SFO exonerates NZ First

Written By: - Date published: 5:51 pm, September 29th, 2020 - 56 comments
Categories: national, nz first, political parties, Politics, winston peters - Tags:

The SFO has put out a press release a few days before overseas voting starts. This was in

They have not laid charges against NZ First or anyone in it – excluding comprehensively…. It isn’t…

…a Minister, sitting MP, or candidate in the upcoming election (or a member of their staff), or a current member of the New Zealand First party.

I suspect that someone has been pointing out the civil law consequences of doing anything less….

They have laid charges…

The SFO has filed a charge of ‘Obtaining by Deception’ against two defendants in the New Zealand First Foundation electoral funding case. The charges were filed on 23 September.

The defendants have interim name suppression and so cannot be named or identified at this time.

I’d emphasise that the last sentence means that if you try to speculate about who the defendants here in any manner beyond what is said in the SFO statement, then I’m going to ban you for 3 years. That is our local law. Despite the curious association between “two defendants” and “New Zealand First Foundation” in that statement, there is nothing to indicate that there is a employment association between those two.

This result is what I was expecting back in April. Essentially the electoral donation laws in NZ are wide enough to shove several buses through side by side.

People may not like that, but the way to deal with that is express your contempt for all parties that do this kind of crap. National in particular are notorious for the use of external foundations who deal with donations. But currently doing this kind of influence peddling was part of what the Electoral Finance Act was designed to diminish back in 2007.

I’m sure that many of the hypocrites who decried that attempt at controlling political donations and influencing back then will be the most voracious on this decision. They were those in the forefront of removing that Act in 2008, and never creating anything to effectively diminish the problem.

Winston Peters rightfully points at this second legal run by political opponents against him and his party using the police and SFO as being a legal travesty. It was unfortunately lawful.

Personally I think that the complainants need to be looked at for deliberately wasting Electoral Commission, Police and SFO time and resources. I’d like to see the complainant(s) see charges of that against themselves to constrain another round of this kind of poor behaviour.

What does worry me is that it took so long for the police and SFO to deal with this. Coming out with results mere days before the voting starts feels to me to be a political interference in its own right.

BTW: I don’t like NZ First or most of it’s policies. However I also find the kind of political tripping that was so characteristic of the era of Dirty Politics to be more dangerous.

56 comments on “SFO exonerates NZ First ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. James 1
    29 September 2020 at 6:02 pm

    The SFO has total freedom to persue or not persue any case they want to, at the discretion of the current director, so the 'wasting time' response doesn't really hold water.

    I would hesitate about calling this an exonoration, in fact I'd argue deeply against it – just because NZF's activities were not covered by the law to the extend that the SFO could charge them, they absolutely benefitted from a foundation which has had charges brought against it. Think of it, if you like, as a political party getting a donation from a criminal.

    If you look at the people who were donating to the Foundation, and some of NZF's policy 'wins', a pattern emerges. They removed the betting levy against the express and outspoken opposition of the responsible governemnt department, the Attourney General derided the 'Manifesto Commitments' part of the Provincial Growth Fund as being an opaque 'fund within a fund' which opened the door for all kinds of abuse, and with that fund, they supported a race track in Christcurch, whose beneficiaries directly donated to them.

    You are right in one respect that this will only be solved through legislation and not the courts, but it is worthwhile to keep in mind that the SFO only charges if they believe they can almost certainly win. Even if a preponderance of evidence would be enough to file against Peters or NZF in general, unless it was an overwhelming amount, they would be unlikely to file charges.

    So it is absolutely valid to examine this case and call out NZF as being corrupt and unethical.

    • lprent 1.1
      29 September 2020 at 6:53 pm

      So it is absolutely valid to examine this case and call out NZF as being corrupt and unethical.

      Only if you also call out National in exactly the same manner for this

      https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12309443

      Or for their previous and probably current 'lawful' foundations for harvesting donations. If you are confused by that statement, then I'm sure taht you will be enlightened.

      Or Act for their foundations for harvesting donations.

      BTW: I've let this and a couple of other comments through. Do you have a ban at present?

      [lprent: opps – clean up my own bad paste. ]

      • James 1.1.1
        29 September 2020 at 6:58 pm

        Oh, I do absolutely agree. National are unethical and corrupt in how they handle donations and fundraising. Probably legal, but absolutely unethical and corrupt.

        I mean, pretty much any use of a Trust for political donations should be viewed, in my opinion, as unethical, as it fundamentally serves to hide and distract from links between policy and payment.

        edit No, I don’t have a ban. Just happen to be working on a whole written piece on the NZF stuff (after another piece on the JLR stuff) and broke my own usual ‘no blog commenting’ policy

        • lprent 1.1.1.1
          29 September 2020 at 7:09 pm

          …broke my own usual ‘no blog commenting’ policy

          I didn't remember one.

          • James 1.1.1.1.1
            29 September 2020 at 7:12 pm

            No, as in, I, myself, the person called James, have a personal policy usually that I don't comment on blogs. Which I broke to talk about this particular story 'cos I happened to be working on the subject matter, which is why I'm not like, a regular commenter, does that make sense?

            I've been writing all day my brain is mush.

        • Draco T Bastard 1.1.1.2
          29 September 2020 at 7:46 pm

          I mean, pretty much any use of a Trust for political donations should be viewed, in my opinion, as unethical, as it fundamentally serves to hide and distract from links between policy and payment.

          I still say that no legal entity should be able to give to political parties. By legal entity I mean any form of business, union, trust or anything else that is legally registered in any way, shape or form.

          As you say, such giving is inherently corrupt as it hides its purpose.

          EDIT:
          I’d also like to see a maximum donation of $1000 per person per year. Force the parties to become mass member parties again.

      • Incognito 1.1.2
        29 September 2020 at 10:29 pm

        This “James” is different from the other notorious “James”, who is not having a ban at present.

        • James 1.1.2.1
          29 September 2020 at 10:43 pm

          I am very confused and am questioning my own existance now.

          • Incognito 1.1.2.1.1
            29 September 2020 at 10:54 pm

            There is another regular commenter with the same user name as you who likes to raise the ire of other commenters and draw the attention of Moderators here and who is occasionally rewarded with a ban.

            As far as I can tell, you have commented once before here on this site on 17th April 2019 and you used a different user name. If you had used that one again today, we would not be having this conversation 😉

            If you wish, and if you can recall, I can change your today’s comments to carrying that previous user name and hopefully all confusion will dissipate.

  2. weka 2
    29 September 2020 at 6:03 pm

    do you think the timing was delayed? Or it's because of the change in election date?

    • lprent 2.1
      29 September 2020 at 6:20 pm

      As RNZ pointed out

      Back in April, the SFO said it was on track to make a call before this year's election on whether to lay charges in relation to the investigation into the NZ First Foundation, which had been bankrolling the NZ First Party.

      Personally I'd say that it is suggestive that they actually managed make a public announcement 10 days after the expected election date of September 19th, and only managed to charge someone 4 days after that date suggestive.

      Sure, I can't prove that this timing was deliberate. But if you look at this as being a political move, then it does seem like the optimum time to let it trail out to.

      Certainly, it is suggestive enough that I'd like to leave that suspicion of payback of some form hanging over the SFO – who haven't exactly been loved by Peters in the past. Even if it was a (convenient?) coincidence – then I'm afraid that "no comment" by the SFO isn't going to be enough to allay my suspicion about their motives.

    • Anne 2.2
      29 September 2020 at 6:45 pm

      Covid would have had something to do with it.

      • lprent 2.2.1
        29 September 2020 at 7:23 pm

        I don't think so. based on the known allegations most of this would have been a 'paperwork' (mostly a computer) trail rather than a lot of interviewing. It is rather hard to see how it could have caused a delay

    • lprent 3.1
      29 September 2020 at 6:22 pm

      From that link I liked…

      New Zealand First has instructed its lawyers to take legal action against the SFO, seeking declarations the agency has abused its statutory powers.

      Even if what they did was within the their lawful bounds, then I think that there is a case that individuals there need to answer.

  4. millsy 4
    29 September 2020 at 6:17 pm

    What about the two people charged?

    Im confused?

    I know it doesn't take much to confuse me, but still….

    • James 4.1
      29 September 2020 at 6:19 pm

      They have interim name suppression – likely not for long – but because of this publicly speculating on who they are is a violation of that court order.

    • Pat 4.2
      29 September 2020 at 6:23 pm

      [deleted]

      [lprent: You are making presumptive speculation. Do you want to be banned? ]

      • James 4.2.1
        29 September 2020 at 6:27 pm

        Mods, just to be extra careful, this technically violates the name suppression, Pat is speculating the relationship between the charged individuals and the New Zealand First Foundation and Party, which is outside the bounds of what information was released by the SFO

      • RosieLee 4.2.2
        29 September 2020 at 6:36 pm

        [deleted]

        [lprent: ditto. ]

      • Pat 4.2.3
        29 September 2020 at 6:44 pm

        beg your pardon?….there was nothing there that wasnt less than an hour expressed on RNZ and is still available

        • lprent 4.2.3.1
          29 September 2020 at 6:55 pm

          Read exactly what they say more carefully. They are also being very careful.

          • Pat 4.2.3.1.1
            29 September 2020 at 7:17 pm

            I have.

            It says

            'The NZ First Foundation only exists because the NZ First Party Board decided to set it up , and to set it running , so its very hard to say how these two things can be seperate when the NZ First Party, it decided it wanted to set this thing up and then the NZ First Party benefited from the NZ First Foundation paying its bills"

            • lprent 4.2.3.1.1.1
              29 September 2020 at 7:29 pm

              On a superficial level that may be correct.

              On a legal level because of the separation or legal entities you'd have to show clear control to go past what was in the authorising documents.

              But at a more basic level – that you are clearly being too dense to understand. – you'd also have to show me that the two people charged had anything to do with the NZ First Foundation.

              To do so would inherently involve you and me in a direct violation of a court order. That is what I meant when I said presumption. The statement from the SFO did not state who the individuals charged were or how they were associated with the investigation.

              I trust that you now understand this is that last time I will point this out to you.

    • lprent 4.3
      29 September 2020 at 6:32 pm

      I think that the ambiguity could be a result of the court orders about employment. However I'd point out that in the post-National party fallout for Jami Lee Ross was fraud charges against him and three (presumed) donors. The latter was presumably because the donors were assessed as knowingly doing an unlawful act by the charging authority.

      It doesn’t even have to have anything to do with the NZ First Foundation because it could be someone claiming to act for them

      There is literally no way here to know, speculate, or opine until the court orders are lifted. "Obtaining by deception" could be anything in a chain of behaviour from con artists purporting to act for someone to almost anything else.

      Offhand I can think of a number of possible scenarios. So speculating on who it might have been charged is not going to happen here.

      • Pat 4.3.1
        29 September 2020 at 6:43 pm

        To quote Andrew Geddes (in the RNZ link)…"I don't buy it"

        Plausible deniability by design

        • lprent 4.3.1.1
          29 September 2020 at 7:06 pm

          Of course it is. That really isn't a question. What the SFO had to look at was "is how it is designed lawful?".

          Unfortunately that is the case. Just as the Waitemata Foundation was. Many tax avoidance schemes are. The legalised murder in the armed forces is. That the way police shootings are justified. That doctors get away with murder by neglect often is. The way that ACC makes their payment decisions often is.

          These are just a series of things that I know are lawful, but which could easily be construed as being immoral by many who comment here.

          However we express our collective decision on these by the actual legislation we put in place.

          If you want to change any of these then that is a political move. That you can express here.

          Just wanting to violate court orders by inference or presumption is something that you can't do here. You can of course follow the the method of the last paragraph of our About.

          But you'd note at the bottom of the site who is authorising what is said on this site…

    • McFlock 4.4
      29 September 2020 at 7:14 pm

      two defendants in the New Zealand First Foundation electoral funding case.

      My italics.

      Cases can be wide-ranging, and when you start turning over rocks you might find stuff other than what you were specifically looking for. Could be nearly anyone for anything, except anyone in NZ1.

  5. Gareth Wilson 5
    29 September 2020 at 6:18 pm

    I'd advise Winston Peters to explain who "Comey" is before describing something as "Comey-level".

  6. Anne 6
    29 September 2020 at 6:55 pm

    What I find gob-smacking is Collins' announcement today of a huge increase to the SFO's funding… in order to fight corruption.

    Judy dear,

    Have you forgotten the corruption committed by several National administrations going back to the Waitemata Trust in the 1970s? Have you forgotten the revelations, courtesy of Nicky Hager, only 5 or so years ago? No, you haven't forgotten the latter because you're now attempting to rewrite history by projecting the guilt back onto Hager!

  7. observer 7
    29 September 2020 at 7:06 pm

    It doesn't exonerate them. No Right Turn and Andrew Geddis are closer to the mark.

    As I said on Open Mike, the timing is the worst. That's a legitimate complaint. But a separate issue.

    • lprent 7.1
      29 September 2020 at 7:17 pm

      I just used the phrase that Peters did. I suspect that he meant it as ironically as I did. Our legal system inherently relies both presumption of innocence and an permanent assumption of possible guilt.

      I'd also point out that by their definition (and for that matter the legal basis for not laying charges) it is literally impossible to exonerate anyone. Police assume that everyone is guilty of something – because they usually are. However the actual test is if there is enough evidence to convict of some particular offence. That is a far harder test

      Hell, if someone was under investigation for a murder that they hadn't committed, then they would still wind up as being in a state of "insufficient evidence to charge". Exoneration doesn’t exist in our legal system.

  8. James 8
    29 September 2020 at 7:23 pm

    As a related note, it would seem to me that the Serious Fraud Office, through this and the other cases being brought, is seeking for the courts to clarify and set in precedent some hazy aspects of the law. For example, the degree to which party officials and recievers of donations are obligated to investigate their donors for potential donation splitting. There is currently no legal guidance on how thoroughly a party secretary must investigate companies donating to the party to see if any of them are owned by the same individual. With luck, the fact that these laws are so muddy will prompt the next term of parliament to fix and make the laws more clear and improve transparency.

  9. Ad 9
    29 September 2020 at 7:26 pm

    With the SFO investigations into Labour and National still ongoing, the SFO would be shown as egregiously biased against New Zealand First if those investigations were released after polls close.

    • James 9.1
      29 September 2020 at 7:33 pm

      The SFO investigation into National is not ongoing – they have made and annoucned the charges. I don't know what stage the Labour one is.

      • lprent 9.1.1
        29 September 2020 at 7:39 pm

        Yes, and National are just as “not guilty” as NZ First are, for what look to be exactly the same reasons. Insufficient evident to be able to convict.

        The Labour one will certainly wind up the same way.

        As I said earlier – the legal basis of political donations is wide enough to drive several buses through. Personally I think that the only realistic way to effectively deal with it is to make it illegal to make donations to political parties or politicians.

        Of course that solution does open its own can of worms.

        • James 9.1.1.1
          29 September 2020 at 7:42 pm

          Nah, the only realistic way to deal with it is to tax all the people with enough money to donate to parties to the point where they can't afford to any more!

          • Barfly 9.1.1.1.1
            29 September 2020 at 8:54 pm

            Wow what a splendid idea! Oh wow you are taking the piss? Oh gee never mind 🙂

            • James 9.1.1.1.1.1
              29 September 2020 at 10:45 pm

              Only half taking the piss to be honest. Influence peddling is intrinsically linked to wealth – as long as there are wealth interests (as in people or groups of people with high wealth and specific policy interests regarding that wealth and control of it and its sources) there will be attempts to gain undue influence. Democracy is incompatible with Capitalism without corruption.

      • Ad 9.1.2
        29 September 2020 at 8:19 pm

        Charges were laid in the National case, but I wasn't aware that the trial had completed. Is that the case?

        • James 9.1.2.1
          29 September 2020 at 10:47 pm

          "Investigation is ongoing" means that the SFO are trying to discover information. Right now in the National case they've found everything they need to and are just arguing in court. It is the same situation the NZFF stuff is in: they have completed the investigation, and now move on to prosecuting based on the information gathered.

  10. Pat 10
    29 September 2020 at 7:58 pm

    "Peters' party also unsuccessfully attempted to injunct the SFO from revealing it had laid charges over the foundation until after the October 17 election, newly released court documents show."

    https://www.newsroom.co.nz/two-charged-over-nz-first-foundation-donations

  11. Chris T 11
    29 September 2020 at 8:27 pm

    It is an aside and apologies if it is off-topic, but the SFO don't half have some full on powers with their investigations. Was reading the bill the other day.

  12. Stunned Mullet 12
    29 September 2020 at 8:54 pm

    https://www.courtsofnz.govt.nz/assets/cases/New-Zealand-First-Party-v-The-Director-of-the-Serious-Fraud-Office-2502.pdf

    ORDER PROHIBITING PUBLICATION OF THE JUDGMENT, THE APPLICATION AND ALL MATTERS RELATING TO IT UNTIL 5 PM FRIDAY 25 SEPTEMBER 2020 UNLESS THE COURT OTHERWISE ORDERS.

    I consider there is a significant public interest in the New Zealand voting public being informed during an election campaign about criminal charges of serious fraud against people or organisations related to political parties.

    Ultimately, I consider the public interest in transparency outweighs the inconvenience of the announcement to NZ First. I do not consider the Court is justified in inhibiting the value of that transparency for the New Zealand public. It will be up

    to the political system including the media, rather than the judicial system, to ensure the transparency of the announcement is not obscured by confusion and misinformation.

    • Barfly 12.1
      29 September 2020 at 8:55 pm

      /shrug??

      • Stunned Mullet 12.1.1
        29 September 2020 at 9:01 pm

        Why would one want a complete media ban until after the election if one and one's colleagues and party had been completely exonerated ?

        • Hanswurst 12.1.1.1
          29 September 2020 at 10:34 pm

          The two most obvious reasons that I can see are:

          1. because one is oneself, or one's associates are, guilty of significant misconduct.
          2. because one knows that there is a strong chance that all that will come out before the election will be 'two unidentified individuals have been charged in connection with the NZ First Foundation case', and that many in politics and the media will do their damnedest to make sure that the terms 'charged' and NZ First' appear as close together as posssible, as often as they can, preferably with the words 'scandal', 'hypocrisy' and 'unprecedented' liberally sprinkled around them.
        • Incognito 12.1.1.2
          29 September 2020 at 11:03 pm

          It will be up to the political system including the media, rather than the judicial system, to ensure the transparency of the announcement is not obscured by confusion and misinformation.

          Winston Peters is having to fight harder than ever before for his political survival and he’s made few friends in the media.

          You are taking a high risk if you continue to go down this path of commenting.

  13. ken 13
    30 September 2020 at 12:24 am

    It will be sad to see Winston go, but he probably would have been higher in the polls now if he hadn't tried to stymie the government at every turn.

    I'm picking that he learned his financial gymnastics when he was a Nat.

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    While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    19 hours ago

  • Protecting Your Home Computer A Guide to Cyber Awareness
    In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    19 hours ago

  • Server-Based Computing Powering the Modern Digital Landscape
    In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    19 hours ago

  • Vroom vroom go the big red trucks
    The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    19 hours ago

  • Jones finds $410,000 to help the government muscle in on a spat project
    Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    20 hours ago

  • Again, hate crimes are not necessarily terrorism.
    Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    23 hours ago

  • Despair – construction consenting edition
    Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    23 hours ago

  • Coalition promises – will the Govt keep the commitment to keep Kiwis equal before the law?
    Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    23 hours ago

  • An impermanent public service is a guarantee of very little else but failure
    Chris Trotter writes –  The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • What happens after the war – Mariupol
    Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    1 day ago

  • Babies and benefits – no good news
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • Should the RBNZ be looking through climate inflation?
    Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours, as of 9:16 am on Thursday, April 18 are:Housing: Tauranga residents living in boats, vans RNZ Checkpoint Louise TernouthHousing: Waikato councillor says wastewater plant issues could hold up Sleepyhead building a massive company town Waikato Times Stephen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the public sector carnage, and misogyny as terrorism
    It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    1 day ago

  • Meeting the Master Baiters
    Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    1 day ago

  • How extreme was the Earth's temperature in 2023
    This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blog In 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 day ago

  • Backbone, revisited
    The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • Ministers are not above the law
    Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago

  • What’s the outfit you can hear going down the gurgler? Probably it’s David Parker’s Oceans Sec...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point  of Order first heard of the Oceans Secretariat in June 2021, when David Parker (remember him?) announced a multi-agency approach to protecting New Zealand’s marine ecosystems and fisheries. Parker (holding the Environment, and Oceans and Fisheries portfolios) broke the news at the annual Forest & ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Bryce Edwards writes  – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Matt Doocey doubles down on trans “healthcare”
    Citizen Science writes –  Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • A TikTok Prime Minister.
    One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago

  • Texas Lessons
    This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    2 days ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links at 6:06 am
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours as of 6:06 am on Wednesday, April 17 are:Must read: Secrecy shrouds which projects might be fast-tracked RNZ Farah HancockScoop: Revealed: Luxon has seven staffers working on social media content - partly paid for by taxpayer Newshub ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Fighting poverty on the holiday highway
    Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago

  • Bernard's six-stack of substacks at 6:26 pm
    Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

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

  • Apposite Quotations.
    How Long Is Long Enough? Gaza under Israeli bombardment, July 2014. This posting is exclusive to Bowalley Road. ...
    Bowalley Road
    3 days ago

  • What’s a life worth now?
    You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Howling at the Moon
    Karl du Fresne writes –  There’s a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere – mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Newshub is Dead.
    I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • Seymour is chuffed about cutting early-learning red tape – but we hear, too, that Jones has loose...
    Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago

  • Was Hawkesby entirely wrong?
    David Farrar  writes –  The Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled: Comments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. It is a fact such patients are prioritised. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • PRC shadow looms as the Solomons head for election
    PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time. A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that won’t compromise Beijing’s plans. Cleo Paskall writes – On April 17th the Solomon Islands, a country of ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Climate Change: Criminal ecocide
    We are in the middle of a climate crisis. Last year was (again) the hottest year on record. NOAA has just announced another global coral bleaching event. Floods are threatening UK food security. So naturally, Shane Jones wants to make it easier to mine coal: Resources Minister Shane Jones ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • Is saving one minute of a politician's time worth nearly $1 billion?
    Is speeding up the trip to and from Wellington airport by 12 minutes worth spending up more than $10 billion? Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me in the last day to 8:26 am today are:The Lead: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Long Tunnel or Long Con?
    Yesterday it was revealed that Transport Minister had asked Waka Kotahi to look at the options for a long tunnel through Wellington. State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    3 days ago

  • Smoke And Mirrors.
    You're a fraud, and you know itBut it's too good to throw it all awayAnyone would do the sameYou've got 'em goingAnd you're careful not to show itSometimes you even fool yourself a bitIt's like magicBut it's always been a smoke and mirrors gameAnyone would do the sameForty six billion ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • What is Mexico doing about climate change?
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The June general election in Mexico could mark a turning point in ensuring that the country’s climate policies better reflect the desire of its citizens to address the climate crisis, with both leading presidential candidates expressing support for renewable energy. Mexico is the ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

  • State of humanity, 2024
    2024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?When I say 2024 I really mean the state of humanity in 2024.Saturday night, we watched Civil War because that is one terrifying cliff we've ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Govt’s Wellington tunnel vision aims to ease the way to the airport (but zealous promoters of cycl...
    Buzz from the Beehive A pet project and governmental tunnel vision jump out from the latest batch of ministerial announcements. The government is keen to assure us of its concern for the wellbeing of our pets. It will be introducing pet bonds in a change to the Residential Tenancies Act ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • The case for cultural connectedness
    A recent report generated from a Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) survey of 1,224 rangatahi Māori aged 11-12 found: Cultural connectedness was associated with fewer depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms and better quality of life. That sounds cut and dry. But further into the report the following appears: Cultural connectedness is ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Useful context on public sector job cuts
    David Farrar writes –    The Herald reports: From the gory details of job-cuts news, you’d think the public service was being eviscerated.   While the media’s view of the cuts is incomplete, it’s also true that departments have been leaking the particulars faster than a Wellington ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell On When Racism Comes Disguised As Anti-racism
    Remember the good old days, back when New Zealand had a PM who could think and speak calmly and intelligently in whole sentences without blustering? Even while Iran’s drones and missiles were still being launched, Helen Clark was live on TVNZ expertly summing up the latest crisis in the Middle ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    4 days ago

  • Govt ignored economic analysis of smokefree reversal
    Costello did not pass on analysis of the benefits of the smokefree reforms to Cabinet, emphasising instead the extra tax revenues of repealing them. Photo: Hagen Hopkins, Getty Images TL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me at 7:26 am today are:The Lead: Casey Costello never passed on ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • True Blue.
    True loveYou're the one I'm dreaming ofYour heart fits me like a gloveAnd I'm gonna be true blueBaby, I love youI’ve written about the job cuts in our news media last week. The impact on individuals, and the loss to Aotearoa of voices covering our news from different angles.That by ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • Who is running New Zealand’s foreign policy?
    While commentators, including former Prime Minister Helen Clark, are noting a subtle shift in New Zealand’s foreign policy, which now places more emphasis on the United States, many have missed a key element of the shift. What National said before the election is not what the government is doing now. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago

  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #15
    A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 7, 2024 thru Sat, April 13, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week is about adults in the room setting terms and conditions of ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • Feline Friends and Fragile Fauna The Complexities of Cats in New Zealand’s Conservation Efforts

    Cats, with their independent spirit and beguiling purrs, have captured the hearts of humans for millennia. In New Zealand, felines are no exception, boasting the highest national cat ownership rate globally [definition cat nz cat foundation]. An estimated 1.134 million pet cats grace Kiwi households, compared to 683,000 dogs ...

    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    5 days ago

  • Or is that just they want us to think?
    Nice guy, that Peter Williams. Amiable, a calm air of no-nonsense capability, a winning smile. Everything you look for in a TV presenter and newsreader.I used to see him sometimes when I went to TVNZ to be a talking head or a panellist and we would yarn. Nice guy, that ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • Fact Brief – Did global warming stop in 1998?
    Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Did global warming stop in ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • Arguing over a moot point.
    I have been following recent debates in the corporate and social media about whether it is a good idea for NZ to join what is known as “AUKUS Pillar Two.” AUKUS is the Australian-UK-US nuclear submarine building agreement in which … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    6 days ago

  • No Longer Trusted: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    Turning Point: “What has turned me away from the mainstream news media is the very strong message that its been sending out for the last few years.” “And what message might that be?” “That the people who own it, the people who run it, and the people who provide its content, really don’t ...
    Bowalley Road
    6 days ago

  • Mortgage rates at 10% anyone?
    No – nothing about that in PM Luxon’s nine-point plan to improve the lives of New Zealanders. But beyond our shores Jamie Dimon, the long-serving head of global bank J.P. Morgan Chase, reckons that the chances of a goldilocks soft landing for the economy are “a lot lower” than the ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    6 days ago

  • Sad tales from the left
    Michael Bassett writes –  Have you noticed the odd way in which the media are handling the government’s crackdown on surplus employees in the Public Service? Very few reporters mention the crazy way in which State Service numbers rocketed ahead by more than 16,000 during Labour’s six years, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • In Whose Best Interests?
    On The Spot: The question Q+A host, Jack Tame, put to the Workplace & Safety Minister, Act’s Brooke van Velden, was disarmingly simple: “Are income tax cuts right now in the best interests of lowering inflation?”JACK TAME has tested another MP on his Sunday morning current affairs show, Q+A. Minister for Workplace ...
    Bowalley Road
    6 days ago

  • Don’t Question, Don’t Complain.
    It has to start somewhereIt has to start sometimeWhat better place than here?What better time than now?So it turns out that I owe you all an apology.It seems that all of the terrible things this government is doing, impacting the lives of many, aren’t necessarily ‘bad’ per se. Those things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 hours ago

  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago

  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago

  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago

  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago

  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago

  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
    Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector.    "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
    The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
    Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
    Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.   Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ ties
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.  During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Antarctica New Zealand Board appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner.  The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Finance Minister travels to Washington DC
    Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.  “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Pet bonds a win/win for renters and landlords
    The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being considered
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