The dump of the #sheepgate papers

Written By: - Date published: 8:52 am, August 5th, 2015 - 97 comments
Categories: david parker, john key, national, same old national, slippery, the praiseworthy and the pitiful, you couldn't make this shit up - Tags: ,

Strange sheep

There are a few tell tale signs showing when National is in trouble.

For instance dumping a huge amount of paper at the one time during a week when Parliament is not sitting and the responsible Minister is overseas apparently without access to a land line so that he is unable to give media interviews are all pretty good indicators.

Another sign is John Key claiming either Labour does it too or it is all Labour’s fault.  An example of the former is when he said that Labour also engaged in dirty politics.  The lack of any example of a parliamentary coordinated hit job on individuals using social media did not matter.  And he talked up allegations of Donghua Liu making large donations of money to the Labour Party despite the fact that the only verified political donation made by Mr Liu was one of $25,000 to National in August 2013.

So with events over the past 24 hours you can see that National is in trouble over Sheepgate.  Parliament is not sitting, McCully is overseas somewhere where there are no phone lines and Key is saying it was all Labour’s fault.

Radio New Zealand has reported Key as saying this:

“They were the people who put in the initial ban – they were the people who made, I think, assurances to the Saudis that they were going to find a response to that, they were the people who dispatched Phil Goff to talk to the Saudi ministers saying that they would find a way through.

And they were the people who deliberately, and I say deliberately, having changed their position, decide to do a complete 180 and not find a decision, made sure that the Saudis did not find out about it until they had made that decision public.”

But the only proof of a change in position is that by National ministers.  Again from the above Radio New Zealand article:

The documents show that in 2010, three National Government cabinet ministers met to discuss the restarting of live sheep exports two years later in 2012.

Ministers David Carter, Murray McCully and Tim Groser talked about a possible 15,000 to 25,000 live sheep being sent, as long as the shipment met World Organisation for Animal Health standards.

Those shipments never went ahead.

Get that?  The only sign of a change of position is that by National in 2010 when then Agriculture Minister David Carter began negotiations with the Saudis to lift the ban on live sheep export despite saying publicly that the ban would not be lifted.  The subsequent reimposition of the ban clearly annoyed the Saudis.  To use Key’s words Carter clearly changed his position, decided to do a complete 180 and not find a decision, and made sure that the Saudis did not find out about it until after the decision was made public.

The papers also reveal that the Auditor General was consulted about the proposed payments to the Saudi sheep farmer and expressed deep reservations.  From Stuff:

Doubts about the legality of live sheep exports were expressed by the Auditor-General, more than a year before the Government sent 900 ewes to Saudi Arabia.

In a major release of official documents, notes reveal in August 2013 Auditor-General Lyn Provost had concerns that the deal with an influential Saudi businessman at the centre of the long-running saga was “weak”.

She also registered significant concerns that the independence of her office could be compromised by the meeting, and the export of live sheep might be illegal.

The media is starting to see through Key’s lies.  Barry Soper has said this about Key’s claims:

It’s clear Government claims they were responding to a threat made to the Clark Government of a $30 million lawsuit over the axing of live sheep exports aren’t credible.

It would seem the $30 million was mentioned just once in papers from Murray McCully’s office, long after Labour was voted out and bearing no relation to a threat of that time.

David Parker has summarised the transaction with typical sharpness.  From Radio New Zealand:

Labour trade spokesperson David Parker told Checkpoint the deal was unscrupulous.

He said people were right to be incredulous that New Zealand would spend millions of dollars building a farm in the desert and flying sheep on Singapore Airlines.

“It just doesn’t make sense, and that’s why people are right to be suspicious that this is not what it seems,” he said.

“This wasn’t good business sense, this wasn’t settling a legal claim, this was to facilitate the – still – locked Saudi free trade agreement. It’s just unprincipled.”

National would have us believe that it has spent $11 million on setting up a sheep farm in a saudi desert where most of the lambs died to settle a non existent legal claim that was never lodged and was statute barred in any event.  The reality is that it is the payment of a bribe and there never was a credible legal threat at least one that Labour was responsible for.

In civilised nations Ministers are sacked for this sort of behaviour.  And Prime Ministers do not tell lies.

97 comments on “The dump of the #sheepgate papers ”

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  1. Ovid 1
    5 August 2015 at 9:30 am

    For instance dumping a huge amount of paper at the one time during a week when Parliament is not sitting and the responsible Minister is overseas apparently without access to a land line so that he is unable to give media interviews are all pretty good indicators.

    The Silence of the Lambs.

  2. Macro 2
    5 August 2015 at 9:32 am

    In civilised nations Ministers are sacked for this sort of behaviour. And Prime Ministers do not tell lies.

    But this is “new seelind” where the sheeple worship our “aspirashunal” dear leader.
    This bribe was just an “aspirashunal” oiling of the wheels to make a “deal” !
    We don’t need to worry about sheeple, it’s our mates we need to consider.

  3. esoteric pineapples 3
    5 August 2015 at 9:37 am

    Live animal exports often lead to horrific abuse of animals.

    “Australia is the world’s largest exporter of sheep and cattle. According to Meat and Livestock Australia, 2.44 million sheep were exported to markets in Asia and the Middle East in 2012,[4] reduced from 4.2 million in 2008.[5] ” – Wikipedia

    There’s a few petitions on line asking Australia to stop live animal exports, sometimes accompanied by videos of the most appalling abuse.

  4. wyndham 4
    5 August 2015 at 9:51 am

    Nothing new in Key’s behaviour over this issue.
    1. Attack is the best means of defence.
    2. Blame Labour.
    3. Construct a web of untruths, partial truths, obfuscations and deceits.
    It’s what Key does. It’s the nature of the man and part of the reason he has risen to where he is. What a proud record for him to reflect on when he finally leaves this country. As he will.

    • RedLogix 4.1
      5 August 2015 at 10:18 am

      Ah pfffff … kiwis just love a good liar for a Prime Minister.

    • cogito 4.2
      5 August 2015 at 5:56 pm

      Well said.

      Car maker Lotus have this motto – “Simplify, then add lightness” . By contrast Key’s motto is obfuscate, then add lies.

  5. Mike the Savage One 5
    5 August 2015 at 10:06 am

    Baah, baah, baah, one way fares to Riyadh, on sale now, at the McCully Flight Centre, book now, only $ 1,500 one way, economy class, or $ 1,999 business class, chopped beet and dry hay to chew for meal breaks. A nice desert resort is calling. Enjoy the warm temperatures in the 40s, and the views and sandy playgrounds between the palm trees here and there.

    Yes, indeed, one may laugh about it all, but when we look at this with sombre minds and give it some thought, it makes this country look like a modern day banana republic kind of state.

    And of course, dumping it on media in the afternoon, while the PM and others responsible are out of the country, when Parliament is in recess, and trying to blame the Labour government (that was last in charge in 2008!), that is a desperate effort to get out of the apparent mess.

    Add today’s news about the dairy prices dropping through the hole in the bottom of the bucket, add the Auckland housing crisis spinning endlessly out of control, add the threat of job losses all over the regions, the closure or sale of Solid Energy, the unavoidable bankruptcies and forced sales of farms, and what else is to come soon, and even the so far deluded middle class in suburban Auckland will have to wake up.

    I foresee a disaster hitting this country and economy very soon, one we have not seen for decades, possible one worse than the 1987 stock crash.

    John Key does not keep his mansion on Hawaii for no reason, I am waiting for him to put his St Stephens Ave one in Parnell for sale on the market soon, as he will want to head off soon, before the whole shit will hit the fan, something very hard and nasty.

    Just read this to perhaps get a clue about where we are heading:

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11491810

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/regional/280507/housing-shortage-%27set-to-worsen%27

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11492002

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11491893

    Even the Federated Farmers ACT Party friendly free market fans will soon not be able to put a nice “spin” on the disastrous situation, nor that idiot housing minister with that flat and ugly face.

    But welcome to the “brighter future”, wherever that is to be found.

    • Draco T Bastard 5.1
      5 August 2015 at 11:22 am

      I am waiting for him to put his St Stephens Ave one in Parnell for sale on the market soon

      Yep, he’ll want to sell that one before the prices start dropping so that he can get his untaxed and unearned capital gain.

      Even the Federated Farmers ACT Party friendly free market fans will soon not be able to put a nice “spin” on the disastrous situation, nor that idiot housing minister with that flat and ugly face.

      True but I’m sure that they’ll try. They certainly won’t admit that their religion is a failure.

    • Skinny 5.2
      5 August 2015 at 11:35 am

      “Yes, indeed, one may laugh about it all, but when we look at this with sombre minds and give it some thought, it makes this country look like a modern day banana republic kind of state”.

      We are a banana republic by allowing these mugs to continue rorting us at every turn. The information release and the condemnation should have been headline news from all media outlets demanding heads should roll. NO typically hardly a fuss, like it is business as usual.

      • Melanie Scott 5.2.1
        5 August 2015 at 4:58 pm

        For some time now I have ben thinking – more of a banana milkshake republic.

        • Skinny 5.2.1.1
          5 August 2015 at 5:47 pm

          Not too many farmers smiling when I was driving out in the countryside today. Ya can’t give milk away shortly the rate the arse has dropped right out of the market.

          Banana milkshake nice 🙂 Melanie.

    • Anno1701 5.3
      5 August 2015 at 1:55 pm

      “Yes, indeed, one may laugh about it all, but when we look at this with sombre minds and give it some thought, it makes this country look like a modern day banana republic kind of state.”

      what do you mean “looks like”……?

  6. Save NZ 6
    5 August 2015 at 10:07 am

    +1

    This disastrous shipmate is a good example to keep in the focus. It is clearly unscrupulous, involves farming free trade deals, cruelty and bribery.

    Good comments by David Parker
    Labour trade spokesperson David Parker told Checkpoint the deal was unscrupulous.

    He said people were right to be incredulous that New Zealand would spend millions of dollars building a farm in the desert and flying sheep on Singapore Airlines.

    “It just doesn’t make sense, and that’s why people are right to be suspicious that this is not what it seems,” he said.

    “This wasn’t good business sense, this wasn’t settling a legal claim, this was to facilitate the – still – locked Saudi free trade agreement. It’s just unprincipled.”

  7. Ad 7
    5 August 2015 at 10:10 am

    Keen to see whether Labour can work to orchestrate the full Opposition in Parliament tomorrow. This Saudi story has long peaked unless there’s some juicy dead-lamb footage to go with it.

    I have still not heard a full-throated attack by Labour on National’s failure to support either the dairy industry, or Fonterra specifically. This is going to be an almighty shareholders meeting.

    The Saudi story is interesting, but the Fonterra story is where they need to focus.

    The Opposition are not strong enough or United enough to handle a multiple-story attack. Fonterra’s Black Friday is what they need to prepare for.

    • Mike the Savage One 7.1
      5 August 2015 at 10:35 am

      Perhaps have a read of this investor’s info brochure from Harbour Asset Management. I remember also a discussion about certain risks that Fonterra faces with its high level investment in Mainland China on a recent Q+A panel. Fonterra is in China tied up in a kind of large joint venture, and cannot freely decide what decisions to make:
      http://www.harbourasset.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Harbour-Horizons-China-is-changing.pdf

      “However, China is a relatively high-risk and expensive market to compete in (across sectors) and we believe it will take years before the financial returns of current investments can be reaped in these businesses. Short-term volatility in commodity prices could however sweeten margins in the Brands business this year as input costs are much lower than last year. We do see significant downside risk to the current farmgate milk price forecast of $5.30/kgMS, which is likely to increase the margins in the brands business as dairy ingredient prices go down.”

      Fonterra seems to be in between a rock and a hard place, with dairy prices heading down as they are, they will have to significantly lower the pay-out to farmers, as they will not be able to pay what they are paying now.

      Indeed, there will be very difficult discussions and decisions made, I reckon even more job cuts may be due.

      As for the whole of China, things do not look all that good for more NZ exports to there. For some commodities like dairy they have recently dropped a fair bit again.

      Perhaps McCully foresaw the need to get the Saudis offered a carrot, to get more access to the Gulf markets? The government is becoming desperate, and Groser with his talk about TPPA negotiations continuing, and there still being a chance for New Zealand to get something out of it, so they can sign, that sounds unconvincing to me. What can New Zealand offer Japan, Canada and Mexico? New Zealand has as free trade promoter already freed up and maximised access to its market here, there seems damned little else that the government can offer as a bargaining position, in return for better dairy access to other markets.

      It seems we have reached the end of what can be achieved, in some ways of selling this country out. But of course, there are still farms and houses in Auckland to “export”, I suppose.

    • freedom 7.2
      5 August 2015 at 10:37 am

      Hi Ad, Parliament sits again next Tuesday, 11 August.
      this link should save you tuning in to a non-existent transmission – like I did just yesterday 🙂
      http://www.parliament.nz/en-nz/pb/business/programme/00CLOOCThisWkProgramme1/house-sitting-programme

    • Draco T Bastard 7.3
      5 August 2015 at 11:34 am

      Keen to see whether Labour can work to orchestrate the full Opposition in Parliament tomorrow.

      I’m wondering if Labour or someone else can work to bring charges of corruption and bribery against the relevant Ministers.

  8. Karen 8
    5 August 2015 at 10:35 am

    The Herald online version has nothing about the Saudi sheep story, although the print edition had a small piece.

    The released papers show an extremely high level of National Party incompetence and dishonesty even for them. They bribed an billionaire Saudi businessman in the hope of getting a trade deal that has never eventuated, the Auditor-General says it was probably illegal, and Key has been shown to have been blatantly lying.

    Yet our biggest national newspaper barely bothers to cover the story. Disgraceful.

    • freedom 8.1
      5 August 2015 at 10:45 am

      This single piece from the National section seems about all they could manage. Must be tough to find time to cover this trivial topic with all the celebrity interviews to analyse and diet coke issues and my god have you heard about debt collectors chasing a TV star? Front page stuff if ever there was. How can we expect these professionals to belittle their profession by covering silly sideshow issues even if those issues are directly affecting our international diplomatic relations and exposing the incredible duplicity of our Government’s statements.

      • Karen 8.1.1
        5 August 2015 at 11:05 am

        Ah, I missed it. Surely this should have been included in the politics section?

        Imagine the Herald’s coverage if it had been Labour caught out like this.

    • Paul 8.2
      5 August 2015 at 11:10 am

      The Herald cannot seriously be described as a newspaper.

      • Draco T Bastard 8.2.1
        5 August 2015 at 11:45 am

        +1

        Tory Propaganda Rag would be more accurate

        • Charles 8.2.1.1
          5 August 2015 at 12:35 pm

          The NZ Herald especially, and most other papers do 3 things:

          1) Advertisements.

          2) Propaganda (including the kind of waffle designed to garner sympathy and create mystique around Captains of Incompetence in the minds of the Aspirational.)

          3) Disinformation.

    • ianmac 8.3
      5 August 2015 at 11:39 am

      Karen. freedom pointed me to the Herald buried down in the Politics pages for some strange reason. Wonder why?:
      “Saudi farm deal: Warnings before sheep deaths
      By Nicholas Jones, Isaac Davison, Claire Trevett”
      http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11491836

    • mary_a 8.4
      5 August 2015 at 2:09 pm

      @Karen (8)

      However, had it been Labour …..!

    • linda 8.5
      5 August 2015 at 4:36 pm

      What do you expect from the key media. Honesty?????? National runs the media

  9. thenthere'sme 9
    5 August 2015 at 10:51 am

    Isn’t it a serious offence to lie to Parliament?

    Shouldn’t this go to the Privileges Cttee?

    Hon MURRAY McCULLY : As the paper that I tabled yesterday makes clear, the New Zealand Government specifically resisted the concept of compensation to the Al Khalaf group. But no doubt they would have had in their minds the fact that the actions of the previous Labour Government had exposed the New Zealand Government to legal claims estimated to be up to $30 million.

    http://www.parliament.nz/en-nz/pb/business/qoa/51HansQ_20150527_00000010/10-free-trade-agreements%E2%80%94saudi-arabia-negotiations

    • mickysavage 9.1
      5 August 2015 at 10:57 am

      Yep. Completely impossible to reconcile as is Key’s claim that the papers show that the legal threat had been made.

      • freedom 9.1.1
        5 August 2015 at 11:39 am

        The Government’s ‘official’ lawyers, The Crown Law Office, have claimed legal privilege as the reason they cannot answer the question if Crown law advised the Government on the deal.

        Can anyone explain to us non-lawyers what would/could be the privilege they are protecting?
        This was a Government decision was it not?
        The process of which is meant to be a matter of public record?
        The simple question is not about what advice was or was not given by Crown Law, but if Crown Law advice was given?
        Some would be happy just to know if the Government even sought advice of The Crown Law Office.

        And let’s not forget this story which was never followed up on by the media, and was certainly thrown down a deep dark hole by The Speaker when it was raised later in The House.
        http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/277173/saudi-sheep-questioning-%27farcical%27-labour
        http://www.parliament.nz/en-nz/pb/business/qoa/51HansQ_20150625_00000011/11-foreign-affairs-minister%E2%80%94written-and-oral-answers

        • Matthew Hooton 9.1.1.1
          5 August 2015 at 11:58 am

          Crown Law did not provide advice of any kind on the deal.

          • Skinny 9.1.1.1.1
            5 August 2015 at 12:15 pm

            Probably thought it was so abundantly clear reasonable compo was justified and no need to waste time and money for Crown Law doing due diligence.

            • Skinny 9.1.1.1.1.1
              5 August 2015 at 1:11 pm

              And the means justifies the end. The end being access to the market. Sweeten the sweaty palms of one royal abrab and Key probably assumed he would get the lot from the Saudi oil robber barons.

              • Stuart Munro …
                6 August 2015 at 9:52 am

                For the end to justify the means you have to achieve it. Last I checked we don’t have a Saudi free trade deal. It’s like Groser’s WTO punt – money pissed away in a lost cause.

                According to Montesquieu, in a monarchical system honour flows downward from the crown, not upward from the many relations – and certainly not through overt bribery.

                Had the Gnats actually established a world class agrihub as they pretended, like Salmon Fishing in the Yemen https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salmon_Fishing_in_the_Yemen , they might have obtained the approval they sought. But the mass fatalities suggests it was a cock up instead. Success has a hundred patrons but failure dies an orphan.

          • freedom 9.1.1.1.2
            5 August 2015 at 12:28 pm

            What proof do you have they did not? Have you seen a statement stating such?

            Their public statements will not even state a position on that question either way. The Ministers’ answers to Parliament obfuscate the issue when it is raised and they did have a representative on RNZ recently who flatly refused to answer if they did or did not advise on the deal by citing “legal privilege”.

            On a related question Matthew. If you are so certain they did not seek any advice from Crown Law, what do you consider the proper action should be against a Government who claims they are facing a legal threat of $30 million dollars, pays out $11 million dollars to the people making the alleged threat yet at no time seeks the advice of the Government’s own lawyers?

            • dv 9.1.1.1.2.1
              5 August 2015 at 1:18 pm

              What proof do you have they did not? Have you seen a statement stating such

              Jason Eade told him.

              • freedom …
                5 August 2015 at 1:46 pm

                Oh, well that makes it all legit then 😉

                As much as I would love to trust the word of someone who makes their living working in public relations, I have this niggling tingling on the back of my neck that says Mr Hooton should front up with proof after making such a definitive statement.

                What is weird, is seeing how “Matthew Hooton is New Zealand’s leading public affairs strategist and political commentator” you would think he knew the phrase ‘as far as I know ‘ or ‘it is my understanding‘. Failing that he could have tried to work in the PM’s new favourite – “ I think“.

            • lprent 9.1.1.1.2.2
              5 August 2015 at 2:10 pm

              If you are so certain they did not seek any advice from Crown Law, what do you consider the proper action should be against a Government….

              A good question. Who does handle corrupt bribes by government officials misusing taxpayers funds?

              • Macro …
                5 August 2015 at 10:09 pm

                It would appear that McCully got no legal advice whatsoever as to the legality of the bribe apart from MAFT legal division:

                Hon David Parker : Thank you, Mr Speaker. Given that the Minister claims that the previously undisclosed $4 million initial payment to Al Khalaf was justified to settle Mr Khalaf’s $20 million to $30 million legal claim, did he, the Minister, receive legal advice from Crown Law or his own ministry as to whether Al Khalaf had any legitimate claim?

                Hon PAULA BENNETT : The answer I have here, on behalf of the Minister, is that I am advised that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s legal division provided advice on issues relating to the food security partnership, but I cannot answer further on what the member asked.

                Hon David Parker : I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. That does not address my question at all.

                Mr SPEAKER : Order! No. It does not answer the question to the member’s satisfaction—that is accepted—but it certainly addresses the question.

                Hon David Parker : I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker.

                Mr SPEAKER : No. I am going to give the member—[Interruption] Order! The member will resume his seat. I have ruled quite categorically that that question has been addressed. Taking further points of order relitigating that leads to disorder. It means that I have to deal with that far more substantially. If the member has further supplementary questions, he is welcome to raise them or equally [Interruption]—I had not quite finished—if the member wants to raise fresh points of order that are genuinely fresh points of order, that is also acceptable.

                Hon David Parker : Is it not the real reason that the Minister has refused to answer oral questions, written questions, and select committee questions on this very issue that he never got that legal advice, but to concede it amounts to an admission that he misled his Cabinet colleagues?

                Hon PAULA BENNETT : I refute all of the question from the member.

                Hon David Parker : Is the reason the Minister is now talking about general trade risks rather than Mr Al Khalaf’s legal claim that, in truth, these payments were to advance the free-trade agreement and trading with Saudi Arabia?

                Hon PAULA BENNETT : Certainly, the truth that I have seen is a mess that was left by Labour, which this Government has had to pick up and actually fix so that we are in a position where we can discuss trade with that partner.

                Hon David Parker : Is it not the real reason that he continues to pretend the $4 million payment to Al Khalaf was to settle the non-existent legal claim because otherwise it is even more obvious that the multimillion-dollar payment was a facilitation payment, which in other jurisdictions is called a bribe?

                ex Hansard referred by freedom above
                So it would appear that Matthew is correct – The Crown Law Office was not consulted. This was purely an in-house thing, by a bunch of arrogant twits, who have no appreciation of ethical behaviour

                  • Macro …
                    6 August 2015 at 1:53 pm

                    OMG it’s even worse than I thought.

                    You know Matthew that the NZ public and the Australian public view the export of live animals such as sheep to Saudi as abhorrent. We do have some sensibility remaining as a general public vis a vis cruelty to animals – although its not very well expressed in our purchasing from supermarkets – continuing to pretend that the caged eggs are produced by hens free to run around, and our bacon is free range, etc. But when presented with video footage of real animals under stress and dying in their hundreds, NZers are outraged! For McCully, or anyone else, to even remotely consider the possibility of the resumption of live sheep exports again to Saudi is political suicide. No matter that poor farmers might make a few more bucks getting rid of surplus stock, there is a moral principle here, and it concerns the humane treatment of live animals.

                • freedom …
                  7 August 2015 at 10:50 am

                  Thanks for posting that Macro. I was hoping someone would as I don’t enjoy appearing like some sort of obsessive with my Hansard posts 🙂

                  & it’s a pity the MSM seem oblivious to Hansard’s continued existence.

    • Tracey 9.2
      5 August 2015 at 1:14 pm

      oia who wrote that for mccully

  10. Ffloyd 10
    5 August 2015 at 10:55 am

    Yes, I had to hunt for the small amount they had on Saudi dump. NZ Herald being as resolute as ever not to publish anything remotely damaging to the dishonourable, unprincipled, inferior National Party. Idiots!

    • joe90 10.1
      5 August 2015 at 11:05 am

      Conveniently off Stuff’s front page and buried in politics –

      Prime Minister John Key says the blame for a breakdown in the relationship with the Saudis lies with Labour.

      • greywarshark 10.1.1
        5 August 2015 at 11:36 am

        The right wing Hairy or Horrid as some have dubbed it, must have a coding system whereby the populist comes first, the opening of casinos and sports stadiums is second, the jibe against Labour is third, fourth is the latest housing prices, fifth is attending anything in regions that gives the impression of Notional interest, sixth is how disgracefully bennies are behaving (if there is a death or interesting accident or tragedy this would advance to first or second), then business takeovers, problems with workers, quarterly or annual profit or not critique, some notable conservative saying something or having a child going into drug rehabilitation and so on.

        They must have a template for checking off stories, with points for each level entered for each reporter that are monitored monthly.

      • mary_a 10.1.2
        5 August 2015 at 2:19 pm

        @joe90 (10.1) Now there’s a surprise!

  11. Draco T Bastard 11
    5 August 2015 at 11:27 am

    “It just doesn’t make sense, and that’s why people are right to be suspicious that this is not what it seems,” he said.

    “This wasn’t good business sense, this wasn’t settling a legal claim, this was to facilitate the – still – locked Saudi free trade agreement. It’s just unprincipled.”

    It was exactly what it seems – a bribe and it didn’t work so this government spent $11 million dollars illegally and got nothing for it. Of course, that’s the thing about bribes – you can’t then demand the product/service that you paid for.

    The minister should be going to jail for this and, if it went through Cabinet, all of them as well.

  12. Brendon Harre 12
    5 August 2015 at 11:38 am

    I am writing an article about political/economic Liberalism from the 1800s and the implications for the modern day. It is still work in progress but what I have so far seems relevant to this discussion.

    “8. New Zealand trade deals do not seem to have the impact that repealing the Corn Laws did, they do not seem to be lowering structural costs for the typical household. They do not allow a new industry to develop taking advantage of the latest technology. They are not a game changer.

    The TPPA which may or may not come to fruition seems to be designed to benefit multi-nationals more than the typical household. In particular Pharmac which allows NZ to negotiate better deals with monopoly patent holders seems to be undermined as described by Doctors for Healthy Trade. If the TPP trade agreement is passed New Zealand households would either pay more in prescription charges or more tax as the government needs to subsidise prescription costs by greater amounts.

    The trade deal with some Middle-East States also seems to have little upside and required appeasement of the local landed gentry which risks undermining New Zealand’s reputation of being corrupt free.

    It also set up the precedent that if you are a well-connected foreigner that has been disadvantaged by the NZ government’s changing the rules of trade –no matter what the wider benefits to NZ for making that change, then you can expect compensation.

    This approach to trade may be institutionalised by the TPPA under the investor protection provision. ”

    Note there seems to be a link between TPPA, American Oligarchy and our concept of democracy or Sovereignty
    http://thestandard.org.nz/american-oligarchy/#comment-1055060

    • Mike the Savage One 12.1
      5 August 2015 at 4:05 pm

      Well, New Zealand does have that “competitive advantage” or “edge”, you must remember. Have you ever tried residential and perhaps also commercial and rural real estate?

      With these many trade deals, which now appear to make it near impossible for government to stop foreign buyers buying real estate on the NZ market, the only remaining “commodity” that offers high rewards is real estate, certainly here in Auckland.

      Perhaps do a real estate course, and get stuck into it. Home owners, some of them at least, have discovered the “potential”, and are speculating and selling and making some huge windfall gains.

      Now there is one “advantage”, the many players we “deal” with may not have, where they come from.

  13. ianmac 13
    5 August 2015 at 11:49 am

    Brendon:”This approach to trade may be institutionalised by the TPPA under the investor protection provision. ””
    And that is so true. The taxpayer will continue to be forced to buy off disgruntled overseas interest under TPP, as the precedent has now been well and truly set by this Government v Saudis. Shame!

  14. hoom 14
    5 August 2015 at 11:52 am

    It was interesting to hear the initial quote from Key on RNZ last night:
    He started by mumbling something about ‘depending on how much redaction’ and ended after the ‘all Labours fault’ line with something like ‘and if you can run with that it’d be great’.

    And the first News Headlines after ran that quote, then they went back to their earlier ‘The Auditor General had serious questions about the deal’ headline.

    The RNZ reporter this morning was like ‘I can’t find anything at all that points to Labour, everything points to National’.

  15. Karen 15
    5 August 2015 at 12:00 pm

    Looks like there is more to come.

    “Andrea Vance ‏@avancenz 20m20 minutes ago
    Treasury papers (quietly published yesterday) reveal they objected repeatedly to the Saudi deal. Full details on @NZStuffPolitics soon”

  16. repateet 16
    5 August 2015 at 12:12 pm

    And Prime Ministers do not tell lies?

    There are enough incidents, ample examples over such a length of time, to say that it is ‘custom and practice’ to have a Prime Minister who lies. And custom and practice for many people to accept and expect the same.

    Naturally the commonness of the practice means it spreads. The termites are eating away the house of truth.

  17. gsays 17
    5 August 2015 at 12:18 pm

    surely amongst the opposition parties there is an oppurtunity to put prolonged pressure on this govt.

    4 from labour, 1 or 2 from greens and nz first.

    allocate these groups to certain weaknesses ( sheepgate, climate change, worker safety, tppa, inequality/child poverty, charter schools…) and appoint an appropriate big hitter to lead (turei, peters, parker, little).

    meanwhile there is an alternative vision offered by other groups; ubi, land sales to non residents stopped, future of work etc.

    not too radical i hope, but this is a weird time here in absurdistan, which calls for a new approach.

  18. Pat 18
    5 August 2015 at 12:19 pm

    Guyon Espiner displayed a very poor understanding of the issues…thought he was better than that.http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/201765191/labour-says-saudi-sheep-deal-documents-are-embarrassing

    • Paul 18.1
      5 August 2015 at 2:34 pm

      I didn’t.

    • Hanswurst 18.2
      5 August 2015 at 5:53 pm

      I disagree. He didn’t display any understanding or otherwise of the issues. He was acting as an interviewer, not as a reporter. His job was to elicit David Parker’s understanding of the issues. A crucial component of that is pressing Mr. Parker on why his interpretation is more sound than any other. Mr. Parker had facts and analysis to back up his argument in response to every question Mr. Espiner put to him, and came away looking very competent.

      • Pat 18.2.1
        5 August 2015 at 9:24 pm

        and i in turn disagree…yes he was acting as an interviewer however his grasp of the subject appeared sadly lacking…he was noticeably less than au fait with the facts and appeared to be taking a position….listen again.

        • mickysavage 18.2.1.1
          5 August 2015 at 9:28 pm

          I’m with Pat. Espiner can be a bulldog but on this particular occasion he sounded disinterested and uninformed. Parker utterly dominated him.

  19. maui 19
    5 August 2015 at 12:19 pm

    Can we sack the speaker now for his part.

  20. Karen 20
    5 August 2015 at 12:47 pm

    And here is the promised article from Andrea Vance on the National government ignoring Treasury advice to not pay this bribe.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/70844060/treasury-objected-to-4m-payment-for-food-security-partnership-with-saudis

    • ianmac 20.1
      5 August 2015 at 12:53 pm

      Andrea says: “As well as the $4m payment, the Government would invest $6m in al-Khalaf’s desert farm as a “showcase” for New Zealand agriculture.

      A further $1.5m would go towards freighting 900 sheep to Dammam for breeding, taking the total package to $11.5m.

      Despite some last minute revisions by McCully, Treasury officials were still unmoved by the merits, just before the deal was due to go to Cabinet.”

      • mickysavage 20.1.1
        5 August 2015 at 9:32 pm

        Yep and no sign of the payment being to settle a legal dispute.

        This is ABC stuff. If there was any sort of legal dispute there would have been words saying something along the lines that the Saudi sheep farmer will not sue NZ Inc for being upset about the banning of live sheep exports.

        There is no trace of this. McCully was telling porkies pies when he said this. It was a verbal flourish but he should no longer be a minister because he is completely incompetent. Not to mention a liar.

  21. Tracey 21
    5 August 2015 at 1:11 pm

    david carter part of possible illegal shipments… then became speaker…

    key…mccully…carter

    no wonder they got rid of smith

  22. Macro 22
    5 August 2015 at 1:28 pm

    Watched an oldie but a goodie last night “Good Night and Good Luck”

    “Good Night, And Good Luck.” takes place during the early days of broadcast journalism in 1950’s America. It chronicles the real-life conflict between television newsman Edward R. Murrow and Senator Joseph McCarthy and the Permanent Sub-committee on Investigations (Government Operations Committee). With a desire to report the facts and enlighten the public, Murrow, and his dedicated staff – headed by his producer Fred Friendly and Joe Wershba in the CBS newsroom – defy corporate and sponsorship pressures to examine the lies and scaremongering tactics perpetrated by McCarthy during his communist ‘witch-hunts’. A very public feud develops when the Senator responds by accusing the anchor of being a communist. In this climate of fear and reprisal, the CBS crew carries on and their tenacity will prove historic and monumental.

    http://wippub.warnerbros.com/movie/goodnight/goodnight.html
    Thought – we need a broadcaster like that here and now. Morrow in a speech to in 1958 t the Directors of Broadcasting in the States said this:

    During the daily peak viewing periods, television in the main insulates us from the realities of the world in which we live. If this state of affairs continues, we may alter an advertising slogan to read: Look now, pay later

    A certainly perceptive man

  23. Clemgeopin 23
    5 August 2015 at 1:40 pm

    This is a very serious issue. The taxpayers have not only been financially shafted but a serious corruption episode and government lies have been exposed here.

    The government should resign immediately or be dismissed by the Governor General and fresh elections called. There is no other way.

    • Tracey 23.1
      5 August 2015 at 1:46 pm

      yes and by the person responsible for upholding standards of behaviour. the Speaker must resign. And some Nats need to stand up and say so.

      • Clemgeopin 23.1.1
        5 August 2015 at 4:38 pm

        Yes, I think that all the National government’s ministers and officials who were part of this crooked decision to stupidly molly cuddle a desert Sheik should be made to pay back every cent of the millions of dollars of taxpayer government money that they secretly squandered without parliament’s knowledge or authority, in spite of very good advice from responsible officials of integrity and sense, not to do so.

        These stupid dumbarse crooks should not be let off to get away without any consequences.
        Don’t you agree?

  24. ianmac 24
    5 August 2015 at 2:57 pm

    New header in the Herald under National News this time.
    “Nicholas Jones
    Saudi farm deal was opposed by Treasury – documents.”
    “It remained unclear what the benefits to New Zealand companies involved in the agri-hub would be, Treasury said….”
    “In 2009, Agriculture Minister David Carter began negotiations with Saudi Arabia for a resumption of live-sheep exports…..”
    “In 2010, the National Government extended the ban….” (Note that by then it was a National problem and not Labour’s.)
    So the annoyance from the Saudis was that National were on again off again.
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11492429

    • Paul 24.1
      5 August 2015 at 3:02 pm

      What is Key doing in Rarotonga?

      • mary_a 24.1.1
        5 August 2015 at 3:58 pm

        @Paul (24.1) – um (apart from celebrating the Cook Islands anniversary of independence), trying to avoid being held accountable perhaps over sheepgate I’d say.

      • Anne 24.1.2
        5 August 2015 at 6:52 pm

        Golf with the local PM. Bit of a come down from Barack Obama.

        And as mary_a says. Innit amazing, all the protagonists are out of the country. At the rate the bombshells are dropping they’re never going to be in the country.

  25. Ad 25
    5 August 2015 at 4:21 pm

    If National Radio keep up this crusade, they will find this National government slitting their throats faster than lambs entering Mecca. Nat Rad are the only people really covering it.

    English specifically singled National Radio out as a business the state does not need to own.

    Cruel game, but nothing is sacred, and National are playing for keeps.

    • thenthere'sme 25.1
      5 August 2015 at 5:41 pm

      Yes, the lights of independent journalism are going out, all over New Zealand. This is a dangerous, proto-fascistic government that must be fought.

    • Paul 25.2
      5 August 2015 at 5:59 pm

      So they should go down fighting.

    • Hanswurst 25.3
      5 August 2015 at 6:03 pm

      What should National Radio do then? If you are correct, then as far as I can tell, the two alternatives they have are either to court the wrath of National, as you claim they are doing, and risk being neutered, or to neuter themselves to pre-empt being neutered. Assuming you’re right, it’s like imploring a batter to retire hurt before taking the pitch, because every ball they face risks their getting out. Accurate, but pointless.

      • Ad 25.3.1
        5 August 2015 at 7:30 pm

        I wouldn’t usually advocate crossing the line between Studio and News, but this is one of those times. National Radio have gone too far out on a limb.

        They need to shift to the Fonterra story, and lost kittens, fast.

        • Pat 25.3.1.1
          5 August 2015 at 10:01 pm

          maybe they are going out with a flourish…

          • Pat 25.3.1.1.1
            5 August 2015 at 10:03 pm

            and I desperately hope my offhand comment is exactly that….they are about the last remaining bastion of public interest journalism

  26. keyman 26
    5 August 2015 at 6:29 pm

    there is a case for a commission to go after national and john hey but it cant happen until there removed from power until then the key god will rule

  27. Drowsy M. Kram 27
    5 August 2015 at 11:22 pm

    Hey! Hey! JPK! How many lies did you tell today?

    John Key’s told some whoppers, but how to raise the public profile of this long list of deliberate lies to show that our Prime Minister of the last 7 years is a dishonest John?

    Maybe the message that he is a liar will turn people off, but if you can’t trust the Prime Minister who can you trust? And he’s tasked himself with combating corruption in the ranks! Yeah, RIGHT, what a DIRTY joke.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago

  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours ago

  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago

  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago

  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago

  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being considered
    State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • New Zealand condemns Iranian strikes
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel.    “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says.    "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Huge interest in Government’s infrastructure plans
    Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Health Minister thanks outgoing Health New Zealand Chair
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board.   “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti.  “I have asked her to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Roads of National Significance planning underway
    The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Navigating an unstable global environment
    New Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.   “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States.    “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • NZ welcomes Australian Governor-General
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Pseudoephedrine back on shelves for Winter
    Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • NZ and the US: an ever closer partnership
    New Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Joint US and NZ declaration
    April 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • NZ and US to undertake further practical Pacific cooperation
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced further New Zealand cooperation with the United States in the Pacific Islands region through $16.4 million in funding for initiatives in digital connectivity and oceans and fisheries research.   “New Zealand can achieve more in the Pacific if we work together more urgently and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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