Māori, from taking up smoking? Enabling them to use the tax revenue to give other people a tax cut?David Cormack summed it up well:It seems not only ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    7 days ago
  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #47
    A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science  Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Nov 19, 2023 thru Sat, Nov 25, 2023.  Story of the Week World stands on frontline of disaster at Cop28, says UN climate chief  Exclusive: Simon Stiell says leaders must ‘stop ...
    1 week ago
  • Some of it is mad, some of it is bad and some of it is clearly the work of people who are dangerous ...
    On announcement morning my mate texted:Typical of this cut-price, fake-deal government to announce itself on Black Friday.What a deal. We lose Kim Hill, we gain an empty, jargonising prime minister, a belligerent conspiracist, and a heartless Ayn Rand fanboy. One door closes, another gets slammed repeatedly in your face.It seems pretty ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago
  • “Revolution” is the threat as the Māori Party smarts at coalition government’s Treaty directi...
    Buzz from the Beehive Having found no fresh announcements on the government’s official website, Point of Order turned today to Scoop’s Latest Parliament Headlines  for its buzz. This provided us with evidence that the Māori Party has been soured by the the coalition agreement announced yesterday by the new PM. “Soured” ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 week ago
  • The Good, the Bad, and the even Worse.
    Yesterday the trio that will lead our country unveiled their vision for New Zealand.Seymour looking surprisingly statesmanlike, refusing to rise to barbs about his previous comments on Winston Peters. Almost as if they had just been slapstick for the crowd.Winston was mostly focussed on settling scores with the media, making ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • When it Comes to Palestine – Free Speech is Under Threat
    Hi,Thanks for getting amongst Mister Organ on digital — thanks to you, we hit the #1 doc spot on iTunes this week. This response goes a long way to helping us break even.I feel good about that. Other things — not so much.New Zealand finally has a new government, and ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    1 week ago
  • Thank you Captain Luxon. Was that a landing, or were we shot down?
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.Also in More Than A FeildingFriday The unboxing And so this is Friday and what have we gone and done to ourselves?In the same way that a Christmas present can look lovely under the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago
  • Cans of Worms.
    “And there’ll be no shortage of ‘events’ to test Luxon’s political skills. David Seymour wants a referendum on the Treaty. Winston wants a Royal Commission of Inquiry into Labour’s handling of the Covid crisis. Talk about cans of worms!”LAURIE AND LES were very fond of their local. It was nothing ...
    1 week ago
  • Disinformation campaigns are undermining democracy. Here’s how we can fight back
    This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Misinformation is debated everywhere and has justifiably sparked concerns. It can polarise the public, reduce health-protective behaviours such as mask wearing and vaccination, and erode trust in science. Much of misinformation is spread not ...
    1 week ago
  • Peters as Minister
    A previous column looked at Winston Peters biographically. This one takes a closer look at his record as a minister, especially his policy record.1990-1991: Minister of Māori Affairs. Few remember Ka Awatea as a major document on the future of Māori policy; there is not even an entry in Wikipedia. ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago

  • New Zealand welcomes European Parliament vote on the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement
    A significant milestone in ratifying the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was reached last night, with 524 of the 705 member European Parliament voting in favour to approve the agreement. “I’m delighted to hear of the successful vote to approve the NZ-EU FTA in the European Parliament overnight. This is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Further humanitarian support for Gaza, the West Bank and Israel
    The Government is contributing a further $5 million to support the response to urgent humanitarian needs in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel, bringing New Zealand’s total contribution to the humanitarian response so far to $10 million. “New Zealand is deeply saddened by the loss of civilian life and the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2023-12-02T17:45:39+00:00