Refining that dog whistle

Written By: - Date published: 8:30 am, January 10th, 2017 - 71 comments
Categories: Abuse of power, Andrew Little, bill english, Deep stuff, election 2017, Maori Issues, national, same old national, spin, the praiseworthy and the pitiful - Tags:

In this traditionally slow time of year any sort of news tends to make a splash.  Over the past few days we have had the ongoing saga of the Mad Butcher and the strange PR advisor who thought the best approach to minimise the damage caused by a very inappropriate comment was to make more inappropriate comments.  And Peter Dunne gained valuable media attention due to his prowess in tying bow ties.  I kid you knot.  Give that man a Ministerial Post and a free ride to a Parliamentary seat.

Yesterday there was another splash, this time about Bill English not attending Waitangi.

When he became Prime Minister I suspect a few lefties, myself included, thought back to 2002 and the abysmal, appalling campaign that was run that year and thought “yippee”.  Judging by the quality of of his recent performance I think we should revisit our optimism.  Because clearly the PR machine that was behind John Key is now behind Bill English.  Expect the PR advice to be much better than it was in 2002.

Fairfax broke the story and announced that English will not attend Waitangi Day celebrations.  There was a subsequent article by Jo Moir where she talked about a “Waitangi Day cringe“.  I suspect that this particular phrase came right out of National Party phrasing.

The Herald also used the “cringe” word and repeated the claim that English will not attend because he had been denied speaking rights.

So what actually happened?  Stuff helpfully put up the correspondence between the Prime Minister’s office and the organising committee and the documents themselves paint a rather different picture.  And before questions are asked about what other communications there were the letter from Ngatai Kawa Taituha specified that to avoid any confusion communications should occur directly with him as in previous years multiple communications had caused some confusion.

And was English banned from speaking?  The email from Taituha contains this paragraph:

Nope.  Does not look like a ban to me.  Looks like the organising committee wanted to have a formal powhiri and then offer English “a stage and forum for the Prime Minister to engage with Ngapuhi, address the Nation and talk politics freely and uninhibited, if he so wishes”.

But when you read English’s letter clearly he wanted to speak AT THE POWHIRI, not after.

But I think there is a compelling logic for what was proposed by the Committee.

A powhiri is the formal occasion where visitors are welcomed onto the Marae and following a formalized ceremony the welcome is complete.  Feel free to correct my very bland generalized description of a Powhiri.  I have attended a number and have always found them very moving and very traditional and after they have been concluded I have felt very welcome.

I have never felt the urge to get up and give a political speech at one.  It just seemed to be a very inappropriate thing to do.

I tried to think of a European equivalent.  If you are invited to a Catholic funeral do you think it appropriate to question why you have not been allowed to talk during the middle of the service? Or do you think it might be best to wait until after the formal part of the ceremony is finished and then give a speech at a time that the organizers offered to you?

And when Iwi travel to Parliament to celebrate treaty settlements whereby their legitimate claims are compensated by cents in the dollar they are expected to comply with Parliament’s rules.

English clearly thought differently, or thought that enough of the electorate would think differently for it to be worthwhile to dig his heels in and refuse to even discuss the timing of his speech.  But given past concerns with security the committee’s wish to handle things so that security threats are minimised is not an unusual stance to take.

But when you read the Committee’s letter English’s claim that he was prevented from speaking is, ahem, not correct.  The Marae Organising Committee was willing to provide an opportunity immediately after the Powhiri for him to talk about what he wanted.  He could have waited until the formalities were over.

What is really sad about this is that a group of Ngapuhi volunteers who are doing their best to organize one of the most important events in the political calendar have been held up to ridicule in talk back radio land for political purposes.

I spent part of the afternoon listening to talk back radio to assess the effects of the news.  Everyone had bought into the line that uppity Northern Maori were stopping English from talking.  And the framing had taken hold.

It is no wonder that we cannot have a proper discussion about the Treaty of Waitangi and its part in our country’s future.  Some parties are far too busy scoring political points.

I would suggest to Andrew Little that he should volunteer to take English’s vacant speaking slot and talk about New Zealand and what wonderful about it, what is going wrong and what needs to change.  See then if English’s refusal continues.

There has to be a better way.  Playing games with well intentioned volunteers for political points should not be something that any responsible Government does.  Ever.

Final words should go to mauī.  Hope the media reads them.

So because English can’t go all William Hobson and talk right through the pōwhiri he’s packing a sad. Fu.. maybe someone should say to him its not supposed to be a reenactment.

71 comments on “Refining that dog whistle ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. simbit 1
    10 January 2017 at 8:52 am

    k/o
    You can be ‘political’ at a powhiri, hell its Te Tii marae. But the expectation is you would speak in te reo as its a powhiri (not a mihi whakatau).

    The new PM misrepresented the situation.

    Key response will be from Maori Party…

  2. veutoviper 2
    10 January 2017 at 9:00 am

    Nope. Does not look like a ban to me. Looks like the organising committee wanted to have a formal powhiri and then offer English “a stage and forum for the Prime Minister to engage with Ngapuhi, address the Nation and talk politics freely and inhibited, if he so wishes”.

    MS – Pedant Alert

    You might want to correct the ‘inhibited’ in the last line above of this extract from your post to ‘uninhibited’ as per the letter.

    Cheers

    [Cheers VV. Rather major change! Have corrected – MS]

  3. One Anonymous Bloke 3
    10 January 2017 at 9:10 am

    I wonder what yesterday’s shameful roll-call of apologists will come up with to excuse their stupid gullible acceptance of the lies their leader tells.

    “Don’t blame me, I’m just a lickspittle.”

    “I’ve told myself so many lies I can no longer tell the difference.”

    “What wrong with being a white supremacist anyway?”

    I’m picking the third one.

    • james 3.1
      10 January 2017 at 9:14 am

      See thats where the quality of debate on here goes to pot – comments inferring people are racist and white supremacist simply because of their views on something like Waitangi day.

      Fact is people can have views for a wide range of reasons – does not mean that they are racist – or taking it to the extreme race supremacist.

      It just makes you look like an idiot. Try re-reading your post from someone on “the outside” of this community here on the Standard and see how it looks (Hint:not good).

      Why not try raising your game.

      • One Anonymous Bloke 3.1.1
        10 January 2017 at 9:22 am

        You think white supremacist views form no part of right wing attitudes to Waitangi day and te tiriti? You don’t think recent events in Europe and the USA have emboldened white supremacists in any way?

        I’m sure there might be some other reasons why the National Party plays the race card. Perhaps you can suggest some.

        In the meantime, my question is, what do you non-racist, human-rights-respecting right wingers tell yourselves when your leader turns out to have played you for fools?

        “Why am I not allowed at Cabinet Club any more?”

        • james 3.1.1.1
          10 January 2017 at 10:27 am

          “You think white supremacist views form no part of right wing attitudes to Waitangi day and te tiriti? ”

          No – not really. The number of true white supremacist in NZ I would believe is barely a handfull – yet – you post it as any one supporting English is one.

          Which is my point.

          • weka 3.1.1.1.1
            10 January 2017 at 10:31 am

            The dominant culture is one of white supremacy. You have a pretty old fashioned idea about what white supremacy is. See my comment below, it’s not about the KKK.

            • weka 3.1.1.1.1.1
              10 January 2017 at 10:36 am

              Have a look at this. It’s a US context, but much is translatable,

              Conservatives and progressive often use the phrase “white supremacy” in divergent ways. Conservatives use the phrase in the service of a dishonest “colorblind” agenda, evoking extreme images of KKK members and Nazis as the exclusive and only examples of white racism in American life and politics. Conservatives use extreme caricatures of white supremacy in order to deflect and protect themselves from charges that the contemporary Republican Party is a white identity organization fueled by white racial resentment.

              Liberals, progressives and anti-racists use the phrase “white supremacy” to describe the overt and subtle racist practices of movement conservatism in the post-Civil Rights era, and how American society is still structured around maintaining and protecting white privilege.

              …

              4. In the most basic sense, white supremacy is a philosophical, material, ethical, economic, scientific, religious, and political system that works to maintain the dominant and relative superior group position of those identified as “white” (and their allies) over those marked as “non-white.”

              Thus, white supremacy is the philosophical and systemic umbrella for white racism.

              http://www.alternet.org/civil-liberties/10-things-everyone-should-know-about-white-supremacy

              And this for OAB and myself,

              This analysis is largely correct: however, it often conflates concepts such as racism, white privilege, and white supremacy with one another. Language does political work.

              In the age of Obama, the phrase “white supremacy” is often used in political discussions like an imprecise shotgun blast or a blockbuster bomb. If the Common Good and American democracy are to be protected—countering how the right wing has used the politics of white racial resentment, racial manipulation, and hate to mobilize its voters in support of a plutocratic agenda—a more precise weapon is needed. A necessary first step in that direction requires the development of a more detailed and transparent exploration of the concept known as “white supremacy.”

          • mickysavage 3.1.1.1.2
            10 January 2017 at 10:35 am

            So do you think that English engaged in a bit of race baiting for political purposes and if so what do you think about it?

            • Jenny Kirk 3.1.1.1.2.1
              10 January 2017 at 10:53 am

              Totally agree with you mickysavage @ 3.1 – and I applaud your attempt to show what actually happens at a powhiri.

              The English response is blatantly political – designed to get him on the front page before he skips off overseas – and, as you say, a real put-down of hard-working volunteers at Te Tii Marae who expend a huge amount of time and energy in trying to make the welcoming day a special occasion for everyone.

              At the very least, English should have the decency and manners to know this, and respond in a polite and correct manner. But No – Waitangi is an excuse for the Nats to ramp up NZers’ inherent racism yet again. An appalling display of non-leadership.

            • simbit 3.1.1.1.2.2
              10 January 2017 at 12:38 pm

              1. Yes.
              2. It sucks.

          • One Anonymous Bloke 3.1.1.1.3
            10 January 2017 at 10:52 am

            What Weka said.

            When right wingers talk about “we are all New Zealanders”, or get upset about treaty principles, or claim there is such a thing as “Māori privilege”, you are promoting white supremacy.

            I can see the phrase makes you uncomfortable. I can’t see why your behaviour doesn’t.

      • framu 3.1.2
        10 January 2017 at 9:38 am

        Calling people racist probably helps just as much as the PM engaging in racist dog whistling in the lead up to our national day for party political purposes.
        Its been proven that English has been misrepresenting the situation to a major degree and as OAB points out – playing the country for fools.

        so who has more reach? more influence? – some people on a blog or the PM via the MSM?

        What feels worse to you?

      • weka 3.1.3
        10 January 2017 at 10:28 am

        While I probably agree with you about the inflammatory and unhelpful nature of OAB’s comment, I think that using the terms racism and white supremacism are appropriate. It’s time that Pākehā stopped thinking it’s the end of the world to be associated with those terms. We live in a racist country, and demonstrably one that has had a white supremacy agenda and in many important way still does despite the progress made. Why not be honest about that and figure out what to change?

        White supremacy doesn’t mean the KKK. We don’t need the KKK in NZ because we have more subtle ways of enforcing white as the norm. It simply refers to the fact that people have rights in this country so long as they conform to the dominant culture and allow that dominant culture to be supreme. And that dominant culture is European-derived (i.e. ‘white’).

        Fortunately for NZ we Te Tiriti, so it’s pretty easy to point to the huge problem with the idea that we should all be ok with the dominant culture reigning supreme.

        I also appreciate your point about how OAB’s comment looks to those outside the regular commentariat, but on the other hand, this shit that National just pulled is yet another variation of deliberate and sophisticated racism that has been going on for a long time. Some of us have had enough, which is why I use the term white supremacy. Time to wake the fuck up and choose which side you are on.

    • R Brownlee 3.2
      12 January 2017 at 2:59 pm

      Oh so because I dislike the PM being gagged I must be a National voter?

  4. BM 4
    10 January 2017 at 9:11 am

    During the powhiri do the Ngapuhi speakers get to talk politics with Bill English if they want?

    • framu 4.1
      10 January 2017 at 9:30 am

      from my reading of the released emails, Ngapuhi looked like they were trying to separate the political from the ceremonial

      Given the history re: waitangi, this seems like a good move.

      • BM 4.1.1
        10 January 2017 at 9:52 am

        Shame they didn’t make that a bit clearer in the correspondence.

        If they said there will be no political talk from both sides and all discussion will happen afterwards then I don’t think Bill English would have had a problem in turning up.

        As it currently stands all the speakers could all take turns to attack Bill English and he’d have no right of reply.

        • mickysavage 4.1.1.1
          10 January 2017 at 10:16 am

          English’s office should have cleared that up with the organising committee. Would have been easy to do and they still have four weeks to sort this kind of thing out.

          Unless the intent was to manufacture a redneck backlash for political purposes.

        • Gabby 4.1.1.2
          10 January 2017 at 10:31 am

          If it’s all in Maori he’s not going to be too bovvered is he?

        • framu 4.1.1.3
          10 January 2017 at 3:41 pm

          what do you think “provide a platform for the PM to engage with Ngapuhi” means?

    • mauī 4.2
      10 January 2017 at 9:52 am

      I never would have picked you to slight Māori culture…

      • In Vino 4.2.1
        10 January 2017 at 8:11 pm

        You must have clicked on a wrong button because it looks like you are replying to framu at 4.1. Who is your comment directed at?

    • You_Fool 4.3
      10 January 2017 at 10:38 am

      My understanding from all this is that the powhiri is a formal rigid structure and all speaking is done in Te Reo and there is certain forms the speeches should follow; and politics or grievances are not the way of such speeches, but are of welcome and greeting. My thought is that the letter should have specified that as leader English could speak during the powhiri, but he should make the formal required speeches in Te Reo or that he could nominate the official government Maori Representative to make these formal speeches on behalf of the parliament, however I am but an ignorant pakeha so I may be missing some important protocol issues

  5. Wainwright 5
    10 January 2017 at 9:18 am

    Great opportunity for Labour to use their close ties in the Maori seats to emphasise they’re a party for all New Zealand not just narrowminded Pakeha.

  6. Carolyn_nth 6
    10 January 2017 at 9:41 am

    An NZ Herald editorial comes out in favour of Bill English attending Waitangi this year.

    He could have quietly agreed to the marae’s request. A powhiri is a welcoming ceremony and an occasion for speeches of greeting and good will. There is plenty a prime minister can usefully say in the spirit of the powhiri – about Waitangi and the nation it founded – without descending to the usual arguments of politics.

    To get to the powhiri, prime ministers and their attendants usually have to walk through a protest on the road outside the marae. Key was jostled as he walked to the gate with Sir Pita Sharples the first time he went there as Prime Minister but he declared it would not deter him from returning. The incidents outside the gate are all the public can see and remember of Waitangi Day each year, though they happen the day before.

    Every prime minister faces the challenge of finding a way to move our attention from a small, poorly-led marae by ensuring something impressive can happen on the Treaty ground where history speaks and all should listen. This prime minister should at least make an attempt.

    That last paragraph includes an unnecessary slap at the Te Tii Marae – dismissively diminishing the importance of the marae – a kind of dog whistle there, too.

    • JanM 6.1
      10 January 2017 at 10:31 am

      Agree about the dismissive attitude to the marae – not my experience at all in the few times I’ve been there. I wonder if the writer has ever been there or if they are just being patronising?

      • tc 6.1.1
        10 January 2017 at 10:39 am

        Its the herald which is a.k.a. the national party press release advertorial.

        Blinglush will be doing as told and CT will be praying the electorate stays asleep so they can blag another election using every trick possible.

  7. Ad 7
    10 January 2017 at 10:45 am

    Great forensics there Mickey.

    Also good to see the political year start and Labour get back to work.

  8. fisiani 8
    10 January 2017 at 10:49 am

    Seems a general consensus from the sensible people in NZ that Bill English does not want to be ritually abused at Te Tii marae as so many previous PM’s have been but will attend and speak at Waitangi and so will be PM for the nation. Smart move by Bill English.

    • Jenny Kirk 8.1
      10 January 2017 at 10:57 am

      Nope – English is not attending and speaking at Waitangi or being PM for the nation, fisiani. He’s meeting privately with the chosen few – iwi leaders – a couple of days beforehand, and this will not be public. Not a smart move. Just a lack of good leadership.

    • Sacha 8.2
      10 January 2017 at 11:04 am

      Crikey. Look who agrees with you about what being the ‘PM for the nation’ means:
      http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/322077/pm's-waitangi-day-remarks-'disappointing'-maori-party

      Labour Party leader Andrew Little said it was the one event the Prime Minister should attend. Pulling out of the powhiri and the dawn service was a failure of leadership, Mr Little said.

      “He ought to have speaking rights where ever he goes – he is the Prime Minister, he is the leader of the nation. He should back himself and his ability, once he gets onto the marae and powhiri’s onto it, to get up and speak.

      “He should then be clearly available for what happens on the sixth of February cause that’s where the real leadership is required and where he needs to lead the nation.”

      Mr English has said he will spend Waitangi Day in Auckland.

      • BM 8.2.1
        10 January 2017 at 11:14 am

        Is Little telling English he should just ignore Maori protocol and just get up and speak anyway?

        Rather surprising attitude from a labour party leader, do you think he’s chasing the redneck vote?

        • Sacha 8.2.1.1
          10 January 2017 at 11:18 am

          “once he gets onto the marae and powhiri’s onto it”

          Who knows what that garbled fragment means.

        • Wainwright 8.2.1.2
          10 January 2017 at 1:26 pm

          Honestly why is BM’s blatant, deliberate trolling tolerated around here? Doesn’t seem to add much.

          • McGrath 8.2.1.2.1
            10 January 2017 at 2:46 pm

            BM raised a good point. Is Andrew Little saying that the PM should override protocol regardless?

            • Wainwright 8.2.1.2.1.1
              10 January 2017 at 3:13 pm

              Of course not. He refers to going to the marae and having a powhiri. Stop defending obvious trolling.

              [ As I’ve already pointed out here, you need to go and respond to the comment you made the other day. Until a response comes from you on that, you’ll stay in moderation – this being the last comment you make that you’ll see appear on-site.] – Bill

    • Red 8.3
      10 January 2017 at 11:46 am

      Yep smart move, its s circus every year, protest central for every nutty cause and activist, why bother, don’t give them a stage

      • One Anonymous Bloke 8.3.1
        10 January 2017 at 11:54 am

        🙄

        No stage at all to see here. No editorials or news reports either. The performance will now last (thanks to Bill English) until Waitangi Day.

        All this so you don’t have to see brown people on tv.

      • framu 8.3.2
        10 January 2017 at 3:45 pm

        “protest central for every nutty cause and activist, ”

        except its not – your thinking of what you see in the press.

    • garibaldi 8.4
      10 January 2017 at 2:42 pm

      Fisiani, an old aunt of mine once said “I”m not racist, I just don’t like Maoris”.
      This still seems to be the attitude of most Pakeha.
      It is an absolute travesty the way we (Pakeha) have dealt to Maori over the years and our meagre attempts to right the wrongs we have done are but a drop in the ocean.
      And our overt and covert racism is as alive and active as it has ever been in the crass ignorance of the majority of Pakeha.

  9. fisiani 9
    10 January 2017 at 11:17 am

    Bill English will be the PM for the people and will not allow himself to be the victim of the racist Harawiras et al pathetic attempt to get on the 6 o clock news. Te Tii Marae has once again been shown to be a place that is just an arrogant embarrassment.

    • Nick 9.1
      10 January 2017 at 11:39 am

      He’s a natz lifer, so I don’t expect any other actions other than what’s best for him and who he thinks will vote for him. Simply apply this to every single situation…… Expect nothing more…. Because it won’t happen….. No leopard changing his spots expectations from me.

    • mlpc 9.2
      10 January 2017 at 12:01 pm

      I agree that BE will be the PM for the people.
      Reading the readers’ comments on Stuff, it is clear that the PM has overwhelming public support on this issue.
      It’s also clear that most Kiwis, not just many, cringe when they contemplate the goings-on at Waitangi.

      • One Anonymous Bloke 9.2.1
        10 January 2017 at 12:11 pm

        Thank you for labouring the point: Bill English is playing to his white supremacist base, and you’re applauding him.

        • mlpc 9.2.1.1
          10 January 2017 at 12:51 pm

          I’m happy for you to delude yourself by thinking that BE appeals only to white supremacists.

          • garibaldi 9.2.1.1.1
            10 January 2017 at 2:45 pm

            mlpc, please see my comment about people like you above.

          • mickysavage 9.2.1.1.2
            10 January 2017 at 5:40 pm

            Hey MLPC given the contents of the post do you still think that English was refused speaking rights?

            • mlpc 9.2.1.1.2.1
              10 January 2017 at 6:45 pm

              I didn’t say that, did I?

              It’s still correct that many Kiwis cringe when they think about what happens at Waitangi.

              • mickysavage …
                10 January 2017 at 6:49 pm

                No but you have studiously avoided the question. I will repeat it.

                Given the contents of the post do you still think that English was refused speaking rights?

      • Anno1701 9.2.2
        10 January 2017 at 12:19 pm

        “the readers’ comments on Stuff,”

        yes Stuff, that bastion of intelligent discourse !

        • mlpc 9.2.2.1
          10 January 2017 at 12:49 pm

          No one is claiming that Stuff is the bastion of intelligent discourse.
          But it’s more reflective of public opinion than The Standard, isn’t it?

          • Ad 9.2.2.1.1
            10 January 2017 at 12:59 pm

            What’s the comparative readership to make that claim?

            • mlpc 9.2.2.1.1.1
              10 January 2017 at 1:18 pm

              On the basis of a quick search, Stuff had approx 1.5 million unique readers per month in 2014 (Nielsen).
              By comparison, The Standard had approx 160,000 visits per month (Open Parachute).
              But given that many (most?) visits to The Standard will not be unique, it probable that Stuff has x100 or more times the readership.

  10. corokia 10
    10 January 2017 at 1:17 pm

    Excellent point Micky in making the comparison with a Catholic funeral.

  11. Ant 11
    10 January 2017 at 1:49 pm

    So the impression garnered is that Maori are intractable and we have a “strong prime minister” not willing to be dictated to.

    Getting used to the new mode of political spin (speed dissemination of false news) comprehensively detailed by Glenn Greenwald. Outrageous falsities published as MSM headlines reach millions via the full range of SM. A few days later third page apologies/corrections of two lines in the paper are barely noticed and gain negligible traction. Meantime the post-truth meme becomes established in the minds and hearts of the masses, aided and abetted by the “bubble” effect of search engines which selectively deliver to readers confirmation of their established predilections.

    What can be done?

    • s y d 11.1
      10 January 2017 at 2:11 pm

      you need the ‘shock’ response, to the obvious falsehood.
      The calling it out as bullshit – in those kind of words.
      Cut the crap and all that…..

  12. seeker 12
    10 January 2017 at 2:51 pm

    Peter Leitch (at least he apologised), Michelle Boag and now Bill English have all made me “cringe” over the last few days.

  13. Tanz 13
    10 January 2017 at 8:06 pm

    Good on him for having some backbone. The Waitangi Day celebrations have been hijacked by the activists anyway, making it all a joke. Revert to New Zealand Day and try showing some respect to the leader of the country. The document had two signatories of course, not just the one. More backbone than Key ever had, he us by far a stronger leader.

    • lprent 13.1
      10 January 2017 at 8:35 pm

      OMG. Tanz has a new HEROOOO!

      Boring. It seems to happen each time National or the Conservatives or even Act changes leader.

    • framu 13.2
      11 January 2017 at 9:22 am

      “Good on him for having some backbone”

      deliberately misrepresenting a situation to score political points off the back of peoples ignorance of waitangi day and marae protocol isnt “backbone”

      its playing people for fools

  14. Tanz 14
    10 January 2017 at 9:03 pm

    He is ok. I always thought that. Much better and stauncher then slippery Key.
    More like a Clark or a Thatcher. Yay for Mr English!!! Made my year!!

  15. Tanz 15
    10 January 2017 at 9:07 pm

    Oh, and yay for the Conservatives. May they win a seat or two this year.

  16. Brutus Iscariot 16
    11 January 2017 at 1:09 pm

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11780428

    “A Ngapuhi elder says he wants to apologise to Prime Minister Bill English for calling him a “spoilt child” for not attending Waitangi – saying he now backs English’s decision to stay away.

    Kingi Taurua said since making his criticism of English he had seen a letter that was sent to the Prime Minister’s office by the Waitangi Marae Organising Committee.

    That stated that during the pre-Waitangi Day powhiri it was preferred that English’s “Maori representatives” speak on his behalf. After the powhiri there would be another event where English and others could freely talk, including about political issues.

    Taurua told the Herald that he had mistakenly believed that English had only been told he could not talk politics during the powhiri.

    He now felt he had “egg on my face” after he called on English not to be “a spoilt child and run away”, and wanted to meet the Prime Minister on his return from an official visit to Europe to offer an apology.

    “I wouldn’t go either. If I got that letter, telling me not to speak and to get somebody else to speak on my behalf, I wouldn’t go anywhere near the place.”

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    8 hours ago

  • Gordon Campbell on National’s disdain for the Press debate
    Christopher Luxon evidently thinks this election is SO in the bag that he can afford to spurn the still-undecideds, the entire South Island, and the old Christchurch money that still reads the Press and shops at Ballantynes. We should all shed a tear for the National Party candidates across the ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    9 hours ago

  • ELIZABETH RATA: Two Treaties of Waitangi – the Articles Treaty and the Principles Treaty
    Elizabeth Rate writes – There are two versions of the Treaty of Waitangi.  The first is the 1840 Treaty – the ‘Articles Treaty’. The second is what I call the ‘Principles Treaty’. It dates from 1986 when the principles were first included in legislation. Astonishingly, the parliamentary ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    13 hours ago

  • Tuesday’s Chorus: When it's ok to borrow to invest
    Mayor Wayne Brown, a Northland land-banker himself, appears relaxed about borrowing to invest in land but not in, for example, transport infrastructure and services. File photo: Lynn Grieveson/Getty ImagesTL;DR: You couldn’t make this stuff up. A mayor determined to cut council debt by selling shares in a monopoly business because ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    13 hours ago

  • How well do our Rapid Transit Stations perform
    As we invest in our public transport network, it’s critical that we not only invest in transformative projects like the City Rail Link, but that we also get as much use as we can out of the network we already have – which will also maximise the outcomes of those ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    15 hours ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Ten reasons Labour’s support has halved
    The Labour Government was elected with 50 per cent of the vote three years ago, but current opinion polls show their vote could halve in this year’s election, which would be one of the biggest plunges in political history. Most polls have Labour on about 26 per cent. And the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    16 hours ago

  • Elizabeth Rata: Two Treaties of Waitangi: The Articles Treaty and the Principles Treaty
    Commentary There are two versions of the Treaty of Waitangi.  The first is the 1840 Treaty – the ‘Articles Treaty’. The second is what I call the ‘Principles Treaty’. It dates from 1986 when the principles were first included in legislation. Astonishingly the parliamentary representatives who inserted the word ‘principles’ ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    16 hours ago

  • Climate Emergency!
    It’s hard not to become a bit blasé towards climate change headlines. Flooding kills hundreds - blah. Catastrophic droughts - blah blah. One-in-a-hundred year events happening every year - blah blah blah.The earth had its highest temperature on record - again. Think we’ve read that one.So many articles telling us ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    16 hours ago

  • The Kākā Project: The economics of sufficiency
    The Kākā’s climate correspondent and had a chat with environmental historian and author Catherine Knight about why ‘feel good' actions like recycling and owning an electric car are unlikely to be enough to create a transition to zero emissions, let alone a just one. Knight says comments like ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    17 hours ago

  • Chippy misses a chance
    National leader Christopher Luxon has pulled out of any rescheduling of tonight’s Press debate, which has had to be cancelled because Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has Covid. The cancellation has given National an excuse to avoid a debate, which was always going to be a risk for Luxon. But ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    18 hours ago

  • The Angry Majority.
    The People's Champion vs The People's Prosecutor: It is the news media’s job to elicit information from politicians – not to prosecute them. Peters’ promise to sort out TVNZ should be believed. If he finds himself in a position to carry out his threat, then it will only be because ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 day ago

  • Verrall is chuffed by govt’s latest push into pay equity while Woods enthuses about an $11m spend ...
    Buzz from the Beehive The headline on a ministerial press statement curiously expresses the government’s position when it declares:   Government shows further commitment to pay equity for healthcare workers. Is it not enough to declare just one commitment? Or is the government’s commitment to pay equity being declared sector by ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago

  • A very worthy coalition partner for Seymour and Luxon
    There have been 53 New Zealand Parliaments so far. The 39th of them was elected in 1978. It was a parliament of 92 MPs, most of them men. The New Zealand Music Awards that year named John Rowles Male Vocalist of the Year and — after a short twelve months ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago

  • Labour still protecting the status quo
    Aotearoa has a cost of living crisis. And one of the major drivers of this crisis is the supermarket duopoly, who gouge every dollar they can out of us. Last year, the Commerce Commission found that the duopoly was in fact anti-competititve, giving the government social licence to fix the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago

  • Gordon Campbell on National’s myths about the desolated state of the economy
    Familiarity breeds consent. If you repeat the line “six years of economic mis-management” about 10,000 times, it sounds like the received wisdom, whatever the evidence to the contrary. Yes, the global pandemic and the global surge in inflation that came in its wake occurred here as well – but if ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    1 day ago

  • MICHAEL BASSETT: Hapless Hipkins and his racism
    Michael Bassett writes – Without so much as batting an eyelid, Chris Hipkins told an audience on Saturday that there had been “more racism” in this election campaign than ever before. And he blamed it on the opposition parties, National, Act and New Zealand First. In those ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • BRIAN EASTON: The ‘recession’ has been called off, but some households are still struggling
    While the economy is not doing too badly in output terms, external circumstances are not favourable, and there is probably a sizeable group of households struggling because of rising interest rates. Brian Easton writes – Last week’s announcement of a 0.9 percent increase in volume GDP for ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • Monday’s Chorus: Richie Poulton's lament
    “You can't really undo what happens during childhood”, said the director of the Dunedin longitudinal study. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Richie Poulton, the director of the world-leading Dunedin longitudinal study showing how devastating poverty in early life is, died yesterday. With his final words, he lamented the lack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • North-western downgrades
    This is a guest post from reader Peter N As many of us know, Auckland Transport and Waka Kotahi are well into progressing works on the northwestern interim “busway” with services to kick off in just over a month from now on Sunday 12th November 2023. Some of the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    2 days ago

  • Has Webworm Found New Zealand’s Weirdest School?
    Hi,Before we talk about weird schools people choose to send their kids to, a few things on my mind. I adored the Ask Me Anything we did last week. Thanks for taking part. I love answering your weird and nosy questions, even questions about beans.I am excited and scared as Mister ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago

  • Another mother of a budget
    A National government would make spending cuts on a scale not seen since the 1990 – 96 Bolger government.That much was confirmed with the release of their Fiscal Plan on Friday.Government spending is currently high as a percentage of GDP — as high as it was during the Muldoon ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago

  • A crucial week starts as early voting opens in the NZ Elections … it’s been a ride so far. Are y...
    Chris Hipkins down with Covid, at least for 5 days isolation, National continue to obfuscate, ACT continues to double-down on the poor and Winston… well, he’s being Winston really. Voters beware: this week could be even more infuriating than the last. No Party is what they used to be ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    2 days ago

  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #39
    A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Sep 24, 2023 thru Sat, Sep 30, 2023. Story of the Week We’re not doomed yet’: climate scientist Michael Mann on our last chance to save human civilisation The renowned US ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • Clusterf**ck of Chaos.
    On the 11th of April 1945 advancing US forces liberated the Nazi concentration camp of Buchenwald near Weimar in Germany. In the coming days, under the order of General Patton, a thousand nearby residents were forced to march to the camp to see the atrocities that had been committed in ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • The party of business deals with the future by pretending it isn’t coming
    Years and years ago, when Helen Clark was Prime Minister and John Key was gunning for her job, I had a conversation with a mate, a trader who knew John Key well enough to paint a helpful picture.It was many drinks ago so it’s not a complete one. But there’s ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • 2023 More Reading: September (+ Old Phuul update)
    Completed reads for September: The Lost Continent, by C.J. Cutcliffe Hyne Flatland, by Edwin Abbott All Quiet on the Western Front, by Erich Maria Remarque The Country of the Blind, by H.G. Wells The Day of the Triffids, by John Wyndham A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    3 days ago

  • Losing The Left.
    Descending Into The Dark: The ideological cadres currently controlling both Labour and the Greens are forcing “justice”, “participation” and “democracy” to make way for what is “appropriate” and “responsible”. But, where does that leave the people who, for most of their adult lives, have voted for left-wing parties, precisely to ...
    Bowalley Road
    3 days ago

  • The New “Emperor’s New Clothes”.
    “‘BUT HE HASN’T GOT ANYTHING ON,’ a little boy said ….. ‘But he hasn’t got anything on!’ the whole town cried out at last.”On this optimistic note, Hans Christian Andersen brings his cautionary tale of “The Emperor’s New Clothes” to an end.Andersen’s children’s story was written nearly two centuries ago, ...
    Bowalley Road
    3 days ago

  • BRYCE EDWARDS: The vested interests shaping National Party policies
      Bryce Edwards writes – As the National Party gets closer to government, lobbyists and business interests will be lining up for influence and to get policies adopted. It’s therefore in the public interest to have much more scrutiny and transparency about potential conflicts of interests that ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • LINDSAY MITCHELL: A conundrum for those pushing racist dogma
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – The heavily promoted narrative, which has ramped up over the last six years, is that Maori somehow have special vulnerabilities which arise from outside forces they cannot control; that contemporary society fails to meet their needs. They are not receptive to messages and ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • CHRIS TROTTER:  The greater of two evils
    Not Labour: If you’re out to punish the government you once loved, then the last thing you need is to be shown evidence that the opposition parties are much, much worse.   Chris Trotter writes – THE GREATEST VIRTUE of being the Opposition is not being the Government. Only very ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • The Hoon around the week to Sept 30
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:Labour presented a climate manifesto that aimed to claim the high ground on climate action vs National, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Litanies, articles of faith, and being a beneficiary
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past two weeks.Friday 29Play it, ElvisElection Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Litanies, articles of faith, and being a beneficiary
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past two weeks.Friday 29Play it, ElvisElection Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • The ‘Recession’ Has Been Called Off, But Some Households Are Still Struggling
    While the economy is not doing too badly in output terms, external circumstances are not favourable, and there is probably a sizeable group of households struggling because of rising interest rates.Last week’s announcement of a 0.9 percent increase in volume GDP for the June quarter had the commentariat backing down ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago

  • Climate Change: The wrong direction
    This week the International Energy Association released its Net Zero Roadmap, intended to guide us towards a liveable climate. The report demanded huge increases in renewable generation, no new gas or oil, and massive cuts to methane emissions. It was positive about our current path, but recommended that countries with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • “Racism” becomes a buzz word on the campaign trail – but our media watchdogs stay muzzled when...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Oh, dear.  We have nothing to report from the Beehive. At least, we have nothing to report from the government’s official website. But the drones have not gone silent.  They are out on the election campaign trail, busy buzzing about this and that in the hope ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • Play it, Elvis
    Election Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t have time for. You’re welcome, etc. Let us press on, etc. 1.  What did Christopher Luxon use to his advantage in ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Pure class warfare
    National unveiled its fiscal policy today, announcing all the usual things which business cares about and I don't. But it did finally tell us how National plans to pay for its handouts to landlords: by effectively cutting benefits: The biggest saving announced on Friday was $2b cut from the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • Ask Me Anything about the week to Sept 29
    Photo by Anna Ogiienko on UnsplashIt’s that time of the week for an ‘Ask Me Anything’ session for paying subscribers about the week that was for an hour, including:duelling fiscal plans from National and Labour;Labour cutting cycling spending while accusing National of being weak on climate;Research showing the need for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Weekly Roundup 29-September-2023
    Welcome to Friday and the last one for September. This week in Greater Auckland On Monday, Matt highlighted at the latest with the City Rail Link. On Tuesday, Matt covered the interesting items from Auckland Transport’s latest board meeting agendas. On Thursday, a guest post from Darren Davis ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    5 days ago

  • Protest at Parliament: The Reunion.
    Brian’s god spoke to him. He, for of course the Lord in Tamaki’s mind was a male god, with a mighty rod, and probably some black leathers. He, told Brian - “you must put a stop to all this love, hope, and kindness”. And it did please the Brian.He said ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • Labour cuts $50m from cycleway spending
    Labour is cutting spending on cycling infrastructure while still trying to claim the higher ground on climate. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Labour Government released a climate manifesto this week to try to claim the high ground against National, despite having ignored the Climate Commission’s advice to toughen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • The Greater Of Two Evils.
    Not Labour: If you’re out to punish the government you once loved, then the last thing you need is to be shown evidence that the opposition parties are much, much worse.THE GREATEST VIRTUE of being the Opposition is not being the Government. Only very rarely is an opposition party elected ...
    Bowalley Road
    5 days ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #39 2023
    Open access notables "Net zero is only a distraction— we just have to end fossil fuel emissions." The latter is true but the former isn't, or  not in the real world as it's likely to be in the immediate future. And "just" just doesn't enter into it; we don't have ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • Chris Trotter: Losing the Left
    IN THE CURRENT MIX of electoral alternatives, there is no longer a credible left-wing party. Not when “a credible left-wing party” is defined as: a class-oriented, mass-based, democratically-structured political organisation; dedicated to promoting ideas sharply critical of laissez-faire capitalism; and committed to advancing democratic, egalitarian and emancipatory ideals across the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    5 days ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • Hipkins fires up in leaders’ debate, but has the curtain already fallen on the Labour-led coalitio...
    Labour’s  Chris Hipkins came out firing, in the  leaders’ debate  on Newshub’s evening programme, and most of  the pundits  rated  him the winner against National’s  Christopher Luxon. But will this make any difference when New  Zealanders  start casting their ballots? The problem  for  Hipkins is  that  voters are  all too ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    5 days ago

  • Govt is energising housing projects with solar power – and fuelling the public’s concept of a di...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Not long after Point of Order published data which show the substantial number of New Zealanders (77%) who believe NZ is becoming more divided, government ministers were braying about a programme which distributes some money to “the public” and some to “Maori”. The ministers were dishing ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago

  • MIKE GRIMSHAW: Election 2023 – a totemic & charisma failure?
    The D&W analysis Michael Grimshaw writes –  Given the apathy, disengagement, disillusionment, and all-round ennui of this year’s general election, it was considered time to bring in those noted political operatives and spin doctors D&W, the long-established consultancy firm run by Emile Durkheim and Max Weber. Known for ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • FROM BFD: Will Winston be the spectre we think?
    Kissy kissy. Cartoon credit BoomSlang. The BFD. JC writes-  Allow me to preface this contribution with the following statement: If I were asked to express a preference between a National/ACT coalition or a National/ACT/NZF coalition then it would be the former. This week Luxon declared his position, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • California’s climate disclosure bill could have a huge impact across the U.S.
    This re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Andy Furillo was originally published by Capital & Main and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. The California Legislature took a step last week that has the potential to accelerate the fight against climate ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • Untangling South East Queensland’s Public Transport
    This is a cross post Adventures in Transitland by Darren Davis. I recently visited Brisbane and South East Queensland and came away both impressed while also pondering some key changes to make public transport even better in the region. Here goes with my take on things. A bit of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    6 days ago

  • Try A Little Kindness.
    My daughter arrived home from the supermarket yesterday and she seemed a bit worried about something. It turned out she wanted to know if someone could get her bank number from a receipt.We wound the story back.She was in the store and there was a man there who was distressed, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • What makes NZFirst tick
    New Zealand’s longest-running political roadshow rolled into Opotiki yesterday, with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters knowing another poll last night showed he would make it back to Parliament and National would need him and his party if they wanted to form a government. The Newshub Reid Research poll ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago

  • September AMA
    Hi,As September draws to a close — I feel it’s probably time to do an Ask Me Anything. You know how it goes: If you have any burning questions, fire away in the comments and I will do my best to answer. You might have questions about Webworm, or podcast ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago

  • Bludgers lying in the scratcher making fools of us all
    The mediocrity who stands to be a Prime Minister has a litany.He uses it a bit like a Koru Lounge card. He will brandish it to say: these people are eligible. And more than that, too: These people are deserving. They have earned this policy.They have a right to this policy. What ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago

  • More “partnerships” (by the look of it) and redress of over $30 million in Treaty settlement wit...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point of Order has waited until now – 3.45pm – for today’s officially posted government announcements.  There have been none. The only addition to the news on the Beehive’s website was posted later yesterday, after we had published our September 26 Buzz report. It came from ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • ALEX HOLLAND: Labour’s spending
    Alex Holland writes –  In 2017 when Labour came to power, crown spending was $76 billion per year. Now in 2023 it is $139 billion per year, which equates to a $63 billion annual increase (over $1 billion extra spend every week!) In 2017, New Zealand’s government debt ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • If not now, then when?
    Labour released its fiscal plan today, promising the same old, same old: "responsibility", balanced books, and of course no new taxes: "Labour will maintain income tax settings to provide consistency and certainty in these volatile times. Now is not the time for additional taxes or to promise billions of ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago

  • THE FACTS:  77% of Kiwis believe NZ is becoming more divided
    The Facts has posted –        KEY INSIGHTSOf New Zealander’s polled: Social unity/division 77%believe NZ is becoming more divided (42% ‘much more’ + 35% ‘a little more’) 3%believe NZ is becoming less divided (1% ‘much less’ + 2% ‘a little less’) ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the cynical brutality of the centre-right’s welfare policies
    The centre-right’s enthusiasm for forcing people off the benefit and into paid work is matched only by the enthusiasm (shared by Treasury and the Reserve Bank) for throwing people out of paid work to curb inflation, and achieve the optimal balance of workers to job seekers deemed to be desirable ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    6 days ago

  • Wednesday’s Chorus: Arthur Grimes on why building many, many more social houses is so critical
    New research shows that tenants in social housing - such as these Wellington apartments - are just as happy as home owners and much happier than private tenants. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The election campaign took an ugly turn yesterday, and in completely the wrong direction. All three ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    7 days ago

  • Bennie Bashing.
    If there’s one thing the mob loves more than keeping Māori in their place, more than getting tough on the gangs, maybe even more than tax cuts. It’s a good old round of beneficiary bashing.Are those meanies in the ACT party stealing your votes because they think David Seymour is ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    7 days ago

  • The kindest cuts
    Labour kicks off the fiscal credibility battle today with the release of its fiscal plan. National is expected to follow, possibly as soon as Thursday, with its own plan, which may (or may not) address the large hole that the problems with its foreign buyers’ ban might open up. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    7 days ago

  • Green right turn in Britain? Well, a start
    While it may be unlikely to register in New Zealand’s general election, Britain’s PM Rishi Sunak has done something which might just be important in the long run. He’s announced a far-reaching change in his Conservative government’s approach to environmental, and particularly net zero, policy. The starting point – ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    7 days ago

  • At a glance – How do human CO2 emissions compare to natural CO2 emissions?
    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
    1 week ago

  • How could this happen?
    Canada is in uproar after the exposure that its parliament on September 22 provided a standing ovation to a Nazi veteran who had been invited into the chamber to participate in the parliamentary welcome to Ukrainian President Zelensky. Yaroslav Hunka, 98, a Ukrainian man who volunteered for service in ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    1 week ago

  • Always Be Campaigning
    The big screen is a great place to lay out the ways of the salesman. He comes ready-made for Panto, ripe for lampooning.This is not to disparage that life. I have known many good people of that kind. But there is a type, brazen as all get out. The camera ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago

  • Youth justice programme expands to break cycle of offending
    The successful ‘Circuit Breaker’ fast track programme designed to stop repeat youth offending was launched in two new locations today by Children’s Minister Kelvin Davis. The programme, first piloted in West and South Auckland in December last year, is aimed at children aged 10-13 who commit serious offending or continue ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago

  • Major milestone with 20,000 employers using Apprenticeship Boost
    The Government’s Apprenticeship Boost initiative has now supported 20,000 employers to help keep on and train up apprentices, Minister for Social Development and Employment Carmel Sepuloni announced in Christchurch today. Almost 62,000 apprentices have been supported to start and keep training for a trade since the initiative was introduced in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago

  • Government supporting wood processing jobs and more diverse industry
    The Government is supporting non-pine tree sawmilling and backing further job creation in sawmills in Rotorua and Whangarei, Forestry Minister Peeni Henare said.   “The Forestry and Wood Processing Industry Transformation Plan identified the need to add more diversity to our productions forests, wood products and markets,” Peeni Henare said. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago

  • Government backing Canterbury’s future in aerospace industry
    The Government is helping Canterbury’s aerospace industry take off with further infrastructure support for the Tāwhaki Aerospace Centre at Kaitorete, Infrastructure Minister Dr Megan Woods has announced. “Today I can confirm we will provide a $5.4 million grant to the Tāwhaki Joint Venture to fund a sealed runway and hangar ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago

  • Updated forestry regulations increase council controls and require large slash removal
    Local councils will have more power to decide where new commercial forests – including carbon forests – are located, to reduce impacts on communities and the environment, Environment Minister David Parker said today. “New national standards give councils greater control over commercial forestry, including clear rules on harvesting practices and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago

  • New Zealand resumes peacekeeping force leadership
    New Zealand will again contribute to the leadership of the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) in the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt, with a senior New Zealand Defence Force officer returning as Interim Force Commander. Defence Minister Andrew Little and Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta have announced the deployment of New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • New national direction provides clarity for development and the environment
    The Government has taken an important step in implementing the new resource management system, by issuing a draft National Planning Framework (NPF) document under the new legislation, Environment Minister David Parker said today. “The NPF consolidates existing national direction, bringing together around 20 existing instruments including policy statements, standards, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Government shows further commitment to pay equity for healthcare workers
    The Government welcomes the proposed pay equity settlement that will see significant pay increases for around 18,000 Te Whatu Ora Allied, Scientific, and Technical employees, if accepted said Health Minister Ayesha Verrall. The proposal reached between Te Whatu Ora, the New Zealand Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • 100 new public EV chargers to be added to national network
    The public EV charging network has received a significant boost with government co-funding announced today for over 100 EV chargers – with over 200 charging ports altogether – across New Zealand, and many planned to be up and running on key holiday routes by Christmas this year. Minister of Energy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Safeguarding Tuvalu language and identity
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