Serial fondler accuses Labour of “backing rapists”

Written By: - Date published: 4:10 pm, November 10th, 2015 - 214 comments
Categories: accountability, john key - Tags: , , , , ,

Serial fondler of young persons’ hair and celebrity PM impersonator John Key lost it in Parliament today.

Unable to defend his unwillingness to speak up for Kiwis caught up in Australia’s Christmas Island fiasco, Key instead accused Labour of “backing rapists”.

The useless speaker David Carter defended the slur, leading to outrage and a large-scale walkout of Labour MPs.

Read all about it (and video) here.

Disgraceful stuff from Key and Carter.

214 comments on “Serial fondler accuses Labour of “backing rapists” ”

  1. CnrJoe 1

    video of Kelvin Davis being pushed aside by Key DPS IN Parliament AFTER Keyreepy was already gone
    https://twitter.com/CnrJoe/status/663918596427374592

    • srylands 1.1

      I don’t think that was “pushed”. I expected to see some biffo. The DPS guy simply extended his arm.

      I think referring to the Prime Minister as “Keyreepy” is very childish. You should show more respect for the office.

      • shorts 1.1.1

        while It think its a bad name if the holder of the office can’t show it any respect you can’t expect others to

      • ScottGN 1.1.2

        You mean the sort of respect for the office you show when you go on the radio and cheerily talk about the last time you were pissing in the shower or wanking?

      • The Prime Minister cannot expect respect for his office until he shows his own respect for his office and responsibilities. I agree that I don’t like seeing that sort of juvenile name calling applied to politicians, (I favour describing what they actually did, such as “John Key supports human rights abusers in front of the UN”) but John Key has earned some serious mockery.

        That said, I think the two key pieces of news here are that the PM is a miserable failure on human rights, and (apparently, although I can’t find video of it) that there was a motion of No Confidence in the Speaker, who has gone way beyond being a partisan hack in allowing this political theatre in the House of Representatives.

        • miravox 1.1.3.1

          I prefer to refer to the Prime Minister as ‘Prime Minister’. His behaviour can be assessed on that term rather than as some John having a laugh, and as a reminder he is the representative of the people NZ.

          e.g. “The Prime Minister supports human rights abusers in front of the UN”

      • CnrJoe 1.1.4

        Pardon? What? Keyreepy the N.Z PeeEmm? He identifies as a creep. I thought – initially – he was just a raging sociopath. Tantalising ponytail you have there…oh John,..leave the poor girl alone…You feed the chickens recently?…for fear of being sued by my wife…if it was Yes it would definitely be with my wife…

        https://www.facebook.com/RadioHauraki/videos/1137523586262641/

        Sry – watch. Revel in yr leaders respect for the office Then get back to me

      • tracey 1.1.5

        I think ignoring the PM’s systematic dishonouring of the Office of Prime Minister is the action of a dullard

        This is the PM whose government allowed a person charged with attempted rape to easily leave the country and then refused to deliver the promised apology to the alleged offender’s victim

        For those with short or selective memory spans

        “Asked whether he would apologise if he did know her name, Mr Key said: “Yes, in so much that I believe that she shouldn’t have had to go through what she went through.”

        Her name was subsequently revealled by her, presumably to enable him to make the apology, but he reneged

        http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/250320/pm-accused-of-breaking-word

        So on one level you could say Key puts the rights of an accused person (of attenpted rape) ahead of a NZ citizen.

        • weka 1.1.5.1

          I thought his accusing Labour of supporting rapists was the height of hypocrisy, but then him and the government are almost completely shameless in their bullshit.

          • Tracey 1.1.5.1.1

            Yup. It only took me 5 mins to google and find that link and post… so journos out there claiming they are time constrained…

      • Jenny Kirk 1.1.6

        How about it being time for the PM himself showing some respect for the office ?
        The guy has no dignity, he doesn’t know how to conduct himself in public or with the media, all he can do is fawn all-over so-called “celebrities” and royalty.

      • mary_a 1.1.7

        @ srylands (1.1) Ha Ha. Show respect for FJK’s office. You have to be joking of course, considering the mangy scourge of a PM demonstrates very little respect for his position of state and that of Parliament!

      • Draco T Bastard 1.1.8

        You should show more respect for the office.

        Why? Especially when it’s presently filled by a serial liar.

      • Chris 1.1.9

        Extended his arm while walking towards Davis? Saying Davis wasn’t pushed is saying you’re a right wing ideologue without an original thought who’d rather lie than say anything critical of key and his gorillas.

        • srylands 1.1.9.1

          “his gorillas”

          You mean the members of the Diplomatic Protection Service? How old are you? six?

          And stop being stupid. I doubt that there are more than a handful of “right wing ideologues” in New Zealand and they are crackpots. There are certainly none in the current Government.

          Grow up.

          • Chris 1.1.9.1.1

            Am saying you are a right wing ideologue for trying to defend the indefensible. Davis was pushed or walked into. Either way it was an assault.

            • BM 1.1.9.1.1.1

              Assault would have been if he got an elbow strike between the eyes, followed by a leg sweep and then had his throat stomped on.

              Davis got slightly jostled at best.

              • McFlock

                ooo, you’re ever so butch

                Lucky for the rest of us that the crimes act and summary offences act have a different definition of “assault”, one that requires significantly less than the application of lethal force.

            • Nessalt 1.1.9.1.1.2

              according to your definition every labour unionist, every anti capitalism protester and most of the current shadow bench are guilty of assault.

          • McFlock 1.1.9.1.2

            I’d love to know what “protection” Key needs from a member of parliament who was standing in the lobby of parliament building.

            But yes, calling the man a “gorilla” is a bit harsh on gorillas. “Goon” would be more appropriate.

            • weka 1.1.9.1.2.1

              but! Needle nardle noo!

              • McFlock

                🙂

                Apparently the Christmas Island canteen building got burned.
                They need a jet-propelled NAAFI.

            • tracey 1.1.9.1.2.2

              Key doesn’t answer questions off the cuff…. doesn’t Davis know that?

              Key was in a rush, he needed to start learning his lines for the Brekkie show this morning

      • Matthew Hooton 1.1.10

        I agree. He wasn’t pushed aside. But nor did he yell at or abuse the PM. It all seemed quite polite on both sides. This bit of the day’s events looks like a media beat up to me.

        • Ovid 1.1.10.1

          You were pretty damning of the PM today, Matthew. Do you still think he lost some support in caucus?

          • Matthew Hooton 1.1.10.1.1

            No.

            • tracey 1.1.10.1.1.1

              Once the prominent NZer’s name is released, how do you think it will reflect on the entire caucus, all of whom sat in Parliament yesterday while Key said they don’t support child molesters? – Assuming the prominent NZr is found guilty of course?

              From memory that event is due in about April 2016, so getting closer to campaigning time?

        • Pascals bookie 1.1.10.2

          FWIW, journos were also jostled (or as they out it ‘barged’) in the rush.

          I suspect the DPS, who would have a pretty good handle on their charge’s level of courage, do their best to stop him from getting upset.

      • North 1.1.11

        SSLands…….”show some respect for the office” ???

        FFS ! That from a Key-Lover ???

      • Gabby 1.1.12

        Mustn’t be mean to Ponyboy, right dryglans?

      • Leftie 1.1.13

        @srylands

        Why should anyone show more respect for the office when John key himself doesn’t?

        Keyreepy is a fitting description of that weak PM, who is also a lying hypocrite.

      • linda 1.1.14

        well Keyreepy does like playing with kiddie hair that is a creepy weirdo thing to do

      • Anno1701 1.1.15

        “You should show more respect for the office.”

        pure gold……

    • Merlene 1.2

      Actually that contact can be called assault.

    • McFlock 1.3

      Well, that was more effort than they went to to protect a waitress from a hair fetishist.

  2. thentheresme 2

    So, just how many former National Party caucus members are being held for sex offences on Christmas Island?

  3. cardassian 3

    To be fair to Carter parliament couldn’t be offended, after all National are down with protecting child molesters.

  4. Mike Bond 4

    I would really like to know, just how many people actually support Davis and Labour in this instance? Unfortunately what Key said is very true. Are we now fighting for Kiwis that turned their back on this country many years ago, Kiwis that have not paid taxes here for many years? Kiwis that chose to commit crimes no matter how serious? If that is what Davis and Little want to support, they have just lost my support for ever!

    • vto 4.1

      Jeez, talk about missing the point

      No wonder we end up with people like Key as PM

    • McFlock 4.2

      good riddance to you, then.

      By the look of those conditions I wouldn’t keep a dog there. Even if we don’t like them, these people are human beings and deserve to be treated as such. This is happening on our doorstep and is being committed by our neighbours. Of course we have a responsibility to get involved.

      • NZJester 4.2.2

        Oh of course the PM is not worried about the conditions there as the facility is run by Serco who did such a great job running their private prison here in New Zealand. (Be sure to read this in a very sarcastic tone)

    • tracey 4.3

      Well the irony is that the Head of Our Government is more than likely a Kiwi that has not paid his fair share of taxes here for many years?

      We are measured by what we stand for when it feels inconvenient or icky to do so.

    • DoublePlusGood 4.5

      If Australia has chosen to violate their human rights, and chosen not to let them be Australians, and they are New Zealand citizens, then you betcha we’d better be doing everything we can to set matter right.

    • Lara 4.6

      Many of the people incarcerated have ALREADY done their time. Now they’re doing more in inhumane conditions because they’re being “processed” before being deported.

      There is a basic level of human rights we hold up. It’s a minimum acceptable standard for all of society, including those incarcerated and awaiting deportation.

      Australia are choosing to ignore those basic minimums and putting people in very dangerous and inhumane situations.

      Do you really think that’s okay Mike Bond?

      And don’t ask me to explain the inhumane conditions of which I am speaking. Google is your friend.

      • Tracey 4.6.1

        It bothers me if some of these posters really believe the shit their spouting rather than just trolling.

        Certainly we are becoming a nation dominated by voices who feel so smugly secure they can sneer and spit at others misfortunes with impunity. Same people probably earn over six figures and pretend to be ordinary kiwis

      • BM 4.6.2

        Australia doesn’t give a fuck what you or any one else thinks .

        Bit like Indonesia and the way they treat drug dealers or Saudi Arabia and how they treat women.

        Now that you know your opinion and outrage or anyone else’s means nothing, what do you propose would be the most effective course of action?

        • DoublePlusGood 4.6.2.1

          Full sanctions on Australia until they get their shit sorted might be a good start. Would wreck the economy, so I suggest we start with something minor, like putting a travel ban on all AU government members.

        • tracey 4.6.2.2

          But Turnbull said

          “Mr Turnbull praised his New Zealand counterpart and said he would model his leadership on Mr Key.
          “My firm belief is that to be a successful leader … you have to be able to bring people with you by respecting their intelligence in the manner you explain things,” Turnbull said.
          “We’ve got some great leaders in Australia at state level but let me just point to one internationally, John Key, for example.
          “John Key has been able to achieve very significant economic reforms in New Zealand by doing just that, by taking on and explaining complex issues and then making the case for them. And I, that is certainly something that I believe we should do and Julie and I are very keen to do that again.””

          Key could leverage his immense respect?

          What do you think about Key

          1. Implying there are lots of murderers and rapists on Christmas island, when there are not; and
          2. Not doing what he can to convince the Aussies to keep them and thus protect us all from these bad iuns?

    • Helen 4.7

      Agree Mike. Labour has well and truly lost touch with working class NZ’ers especially when they come out with this scraping the bottom of the barrel stuff. Throwing their support behind some of the worse sort of offenders, and yes believe it or not there are worse things than pulling pony tails, just goes to show Labour’s priorities. We’ve heard enough about the poor prisoners in our NZ jails and not content with that Labour are showing the love to the criminals in Australia. God I miss the old Labour, you know the party that used to support hard working NZ’ers. Not anymore. A complete own goal today for Labour.

      • tracey 4.7.1

        The old Labour ALWAYS championed human rights, not just when it fit with their (or your) sensibilities. MOST of the people on that island have committed NO criminal offence.

        Helen ignorance is an illness. We have a cure, its called education. Key has LIED again about this and you have fallen hook line and centre. HE is not the one fighting to keep these “awful” people in Australia, Labour is… Key’s rolled over and said nothing he can do, come home…

        There are a few links here that you can work your way through, Weka has kindly supplied.

        http://thestandard.org.nz/serial-fondler-accuses-labour-of-backing-rapists/#comment-1093626

    • Foreign Waka 4.8

      To Mike Bond – your comments are the same as any person pursuing exclusion be it for race, language, gender or any other trait that does not fit a standardized form. I hope you get the gist of that…

      The definition and purpose of the Christmas Island Immigration Reception and Processing Centre has been to hold asylum seekers mostly but is now also used as a deportation centre.
      It is true that some of the people held on Christmas Island have done time for criminal offenses and this is also the reason they are there- to be deported. Lets be clear, they are not leaving at their own vocation.
      The riot as reported started after the death of an asylum seeker. It has to be remembered that the facility also houses mothers and their baby’s seeking refuge from countries with little or no human rights. It is truly a fire to fry pan experience.
      There are story’s of asylum seekers being put into solitary (?!). The UN human rights review has condemned the situation in Australia.

      And our Prime Minister still doesn’t get it!

    • Gabby 4.9

      Well, I don’t want them back here, and they don’t want to be back here.

    • Leftie 4.10

      @ Mike Bond.

      Missed the point much? and they are still New Zealanders suffering human rights abuses, that John key appears to condone because he doesn’t want to stand up to an old money trading mate who overthrew his leader for the PM’s job.

      You’re a National key worshipping follower, Labour never had your support in the first place.

    • Smilin 4.11

      While that is true the bigger picture is what is at stake here -Aust appalling human rights behaviour
      We should be making a very strong protest to the UN as Marama Davidson’s points of order were addressing

      • srylands 4.11.1

        What evidence do you have that the human rights of the detainees are being breached? Article 9 of the IDHR simply states:

        “No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.”

        These people are being detained or a reason. It is not arbitrary.

        Australia is also applying the right of return under citizenship law. These people are not Australians.

        As for the fools that say JK should “stand up” to Australia. What a joke. What do you want him to do? What could Andrew Little do if he was PM? Nothing.

        The Australian Government is acting lawfully. Most voters have zero interest in this issue. The behaviour of the Labour Party on this is a sure route to losing the 2017 election.

        • vto 4.11.1.1

          The Australian Government was also acting lawfully when they issued licences to hunt and kill aborigines just a few decades ago

          good try though

    • tracey 4.12

      “they have just lost my support for ever”

      Cos until this matter you were an ardent supporter, aye Mike?

  5. McFlock 5

    And I was just reminded that National closed down Christchurch’s rape crisis centre last year.

    The hypocrisy of the man knows no bounds.

    • srylands 5.1

      “National” did not close down anything. The previous centre closed because it was insolvent. This is clear in the story you posted. Do you know why it was insolvent? Or do you think John Key personally made it insolvent?

      If the market wants a rape crisis centre there will be one. These things should be funded through philanthropy. And guess what? A new shiny rape crisis centre has emerged. A solvent one.

      http://www.avivafamilies.org.nz/Services/Sexual-Assault-Support-Service-Canterbury/

      • vto 5.1.1

        “If the market wants a rape crisis centre there will be one. These things should be funded through philanthropy.”

        Sorry? The market? Or philanthropy? How can both be done – you are a free market extremist

        You know, there is a thing called a community. Perhaps the community should fund it – now there’s an idea

      • Psycho Milt 5.1.2

        If the market wants a rape crisis centre there will be one.

        “Why Libertarianism Sucks,” number 35,966 in a series…

      • North 5.1.3

        You never cease to amaze SSLands.

        “If the ‘market’ wants a rape crisis centre there will be one.”

        Mmmm……if the ‘market’ wants rape, there will be rape ?

        Old SSLands and his ‘Farket Market’ aye ?

      • weka 5.1.4

        “If the market wants a rape crisis centre there will be one.”

        Wow, just wow.

        Besides which, what happened to the clients at the existing one who had long term relationships with counsellors? Or is rape recovery like going to an appliance repair person, it doesn’t really matter which one you see?

        And what happened to the staff and all their experience?

        This is why the neoliberals are fundamentally anti-human.

  6. tracey 6

    The irony goes further.

    This is the PM whose government allowed a person charged with attempted rape to easily leave the country and then refused to deliver the promised apology to the alleged offender’s victim

    For those with short or selective memory spans

    “Asked whether he would apologise if he did know her name, Mr Key said: “Yes, in so much that I believe that she shouldn’t have had to go through what she went through.”

    Her name was subsequently revealled by her, presumably to enable him to make the apology, but he reneged

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/250320/pm-accused-of-breaking-word

    So on one level you could say Key puts the rights of an accused person (of attenpted rape) ahead of a NZ citizen.

  7. Colonial Viper 7

    And another 50,000 NZers turn off NZ politics.

    • Bill 7.1

      Aw ffs! So now we get a

      ‘You support even bigger bastards more often than you insult us by saying that we support bastards – na na na na na’

      ‘No I don’t’

      ‘Yes you do’

      Ad fucking nauseam.

      How’s about sticking to the simple fact that the Prime Minister of New Zealand essentially stated that all (he didn’t qualify numbers or percentages) New Zealanders on Christmas Island are rapists or child molesters?

      And how about (Labour and Greens) you voice fucking outrage at that rather than because your poor wee sensibilities have been hurt by the suggestion that you’re on the side of rapists and child molesters….there’s a whole fucking world beyond the confines of your belly button.

  8. Stuart Munro 8

    As long as he can avoid actually doing his job or personal responsibility Key is tough on crime. Except by Gnat MPs. And policeman’s children. And Jason Ede.

    • Draco T Bastard 8.1

      +1

      Typical authoritarian behaviour – they look after their own and oppress everyone else.

      • Stuart Munro 8.1.1

        It raises an interesting constitutional issue – on the day when Burma is making positive progress on human rights – to whom are incarcerated New Zealanders to appeal since Key is clearly not acting in their interests. Do they dun the GG? The Ombudsman? The UNHCR? Or must they form anarchist cells and overthrow local government merely to escape from their island prison?

  9. Bill 9

    Key’s a despicable shit sack and would have been roundly condemned by public opinion (I think)…right up until the point where a couple of Labour MPs and Metiria opened their mouths.

    I guess some people around who still watch TV can let us know how the media spin it?

    I’m guessing that in the ‘interests of balance’ Hipkins and Robertson (maybe Metiria) will be shown being all offended alongside a single clip of one of Key’s more measured repeated outbursts…and it will make Robertson and Hipkins look bad and, mush more importantly, give oxygen to the notion that everyone on Christmas Island is an absolute bastard deserving to be slung into a hole and forgotten.

    • tracey 9.1

      Easy answer for any of them to any question from a jonolist

      “Now that Mr Key is not a supporter of sex offenders, when will he giive the victim of an attempted rape an apology for letting her offender leave NZ,”

      • Bill 9.1.1

        Labour and the Greens blew it by making it all about them and their sensibilities rather than about the Prime Minister of New Zealand insinuating that those New Zealanders being held on Christmas Island were, in toto, rapists and child molesters.

        • Tracey 9.1.1.1

          By walking out it made the news. Otherwise just another day in Parliament. Anyway if they are rapists and sex offenders more reason for Key to get tough on Turnbill to have them in Australia… surely in red neck land?

        • weka 9.1.1.2

          “Labour and the Greens blew it by making it all about them and their sensibilities rather than about the Prime Minister of New Zealand insinuating that those New Zealanders being held on Christmas Island were, in toto, rapists and child molesters.”

          Maybe, but then if they go down that line it becomes about some detainees/humans are entitled to human rights but not the really bad ones.

          Marama Davidson did try and ask questions about the people there for relatively minor offences.

          • Bill 9.1.1.2.1

            Are you suggesting it’s better to have the people on Christmas Island all slammed as being the worst type of criminal (as far as public sympathy goes) and being pushed away to be ‘by-lines’ to the real story… the sensibilities of some Green and Labour mps?

            • weka 9.1.1.2.1.1

              no, I’m saying that if you go down that track (not all NZers detained there are rapists and murderers) then you are opening the way for two classes of human rights, good people and bad people.

              tbh, I don’t know the range of reasons why people are there. Key’s answers were completely nonsensical (they choose to stay, we don’t want them back, blah blah blah).

              • Bill

                Weka, at the moment they are all being labeled as right real bad fuckers who’d eat your granny and wrap cellotape around your pets before dropping their pants. And a big part of the reason for that is that some Labour and Green mps stood up in parliament and couldn’t distance themselves fast enough due to some stupid line about them being in cahoots with ‘bad’ people.

                As said below by Paul Campbell (11.4) there are human rights violations being perpetrated on NZers by the Australian government. Human rights are something of a universal principle. But hey, maybe that’s just New Zealand for you I guess – fuck the principle if shouty man over there is shouting shouty things that sound a bit unpleasant.

                • “and couldn’t distance themselves fast enough due to some stupid line about them being in cahoots with ‘bad’ people.”

                  I hadn’t really noticed that point before, thanks Bill. It does seem that that is what happened yet I can see it the other way too. Interesting.

                • weka

                  I disagree. The big part of that is what Key did and I reckon he would have done that no matter what, esp once he knew that Carter was on his side.

                  The opposition did a number of things but if they hadn’t done what they did re the accusation, if they had instead ignored Key’s trolebait and focussed on asking questions (this is question time remember, they can’t make speeches or use the time in the way that they want) about the numbers of people who aren’t rapists and murderers then I reckon Key would have just kept on with the rapists and murderers line because he was enabled to by the speaker. That’s why Labour walked.

                  The whole thing is an immense clusterfuck, not least because of the MSM, and a very good example of how fucked up politics in NZ is at the moment. I think quibbling over Labour’s actions today is the least of the problems.

                  Paddy Gower is running the line that psychos are coming. He’s getting that from Key not Labour.

                  • Bill

                    I’m not saying they should have asked about the numbers. I’m saying that Robertson and Hipkins should have stfu about how they were ‘offended’. I could also be saying they should have followed Andrew Little’s lead and let the ‘trolebait’ as you term it slide on past them.

                    But no. It’s about them and their feelings and their desperate urge not to be associated with anything that might be considered ‘unpalatable’.

                    So yes, ‘the psychos are coming’. And if Robertson and Hipkins had stayed on their arses and let the whole thing slide, then the side-line would have been “What the fuck is JK on?” And the main line would have been about the human rights violations taking place on Christmas Island and not all this tosh about NZ parliamentarians.

                    • weka

                      “But no. It’s about them and their feelings and their desperate urge not to be associated with anything that might be considered ‘unpalatable’.”

                      Again, I disagree. If any MPs let the PM get away with that shit he’ll just do it more and more. Maybe it is about their feelings as well, but it’s proper that that shit got stood up to and not ignored. Of the Labour MPs that walked out almost all the women MPs did. You still think this is about feeling unnessarily offended? If it had been me I would have left too, simply on the basis that Key supports rape culture and this was extreme even for him.

                      I also disagree that if they’d said nothing that Gower wouldn’t have run ‘the psychos are coming’ line.

                      TV1’s coverage of the parliament debate makes it clear that not all NZers detained on Christmas Island are criminals.

                      https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/labour-fury-after-john-key-claims-they-are-supporting-rapists-on-christmas-island.html

                      They ran a first piece on the riot, making the point that the Australian minister has been very careful to not refer to the detainees as NZers but as criminals. The reporter is talking about NZers here being worried about their family and loved ones on Christmas Island – “punishing families for historic crimes” is the main point.

                      So I think your idea that the media will present the detainees as rapists and murderers and that that is in large part due to Labour is wrong.

                      https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/world/rubber-bullets-tear-gas-used-to-quell-christmas-island-rebellion

                    • Bill

                      On the basis of what you’re saying is being reported, I’m a bit surprised.

                    • Bill

                      Watched the clips. Standing by most of my punt at comment 9 on how it would play out.

                      Partial play of Key. (tick)
                      Robertson and Hipkins made to look bad (meh – not so much as I expected)
                      Metiria only maybe covered (didn’t see anything)
                      Basic demonising of Christmas Island detainees (tick)

                    • weka

                      I don’t think Turei was in there at all.

                      “Basic demonising of Christmas Island detainees (tick)”

                      How so?

                    • weka

                      Did we watch the same thing (although I also watched TV3)?

                      “I’m guessing that in the ‘interests of balance’ Hipkins and Robertson (maybe Metiria) will be shown being all offended”

                      Yes.

                      “alongside a single clip of one of Key’s more measured repeated outbursts”

                      No. Key’s worst outbursts and multiple ones not just one.

                      “and it will make Robertson and Hipkins look bad”

                      I guess that’s going to vary from viewer to viewer. They didn’t look bad to me.

                      “and, mush more importantly, give oxygen to the notion that everyone on Christmas Island is an absolute bastard deserving to be slung into a hole and forgotten.”

                      Definitely not. As mentioned, the main thrust of the first piece was that NZ and other families were being punished unecessarily over historical convictions.

                  • tracey

                    “Paddy Gower is running the line that psychos are coming. He’s getting that from Key not Labour.”

                    Yup and Key seems to have known that all these “nasty” folks were there all along… and has still done nothing to get them back into Australia (nurture versus nature 😉 so he is th eone who is happy for these big bad people to come amongst us, not Labour…

    • weka 9.2

      “I guess some people around who still watch TV can let us know how the media spin it?”

      Russell Brown ‏@publicaddress 1 hr1 hour ago

      @patrickgowernz That was a dreadful report tonight. The psychos are coming? Really?

  10. RedBaronCV 10

    Why isn’t the prime minister getting the relevant govt departments to expedite travel docs? These people will have to travel on a NZ passport or docs. What is his concern for the women and children in these centres? Why isn’t he worried about the mixing of what may be a few hard core crims with a bunch of people who have done nothing at all apart from being a refugee or having a minor offence far in the past.

    Or is that too hard for him or for the media to ask the questions.

  11. Daniel Cale 11

    Labour wants the government to stand up for NZ’ers on Christmas Island (Quote from Andrew Little in Parliament today).

    These are people who have committed serious crimes, and who don’t even want to return to NZ.

    As always, Labour backing the losers.

    • mac1 11.2

      From what I heard from a detainee on Christmas Island on National Radio this morning, there has been physical abuse of detainees whilst in detention, poor food, poor treatment.

      I would have hoped that our government would be seeking information and action on these abuses of New Zealand citizens.

    • RedLogix 11.3

      These are people who have committed serious crimes

      Actually many of them are people who – under the new rules that Abbott introduced earlier this year – have accumulated a total of one year of prison time while they were in Australia. This might well include a number of very petty crimes of any sort which may well include minor drug and traffic offenses.

      • Tracey 11.3.1

        Yes but even if we assume Key is right, surely that is reason enough for him to fight Turnbull to have them in Oz. The duplicity is dumbfounding. He is treating his supporters like imbeciles. It is up to them whether he keeps making fools of them.

    • Paul Campbell 11.4

      These are people who have served their sentences, some haven’t even been convicted of anything.

      Having served their sentences, at the moment when they are about to be returned to society they have been thrown on a plane and flown out into the Indian Ocean and put in a concentration camp without trial, isolated with indeterminate sentences.

      These are human rights violations, if we don’t defend the worst of us against this sort of barabarism then who will defend us when it happens to the rest of us? Key’s ugly cop out is exactly the sort of creeping evil that leads to authoritarianism – he obviously doesn’t consider a PM for all the country, for all it’s citizens, he seems willing to throw some of us under the wheels of his bus to keep it on the road.

      • Bill 11.4.1

        I agree Paul. But the kicker is that some Labour and Green couldn’t distance themselves from those same New Zealanders fast enough.

        • Leftie 11.4.1.1

          @Bill

          Completely agree with everything Weka said to you.
          Wish you would put as much effort in attacking John key for saying it in the first place, rather than using it as an opportunity to have another go at Labour.

          • Bill 11.4.1.1.1

            Go back through my comments you idiot and quote back what I’ve said of JK and what he said today. And then grow up.

            • Leftie 11.4.1.1.1.1

              You do not need to be abusive Bill. You have spent more time attacking Labour than attacking the real culprit which is John key and the speaker. Maybe you should follow your own advice.

        • tracey 11.4.1.2

          I now understand where you were coming from. Sorry for not getting it earlier.

          Do you know if it would breach name suppression for someone to ask John Key if he has ever kown or worked with the person currently known as the “prominent new zealander”?

      • Olwyn 11.4.2

        These are human rights violations… Dead right, and that holds whatever these people might have done. It is shocking that a PM can openly endorse such barbarism, and casually chuck people into a “these are people we don’t care about so we don’t care what happens to them” category.

      • Magisterium 11.4.3

        These are people who have served their sentences, some haven’t even been convicted of anything.

        Can you please explain that last bit?

        • Paul Campbell 11.4.3.1

          As I understand it some people are in these detention centres for visa offences, they’ve not been before a court, they have not been convicted

        • Paul Campbell 11.4.3.2

          Here’s a reference for you:

          “Decorated soldier Ko Rutene detained in high security Australian prison despite committing no crime”
          http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11543381

          • Daniel Cale 11.4.3.2.1

            Unfortunately Mr Rutene has been caught up in the new WA law around gang affiliations. Rutene is a member of the Rebels (bike gang), which contravenes his Visa conditions. By all accounts, he’s a good guy, but he’s still breaking the law.

            • McFlock 11.4.3.2.1.1

              which contravenes his Visa conditions

              if it contravened his visa conditions then the minister would not have needed to make the “discretionary decision” to deport him. His visa would have been revoked automatically as part of the normal administrative process.

            • Paul Campbell 11.4.3.2.1.2

              I’m just responding to the person who questioned my assertation that some of the Australian detainees were not convicted of anything – this guy’s not gone before a court, he’s been locked up without trial

              What he’s apparently done is committed some sort of weird indirect crime by association, or maybe a thought crime by liking the wrong people

      • Daniel Cale 11.4.4

        Well that’s one side. Then there’s this:

        http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/australia/73902227/christmas-island-detainees-living-in-fear-as-kiwis-bash-weaker-inmates

        Perhaps there are some innocents caught up in this. But there are some nasty pieces of work as well.

    • Jenny Kirk 11.5

      To Daniel C – From what I’ve heard, a number of these NZers on Christmas Island are not rapists or other nasties, but they’re there because of lesser offences like shop-lifting or traffic offences.

      But the main principle remains : whoever they are, they did their time, and were to be released back into society. lnstead of which, they were immediately detained again and sent off to a remote island in the Indian Island – thousands of miles from their homes and families. This is not the way to treat people.

      • Daniel Cale 11.5.1

        That’s true Jenny, not all are rapists, murderers etc. And not all are NZ’ers by the way. But that’s not the point. The vast majority are on Christmas Island because they have a> committed an offence and b> are not Australian citizens. Personally I think sending people to Christmas Island is loopy, but that’s the law, and based on the fact they most ARE criminals, I have little or no sympathy for them.

        • McFlock 11.5.1.1

          so when it comes to not detaining law-abiding people, “near enough” is good enough?

          You tories are fucked in the head.

    • Foreign Waka 11.6

      Daniel – missing the point by miles. Buy hey, if it helps you sleep….

  12. Paul 12

    Pressure must be applied to remove Carter.

  13. ianmac 13

    Labour is accused of supporting child molesters. Just as well National has not been protecting any of their own for such crimes. Oh no!

    • mac1 13.1

      Parliamentarians can’t use this word, but the hypocrisy is astounding.

    • Nessalt 13.2

      Whats the name of that nice young chap who stayed at annette kings place one fateful evening?

        • Nessalt 13.2.1.1

          Don’t engage in anything that you don’t agree with right paul? great way to educate your self there

      • Tracey 13.2.2

        Mike Sabin?

        • Naki man 13.2.2.1

          No the one who was balls deep in that drunk student.

          • McFlock 13.2.2.1.1

            The student Key said he’d definitely apologise to for letting the (alleged) attacker leave the country, and then Key backed out of it?

            • Nessalt 13.2.2.1.1.1

              No the student who caught gingervitis after being the victim of unwanted sexual advances at at a very senior labour mps house.

              Glass houses are bad news for all those who throw stones

              • One Anonymous Bloke

                So are Northland by-elections. A prominent New Zealander is Cabinet material, eh.

                So, now your shitty little hypocrisy has been exposed for all to see, will you take personal responsibility for it, trash?

              • McFlock

                Labour has one or two small windows that can difficult to see through and might not be windows at all.

                John Key started a stone-throwing war in the Crystal Palace.

          • North 13.2.2.1.2

            Naki-Obscenity-Man. So cool.

          • Psycho Milt 13.2.2.1.3

            No the one who was balls deep in that drunk student.

            I’m confused – you’re saying that’s not Sabin? And anyway, who hasn’t been balls-deep in a drunk student? Life’s pleasures are there to be enjoyed. Did you mean a school pupil, maybe?

          • tracey 13.2.2.1.4

            No such person Naki, but up in Northland… and then there is Ms Billingsly… and then there is the worker with the pony tail… and the statement to the Chilean Leader and…. and… and…. “the boys just need to grow up”…. and

  14. Gangnam Style 14

    Serial fondler & “Soulmate” to a pig fucker. He has no moral leg to stand on (if I can twist a metaphor). Possible dead cat thrown on a table, but more likely playing to his audience, I am glad I am not part of it.

  15. les 15

    grandstanding a feature of team Key….and it works!

  16. Trey 16

    Don’t know Nessalt, wasn’t he a young nat stooge? What was the name of that MP for Northland that Key thought was a top bloke who had cabinet potential?

  17. AmaKiwi 17

    I am delighted Labour is raising hell in the chamber.

    • Tracey 17.1

      Yup without a walkout it wouldnt make the news and Key did sound nasty in the very brief clip followed by Robertson. But why not be pithy in his snippet so they have to show it… asking key when he will apologise to victim of attempted rape Ms Billingsly.

  18. Detrie 18

    Regular walkouts should become the norm when national MPs go off the rails, if only to make the evening news and show NZers how pitiful this government is. The PM’s reaction today also just reconfirms my long-held view we have a sociopath as ‘leader’.
    http://bit.ly/johnkeysociopath
    REDFLAGS 3 + 4 + 6 on this occasion…

  19. NZSage 19

    The video is clear evidence Key is a despicable man not fit to be an MP leave alone PM.

    The speaker’s behaviour is also a disgrace to Parliament and New Zealand democracy, if he had a modicum of integrity he would resign immediately. So clearly he wont.

    The video can also be seen here…for now:

    https://assets.stuff.co.nz/video/production/1447130703337-Backing%20rapists%20v4.mp4

  20. heather 20

    I don’t believe Key ‘lost it’ today in the house, I think it was carefully managed by his friends Crosby and Textor. He is a man that we know can not be trusted. He is out of his depth with the whole question of refugees, asylum seekers and the New Zealanders detained on Christmas Island. He can not make up his mind about any of them, his general stance and history on Human Rights is questionable. He has to get himself out of a hole and he was carefully advised what to do. Sadly there are many who will think he did an excellent job.
    They will be the same people who are against refugees coming to New Zealand and against asylum seekers being processed in the correct manner.
    I feel deeply ashamed of his behaviour, he once again bring New Zealand and their proud record of Human Rights into disrepute.

    • Potato 20.1

      Agree 100% Heather. Planned, orchestrated with an added bonus of rubbing salt into the wounds of the opposition who know there are things that must remain unsaid. I too feel ashamed today.

    • tracey 20.2

      I agree and that is why the Opposition needs people with memories to shoot back at him to show up his lies and hypocrisy…

  21. Thinking Right 21

    I was wondering what all the brohaha about – was it all about deporting shop lifters and lolly snatchers?

    Not according to TV3.

    If you add their numbers up (340) it doesn’t leave that many left who can be considered minor offenders.

    I’m sorry but I think Key is right in this case – not many votes in this from Key.

    Crimes for which New Zealanders are awaiting deportation:
    Child sex offences (including pornography) – 34
    Murder (including manslaughter) – 22
    Rape, sex offences – 16
    Assault (including grievous bodily harm) – 121
    Theft, robbery (including armed), breaking and entering – 83
    Drug offences – 64

    Read more: http://www.3news.co.nz/nznews/distant-riot-causes-unrest-at-home-2015111017#ixzz3r4XJIOGX

    • weka 21.1

      You don’t think 245 is many NZers being detained for minor or no offences?

    • Puddleglum 21.2

      Hi Thinking Right,

      Of course you’ll be aware that that comes from a list provided from the Australian Government to the New Zealand Government back in May? As Tracy Watkins puts it:

      Key’s office later released a list compiled by the Australian government earlier this year to prove his claim, though whether or not it does is a moot point. It showed that as of May there were 34 child sex offenders, 22 murderers and 16 rapists and sex offenders on Australia’s hit list, along with 121 Kiwis convicted of assault, 83 with theft, robbery and breaking and entering offences to their name and 64 drug offenders. But that’s out of a total 585 New Zealanders who are in the system for visa cancellation. Presumably that leaves 140 or more who are being deported for less serious offences.

    • tracey 21.3

      Then why has he sat on his hands and not tried to make Turnbull keep them in Aussie? Why hasn’t he apologised to the victim of attenpted rate, like he said he would? Why did he think a murdering paedophile escapin gunde rhis watch to Chile was funny? Why does he think it is ok to fondle women’s hair (after being told to stop) cos it pleases him? Why did he remove funding from rape crisis in Christchurch? Why did Wrth have to resign and not be sacked? Why Did Sabin stay Chair of Law and Order Committee and then have to resign and not be sacked? IF as, you say Key is protecting us from sex offenders and murderers?

      You are neither Right, nor Thinking on this one.

    • John Shears 21.4

      @ Thinking Right
      Thanks for the link but the TV3 figures don’t stack up.
      At the top of the article they state 600 NZ’ers and the total of the detailed crimes is 340, at the end, that is a 260 difference.
      TV3 and Gower are not to be trusted IMO.
      and @ Sabine “Dutton said of 199 on Christmas Island, 113 had a criminal history, including 11 armed robbers, five child sex offenders and four rapists.”
      Dotton is the Aust Minister??

      • John Shears 21.4.1

        @ Thinking Right
        Thanks for the link but the TV3 figures don’t stack up.
        At the top of the article they state 600 NZ’ers and the total of the detailed crimes is 340, at the end, that is a 260 difference.
        TV3 and Gower are not to be trusted IMO.
        But wait there’s more.
        “Dutton said of 199 on Christmas Island, 113 had a criminal history, including 11 armed robbers, five child sex offenders and four rapists.” he is the Aust Minister so he should know ???

  22. I suspect that the focus groups have come in and Key – and the media – are now staking out the position.

    Tracy Watkins, for one, says Key is on the “right side of the argument politically“, that his insult in Parliament was an “inevitable response to Davis waylaying him on the way into Parliament” (apparently no such thing as personal responsibility possible in the PM’s behaviour) after Davis had upset the “fine balance” of MPs being all chummy outside of the chamber and that they – I kid you not -“usually manage to leave their political disagreements at the door of Parliament’s debating chamber“.

  23. upnorth 23

    question where are we going to house the 22 murderers and the rapists and pedos…..source tv3

    serious question – not in my neighbourhood? will Andrew little take them into his house?

    who is protecting who?

    • What’s the issue? The majority of the unwilling deportees have been successfully housed in Aussie suburbs, working, paying taxes, etc. They are being kicked out for historic offenses in most cases, after the rules were randomly changed.

    • sabine 23.2

      my friend, these are good questions indeed.
      But it seems you got it mixed up, Mr. Kelvin and the Labour Party are trying to find out what Dear Leader is doing for those that are Kiwis and locked up (after they served time for crimes they have committed, some even quite in teh past) on a currently burning island.
      It is not to have them come back, but to force Australia to keep them, after all these “kiwis” have lived their most their lives, and are only ‘residents’ as they can’t fullfill Australias very stringent rules re citizenship.

      So clearly dear Upnorth, if you are that afraid of murderes and rapists and pedos, you must ask the Prime Minister, Dear Leader, Man of Rugby and Ponytails, what he will do to keep you safe, and how he will force the Dear Leader of OZ to keep these “kiwis” over in OZ. Cause clearly, when asked by Labour, he found no answer. At least I did not hear one.

    • repateet 23.3

      Serious questions:
      To protect us from those who commit crimes should we not lock up everyone convicted?
      Should we not let them have any rights at all after they have been convicted?
      Should we allow torture of any felons who have not been forthcoming with the ‘truth’?
      Should we not ship to ‘detention centres’ on some of our outlying islands everyone convicted of a crime?

      “The quality of mercy is not strained…”

      That our leader knows he can say what he said shows we are all stained.

    • question where are we going to house the 22 murderers and the rapists and pedos…

      Well, this is just off the top of my head, but I expect they’ll be housed in the same place we house the murderers, rapists etc that live here already – in houses. Society doesn’t guarantee you’ll never live near a convicted criminal.

      Apart from which, as Sabine points out, Labour’s the party doing something to try and keep these guys from coming back to NZ – National isn’t willing to even raise it with Australia in a serious way. You should instead be asking whether Key’s willing to house them at his place…

      • tracey 23.4.1

        And then there are the people who live near a prominent New ZEalander, and probably have children…

  24. sabine 24

    funny someone is not telling quite the truth, there is Spokes Person for Dear Leader on the national channel NR. 3 stating that :

    Crimes for which New Zealanders are awaiting deportation:
    Child sex offences (including pornography) – 34
    Murder (including manslaughter) – 22
    Rape, sex offences – 16
    Assault (including grievous bodily harm) – 121
    Theft, robbery (including armed), breaking and entering – 83
    Drug offences – 64

    and the Minister of Immigration for OZ who states this

    http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/nov/10/christmas-island-detention-centre-under-control-after-riot-police-move-in

    “Dutton said of 199 on Christmas Island, 113 had a criminal history, including 11 armed robbers, five child sex offenders and four rapists.”

    So, are these five child sex offenders and four rapists all kiwis? Are only Kiwis on the island? and who are the other 86 poor sods that have no criminal history and are also on this hellhole?

    So who is gonna eat crow, Dear Leader of NZ, or Dear Leader of OZ, or Patrick Gower – stenographer of the National Channel Nr. 3

    • weka 24.1

      nice one sabine, at last a reliable source.

    • tracey 24.2

      FACTS? You wanna talka bout FACTS?????

      Labour are fighting for these people to stay in Australia, while Key is fighting for….?

      I wonder if the deal with Aussie is for them to be kept on Christmas Island until Ms Adams has the legislation ready to deal with the 10% of ‘residents” seen as “bad uns”

  25. Brian 25

    Key is a disgrace.

  26. Pat 26

    I wonder if he even realises the bizarre hypocrisy of his performance today?…

  27. sabine 27

    I do hope that kelvin Davis and the labour party (and the Green Party) will continue to work this issue. We are still a nation of laws, and no country should be allowed to lock up people without access to lawyers, without access to help from the consulate of the country of origin, and support and visitation from family and friends, effectively sending them into isolation.

    Fact is that Christmas Island is so far from anywhere and everywhere, that to get there as a lawyer, or staff from the consulate or family and friends is prohibitive.

    If the dear Leader of OZ wants to kick out people that have committed crimes in OZ, than he should put them on the next plane out of the country, destination the country of origin of these people, not fucking Christmas island.
    And that is what Labour and Kelvin Davis have been saying now for a while.

    So the next question that Kelvin Davis and the Labour Party should be asking, are we citizens of NZ happy for OZ and or any other nation to just dump people on tiny islands somewhere without access to family, friends, lawyers and representatives, and why is Dear Leader happy to support Dear Leader of OZ instead of people that are by birth New Zealanders.

    This meme of supporting the rapists and the child abusers sounds like something that Bush the younger said in the lead up to the Iraq war, sequel 2, If you are not with us, than you are against us. It deserves nothing more then , Yeah,right, Tui.
    So Labour and the Greens, go back to work tomorrow, and if he tries it again, laugh him out of the room. You did well over the weekend and Dear Leader is not liking it.

  28. Whateva Next 28

    Well Andrew littles tue was a bit wonky so they are quits now

  29. Mike the Savage One 29

    This was ‘get some guts’ number two by Key. He is increasingly losing his temper, and shows his ugly and hate filled face. It was very well visible on the Parliament TV broadcast. Keep it up, Andrew and others in Labour, same as now Marama firing for the Greens, we will get him there, to expose Key, for what he really is.

    Good work by Labour in the House, and good on for those that walked out. The Speaker was trembling himself, as he should, as he again showed true bias.

    And one viewer shouted at Bill English from the balcony, when he talked his usual BS about all the “good” things they do for those needing “extra support” and so (“wrap around BS”).

    We are heading for interesting times, I reckon.

  30. Smilin 30

    Carter is so biased and down right ignorant that he cannot keep what is said in the house on track and continually allows the govt bs leverage on most issues to stifle intelligent constructive debate – give an inch take a mile
    Its all about allowing Key and his scant views and replies to be upmost in the house,after all he is president in his mind which is enough to make any of what goes on in the house next to a dictatorship
    Also his contrived outbursts if in public would be along the lines of what we see on Police ten 7 which would find him arrested

  31. Mike Bond 31

    m.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/news/article.cfm?c_id…
    The above link is where Davis marched against sexual offenders. He now wants to bat for them???? So are Labour for sex offenders or are they against them?

    • North 31.1

      “Bond……Mike Bond. Cheapie.”

    • northshoredoc 31.2

      @Mike Bond

      Can you not understand that you can be against sexual offending and still demand fair and reasonable treatment for those convicted of sex offences ?

      Not sure why this is such a hard concept for some to grasp ?

      • Mike Bond 31.2.1

        One question for you northshoredoc. Will you be happy having one of these paedophiles/rapist/murderer living next to you?

        I agree with human rights and all that, but Davis was in Australia, Little has said he has spoken to the Aussies, what did they get changed? Do they seriously think anyone from New Zealand can get the Aussies to change their law to suit our ex pat criminals? Grow up or grow a pair!

        • tracey 31.2.1.1

          I wonder who is currently living next to the Prominent New Zealander?

          If you are not a paedophile, rapist or muderer Mike, how would you feel if someone told everyone in NZ you were because everyone on Chrismas Island is, and you arrive in NZ from Christmas Island?

          The smugness of those who think bad stuff only happens to others is palpable

          • Mike Bond 31.2.1.1.1

            Sorry Tracey, no one said everyone on Christmas Island are paedophiles, rapists or murderers. From figures given, it would seem a third are, but the point is that no one in New Zealand has the power to change a law in Australia. Davis was there and achieved nothing! Labour are just showing they do not care about the average Kiwi and consistently support the criminals and campaign for better rights for them. Vote Labour and we turn the Rits into a detention centre. Room service and all!!!!!

            • Leftie 31.2.1.1.1.1

              @Mike Bond

              “no one said everyone on Christmas Island are paedophiles, rapists or murderers. ”

              John key did in parliament.

          • Mike Bond 31.2.1.1.2

            “bad stuff only happens to others” @ tracey. I suppose these criminals had guns against their heads and were forced to rape, murder or mess with kids. I suppose they were forced to deal in drugs etc. They did the crime and knew there would be consequences! Lucky for them in New Zealand we have a Labour party that is fighting full force for their rights! Rights they gave up when they committed the crime, but who cares!

            • One Anonymous Bloke 31.2.1.1.2.1

              In fact, human rights are universal, and cannot be “given up”.

              Childish vengeance fantasies such as yours, when translated into penal policy, have the effect of increasing recidivism and therefore, the crime rate.

              Why do you want more crime? What’s wrong with you?

            • Psycho Milt 31.2.1.1.2.2

              They did the crime and knew there would be consequences!

              They knew that the consequences would include indefinite detention without trial on a remote island? How did they know that?

              Lucky for them in New Zealand we have a Labour party that is fighting full force for their rights!

              It’s lucky for all of us, not just them, because National has made it clear it has no problem with Australia detaining NZers at its pleasure, whether they’ve committed crimes at some point in their lives or not.

              Rights they gave up when they committed the crime…

              The ability to give up your rights is something that exists only in your imagination. Humans who’ve committed crimes have exactly the same human rights that you do – if you’re happy for those rights to be stripped from one group of humans, don’t pretend you’re a believer in human rights and don’t complain when someone decides to strip you of yours.

            • tracey 31.2.1.1.2.3

              The thing is Mike, it’s people like you I really don’t want to live next door to.

        • tracey 31.2.1.2

          “I agree with human rights and all that,”

          Actually no you don’t. It is little wonder you struggle to understand this situation because you don’t even understand your own words posted here.

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    The northern expressway extension from Warkworth to Whangarei is likely to require radical changes to legislation if it is going to be built within the foreseeable future. The Government’s powers to purchase land, the planning process and current restrictions on road tolling are all going to need to be changed ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #30 2024

    Open access notables Could an extremely cold central European winter such as 1963 happen again despite climate change?, Sippel et al., Weather and Climate Dynamics: Here, we first show based on multiple attribution methods that a winter of similar circulation conditions to 1963 would still lead to an extreme seasonal ...
    2 days ago
  • First they came for the Māori

    Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedFirst they came for the doctors But I was confused by the numbers and costs So I didn't speak up Then they came for our police and nurses And I didn't think we could afford those costs anyway So I ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Join us for the weekly Hoon on YouTube Live

    Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on UnsplashWe’re back again after our mid-winter break. We’re still with the ‘new’ day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when we have our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Will the real PM Luxon please stand up?

    Notes: This is a free article. Abuse in Care themes are mentioned. Video is at the bottom.BackgroundYesterday’s report into Abuse in Care revealed that at least 1 in 3 of all who went through state and faith based care were abused - often horrifically. At least, because not all survivors ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Will debt reduction trump abuse in care redress?

    Luxon speaks in Parliament yesterday about the Abuse in Care report. Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:PM Christopher Luxon said yesterday in tabling the Abuse in Care report in Parliament he wanted to ‘do the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Olywhites and Time Bandits

    About a decade ago I worked with a bloke called Steve. He was the grizzled veteran coder, a few years older than me, who knew where the bodies were buried - code wise. Despite his best efforts to be approachable and friendly he could be kind of gruff, through to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Why were the 1930s so hot in North America?

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters and Bob Henson Those who’ve trawled social media during heat waves have likely encountered a tidbit frequently used to brush aside human-caused climate change: Many U.S. states and cities had their single hottest temperature on record during the 1930s, setting incredible heat marks ...
    2 days ago
  • Throwback Thursday – Thinking about Expressways

    Some of the recent announcements from the government have reminded us of posts we’ve written in the past. Here’s one from early 2020. There were plenty of reactions to the government’s infrastructure announcement a few weeks ago which saw them fund a bunch of big roading projects. One of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Thursday, July 25 are:News: Why Electric Kiwi is closing to new customers - and why it matters RNZ’s Susan EdmundsScoop: Government drops ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • The Possum: Demon or Friend?

    Hi,I felt a small wet tongue snaking through one of the holes in my Crocs. It explored my big toe, darting down one side, then the other. “He’s looking for some toe cheese,” said the woman next to me, words that still haunt me to this day.Growing up in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • Not a story

    Yesterday I happily quoted the Prime Minister without fact-checking him and sure enough, it turns out his numbers were all to hell. It’s not four kg of Royal Commission report, it’s fourteen.My friend and one-time colleague-in-comms Hazel Phillips gently alerted me to my error almost as soon as I’d hit ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Thursday, July 25, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day were:The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry published its final report yesterday.PM Christopher Luxon and The Minister responsible for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • A tougher line on “proactive release”?

    The Official Information Act has always been a battle between requesters seeking information, and governments seeking to control it. Information is power, so Ministers and government agencies want to manage what is released and when, for their own convenience, and legality and democracy be damned. Their most recent tactic for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • 'Let's build a motorway costing $100 million per km, before emissions costs'

    TL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:Transport and Energy Minister Simeon Brown is accelerating plans to spend at least $10 billion through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to extend State Highway One as a four-lane ‘Expressway’ from Warkworth to Whangarei ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Lester's Prescription – Positive Bleeding.

    I live my life (woo-ooh-ooh)With no control in my destinyYea-yeah, yea-yeah (woo-ooh-ooh)I can bleed when I want to bleedSo come on, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)You can bleed when you want to bleedYea-yeah, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)Everybody bleed when they want to bleedCome on and bleedGovernments face tough challenges. Selling unpopular decisions to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Casey Costello gaslights Labour in the House

    Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone icon on the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Why is the Texas grid in such bad shape?

    This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Headline from 2021 The Texas grid, run by ERCOT, has had a rough few years. In 2021, winter storm Uri blacked out much of the state for several days. About a week ago, Hurricane Beryl knocked out ...
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on a textbook case of spending waste by the Luxon government

    Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • LXR Takaanini

    As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    3 days ago
  • Four kilograms of pain

    Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Luxon gets caught out

    NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • A worrying sign

    Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Are we fine with 47.9% home-ownership by 2048?

    Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloitte report for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Let's Win This

    You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Waimahara: The Singing Spirit of Water

    There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    4 days ago
  • A major milestone: Global climate pollution may have just peaked

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’s Oliver LewisScoop: Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announced the Board of Te Whatu Ora- Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • HealthNZ and Luxon at cross purposes over budget blowout

    Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2500-3000 more healthcare staff expected to be fired, as Shane Reti blames Labour for a budget defic...

    Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • Might Kamala Harris be about to get a 'stardust' moment like Jacinda Ardern?

    As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    5 days ago
  • Solutions Interview: Steven Hail on MMT & ecological economics

    TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
    The KakaBy Steven Hail
    5 days ago
  • Reported back

    The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Vandrad the Viking, Christopher Coombes, and Literary Archaeology

    Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On The Biden Withdrawal

    History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    5 days ago
  • Joe Biden's withdrawal puts the spotlight back on Kamala and the USA's complicated relatio...

    This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Why we have to challenge our national fiscal assumptions

    A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Existential Crisis and Damaged Brains

    What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • A speed limit is not a target, and yet…

    This is a guest post from longtime supporter Mr Plod, whose previous contributions include a proposal that Hamilton become New Zealand’s capital city, and that we should switch which side of the road we drive on. A recent Newsroom article, “Back to school for the Govt’s new speed limit policy“, ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #29

    A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
    6 days ago
  • I'd like to share what I did this weekend

    This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • For the children – Why mere sentiment can be a misleading force in our lives, and lead to unex...

    National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Order image, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A friend in uncertain times

    Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • The Chaotic World of Male Diet Influencers

    Hi,We’ll get to the horrific world of male diet influencers (AKA Beefy Boys) shortly, but first you will be glad to know that since I sent out the Webworm explaining why the assassination attempt on Donald Trump was not a false flag operation, I’ve heard from a load of people ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • It's Starting To Look A Lot Like… Y2K

    Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 20

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Pharmac Director, Climate Change Commissioner, Health NZ Directors – The latest to quit this m...

    Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Flooding Housing Policy

    The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • A Voyage Among the Vandals: Accepted (Again!)

    As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā's Chorus for Friday, July 19

    An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-July-2024

    Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: A market-led plan for failure

    TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Tobacco First

    Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Trump’s Adopted Son.

    Waiting In The Wings: For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSA announced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Hoon around the week to July 19

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent talking about the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s release of its first Emissions Reduction Plan;University of Otago Foreign Relations Professor and special guest Dr Karin von ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #29 2024

    Open access notables Improving global temperature datasets to better account for non-uniform warming, Calvert, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society: To better account for spatial non-uniform trends in warming, a new GITD [global instrumental temperature dataset] was created that used maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) to combine the land surface ...
    1 week ago

  • Joint statement from the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago
  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

    Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

    New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts.  “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    24 hours ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

    An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Funding confirmed for regions affected by North Island Weather Events

    The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

    Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.   “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Strengthening partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto

    He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Transport Minister thanks outgoing CAA Chair

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Test for Customary Marine Title being restored

    The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says.  “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Opposition united in bad faith over ECE sector review

    Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet.  “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Kiwis having their say on first regulatory review

    After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks.  “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government upgrading Lower North Island commuter rail

    The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government moves to ensure flood protection for Wairoa

    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM speech to Parliament – Royal Commission of Inquiry’s Report into Abuse in Care

    Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.  At the heart of this report are the ...
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  • Grant Illingworth KC appointed as transitional Commissioner to Royal Commission

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  • Backing mental health services on the West Coast

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    Minister for Space and Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins will travel to Adelaide tomorrow for space and science engagements, including speaking at the Australian Space Forum.  While there she will also have meetings and visits with a focus on space, biotechnology and innovation.  “New Zealand has a thriving space ...
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    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is travelling to the Solomon Islands tomorrow for meetings with his counterparts from around the Pacific supporting collective management of the region’s fisheries. The 23rd Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee and the 5th Regional Fisheries Ministers’ Meeting in Honiara from 23 to 26 July ...
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    7 days ago
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    New Zealand and Japan will continue to step up their shared engagement with the Pacific, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “New Zealand and Japan have a strong, shared interest in a free, open and stable Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says.    “We are pleased to be finding more ways ...
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  • New infrastructure energises BOP forestry towns

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  • 'Pacific Futures'

    President Adeang, fellow Ministers, honourable Diet Member Horii, Ambassadors, distinguished guests.    Minasama, konnichiwa, and good afternoon, everyone.    Distinguished guests, it’s a pleasure to be here with you today to talk about New Zealand’s foreign policy reset, the reasons for it, the values that underpin it, and how it ...
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    1 week ago

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