Sickening

Written By: - Date published: 11:21 am, February 21st, 2011 - 74 comments
Categories: afghanistan, john key, slippery - Tags: ,

Key has blamed a soldier being killed in Afghanistan for the limo affair. This is just an attempt by Key to protect himself from criticism by hiding behind a soldier’s death. This is just sickening. The very worst kind of politics from a man who can’t take responsibility for his actions and is happy to take advantage of others’ tragedy.

A couple of simple questions show Key is lying: what work did Kirifi Mila’s death create for Key and are we to believe the Nats can’t do two things at once? Anyway, the Nats knew about the limos since Key rode in one in April last year.

On the topic of the limos, did anyone else catch this slip from Key? He says that as far as he can tell, the only difference between the new limos and the three year old ones they are replacing is a darker interior. But, the new limos aren’t here yet. The only time the new limos have been here was in April last year for testing. Key is admitting he rode in one back then and knew it was new.

Also, on the subject of the Gillard visit, the timing meant that Key suddenly had to pull out of going down to Erebus with families of the crash victims. Radio New Zealand reported that this allowed 104 family members, rather than the 80 that were originally allowed to go into the ballot, to be on the flight down. That’s right, Key was going to take 24 people, nearly a quarter the plane. No doubt it would have included a healthy contingent of media for photo ops.

74 comments on “Sickening ”

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  1. Inventory2 1
    21 February 2011 at 11:42 am

    Who’s playing “sickening” politics Eddie? This is pretty low, even for you guys…

    • Blighty 1.1
      21 February 2011 at 11:47 am

      pretty low is blaming a soldier dying in Afghanistan for your inabiltiy to spin your way out of trouble in New Zealand.

      Honestly, Inventory 2, do you accept Key’s explanation for the limo affair? Do you believe it was all Mila’s fault for dying and, thereby, somehow tying up the entire machinary of government?

    • Colonial Viper 1.2
      21 February 2011 at 12:39 pm

      I2, I thought you’d seen through Key’s PR tactics by now.

    • Draco T Bastard 1.3
      21 February 2011 at 12:46 pm

      John Key, National and Crosby/Textor are Inv2, I would have thought that would have been obvious even to you but I suppose you just have to play the part of an apologist for your heroes even when their total lack of a moral compass is displayed for the world to see.

    • gobsmacked 1.4
      21 February 2011 at 12:51 pm

      Inventory2, try this simple test:

      Prime Minister Helen Clark says that the Labour government “wasn’t helped by the death of Private Mila”.

      Cue an onslaught of outrage on your blog, on Kiwiblog, on talkback, on the National oppositon benches.

      It’s an incredibly stupid, insensitive thing for Key to say. And you know it.

    • lprent 1.5
      21 February 2011 at 1:35 pm

      I2: Key said that the reason that they failed to deal with the controversy was that they were distracted by the important business of government.

      I can distinctly remember you hysterically inflating on similar ‘trivialities’ in the last government (paintings, corn, driving, election expenses, and damn near every other bit of political dog-whistle) while stressing that these were as important as the actual business of government.

      What is sickening is your pompous pontificating pious arrogance in treating the current government with a different standard just because you’re too spineless to examine your own sickening hypocrisy.

    • Roger 1.6
      21 February 2011 at 1:43 pm

      Being appalled about the Prime Minister using the death of a soldier as a ridiculous excuse is sickening and low? What a muppet.

    • john 1.7
      21 February 2011 at 3:14 pm

      inventory
      keys a wanker and so are you
      not much of a government if it only do one thing at a time

  2. tc 2
    21 February 2011 at 11:57 am

    I’m just loving all Sideshow John’s adoring sycophants finding ways to justify his latest bursts of honesty slipping out amongst the Photo opp’s, to me it shows these leemings will follow him all the way over the economic cliff and take us with them.

    Meantime Johnny will be tucked up away from politics enjoying how much his ‘blind’ porfolio grew during his box ticking time as that PM thingy, gosh who would’ve though eh. It all ended up being so much harder than Douglas Graham and all those other cronies said it would be.

  3. Daveo 3
    21 February 2011 at 11:58 am

    What a creep Key is.

  4. Anne 4
    21 February 2011 at 12:02 pm

    John Key said:
    “The Government did not handle the limousine controversy well because it was preoccupied by the death of a New Zealand soldier in Afghanistan”.

    So he personally went to the the family of the deceased soldier and broke the news to them?
    He personally organised the return of the body to NZ?
    He personally climbed up on the roof of the Beehive and pulled down the flag to half mast?
    He personally organised the funeral arrangements with the help of the Defence Force?

    No he did not. He did nothing. He didn’t have to. So Eddie is right. To blame the poor handling of the limo affair (read Key: “I lied actually”) on a dead soldier is indeed sickening.

    • stever 4.1
      21 February 2011 at 12:09 pm

      He didn’t even spend the time that other party leaders did in learning his speech in the House for this (or speaking from the heart). He read every word from a sheet of paper, with all the grace of a man who’d never seen any of it before.

  5. Kevin Welsh 5
    21 February 2011 at 12:52 pm

    So, how come it has taken til now for him to admit this?

    • Marty G 5.1
      21 February 2011 at 1:15 pm

      Exactly. It took them until now to think of it.

    • Draco T Bastard 5.2
      21 February 2011 at 1:49 pm

      Had to pass it through the PR people who had to do some focus group testing to see what type of excuse would go down better and then the PR people had to determine which non-event to tie the excuse to.

  6. Treetop 6
    21 February 2011 at 1:01 pm

    Hang your head in shame Mr Key for using a soldiers death to your advantage. Your excuse is no better than what has come out of the mouth of top cops paid big bucks to do their job at PNHQ.

    You (Key) are failing the most vulnerable group in society (children) just as PNHQ failed to protect very vulnerable children. Nothing is going to convince me how out of touch PNHQ still are about what the effects of sexual violation/rape has on a child. Your police minister needs a reality check if she thinks that it is a HR employment matter that officers left children in a very unsafe environment. The cowardly officers need to face a court of law just as dewar did for failing to investigate. I am shocked that Mc Hattie was not interviewed by the IPCA.

    I know that I am off the thread topic, I get so angry about anyone who misuses their authority by scape goating those who are blameless for being harmed. E.g the soldier, Erebus families and defenceless children.

    • Colonial Viper 6.1
      21 February 2011 at 1:08 pm

      “Key admits low ability National Ministers incapable of running NZ and military operations simultaneously”

  7. Alistair 7
    21 February 2011 at 1:18 pm

    I cannot believe that our leader would do this, distract and look for sympathy. Sadly, I can only assume that he does not understand what he has just done!

    • Colonial Viper 7.1
      21 February 2011 at 1:21 pm

      Classic sociopathic error. Errs in judgement over what he thinks others would find acceptable, and when he acts it out it comes across as very strange and inappropriate. Which it is because its actually sociopathic.

      • bobo 7.1.1
        21 February 2011 at 2:01 pm

        John Key and Mark Hotchin would get on just fine, maybe they get their PR advice from the same guy? Epic fail from Key on this one, scapegoating a dead kiwi soldier to divert attention.. hope this comes back to haunt the c$$t.

  8. mickysavage 8
    21 February 2011 at 1:50 pm

    This is sickening but it is also patently untrue. The decision to buy the BMWs has been around for months. According to TVOne Key even had a drive in one.

    The only possible thing he could blame the death of Kirifi Mila for is that it put him off applying sufficient spin to the BMW purchase saga.

    Please, please MSM ask a couple of pertinent questions about this.

    • Craig Glen Eden 8.1
      21 February 2011 at 3:19 pm

      Key is such a smuck. I cant honestly think of a previous prime minster either Labour or National that would/could do this. Could anyone imagine Lange or Bolger or Shipley doing this, seriously Rob Muldoon stone drunk wouldn’t have even said this.

      Key has all the class of a vacuum cleaner salesman! I feel ashamed as a Kiwi.

      • O2B 8.1.1
        21 February 2011 at 6:08 pm

        That’s not very complimentary toward vacuum cleaner salesmen. What did they ever do to you?

        • Craig Glen Eden 8.1.1.1
          21 February 2011 at 8:00 pm

          Vacuum cleaner salesman have done nothing to me because I wouldn’t be stupid enough to buy anything from them.

      • Roflcopter 8.1.2
        21 February 2011 at 7:32 pm

        “I didn’t notice how fast we were going” – Helen Clark hanging the driver out to dry.

        • Colonial Viper 8.1.2.1
          21 February 2011 at 7:35 pm

          Hey did that driver happen to be a dead NZ veteran who had served his country in Afghanistan? No?

          Then its not really comparable to the bottom of the barrel low that Key has sunk to then is it, ROFL?

  9. kultur 9
    21 February 2011 at 3:30 pm

    Key is what Key is – an opportunistic trader in meaningless pieces of paper and data – that create wealth by producing nothing of any value. He is doing the same thing here – only thing is he is playing with real people now and not numbers and options and possibilities (he was before too – but he was too self absorbed to know it at the time) …

    What are we doing in Afghanistan anyway – the middle east seems to be very willing to sort its own shit out very nicely thanks very much. None of it seems to be islamic extremism – mostly if not all, is purely a search for freedom and democracy.

    The Emporer is in the nick – not a thread of clothing on as he minces down catwalks and glibly dismisses anyone who doesnt earn above the average income – or anyone who has anything valuable to offer. The left needs to say and say and say again … “but he doesnt have any clothes on…” Even the pollsters will eventually get it right.

    Johnny boy is under extreme pressure – when he cracks its going to be very public – and very noticeable to anyone no matter how enamoured they may have been by his persona previously.

    He’s starting to falter – and like any frightened prey animal sick and weak at the back of the herd – its this particular international financial predators turn to feel what his previous prey used to feel – the wolves are circling Johnny boy – and they will have no mercy on you. Neither should they you unscrupulous conniving piece of shit scraped off someones shoe – time for that wet slimy smile to be wiped off your pampered soft skinned face you ingrate and enemy of the people. I hope a giant pterodactyl flies over your new BMW and takes a massive smelly shit right on it (when your window is open).

    God i do feel better after getting that out of my system ….

  10. Draco T Bastard 10
    21 February 2011 at 4:11 pm

    Seems that the opposition MPs are onto this one. Just wish that they’d get onto the rest of the BS coming out of National and Act just as fast.

  11. bobo 11
    21 February 2011 at 4:39 pm

    Key is new zealands very own slightly dull version of belursconi, dodgy, rich, and self absorbed hopefully they both are history later this year..

    • Maggie 11.1
      21 February 2011 at 5:13 pm

      Of course JK can’t multi task. He’s a man after all.

      • Colonial Viper 11.1.1
        21 February 2011 at 5:54 pm

        The man can’t run a military op, a country and a bath at the same time? Even with a department as large as his? Useless.

    • O2B 11.2
      21 February 2011 at 6:17 pm

      Maybe he will buy the Wellington Phoenix too and help out Tel with his tax bill?

      • joe90 11.2.1
        21 February 2011 at 8:28 pm

        Of course JK can’t multi task. He’s a man after all.

        Oi!. I’m a bloke and I’m following a couple of blogs, watching Tactix v Fever, got half an eye on the spuds and I’ve nearly finished todays dompost two speed and whatever the SO is talking about has gone in one ear and out the other.
        See, I can multi task…sort of.

  12. gobsmacked 12
    21 February 2011 at 4:52 pm

    They lied in the morning, they lied in the evening …

    http://tvnz.co.nz/politics-news/pm-adviser-knew-bmws-months-ago-4036878

    So Key’s last defence is … the Prime Minister doesn’t have responsibility for the Prime Minister’s chief of staff.

  13. Craig Glen Eden 13
    21 February 2011 at 5:24 pm

    Mr Sloppy Strikes again! So your sloppy and just made the shit up about being busy with the death of the Kiwi soldier. Oh ok then, nah sweet bro yeah lets move on then to the next photo op.

    What the hell!

  14. Treetop 14
    21 February 2011 at 5:51 pm

    Key has really turned into a hypocrite. He had a line similar to not wanting to waste time on historical matters as they divert his attention away from the important day to day matters. The BMW issue is now an historical one and he is unable to divert himself away from it beacause it had caught up with him being a day to day matter.

    Talk about falling over yourself.

  15. bobo 15
    21 February 2011 at 6:29 pm

    Watched the clip of key denying any knowledge of limos on one news, look at Key sweat while nervously reading an explanation, I’m sure his nose is growing. If any documents or emails from Key referring to the limo deal come to light is he a gonna? Will any msm reporters challenge key on this that he is lying or will he get yet another free get out of jail free card.. where is the mole???

  16. dad4justice 16
    21 February 2011 at 6:52 pm

    John No Balls Key is a good liar, Aunty Helen trained him well, press him in the middle and out goes the bullshit. No wonder SANE people detest pollie scumbags! The witch created a lying Key.

    • O2B 16.1
      21 February 2011 at 6:58 pm

      Give us an example of Aunty Helen lying.

      • dad4justice 16.1.1
        21 February 2011 at 7:13 pm

        Two words – Peter Davis.

        • O2B 16.1.1.1
          21 February 2011 at 7:26 pm

          I didn’t ask for two words. I asked for an example of Aunty Helen lying.

        • lprent 16.1.1.2
          21 February 2011 at 7:59 pm

          Peter: You’re talking about a long term friend of mine. Would you like to expand on that so I can ban you again. You’re here on sufferance at the best of times, and making dog whistle unsustantiated insinuations about my friends (or anyone else for that matter) is a very fast way to exhaust my tolerance.

        • neoleftie 16.1.1.3
          21 February 2011 at 8:28 pm

          so helen clark lied for 5 years before she married him…lovely uninformed opinion based on what glib gossip over the years…Quite frankly if it was a lie then the MSM would have proof by now

          • lprent 16.1.1.3.1
            21 February 2011 at 8:46 pm

            Yeah I was around when that myth was made up by one of my old teachers campaign team in 1981. It was invented as a nasty wee slur to try and get Moyle a chance as the national candidate in that election. Didn’t help much. But has been around the threatened bigot fringe ever since.

            No one who has ever heard Helen and Peter arguing about what music should be playing loudly in the house would ever believe it. Both of them have lousy taste. Opera and jazz….. Urgghh. Personally I like the blues.

    • The Voice of Reason 16.2
      21 February 2011 at 6:58 pm

      Er, no, he’s a very bad liar, Dad. He gives himself away every time with his body posture, his nervousness and above all, his dying fish eyes. Of course, he’s even worse when he accidentally tells the truth, for example telling Penny Bright that he was sorry he wasn’t making money out of Kiwis’ indebtedness.

      • Ms M 16.2.1
        21 February 2011 at 8:12 pm

        “and above all, his dying fish eyes”

        hahahaha ain’t that the truth. Someone needs to make a video of those dying lying fish eyes.

  17. dad4justice 17
    21 February 2011 at 7:12 pm

    [DPF: Off topic 10 demerits]

    haha Aunty Helen told John this….. boom boom went the Beamers.haha what fuckwits.

  18. Jum 18
    21 February 2011 at 8:33 pm

    Inventory 2 seems to have disappeared off this thread. Even the rightwing can’t put a spin on this.

  19. john 19
    21 February 2011 at 9:09 pm

    So you want to blame Helen for key lying?
    and d4j your a nut no wonder your wife left you
    i wouldnt let you near my kids either

    • dad4justice 19.1
      21 February 2011 at 9:19 pm

      I live with my four children and lovely female partner you freak. Are you [deleted] ( big bruv on kiwiblog) the [deleted] who can’t stop giving me shit? Fuck you are a cowardly creep!
      Get a life [deleted] or front up matey!@! Ask dime what’s soon to happen.

      [lprent: don’t ]

      • dad4justice 19.1.1
        21 February 2011 at 9:31 pm

        Fuuny how big bruv attacks me here Lyn. Really quite sickening.

        • lprent 19.1.1.1
          21 February 2011 at 10:03 pm

          It isn’t bruv. Not unless he has been jumping round the country a lot and has a special account with a different ip block in another area for impersonating a bit of a lefty. I guess someone else doesn’t like you. Who’d have thought that could happen?

          You’re the only person I know of with multitudes of net access points. It took me a while to close them off the first time you got banned.

      • kultur 19.1.2
        21 February 2011 at 10:09 pm

        I think that this ‘blogging’ experience causes many of us to step outside the normal boundaries of communication. The virtual experience is not real in the accepted sense – and i think leads to less than satisfactory experiences of person to person communication.

        Now i think i understand what is meant by the term “flamewars” …. mate who cares about Helen Clark or what she did or didnt do – and frankly … who cares about rumours or counter rumours. Churchill liked whisky and champagne – and probably made decisions about WW2 after a couple – Alexander the Great was Bisexual (or so they tell us) – Julius Caesar liked to pluck all the hairs off his body – Napoleon had a complex named after him – Martin Luther King got caught in flagrante delicto – and JFK was a very naughty boy with actresses and anything with a skirt …

        Right and wrong – it all comes down to does it – or is it – actively hurting someone else. If its a current politician and they are doing things in the public eye its fair game – but i think the unwritten rule is – dont touch the wife or the husband – or the kids. If we have had injustice perpetrated against ourselves – then it should make us sensitive to injustice against others.

        God knows all of us on these blogs – make some terrible judgement calls with opinions and ill considered statements.

        • lprent 19.1.2.1
          21 February 2011 at 10:55 pm

          Yep. I merely try to keep a lid on it so people are cautious with their comments and the site remains readable. Frequently by the tactic of being even more of an hardarse than those I am constraining by reflecting their own techniques back at them. Often by dealing in quite personal insults and limiting others use of abuse to making them state a point to it. Always protecting the identity of participants (the furtherist I will go is to say occasionally that someone has a mistaken an identity as above).

          I also have the tools to effectively evict people when I choose to use to use them. But being an obnoxious sysop dealing with lusers is often more effective. Look up the myth of the bastard from hell on wikipedia sometime for the operating guidelines for the role.

          Generally asserting ownership rights on our site. It works pretty well. The growth rate in this site is has been immense over the last 3 years, both because of the post content, and because it is a pretty safe area to argue robustly with the many moderators and a sysop with a well used hammer. That allows for a range of comments from the insightful to the spiteful.

  20. ianmac 20
    21 February 2011 at 11:24 pm

    I wonder if now John Key will express admiration for the Labour car deal especially as it seems that now you can sell the 3 year old cars and get new ones for little extra cost. Wow!

  21. john 21
    22 February 2011 at 10:08 am

    dad4justice
    my name is john and i live in halfmoon bay
    i am very happy to front up matey as you say
    but i just want to point out i am a ex commercial fisherman and my arms are very big
    please bring ya mate whale shite wit you and we can have a nice cup of tea.

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    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 ...
    Skeptical Science
    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 ...
    Skeptical Science
    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 ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    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 ...
    Skeptical Science
    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 ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    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 ...
    Bowalley Road
    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

  • 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
    18 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
    21 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
    21 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
    23 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
    1 day 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges torture at Lake Alice

    For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges courageous abuse survivors

    The Government has acknowledged the nearly 2,400 courageous survivors who shared their experiences during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care. The final report from the largest and most complex public inquiry ever held in New Zealand, the Royal Commission Inquiry “Whanaketia – through ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Half a million people use tax calculator

    With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Paid Parental Leave improvements pass first reading

    Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says a bill that has passed its first reading will improve parental leave settings and give non-biological parents more flexibility as primary carer for their child. The Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill (No3), passed its first reading this morning. “It includes a change ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Rebuilding the economy through better regulation

    Two Bills designed to improve regulation and make it easier to do business have passed their first reading in Parliament, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill and Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Bill make key changes to legislation administered by the Ministry ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • ‘Open banking’ and ‘open electricity’ on the way

    New legislation paves the way for greater competition in sectors such as banking and electricity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Competitive markets boost productivity, create employment opportunities and lift living standards. To support competition, we need good quality regulation but, unfortunately, a recent OECD report ranked New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Charity lotteries to be permitted to operate online

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries for charitable purposes, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, and local hospices, will soon be allowed to operate online permanently. “Under current laws, these fundraising lotteries are only allowed to operate online until October 2024, after which ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Accelerating Northland Expressway

    The Coalition Government is accelerating work on the new four-lane expressway between Auckland and Whangārei as part of its Roads of National Significance programme, with an accelerated delivery model to deliver this project faster and more efficiently, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “For too long, the lack of resilient transport connections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Sir Don to travel to Viet Nam as special envoy

    Sir Don McKinnon will travel to Viet Nam this week as a Special Envoy of the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.    “It is important that the Government give due recognition to the significant contributions that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made to New Zealand-Viet Nam relations,” Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Grant Illingworth KC appointed as transitional Commissioner to Royal Commission

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says newly appointed Commissioner, Grant Illingworth KC, will help deliver the report for the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons, due on 28 November 2024.  “I am pleased to announce that Mr Illingworth will commence his appointment as ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ to advance relationships with ASEAN partners

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters travels to Laos this week to participate in a series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led Ministerial meetings in Vientiane.    “ASEAN plays an important role in supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Mr Peters says.   “This will be our third visit to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Backing mental health services on the West Coast

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