Ross resigns, to lay corrupt practices complaint against Bridges with police

Written By: - Date published: 12:41 pm, October 16th, 2018 - 171 comments
Categories: Abuse of power, by-election, corruption, Dirty Politics, elections, Politics, Simon Bridges - Tags: ,

Rogue National Party MP Jami-Lee Ross in an explosive press conference said he will resign from parliament and will tomorrow lay a complaint with police of corrupt practices against party leader Simon Bridges.

In a stand-up at parliament, Ross said he had he will resign on Friday and will contest a by-election for his Botany electoral seat as an independent.

Ross, who acknowledged that he had a mental breakdown but was now ‘well’, said he had evidence that Bridges had accepted a $100,000 donation on May 14 last year from a Chinese businessman that had been falsely declared to the Electoral Commission.

Ross, who yesterday was fingered as the leaker of Bridges’ travel expenses, said he was asked by Bridges to collect the cash and hide it by splitting it up into sums of under $15,000 which are not declarable. Bridges has denied any wrong-doing.

Ross said Bridges then filed a false return, which was later declared a mistake. Ross said that Bridges knew about the error and that knowingly filing a false return was a corrupt practice.

I know Simon filed a false return because Todd McClay (MP) and I spotted the return in January and suggested that it needed to be tidied up.

Ross said Bridges knew exactly what the so-called the “Cathedral Club” was (a bi-monthly National Party dinner used to raise funds for the National Party) and claims to the contrary were a lie. He said it was totally implausible that someone who is trained in law and was a former Crown Prosecutor would make errors on the electoral return accidentally.

Ross claims Bridges asked Ross to keep the whole business around the $100,000 secret but on June 20 Ross covered himself by ringing Bridges and recording the conversation where he said Bridges discussed all details. Ross also has photos of the dinner with the Chinese businessman. National Party President Peter Goodfellow was completely in the picture, Ross said.

He said he would give Bridges a chance to hear the recording before taking it with his complaint to the police.

Falsifying donations was a corrupt practice.

I believe Simon Bridges is a corrupt politician.

Ross said Bridges was

…a person without a moral compass or any underlying principles except power.

He advised anyone thinking of donating to the National Party not to do while Bridges was its leader.

Ross also revealed that Bridges popularity rating plummeted after his “get to know me tour” of the country. Before the tour he had a net favourable rating, but after it plunged to a net 27% negative, according to National’s own polls.

He said the speed and magnitude of the “unlikeability” plunge was far greater than experienced by former Labour Party leaders David Shearer, David Cunliffe or Andrew Little.

Ross said Bridges and deputy leader attempted to silence him by saying they had received complaints of harassment by four women. He denied the allegation and said no details were given. He claimed it was a blackmail attempt to get him to resign his position on National’s front bench.

I strongly deny I harassed anyone.

He also attacked Bridges for the handling of his breakdown, saying that Bridges said was “embarrassing”. No one’s mental health should be described that way, Ross, who said he was now well again, said.

Ross said the by-election would be a referendum on Bridges’ leadership.

Updated:

Bridges held a news conference in response to Ross’s allegation. He said Ross had been suspended from National’s caucus and denied his allegations, saying they were “baseless”.

He invited Ross to take the allegations to the police, adding they had zero chance of success given the allegations were false.

However, Bridges continually evaded questions surrounding the $100,000 by the Chinese businessman, named as Zhang Wiyun, which Ross claimed was falsely declared to the Electoral Commission.

Journalists said these were serious allegations that required a response but Bridges responded by saying they were a matter for police to deal with.

I have done absolutely nothing wrong. I have complied with the electoral laws at every single moment.

He refused to comment on Ross’s assertion that Bridges asked Ross to pick up the $100,000.

(Simon Louisson reported for The Wall Street Journal, AP Dow Jones Newswires, New Zealand Press Association and Reuters and briefly was a political and media adviser to the Green Party.)

 


Rod Emmerson’s take on it – from the NZ Herald.

171 comments on “Ross resigns, to lay corrupt practices complaint against Bridges with police ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. SPC 1
    16 October 2018 at 12:56 pm

    I am left wondering who it was who leaked the expense details.

    Apparently Simon Bridges and National no longer care to keep digging on that any further.

    A bit like the Germans in the effort to avoid a two front war …

    • Michael 1.1
      16 October 2018 at 2:00 pm

      On balance, the leaker is Jami-Lee Ross, according to the PWC report and Mr Billington QC. That’s sufficient for civil legal purposes. It also seems likely that the sniveling individual who pleased with Mallard and Bridges to call off their inquiries because of the sniveler’s delicate mental health is also Mr Ross – from the same sources, plus the fact that Mr Ross admits he had a mental breakdown which resulted in Bridges giving him time off work (at full pay and perks). Other rumours now reported in mainstream media add support to these conclusions.

      • SPC 1.1.1
        16 October 2018 at 3:58 pm

        The said mental health issue Ross had, came at a later date. There is no connection between the two.

        And Mallard has explained his communications with Ross were not as some pose.

    • Nick K 1.2
      16 October 2018 at 2:01 pm

      Jami-Lee Ross leaked it.

      • Dennis Frank 1.2.1
        16 October 2018 at 2:32 pm

        Not necessarily, since he still denies that, and Mallard has come out in support by clarifying their communications around the leak.

        • Dukeofurl 1.2.1.1
          16 October 2018 at 3:03 pm

          But Ross has confirmed he contacted the RNZ reporter ( as mentioned in the report) confirm the leaker had txted Mallard and Bridges with the breakdown news.
          Up till the RNZ story it hadnt been revealed that the leaker had been txting as well.
          All that Ross denial means that he used an intermediary to do the actual leaking- which is the normal case anyway.

          • Dennis Frank 1.2.1.1.1
            16 October 2018 at 3:17 pm

            Ah yes, plausible deniability is always a good strategy. Of course, when you start invoking helpers as explanation, you’re teetering on the edge of conspiracy theory. Some commentators here freak out when that happens. 😎

        • cleangreen 1.2.1.2
          16 October 2018 at 6:37 pm

          Nick K

          Jamie didn”t leak the expenses and tonight Jamie warned us that there is a leakier still inside National.

      • Tricledrown 1.2.2
        16 October 2018 at 11:35 pm

        Nick K what if that’s a bridge to far and JLR isn’t the leaker.
        While scapegoating JLR the leaker goes on to do more damage to Bridges.
        On the back of JLRs allegations that has to be a worry for Bridges who could be blindsided again.

    • Paul Campbell 1.3
      17 October 2018 at 7:45 am

      There’s a simple way to test Ross’s claim of innocence – he can publicly tell Tova O’Brien that he rescinds any claim under journalistic privilege, giving her full permission to publish the details of any correspondence around the expenses leaks …. if he’s innocent she wont publish, if he’s not she will …. if he’s innocent JLR has nothing whatsoever to lose by doing this

      Of course if he doesn’t do this very obvious thing then, yes he’s probably guilty

      • Psych nurse 1.3.1
        17 October 2018 at 8:11 am

        Or a police statement that this is not the person who was identified and interviewed.

        • Paul Campbell 1.3.1.1
          17 October 2018 at 8:26 am

          yes but this is not (no longer) a police matter – it’s politics – and in this case there’s an easy way for Ross (but not Bridges) to prove innocence here, and if he wants to further turn the screw on National he can do it in a tweet

  2. Kat 2
    16 October 2018 at 12:59 pm

    Will Warner Bros go for the movie rights or will it be another Hobbit season.

  3. ScottGN 3
    16 October 2018 at 1:03 pm

    According to Stuff the wife of Zhang Yikun, the guy that Ross says offered the donation, has confirmed that Bridges had dinner at their house.

    • Dennis Frank 3.1
      16 October 2018 at 1:38 pm

      If there is a police prosecution, police will ask Zhang Yikun if he donated 100K to the National Party. If he tells them that he did, focus will shift to how the Nats recorded the donation. If splitting a large donation like that into smaller amounts is illegal, they would have to identify those divisions in the book-keeping.

      If the donor recorded for each division is a real person, police would presumably have to check whether that person could prove they actually did make that donation personally – rather than operating as a Nat insider conduit for the division.

      • ScottGN 3.1.1
        16 October 2018 at 1:47 pm

        Well Bridges has refused to rule out receiving the 100k donation, which given the circumstances you would have expected him to do, if he plausibly could?

        • Dukeofurl 3.1.1.1
          16 October 2018 at 2:34 pm

          Bridges is ‘saying nufing’ because

          .207LA Offence relating to splitting party donation or contribution to party donation
          (1)
          A person is guilty of a corrupt practice who directs or procures, or is actively involved in directing or procuring, 2 or more bodies corporate to split between the bodies corporate a party donation in order to conceal the total amount of the donation and avoid the donation’s inclusion by the party secretary in the return of party donations under section 210(1)(a).
          (2)
          A person is guilty of a corrupt practice who directs or procures, or is actively involved in directing or procuring, 2 or more bodies corporate to split between the bodies corporate a contribution to a party donation in order to conceal the total amount of the contribution and avoid the contribution’s inclusion by the party secretary in the return of party donations under section 210(1)(b).

          Directs or procures – and Ross says he has the tape.

          Corrupt practice is up to 2 years jail and or fine up to $100k for a ‘ election candidate ‘

          The police cant make this go away now like they tried to with Banks and Barclay.

        • Dennis Frank 3.1.1.2
          16 October 2018 at 2:37 pm

          As a former Crown prosecutor, he’s playing the game according to the rules he knows. If there are any loopholes in electoral law around donations to political parties, you can bet he’s more likely to know about them than almost anyone else. His instructions to JLR would have been framed precisely on that basis.

          • Dukeofurl 3.1.1.2.1
            16 October 2018 at 3:11 pm

            Bridges cant be using a technical defence that might play before ‘learned judge’ on this.

            Ross has pictures of Bridges at the dinner where the donation was arranged, Ross went to collect the money and he ‘says he has Bridges on tape directing him to split the amount on the party return’
            Thats corrupt practice.

            Bridges cant survive if the tape even says things like that , but Im guessing Ross will save that for his trump card.
            Maybe he has a photo of the cheque to be revealed next?

            Top people in the caucus wont be happy with any Bridges bullshitting to them. if he says things to them that arent true…. and isnt parliament sitting this week. Nowhere to hide

            • Dennis Frank 3.1.1.2.1.1
              16 October 2018 at 3:26 pm

              Hmm, you could be right, but never underestimate the capacity of the lawyers who draft legislation to get it wrong. We’ve seen that time & time again going back decades.

              One suspects that all lawyers in the National Party will be ruminating on the implications currently, those in parliament will be musing on the leadership as well, and when they start talking to each other we could get a `gone by lunchtime’ scenario out of their brainstorming.

              • Dukeofurl …
                16 October 2018 at 6:18 pm

                National would be on weak ground if they go on to claim splitting donations to get around the rules is ‘pretty legal’

            • Ngungukai 3.1.1.2.1.2
              16 October 2018 at 6:29 pm

              JLR pictures don’t mean anything, just like ABC and the Labour Party and the $80k bottle of wine with Doung Lu ?

      • Chuck 3.1.3
        16 October 2018 at 5:41 pm

        Dennis ask yourself this…why would Bridges (and others) decide to hide a donation from a well respected Chinese businessman?

        If it was NZF and Winston I could understand it being hidden, as one of Winstons key platform/vote winners is anti-Asian. He also has form re the Owen Glen donation saga.

        I think the situation is JLR (who was the leaker) is in a very bad headspace and needs to refocus on what really matters in life.

        • Dennis Frank 3.1.3.1
          16 October 2018 at 6:08 pm

          Valid question, to which I don’t know the answer. However, it seems JLR realised he was being set up by Bridges, as a patsy, which is why he recorded that conversation with Bridges after he went & got the cheque. To protect himself, an insurance policy against Bridges not honouring their agreement.

          He’s announced he will give the police that evidence tomorrow so they can prosecute Bridges. If sensible, he will retain copies and deposit them in safe places, in case of those police being Nat voters & making the evidence disappear. Bridges confidently asserted today that any police investigation will find he did nothing wrong. So the evidence is currently akin to Schrodinger’s cat: either real or not. Potential, not yet actual, only real when observed. Yet since observers aren’t physicists, it will remain unreal to Nat loyalists regardless who observes it…

          • Chuck 3.1.3.1.1
            16 October 2018 at 6:34 pm

            The National Party President (Goodfellow) just confirmed (One News) that he has checked the records (donations) which do not accord to the JLR allegations.

            Which brings me back to the question – why would Bridges risk it all on trying to hide a $100K donation? Logic strongly suggests otherwise.

            • Gabby 3.1.3.1.1.1
              16 October 2018 at 9:04 pm

              D’you reckon Petey Goodfellas has just the one set of records chuckles?
              D’you reckon there’s just been the one big donation?

        • Dukeofurl 3.1.3.2
          16 October 2018 at 6:31 pm

          “why would Bridges (and others) decide to hide a donation from a well respected Chinese businessman?”

          It could well be many donations from multiple businessmen that they cover up.

          • Chuck 3.1.3.2.1
            16 October 2018 at 6:46 pm

            Looking through National Party returns suggests they don’t have an issue with anyone with a Chinese sounding name.

            If its as you assert and is a systemic rorting of the system then any investigation will uncover it.

        • Sacha 3.1.3.3
          16 October 2018 at 6:35 pm

          “why would Bridges (and others) decide to hide a donation from a well respected Chinese businessman?”

          Timing. Recall the kerfuffle about the connections of their MP Jian Yang..

        • cleangreen 3.1.3.4
          16 October 2018 at 6:44 pm

          Nah Chuck, 3.1.3.1.1

          As much as you think Jamie is that unstable you are wrong.

          Tonight he warned that there is still a leaker in the National Party.

          Jamie is much smarter than clueless Bridges who is always tripping over himself.

      • Chris 3.1.4
        17 October 2018 at 12:11 am

        JLR’s allegations are too precise and verifiable not to be true. I think he’s right and that Bridges is toast. Of course he always was toast – he’s got the full support of his party, today, and that’s about it – but the JLR accusations will bring him down before his party does.

    • Tricledrown 3.2
      17 October 2018 at 2:16 pm

      Yet Bridges denied meeting him.
      Maybe Collins set up Bridges.

  4. Ms Fargo 4
    16 October 2018 at 1:06 pm

    When did Bridges take over from English?

  5. Dukeofurl 5
    16 October 2018 at 1:08 pm

    ” he was asked by Bridges to collect the cash and hide it by splitting it up into sums of under $15,000 which are not declarable. ”

    That makes sense as when you see Nationals under $15000 donations numbers and the number of donors.

    The average of the under $15k is LESS THAN than $5,000 minimum.!!

    we can see the details in nationals 2017 returns
    https://www.elections.org.nz/sites/default/files/bulk-upload/documents/national_party_-_annual_return_2017.pdf

    Donations exceeding $5000 but not exceeding $15000

    438 donations totaling $2,087,864.35

    the average of that amount is $4766. Which is impossible when each donation must exceed $5000 and be less than $15000

    Every other party has averages which fall within the bands not below. This has occured for national in previous years as well, no other partys.
    Same goes for nationals donations within band of $1.5k and $5k, the average again is below $1.5K

  6. Simon 6
    16 October 2018 at 1:16 pm

    Bridges gone burger
    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12143235

    Maybe the Left should fight to keep him — it would be hard to find anyone more unelectable — maybe Judith Collins?

  7. Tuppence Shrewsbury 7
    16 October 2018 at 1:24 pm

    Well…. here’s to another 3 years of a labour led government

  8. Gabby 8
    16 October 2018 at 1:30 pm

    Nobody’s asked Comrade Jian to comment?

  9. alwyn 9
    16 October 2018 at 1:30 pm

    In further breaking news every Minister’s Office is carrying out a mass dumping of bad news.
    The order has gone out from the ninth floor of the Beehive. Every single bit of bad news is to be released today as the “chooks”, as Joh Bjelke-Petersens termed them, will be wallowing in the Jami-Lee Ross explosion.

    • Dukeofurl 9.1
      16 October 2018 at 1:47 pm

      So you have evidence of that ?
      National once famously announced a 9c + GST petrol price rise a week before Xmas- well not so famous as it was of course ignored because of bigger things.

      nationals whole donation register is now shown to be corrupt. No chance of saying it was ‘local officials mistake’ when its been a wholesale fraud.

      Bridges only hope now is to get Ross to visit the Saudi Consulate……

      Consulate-General of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Auckland, New Zealand
      HSBC Building, Level 13, 1 Queen Street
      Auckland 1010

    • AB 9.2
      16 October 2018 at 1:52 pm

      Yes Alwyn – I also feel that the onus is now on Trevor Mallard to prove that he is not the Chinese businessman mentioned by Ross. You and I both know that Mallard was behind all of this from the start and his cunning (and penchant for disguise) is limitless.

      • Nick 9.2.1
        16 October 2018 at 2:19 pm

        Yes, I knew it AB and Alwyn. Something about Mallard. You guys are great detectives.

      • Dennis Frank 9.2.2
        16 October 2018 at 2:30 pm

        If you go to Stuff, you’ll see a report about the Chinese businessman mentioned by Ross, which includes his wife acknowledging that Bridges came to dinner…

    • woodart 9.3
      16 October 2018 at 5:08 pm

      “look, over there, its a chook” “nah, its alwynge, trying to distract”

      • alwyn 9.3.1
        16 October 2018 at 5:41 pm

        For God sakes.
        Do you always take everything you read seriously?
        What would I have to say so that you would realise it was a joke?

        • woodart 9.3.1.1
          16 October 2018 at 9:37 pm

          long ago thought you were a joke……you have done nothing to change my opinion.

          • Tricledrown 9.3.1.1.1
            16 October 2018 at 11:47 pm

            Nick K what if that’s a bridge to far and JLR isn’t the leaker.
            While scapegoating JLR the leaker goes on to do more damage to Bridges.
            On the back of JLRs allegations that has to be a worry for Bridges who could be blindsided again.

  10. Brian Tregaskin 10
    16 October 2018 at 1:32 pm

    I said this in an earlier post at 8.10am
    “A real upset is in the air, Ross will come out swinging this morning, note all these National Party Aligned Journalists are saying game over for Ross and back to business as usual, well life is not clear cut like that:). Ross is better than that; i predict he is a fighter in the spirit of Peters and Muldoon.
    Go Jami you have my support!”

    • Dennis Frank 10.1
      16 October 2018 at 1:41 pm

      Noted that. Does it mean you’re a National Party insider, a lucky guesser, or are you often good at prediction? If the latter, care to predict the by-election result?

  11. ianmac 11
    16 October 2018 at 1:45 pm

    So even if their recording is legal, it smacks of avoiding the intent of the law. Immoral?

    • Dukeofurl 11.1
      16 October 2018 at 1:50 pm

      of course its legal !

      You are allowed to record conversations that you are a part of .

      Its recording other peoples conversations when you arent there that is illegal, except when police have a warrant. Its called bugging

    • JC 11.2
      16 October 2018 at 3:13 pm

      “pretty legal”…., or pretty immoral? Natz MO.

    • ianmac 11.3
      16 October 2018 at 3:39 pm

      I meant the recording of donations rather than of voices. Legal to change but immoral?

      Todd McClay denies witnessing anything of the donation JLR speaks of. Well he would deny to protect himself wouldn’t he? Might have to lie though. Suspicious?

      • Tricledrown 11.3.1
        16 October 2018 at 11:56 pm

        Todd McClays body language did not look convincing.
        Collins smugness in the background looked as Bridges just has one more chance, Bridges knows the old adage keep your enemy’s closer all bailed into the lift.

  12. Brian Tregaskin 12
    16 October 2018 at 1:46 pm

    Thank you Dennis no not all all, i just had a sense something historical was going to happen this morning and it did. I can’t predict results better or worse than anyone else.

    • Dukeofurl 12.1
      16 October 2018 at 2:02 pm

      Well it just means you read Whaleoil early : 8am
      “If he does have those recordings now is the time to drop them. It will finish off Bridges if they say what Jami-Lee says they say. He may as well drop them because his political career is over, and he may as well take Bridges with him…”

      Your comment BT was at 8:10am. Slater knew what was in the recordings about the $100k

  13. ankerawshark 13
    16 October 2018 at 1:50 pm

    Simon looking very dodgy when replying to questions about a $100000 donation.

    I hope Jami has the taped conversation…………………………they deserve being exposed.

    • Dukeofurl 13.1
      16 October 2018 at 1:54 pm

      Thats because his media training over weekend didnt cover the latest revelations.

    • veutoviper 13.2
      16 October 2018 at 1:58 pm

      That interview was classic.

      What Bridges said was “I have not heard what Ross has said but I can assure you 100% that it is baseless, and the police will find that, as I am clean” – repeat the quoted phrase at infinitum to every question asked.

      • AB 13.2.1
        16 October 2018 at 2:32 pm

        Yes – that’s pretty much the only line they can run. Essentially saying that JLR has gone full fruit-loop and is making stuff up.
        JLR will take his evidence to the Police, but the uniformed branch of the National Party will find nothing compelling, and decide against proceeding.
        In time, the Nat sycophants in the media will praise Bridges’ magnanimous handling of a troublesome colleague with mental health issues.
        And normal transmission will resume for a while.
        Judith will wait for a more propitious time – intoning under her breath the Lady Macbeth line: “fill me … full of direst cruelty”

      • woodart 13.2.2
        16 October 2018 at 5:11 pm

        classic. “havent heard what said, but its wrong”. funniest thing so far. T shirt material!

        • RedLogix 13.2.2.1
          17 October 2018 at 3:21 am

          Priceless yes; but it sums up the human condition in one neat swipe of the screen printer alright.

    • ianmac 13.3
      16 October 2018 at 3:41 pm

      @13: Perhaps Mallard could give an opinion on Simon’s body talk spelling guilt?

    • cleangreen 13.4
      16 October 2018 at 6:47 pm

      Yes ankerawshark,

      I saw that was a sign of someone lying.

  14. ianmac 14
    16 October 2018 at 1:59 pm

    Of course the disaster might really spread to Bridges so what if there is a second by-election in Tauranga?

  15. AsleepWhileWalking 15
    16 October 2018 at 2:01 pm

    Hey.

    Just because someone has a breakdown doesn’t mean they can’t go on to be successful in anything they choose.

    I doubt JLR is the only Nat MP with that background

  16. Brian Tregaskin 16
    16 October 2018 at 2:19 pm

    By-election for Botany electoral will be a huge event a modern day “Rumble in the Jungle”
    The might of the National Party (Foreman) vs (Ali) who is fighting for what he believes in.

    • Dukeofurl 16.1
      16 October 2018 at 2:40 pm

      JLR is only fighting for what he believes in … himself !

      This will cost the Nats big big money to keep him quiet and withdraw his allegations. Thats what hes really after , greenmail.

      • greywarshark 16.1.1
        16 October 2018 at 3:52 pm

        Very funny and too true Brian T and Dukeofurl

      • Ngungukai 16.1.2
        16 October 2018 at 6:39 pm

        Get the beers, the peanuts and the chips & dip, this is going to be exciting especially as the football season and the All Blacks have finished.

  17. Nick 17
    16 October 2018 at 2:29 pm

    Maybe the by-election will split the natz vote and Labour will come through the middle…woohoo

    • Tricledrown 17.1
      16 October 2018 at 9:23 pm

      No way but Labour green’s NZ1 could put JLR back in leaving a Thorn in Nationals side?

  18. Philj 18
    16 October 2018 at 2:36 pm

    Never thought dirty politics could be so entertaining! A sad day for dimocruptcy, but hey the journos found a real nashnools tory.

  19. Pete 19
    16 October 2018 at 2:46 pm

    Amy Adams, Judith Collins and Simon Bridges.

    Lawyers, senior people in their party in Parliament and each at some time there involved in less than honourable actions. Bridges a Crown Prosecutor too no less.

    People can be happy that they are not practising law in public and so reinforcing the negative cliches about people in that profession.

  20. Dukeofurl 20
    16 October 2018 at 2:51 pm

    Ross has now tweeted photos of Bridges at the house of the big Chinese donor where they had dinner.
    https://twitter.com/jamileeross/status/1052008440770359296
    Someone tell him to slow down …. its all happening tooooo fast.

  21. Brian Tregaskin 21
    16 October 2018 at 3:11 pm

    Jami-Lee Ross 2- National Party 0
    Jami is taking on the National Party and winning.

    • Booker 21.1
      16 October 2018 at 4:29 pm

      Agree. I just had a look at Kiwiblog and Whale Oil, Kiwiblog has a rambling post from first thing this morning about JLR but nothing on today’s events. Whale Oil doesn’t have anything remotely related.

      The National PR gang had obviously been caught well on the back foot, will take some serious focus-grouping to figure out a spin on this.

      • Ngungukai 21.1.1
        16 October 2018 at 6:41 pm

        Crosby Textor’s staff will be wheel spinning trying to figure out a counter strategy.

        • UncookedSelachimorpha 21.1.1.1
          16 October 2018 at 8:47 pm

          Looking at Kiwiblog’s awful stuff – seems the line is “JLR terrible (e.g. power crazed madman etc), Bridges victim / great”. Any comment on there critical of Bridges or favouring JLR gets heavily downvoted.

  22. greywarshark 22
    16 October 2018 at 3:23 pm

    This is a most arresting image that Radionz has published of the media conference, and will be a stand-out for political doings for yonks;. I don’t know how to share it with you. But here are the bones, you will have to put the flesh on them.

    https://www.radionz.co.nz/assets/news_crops/67506/eight_col_7524873136_074A2498.jpg?1539648600

    image.png

    • Dennis Frank 22.1
      16 October 2018 at 3:31 pm

      Chess-board! Cheque, mate! No, that’s a matter for the police to determine. I can neither confirm nor deny that there was ever a cheque, mate. How can you possibly suggest that JLR has me in checkmate, the entire caucus has just voted to support me!

      • greywarshark 22.1.1
        16 October 2018 at 3:36 pm

        You are sharp today DF.

        Could be captioned – How politicians play checkers or something like.
        Anyone for draughts – as some exit and others enter?
        Something from Chess maybe?
        Perhaps Nobody’s Side.
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtAMrPJg75o

      • Dukeofurl 22.1.2
        16 October 2018 at 3:59 pm

        Ross has to have a picture of the $100k cheque that Bridges sent him to collect.

        That could be next to be revealed. Bridges is likely doing a lot of explaining to his front bench Mps.
        They arent going to be proxies for him over this week , if more evidence emerges, as Im assuming the tape/phone recording will stay hidden for now.

    • woodart 22.2
      16 October 2018 at 5:58 pm

      that is a brilliant photo, six people standing waaay to close with the endless steppes of parliament ,and a man with his arms folded just out of camera shot…

  23. Fireblade 23
    16 October 2018 at 3:32 pm

    Simon the nitwit knows nothing.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6EaoPMANQM

    • greywarshark 23.1
      16 October 2018 at 3:39 pm

      Classic Fireblade. But Manuel – He learn! That is the main thing about him, and oh the difference to RWs, of any persuasion.

  24. Cinny 24
    16 October 2018 at 3:37 pm

    Winston….. ROFL 🙂

    Winston Peters just walked up to a press pack, opened his phone, played a song named “Burning Bridges” (the theme to Kelly’s Heroes) into the microphones, then said “thank you very much” and then walked into the House.

    https://twitter.com/henrycooke/status/1052001423985000448

    • WILD KATIPO 24.1
      16 October 2018 at 4:47 pm

      Now how often would you get a politician with a sense of ironic humour like that?

      And that’s one of the reasons why Winston Peters is STILL our most senior politician , and why he’s deputy PM and Bridges is only the leader ( sort off ) of the Opposition. Because he is no fool like the rest of the neo liberal pack.

      • woodart 24.1.1
        16 October 2018 at 6:02 pm

        quick quizz.. name an m.p. for tauranga that went on to have a long successful political career. hint, think about long, and successful…….

  25. Dukeofurl 25
    16 October 2018 at 4:01 pm

    Someone should tweet JLR to avoid this address this week.!

    Consulate-General of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Auckland, New Zealand
    HSBC Building, Level 13, 1 Queen Street
    Auckland 1010

  26. newsense 26
    16 October 2018 at 4:25 pm

    So Ross to form a coalition partner?

    • Dukeofurl 26.1
      16 October 2018 at 5:40 pm

      Resigned from Parliament , nonsense

      if he had any long term political ambitions he might have gone Conservative and stayed in parliament

  27. mickysavage 27
    16 October 2018 at 4:42 pm

    There is now a China angle with suggestions the linker has Communist Party links.

    https://twitter.com/jichanglulu/status/1052008127590293504

    What a complete and utter mess.

  28. joe90 28
    16 October 2018 at 4:45 pm

    Oh.

    Just so we’re clear, JLR is accusing SiBri of committing offences that carry a 2 year jail term and lead to automatic expulsion from Parliament (upon conviction).https://t.co/ANg39Mf8kUhttps://t.co/z2FItLQlVm— Andrew Geddis (@acgeddis) October 15, 2018

    • miravox 28.1
      16 October 2018 at 5:52 pm

      If JLR puts in a police complaint, shouldn’t Bridges step aside while the investigation is being carried out?

  29. Simon 29
    16 October 2018 at 4:51 pm

    If JLR’s allegations stand up Bridges may spend some time in jail lawyer says:
    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12143248

  31. ianmac 31
    16 October 2018 at 5:08 pm

    When Todd McClay says the donation story from JLR is “baseless”, what does that actually mean?
    Is it the same as saying that it is “not true” or that it is “false”?

    • Dukeofurl 31.1
      16 October 2018 at 5:31 pm

      Its just a cliche, but a definition is ‘unproven’
      or these:
      unsubstantiated, unsupported, uncorroborated, untested, unconfirmed, unverified, unattested.

      Basically they cant even deny it did happen so look for other words to make it seem they are saying something

  32. WILD KATIPO 32
    16 October 2018 at 5:12 pm

    Lets hear the full version Peters played,… shall we?

    Mike Curb Congregation – Burning Bridges (with lyrics) – YouTube
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXIjE_gDw94

  33. WILD KATIPO 33
    16 October 2018 at 5:14 pm

    And lets play it again , John…

    BASF WW2 Commercial – Dear John – YouTube
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2NP4tZ_cTg

  34. Gabby 34
    16 October 2018 at 5:23 pm

    Will Bodges be keen to talk to the police or will he Wee Toddy Baccy the interview?

  35. Brian Tregaskin 35
    16 October 2018 at 5:36 pm

    http://120.138.20.16/WeekOnDemand/ZB/auckland/2018.10.16-17.00.00-D.mp3
    Explosive Interview with SB just now, Heather du Plessis guns blazing.
    This has been a train wreck of a day for National
    start at 8.00

    • WILD KATIPO 35.1
      16 October 2018 at 6:02 pm

      Please answer a simple yes or no question , – Yes or No !!!

      ” Blah , blah , blah , blah , divert , deflect, skirt around, blah , blah , blah ” ….

  37. KJT 37
    16 October 2018 at 6:45 pm

    So. Ross was OK with corruption, until he wanted revenge.
    Doesn’t say much for him, or any of them.

  38. Dennis Frank 38
    16 October 2018 at 6:49 pm

    “Ross also alleged Bridges had received $100,000 from Chinese businessman Yikun Zhang, which Bridges asked Ross to collect and split up so it could be filed anonymously.” https://www.newsroom.co.nz/@politics/2018/10/16/278869/jami-lee-ross-leaves-more-questions-than-answers

    Ah, that rings a bell. If you split large donations into enough small amounts, you can file them as anonymous? Wouldn’t be hard to do that, would it? Looks like a loophole in our electoral law you could get any big donation through, in which case hiding large donations via this method has probably become the norm for both major parties since the law first took effect.

    So, if Zhang testifies that he donated 100K and it cannot be found in the official documentation of the NP, what did they do with it if not divide it up into anonymity?? “National Party president Peter Goodfellow said the party could find no proof of Ross’ allegations, which seemed “inconsistent with the donor information we have to date, including information previously supplied by Mr Ross”. What constitutes proof? If Goodfellow doesn’t want to find those anonymous donations, why would he spot them?

    If computer forensic examination provided evidence of the division of the 100K, it could probably also identify those anonymous divisions that resulted, and a court would believe that rather than believe Goodfellow. Prosecution for electoral fraud would then hinge on who in the National Party authorised the division of the donation. I would expect the court to order whoever in the Nat hierarchy had formal responsibility for the donations to testify.

    • Dukeofurl 38.1
      16 October 2018 at 8:35 pm

      Not a loophole.
      Elections law specifically calls it a corrupt practice ‘to direct or procure’ donations to evade the disclosure bands

      • Dennis Frank 38.1.1
        16 October 2018 at 8:50 pm

        Okay, so I presume we’re back to plausible deniability. Bridges, a lawyer and former Crown prosecutor, is confident that the evidence will prove he’s done nothing wrong, keeps saying so. Since the evidence is likely to prove National’s declaration of donations was false, whoever falsified it is guilty of breaking electoral law.

        Prosecution will have to target the person or persons who processed the donation and delivered anonymity, plus anyone who officially signed off the declaration as correct. Bridges can only be roped in as accessory if the recording implicates him as ordering division of the donation. The National Party auditor is likely to be having a worse day than anyone else right now!

  39. ianmac 39
    16 October 2018 at 6:51 pm

    A weird interview on Newstalk ZB. From halfway Bridges avoids any answers to the questions. And great persistence from the female interviewer.
    “Simon. Did you get an offer of $100,000?”
    Talks about JLR should put up or shut up.
    “Simon. Did you get an offer of $100,000?”
    Talks about JLR should put up or shut up.
    “But Simon. Did you get an offer of $100,000?”…
    https://soundcloud.com/nzherald/simon-bridges-on-newstalk-zb

  40. Draco T Bastard 40
    16 October 2018 at 6:59 pm

    Why are we allowing Chinese business people to donate to New Zealand political parties?

    No foreign person has any rights to have any say in our governance.

  41. Ngungukai 41
    16 October 2018 at 7:27 pm

    Sound like a game of Chess mixed up with a game of Chinese Checkers IMHO ?

    • woodart 41.1
      16 October 2018 at 7:37 pm

      no, chess is russian, trump is presently a pawn. this is cluedo mixed with chinese checkers.

  42. Jack Ramaka 42
    16 October 2018 at 7:28 pm

    National doing what Labour used to do to itself consuming itself from within.

  43. James 43
    16 October 2018 at 8:07 pm

    I said it yesterday and I’ll say it again today.

    What a clusterfuck of monumental proportions.

    Still Ross is gone. Bridges won’t be far away either.

    He couldn’t have handled this any worse if he tried.

    Oh and if found guilty of what’s being accused- he should go to jail.

    • WILD KATIPO 43.1
      16 October 2018 at 8:10 pm

      The fish rots from the head down.

      – Confucius.

    • Dennis Frank 43.2
      16 October 2018 at 8:15 pm

      Good on you James. Did you listen to his ZB interview with HdPA? Just kept on digging deeper into his hole. Thinks 55 caucus votes supporting him is all that matters, clueless about the effect on public opinion. This country needs a Nat leader who does actually have an operational moral compass, not one dead keen to sell us out to rich chinamen.

      • Dukeofurl 43.2.1
        16 October 2018 at 8:30 pm

        Ross has lifted the lid a bit on the vote for the leadership earlier this year, by saying Soimun only won on second ballot, so that a majority of Mps didn’t want him on the first ballot

      • Fireblade 43.2.2
        16 October 2018 at 8:30 pm

        Simon had an interview on Radio Live this afternoon. He wouldn’t answer questions around the donations and concluded with “I’m almost absolutely certain I’ve done nothing wrong”.

        • WILD KATIPO 43.2.2.1
          16 October 2018 at 8:43 pm

          Hes ‘almost ‘ absolutely certain …

          A bit like when he was interviewed today if he did or didn’t receive a $100,000 donation to the National party from a Chinese businessman. But in that case he repeatedly dodged answering in either the affirmative or the negative.

          Do we really want evasive double speaking people like that leading the country ?

          Oh wait,- we’ve already had them, – Bolger, Shipley , Brash , Key and English.

        • Dennis Frank 43.2.2.2
          16 October 2018 at 8:55 pm

          Funny, eh? I just wonder if he was acting as his own lawyer (something lawyers reckon is the kiss of death). And when does denial ever work nowadays? The more steadfast in denial you come on, the worse you look. How could any political leader not know that already??

        • Ross 43.2.2.3
          16 October 2018 at 9:24 pm

          He wouldn’t answer questions around the donations and concluded with “I’m almost absolutely certain I’ve done nothing wrong”.

          The trouble with that response is that he was adamant all along that the leaker wasn’t a National MP and just a few days ago he was pretty sure that Jami-Lee wasn’t the leaker. Bridges’ judgment isn’t his best asset. 🙂

        • Tricledrown 43.2.2.4
          16 October 2018 at 9:31 pm

          It’s pretty legal Stephen Joyce 8 mile lie

  44. Brian Tregaskin 44
    16 October 2018 at 9:12 pm

    I was wrong to dismiss Jami-Lee Ross as just another entitled born to rule person.
    But like LOTS of others around NZ, I was moved by hIs determination to fight back over these last two days against the might of the National Party Machine
    It was obvious this has been traumatic time for him; he was a victim. I wouldn’t have blamed him for staying at home today.
    Anyone who switched on to Jami’s press interview today –would have there preconceptions shattered almost instantly. Jami showed this week he has resilience and courage in spades.

    • Ross 44.1
      16 October 2018 at 9:17 pm

      Jami-Lee was a victim? I’m not seeing it. He thought he deserved a plum front bench spot and had a tantrum when it didn’t eventuate. That’s not the behaviour of a victim, but the behaviour of a spoilt brat.

      • Dennis Frank 44.1.1
        16 October 2018 at 9:35 pm

        Understandable, and was my first read on his behaviour, but if you listen to his press conference at parliament you’ll see there’s more to the guy. Often people have multidimensional characters, enough to make them seem different people in different circumstances. I agree young male Nat MPs present with a natural sense of entitlement that makes them seem arrogant, and often they are. However anyone who can use emotional intelligence to read character will figure this dude as more than just that.

        Like he said he was brought up by his grandmother to respect women and has always done so to his knowledge. But then the guy his wife stood against (another Nat, local) was interviewed today & reported a pattern of bullying by JLR. Both can be true simultaneously, or partly true. Someone who is naturally forceful is easily experienced as bullying even if no intent is involved.

        • RedLogix 44.1.1.1
          17 October 2018 at 2:54 am

          Finally got to listen to JLR’s presser. Clearly he’s a man who’s permitted his loyalty to his Party (a good thing in of itself) to be exploited.

          Now we know why Bridges overreacted to the original expenses leak. It was not what was in them which mattered, it was that he had so much more to hide which panicked him.

          When it became clear to JLR that his old friend Bridges was going to throw him under the bus … an act of deep betrayal, it’s not at all surprising JLR has reacted the way he has. I’m willing to give the man some credit for having the courage, belatedly, to stand up for himself.

      • Ankerrawshark 44.1.2
        16 October 2018 at 9:52 pm

        Agree with both takes (Ross and brian’s) on jami-Lee even though they are opposing.

        What really struck me about J-l is how credible his account of things seemed. He’s far more plausible than Simon I

  45. Fireblade 45
    16 October 2018 at 9:15 pm

    This is the video of RNZ talking to Annie Zhang about the donations.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GS6AQtL01Vw

  46. Timbeau 46
    16 October 2018 at 11:23 pm

    Where is Jason Ede?

  47. Mat Simpson 47
    16 October 2018 at 11:31 pm

    National’s corrupt electoral practices
    The National Party mess has just gone thermonuclear, with Jami-Lee Ross making public allegations that party leader simon Bridges repeatedly engaged in corrupt electoral practices. In his unscheduled press standup, he specifically accused Bridges of knowingly falsifying the identity of the “Cathedral Club” donor on his electorate donation return, in violation of s207G of the Electoral Act, and of instructing him to split a $100,000 donation from a “Chinese businessman” in order to avoid disclosure, in violation of s207LA. He says he has recordings and photographs, and will be going to the police tomorrow to make a statement.

    (He also says he’s been accused of multiple cases of sexual harassment by National Party staffers, which he portrays as a political stitch-up. We can treat that with the contempt it deserves)

    This is an allegation of serious criminal behaviour. Both of these are corrupt electoral practices, and if convicted, both Bridges and Ross (because he’s a self-admitted party to at least one of the offences) would be automatically removed from Parliament. Of course, that assumes the police will bother to investigate. And as we’ve seen, they are only interested in prosecuting electoral offences by small parties outside Parliament, not by those who might one day set their budget. So, I fully expect that nothing will legally come of this, no matter how compelling Ross’ evidence. But if what Ross says is true, it should taint Bridges permanently, and renders him utterly unfit to be in Parliament, let alone a party leader.

    Source – No Right Turn

  48. cleangreen 48
    17 October 2018 at 7:53 am

    Judging by watching Paula Bennett being grilled by Duncan Garner on the AM show at 7.30am today 17/10/18 I truly believe Paula is a partner in the ‘cover up’ of the whole Chinese donation cover-up now.

    “nothing to see here” was done on any evidence of the whole $100 000 donation by these two running national.

    This looks like what the Saudi’s have done to cover-up the Turkish embassy killing of a prominent Journalist..

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Chris Bishop: Smokin’
    Yes. Correct. It was an election result. And now we are the elected government. ...
    My ThinksBy boonman
    11 hours ago

  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #48
    A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science  Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Nov 26, 2023 thru Dec 2, 2023. Story of the Week CO2 readings from Mauna Loa show failure to combat climate change Daily atmospheric carbon dioxide data from Hawaiian volcano more ...
    Skeptical Science
    12 hours ago

  • Affirmative Action.
    Affirmative Action was a key theme at this election, although I don’t recall anyone using those particular words during the campaign.They’re positive words, and the way the topic was talked about was anything but. It certainly wasn’t a campaign of saying that Affirmative Action was a good thing, but that, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    17 hours ago

  • 100 days of something
    It was at the end of the Foxton straights, at the end of 1978, at 100km/h, that someone tried to grab me from behind on my Yamaha.They seemed to be yanking my backpack. My first thought was outrage. My second was: but how? Where have they come from? And my ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    18 hours ago

  • Look who’s stepped up to champion Winston
    There’s no news to be gleaned from the government’s official website today  – it contains nothing more than the message about the site being under maintenance. The time this maintenance job is taking and the costs being incurred have us musing on the government’s commitment to an assault on inflation. ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago

  • What's The Story?
    Don’t you sometimes wish they’d just tell the truth? No matter how abhorrent or ugly, just straight up tell us the truth?C’mon guys, what you’re doing is bad enough anyway, pretending you’re not is only adding insult to injury.Instead of all this bollocks about the Smokefree changes being to do ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago

  • The longest of weeks
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.Friday Under New Management Week in review, quiz style1. Which of these best describes Aotearoa?a. Progressive nation, proud of its egalitarian spirit and belief in a fair go b. Best little country on the planet c. ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • Suggested sessions of EGU24 to submit abstracts to
    Like earlier this year, members from our team will be involved with next year's General Assembly of the European Geosciences Union (EGU). The conference will take place on premise in Vienna as well as online from April 14 to 19, 2024. The session catalog has been available since November 1 ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • Under New Management
    1. Which of these best describes Aotearoa?a. Progressive nation, proud of its egalitarian spirit and belief in a fair go b. Best little country on the planet c. Under New Management 2. Which of these best describes the 100 days of action announced this week by the new government?a. Petulantb. Simplistic and wrongheaded c. ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • While we wait patiently, our new Minister of Education is up and going with a 100-day action plan
    Sorry to say, the government’s official website is still out of action. When Point of Order paid its daily visit, the message was the same as it has been for the past week: Site under maintenance Beehive.govt.nz is currently under maintenance. We will be back shortly. Thank you for your ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • DAVID FARRAR: Hysterical bullshit
    Radio NZ reports: Te Pāti Māori’s co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer has accused the new government of “deliberate .. systemic genocide” over its policies to roll back the smokefree policy and the Māori Health Authority. The left love hysterical language. If you oppose racial quotas in laws, you are a racist. And now if you sack ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • ELE LUDEMANN: It wasn’t just $55 million
    Ele Ludemann writes –  Winston Peters reckons media outlets were bribed by the $55 million Public Interest Journalism Fund. He is not the first to make such an accusation. Last year, the Platform outlined conditions media signed up to in return for funds from the PJIF: . . . ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • Weekly Roundup 1-December-2023
    Wow, it’s December already, and it’s a Friday. So here are few things that caught our attention recently. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt covered the new government’s coalition agreements and what they mean for transport. On Tuesday Matt looked at AT’s plans for fare increases ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    3 days ago

  • Shane MacGowan Is Gone.
    Late 1996, The Dogs Bollix, Tamaki Makaurau.I’m at the front of the bar yelling my order to the bartender, jostling with other thirsty punters on a Friday night, keen to piss their wages up against a wall letting loose. The black stuff, long luscious pints of creamy goodness. Back down ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • The Hoon around the week to Dec 1
    Nicola Willis, Chris Bishop and other National, ACT and NZ First MPs applaud the signing of the coalition agreements, which included the reversal of anti-smoking measures while accelerating tax cuts for landlords. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • 2023 More Reading: November (+ Writing Update)
    Completed reads for November: A Modern Utopia, by H.G. Wells The Vampire (poem), by Heinrich August Ossenfelder The Corpus Hermeticum The Corpus Hermeticum is Mead’s translation. Now, this is indeed a very quiet month for reading. But there is a reason for that… You see, ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    3 days ago

  • Forward to 2017
    The coalition party agreements are mainly about returning to 2017 when National lost power. They show commonalities but also some serious divergencies.The two coalition agreements – one National and ACT, the other National and New Zealand First – are more than policy documents. They also describe the processes of the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    3 days ago

  • Questions a nine year old might ask the new Prime Minister
    First QuestionYou’re going to crack down on people ram-raiding dairies, because you say hard-working dairy owners shouldn’t have to worry about getting ram-raided.But once the chemist shops have pseudoephedrine in them again, they're going to get ram-raided all the time. Do chemists not work as hard as dairy owners?Second QuestionYou ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Questions a nine year old might ask the new Prime Minister
    First QuestionYou’re going to crack down on people ram-raiding dairies, because you say hard-working dairy owners shouldn’t have to worry about getting ram-raided.But once the chemist shops have pseudoephedrine in them again, they're going to get ram-raided all the time. Do chemists not work as hard as dairy owners?Second QuestionYou ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Finally
    Henry Kissinger is finally dead. Good fucking riddance. While Americans loved him, he was a war criminal, responsible for most of the atrocities of the final quarter of the twentieth century. Cambodia. Bangladesh. Chile. East Timor. All Kissinger. Because of these crimes, Americans revere him as a "statesman" (which says ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • Government in a hurry – Luxon lists 49 priorities in 100-day plan while Peters pledges to strength...
    Buzz from the Beehive Yes, ministers in the new government are delivering speeches and releasing press statements. But the message on the government’s official website was the same as it has been for the past several days, when Point of Order went looking for news from the Beehive that had ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • DAVID FARRAR: Luxon is absolutely right
    David Farrar writes  –  1 News reports: Christopher Luxon says he was told by some Kiwis on the campaign trail they “didn’t know” the difference between Waka Kotahi, Te Pūkenga and Te Whatu Ora. Speaking to Breakfast, the incoming prime minister said having English first on government agencies will “make sure” ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Top 10 at 10 am for Thursday, Nov 30
    There are fears that mooted changes to building consent liability could end up driving the building industry into an uninsured hole. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Here’s my pick of the top 10 news and analysis links elsewhere as of 10 am on Thursday, November 30, including:The new Government’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on how climate change threatens cricket‘s future
    Well that didn’t last long, did it? Mere days after taking on what he called the “awesome responsibility” of being Prime Minister, M Christopher Luxon has started blaming everyone else, and complaining that he has inherited “economic vandalism on an unprecedented scale” – which is how most of us are ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    4 days ago

  • We need to talk about Tory.
    The first I knew of the news about Tory Whanau was when a tweet came up in my feed.The sort of tweet that makes you question humanity, or at least why you bother with Twitter. Which is increasingly a cesspit of vile inhabitants who lurk spreading negativity, hate, and every ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • Dangling Transport Solutions
    Cable Cars, Gondolas, Ropeways and Aerial Trams are all names for essentially the same technology and the world’s biggest maker of them are here to sell them as an public transport solution. Stuff reports: Austrian cable car company Doppelmayr has launched its case for adding aerial cable cars to New ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    4 days ago

  • November AMA
    Hi,It’s been awhile since I’ve done an Ask-Me-Anything on here, so today’s the day. Ask anything you like in the comments section, and I’ll be checking in today and tomorrow to answer.Leave a commentNext week I’ll be giving away a bunch of these Mister Organ blu-rays for readers in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    4 days ago

  • National’s early moves adding to cost of living pressure
    The cost of living grind continues, and the economic and inflation honeymoon is over before it began. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: PM Christopher Luxon unveiled his 100 day plan yesterday with an avowed focus of reducing cost-of-living pressures, but his Government’s initial moves and promises are actually elevating ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Backwards to the future
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has confirmed that it will be back to the future on planning legislation. This will be just one of a number of moves which will see the new government go backwards as it repeals and cost-cuts its way into power. They will completely repeal one ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago

  • New initiatives in science and technology could point the way ahead for Luxon government
    As the new government settles into the Beehive, expectations are high that it can sort out some  of  the  economic issues  confronting  New Zealand. It may take time for some new  ministers to get to grips with the range of their portfolio work and responsibilities before they can launch the  changes that  ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    4 days ago

  • Treaty pledge to secure funding is contentious – but is Peters being pursued by a lynch mob after ...
    TV3 political editor Jenna Lynch was among the corps of political reporters who bridled, when Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters told them what he thinks of them (which is not much). She was unabashed about letting her audience know she had bridled. More usefully, she drew attention to something which ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • How long does this last?
    I have a clear memory of every election since 1969 in this plucky little nation of ours. I swear I cannot recall a single one where the question being asked repeatedly in the first week of the new government was: how long do you reckon they’ll last? And that includes all ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • National’s giveaway politics
    We already know that national plans to boost smoking rates to collect more tobacco tax so they can give huge tax-cuts to mega-landlords. But this morning that policy got even more obscene - because it turns out that the tax cut is retrospective: Residential landlords will be able to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • CHRIS TROTTER: Who’s driving the right-wing bus?
    Who’s At The Wheel? The electorate’s message, as aggregated in the polling booths on 14 October, turned out to be a conservative political agenda stronger than anything New Zealand has seen in five decades. In 1975, Bill Rowling was run over by just one bus, with Rob Muldoon at the wheel. In 2023, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • GRAHAM ADAMS:  Media knives flashing for Luxon’s government
    The fear and loathing among legacy journalists is astonishing Graham Adams writes – No one is going to die wondering how some of the nation’s most influential journalists personally view the new National-led government. It has become abundantly clear within a few days of the coalition agreements ...
    Point of OrderBy gadams1000
    4 days ago

  • Top 10 news links for Wednesday, Nov 29
    TL;DR: Here’s my pick of top 10 news links elsewhere for Wednesday November 29, including:The early return of interest deductibility for landlords could see rebates paid on previous taxes and the cost increase to $3 billion from National’s initial estimate of $2.1 billion, CTU Economist Craig Renney estimated here last ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • Smokefree Fallout and a High Profile Resignation.
    The day after being sworn in the new cabinet met yesterday, to enjoy their honeymoon phase. You remember, that period after a new government takes power where the country, and the media, are optimistic about them, because they haven’t had a chance to stuff anything about yet.Sadly the nuptials complete ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • As Cabinet revs up, building plans go on hold
    Wellington Council hoardings proclaim its preparations for population growth, but around the country councils are putting things on hold in the absence of clear funding pathways for infrastructure, and despite exploding migrant numbers. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Cabinet meets in earnest today to consider the new Government’s 100-day ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • National takes over infrastructure
    Though New Zealand First may have had ambitions to run the infrastructure portfolios, National would seem to have ended up firmly in control of them.  POLITIK has obtained a private memo to members of Infrastructure NZ yesterday, which shows that the peak organisation for infrastructure sees  National MPs Chris ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago

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

  • Who’s Driving The Right-Wing Bus?
    Who’s At The Wheel? The electorate’s message, as aggregated in the polling booths on 14 October, turned out to be a conservative political agenda stronger than anything New Zealand has seen in five decades. In 1975, Bill Rowling was run over by just one bus, with Rob Muldoon at the wheel. In ...
    Bowalley Road
    5 days ago

  • Sanity break
    Cheers to reader Deane for this quote from Breakfast TV today:Chloe Swarbrick to Brook van Velden re the coalition agreement: “... an unhinged grab-bag of hot takes from your drunk uncle at Christmas”Cheers also to actual Prime Minister of a country Christopher Luxon for dorking up his swearing-in vows.But that's enough ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • Sanity break
    Cheers to reader Deane for this quote from Breakfast TV today:Chloe Swarbrick to Brook van Velden re the coalition agreement: “... an unhinged grab-bag of hot takes from your drunk uncle at Christmas”Cheers also to actual Prime Minister of a country Christopher Luxon for dorking up his swearing-in vows.But that's enough ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • National’s murderous smoking policy
    One of the big underlying problems in our political system is the prevalence of short-term thinking, most usually seen in the periodic massive infrastructure failures at a local government level caused by them skimping on maintenance to Keep Rates Low. But the new government has given us a new example, ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • NZ has a chance to rise again as our new government gets spending under control
    New Zealand has  a chance  to  rise  again. Under the  previous  government, the  number of New Zealanders below the poverty line was increasing  year by year. The Luxon-led government  must reverse that trend – and set about stabilising  the  pillars  of the economy. After the  mismanagement  of the outgoing government created   huge ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    5 days ago

  • KARL DU FRESNE: Media and the new government
    Two articles by Karl du Fresne bring media coverage of the new government into considerations.  He writes –    Tuesday, November 28, 2023 The left-wing media needed a line of attack, and they found one The left-wing media pack wasted no time identifying the new government’s weakest point. Seething over ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • PHILIP CRUMP:  Team of rivals – a CEO approach to government leadership
    The work begins Philip Crump wrote this article ahead of the new government being sworn in yesterday – Later today the new National-led coalition government will be sworn in, and the hard work begins. At the core of government will be three men – each a leader ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Black Friday
    As everyone who watches television or is on the mailing list for any of our major stores will confirm, “Black Friday” has become the longest running commercial extravaganza and celebration in our history. Although its origins are obscure (presumably dreamt up by American salesmen a few years ago), it has ...
    Bryan GouldBy Bryan Gould
    6 days ago

  • In Defense of the Media.
    Yesterday the Ministers in the next government were sworn in by our Governor General. A day of tradition and ceremony, of decorum and respect. Usually.But yesterday Winston Peters, the incoming Deputy Prime Minister, and Foreign Minister, of our nation used it, as he did with the signing of the coalition ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • Top 10 news links at 10 am for Tuesday, Nov 28
    Nicola Willis’ first move was ‘spilling the tea’ on what she called the ‘sobering’ state of the nation’s books, but she had better be able to back that up in the HYEFU. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Here’s my pick of top 10 news links elsewhere at 10 am ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • PT use up but fare increases coming
    Yesterday Auckland Transport were celebrating, as the most recent Sunday was the busiest Sunday they’ve ever had. That’s a great outcome and I’m sure the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    6 days ago

  • The very opposite of social investment
    Nicola Willis (in blue) at the signing of the coalition agreement, before being sworn in as both Finance Minister and Social Investment Minister. National’s plan to unwind anti-smoking measures will benefit her in the first role, but how does it stack up from a social investment viewpoint? Photo: Lynn Grieveson ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • Giving Tuesday
    For the first time "in history" we decided to jump on the "Giving Tuesday" bandwagon in order to make you aware of the options you have to contribute to our work! Projects supported by Skeptical Science Inc. Skeptical Science Skeptical Science is an all-volunteer organization but ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • Let's open the books with Nicotine Willis
    Let’s say it’s 1984,and there's a dreary little nation at the bottom of the Pacific whose name rhymes with New Zealand,and they've just had an election.Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, will you look at the state of these books we’ve opened,cries the incoming government, will you look at all this mountain ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago

  • Climate Change: Stopping oil
    National is promising to bring back offshore oil and gas drilling. Naturally, the Greens have organised a petition campaign to try and stop them. You should sign it - every little bit helps, and as the struggle over mining conservation land showed, even National can be deterred if enough people ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago

  • Don’t accept Human Rights Commission reading of data on Treaty partnership – read the survey fin...
    Wellington is braced for a “massive impact’ from the new government’s cutting public service jobs, The Post somewhat grimly reported today. Expectations of an economic and social jolt are based on the National-Act coalition agreement to cut public service numbers in each government agency in a cost-trimming exercise  “informed by” head ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • The stupidest of stupid reasons
    One of the threats in the National - ACT - NZ First coalition agreements was to extend the term of Parliament to four years, reducing our opportunities to throw a bad government out. The justification? Apparently, the government thinks "elections are expensive". This is the stupidest of stupid reasons for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago

  • A website bereft of buzz
    Buzz from the Beehive The new government was being  sworn in, at time of writing , and when Point of Order checked the Beehive website for the latest ministerial statements and re-visit some of the old ones we drew a blank. We found ….  Nowt. Nothing. Zilch. Not a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • MICHAEL BASSETT: A new Ministry – at last
    Michael Bassett writes – Like most people, I was getting heartily sick of all the time being wasted over the coalition negotiations. During the first three weeks Winston grinned like a Cheshire cat, certain he’d be needed; Chris Luxon wasted time in lifting the phone to Winston ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 days ago

  • Luxon's Breakfast.
    The Prime Minister elect had his silver fern badge on. He wore it to remind viewers he was supporting New Zealand, that was his team. Despite the fact it made him look like a concierge, or a welcomer in a Koru lounge. Anna Burns-Francis, the Breakfast presenter, asked if he ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    7 days ago

  • LINDSAY MITCHELL:  Oranga Tamariki faces major upheaval under coalition agreement
     Lindsay Mitchell writes – A hugely significant gain for ACT is somewhat camouflaged by legislative jargon. Under the heading ‘Oranga Tamariki’ ACT’s coalition agreement contains the following item:   Remove Section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 According to Oranga Tamariki:     “Section ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 days ago

  • BRIAN EASTON:  Peters as Minister
    A previous column looked at Winston Peters biographically. This one takes a closer look at his record as a minister, especially his policy record. Brian Easton writes – 1990-1991: Minister of Māori Affairs. Few remember Ka Awatea as a major document on the future of Māori policy; there is ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 days ago

  • Cathrine Dyer's guide to watching COP 28 from the bottom of a warming planet
    Is COP28 largely smoke and mirrors and a plan so cunning, you could pin a tail on it and call it a weasel? Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: COP28 kicks off on November 30 and up for negotiation are issues like the role of fossil fuels in the energy transition, contributions to ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    7 days ago

  • Top 10 news links at 10 am for Monday, Nov 27
    PM Elect Christopher Luxon was challenged this morning on whether he would sack Adrian Orr and Andrew Coster.TL;DR: Here’s my pick of top 10 news links elsewhere at 10 am on Monday November 27, including:Signs councils are putting planning and capital spending on hold, given a lack of clear guidance ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    7 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the new government’s policies of yesteryear
    This column expands on a Werewolf column published by Scoop on Friday Routinely, Winston Peters is described as the kingmaker who gets to decide when the centre right or the centre-left has a turn at running this country. He also plays a less heralded but equally important role as the ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    7 days ago

  • The New Government’s Agreements
    Last Friday, almost six weeks after election day, National finally came to an agreement with ACT and NZ First to form a government. They also released the agreements between each party and looking through them, here are the things I thought were the most interesting (and often concerning) from the. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    7 days ago

  • How many smokers will die to fund the tax cuts?
    Maori and Pasifika smoking rates are already over twice the ‘all adult’ rate. Now the revenue that generates will be used to fund National’s tax cuts. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The devil is always in the detail and it emerged over the weekend from the guts of the policy agreements National ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    7 days ago

  • How the culture will change in the Beehive
    Perhaps the biggest change that will come to the Beehive as the new government settles in will be a fundamental culture change. The era of endless consultation will be over. This looks like a government that knows what it wants to do, and that means it knows what outcomes ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    7 days ago

  • No More Winnie Blues.
    So what do you think of the coalition’s decision to cancel Smokefree measures intended to stop young people, including an over representation of Māori, from taking up smoking? Enabling them to use the tax revenue to give other people a tax cut?David Cormack summed it up well:It seems not only ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago

  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #47
    A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science  Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Nov 19, 2023 thru Sat, Nov 25, 2023.  Story of the Week World stands on frontline of disaster at Cop28, says UN climate chief  Exclusive: Simon Stiell says leaders must ‘stop ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

  • Some of it is mad, some of it is bad and some of it is clearly the work of people who are dangerous ...
    On announcement morning my mate texted:Typical of this cut-price, fake-deal government to announce itself on Black Friday.What a deal. We lose Kim Hill, we gain an empty, jargonising prime minister, a belligerent conspiracist, and a heartless Ayn Rand fanboy. One door closes, another gets slammed repeatedly in your face.It seems pretty ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago

  • “Revolution” is the threat as the Māori Party smarts at coalition government’s Treaty directi...
    Buzz from the Beehive Having found no fresh announcements on the government’s official website, Point of Order turned today to Scoop’s Latest Parliament Headlines  for its buzz. This provided us with evidence that the Māori Party has been soured by the the coalition agreement announced yesterday by the new PM. “Soured” ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 week ago

  • The Good, the Bad, and the even Worse.
    Yesterday the trio that will lead our country unveiled their vision for New Zealand.Seymour looking surprisingly statesmanlike, refusing to rise to barbs about his previous comments on Winston Peters. Almost as if they had just been slapstick for the crowd.Winston was mostly focussed on settling scores with the media, making ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago

  • When it Comes to Palestine – Free Speech is Under Threat
    Hi,Thanks for getting amongst Mister Organ on digital — thanks to you, we hit the #1 doc spot on iTunes this week. This response goes a long way to helping us break even.I feel good about that. Other things — not so much.New Zealand finally has a new government, and ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    1 week ago

  • Thank you Captain Luxon. Was that a landing, or were we shot down?
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.Also in More Than A FeildingFriday The unboxing And so this is Friday and what have we gone and done to ourselves?In the same way that a Christmas present can look lovely under the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago

  • New Zealand welcomes European Parliament vote on the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement
    A significant milestone in ratifying the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was reached last night, with 524 of the 705 member European Parliament voting in favour to approve the agreement. “I’m delighted to hear of the successful vote to approve the NZ-EU FTA in the European Parliament overnight. This is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Further humanitarian support for Gaza, the West Bank and Israel
    The Government is contributing a further $5 million to support the response to urgent humanitarian needs in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel, bringing New Zealand’s total contribution to the humanitarian response so far to $10 million. “New Zealand is deeply saddened by the loss of civilian life and the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2023-12-03T10:54:39+00:00