Thank you donors!

Written By: - Date published: 7:34 am, June 13th, 2011 - 126 comments
Categories: activism, blogs, Ethics, labour - Tags: ,

At 9am today Slater is probably going to publish a list of some of the donors to the Labour Party. I’ve got two quick comments.

First – a big thank you to every person on that list! I’m an active member of the Labour Party, and a regular donor. My name would be on that list too, except that it covers web based credit card transactions and I donate by electronic banking. (Don’t worry, no credit card details have been exposed or are in Slater’s possession.) As a donor I am proud to be in your company, you are all generous and compassionate people who are committed to a fair go for everyone in the country that we share.

To anyone who is upset at having their name made public, I for one certainly apologise on behalf of Labour. It’s a stuff up to leave anything accessible on the web, however obscurely. I suspect that most donors won’t mind – if you’re donating to a political party you’re probably pretty open and active about it (I certainly am in the real world). But if you are pissed off, please don’t blame some hapless web admin working for Labour, please blame the people who took this information and illegally made it public. The best way to get back at them is to donate again to Labour, that’s what I’m doing.

The second point I want to make is to consider the motives of the Nats (Slater’s handlers) in orchestrating this leak. A list of minor personal donors to a party is of no conceivable public interest. The Nats are trying to create a “climate of fear” by attacking their political opponents at an individual level, just as Paula Bennett illegally identified and gave details of individual beneficiaries. They think that publishing the names of donors to Labour will in some way intimidate or damage these people. I’d like to think that they’ve miscalculated there!

In a post last night Slater tries to compare himself to Wikileaks, and lists posts on The Standard that refer to it. In particular he links to a post of mine, which he says is “a good one”, so I’m very happy to repeat part of it here:

Like most other activities in the complicated real world, whistleblowing can be a grey area. Some thugs, like Paula Bennett with her attacks on individual beneficiaries, or Cameron Slater with his violation of name suppression, might think of themselves as whistleblowers, but they are not. To my mind the crucial distinctions are (1) whether information being released relates to an individual (probably wrong) or to an organisation like a company or the state (probably right), and (2) the level of genuine public interest in socially significant issues.

Slater is not a whistle blower revealing important information of public interest, he’s just a thug trying to intimidate people. Slater’s National Party handlers should be ashamed of themselves.

126 comments on “Thank you donors! ”

  1. Jim Nald 1

    Thanks to this publicity, I will be dropping by the nearest Labour electoral office during lunch to make a CASH donation 🙂

    • Portion Control 1.1

      I doubt parliamentary services staff are allowed to receive donations for the Labour Party at MPs office so if you do that you may be forcing them to break parliamentary services rules.

      • Blighty 1.1.1

        they can, of course, hold that money for the electorate campaign team.

        • Portion Control 1.1.1.1

          Ummm, no I don’t think they can. Can’t hold campaign meetings, can’t receive money on behalf of the Labour Party, can’t use the parliamentary office for any purpose other than parliamentary activity.

          • Colonial Viper 1.1.1.1.1

            Dude, a plain brown envelope is left, with no hint that a donation sits inside.

            Satisfied now dude?

            can’t use the parliamentary office for any purpose other than parliamentary activity.

            Did you tell the Wongs that?

    • Frank Macskasy 1.2

      Ditto.

      I must thank Slater for reminding me to pop in to Chris Hipkin’s office and donate a couple of hundred dollars.

  2. Peter 2

    There must be a crime of some sort here. I have never heard of people hacking private information and getting away from it.

    • Eddie 2.1

      there seem to be two relevant parts of the Crimes Act:

      249 Accessing computer system for dishonest purpose (http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1961/0043/latest/DLM330422.html#DLM330422)

      (1) Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years who, directly or indirectly, accesses any computer system and thereby, dishonestly or by deception, and without claim of right,—

      (a) obtains any property, privilege, service, pecuniary advantage, benefit, or valuable consideration; or
      (b) causes loss to any other person.

      (2) Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years who, directly or indirectly, accesses any computer system with intent, dishonestly or by deception, and without claim of right,—

      (a) to obtain any property, privilege, service, pecuniary advantage, benefit, or valuable consideration; or
      (b) to cause loss to any other person.
      (3) In this section, deception has the same meaning as in section 240(2).

      252 Accessing computer system without authorisation (http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1961/0043/latest/DLM330430.html#DLM330430)

      (1) Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years who intentionally accesses, directly or indirectly, any computer system without authorisation, knowing that he or she is not authorised to access that computer system, or being reckless as to whether or not he or she is authorised to access that computer system.

      (2) To avoid doubt, subsection (1) does not apply if a person who is authorised to access a computer system accesses that computer system for a purpose other than the one for which that person was given access.

      (3) To avoid doubt, subsection (1) does not apply if access to a computer system is gained by a law enforcement agency—

      (a) under the execution of an interception warrant or search warrant; or

      (b) under the authority of any Act or rule of the common law.

      • Mactreb 2.1.1

        (1) Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years who, directly or indirectly, accesses any computer system and thereby, dishonestly or by deception, and without claim of right,—

        Well done Eddie!…now let’s scroll on back up to s217:

        dishonestly, in relation to an act or omission, means done or omitted without a belief that there was express or implied consent to, or authority for, the act or omission from a person entitled to give such consent or authority (my emphasis)

        The fact that the information was available to all and sundry would suggest that there was an implied consent. In any respect, WO just needs to genuinely believe that such consent existed, it matters not whether that belief was reasonable.

        As for s 252, it’s a hacking offence, it requires defeating security measures…of which there were none.

        • Peter 2.1.1.1

          “implied consent”

          Ridiculous, has anyone handed money over to any website assuming the information will go public? It’s not as if a public list of donors was published.

          • Mactreb 2.1.1.1.1

            It’s not the consent of the donors that is at issue, it’s the consent of Labour. Think about it like this:

            You design me a sign, it says “Ban Asset Sales”. You do this because you think that I need some help changing my views, and you want to help. It also has some information about you, just incase I want to contact you and have a chat about state assets. Because of this, you don’t expect me to share it with anyone. But now it’s in my possession. I like it, I think “this looks pretty, and the ideas on it are pretty awesome, and one day I might need Peter’s details.” And so I stick it on my bedroom wall. Anyone can see it from the street, but only when my curtains are open. I have impliedly consented to those people who walk past my house being able to read that poster (and your details) whether I realise it or not.What you thought when you gave it to me isn’t material.

            The expectation that you have when you donate extends to Labour: you expect that they will hold your details securely, and prevent people being able to see it. They failed. Oops.

            • Puddleglum 2.1.1.1.1.1

              I agree Mactreb, that’s a very clever argument for a dishonest and unethical person to hide behind. You’ve convinced me.

        • mickysavage 2.1.1.2

          As for s 252, it’s a hacking offence, it requires defeating security measures…of which there were none.

          Firstly I am not sure about there being no security measures.  Do you have a source?
           
          Secondly I don’t think so.  Section 252 only requires a system to be accessed, not broken into.

          • Mactreb 2.1.1.2.1

            I have no direct source, no, but Flatt’s email says:

            Ear­lier this morn­ing we iso­lated a sys­tem vul­ner­a­bil­ity

            and

            In response to this intrusion:
            • we have secured the sys­tem to ensure that this can­not hap­pen again. [My emphasis]

            both of which would seem to imply that it was a lack of security measures that resulted in the information becoming available (rather than one of those untoward righties hacking in).

            In regard to your second point, don’t be stupid:

            …who intentionally accesses, directly or indirectly, any computer system without authorisation…

            Authorisation is the touchstone, it will necessarily require some ‘breaking in’ (the exception, it seems to me, would be if, say, someone left their desk unattended and you just ran over and copied things, but that still seems to be a ‘breaking in’ type of action).

            Moreover (and while we’re all here throwing legislation about), take a look at sub 2:

            (2) To avoid doubt, subsection (1) does not apply if a person who is authorised to access a computer system accesses that computer system for a purpose other than the one for which that person was given access.

            So it seems (and I stress that I am speculating here, so none of that “where’s your source?!” rubbish – it’s merely food for thought), if Labour had this information as part of their website, just hidden in a layer behind the front end, then the access would be fine (no matter how objectionable you may find such a thought). There is obviously authority to access the labour website/servers (read: computer system) – I mean, what more could the public possibly want than pages filled with lack of policy. Unclear where the distinction is drawn.

            In any respect, your energy would be better directed writing to Flatt asking why the fuck this was allowed to happen, rather than sitting here mulling on how WO has probably [not] broken the law.

          • burt 2.1.1.2.2

            mickysavage

            I know it may pain you to do so, but the whale has a video clip on his blog showing how easily he got public access to the information.

            see: http://whaleoil.gotcha.co.nz/index.php/2011/06/labour-leaks-how-i-did-it/

            • Vinsin 2.1.1.2.2.1

              Um Burt, the clip shows Slater tracking ip details, then magically browsing to the directories. As someone said in the comments it can be done by non-routable ip adresses. So you have a video of Slater saying anyone could do it, sure anyone could do it. If they tracked the ip addresses – tell me how often do you track an ip address? Used non-routable ip addresses – when was the last time you did that whilst having a browse on the web. Lastly the video doesn’t prove he didn’t hack in, or that the site wasn’t hacked it proves the information was available to him at that given time. All of this is completely irrelevant though as it doesn’t change the fact that the information cannot be called freely available, also please explain a legal reason why WO would need the information, how it can be considered fair for him to hold that information and how it doesn’t intrude on the individuals privacy, when he attempted to get the information directly from the individuals. 

              To simplify it for you, Imagine I went across the road to buy some milk and left my bedroom window open, then some thief jumped in and stole my property and invaded my privacy. Whilst I should’ve been more vigilant in closing my window, the thief has no right to invade and steal my stuff. By the looks of your moral compass you’d have no problem stealing.

              • Roflcopter

                “To simplify it for you, Imagine I went across the road to buy some milk and left my bedroom window open, then some thief jumped in and stole my property and invaded my privacy. Whilst I should’ve been more vigilant in closing my window, the thief has no right to invade and steal my stuff. By the looks of your moral compass you’d have no problem stealing.”

                But the bottle of milk is still there.

                • Vinsin

                  Yes because the bottle of milk is still there I’m better off? I didn’t need all my stuff did I? In fact it’s more profitable for me to robbed.

              • LOLWUT

                Nonsense Vinsin, browsing a publicly accessible, google-indexed website cannot possibly be analogised to breaking and entering someone’s house. It’s more like you put up a noticeboard on the outside of your fence, and tacked up a bunch of pieces of paper. Someone reads them, and it later turns out you accidentally picked up the wrong piece of paper and tacked it up without looking, and somehow that’s a crime that the person read it? I don’t think so.
                Read my lips – you can GOOGLE the hame of the website healthyhomeshealthykiwis and the very first hit takes you directly to that directory that Cam starts at in his vid ( labour now redirects those links to their main page). No hacking, just browsing publicly accessible information.

                • RedLogix

                  No it’s exactly analogous to you accidentally leaving the front door to your home open and I enter uninvited, snoop about, sniff your partner’s panties and photocopy your business accounts that you were working on that morning. If I did that to you, you’d be very unhappy with me.

                  Entering a home uninvited is one thing. In fact if I cause no damage or harm it’s not a crime. Yes your privacy has been invaded and it’s a scummy unpleasant thing for me to do, but then we don’t expect any better from Slater either.

                  But then using that unintended access to copy personal information that a ten-year old would know is meant to be confidential, and re-publishing it with great public fanfare is another thing again. If Slater were to publish a list of private, individual Natioanal Pary donors his handlers would be furious with him. He’d never get a bean from them ever again.

                  Yet you are here happily condoning and defending Slater this because the target was Labour. Just don’t try and play principled.

                  • LOLWUT

                    Are you really that dense Red? If you put something on a publicly accessible, google-indexed server, it is not private. It is nothing at all like sneaking in an open door. By putting it ON THE INTERNET there you have invited the public to browse it. You haven’t left the door open, you’ve put stuff in an open house that doesn’t have any doors and anyone is welcome to walk through it any time. If you have a drawer of underwear you don’t want sniffed, it’s your responsibility to not put it in a room with a door and a “private” sign. You cannot make your house an open home with no doors and then expect visitors to psychically guess if there are parts you don’t want them to look at.

                    • LOLWUT

                      typo which I can’t edit, obviously meant to say “it’s your responsibility to put it in a room…”

                    • RedLogix

                      Just because something has been made accidentally accessible to the public …does not mean it is public.

                      It was NOT INTENTIONALLY put on the internet. No-one was invited to browse it. Only a person with no ethical compass at all would imagine that a list of individual, private donors to a political party was meant to be public information.

                      But you avoid the obvious. I take it you would have no problem with me obtaining and threatening to publish the names of a whole lot of donors to the National Party? People who had donated assuming their names would remain confidential.

                      (That question has a simple yes or no answer in case you hadn’t noticed.)

                    • LOLWUT

                      Making it indexable by google is an invitation to browse it. How could the web possibly work if it wasn’t? Do you seriously think every time someone googles a website, they can or should be in any kind of position to second-guess the webmaster about whether that information should be public? Can you imagine trying to draft a law along those lines? How the hell does anyone else know what information you intend to publish and what you put on the net by mistake?

                      All kinds of surprising information is public these days. Ever heard of wikileaks? How can it possibly be the web surfer’s responsibility to judge the webmaster’s level of candour and/or stupidity? If you publish it, it’s public. End of story. You cannot expect the reader to do your quality control for you.

                      “I take it you would have no problem with me obtaining and threatening to publish the names of a whole lot of donors to the National Party? People who had donated assuming their names would remain confidential.”

                      I encourage you to feel free to do what you like to any information that any party places on a google-indexed publicly accessible web server. If it’s on such a server, it’s already published.

                    • Draco T Bastard

                      Do you seriously think every time someone googles a website, they can or should be in any kind of position to second-guess the webmaster about whether that information should be public? Can you imagine trying to draft a law along those lines?

                      Yes and it’s already like that in our law so obviously not too hard to draft. Under normal circumstances it is not reasonable to assume that you’re authorised to access private information even if it is publicly available. The reasonable assumption there would be to assume that someone had made a mistake.

                    • Colonial Viper

                      The reasonable assumption there would be to assume that someone had made a mistake.

                      Not just a reasonable assumption even.

                      Any National Party staffer or operative like Whaleoil would have looked at lists of donors and members, tables of personal contact details, transaction information, meetings minutes, etc. and known straight away that that material should not have been publicly available.

                      Making it indexable by google is an invitation to browse it.

                      Apparently this is going to be National’s legal defence.

                      Look forwards to seeing how that pans out.

                    • RedLogix

                      I encourage you to feel free to do what you like to any information that any party places on a google-indexed publicly accessible web server. If it’s on such a server, it’s already published.

                      As expected LOLWUT evaded the question with a total non-answer. Just to be clear there were only two possible answers to the question.

                      In order to be consistent with his argument LOLWUT had to answer ‘yes’.

                      But in reality he wouldn’t dream of compromising National Party information in such a way. Nor would Slater for that matter. So the real answer is ‘no’.

                      Unable to reconcile the blatant contradiction he diverts and prevaricates. Scumbag.

      • lprent 2.1.2

        The 249 (1) (a) sounds interesting. Whale has advertising.
        (b) sounds interesting with respect of the National party. All that Labour probably has to do is to show that they lost at least one donor.

        • Lanthanide 2.1.2.1

          “All that Labour probably has to do is to show that they lost at least one donor.”
           
          Well I’m glad that I hadn’t gotten around to donating to them yet. And am considering whether I will donate in a couple of months like I had planned – I probably will, though.

          • Bazar 2.1.2.1.1

            As i’ve covered in a previous thread

            This isn’t hacking, and and it isn’t a crime, and it shouldn’t be a crime.

            The server was designed to be accessed by the public, it had a list of files that could be accessed by the public
            And indeed the public, in this case whaleoil, found one of those files and downloaded it.

            Its as simple as that. There is no hacking, there was no theif
            Anyone who can’t understand that fundamental concept, is in denial.

            The only legal protection i know of that labour.org.nz have, is copyright on their data.
            But copyright only affects creative works of art, and a raw database doesn’t fall into that line
            And finally, theres nothing stopping fairuse of that data, like explaining how they only collected $11k in funds

            There is however the legal aspect on labour, who published publicly what may have been confidential information. Alas i’m not familiar with NZ’s privacy laws, so i can’t really remark, but i’d say labour’s incompetence has opened them to legal recourse.aa

            • McFlock 2.1.2.1.1.1

              copyright doesn’t just affect creative works of art, but that point is irrelevant. Let’s go worst case – somebody at labour accidentally flipped a switch to “public view” on their credit records. This doesn’t permit the theft and distribution of the information, any more than a coding error in a cash machine means you get to keep the money it spews out, or any more than leaving your front door unlocked means anyone is entitled to all your possessions that they can fit into  a bag labelled “swag”.
               
              The Hollow Men emails were quite possibly distributed to Hager by someone with authorised access. Whatever tripe the nactoids downloaded is stolen, whether they had to go to too much effort or not. Difference: one might not be a crime, the other definitely is.

              • Bazar

                “This doesn’t permit the theft and distribution of the information, any more than a coding error in a cash machine means you get to keep the money it spews out, or any more than leaving your front door unlocked means anyone is entitled to all your possessions that they can fit into a bag labelled “swag”.”

                Theft?, i’ve covered this before.
                Its not theift if its given out freely. And nothing was stolen, they still have the data. It was simply copied.

                So nothing was stolen, and what was copied, was copied legally. The data was placed on the server by authorized staff, the server being designed and configured to copy the data to any member of the public.

                That it was a mistake from labour, does not negate the fact that what whaleoil has, is his own private copy of the data.

                But to break down your analogies
                “This doesn’t permit the theft and distribution of the information, any more than a coding error in a cash machine means you get to keep the money it spews out”

                Phyiscal properity is different to a digial copy.
                But in the case of a atm spewing out incorrect amounts, your taking properity that doesn’t belong to you. The additional cash was never allocated to you, and it still remains properity of the bank, so by pocketing it, your stealing from the bank.

                Taking a copy of the data, labour never lost a thing. They had and always had the files. Nothing was stolen.
                If nothing was stolen, how can it be called theift.
                You can’t say it was unauthorized access, because it was accessable to anyone.

                “or any more than leaving your front door unlocked means anyone is entitled to all your possessions that they can fit into a bag labelled “swag”’

                Again, its a case of phyiscal theft vs a digital copy.
                If your home had a billbord that said “Welcome to the Public”, that the public used for chatting around, then Whaleoil came along and opened an unlocked door, and then took PHOTOS. That’d be a closer analogy
                As he didn’t tresspass, and he didn’t steal anything.
                He simply took a copy.

                Thus we have no theif. Thats a fact btw. No one in power is contesting that, not even labour. To call it theift, suggests that you can be guilty of stealing just for following a web link.

                As for redistribution, i’ve also covered that. Whaleoil doesn’t have a right to just redistribute what he downloads.
                But that doesn’t mean he can’t make posts about what he found, and what he thinks about it.

                Theres also fairuse doctrine to take into consideration. So he could even use small parts of it to prove his point, like with catus kate.

                As as i mentioned, but i don’t think you grasped it, I said copyright probably doesn’t apply to just a LOG FILE.

                Copyright in original works

                (1) Copyright is a property right that exists, in accordance with this Act, in original works of the following descriptions:
                (a) literary, dramatic, musical, or artistic works:
                (b) sound recordings:
                (c) films:
                (d) communication works:
                (e) typographical arrangements of published editions.
                (2) A work is not original if—
                (a) it is, or to the extent that it is, a copy of another work; or
                (b) it infringes the copyright in, or to the extent that it infringes the copyright in, another work.

                So unless what he copied falls under communication works, there is no copyright protection, and whaleoil is free to redistribute as he sees fit. At least without consequences from the copyright act.

                • felix

                  It’s nothing to do with copyright. Sheesh it seems like there’s a whole generation who thinks every legal concept stems from the Pirate Bay case.

                  • Bazar

                    [trashed]

                    [lprent: This comment got trashed by bazar, but caused a rare overlap with people having replied to it. I’ve popped the comment back into place sans the content]

                    • Pascal's bookie

                      Are your various statements about how WO found this stuff, and why he’s now chicken, based on anything more than what he has published, or do you have insider knowledge?

                      I only ask ‘coz you frame everything as factual statements, where if you are just taking Slater at his word, then that’s not actually worth much.

                    • Bazar

                      Yeah, i deleted that remark, because its pretty stupid to remark that it got delayed because of copyright and the privacy act.

                      A worthless statement.

                      As for where i got that remark, it was on whaleoil’s blog, that he was waiting on his lawyer. Take it for what you will

                    • lprent []

                      There are many flaws in the thread system. Looks like you found one that I didn’t know. I really need to find some time to fix several things with it.

            • mickysavage 2.1.2.1.1.2

              Don’t think so Bazar.  All that is needed is for the data to be accessed without authority.  Clearly Whaleoil thinks that he did not have authority.  Why else would he be crowing about it?
               
              And theft is not being argued here only access.  It is an entirely different offence.

              • Bazar

                Theft is being aruged here, just read the comments
                Too many posters don’t understand the differeance between theft and copyright infringement.

                Since its something a know a little about, i thought i’d enlighten the masses.

                As for what’s got him so excited and crowing over his discovery, its because hes found labour acting illegaly and probably lieing, and that labour probably doesn’t what what he found known publicly.

                As for crowing about how he’s commmited unauthorized access, i don’t think even whaleoil is that stupid, so its obvious hes going on about something else woudln’t you think?

                • Draco T Bastard

                  It’s not theft but the unauthorised access and distribution of private information. The police should be investigating all those involved to the fullest extent of the law.

            • Puddleglum 2.1.2.1.1.3

              That’s an appalling legalistic defence for a lack of integrity. Please keep running what in my opinion is a thoroughly dishonourable line, so that it is clear where you’re coming from.

        • Mactreb 2.1.2.2

          It’s a bit more harsh than that. The loss has to have been directly caused by the deception/dishonesty.

          “I am not going to donate any more for the reason that Cam Slater knows that at some point in the past I donated” would be caught, while “I am not going to donate any more because Labour was so shit at securing my information that someone was able to get access to it with minimal effort” would not be.

          • mickysavage 2.1.2.2.1

            Section 252 does not require proof of loss.  That is why I think this section is more likely to apply.  Agreed that section 249 has more hoops to work through.

            • Mactreb 2.1.2.2.1.1

              See above, but to recap for your benefit:

              s 252 requires unauthorised access, and as Bazar said:

              The server was designed to be accessed by the public, it had a list of files that could be accessed by the public And indeed the public, in this case whaleoil, found one of those files and downloaded it.

              • So every server in the world that hosts web pages can have its entire contents accessed with impunity, even parts that are not intended to be part of the website?  Are you kidding?
                 
                 

                • Mactreb

                  **palmface**

                  Example 1
                  Server X runs Amazon.com’s website. It also hosts Amazon.com’s credit card processing. Amazon has been sensible and secured the credit card processing. Access is clearly not authorised to those who do not have the requires security credentials (e.g. password / secured/dedicated connection).

                  Access by WO here would fall foul of s 252, why? Because he was not authorised.

                  Example 2
                  Server X runs Labour’s website. It also hosts Labours credit card processing. Labour has not been sensible. They didn’t bother to secure the information they held, and so the credit card information is accessible. Access to the website generally is authorised, and this authorisation allows access to other data, like credit card processing logs.

                  Access by WO here would not fall foul of s 252, why? Because he was authorised to access the Labour website, and part of that access meant he could get to the credit card logs, without doing anything that was unauthorised.

                  See the distinction?

                • Because he was authorised to access the Labour website
                   
                  Precisely.  But this does not allow him to access any file that is on the server.  Are you saying that every subdirectory off the website’s root is open for grabs?
                   
                  Besides you cannot use a browser to access the files that were there.  You need to download them.
                   
                  The authority to access the website must be to access the files via a browser which are designed to be accessed from the website.

                  • Mactreb

                    That is exactly what I am saying.

                    I you don’t want it accessed, then (1) don’t put it there, or (2) put in some level of security so that you can’t access it.

                    Whether or not they must be donwloaded isn’t really material: is my downloading of a zip file unauthorised, merely because I can’t open it in a browser illegal? I think not.

                    Also, failing that you’re still missing the effect of subsection two, which essentially says “if you had authorised access for reason 1, but then you use that access for reason 2, then that’s fine.”

                    • Whether or not they must be donwloaded isn’t really material: is my downloading of a zip file unauthorised, merely because I can’t open it in a browser illegal? I think not.
                       
                      Agreed.  But there will be a link on a page somewhere to the zip file so it is clear that access to it was intended.
                       
                      Also, failing that you’re still missing the effect of subsection two, which essentially says “if you had authorised access for reason 1, but then you use that access for reason 2, then that’s fine.
                       
                      Under your interpretation the Amazon credit card data would be able to be grabbed legally.  I am drawing a distinction between the computer and the “system”.
                       
                      I don’t disagree with you that the issue is much more complex than at first blush.  I think for instance that a breach of section 249 would be very difficult to prove and I have not argued that Slater is in breach of this provision.
                       
                      But if section 252 does not apply then the law needs to be reviewed.
                       
                       
                       
                       
                       
                       

                    • Did you ever see the film Town Without Pity? You should.

                      There’s a scene in it where the defence lawyer is trying to paint the woman who was raped as a ‘loose woman’. He called a witness who testified that she (he?) had seen the woman wandering around naked in her house. 

                      It turned out that in order to ‘see’ the woman behaving so lewdly, she had to climb up on furniture, get on her tiptoes, stretch her neck and glimpse a small part of the offending woman’s window.

                      You’re description of Whaleoil’s actions are analagous to those of the ‘morally concerned’ neighbour of the woman.

  3. higherstandard 3

    I will never donate to any political party.

  4. Lez Howard 4

    Scum nats at work again. They must be getting worried. I dont think they will have the election campaign all ther own way

  5. Mike Readman 5

    There’s nothing illegal going on. Eddie, are you having a mental breakdown yet?

    • Draco T Bastard 5.1

      Wrong, massive breach of privacy which, by the by, happens to be illegal.

      • LOLWUT 5.1.1

        Yes, it was a massive breach of privacy for Labour to put those details on the Internet. Well done for recognising this fact.

  6. Mike Readman 6

    Can’t wait for 2pm today! How about you guys?

  7. vto 7

    For fucks sake, squabble and scrap and pull each others hair out why don’t you…

    Nonetheless the right do certainly seem to be full of glee. And angry hatred.

    Frothing at the mouth like rabid dogs. A vote for National is a vote for rabid dogs. Dirty dogs slashing around like they live at some gang house. Talk about ugly.

  8. John D 8

    Well, he hasn’t released any data yet (apart from Cactus Kate’s $10 donation)
    Now he is saying “wait until 2pm”

    Playing games, perhaps?
    Or maybe he is taking legal advice.

    • lprent 8.1

      I would say so. I suspect that if he releases the donor names off the database without their permission, then legally he becomes criminal toast.

      • John D 8.1.1

        I’d hazard a guess that he won’t actually release the full list, just a few consenting names (such as Kate’s), but he’ll spin this for as long as he can.

        Can’t say I find the spectacle very edifying at all, really.

  9. BR 9

    “There must be a crime of some sort here. I have never heard of people hacking private information and getting away from it.”

    You’ve never heard of the hollow men?

    Bill.

    • Lanthanide 9.1

      Nicky Hager didn’t hack anything. So he claims, and so the police investigation ultimately didn’t find any evidence to refute him.

    • Anne 9.2

      You’re an ignorant jerk BR.
      The police found no evidence of hacking in the Brash email affair because there was no hacking. Got that into your head now dumbo? It was an inside job that went to the top of the National Party tree. I think Bill and Mary English heard a thing or two about it.

      • Portion Control 9.2.1

        Okay so we have one side, your side, saying the Hollow Men stuff wasn’t obtained illegally. We have Slater saying he didn’t obtain his data illegally. You believe your side but you don’t believe Slater’s side, but the truth is he’s running the same argument that Hager did, that it wasn’t obtained illegally and it’s only because of the tribe you’re in, not the evidence itself, that you hold your view.

        Slater says he didn’t obtain it illegally. Slater can put up the defence that the information was publicly available, if he accessed it from a non secure part of Labour’s website. That would be an interesting legal argument, as to whether a piece of data that is hidden but not secured is publicly available. I would think “hacking” or illegally obtaining the information would involve unlawful access and/or alteration of the data. There is no evidence of either of those.

        As for Slater breaching privacy principles that is a much taller order. He’s not an “agency” under the Privacy Act. He can also claim he didn’t make the information available: Labour did. And Labour isn’t the victim as far as the Privacy Act is concerned. The victims are the donors who are going to be named. Their claim will not be against Slater, but against Labour for failing to secure their data, which they have already admitted to in their correspondence with Slater and with Labour Party members.

        As for National being the source of the “leak”, that is just partisan nonsense based on no evidence. “A Labour Party insider told me…” is not evidence. It is spin and distraction.

        • felix 9.2.1.1

          Actually that’s not true at all.

          On one side we have a lengthy police investigation which found that Hager didn’t obtain his documents illegally.

          On the other side we have Cameron Slater, a man who has often boasted that lying is ok because there is no objective truth, only different perceptions.

          You’re either a fool or a cretin to draw an equivalence.

          • Portion Control 9.2.1.1.1

            Then go lay a police complaint felix if you’re so worried your email address will be released.

            • felix 9.2.1.1.1.1

              Why bring my email address into this?

              You made a false equivalence, I pointed it out.

              Care to argue with what I wrote?

              • Portion Control

                The police didn’t conclude that the information wasn’t obtained illegally. They found no evidence of unauthorised intrusion or hacking of the Leader’s office computer. That is not the same thing. For example, if somebody goes onto my laptop, copies my outlook pst file onto a data stick and runs off with it, would you say they haven’t stolen my data? Of course they have. Would the Police have evidence this had happened? No. So don’t reinvent history otherwise people will point out your dishonesty.

                Slater has now put up a blog post showing how he did it. Seems to me Labour left its crucial and sensitive data open to all and sundry. No hacking. Just posted all of it onto one of their subsidiary websites for anybody to see. Slater isn’t a sherlock holmes. He just found it.

                There’s no theft by Slater here. There is a breach of privacy though, and it’s from the Labour Party for exposing so much personal information to the world.

                • felix

                  You do realise that your stance on one completely contradicts your stance on the other, don’t you?

                  • LOLWUT

                    Of course one doesn’t contradict the other. Putting a data stick into someone’s laptop without permission is breaking and entering. Putting information on a web server that serves information over the internet is publishing. It’s not the viewer’s problem if Labour unwisely chose what to publish, and it’s not their responsibility to judge whether Labour was unwise in publishing certain information and avoid looking at it. You really think that would be a workable way for the internet to operate? If I’m browsing a website do you think I should be constantly second-guessing, item by item, whether it was a good idea for the web admin to publish that particular item? Can you seriously imagine a law operating on that principle?

                    • Colonial Viper

                      LOLWUT has mistaken misfiling confidential information in an insecure way as being the same as intentionally publishing it as public domain.

                    • LOLWUT

                      Nonsense, Viper. As I said above, do you seriously think that the internet could/should operate on the principle that if you publish information on a webserver, the viewer is responsible for guessing if it was a good idea to publish that information? How is a viewer supposed to guess if you published some information intentionally and some not? Maybe you didn’t mean to write your last comment, Viper, maybe you were just doing a draft but hit submit by accident. Maybe you had something on the clipboard from writing an private message and pasted it into the thread without thinking. Would I be hacking you by reading it? How would I know? By what standards should I attempt to guess that you intended to publicly post what you publicly posted?

                      The directory view that whale starts from ( as demonstrated in his video) is the one that comes up first if you google the name of the website. By what psychic powers is a web surfer supposed to know that Labour put some information in a google-indexed web directory that it didn’t mean to? Can you really not see the problems of that as a legal concept?

        • Craig Glen Eden 9.2.1.2

          are you stupid portion or what, this hack has been traced to National its nothing like the Brash situation and if anything shows that releasing confidential info from a computer is the norm/culture in the National Party.

          hollow men at it again, shit they must be worried.

  10. Kerry 10

    Who cares….tyical tory beatup….i have no problem people knowing i donate…in fact its a badge of honor…as it proves those who donate to labour have some smarts…unlike the things that donate to the tories!

    • Lanthanide 10.1

      Might be fine for you. But others who work in companies that are right-leaning, whether overt or not, may not feel comfortable with their colleagues/superiors knowing that they donated to the Labour party. That is entirely the point of releasing the names – it scares people away from donating.

      • Colonial Viper 10.1.1

        Yeah this isn’t a good situation. The Righties know what they are doing when they set this shit up.

  11. BR 11

    “You’re an ignorant jerk BR.”

    Charmed, I’m sure.

    “The police found no evidence of hacking in the Brash email affair because there was no hacking. Got that into your head now dumbo?”

    Now now Anne, temper temper. What did I say??

    “It was an inside job that went to the top of the National Party tree.”

    How do you know that, and how do you know that the information that Whaleoil has obtained did not involve the deliberate co-operation of a Labour party insider?

    “I think Bill and Mary English heard a thing or two about it.”

    Really? What did they hear?

    Bill.

  12. Irascible 12

    This exercise by the Key led National Party hackers now explains why the local electorate website in the electorate I was working in in 2008 was being hit so heavily with “enquiries” during the weeks leading up to and including the day of the election…. someone was fishing for information by attempting to hack into the website.
    In that Slater and one of his mates attempted to styme the local LEC’s hireage of a school facility for its monthly meetings with letters to the School Committee questioning their right to rent a room to the LEC I can now understand the ethics of the Key led National Party hacks even more clearly.

  13. BLiP 13

    Whale Oil down? Oh – what a shame.

    EDIT: Never mind,

  14. Anne 14

    Has someone pulled the plug on his site? If so, who? Anyone got any ideas?

    • The Voice of Reason 14.1

      I got on the site a few minutes ago and there is a post saying he’s holding off releasing the names till tomorrow because he’s shitting himself. Whoops, sorry, read that wrong … because he’s seeking legal clarification … before shitting himself.

      • felix 14.1.1

        He must have edited the post. I was there just now and it said he was still shitting himself AND crying like a child.

  15. felix 15

    Be fun to see Cameron in the dock again. Sentencing judges are notoriously fond of people like him who try to publicly ridicule the justice system.

  16. Peter 16

    Something tells me that with the relative financial weakness of Labour compared to National this is a David v’s Goliath contest. Why National would bother with all of this is totally beyond me.

    How can they win in the eyes of the voter?

    • felix 16.1

      They win if it pushes the story about National slipping in the polls down the page.

      They win if it pushes the story about Key borrowing 100 million a week to gamble with down the page.

      But mostly they win if it distracts people long enough that they don’t connect the dots between

      a) “We’re borrowing 100 million a week more than we need ‘cos I’m a super duper money trader”

      and

      b) “Gee we’re borrowing so much we really need to sell these energy companies”

      • Vinsin 16.1.1

        It’s a short sighted win though Felix, being associated with Cameron Slater especially when it’s looking very clear he’s broken The Privacy Act might delay the media but ultimately it will tarnish National’s image and force Labour back on message. Law’s are very hard to massage, delaying the connection between the current state of the economy may be easier but all National does by being involved with Slater is open themselves up to ridicule and cause the swing voter to trust them less – it’s a law that’s been willingly broken by Slater and by proxy National. That’s does not look good for voters when they’re wondering if they can trust a government with the country and they remember the government deliberately broke laws. It will be interesting to see how they intend to wiggle out of this.

        • felix 16.1.1.1

          All true, but really only for people like us who take an interest in the game. Most people don’t know and couldn’t give a fuck who Slater is or what his connection to the Nats says about them.

          BUT if he can get some bullshit about Labour’s IT problems (which most people don’t give a fuck about either) on the news instead of John Key getting caught in a massive lie then it’s a win – or a least a loss avoided.

          As you note elsewhere though, the earthquake kinda renders it a moot point.

  17. felix 17

    Bullshit. Lists of names and email addresses aren’t subject to copyright.

    If that’s the legal advice he’s waiting on, he has a moron for a lawyer.

    • Peter 17.1

      You would have thought how you get the lists might …..

      • felix 17.1.1

        I’m confused now Peter, my comment (and Pb’s I think) was meant to be a reply to a comment from bazaar way upthread which seems to have disappeared.

        Now I don’t know who’s replying to who, it’s like a hall of mirrors.

        • lprent 17.1.1.1

          A moderator has deleted a message that is in the middle of a thread. Pb’s one at the bottom is linked to something odd.

          Bad moderator – you wipe the contents and leave in place.

          I will see if I can locate it from the trash

          • Pascal's bookie 17.1.1.1.1

            I’m usually linked to something odd.

            • lprent 17.1.1.1.1.1

              *grin* Turned out that Bazar found another hole in the thread system when allowed to trash comments disrupting comments written in reply. It is meant to disable the trash when a reply has been made.

              Now I have to write a plugin to correct for it *sigh*

        • Peter 17.1.1.2

          Apologies I meant to say how he got the messages might be illegal even if lists of names don’t breach copyright as is being suggested.

          • felix 17.1.1.2.1

            Yes indeedy, I’d reckon the privacy act would be the best remedy as posted by others.

  18. Draco T Bastard 18

    Part 2 Information privacy principles

    Personal information shall not be collected by any agency unless—
    (a) the information is collected for a lawful purpose connected with a function or activity of the agency; and
    (b) the collection of the information is necessary for that purpose.

    Can’t think of any legal reason why WhaleOil would need to collect the personal information of Labours donors.

    (1) Where an agency collects personal information, the agency shall collect the information directly from the individual concerned.

    Yep, I’d say that Whale has violated that principal.

    (2) It is not necessary for an agency to comply with subclause (1) if the agency believes, on reasonable grounds,—
    (a) that the information is publicly available information;

    It’s private information and, as such, it’s reasonable to assume that it’s not supposed to be publicly available and that, if the public has access to it, a mistake has been made. Under these circumstances the reasonable action would be to notify the people holding the information that a mistake has been made. In fact, I’d say Whaleoil has breached most, if not all, of that principal.

    Principle 4
    Manner of collection of personal information
    Personal information shall not be collected by an agency—
    (a) by unlawful means; or
    (b) by means that, in the circumstances of the case,—
    (i) are unfair; or
    (ii) intrude to an unreasonable extent upon the personal affairs of the individual concerned.

    Yep, I’d say that Whaleoil breached that one as well – especially (b).

    Principle 5
    Storage and security of personal information
    An agency that holds personal information shall ensure—
    (a) that the information is protected, by such security safeguards as it is reasonable in the circumstances to take, against—
    (i) loss; and
    (ii) access, use, modification, or disclosure, except with the authority of the agency that holds the information; and
    (iii) other misuse; and
    (b) that if it is necessary for the information to be given to a person in connection with the provision of a service to the agency, everything reasonably within the power of the agency is done to prevent unauthorised use or unauthorised disclosure of the information.

    Labour have broken that one big time.

    —————————-

    Basically, the laws have been broken big time on this and the police should be investigating without complaints being laid. That said, every single person who has registered with Labour should be calling the police and laying a complaint to ensure that an investigation is happening.

    • Portion Control 18.1

      Slater is not an “Agency” under the Privacy Act. The Act doesn’t apply to him. Labour is an Agency, and they have broken the law.

      • The Voice of Reason 18.1.1

        Hope you’re not the C Slug’s lawyer, pc, because you are wrongitty wrong wrong.
         

        agency—

        (a) means any person or body of persons, whether corporate or unincorporate, and whether in the public sector or the private sector; and, for the avoidance of doubt, includes a department; but

        (b) does not include—

        (i) the Sovereign; or

        (ii) the Governor-General or the Administrator of the Government; or

        (iii) the House of Representatives; or

        (iv) a member of Parliament in his or her official capacity; or

        (v) the Parliamentary Service Commission; or

        (vi) the Parliamentary Service, except in relation to personal information about any employee or former employee of that agency in his or her capacity as such an employee; or

        (vii) in relation to its judicial functions, a court; or

        (viii) in relation to its judicial functions, a tribunal; or

        (ix) an Ombudsman; or

        (x) a Royal Commission; or

        (xi) a commission of inquiry appointed by an Order in Council made under the Commissions of Inquiry Act 1908; or

        (xii) a commission of inquiry or board of inquiry or court of inquiry or committee of inquiry appointed, pursuant to, and not by, any provision of an Act, to inquire into a specified matter; or

        (xiii) in relation to its news activities, any news medium

        • Portion Control 18.1.1.1

          Whale would successfully argue that his blog is a news medium. See (xiii)

          • lprent 18.1.1.1.1

            Only if you take the broadest possible interpretation which I suspect that our courts would not do.

            I wouldn’t regard this site as being news media, and we don’t have nearly as much of the rich fantasy life that whaleoil has exposed over the years.. If it came to court, I would be happy to detail some of the lies and fabrications that he made about me over the years. I am sure that there are many many others who would as well.

            It is ludicrous to regard him as a news medium…

            • Portion Control 18.1.1.1.1.1

              Go to the principle as to why news media are excluded from the Privacy Act, which is what a Court would do. That there is a public interest in a free press being able to expose information. Therefore information collected and distributed by a news medium goes to the heart of a free press. The same tenet goes for bloggers. If it ever went to Court then Whale’s counsel would point to the Electroal act exemption to news media and internet blogging sites.

              You might dislike Whale’s opinions and he might get his facts wrong at times, but go and lay a complaint with the Privacy Commissioner if you like. It would be an interesting test case but I strongly suspect he would win.

              • lprent

                There is no such provision for bloggers. As far as I am aware the only legislation that mentions bloggers was in the electoral finance act and it’s successors. That was a specific exemption because blogs were not classed as news media. You should think things through about why something has to be specifically enumerated.

                I probably cannot lay a complaint with the privacy commission because the only thing I am likely to be on in that pile of information is a name, email address, physical address, and membership of the party. All of those are public already. about the only information is in there that isn’t public will be that I am late paying my membership. It was in my desk to be paid when I went into hospital earlier this year, and I can’t remember ever paying it.

      • lprent 18.1.2

        Ah no. I’m sure someone will enlighten you about what words like ‘Agency’ mean in the terms of the Act. It will be somewhere at the top of the legislation.

        • Mactreb 18.1.2.1

          I must admit that I think the people here at the standard are wrong 90% of the time, but on this occasion, lprent, they are right (at least about WO being an agency). What TVOR has said is from the top of the legislation (s 2, if you care – this is the interpretation section and is usually found in s 2 of any modern statute 🙂 ).

          The Privacy Act applies to everyone unless they are excluded by the definition of agency. WO is included unless he can find an exemption under (b)(i)-(xiii) (I suspect he would under xiii).

          lprent, you have been ‘enlightened’.

          • lprent 18.1.2.1.1

            Thank you. Reading legislation is like reading a program. First you define your classes and instances…..

      • burt 18.1.3

        Labour is an Agency, and they have broken the law.

        That’s simply not possible… the law was confusing and others were doing it too and the ref made a bad call after the rules were changed….

        Oops sorry, I was in Labour apologist mode for a moment there…..

    • Vinsin 18.2

      So Draco technically, Labour can use “that the information is protected, by such security safeguards as it is reasonable in the circumstances to take, against—” and say they took “reasonable” precautions in the circumstances but failed due to negligence or incompetence. I completely agree WO is royally fucked on all accounts, i do wonder if Labour being the victim of a hack (not hack) would be able to site that clause. Anyone have a clue? I mean it’s hard to say exactly how the files were collected so…

      • Draco T Bastard 18.2.1

        Actually, I think Labours only defence is to admit that they fucked up, apologize and do their best to ensure that it doesn’t happen again.

        • Sean 18.2.1.1

          That’s what they are doing Draco, I got an email to that effect today with further information about who to contact if I want to discuss it in further detail.

          I called to offer support and say I don’t care if Cameron Slater tells the World I support Labour, I tell that to anyone who asks anyway, while wearing my Micky Savage t-shirt*.

          *Not the Micky Savage that posts here obviously. No offense Micky, maybe if you put a t-shirt out to..

  19. Sean 19

    18,000 donate to the Labour party, and Slater thinks its a crime. What a clown.

    I’ll be posting another cheque to Labour tomorrow morning.

    I have to point out, you can’t count the number of key donors to the Labour party on one hand. Not like ACT or National.

    • LOLWUT 19.1

      Not since you pissed Owen Glenn off eh?

      • Sookie 19.1.1

        Have you nasty little sewer rats got bored with each other and decided to troll today, crowing over your complete non event of a scandal cooked up by that fat nasty sleaze you call lord n’ master? I don’t come and shit in your sandbox, so I really don’t know why you come here.

        On topic and fangs retracted, I don’t think one’s political affiliations are anything to be ashamed of, but in the public service, its not done to be a member of a political party. Ditto if you work for a company where the management is nosey about employee’s personal lives and right wing in nature. I hope the lesson has been learned about security, as I certainly don’t want Slater’s slimy mitts on my personal details. I hope the Greens have super savvy IT geeks working for them.

        • LOLWUT 19.1.1.1

          Right, making 18,000 identities available to absolutely anyone is a “complete non event of a scandal”. I’d hate to think what you would consider a serious security breach then? And at the same time you’re pretending you don’t think this is important, you’re hoping that it doesn’t happen to you at the Greens. Contradict yourself much?

          • Sookie 19.1.1.1.1

            Sloppy security exploited by a scumbag with the morals and ethics of a cane toad does not equal hanging, drawing and quartering of the Labour caucus, sorry to disappoint you lot. It won’t do you any good, the hysterical ranting and lip smacking glee just makes you look like the pack of rabids you are. Hardly going to convince those pesky swing voters.

  20. Irascible 20

    Look at this: The Key led National Party admits it was accessing the Labour Party Website.
    http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/national-admits-labour-data-breach-denies-passing-names-whaleoil-ck-95242
    Then the Key led National Party argues that it had no moral responsibility to inform the offended party that it had broken into its website.

  21. coge 21

    All the credit card donors that have had their card numbers held by Labor in a unsecure manner, will need those cards canceled & new ones issued by their banks. The Labor Party needs to contact those cardholders urgently, as given the card numbers were available to the public to view, criminals could easily use them.

  22. Now that the Tories have done a Watergate break-in on that database should anyone on that list be threatened we all know who to lynch now don’t we.

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    An Infrastructure New Zealand report says we are keeping up with infrastructure better than we might have thought from the grumbling. But the challenge of providing for the future remains.I was astonished to learn that the quantity of our infrastructure has been keeping up with economic growth. Your paper almost ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    3 days ago
  • Councils reject racism

    Last month, National passed a racist law requiring local councils to remove their Māori wards, or hold a referendum on them at the 2025 local body election. The final councils voted today, and the verdict is in: an overwhelming rejection. Only two councils out of 45 supported National's racist agenda ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • Homage to Simeon Brown

    Open to all - happy weekend ahead, friends.Today I just want to be petty. It’s the way I imagine this chap is -Not only as a political persona. But his real-deal inner personality, in all its glory - appears to be pure pettiness & populist driven.Sometimes I wonder if Simeon ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Government of deceit

    When National cut health spending and imposed a commissioner on Te Whatu Ora, they claimed that it was necessary because the organisation was bloated and inefficient, with "14 layers of management between the CEO and the patient". But it turns out they were simply lying: Health Minister Shane Reti’s ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • The professionals actually think and act like our Government has no fiscal crisis at all

    Treasury staff at work: The demand for a new 12-year Government bond was so strong, Treasury decided to double the amount of bonds it sold. Photo: Lynn GrievesonMōrena. Long stories short; here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Friday, September ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 6-September-2024

    Welcome to another Friday and another roundup of stories that caught our eye this week. As always, this and every post is brought to you by the Greater Auckland crew. If you like our work and you’d like to see more of it, we invite you to join our regular ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    4 days ago
  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies; Excerpt Four.

    Internal versus external security. Regardless of who rules, large countries can afford to separate external and internal security functions (even if internal control functions predominate under authoritarian regimes). In fact, given the logic of power concentration and institutional centralization of … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • A Hole In The River

    There's a hole in the river where her memory liesFrom the land of the living to the air and skyShe was coming to see him, but something changed her mindDrove her down to the riverThere is no returnSongwriters: Neil Finn/Eddie RaynerThe king is dead; long live the queen!Yesterday was a ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Bright Blue His Jacket Ain’t But I Love This Fellow: A Review and Analysis of The Rings of Power E...

    My conclusion last week was that The Rings of Power season two represented a major improvement in the series. The writing’s just so much better, and honestly, its major problems are less the result of the current episodes and more creatures arising from season one plot-holes. I found episode three ...
    4 days ago
  • Who should we thank for the defeat of the Nazis

    As a child in the 1950s, I thought the British had won the Second World War because that’s what all our comics said. Later on, the films and comics told me that the Americans won the war. In my late teens, I found out that the Soviet Union ...
    4 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #36 2024

    Open access notables Diurnal Temperature Range Trends Differ Below and Above the Melting Point, Pithan & Schatt, Geophysical Research Letters: The globally averaged diurnal temperature range (DTR) has shrunk since the mid-20th century, and climate models project further shrinking. Observations indicate a slowdown or reversal of this trend in recent decades. ...
    4 days ago
  • Media Link: Discussing the NZSIS Security Threat Report.

    I was interviewed by Mike Hosking at NewstalkZB and a few other media outlets about the NZSIS Security Threat Report released recently. I have long advocated for more transparency, accountability and oversight of the NZ Intelligence Community, and although the … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • How do I make this better for people who drive Ford Rangers?

    Home, home again to a long warm embrace. Plenty of reasons to be glad to be back.But also, reasons for dejection.You, yes you, Simeon Brown, you odious little oik, you bible thumping petrol-pandering ratfucker weasel. You would be Reason Number One. Well, maybe first among equals with Seymour and Of-Seymour ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • A missed opportunity

    The government introduced a pretty big piece of constitutional legislation today: the Parliament Bill. But rather than the contentious constitutional change (four year terms) pushed by Labour, this merely consolidates the existing legislation covering Parliament - currently scattered across four different Acts - into one piece of legislation. While I ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Nicola Willis Seeks New Sidekick To Help Fix NZ’s Economy

    Synopsis:Nicola Willis is seeking a new Treasury Boss after Dr Caralee McLiesh’s tenure ends this month. She didn’t listen to McLiesh. Will she listen to the new one?And why is Atlas Network’s Taxpayers Union chiming in?Please consider subscribing or supporting my work. Thanks, Tui.About CaraleeAt the beginning of July, Newsroom ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • Inflation alive and kicking in our land of the long white monopolies

    The golden days of profit continue for the the Foodstuffs (Pak’n’Save and New World) and Woolworths supermarket duopoly. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short; here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Thursday, September 5:The Groceries Commissioner has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The thermodynamics of electric vs. internal combustion cars

    This is a re-post from The Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler I love thermodynamics. Thermodynamics is like your mom: it may not tell you what you can do, but it damn well tells you what you can’t do. I’ve written a few previous posts that include thermodynamics, like one on air capture of ...
    5 days ago
  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies: Excerpt Three.

    The notion of geopolitical  “periphery.” The concept of periphery used here refers strictly to what can be called the geopolitical periphery. Being on the geopolitical periphery is an analytic virtue because it makes for more visible policy reform in response … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    5 days ago
  • Venus Hum

    Fill me up with soundThe world sings with me a million smiles an hourI can see me dancing on my radioI can hear you singing in the blades of grassYellow dandelions on my way to schoolBig Beautiful Sky!Song: Venus Hum.Good morning, all you lovely people, and welcome to the 700th ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • I Went to a Creed Concert

    Note: The audio attached to this Webworm compliments today’s newsletter. I collected it as I met people attending a Creed concert. Their opinions may differ to mine. Read more ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 days ago
  • Government migration policy backfires; thousands of unemployed nurses

    The country has imported literally thousands of nurses over the past few months yet whether they are being employed as nurses is another matter. Just what is going on with HealthNZ and it nurses is, at best, opaque, in that it will not release anything but broad general statistics and ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • A Time For Unity.

    Emotional Response: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon addresses mourners at the tangi of King Tuheitia on Turangawaewae Marae on Saturday, 31 August 2024.THE DEATH OF KING TUHEITIA could hardly have come at a worse time for Maoridom. The power of the Kingitanga to unify te iwi Māori was demonstrated powerfully at January’s ...
    5 days ago
  • Climate Change: Failed again

    National's tax cut policies relied on stealing revenue from the ETS (previously used to fund emissions reduction) to fund tax cuts to landlords. So how's that going? Badly. Today's auction failed again, with zero units (of a possible 7.6 million) sold. Which means they have a $456 million hole in ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies: Excerpt Two.

    A question of size. Small size generally means large vulnerability. The perception of threat is broader and often more immediate for small countries. The feeling of comparative weakness, of exposure to risk, and of potential intimidation by larger powers often … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    5 days ago
  • Nicola Willis’s Very Unserious Bungling of the Kiwirail Interislander Cancellation

    Open to all with kind thanks to all subscribers and supporters.Today, RNZ revealed that despite MFAT advice to Nicola Willis to be very “careful and deliberate” in her communications with the South Korean government, prior to any public announcement on cancelling Kiwirail’s i-Rex, Willis instead told South Korea 26 minutes ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Satisfying the Minister’s Speed Obsession

    The Minister of Transport’s speed obsession has this week resulted in two new consultations for 110km/h speed limits, one in Auckland and one in Christchurch. There has also been final approval of the Kapiti Expressway to move to 110km/h following an earlier consultation. While the changes will almost certainly see ...
    6 days ago
  • What if we freed up our streets, again?

    This guest post is by Tommy de Silva, a local rangatahi and freelance writer who is passionate about making the urban fabric of Tāmaki Makaurau-Auckland more people-focused and sustainable. New Zealand’s March-April 2020 Level 4 Covid response (aka “lockdown”) was somehow both the best and worst six weeks of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    6 days ago
  • No Alarms And No Surprises

    A heart that's full up like a landfillA job that slowly kills youBruises that won't healYou look so tired, unhappyBring down the governmentThey don't, they don't speak for usI'll take a quiet lifeA handshake of carbon monoxideAnd no alarms and no surprisesThe fabulous English comedian Stewart Lee once wrote a ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago
  • Five ingenious ways people could beat the heat without cranking the AC

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Daisy Simmons Every summer brings a new spate of headlines about record-breaking heat – for good reason: 2023 was the hottest year on record, in keeping with the upward trend scientists have been clocking for decades. With climate forecasts suggesting that heat waves ...
    6 days ago
  • No new funding for cycling & walking

    Studies show each $1 of spending on walking and cycling infrastructure produces $13 to $35 of economic benefits from higher productivity, lower healthcare costs, less congestion, lower emissions and lower fossil fuel import costs. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short; here’s my top six things to note ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • 99

    Dad turned 99 today.Hell of a lot of candles, eh?He won't be alone for his birthday. He will have the warm attention of my brother, and my sister, and everyone at the rest home, the most thoughtful attentive and considerate people you could ever know. On Saturday there will be ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Open Government: National reneges on beneficial ownership

    One of the achievements of the New Zealand’s Open Government Partnership Fourth National Action Plan was a formal commitment from the government to establish a public beneficial ownership register. Such a register would allow the ultimate owners of companies to be identified - a vital measure in preventing corruption, money ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies: Excerpt One.

    This project analyzes security politics in three peripheral democracies (Chile, New Zealand, Portugal) during the 30 years after the end of the Cold War. It argues that changes in the geopolitical landscape and geo-strategic context are interpreted differently by small … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    6 days ago
  • Tea and Toast

    When the skies are looking bad my dearAnd your heart's lost all its hopeAfter dawn there will be sunshineAnd all the dust will goThe skies will clear my darlingNow it's time for you to let goOur girl will wake you up in the mornin'With some tea and toastLyrics: Lucy Spraggan.Good ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago
  • NLTP 2024 released – destroying pipeline of shovel ready local projects

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Waka Kotahi yesterday released the latest National Land Transport Plan (NLTP) for 2024-27. The NLTP sets out what transport projects will be funded for the next three years, including both central and local government projects. As expected given the government’s extremely ideological transport policy, it’s ...
    7 days ago
  • Can Brown deliver his roads

    The Government’s unveiling of its road-building programme yesterday was ambitious and, many would say, long overdue. But the question will be whether it is too ambitious, whether it is affordable, and, if not, what might be dropped. The big ticket items will be the 17 so-called Roads of National Significance. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    7 days ago
  • New paper about detecting climate misinformation on Twitter/X

    Together with Cristian Rojas, Frank Algra-Maschio, Mark Andrejevic, Travis Coan, and Yuan-Fang Li, I just published a paper in Nature Communications Earth & Environment where we use the Computer Assisted Recognition of Denial and Skepticism (CARDS) machine learning model to detect climate misinformation in 5 million climate tweets. We find over half ...
    1 week ago
  • Excerpting “Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies.”

    In the late 2000s-early 2010s I was researching and writing a book titled “Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies: Chile, New Zealand and Portugal.” The book was a cross-regional Small-N qualitative comparison of the security strategies and postures of three small … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    1 week ago
  • Hating for the Wrong Reasons: Of Rings of Power, Orcs and Evil

    A few months ago, my fellow countryman, HelloFutureMe, put out a giant YouTube video, dissecting what went wrong with the first season of Rings of Power (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJ6FRUO0ui0&t=8376s). It’s an exceptionally good video, and though it spans some two and a half hours, it is well worth your time. But ...
    1 week ago
  • Climate Change: “Least cost” to who?

    On Friday the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment released their submission on National's second Emissions Reduction Plan, ripping the shit out of it as a massive gamble based on wishful thinking. One of the specific issues he focused on was National's idea of "least cost" emissions reduction, pointing out that ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago
  • Israeli Lives Matter

    There is no monopoly on common senseOn either side of the political fenceWe share the same biology, regardless of ideologyBelieve me when I say to youI hope the Russians love their children tooLyrics: Sting. Read more ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Luxon Cries

    Over the weekend, I found myself rather irritably reading up about the Treaty of Waitangi. “Do I need to do this?” It’s not my jurisdiction. In any other world, would this be something I choose to do?My answer - no.The Waitangi Tribunal, headed by some of our best legal minds, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Just one Wellington home being consented for every 10 in Auckland

    A decade of under-building is coming home to roost in Wellington. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short; here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Monday September 2:Wellington’s leaders are wringing their hands over an exodus of skilled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Container trucks on local streets: why take the risk?

    This is a guest post by Charmaine Vaughan, who came to transport advocacy via her local Residents Association and a comms role at Bike Auckland. Her enthusiasm to make local streets safer for all is shared by her son Dylan Vaughan, a budding “urban nerd” who provided much of the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    1 week ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #35

    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, August 25, 2024 thru Sat, August 31, 2024. Story of the week After another crammed week of climate news including updates on climate tipping points, increasing threats from rising ...
    1 week ago
  • An Uncanny Valley of Improvement: A Review and Analysis of The Rings of Power, Episodes 1-3 (Season ...

    And thus we come to the second instalment of Amazon’s Rings of Power. The first season, in 2022, was underwhelming, even for someone like myself, who is by nature inclined to approach Tolkien adaptations with charity. The writing was poor, the plot made no sense on its own terms, and ...
    1 week ago
  • Alcohol debris and Crocodile Tears

    I write to you this morning from scenes of carnage. Around the floor lie young men who only hours earlier were full of life, and cocktails, and now lie silent. Read more ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • When Do We Look Away?

    Hi,The first time I saw something that made me recoil on the internet was a visit to Rotten.com. The clue was in the name — but the internet was a new thing to me in the 90s, and no-one really knew what the hell was going on. But somehow I ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    1 week ago
  • The decades just fly by

    You turn your back for a moment and a city can completely transform itself. It was, oh, just the other day I was tripping up to Kuala Lumpur every few months to teach workshops and luxuriate in the tropical warmth and fill my face with Char Kway Teow.It has to ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago
  • 2024 Reading Summary: August

    Completed reads for August: Aesop’s Fables (collection), by Aesop Berserk: Volume XXV (manga), by Kentaro Miura Benighted, by J.B. Priestly Berserk: Volume XXVI (manga), by Kentaro Miura Berserk: Volume XXVII (manga), by Kentaro Miura Berserk: Volume XXVIII (manga), by Kentaro Miura Berserk: Volume XXIX (manga), by Kentaro Miura ...
    1 week ago
  • Is recent global warming part of a natural cycle?

    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 from the Gigafact team in collaboration with John Mason. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is recent global warming part ...
    1 week ago
  • White Noise

    Now here we standWith our hearts in our handsSqueezing out the liesAll that I hearIs a message, unclearWhat else is there to decide?All that I'm hearing from youIs White NoiseLyrics: Christopher John CheneyIs the tide turning?Have we reached the high point of the racist hate and lies from Hobson’s Pledge, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • The Death Of “Big Norm” – Exactly 50 Years Ago Today.

    Norman KirkPrime Minister of New Zealand 1972-1974Born: 6 January 1923 - Died: 31 August 1974Of the working-class, by the working-class, for the working-class.Video courtesy of YouTubeThese elements were posted on Bowalley Road on Saturday, 31 August 2024. ...
    1 week ago
  • Claims and Counter-Claims.

    Whose Foreshore? Whose Seabed? When the Marine and Coastal Area Act was originally passed back in 2011, fears about the coastline becoming off-limits to Pakeha were routinely allayed by National Party politicians pointing out that the tests imposed were so stringent  that only a modest percentage of claims (the then treaty ...
    1 week ago
  • Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • The Principles of the Treaty

    Hardly anyone says what are ‘the principles of the treaty’. The courts’ interpretation restrain the New Zealand Government. While they about protecting a particular community, those restraints apply equally to all community in a liberal democracy – including a single person.Treaty principles were introduced into the governance of New Zealand ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • The Only Other Reliable Vehicle.

    An Elite Leader Awaiting Rotation? Hipkins’ give-National-nothing-to-aim-at strategy will only succeed if the Coalition becomes as unpopular in three years as the British Tories became in fourteen.THE SHAPE OF CHRIS HIPKINS’ THINKING on Labour’s optimum pathway to re-election is emerging steadily. At the core of his strategy is Hipkins’ view ...
    1 week ago
  • A Big F U to this Right Wing Government

    Open to all - deep thanks to those who support and subscribe.One of the things that has got me interested recently is updates about Māori wards.In April, Stuff’s Karanama Ruru reported that ~ 2/3 of our 78 councils had adopted Māori wards in NZ.That meant that under the Coalition repeal ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago

  • Action to grow the rural health workforce

    Scholarships awarded to 27 health care students is another positive step forward to boost the future rural health workforce, Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “All New Zealanders deserve timely access to quality health care and this Government is committed to improving health outcomes, particularly for the one in five ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago
  • Pharmac delivering more for Kiwis following major funding boost

    Associate Health Minister with responsibility for Pharmac David Seymour has welcomed the increased availability of medicines for Kiwis resulting from the Government’s increased investment in Pharmac. “Pharmac operates independently, but it must work within the budget constraints set by the Government,” says Mr Seymour. “When our Government assumed office, New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago
  • Sport Minister congratulates NZ’s Paralympians

    Sport & Recreation Minister Chris Bishop has congratulated New Zealand's Paralympic Team at the conclusion of the Paralympic Games in Paris.  “The NZ Paralympic Team's success in Paris included fantastic performances, personal best times, New Zealand records and Oceania records all being smashed - and of course, many Kiwis on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago
  • Government progresses response to Abuse in Care recommendations

    A Crown Response Office is being established within the Public Service Commission to drive the Government’s response to the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care. “The creation of an Office within a central Government agency was a key recommendation by the Royal Commission’s final report.  “It will have the mandate ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Passport wait times back on-track

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says passport processing has returned to normal, and the Department of Internal Affairs [Department] is now advising customers to allow up to two weeks to receive their passport. “I am pleased that passport processing is back at target service levels and the Department ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • New appointments to the FMA board

    Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister has today announced three new appointments and one reappointment to the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) board. Tracey Berry, Nicholas Hegan and Mariette van Ryn have been appointed for a five-year term ending in August 2029, while Chris Swasbrook, who has served as a board member ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • District Court judges appointed

    Attorney-General Hon Judith Collins today announced the appointment of two new District Court judges. The appointees, who will take up their roles at the Manukau Court and the Auckland Court in the Accident Compensation Appeal Jurisdiction, are: Jacqui Clark Judge Clark was admitted to the bar in 1988 after graduating ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government makes it faster and easier to invest in New Zealand

    Associate Minister of Finance David Seymour is encouraged by significant improvements to overseas investment decision timeframes, and the enhanced interest from investors as the Government continues to reform overseas investment. “There were about as many foreign direct investment applications in July and August as there was across the six months ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • New Zealand to join Operation Olympic Defender

    New Zealand has accepted an invitation to join US-led multi-national space initiative Operation Olympic Defender, Defence Minister Judith Collins announced today. Operation Olympic Defender is designed to coordinate the space capabilities of member nations, enhance the resilience of space-based systems, deter hostile actions in space and reduce the spread of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Government commits to ‘stamping out’ foot and mouth disease

    Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says that a new economic impact analysis report reinforces this government’s commitment to ‘stamp out’ any New Zealand foot and mouth disease incursion. “The new analysis, produced by the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research, shows an incursion of the disease in New Zealand would have ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Improving access to finance for Kiwis

    5 September 2024  The Government is progressing further reforms to financial services to make it easier for Kiwis to access finance when they need it, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says.  “Financial services are foundational for economic success and are woven throughout our lives. Without access to finance our ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Prime Minister pays tribute to Kiingi Tuheitia

    As Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII is laid to rest today, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has paid tribute to a leader whose commitment to Kotahitanga will have a lasting impact on our country. “Kiingi Tuheitia was a humble leader who served his people with wisdom, mana and an unwavering ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Resource Management reform to make forestry rules clearer

    Forestry Minister Todd McClay today announced proposals to reform the resource management system that will provide greater certainty for the forestry sector and help them meet environmental obligations.   “The Government has committed to restoring confidence and certainty across the sector by removing unworkable regulatory burden created by the previous ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • More choice and competition in building products

    A major shake-up of building products which will make it easier and more affordable to build is on the way, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Today we have introduced legislation that will improve access to a wider variety of quality building products from overseas, giving Kiwis more choice and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Joint Statement between the Republic of Korea and New Zealand 4 September 2024, Seoul

    On the occasion of the official visit by the Right Honourable Prime Minister Christopher Luxon of New Zealand to the Republic of Korea from 4 to 5 September 2024, a summit meeting was held between His Excellency President Yoon Suk Yeol of the Republic of Korea (hereinafter referred to as ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Comprehensive Strategic Partnership the goal for New Zealand and Korea

    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Republic of Korea, Yoon Suk Yeol. “Korea and New Zealand are likeminded democracies and natural partners in the Indo Pacific. As such, we have decided to advance discussions on elevating the bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • International tourism continuing to bounce back

    Results released today from the International Visitor Survey (IVS) confirm international tourism is continuing to bounce back, Tourism and Hospitality Minister Matt Doocey says. The IVS results show that in the June quarter, international tourism contributed $2.6 billion to New Zealand’s economy, an increase of 17 per cent on last ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government confirms RMA reforms to drive primary sector efficiency

    The Government is moving to review and update national level policy directives that impact the primary sector, as part of its work to get Wellington out of farming. “The primary sector has been weighed down by unworkable and costly regulation for too long,” Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says.  “That is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Weak grocery competition underscores importance of cutting red tape

    The first annual grocery report underscores the need for reforms to cut red tape and promote competition, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “The report paints a concerning picture of the $25 billion grocery sector and reinforces the need for stronger regulatory action, coupled with an ambitious, economy-wide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government moves to lessen burden of reliever costs on ECE services

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour says the Government has listened to the early childhood education sector’s calls to simplify paying ECE relief teachers. Today two simple changes that will reduce red tape for ECEs are being announced, in the run-up to larger changes that will come in time from the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Over 2,320 people engage with first sector regulatory review

    Regulation Minister David Seymour says there has been a strong response to the Ministry for Regulation’s public consultation on the early childhood education regulatory review, affirming the need for action in reducing regulatory burden. “Over 2,320 submissions have been received from parents, teachers, centre owners, child advocacy groups, unions, research ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government backs women in horticulture

    “The Government is empowering women in the horticulture industry by funding an initiative that will support networking and career progression,” Associate Minister of Agriculture, Nicola Grigg says.  “Women currently make up around half of the horticulture workforce, but only 20 per cent of leadership roles which is why initiatives like this ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government to pause freshwater farm plan rollout

    The Government will pause the rollout of freshwater farm plans until system improvements are finalised, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds and Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard announced today. “Improving the freshwater farm plan system to make it more cost-effective and practical for farmers is a priority for this ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Milestone reached for fixing the Holidays Act 2003

    Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety Brooke van Velden says yesterday Cabinet reached another milestone on fixing the Holidays Act with approval of the consultation exposure draft of the Bill ready for release next week to participants.  “This Government will improve the Holidays Act with the help of businesses, workers, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • New priorities to protect future of conservation

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