Teapot tapes – Key backs down over Parliamentary Services payment

Written By: - Date published: 2:08 pm, March 22nd, 2016 - 66 comments
Categories: john key, national - Tags: ,

KEY1

The focus group results are in.  John Key is backing down from trying to get Parliamentary Services from paying the agreed damages to Bradley Ambrose.

From the Herald:

Prime Minister John Key will not pay his “teapot tapes” settlement with public money, his office confirmed this afternoon.

Mr Key said yesterday that it was “pragmatic” to pay a small settlement to freelance cameraman Bradley Ambrose out of his National Leader’s Office budget.

However, his office said today that after taking advice from Parliamentary Service, this would no longer take place.

The settlement costs, which have not be disclosed, would be met by the National Party or by private contributions.

“The costs involved in the settlement with Mr Ambrose will not be met by the taxpayer,” a spokeswoman said.

The legal costs which Mr Key had incurred so far in the case had already come out of his leader’s budget.

This was probably motivated in part by the failure to obtain prior Speaker’s approval.  A refusal would have been much more embarassing.  And the bad publicity would have swirled around while a decision was being made.  Best to end it now and bite the bullet, so to speak.

The whole incident suggests that National’s normally impressive handling of potentially bad news is floundering.  There is a difference between the state paying for the legal expenses when a Member of Parliament is sued in a representative capacity or for something that occurs while they are performing an official function and what occurred here, where a vendetta waged by Key against Ambrose and the rest of the media was motivated purely by political considerations.  To even think about using public money to settle this showed that Key and his office were severely out of touch with the predictable public response.

It is only fair that Key and the National Party should pay this bill.  But the same principle applies to the legal fees that the state has paid.  These should be paid back as well.

Meanwhile the masters of diversion are hard at work.  Giving the Herald the inside running on the story makes you wonder why …

Key letter seeking donations

 

66 comments on “Teapot tapes – Key backs down over Parliamentary Services payment ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. ianmac 1
    22 March 2016 at 2:17 pm

    ‘ But the same principle applies to the legal fees that the state has paid. These should be paid back as well.
    Hear Hear! Why should Parliamentary taxpayers money pay for a personal vendetta? Probably cost many thousands to be told that he had no defence.

  2. Jenny Kirk 2
    22 March 2016 at 2:24 pm

    “The whole incident suggests that National’s normally impressive handling of potentially bad news is floundering. ”

    Do you think that the sheeples are finally beginning to wake up to Shonkey and his shonky ways ? or has Crosby Textor abandoned Key ?

    • TC 2.1
      22 March 2016 at 2:34 pm

      Were CT consulted on this or is it all their own work as its been messy from the start with the cons outweighing the pros.

      Methinks shonky couldnt recall the exact chat with banksy so overeacted.

      CT would be reluctant to upset their message carriers.

      • Sacha 2.1.1
        22 March 2016 at 4:22 pm

        Nah this u-turn has all the whiff of some Farrar emergency polling.

        • Chris 2.1.1.1
          22 March 2016 at 4:38 pm

          Yes, but key and his minders will be annoyed they walked into it in the first place.

        • TC 2.1.1.2
          22 March 2016 at 4:48 pm

          I reckon that to. However was this whole saga the type of event CT would approve and supply lines for ?
          CT rely on a compliant msm, shonky just poked them In the eye with his and the nz polices behaviour.

          • Gristle 2.1.1.2.1
            22 March 2016 at 6:58 pm

            Either Key is exhibiting damage control or ethics. Damage control by swiftly fixing the cock-up and extinguishing a potential ignition point. (Little should take note.). Or ethics, by reading the rules and following them.

            Either way it is spun the saga is not being given the glee/viciousness that the msm dished up to Little last week.

            It will be interesting to hear commentators next week if they draw a narrative linking:
            – Lowering poll results for National
            – Losing to Ambrose in a defamation claim
            – losing the flag referendum
            – Whangerai (speculatively) going NF.
            And what they see as a trajectory.

  3. TC 3
    22 March 2016 at 2:28 pm

    More needs to be made of shonkys attempt to use public money for a national party issue.

    Opinion polls have probably driven this with the usual bs reasons trotted out as cover.

    If the tapes prove to be nothing more than a mangled chat between 2 right wing pollies about nothing special then he looks quite the drama queen.

  4. Murray Simmonds 4
    22 March 2016 at 2:34 pm

    Its was “pragmatic” to pay . . . ”

    Great word, that . . “pragmatic” . . .

    Actually it would be “pragmatic” for me to go out and rob the bank right now, ‘cos I’m a bit short of cash at the moment.

    But then again it might be equally pragmatic for me not to, ‘cos I don’t think I’d enjoy the jail term much.

    Still, its a GREAT word. Right up there with “akshully” and “you know . . . “

    • Raf 4.1
      22 March 2016 at 6:06 pm

      Indeed, but “small” is also interesting. I wonder he means by “a small settlement”. What’s small in his bankster eyes? Half a million? one and a half …?

      • Hami Shearlie 4.1.1
        22 March 2016 at 11:25 pm

        If the settlement is so small, why was “fund-raising” mentioned in a news report about it? Key knows that no-one is allowed to divulge the amount under the terms of settlement, so he feels free to say it’s “small” without fear of the truth coming out. Small to him may in fact be a large amount of money, why else would fund-raising be mentioned – we know the Nats have deep coffers, so the idea of fund-raising to pay this is quite telling.

    • Anne 4.2
      22 March 2016 at 6:38 pm

      @ Murray Simmonds
      You forgot “at the end of the day”.

  5. Richard Christie 5
    22 March 2016 at 2:50 pm

    The police shuld also fork out for slandering Ambrose by stepping beyond their place and saying that he was guilty of an offence.

  6. Richard Christie 6
    22 March 2016 at 2:56 pm

    Meanwhile the masters of diversion are hard at work.

    Patsy get rewarded for delivering (as per her off-record brief) the GCSB and SIS review.

  7. weka 7
    22 March 2016 at 3:01 pm

    Can I just say schadenfreude?

  8. maui 8
    22 March 2016 at 3:59 pm

    How’s he going to pay then?? He donates all of his salary apparently.. Seriously worried now the PM may be in serious financial trouble!

    • Chris 8.1
      22 March 2016 at 4:11 pm

      Don’t know why key didn’t just fork out himself to avoid any of this sort of bs. Even if it were a decent sized amount wouldn’t put a dent in his mooyens. Just a stupid strategic blunder I’d say. And one that sadly won’t cost him a single vote, to boot.

    • Sacha 8.2
      22 March 2016 at 4:21 pm

      “He donates all of his salary apparently.”

      Have we ever seen any evidence for this other than fanboi reckons?

      • TC 8.2.1
        22 March 2016 at 4:50 pm

        Shonky considers the national party a charity

        • Kiwiri 8.2.1.1
          22 March 2016 at 5:30 pm

          He considers himself a charity!

        • Lanthanide 8.2.1.2
          22 March 2016 at 8:00 pm

          Hmm, it would seem like a pretty good strategy to actually do this, and let the National Party leadership know that he’ll only be donating his PM salary (the entirety of it) as long as he stays PM and National’s leader.

          Good way to dampen down caucus spill attempts before they get off the ground.

      • Hami Shearlie 8.2.2
        22 March 2016 at 11:31 pm

        He said that he donated “a portion” of his salary to charity – a portion could in fact be $1NZD – he regards the National Party as a charity remember, I wonder who the lucky recipient of the chocolate fish bought with the money is? Maybe Steven Joyce?

  9. Ad 9
    22 March 2016 at 4:03 pm

    What an idiot

  10. Enough is Enough 10
    22 March 2016 at 4:11 pm

    Flippety Flop

    Flippety Flop

  11. Mrs Brillo 11
    22 March 2016 at 4:27 pm

    “Private sources” will pay?

    Not “from his own pocket”?

    So will it be the National Party itself, or one of its rich friends, that funds this payout?

    And if the latter, what will their reward be?

    Watch this space.

    • Chris 11.1
      22 March 2016 at 5:26 pm

      Key’s become so untouchable this is a non-story – so much so it even missed the attention of his advisers.

  12. Colonial Viper 12
    22 March 2016 at 4:40 pm

    Oddly out of touch decision by Key to use public money in the first place. His advisors are off the pace at the moment.

    Assuming the settlement is in the $20K to $30K range (I have no idea) Key would have got brownie points simply by paying out himself.

    His advisors are off the pace at the moment.

    • AmaKiwi 12.1
      22 March 2016 at 5:19 pm

      Let’s hope they stay there.

    • Stuart Munro 12.2
      22 March 2016 at 5:54 pm

      I imagine he REALLY doesn’t want to talk about it. Maybe he could wave a flag or … darn! Throw Paula under a bus? The way things are going it’d probably break an axle…

    • Chuck 12.3
      22 March 2016 at 6:40 pm

      Agree, the “safe” option would of been for Key to pay it him self…heck that could of added an extra 1 or 2% to the next poll result for National.

      Just shows his advisors are humans after all!

    • Sacha 12.4
      22 March 2016 at 7:30 pm

      Joyce was always oddly hysterical about this matter – and Fisher’s article today reinforces that.

  13. Gabby 13
    22 March 2016 at 5:22 pm

    Pet columnists to tell us what a manly wee Ponyboy it is, making the right decision after misspeaking and being misquoted.

  14. NZJester 14
    22 March 2016 at 5:25 pm

    It just shows his arrogance that he originally wanted the taxpayer to pay for his mistakes just like they are doing with all his parties other mistakes. If they got forced to pay for all the mistakes they have made we could pay back that big international debt they have run up.

    • Expat 14.1
      22 March 2016 at 5:59 pm

      NZJester

      “It just shows his arrogance that he originally wanted the taxpayer to pay for his mistakes just like they are doing with all his parties other mistakes”

      My sentiments, exactly, it’s like he thinks the public purse is his purse to use on what ever he likes.

      Having watched the interview of Key in Whangarei last week, the body language is quite telling, the spring has gone from his step, I feel that the “tide” is turning , finally, and there is room for the opposition parties to make as much political capital as they can while he’s on a down slide.

  15. William Joyce 15
    22 March 2016 at 6:16 pm

    I just wish the media would stop calling John Key’s settlement over this as a “backdown”.
    It is nothing of the sort.
    While he may have settled, he refuses to pay for it himself. If he wanted to get it out of the way than why not pay for it himself – he can afford it easily. Instead he first wanted taxpayers to pay for it. Then he wants the National party to pay for it or from private donations.

    For him to pay for it himself would be an admission of guilt. His language during interviews also indicate that he does not want to make any such admission. I.e. he is not sorry he did it – he still thinks the recorder was left on purpose.

    • Stuart Munro 15.1
      22 March 2016 at 7:30 pm

      There’s also the possibility that he’s a bit stretched at the moment – surely he wouldn’t have gone long on dairy futures with all those extra Chinese babies expected as the one child policy expires… would he?

  16. Nick 16
    22 March 2016 at 6:16 pm

    He has fudged whether he will pay costs already spent…. Seems odd he can differentiate.

  17. Expat 17
    22 March 2016 at 6:19 pm

    Mickysavage

    Love the Key email, lol.

    I believe charity begins at home, so no donations from me, not $1.

  18. mary_a 18
    22 March 2016 at 6:23 pm

    Oh well FJK is heading off to Washington at the end of the week (after the preliminary flag results are announced). So no questioning, no accountability.

    No doubt when he gets back in the country, he will be hoping all the “unpleasantness” against him will have disappeared and the world will be rosy once again on Planet Key.

    He could be in for one nasty big surprise though! Showtime hopefully!

    • Hanswurst 18.1
      23 March 2016 at 12:59 am

      Hopefully John Oliver will be waiting with a crowd of people dressed as ponytailed dildos to welcome him at the airport.

    • mickysavage 19.1
      22 March 2016 at 7:57 pm

      How about you provide some context? Clark made a comment as PM and was sued on that basis. Key made a comment as the leader of the National Party and went on a rampage against the media afterwards.

      Please explain how they are the same?

      • SurelyNot 19.1.1
        22 March 2016 at 8:36 pm

        Both were respective leaders of their party, both had legal action taken against them during their time as PM, both for defamation. I am sorry for having to point out the obvious – National and John Key were first elected to government in 2008.
        The tea-pot incident happened in 2011.
        Ergo, John Key was Prime Minister at the time.

        Heres the difference: Key has realised that his initial thought on the payment was wrong (and I agree it was wrong) and done the bigger thing to determine that it will be paid by the National Party. Helen Clark did not.

        • mickysavage 19.1.1.1
          22 March 2016 at 8:44 pm

          Did the NPRU supply you with the words to use?

          Being PM at the time does not mean that your actions were as PM. Did you not hear Key talk about his many hats? Otherwise he can answer the many questions he has refused to answer on the basis that he was not acting as PM at the time.

        • framu 19.1.1.2
          23 March 2016 at 7:50 am

          when electioneering you current role doesnt actually have any bearing on it. Your not working for the tax payer when your asking them to vote for you

          thats the difference

          you talk of pointing out the obvious yet fail on the actual context of the event in question

  20. Corokia 20
    22 March 2016 at 8:21 pm

    Key played the “Labour did it too” card on RNZ news this afternoon when he brought up Helen Clark. Unfortunately the sound bite will linger in the ears of listeners as the unedited clip is played where Key tries to present himself as being better because he has backed down on making the tax payers pay.
    Excuse me,yet again the slimy behaviour of our PM and the unquestioning acceptance of the MSN makes me want to be sick.

  21. Corokia 21
    22 March 2016 at 8:21 pm

    Key played the “Labour did it too” card on RNZ news this afternoon when he brought up Helen Clark. Unfortunately the sound bite will linger in the ears of listeners as the unedited clip is played where Key tries to present himself as being better because he has backed down on making the tax payers pay.
    Excuse me,yet again the slimy behaviour of our PM and the unquestioning acceptance of the MSM makes me want to be sick.

  22. Observer (Tokoroa) 22
    22 March 2016 at 8:34 pm

    Hi SurelyNot

    Will you and Bronagh put well bandaged Boxing Gloves on our John Key – with a sign in Bold saying: “Not to be removed until Broanagh and SurelyNot meet him at Auckland HAirport on his return.

    We pratts, the New Zealand voters, do not want any more humiliations from this sad man known as our leader, the disastrous Prime Minister of NZ. We are exhausted.

    The gloves will ensure the he cannot shamelessly tug the head and hair of USA blonde children. Not will he be able to tug the hair of President Obamas’ daughters.

    That will mean that Obama will only have his WhiteHouse finances to worry about. Our Prime Minister bludges everything he can from New Zealand voters. Just today he was going to steal from us – to pay for a defamation crime that he committed. About $1.5 million apparently.

    We New Zealanders Mr President have been through every gutter My key can find for us. We are exhausted.

  23. Molly 23
    22 March 2016 at 8:35 pm

    From the start, I think Key’s personality type gave him an initial WTF? reaction, when he realised that the device was on the table. Given the mediocre conversation that was recorded, he didn’t appear to be truly engaged and was probably concerned that in this fugue state he may have let something “real” and truly indicative of his feelings slip while in the presence of another narcissist.

    Now.

    This is the point that my son refers to as the “point of no return.” It is when he realises that the level of fuss he had made is not in proportion to the injury he has perceived. In fact it is completely OTT. However, if he admits that – then he is in the wrong – and has lost his rag for no reason. So, he has a choice – admit an overreaction – OR – ramp it up till it seems like a major incident has occurred.

    We all know the route our PM chose. Ever the opportunist, he managed to get a lot of political sympathy for the “deliberate” spying that took place at a staged media event. Oh, horrors! the dirty politics of the left!! Bring me my smelling salts – Jason…. (The irony is strong in this one.)

    (Note: My son no longer uses this technique, has grown out of it since he is no longer ten years old).

    • Puddleglum 23.1
      22 March 2016 at 8:53 pm

      A plausible explanation Molly.

      Unsurprisingly, Tracy Watkins goes for what she sees as the “simplest explanation“:

      “When the recording later emerged it seems that the simplest explanation was also the right one since there was nothing particularly inflammatory about the conversation. Key was genuinely angry and affronted.”

      So, either Key was expressing a moral outrage on behalf of all decent human beings (Watkins’ version) or, as you and your son suggest, he was taken off guard and was in a panic that he had said something that might burst the bubble within which his mythical political persona and personal ambitions flourish.

  24. repateet 24
    22 March 2016 at 9:09 pm

    Now wait for Mike Hosking to do a little spiel on how Mr Key has made the right decision yadda yadda yadda. Turn it into a positive.

    I don’t watch him on tv so may have already done it.

  25. Observer (Tokoroa) 25
    22 March 2016 at 9:15 pm

    Apology
    .
    Apologies for the grammatical errors in my piece above. My computer failed to let me go to Edit.

    John our strange Prime Minister, will no doubt give you a new Flag, Mr President.

    With his usual lack of attention to detail, he got four or five cobbers together to design a new flag for some unfortunate country. He appointed no trained or practising designer to the brave, if stupid, lil group. Just buddies. The Country turned out to be ours. ! God help us.

    You will recognise it Mr President. It has a long white feather on it. With a daggy black panel and a few strange dots.

    Most of us in New Zealand are hoping the gift of a white feather will not be bestowed on us bewildered citizens. A white feather is the accoutrement of a coward.

  26. North 26
    22 March 2016 at 9:30 pm

    It’s the emperor with no clothes that just routinely had it thought that public funds should be utilised. Then, come to senses……..do the proper thing…….what a fine chap ! Soper will drone, Henry will squeal virago-like, Hosking will lament on how “poor me me me…….” is abused. One consolation…….the stench is more and more detectable.

  27. peterlepaysan 27
    22 March 2016 at 9:34 pm

    Actually the rules governing mp’s expenses expressly forbid using tax payers money for damages in defamation cases.

    Key should have known that.

    MP’s are able to use tax payers money to pay lawyers to defend themselves in defamation cases.

    Key would have assumed that.

    The Nat/ Wall street “born to rule” arrogance is breathtaking.

    Ambrose is hardly the “anti jk Nat” type.

    I suspect his microphone was blue so no one noticed it.

  28. Observer (Tokoroa) 28
    23 March 2016 at 7:26 am

    Profile of National
    .
    Yesterday John Key wanted to steal money from us – to pay for his Defamation Crime. Possibly up to NZD1,5 Million. Who knows?

    He will be visiting Mr Obama very soon. I hope he won’t attempt to steal money from him ! But again – who knows?

    Also, do you think he will keep his creepy hands away from Obama’s daughters? Anybody’s guess I expect. He harasses girls in his own suburb, with impunity.

    How gutter low the National party of NZ really is. Mismanagers; bullies; self centered; arrogant; thieves – stealing assets from the common man; secretive over stupid TPPA negotiations; flogging off NZ land and resources to foreigners (to get kick backs for national party funds); callous about jobs and workers conditions. And so on and so on …

    They say Piggy Muldoon another national politician was bad. At least he was not evil like Key and English.

    • mary_a 28.1
      23 March 2016 at 12:30 pm

      @ Observer (Tokoroa) –

      NatzKEY profile spot on there.

      FJK might have to explain to the hierarchy in Washington this week why Kiwis voted to keep the NZ flag, after his (expensive) attempt to change it.

      Bet the thieving slimy little reptile won’t be wearing his favoured tea towel flag design lapel badge when he steps back in NZ again, with his tail between his legs, after receiving a good telling off in the USA for failing part of his masters’ grand plan!

      Not such a good year for FJK so far is it? Losing to Bradley Ambrose. Failed flag change. And then next month there will be the “prominent NZer’s” court case beginning Monday 4 April. However to protect beloved leader, there could be a media blackout as well as no public admittance on that one!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    5 days ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Auckland faces 25% water inflation shock
    Three Waters became a focus of anti-Government protests under Labour, but its dumping by the new Government hasn’t solved councils’ funding problems and will eventually hit the back pockets of everyone. Photo: Lynn Grieveson/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me at 8:06 am today are:The Government ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • Small accomplishments and large ironies
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.Share Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago

  • The Song of Saqua: Volume VII
    In order to catch up to the actual progress of the D&D campaign, I present you with another couple of sessions. These were actually held back to back, on a Monday and Tuesday evening. Session XV Alas, Goatslayer had another lycanthropic transformation… though this time, he ran off into the ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    6 days ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Pet bonds a win/win for renters and landlords
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