Still in Denial.

Written By: - Date published: 9:12 am, April 4th, 2018 - 46 comments
Categories: Abuse of power, afghanistan, journalism, Politics, war - Tags: , , ,

Crosspost from No Right Turn.

____________________________________________________________

NZDF head Lt General Tim Keating has unexpectedly resigned, just two months before his term of office was meant to end. But he wants everyone to know that it has absolutely nothing to do with alleged war crimes committed by his men in Afghanistan in 2010, or the lies he told about them:

The Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant General Tim Keating has announced he is stepping down from his role.

Keating announced the move in an email sent to all Defence Force staff on Tuesday.

He did not give a reason for his resignation, but said he was not standing down due to the allegations about Operation Burnham in 2010 which was the subject of the book Hit & Run.

From his email, he’s still in complete denial about those crimes, publicly at least. But this sort of resignation, so soon after being exposed as a liar, and on the eve of the government announcing an inquiry into NZDF’s coverup, seems… suspicious, neh? Almost as if he is jumping overboard after something unpleasant was finally forced to light.

But a mere public inquiry may not be enough. If war crimes have been committed, their perpetrators and accessories after the fact (which almost certainly includes Keating) need to be prosecuted. And that’s a job for the courts, not an inquiry.

—————————————-

Very Important Note – anyone suggesting or claiming that Tim Keating is a war criminal, or linking to any article that asserts it, will be booted off the site for an absolute minumum of 2 years. No exceptions.

46 comments on “Still in Denial. ”

  1. Bill 1

    Very Important Note – anyone suggesting or claiming that Tim Keating is a war criminal, or linking to any article that asserts it, will be booted off the site for an absolute minumum of 2 years. No exceptions.

    • Stunned Mullet 1.1

      Best you make this post comment free Bill it’ll save a lot of moderator time and angst.

      • Bill 1.1.1

        Actually. That’s not such a bad idea. Post now fully moderated. Comments will be released on an “as and when” basis.

    • DoublePlusGood 1.2

      I am very confused by the very important note because I would have instantly bagged myself a permanent ban, given what I would have said.

      Anyway, hopefully Keating stays out of the public service for good and retires, preferably to the Snares Islands.

      [lprent: You shouldn’t be confused. You should be getting off your arse and find out the legalities that you are exposing yourself (and me to).

      Making an bald assertion that a speculation or an opinion is actually a fact about an individual is defamation. The only thing that remains to convict is to take it to court and YOU failing to definitively show that what you asserted is a verifiable fact.

      If you can’t then the only thing that is left to do is to assess the damages that you or we have to pay.

      There are nuances based on public interest but I really can’t be arsed making legal precedence because a ignorant lazy fool doesn’t understand the legal world we live in.

      So we simplify it, and tell you what the direct consequences will be to the stupid idiot who makes us liable. ]

  2. shorts 2

    I hope he is replaced with someone whom places their duty towards the NZ Public and those they serve with in higher regard

    • Anne 2.1

      I’m mindful of Helen Clark’s choice for the position of CDF, Bruce Ferguson. It was a good choice imo. He went on to become Director of the GCSB but was forced into an early retirement to make way for Key’s man, Ian Fletcher.

      It will be interesting to see who is appointed in Keating’s place. It should by rights be a naval officer if its based on all three wings of the DF getting a turn at the top.

      • crashcart 2.1.1

        It is no longer based off which service is due its turn. It will have been 20 years since I joined in Jan next year. In that time the only non Army person to fill the role was CDF when I joined. This is actually the correct way to do things. I would much rather the person to head the NZDF is selected based upon their capability and the respect serving people have for them as Gen Keating was.

        Having dealt with him directly on many occasions and having seen the very good work he has done leading Operation Respect and ensuring that the NZDF is far more focused on creating a safe and inclusive work place I will be sad to see him go.

      • Richard 2.1.2

        The Kiitteridge report on the GCSB suggests Ferguson was not a good choice to control a TV remote control, let alone a spy agency.

    • Exkiwiforces 2.2

      It’s more likely to be someone from the Navy or Airforce as they have some rather big ticket items coming up for replacement (note any upgrades this time round may carry a lot more risk time, as the airframes are over 50yrs old and may have bugger all hrs left in them post 2025) in the short to medium term as they will have a better understanding in explaining to the pollies/ joe public and be able to support the two service chiefs as well.

      • dukeofurl 2.2.1

        The Vice Chief of Defence has the responsibility for evaluating and recommending new equipment, not the Chief.
        I think this post was created after the Dodson scandal so as to prevent service chiefs from pushing their own barrows and shredding the documents and careers of those who disagreed.
        Of course the Minister and cabinet would have the final say.

        • Exkiwiforces 2.2.1.1

          Yes you correct that VCDF is in change of evaluation and the recommendation for new equipment/ upgrades. But the CDF is the senior defence advisor to his Minister and to the PM/ his or her cabinet IRT to the best CoA that should be taken IRT in new equipment etc or the best CoA for direct or indirect military action.

          On my last trip to NZ I had very interesting conversation with the officer in charge of the M113 and the CVR(T) replacement vehicles. In which Dobson disbanded the RNZAC Directive office IOT to push through his agenda of the LAV’s with no or little thought on the A ech vehicles or the crewing of the vehicles. The plan was to have to 2 SQNs of Gun wagons and 2 SQNs of an APC type vehicle aka the Aussie Bushmaster with reinforced Support SQN to support the two Battle Groups. Needless to say Dobson’s plain fell over in heap big time which in turn stuffed up NZDF in the long term.

      • Sam 2.2.2

        From my reading of the situation NZDF has major malfunctions with inexperienced tactical commanders with in a coalition force. And NZDF is scrambling to address this as in Iraq deployment.

        I would say there is a difference between a competent or even highly competent commander, and one that is brilliant.

        A brilliant commander devises new strategies and tactics. A highly competent commander can take these new strategies and employ them before the military itself has even considered the concept.

        From my reading, General Guderian was very brilliant with his strategic changes such as Blitzkrieg. Mobile warfare, or maneuver warfare. Patton was highly competent in taking these concepts and adapting them to his formations and using them effectively. Guderian was brilliant, Patton was competent.

        Thing is, a military doesn’t necessarily need brilliant commanders to function. It is my understanding that NZDF is very by the book, of sorts. We didn’t really develop all new doctrine or radically shape the battlefield (except in some of our dug out designs). But they are competent and took what worked from other militaries and applied them.

        You can have brilliant commanders, but be surrounded by incompetent commanders. Or you can have a largely competent military that can quickly learn from other brilliant commanders. Mind you, those aren’t your only choices. But its interesting with the distinction between the two. If you can have some brilliant commanders surrounded by competent ones, that is a very good thing to have.

        • Exkiwiforces 2.2.2.1

          Yes Sam you are correct your assumption in it tactical commanders across 3 services and is a result of the lost decade under National back in 90’s when about 25% of the defence budget was cut. The chickens came home roost during INTERFET and the high level of concurrent Operations that place post INTERFET which left very little to pause for retraining, rest and having put with Dobson’s/ Fregies rock show etc before they were getting ready to go back on Ops.

          The warning signs were there post Bosnia Ops, the Government of the day refuse to listen to the concerns of NZDF that they were hurting due to the cuts, the lack of numbers in manning, ageing or lack of equipment which didn’t help the fact the ADF were offing high pay rates, better conditions of service etc to any Kiwi who was prepared to jump across the ditch back then post Bosnia, during ET and post ET. Those that jump across the ditch or across the pond to the UK were junior rank OR’s and the junior/ middle rank officers with a few senior officers at command rank across all 3 services.

          They (NZDF) just getting back to a even keel now, but a lot of awful damage has been done because of politics at Government level and at Senior level of the NZDF.

          I feel time is not on the side of the men and women of NZDF atm, the last two terms of last Government and the current one are refusing to learn from past mistakes of Governments since 91 as it’s of too little too late again.

          How much blood has to be split before Government learns it needs to put money into defence where fancy words no longer cut it?

          I’ve loss a mate because of this misguided PR/ PC shit from Governments since 91 and if he had survived has ET trip with 2nd/1st he would’ve jumped across the ditch to become Dirt Dart (paratrooper) with 3RAR. But was KIA as a lead scout with faulty ROE’s, OFOF and depending on who you talk to the Section Cdr who shouldn’t have been there leading that Section on that day. But that what’s happens when you cut defence to the bone and you expect them to preform miracles with sweet **** all something has give in the end.

  3. Pat 3

    Is there any difference to any enquiry if he is no longer serving re what his obligations are?…i.e. what difference to any enquiry will his early resignation make if any?

  4. alwyn 4

    Why do you describe it as being “unexpected”.
    All he has done is confirm that he will be retiring at the end of June when his term is up. As far as I can see from Wiki no Head of the New Zealand defence force has ever served more than one term.
    There doesn’t seem to be anything at all unexpected about it.

    • crashcart 4.1

      The previous CDF Gen Mataparai served two terms. It didn’t happen before due to the tradition of selecting each term from a different branch of the forces. That changed when Gen Fergusson’s term came to an end and rather than just going for Navy they chose Jerry.

      • dukeofurl 4.1.1

        You have got that slightly wrong. There wasnt a tradition of rotation through the 3 services at all.
        It was a cosy club between the Navy and Airforce with very rarely an Army guy , and only when the Army was seen as being sufficiently ‘international.’

        Fegussson, who was Airforce, broke the mold, as he at the time was only Brigadier/Commodore rank and jumped over the heads of all the rest to take the CDF job.
        We should go back to that selection method, chose absolutely the best from amoung all the officers with ‘one star’ and above , not just give the next ‘his turn’

        • crashcart 4.1.1.1

          Been a long time. I was going to say Fergusson was Air force but thought there was a CDF between him and Jerry. Currently it is based upon best and appointment so CDF can jump. I honestly don’t know what the talent at top of Army and Airforce are like but I could see someone not currently fulfilling a Service Chief role getting the job.

  5. veutoviper 5

    It would be interesting to see Keating’s actual email for its exact wording but to date this does not appear to have emerged via the main media, from a quick check I have done. I may be mistaken so if anyone finds a copy, it would be good to post it.

    Some seem to see it as a “resignation” – eg NRT; others as “stepping down” -eg Stuff as per the link in the post.

    The Herald has gone with him “not seeking reappointment” and references to his “departure” not “resignation” etc.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=12025340

    Defence Force chief Lieutenant-General Tim Keating is stepping down from the role, but says Operation Burnham had no influence in his decision.

    He won’t seek reappointment at the end of his term on June 30.

    The Herald also states:

    The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) referred all questions to Defence Minister Ron Mark’s office.

    Mark said in a statement that there was a big programme of work ahead for the NZDF and he believed now was the right time for the next leader to “stand up, be part of the decision-making process and own those decisions”.

    Read into that what you may.

    Related a

  6. dukeofurl 6

    I thought these sort or people – military officers- had to put in ‘requests to resign’

    His bio seems to indicate an average sort of officers career
    http://www.nzdf.mil.nz/about-us/key-personnel/cdf.htm
    Captain 1988
    Major ? but about 97.
    Colonel 2004

    And then takes off with a series of rapid promotions, you would think someone in government from 2009 really really wanted this guy.
    Brigadier 2009
    major general 2011
    Lieutenant general 2014

    • Exkiwiforces 6.1

      Usually OR’s and Officers are required to give 3-2mths notice if they leaving the Defence Force and as I said yesterday, I think he knew he wasn’t going to get his extension or was tap on the shoulder by the current government that he wasn’t in the running and his comments about Op Burnham to the fourth estate probably didn’t help either.

      As for his rapid promotion post 2009 could be due to a number of reasons as the Dobson and Jerry show forced a lot of good officers out of the NZ Army by a number of ways which would’ve caused a shortage at CO/ Staff level around the 09 onwards.

      • crashcart 6.1.1

        He is stepping down in June. That is about 3 months he probably gave notice last month. Even were he giving shorter notice it would only require he complete a MD 718 as opposed to 717 which requests early release with the end of his term as CDF given for the reason of early termination.

        • Exkiwiforces 6.1.1.1

          That is correct.

        • dukeofurl 6.1.1.2

          But it is still technically a ‘request’, which in unusual circumstances could be declined for some months, is that correct. After all he could be put on gardening leave and only come in ‘as required’

          • crashcart 6.1.1.2.1

            Yes correct. Technically he could have his request to leave declined. There does have to be very good reason for this as it tends to have a far more negative effect than just letting the person go.

            Being in the military you get use to everything being a request. Be it going on leave over seas or as simple as deciding you want to grow a beard. In reality there are solid rules around when a request can and can’t be denied.

          • crashcart 6.1.1.2.2

            Also gardening leave is not really a thing. You can’t really end a post and then get posted into a lower rank job (if your rank was substantive). This is the reason CDF is considered a terminal post. Once you have done it that is the end of your time in the NZDF as there is no where to go up.

            • dukeofurl 6.1.1.2.2.1

              So different rule then for Temporary- Acting-Sub- Lieutenants then . LOL

  7. adam 7

    More theater?

    Just seems to be a merry-go-round of stories at the moment, in the theater stakes.

    What I’d like to see is a real investigation of all parties involved so we know without a shred of doubt – what happened. I’m thinking the investigation will probably have to be a third party at this point. To many people, know to many people, in this small country. So we need a third party to have somthing without bias.

  8. Wayne 8

    As I understand it he is going through to the end of his term in June. He has actually had two terms, not one. Quite common for a CDF to do two terms. But I have never heard of anyone doing three.
    So not an “unexpected resignation”. In fact quite the opposite, fully expected since he has come to the natural end of being CDF.
    Overall he has been quite well regarded in his role. He bought a lot of energy and enthusiasm to the task.

    • crashcart 8.1

      Are you sure about 2 terms Wayne. I could have sworn he has only done a single. The only CDF I am aware of that has done 2 terms was Jerry. Either way completely agree that there is nothing strange about this. Completely expected.

      • bwaghorn 8.1.1

        So he gets to run and hide like Dr disrepair Coleman

      • Freddo 8.1.2

        Crashcart, Jerry M served 4 years 267 days as CDF (1May 2006-23 Jan 2011). Tim Keating will have done 4 years 169 days when retires on 30 June (started term as CDF 1/2/2014), so I think that means he has done same number of terms as Jerry, as Wayne says. Rhys Jones, who was CDF between Jerry M and Tim K did 3 years 7 days.

        Like you I will also be sad to see Keating go after his work on Op Respect.

        As for Dukeofurl’s comment on Keating seeming to have an average career before 2009, CO of 1 NZSAS Group (as it was when he was CO from 1999-2001) has seldom been a position for any sort of average career officer.

        • crashcart 8.1.2.1

          I guess it is a case of the years going faster as you get older. It seemed like Jerry was CDF for a long time where as Tim seems to have been far more normal.

          I wasn’t going to mention his time with NZSAS as that probably has more negative connotations around here. It is probably a big reason as to why he advanced quickly. You do see it often though. My old CO on Canterbury has had a very fast rise. I would not be surprised to see him moving into a CN role when it comes up.

        • dukeofurl 8.1.2.2

          Freddo, my point was that after a top field role like NZSAS the remaining jobs are essentially bureaucratic.

          Commanding Officer Cadet school
          Special projects….
          Strategy management…blah blah
          From 2001 to 2009 he was in limbo as a Colonel in desk jobs and a degree course.

          Then suddenly in 2009 its Brigadier and fast steps to the very top.

          Someone was pushing his career and the one person commenting here who would know isnt saying much about that!

          • Wayne 8.1.2.2.1

            Brigadiers are appointed within the system. Minister don’t influence those.
            The next level, Major General is ministerial influenced. At that point you are choosing between 3 or 4 Brigadiers, but in truth usually only 2 matter. At least 1 will be “overage”. Tim was the obvious choice for Chief of Army. As for CDF, that happened after I left, but my understanding is that he was the obvious choice for that position as well.
            It is common for accelerated promotions from Brigadier onward. Sir Jerry and Rhys Jones were both examples of that.
            Same thing happens in larger countries as well for the higher ranks, at an even faster rate. I have seen US Generals go from 1 star to 4 stars in just over 4 years, basically a promotion every year.

  9. Wayne 9

    Pretty sure. The initial appointment was for 3 years, the extension was for 18 months or close to that, with an end date of 30 June.
    So four and a half years is a good innings.

  10. dukeofurl 10

    A bit of history about a previous Army general in NZ and a cover up in 2001.

    “The Army’s commanding officer, Major-General Maurice Dodson, will serve out his remaining four months in the job despite an internal investigation describing his role in the shredding of sensitive Army documents as “unwise and inappropriate”.
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=219958

    “General Dodson, whose title is Chief of General Staff, became the subject of the investigation after his deputy, Brigadier Lou Gardiner, complained about an order to shred a document relevant to other pending inquiries into the Army’s behaviour and Defence Force relations.”

    I wonder if the shredders have been busy again recently?

    I remember at the time there were a lot of documents missing from the files as well as known reports shredded.

  11. Ken 11

    This reminds me of when John Key took to his heels and fled.

  12. mary_a 12

    So Keating did not give a reason for his resignation. But said it’s nothing to do with Operation Burnham!

    The lies still rolling off the prick’s tongue! Maybe his future is as a liars united Natz MP. Northcote byelection coming up Tim lad!

  13. Anne 13

    OK, so the ‘experts’ here have now had a say and I respect all of you for the information you have provided.

    But there is one aspect that can’t be brushed under the carpet, and I refer of course to “Hit and Run”. Perhaps it was Keating’s misfortune that book was published during his watch.

    I can understand why someone who himself was a former SAS soldier would find the revelations hard to accept, but anyone who has read the book with a reasonably open mind would know that the information contained therein is correct. There is no way Hager and Stephenson or anyone else could have made those facts up – especially as they are backed up with such compelling evidence.

    So, while Keating may have been a splendid CDF in every other respect, he has done himself and NZ a disfavour by choosing to deny that the mission in question went horribly wrong. He even attempted to distract attention away from the truth by having a public hissy fit over a very minor geographical error.

    Not a good look… not a good look at all.

  14. Jamie 14

    Should New Zealand even have a defence force of any kind? Our forces are token at best and a massive waste of taxpayers money. Give it to the Coast Guard, they at least have some relevance.

    • Sam 14.1

      That would make trade cost prohibitive. You could try sailing through pirate infested waters with out an escort or even rent the US navy for a time. People do do that.

  15. Cinny 15

    Thanks for this thread, interesting reading, much appreciated.

    Lolz I’ve a question but am freaking out that I’ll be banned, will word it carefully.

    Just to clarify, in this situation where someone has resigned pre-inquiry, would the courts be the only option for accountability?

    • Matthew Whitehead 15.1

      Well, it certainly rules out firing them. They could also look into retroactively dishonourably discharging anyone involved who resigned if they are found culpable of serious wrongdoing, it’s a symbolic gesture but it could be important for the organizational culture of the NZDF to prevent future incidents like Operation Burnham if wrongdoing is indeed found in the inquiry.

      The courts are a serious option and would require a high standard of evidence against specific individuals, and I would suggest that it’s expecting a lot that some people want prosecutions to be brought before we even know the nature of the evidence, and so as long as we get a proper independent investigation that doesn’t rely on the NZDF’s version of events, that’s the most we should expect as a guarantee IMO. After that it’s really about what’s found and whether the recommendations match up properly with what can reasonably be concluded and what people are actually legally responsible for.

      The thing moderators will be watching for is any claims that specific individuals, or the NZDF as a whole, are responsible for things that are demonstrably a crime, as that is definitely a defamation risk. Talking in hypotheticals like you’re doing is a good idea, but I’d still not mention the magic words just in case. 😉 I imagine Bill and LPrent will be tolerant and warn anyone who’s clearly trying to do their bit to avoid getting the site sued.

      • Cinny 15.1.1

        Thanks Matthew for your reply and info, much appreciated and really helpful 🙂

    • Exkiwiforces 15.2

      To answer your questions,

      The inquiry should be a Royal Commission, but the strength of the Royal Commission will come down to the terms of reference and the power to summon the key decision makers (both Military and at Government at level) and the direct action team who was on the ground that night.

      If the Royal Commission findings suggest there is case for charging a person or persons for any crime or crimes committed then it should go to court. Which in my POV would make for an interesting court case regardless if it’s a successful outcome or not a successful outcome and it could open a real can of worms or set a legal precedent regarding possible future military operations weather it’s warlike or non warlike.

      Please note I have made POV back in a number of threads IRT Op Burnham this last year.

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  • Gordon Campbell on Dune 2, and images of Islam
    Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture ...
    1 day ago
  • New Rail Operations Centre Promises Better Train Services
    Last week Transport Minster Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre. The new train control centre will see teams from KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Auckland One Rail working more closely together to improve train services across the city. The Auckland Rail Operations Centre in ...
    1 day ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things at 6.36am on Monday, March 18
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in an exit interview with Q+A yesterday the Government can and should sustain more debt to invest in infrastructure for future generations. Elsewhere in the news in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 6:36am: Read more ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than just a happy ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    1 day ago
  • The Kaka’s diary for the week to March 25 and beyond
    TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Bitter and angry; Winston First
    New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • Out of Touch.
    “I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The bewildering world of Chris Luxon – Guns for all, not no lunch for kids
    .“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    3 days ago
  • Expert Opinion: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
    3 days ago
  • Manufacturing The Truth.
    Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet –  is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
    3 days ago
  • A Powerful Sensation of Déjà Vu.
    Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
    3 days ago
  • Can you guess where world attention is focussed (according to Greenpeace)? It’s focussed on an EPA...
    Bob Edlin writes –  And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Further integrity problems for the Greens in suspending MP Darleen Tana
    Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Greens’ transparency missing in action
    For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    4 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    5 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    5 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • There’s a name for this
    Every year, in the Budget, Parliament forks out money to government agencies to do certain things. And every year, as part of the annual review cycle, those agencies are meant to report on whether they have done the things Parliament gave them that money for. Agencies which consistently fail to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Echoes of 1968 in 2024?  Pocock on the repetitive problems of the New Left
    Mike Grimshaw writes – Recent events in American universities point to an underlying crisis of coherent thinking, an issue that increasingly affects the progressive left across the Western world. This of course is nothing new as anyone who can either remember or has read of the late ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
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  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
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    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
    Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024.  “Lower fruit and vege ...
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  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
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  • Speech to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
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    6 days ago
  • Government backs rural led catchment projects
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  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction.   Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
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  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
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  • Government lowering building costs
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  • Trustee tax change welcomed
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  • Minister’s Ramadan message
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  • Minister appoints new NZTA Chair
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  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
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  • Progress continues apace on water storage
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  • Government agrees to restore interest deductions
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  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
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  • Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity
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