Resignationwatch: Oopsie

Written By: - Date published: 9:27 pm, May 2nd, 2012 - 121 comments
Categories: act, john banks - Tags:

ACT Party President Chris Simmons – who opposed the Brash coup that lead to John Banks being ACT’s sole MP – ‘accidentally’ dropped Banks right in it on Radio New Zealand’s Checkpoint. He said “[Banks] made the suggestion to Dotcom” to split his donation into two $25,000 pieces and implied the purpose was to have a number of identically-sized donations he could claim were anonymous.

Now, I presume you don’t miss the import of that. Banks has denied any such arrangement with Dotcom. And if he did tell Dotcom to split the cheques into two $25,000 amounts then he can hardly claim ignorance of the identity of the donor when two cheques from Dotcom’s company were deposited with his campaign on the same day.

Simmons then went on to say that Banks had given him bizarrely illogical justification for telling Dotcom to split his donation into two $25,000 lots because Banks was “going to put in $25,000 of his own money and he figured other people should be putting in the same kind of numbers”. Mary Wilson immediately pointed out that was illogical and there are donations that were larger than $25,000. The only purpose I can come up with for trying to get donors to make identically sized donations was so Banks could claim ‘yes, I know I got money from these people, but which $25,000 is which?’

As with Key, Simmons said he hadn’t asked Banks vital questions like ‘did you call Dotcom to thank him?’, why did he want it to look like other donors were matching him?’ and hadn’t asked Banks in “a direct manner” if he knew where he had received money from Dotcom.

Here’s the full quotes from Simmons in the crucial segment

Wilson: Have you asked him if he knew the donations were from Dotcom?

Simmons: Not in that direct manner. I’ve asked him about the process that they used.

Wilson: Why didn’t you ask him directly?

Simmons: Well, he told me that they were an anonymous donation.

Wilson: But he knew they were going to be $50,000; split into two lots.

Simmons: No. That was one of the suggestions he made to Dotcom.

Wilson: Do you know why he made that suggestion?

Simmons:He has given me an indication as to why he made that suggestion. And that was that he initially was going ot put in $25,000 of his own money and he figured that other people should be putting in the same kind of numbers”

Wilson: I’m not quite sure why that makes sense, ’cause there are other donations that are bigger than $25,000.

That raises another interesting question. Did Banks declare his own $25,000 donation? See, there are a total of 5 anonymous $25,000 donations on his return [Can anyone find a copy of his return? I think the Herald or Stuff published it but can’t track it down]

Hilariously, a few minutes later (and presumably after a quick, blunt phone call from Wayne Eagleson) Simmons rang Radio New Zealand to try to withdraw his admission that Banks did tell Dotcom to split his donation into two. He claimed he had never discussed the Dotcom donation with Banks. Right. Read the quotes above again and tell me he was just mistaken.

RNZ naturally reported Simmons’ attempt to withdraw his comments in its news bulletins.

Did Simmons just kill Banks’ career on purpose – with the goal of a by-election bringing in Catherine Isaac who, at this point, is ACT’s one last hope?

Or is he just completely incompetent to the point where he let all the cats out of the bag?

Given this is the ACT Party we’re talking about, I think either is a reasonable explanation.

121 comments on “Resignationwatch: Oopsie ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. burt 1
    2 May 2012 at 9:36 pm

    [deleted for distraction. one week ban. Eddie]

    • Lanthanide 1.1
      2 May 2012 at 9:49 pm

      Not sure why you’re saying that in response to this article: this is just reporting on what Simmon’s said, nothing more or less.

  2. calltoaccount 2
    2 May 2012 at 9:43 pm

    Heres the link to the return…
    http://www.elections.org.nz/files/2011CR-BanksJ.pdf

    No mention of $25000 from Banksie (and that website price is too much of a steal I reckon).

    In fact the relevant section has a great big line across it.

    [cheers but that’s for the election. looking for the mayoral one.]

    • Lanthanide 2.1
      2 May 2012 at 9:52 pm

      That’s his return for the 2011 general election.

      We’re interested in his 2010 return for the supercity mayoral race.

  3. appleboy 3
    2 May 2012 at 9:48 pm

    This should be part of the evidence the police use. He was very clearly talking specifically and not in any general sense.

    can you imagine the phone call Simmons got !! Oh to be a fly on the wall.
    Banks is toast.

  4. Te Reo Putake 4
    2 May 2012 at 9:49 pm

    Gotta feel sorry for Simmons. It’s not often in a political career you have to apologise for telling the truth.

  5. Jim Nald 5
    2 May 2012 at 10:02 pm

    “he let all the cats out of the bag”

    and Moonbeam ambitiously leads the way

  6. Armchair Critic 6
    2 May 2012 at 10:07 pm

    Did Banks declare his own $25,000 donation?
    Just when it seemed this couldn’t get any weirder – the possibility that Banks has claimed he made an anonymous donation to himself pops up.
    I’m loving this, it’s even better than ACT’s last meltdown.

    • Lanthanide 6.1
      2 May 2012 at 10:20 pm

      I think it’s been stated somewhere that he donated $69,000 to himself, or possibly $89,000. So that would indicate that those donations weren’t anonymous.

      • Armchair Critic 6.1.1
        3 May 2012 at 11:28 pm

        Clearly the donations he declared were not anonymous. However the existence of declared donations does not disprove he made further anonymous donations to himself.
        As a side issue, if a donation is made to a political campaign, is it tax deductible? If it is, does this extend to donating to ones own campaign?

    • Rodel 6.2
      3 May 2012 at 11:12 am

      Armchair Critic..
      If Banks made an anonymous donation to himself does that suggest he has two personalities, neither of which knows about the other..there’s a word for that isn’t there?
      Or is it just two faces?

    • Kiwi Pete 6.3
      3 May 2012 at 10:48 pm

      Perhaps Key is keeping Banks on to provide the country with a bit of humour in these dark days!

  8. SteveW 8
    2 May 2012 at 10:37 pm

    It seems hardly credible that a business person like John Banks and his campaign team would not have sat down and done a budget on running the campaign and identified from where funding was going to come. In that analysis the sources of funds would be highlighted and any person worth their salt within the campaign team, responsible for securing the funds, would have followed up to ensure the funds were received. A donation of $50,000 would have to be at the high end of any campaign donation. SkyCity, at $15,000, would have to be a typical high ranked donor. however anything higher would have to raise their adrenelin. So you’d have to expect the Banksie Team’s eyes would have watered at the prospect of $50k coming into the account from the Dotcom source and you’d bet it was talked about at campaign HQ. It is disingenuous of Banks and now the ACT President to say a donation of this sort was anonymous.

  9. Balanced View 9
    2 May 2012 at 10:44 pm

    Banks is an embarrassment, and poison to all those he comes in contact with. I hope that he wakes up to all of this and resigns if for nothing else but his own dignity.

    In saying this, can someone enlighten me as to why in this case, this is such a big deal? Whether it was filled out correctly or not, surely it is the system that’s at fault here? Either we accept anonymous donations or not. Under the current system, to me it is irrelevant whether a donation was anonymous or not, and as such, this whole mess is a storm in a tea cup (no pun intended) and a huge distraction on what should be the real issues debated at this time.

    • fender 9.1
      2 May 2012 at 11:03 pm

      “In saying this, can someone enlighten me as to why in this case, this is such a big deal?”

      Cant have people who falsify documents in a Ministers role. Because the charge carries a 2 year prison sentence if convicted he has to be sent back to Megaupload Cloud to retrieve his lost marbles.

    • Colonial Viper 9.2
      2 May 2012 at 11:04 pm

      Bank’s shoddy judgement, lying and obfuscation, and dishonest evasiveness are simply symptoms of Banks being unfit to be in Parliament.

      However, feel free to blame “the system”, “the alignment of the planets” and Banksy’s cat if you wish instead.

      this whole mess is a storm in a tea cup (no pun intended) and a huge distraction on what should be the real issues debated at this time.

      Do you have a problem with corrupt campaign funds management? It sorta strikes at the heart of our democracy.

      Maybe you don’t think that makes it to being a “real issue”?

    • felix 9.3
      3 May 2012 at 6:42 am

      “Either we accept anonymous donations or not. Under the current system, to me it is irrelevant whether a donation was anonymous or not”

      This isn’t about an anonymous donation, it’s about an entirely known donation that Banks lied about.

  10. Hami Shearlie 10
    2 May 2012 at 11:28 pm

    Banksie is supposedly Minister for Regulatory Reform (I think that’s right?). Hardly the sort of person to be making decisions for that portfolio, when this big cloud hangs over him! The pong is getting stronger. Wonder how long it will be before it finally starts to waft up Shonkey’s nostrils! Of course, he probably won’t even notice. Merrill Lynch stank to high heaven for the longest time and he seemed totally O.K. with that odour!!

  11. BLiP 11
    3 May 2012 at 12:08 am

    There’s a suggestion from Fairfax that the Mayoral donations returns are not available on line . . .

    . . . Under the Local Electoral Act 2010, all candidates have to file their expenses and donations with the returning officer 55 days after the election.

    The returns – handwritten in the case of Banks’ – are not viewable online.

    They reveal Banks received donations totalling $948,937, including $87,000 from himself. Two thirds of the amount he received was described as coming from “anonymous donors”, with the top single donation worth $30,000 and five of $25,000 apiece.

    Two anonymous donations – $57,171 and $103,926 – were noted as collective totals from individual online contributions and fundraising projects.

    The largest named individual donation was $20,000 from “The Main Trust”, which is not on the societies and trusts register at the Companies Office.

    Controversial rich-lister Peter Huljich donated $15,000. Last year Huljich pleaded guilty to misleading investors in his KiwiSaver scheme.

    “A Gibbs” – possibly multimillionaire Alan Gibbs – gave $5000 and “A and V Gibbs” $1000.

    Banks’ expenses totalled $554,958.74. A hand written note next to the total says: “These expenses relate to the 3 months ‘accountable’ period”.

    Brown received $581,900.95 in donations and spent $390,761.34. Of the donations Brown received, 87 per cent were anonymous, with many of those bundled under the name New Auckland Council Trust.

    Banks could not be contacted yesterday for comment on his fundraising.

    • McFlock 11.1
      3 May 2012 at 12:24 am

      “The Main Trust” was interesting. Filing donations from an entity that doesn’t exist? 🙂
         
      There is a company “MAIN TRUSTEES 2010 LIMITED (2503310)” registered at the companies office. Possibly crap handwriting is the least of JB’s issues.

  12. james 111 12
    3 May 2012 at 6:36 am

    interesting comment on whaleoil this morning could Trevor Mallards question backfire on David Shearer

    Trevor Mallard raised the spectre of the Pecuniary Interest Register in Parliament as part of his latest bid to smear John Banks and resurrect the Underpants strategy.

    But it reminded me, about the inconsistencies in David Shearer’s own Pecuniary Interests register.

    Bear with me.

    Shearer made the following comments to the Northern Advocate:

    For years, he and wife Anuschka have owned a bolt-hole on the coast north of Whangarei. They looked forward to their family’s summer holiday there, he said.

    Quite rightly, in 2011 David Shearer, listed a jointly-owned section in Whananaki on his pecuniary interest register.

    But that property wasn’t listed in either 2010 or in 2009.

    So has he owned it for years, or is his Pecuniary Interest Register for 2009 and 2010 false?

    • felix 12.1
      3 May 2012 at 6:48 am

      Are parts of your comment quoted from somewhere else?

      If so, how is anyone supposed to know which parts are your own comments and which parts are someone else’s?

    • Eddie 12.2
      3 May 2012 at 6:51 am

      if you’re going to quote other people’s work, put it in quote marks. you might get away with plagiarism at high school, but not here.

      it was probably solely in his wife’s name until this year. but if he made a mistake he should correct it. hard to see any impropriety about him owning a bach. it’s not a gift from a multi-millionaire he had lobbied for – like Banks’ half price room.

      • Kotahi Tane Huna 12.2.1
        3 May 2012 at 6:57 am

        James111’s comment has an anonymous donor? It wasn’t me!

      • Pete George 12.2.2
        3 May 2012 at 7:05 am

        The discount claim seems like a nonsensical beatup.
        Has anyone not tried to (or got) a discount for a hotel room? I try for one every time I book, and I’d accept any advice or help on how to get one.

        Mr Banks says he has provided a copy of his wife’s credit card statement showing he paid for last year’s trip to Hong Kong in full.

        He says Mr Mallard’s comments are outrageous and defamatory and challenges him to repeat them without the protection of Parliamentary privilege.

        http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/104856/banks-challenges-labour-mp-over-dotcom-claims

        Mallard is not likely to risk another defamation, but others might try to use nonsense allegations.

        I think Banks’ time is up, scattergun smears muddy the issue rather than hasten his exit (I guess it just reflects on those trying to smear with anything).

        • Carol 12.2.2.1
          3 May 2012 at 8:12 am

          And yet, Banks DOES seem to have got the room at a much cheaper rate than normal – unless the price has gone up by about 100% since Banks stayed there at the end of 2011 or beginning of 2012:

          http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10803170

          Act leader John Banks last night released a hotel invoice to attack claims he got a discounted deal in Kim Dotcom’s favourite Hong Kong hotel – and showed a room rate about half of the current quoted cost.

          The invoice came from a Christmas holiday taken by Mr Banks, who just two weeks before had been sworn in as a minister, and his wife Amanda.

          It followed claims in Parliament that Mr Banks was given a discount for the hotel stay, which Dotcom helped to arrange.

          The invoice showed Mr and Mrs Banks stayed at the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong and were charged $678 a night.

          But staff at the hotel’s reservations desk last night said the rate for the room the Banks stayed in was $1303, including a 10 per cent service charge.

          • Pete George 12.2.2.1.1
            3 May 2012 at 8:37 am

            a) @felixmarwick
            John Banks’ office refutes NZH claims minister got cheap hotel deal – says they’ve double checked and he did pay full price

            b) I’ve just checked online and Hyatt room rates are listed at $NZ557–1122, but discounted to $NZ251-506
            http://www.agoda.com/asia/hong_kong/hong_kong/hyatt_regency_hong_kong_sha_tin_hotel.html

            c) Who cares about hotel room discounts? They should be more common than paying full list price.

            • rosy 12.2.2.1.1.1
              3 May 2012 at 8:50 am

              Apart from the fact that it was the Grand Hyatt, not the Hyatt Regency…
              Rates are up to $NZ3735.99

            • locus 12.2.2.1.1.2
              3 May 2012 at 8:59 am

              umm Pete, why are you actually trying to support Banks?

              oh yes you have a habit of supporting the insupportable

              • Pete George …
                3 May 2012 at 9:04 am

                I am not trying to support Banks (I think it’s time for him to go), I’m just supporting a bit of common sense. Someone gets a hotel at a discount rate, whoopty do, you’re mad if you don’t at least try to get room discount.

                Trying to make a fuss about something that doesn’t matter detracts from the important issues. Like competence.

                • Colonial Viper …
                  3 May 2012 at 9:07 am

                  So you’ve answered the question of whether or not Bank’s secured a discount for his personal benefit (worth over $2000 counted over the 4 day stay) from a campaign donor?

                  How is “competence” an important issue in your eyes but “corruption” is not?

                  • dd …
                    3 May 2012 at 9:10 am

                    Just another example of lying and corruption. Or forgetfulness as Banks like to call it. Or incompetence as Pete likes it to be known as.

                  • Pete George …
                    3 May 2012 at 9:13 am

                    I’m flabbergasted how thick you are. Getting a room discount is not corruption, it’s sensible and normal.

                    • rosy …
                      3 May 2012 at 9:20 am

                      I’m flabbergasted that you can’t see the difference between the above board personal negotiation of a discount with a hotel and getting a room at mates rates from a friend.

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      3 May 2012 at 9:26 am

                      I’m flabbergasted how thick you are. Getting a room discount is not corruption, it’s sensible and normal.

                      Even if its a special VIP discount that has been arranged for you by a major political donor?

                      And even if the value of the discount is worth over $2000, but you do not report it in the MP’s register of pecuinary interests, as you are required to?

                      Please explain to me why you see this as “sensible” and “normal”. Is political corruption “sensible” and “normal” to the sensibilities of United Future candidates?

                    • Pete George …
                      3 May 2012 at 9:29 am

                      I didn’t realise having a friend negotiate for you was a hanging offence.

                      Is having a friendly website negotiate for you as bad?

                    • Pascal's bookie …
                      3 May 2012 at 9:35 am

                      Pete. have you ever looked at the Pecuniary Interest Register?

                      You’ll notice, almost straight away, that pretty much evry damn thing on there is quite sensible. People own houses, and shares and have all sorts of fingers in pies, and get favours from people and put them on the register

                      What’s up with that?
                      Crazy stuff.
                      What a mixed up old world we live in eh?

                    • Pete George …
                      3 May 2012 at 9:38 am

                      Was it an abnormal discount? Or one anyone could have got if they tried for it?

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      3 May 2012 at 9:38 am

                      I didn’t realise having a friend negotiate for you was a hanging offence.

                      Ahhh, the cosy world of anonymous campaign contributions and personal favours from donors that you Righties live in.

                      I forget you see none of this as being improper, not even Banks leaving off the details from the register of pecuniary interests.

                      Keep licking the soup off the floor PG.

                    • Pete George …
                      3 May 2012 at 9:43 am

                      The invoice released by Banks showed he and his wife were charged $678 a night but the quoted room rate was $1303, Mallard said.

                      “My understanding is that he talked to Dotcom’s team, (bodyguard Wayne) Tempero, and there was a recommendation made on his behalf.

                      “It is certainly my understanding that an arrangement was made and that he got a better deal as a result of it.”

                      http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/6849634/Labour-stands-firm-on-Banks-claims

                      I’ve shown above that I could get a similar discount this weekend:

                      Through Agoda their list rates are $NZ1237-1520, but I could book for this weekend at $NZ557-685.

                    • Pascal's bookie …
                      3 May 2012 at 9:52 am

                      Ask for that discount between Christmas and New Year and tell us how you get on.

                    • Matthew Whitehead …
                      4 May 2012 at 1:36 am

                      Any discount is okay so long as it’s bloody disclosed, and any discount is okay as long as it’s obtained when the purchaser does not know you’re an MP. (legal tests notwithstanding) Banks had two ways to avoid a perception of corruption there and chose neither. It is not actually as hard as right-wingers like to paint it to follow these rules, so long as you or your staff take an interest in learning them.

                  • Markm …
                    3 May 2012 at 10:30 am

                    Obviously the fat one dosent have much sway at the Hyatt if he can’t get a discount below the ” standard ” wotif rates

                • Reagan Cline …
                  3 May 2012 at 6:33 pm

                  Pete George, am I correct in thinking you think it is “time for him to go” because you doubt his competence ?

                  He has not had a chance to show compteence or incompetence as “Minister for Regulatory Reform” What the fuck is that all about !!!!

                  Where he has been incopetent obviously is in not getting the Mayoralty and now in handling the Dotcom issue badly – letting down the people who backed him.

                  Let’s not forget that Archibald John Banks is a minnow. Years of speculation and dissembling have not hoisted him up where he thinks he belongs.

                  He is discardable and about to be discarded – poor fuckin’ idiot !

            • freedom 12.2.2.1.1.3
              3 May 2012 at 9:49 am

              Pete, it is always good to go to the source then sometimes you don’t have to make up defensive blither blather and get yourself all worked up

              if anything he got ripped off as the xmas rates for this year show HKD $3550 = NZD $565
              http://hongkong.grand.hyatt.com/hyatt/reservations/flow6/propSelectedHotelRates.jsp?xactionid=1370f79de66&_requestid=40462

              And besides the fact there unfortunately seems to be nothing untoward with this little detail in the story, the Grand Hyatt Hotel has a specific Government rate and are hardly going to offer a discount to a political nobody (internationally) like John Banks.

              • Colonial Viper …
                3 May 2012 at 10:08 am

                However, it’s also not likely that Banks stayed in the closet studio room above the laundry, is it.

                • freedom …
                  3 May 2012 at 10:26 am

                  the rate is for a Grand Harbour View King, which is the room type quoted.
                  I think people forgot to look at the rate denomination which is in HKD on the Hotel site. Hence the included currency conversion into NZD.

                  Mallard et al should wipe the egg off their collected faces and fess up to an honest mistake sooner than later or it will be a sideshow that risks derailing the public animosity that is showing great potential for seriously damaging the government.

                  i am loathing the reality that forces me to defend Banks but in this singular instance he seems to be telling the truth, someone should call Ripley!

                  • Te Reo Putake …
                    3 May 2012 at 10:35 am

                    Cheers, freedom (and good on you for acknowledging that you are defending Banks, there’s others doing that here that can’t bring themselves to admit that).
                     
                    From my perspective, the issue isn’t the rate paid, it’s the question of who organised the discount. If it was done on Banks’s behalf by Dotcom’s organisation, then that should have been reported by Banks in the register. Presumably if Banks (or Mrs Banks) organised the discount, there will be some evidence of that, such as phone records or, more likely, emails.
                     
                    The striking thing for me is that Dotcom claimed a discount was organised and Banks, by showing the receipt, has confirmed that he did get a good rate. How would Dotcom have known about the discount, if he wasn’t involved in arranging it?

                    • freedom …
                      3 May 2012 at 10:52 am

                      i hereby declare i am only defending Banks as pertaining his statement about paying $678 dollars for a Hotel room. I know nothing about any discount Banks may or may not have gotten or who may or may not have arranged said discount. I only went to the Hotel referenced, used their booking table, put in a late December room request for a Government rate Grand Harbour View King and quoted the HKD price then converted the quoted price into NZD.

                      It appears completely in line with what Banks is saying he paid.

                      I believe an honest mistake was made during the original research and the HKD value was misread as NZD.

                      If the rate is correct though, did Banks claim a Government Rate for a non-governmental visit? That certainly deserves a closer look!

                    • Pete George …
                      3 May 2012 at 10:59 am

                      Too late, you are condemned to being a Banks backer. You have to understand that round here less than 100% adherence to “the cause” makes you a permanent traitor.

                      Re your claim of “honest mistake”, that would have been a fairly basic mistake. By Mallards researchers, a bunch of wallies here and by all journos? Do none of them know any thing about Hotel Booking 101? Is everything done at asking rates on the expense tab?

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      3 May 2012 at 11:06 am

                      Not bad work Freedom. Now you have some facts PG, please launch a credible defence of Banks.

                      BTW one common way for hotels to give discounts is to give a customer a superior room, while only booking and charging for a lesser room. That way the hotel’s books maintain the % profit margins required.

                    • Pete George …
                      3 May 2012 at 11:20 am

                      I already did some simple research and provided facts:
                      http://thestandard.org.nz/resignationwatch-oopsie/comment-page-1/#comment-466944

                      I still call bullshit on the room rate nonsense, I’ve not seen anything yet that seems out of order.

                      And I still call Banks on all the bullshit he has been talking over the last week. He has not looked credible over donations.

                      And the Chris Simmons interview and rapid retraction added to an already severely damaged Act reputation.

            • felix 12.2.2.1.1.4
              3 May 2012 at 10:20 am

              Pete:
              “John Banks’ office refutes NZH claims minister got cheap hotel deal – says they’ve double checked and he did pay full price”

              Banks’ office says? Oh well that’s that then. Beyond reproach.

            • Chris 12.2.2.1.1.5
              3 May 2012 at 3:33 pm

              So. He double checked and confirmed that he was paying full amount. Now according to Herald he did get a discount but he negotiated it himself.Con Key still backing him? I hope he(banks)
              doesn’t still have his helicopter license.He would be a menace in the air given that he never knows where he is going, where he has been and probably forgotten how to fly the damned thing!Chopper down!

              • ianmac …
                3 May 2012 at 3:49 pm

                I wonder if Dotcom had a word in the Manager’s ear. Arranged the discount but Manager discretely said nothing about it to John. Stretching it a bit but if that was so, then John is innocent as he was in blissful ignorance. Oh well 🙂

              • Pete George …
                3 May 2012 at 4:38 pm

                I think Banks has stuffed up again on how he’s handled it. If as son as the ludicrous accusation had been made Banks just said “I always negotiate the best deal I can, I paid a fairly standard rate for the hotel” then Mallard’s smear would have been a dead duck.

                Instead Banks “misexplained” and then far too late, this afternoon, explained hotel booking 101.

                I wonder what David Shearer thinks of his devoted followers deep in gotcha politics? He’s been sidelined, again.

                • TheContrarian …
                  3 May 2012 at 5:00 pm

                  Hell I have negotiated low rates on hotel rooms, hire cars even backpacker dorms. 

                • Te Reo Putake …
                  3 May 2012 at 5:13 pm

                  What does Shearer think? I imagine when he’s not joining in the laughter, he’s thinking ‘I’m going to be PM, I’m going to be PM!’.

                • mike e …
                  3 May 2012 at 5:44 pm

                  I don,t know why your defending the man and the party you claim ‘you don’t even like ‘ When labour and the left win the next election first cad off the Rank will be your glorious leader.

        • Frida 12.2.2.2
          3 May 2012 at 9:27 am

          Pete, isn’t the point about the discount not so much whether he got it or not (and there seems to be two conflicting stories there – Herald research this morning vs what Banks says and your research) but rather the fact of the allegation that DotCom had some involvement with Banks staying at the Hyatt. Nothing I’ve heard suggests that Banks is denying that aspect of the holiday. So, it further undermines his “memory lapses” about the nature of his relationship with DotCom. Add it to the helicopter ride, the birthday toast, the vists to the Mansion and it all stinks to high heaven.

          • Pete George 12.2.2.2.1
            3 May 2012 at 9:32 am

            I agree that building a picture of the degree of relationship is relevant. Room rates seem to be a stupid diversion.

            • Colonial Viper 12.2.2.2.1.1
              3 May 2012 at 9:34 am

              Even though Dotcom’s VIP room rates saved Banks over $2000?

              How is a $2000 value given to a Minister by a political donor, which is subsequently left off the Register of Pecuniary Interests, “a stupid diversion”?

              Man your standards are so low you must eat meals off the floor.

          • Ross 12.2.2.2.2
            3 May 2012 at 11:14 am

            the fact of the allegation?

            An allegation is an allegation…it is not a fact until it is proven.

        • deuto 12.2.2.3
          3 May 2012 at 10:01 am

          In one of the earliest reports on the Banks/Dotcom saga, there was mention of Banks asking Dotcom for a recommendation on hotels in HKG – and if I recall correctly it was also reported that Dotcom’s limo collected the Banks from the airport and was also used for another trip.

          Might have been in the first of the Campbell Live’s report last Friday, but cannot be bothered searching it out as IMO the whole hotel discount issue is a tangent that detracts from the real issues of the Banks “situation” – namely honesty, credibility, cronyism and suitability (or otherwise) for Banks to remain a Minister of the Crown – and Key’s continuing refusal to stand him down in the meantime at least. OTOH, I am pleased he hasn’t stood him down as it digs a bigger and bigger hole for Key and his credibility.

          Of much more interest IMO is last night’s Campbell Live report and diagram linking Key and many of his other Ministers as well as Banks to the whole Dotcom situation which raises a whole other set of questions – particularly in relation to Key’s supposed lack of knowledge about Dotcom hinself, and the police raid until the day before it took place.

          http://www.3news.co.nz/Who-knew-what-about-Kim-Dotcom/tabid/817/articleID/252734/Default.aspx

          • Kiwi Pete 12.2.2.3.1
            3 May 2012 at 11:41 pm

            Wow! That is a great piece of journalism. How come Key had never heard of Dotcom until the day before the bust when so many others had and he lived in Jonkeys constituency in one of the most famous mansions in the country? Something doesn’t add up.

        • Georgecom 12.2.2.4
          3 May 2012 at 10:15 pm

          I heard that allegation on the news Pete and laughed. I found it highly ironic that a relatively minor issues, a small bit of mud, was being thrown at Banks. I laughed because the ACT Party is getting back what it has for years given out. Banks is the current ACT custodian who is paying for the years of mud and smears ACT threw at people. Some might call it retribution. What goes around, comes around and Banks and other ACT supporters simply have to acknowledge that fact.

  13. Frida 13
    3 May 2012 at 6:48 am

    Heard all this unfold as we were driving home last night. It was HILARIOUS. After the backtrack, I said to hubbie ‘obviously he’s got off the interview to irate call from Key’s chief of staff.’

    We were cracking up and Mary W was clearly loving it. ACT is the biggest bunch of losers.

    Pack of liars the lot of ’em. Still, the longer he stays, the more that hopefully will come out and it can only harm Shonkey etc

  14. marsman 14
    3 May 2012 at 8:18 am

    Will Banks be ‘gone by lunchtime’?

  15. rosy 15
    3 May 2012 at 8:35 am

    And now dinner with the boss of Natural Dairy where $50,000 may or may not have been offered, seeing as Banks “can’t recall’.

    The latest developments came as Banks admitted he had dinner at the home of former Natural Dairy boss Jack Chen with bankrupt May Wang – who are now facing corruption charges in Hong Kong.

    A source close to Banks’ mayoralty campaign team believed Chen had offered up to $50,000 at the dinner.

    Banks says he did not recall either Chen or Wang “offering to give him support or a donation”.

  16. Bill 16
    3 May 2012 at 8:37 am

    Didn’t actually hear the interview.

    But from the quoted text, looks like it could be claimed a simple slip of the tongue…and yup, could be a fruedian slip…where Simmons says ‘to’ instead of ‘of ‘has led to things being misconstrued.

    Except it would mean that Simmons had talked to Dotcom and Dotcom was claiming he thought all donations should be around the $25 000 mark.

    (And Banks awakes to hear the rattle of dirt dropping from the top of the hole on to the box he’s lying in…)

  17. Pete George 17
    3 May 2012 at 9:15 am

    While Labour MPs (and some here) chase ridiculous smear attempts others do some real checks:

    Geoffrey Miller: Has John Banks breached the Act Party constitution and rules?

    As an Act member of parliament, John Banks remains on the Candidates Register. Banks is the party leader. This means he would have needed to advise two of John Boscawen (deputy leader), Chris Simmons (party president) or Barbara Astill (vice president) if he had “any information which is adverse to him…which would embarrass the Party”.

    The threshold at which information becomes “adverse” is of course debateable. But even if Banks believes the donations from Dotcom to his 2010 Auckland mayoral campaign were anonymous, it could be argued that Banks should have disclosed at least his apparent close friendship with Kim Dotcom to the Act Party board after Dotcom was arrested in an enormously high profile police raid in January 2012.

    • Colonial Viper 17.1
      3 May 2012 at 9:19 am

      ACT consitution and rules? My, what a high standard you hold Crown Ministers up to lol. Next you’ll say that Banksy having his eyes signed up on a brothel will be OK because it meets the requirements of the ACT constitution and rules.

      • ghostwhowalksnz 17.1.1
        3 May 2012 at 9:48 am

        Exactly !

        Imagine the fun if the Act conference was THIS weekend and not a few weekends back!

        Sow the wind , reap the whirlwind

    • felix 17.2
      3 May 2012 at 10:37 am

      “…which would embarrass the Party”.

      It’s ACT though Pete. Takes a fair bit to embarrass that nest of vermin.

      • Pete George 17.2.1
        3 May 2012 at 10:48 am

        Relative to the last twelve months, this seems minor.

        • james 111 17.2.1.1
          3 May 2012 at 12:21 pm

          Peter
          When you are totally driven by ideaology you cant see the wood for the trees. I see no problem with getting a discount in fact its better for the rate payer of Auckland. It would have been better for the Tax payer of New Zealand if Chris Carter and his man buddy got room discounts to all the hotels thye visited around the world on a tax payer paid junket

          • felix 17.2.1.1.1
            3 May 2012 at 1:59 pm

            What the fuck are you on about? This is nothing to do with the ratepayers of Auckland.

            Any discount Banks received was a bonus to him personally. That’s why if such a discount existed, it should’ve been listed as a pecuniary interest.

            You constantly amaze me with your ability to comment for days on end on an issue without having a clue about any of the facts.

    • Treetop 17.3
      3 May 2012 at 11:33 am

      I raised this yesterday (rules when a candidate). Banks had to have known that any scandal would cause ructions for the Act Party and that this had to be avoided where Act was concerned because of the infighting within Act and the loss of confidence from their voters.

      Has anyone done a poll in Epsom on whether or not Banks should be stood down?
      Campbell Live poll result last night was 88% for Banks to be stood down. (This was a nation wide poll).

      Has anyone done a poll in Epsom to see if Banks would be elected if their was an election on Saturday?

  18. captain hook 18
    3 May 2012 at 9:26 am

    oh what tangled webs we weave
    when first we practice to deceive

    • james 111 18.1
      3 May 2012 at 1:08 pm

      Totally agree I remember , Paintergate, Travelgate,Pledgecard gate ohh the list goes on all set out to deceive. Eventually it catches you out no matter who you are

      • felix 18.1.1
        3 May 2012 at 2:18 pm

        Yeah, remember when Helen autographed the back of a picture for a charity auction?

      • Pete George 18.1.2
        3 May 2012 at 2:36 pm

        I’ve posted strongly against the nonsense about these. Trying to make a scandal out of doing something for a charity was scandalous. And I don’t see how Clark can be held responsible for speeding when she wasn’t driving nor in control of the convoy.

        Dirty politics near the worst end of the scale.

        • Reagan Cline 18.1.2.1
          3 May 2012 at 8:03 pm

          Your “ends justify the means” assumption again Peter – careful now !

  19. freedom 19
    3 May 2012 at 9:54 am

    http://thestandard.org.nz/resignationwatch-oopsie/comment-page-1/#comment-467001
    re the HK Hotel palava, everyone needs to check the facts, take a step back, and breathe a little
    so we can focus on all the shitty things that Banks really did do

  20. Carol 20
    3 May 2012 at 11:40 am

    Hmmm, and now Mallard is raising another issue about Banks election spending, in questions for oral answer today:

    http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QOA/2/f/3/00HOH_OralQuestions-List-of-questions-for-oral-answer.htm

    10. Hon TREVOR MALLARD to the Prime Minister: Did the assurances that Hon John Banks gave his office regarding his compliance with the Local Electoral Act, which he has accepted, include an assurance that any donations for radio advertising during the 2010 mayoral election were correctly recorded?

    • deuto 20.1
      3 May 2012 at 11:46 am

      Interesting – but its Thursday and I personally don’t recall ever seeing Key in the House on a Thursday ……………

  21. Frida 21
    3 May 2012 at 1:48 pm

    Just up on DomPost website: DotCom set to release his phone records:

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/politics/6850252/ACT-chief-retracts-statement-on-Dotcom-gift

    Things could be about to get interesting. If those phone records show a call in the days after the deposits (i.e. SIX MONTHS after the fireworks show) surely Banksie is toast?

    • deuto 21.1
      3 May 2012 at 2:35 pm

      I assume that it depends on what type of “phone records” these are. If they only show that there was a call from one of Banks’ phones to one of Dotcom’s on a certain date and time, then it will not indicate what was said.

      However, it would not surprise me if Dotcom recorded all calls from the sounds of the high tech environment at his mansion.

      BUT apparently all digital data including CCTV recordings etc was seized in the police raid. Dotcom’s lawyers were back in court earlier this week seeking to get all items they consider were seized unlawfully returned to Dotcom (including digital data) , and a full hearing has been set down for later this month. In the meantime the court has apparently ruled that these items must stay in NZ until this hearing. (Did a quick look for the Stuff and Herald items on this; could not find them immediately but will re-search and post separately.)

      • Frida 21.1.2
        3 May 2012 at 2:57 pm

        I agree that without a recording the phone logs are probably of limited relevance in terms of evidence for any prosecution. But if a call from Banks to DotCom is logged as having occurred in June in the days after the deposit of the cheques, then it surely further damages Banks’ credibility even if we don’t know what was said? Reason being is that Banks has maintained up until now (as I understand it and maybe I’ve got it wrong) that the phone call was to thank DotCom for a New Years fireworks celebration? So he’s ringing in June to thank him for something that happened in January, and by coincidence that call takes place a couple of days after 2 anonymous donations appear in Banks’ account? That’s a Tui ad right there. He must think we arrived on cabbage boats.

        • deuto 21.1.2.1
          3 May 2012 at 3:14 pm

          Lol re your last sentence!

          Agree with you on timing etc if there was a call recorded in June. It would just be much more clearcut if there was an actual recording of any such call. But the way this whole thing is going, this may become irrelevant with all the other flipflops – the latest in regard to a hotel discount – see 23 and 24 below.

  22. Pete George 22
    3 May 2012 at 2:31 pm

    This may of course be entirely coincidental timing – an interesting Garrett inside view: Decline and Fall – the final ACT? (Part I)

  23. Te Reo Putake 23
    3 May 2012 at 3:00 pm

    And the story changes yet again! Banks now fesses up to getting a discount, but it was all his own work, apparently. Still should have registered it, though, as it was paid for by Mrs Banks!*

    *Ok, I’m not actually certain that gifts from the missus count, but it ain’t a good look when he’s been denying there was a discount at all.

    • ianmac 23.1
      3 May 2012 at 3:23 pm

      Now that’s weird. Demanding apology saying no discount because he checked and they said no:
      <blockquote<A spokeswoman said she was present when Mr Banks sought and received an assurance there was no discount attached to his bill.

      She said Mr Banks asked specifically if there was any discount applied to his bill and was told by the hotel manager there was not.

      But Mr Banks today said: "I negotiated the price for the hotel room and I paid for everything in Hong Kong.

      "I always negotiate prices down, I don't believe in paying the rack rate in a hotel.

  24. deuto 24
    3 May 2012 at 3:01 pm

    Well, the saga and flipflops continues – Banks has now said that he did get a discount on the HKG hotel rates but he negotiated this himself. Latest on the Herald site

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10803276

    Snap with the above!

  25. Carol 25
    3 May 2012 at 3:05 pm

    And now Banks is saying he got a discount on the HK hotel, but he negotiated it himself….. messy, John. Why didn’t you remember that to start with?

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10803276

    Last night, Mr Banks’ staff insisted there was no discount attached to the hotel stay. A spokeswoman said she was present when Mr Banks sought and received an assurance there was no discount attached to his bill.

    She said Mr Banks asked specifically if there was any discount applied to his bill and was told by the hotel manager there was not.

    But Mr Banks today said: “I negotiated the price for the hotel room and I paid for everything in Hong Kong.

    “I always negotiate prices down, I don’t believe in paying the rack rate in a hotel.

    “The hotel room was so expensive I even paid for it with my wife’s credit card.”

    So when it’s expensive, John’s makes sure his wife is charged for it? Interesting.

    Edit: Oh, triple snap.

    • Te Reo Putake 25.1
      3 May 2012 at 3:13 pm

      Ha! Does that make us a Triple Threat, as they say in Gridiron?

      • deuto 25.1.1
        3 May 2012 at 3:19 pm

        Hope it is not a case of three strikes!

        Carol’s point about using his wife’s card to pay for everything is interesting. I wonder whether this is an “out” to having to declare any discounts etc for the Pecunary Register?

        • Inventory2 25.1.1.1
          3 May 2012 at 4:37 pm

          I seem to remember that when there was all the bizzo over Len Brown’s credit card spending in 2010 that Banks said he didn’t have either a mayoral or personal credit card. If he can do all his spending on his wife’s credit card, all power to him!

  26. the pink postman 26
    3 May 2012 at 4:46 pm

    A few years ago there was talk about B

  27. the pink postman 27
    3 May 2012 at 4:51 pm

    A few years ago there was speculation about Banks sanity. One of the tabloids of the day’s headline was “is Banks mad.” Well this week’s events show that he is certainly suffering with something .Personally I think he is just corrupt and sleazy

  28. fabregas4 28
    3 May 2012 at 5:10 pm

    Simple question – Why didn’t Bank’s want Dot Coms donation public – I hate Banks but couldn’t care less where he got his donations from (provided they were fair and within the rules).

    • TheContrarian 28.1
      3 May 2012 at 5:19 pm

      Because Kim Dotcom has convictions for dishonesty and insider trading. Possibly Banks knew Dotcom was making his money from copyright infringement and illegal activities. (though yet to be proved). Not a good look to be supported by a criminal. 

    • Pete George 28.2
      3 May 2012 at 5:23 pm

      I think thaty’s got everyone a bit baffled – even Banks by the look of his performance over the past week.

  29. Vicky32 29
    3 May 2012 at 6:17 pm

    <bookmarking>

  30. valeriusterminus 30
    3 May 2012 at 10:38 pm

    “To give you an idea of the scale of the impact this has, ministers have received advice up to 40 current trials may be affected by this decision and over 50 police operations will be impacted,” Key told a press conference this afternoon.
    From; (Supreme Court Judgement)
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/5650650/Urewera-ruling-jeopardises-police-trials

    I suspect that there are many recordings here and in the USA of calls to or from KDC in 2010 – by many parties .

    “When you get experts in to talk about securing the house, and they ask ‘would you like cameras panning around everywhere, and infra red this and that’, it’s very easy to say, ‘Yeah, why not?”‘ he said.
    From; (Bradley)
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/6778583/Kim-Dotcoms-panic-room-regretted

    I suspect there are many copies of recordings here and in the USA, of all activities at the home of KDC .
    I suspect that John Banks may be concerned about this evidential surveillance.

  31. valeriusterminus 31
    3 May 2012 at 11:16 pm

    TV3 Campbell has already alluded to this track;
    – we need OIA’ers to reveal….

    Which NZ Government ministers (Primes too) knew about the investigation by NZ and USA authorities of KDC/Mega.
    What NZ Government ministers (Primes too) knew about the investigation by NZ and USA authorities of KDC/Mega.
    When NZ Government ministers (Primes too) knew about the investigation by NZ and USA authorities of KDC/Mega.

Links to post

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • “Financially reckless” Parker ignores election
    Environment Minister David Parker is pressing ahead with a report which will almost certainly advocate greater rights for Maori over water allocation. Parker has set up a working group to investigate allocation, and he has done so only 12 days before an election. And just over three weeks ago ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 hours ago

  • At a glance – Climate scientists would make more money in other careers
    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
    11 hours ago

  • Chris Trotter: Nostalgic for a joyous Left
    I WAS A CAPTAIN COOK MAN, Grant Robertson was a Robbie Burns man. If you know anything about the great student pubs of Dunedin in the 1970s, 80s and 90s, those allegiances should tell you a lot. While I was at varsity, the “Cook” had a reputation for entertaining more ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    12 hours ago

  • Spray, spray, spray. There we go. Problem solved.
    Good old WD40. Is there nothing it can't do?Door squeaking? No problem, WD-40.Chewing gum stuck to the carpet? No worries, WD-40. Crayon marks? Spanner rusted up? Zipper won't undo? WD-40. WD-40. WD-40. It can even waterproof your shoes, I hear.(More Than A Feilding makes no warranty as to the efficacy of WD40 ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    14 hours ago

  • Taxpayers might be piste off, as govt lending to ski field is lifted to $50m – but more corporate ...
    Buzz from the Beehive The distributions of two dollops of corporate welfare have been proudly announced in government press statements today, but neither mentions or relates to the further taxpayer funding for ski fields on the skids. The government’s official website tells of $7 million being provided to boost aerospace ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    15 hours ago

  • The police know they suck at the OIA
    In recent years I've done a long series of posts poking into police OIA data and how it hides how badly the police suck at carrying out their obligations under the Act. And in a response to a recent request, it seems the police have been doing the same. A ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    15 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
    17 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
    20 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
    20 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
    23 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
    23 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
    23 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
    24 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    3 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    7 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
    7 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
    7 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
    7 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
    7 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
    7 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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

  • 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
    17 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
    18 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
    20 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
    20 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
    21 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    3 days ago

  • Safeguarding Tuvalu language and identity
    Tuvalu is in the spotlight this week as communities across New Zealand celebrate Vaiaso o te Gagana Tuvalu – Tuvalu Language Week. “The Government has a proven record of supporting Pacific communities and ensuring more of our languages are spoken, heard and celebrated,” Pacific Peoples Minister Barbara Edmonds said. “Many ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • New community-level energy projects to support more than 800 Māori households
    Seven more innovative community-scale energy projects will receive government funding through the Māori and Public Housing Renewable Energy Fund to bring more affordable, locally generated clean energy to more than 800 Māori households, Energy and Resources Minister Dr Megan Woods says. “We’ve already funded 42 small-scale clean energy projects that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Huge boost to Te Tai Tokerau flood resilience
    The Government has approved new funding that will boost resilience and greatly reduce the risk of major flood damage across Te Tai Tokerau. Significant weather events this year caused severe flooding and damage across the region. The $8.9m will be used to provide some of the smaller communities and maraes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Napier’s largest public housing development comes with solar
    The largest public housing development in Napier for many years has been recently completed and has the added benefit of innovative solar technology, thanks to Government programmes, says Housing Minister Dr Megan Woods. The 24 warm, dry homes are in Seddon Crescent, Marewa and Megan Woods says the whanau living ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Te Whānau a Apanui and the Crown initial Deed of Settlement I Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me...
    Māori: Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna te Whakaaetanga Whakataunga Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna i tētahi Whakaaetanga Whakataunga hei whakamihi i ō rātou tāhuhu kerēme Tiriti o Waitangi. E tekau mā rua ngā hapū o roto mai o Te Whānau ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Plan for 3,000 more public homes by 2025 – regions set to benefit
    Regions around the country will get significant boosts of public housing in the next two years, as outlined in the latest public housing plan update, released by the Housing Minister, Dr Megan Woods. “We’re delivering the most public homes each year since the Nash government of the 1950s with one ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Immigration settings updates
    Judicial warrant process for out-of-hours compliance visits 2023/24 Recognised Seasonal Employer cap increased by 500 Additional roles for Construction and Infrastructure Sector Agreement More roles added to Green List Three-month extension for onshore Recovery Visa holders The Government has confirmed a number of updates to immigration settings as part of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Poroporoaki: Tā Patrick (Patu) Wahanga Hohepa
    Tangi ngunguru ana ngā tai ki te wahapū o Hokianga Whakapau Karakia. Tārehu ana ngā pae maunga ki Te Puna o te Ao Marama. Korihi tangi ana ngā manu, kua hinga he kauri nui ki te Wao Nui o Tāne. He Toa. He Pou. He Ahorangi. E papaki tū ana ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Renewable energy fund to support community resilience
    40 solar energy systems on community buildings in regions affected by Cyclone Gabrielle and other severe weather events Virtual capability-building hub to support community organisations get projects off the ground Boost for community-level renewable energy projects across the country At least 40 community buildings used to support the emergency response ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • COVID-19 funding returned to Government
    The lifting of COVID-19 isolation and mask mandates in August has resulted in a return of almost $50m in savings and recovered contingencies, Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. Following the revocation of mandates and isolation, specialised COVID-19 telehealth and alternative isolation accommodation are among the operational elements ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Appointment of District Court Judge
    Susie Houghton of Auckland has been appointed as a new District Court Judge, to serve on the Family Court, Attorney-General David Parker said today.  Judge Houghton has acted as a lawyer for child for more than 20 years. She has acted on matters relating to the Hague Convention, an international ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Government invests further in Central Hawke’s Bay resilience
    The Government has today confirmed $2.5 million to fund a replace and upgrade a stopbank to protect the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant. “As a result of Cyclone Gabrielle, the original stopbank protecting the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant was destroyed. The plant was operational within 6 weeks of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Govt boost for Hawke’s Bay cyclone waste clean-up
    Another $2.1 million to boost capacity to deal with waste left in Cyclone Gabrielle’s wake. Funds for Hastings District Council, Phoenix Contracting and Hog Fuel NZ to increase local waste-processing infrastructure. The Government is beefing up Hawke’s Bay’s Cyclone Gabrielle clean-up capacity with more support dealing with the massive amount ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Taupō Supercars revs up with Government support
    The future of Supercars events in New Zealand has been secured with new Government support. The Government is getting engines started through the Major Events Fund, a special fund to support high profile events in New Zealand that provide long-term economic, social and cultural benefits. “The Repco Supercars Championship is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • There is no recession in NZ, economy grows nearly 1 percent in June quarter
    The economy has turned a corner with confirmation today New Zealand never was in recession and stronger than expected growth in the June quarter, Finance Minister Grant Robertson said. “The New Zealand economy is doing better than expected,” Grant Robertson said. “It’s continuing to grow, with the latest figures showing ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Highest legal protection for New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs
    The Government has accepted the Environment Court’s recommendation to give special legal protection to New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs, Te Waikoropupū Springs (also known as Pupū Springs), Environment Minister David Parker announced today.   “Te Waikoropupū Springs, near Takaka in Golden Bay, have the second clearest water in New Zealand after ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • More support for victims of migrant exploitation
    Temporary package of funding for accommodation and essential living support for victims of migrant exploitation Exploited migrant workers able to apply for a further Migrant Exploitation Protection Visa (MEPV), giving people more time to find a job Free job search assistance to get people back into work Use of 90-day ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Strong export boost as NZ economy turns corner
    An export boost is supporting New Zealand’s economy to grow, adding to signs that the economy has turned a corner and is on a stronger footing as we rebuild from Cyclone Gabrielle and lock in the benefits of multiple new trade deals, Finance Minister Grant Robertson says. “The economy is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Funding approved for flood resilience work in Te Karaka
    The Government has approved $15 million to raise about 200 homes at risk of future flooding. More than half of this is expected to be spent in the Tairāwhiti settlement of Te Karaka, lifting about 100 homes there. “Te Karaka was badly hit during Cyclone Gabrielle when the Waipāoa River ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Further business support for cyclone-affected regions
    The Government is helping businesses recover from Cyclone Gabrielle and attract more people back into their regions. “Cyclone Gabrielle has caused considerable damage across North Island regions with impacts continuing to be felt by businesses and communities,” Economic Development Minister Barbara Edmonds said. “Building on our earlier business support, this ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • New maintenance facility at Burnham Military Camp underway
    Defence Minister Andrew Little has turned the first sod to start construction of a new Maintenance Support Facility (MSF) at Burnham Military Camp today. “This new state-of-art facility replaces Second World War-era buildings and will enable our Defence Force to better maintain and repair equipment,” Andrew Little said. “This Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Foreign Minister to attend United Nations General Assembly
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta will represent New Zealand at the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York this week, before visiting Washington DC for further Pacific focussed meetings. Nanaia Mahuta will be in New York from Wednesday 20 September, and will participate in UNGA leaders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Midwives’ pay equity offer reached
    Around 1,700 Te Whatu Ora employed midwives and maternity care assistants will soon vote on a proposed pay equity settlement agreed by Te Whatu Ora, the Midwifery Employee Representation and Advisory Service (MERAS) and New Zealand Nurses Association (NZNO), Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. “Addressing historical pay ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

  • New Zealand provides support to Morocco
    Aotearoa New Zealand will provide humanitarian support to those affected by last week’s earthquake in Morocco, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced today. “We are making a contribution of $1 million to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to help meet humanitarian needs,” Nanaia Mahuta said. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

  • Government invests in West Coast’s roading resilience
    The Government is investing over $22 million across 18 projects to improve the resilience of roads in the West Coast that have been affected by recent extreme weather, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins confirmed today.  A dedicated Transport Resilience Fund has been established for early preventative works to protect the state ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2023-10-03T17:31:25+00:00