The fateful tea party – a footnote

Written By: - Date published: 7:12 am, May 7th, 2012 - 61 comments
Categories: election 2011, john banks, john key - Tags: , ,

So much of what shapes the current political landscape traces its roots back to the fateful tea party, the meeting between Key and Banks intended to gift the electorate to ACT. It did that – and more. Cameraman Bradley Ambrose accidentally recorded a “private” conversation between the two Johns, and in doing so became part of our political history.

In the aftermath Key attacked Ambrose and the media, and used the police to raid media outlets. The end of the media love affair with Key, and their somewhat more realistic interpretation and reporting of his behaviour, dates from that time.

While speculation raged about the contents of the tape, Winston Peters seemed remarkably well informed. He began dropping hints and snippets, among them the gist of Key’s callous disregard for the elderly. The surge in attention for Peters, and perhaps the anger of older voters, saw NZF surge to over 6% and claim 8 seats in parliament, thus denying the Nats any chance of an outright majority.

And having Banks (with the pretend ACT party) back in Parliament hasn’t worked out well for the Nats either. Key is personally covering himself in muck to try and protect Banks – who holds the one patsy vote that stands between the Nats and a hung Parliament. The longer it drags on the more damaged Key looks, and the more the hypocrisy of all their posturing on ethical standards is exposed.

All this from a cup of tea. It’s almost enough to make me believe in Karma.

Anyway, almost lost in the grand political consequences is the impact of these events on one man, Bradley Ambrose himself. Key laid a complaint against Ambrose with the police. In late April (conveniently timed while Key was overseas), after four months of hell for Ambrose, the police announced that they were dropping charges. However in an act of political vindictiveness the government went after him for almost $14,000 in court costs. In this respect at least there was some welcome news yesterday:

Teapot costs bid dropped

The Attorney-General has ditched plans to demand nearly $14,000 in court costs from freelance photographer Bradley Ambrose over the long-running “teapot tape” saga. … on Wednesday, Crown Law Office spokeswoman Jan Fulstow confirmed the order had been withdrawn by the Attorney-General.

But it isn’t over for Ambrose yet:

Ambrose said his lawyers were still deciding whether to take defamation action against Key for saying Ambrose broke the law. He is also still waiting for police to return $1000 worth of recording gear, despite repeated requests. … Ambrose said he lost “tens of thousands” of dollars as work dried up during the scandal.

I’ll leave him with the final word:

“I became completely disillusioned with the people running the country. And that’s coming from someone who’s been a National voter for 18 years.”

61 comments on “The fateful tea party – a footnote ”

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  1. Pete George 1
    7 May 2012 at 7:33 am

    While speculation raged about the contents of the tape, Winston Peters seemed remarkably well informed. He began dropping hints and snippets…

    How he became so well informed has not been examined by the media. Why not?

    There’s a remarkable impression that the media played a political game plan using Peters, and vice versa.

    Did this affect the outcome of the election? Did it help NZ First take Labour votes? If so should the media be playing political God? Not much chance of them asking themselves those questions.

    • Pascal's bookie 1.1
      7 May 2012 at 8:04 am

      If so should the media be playing political God?

      What on earth does this mean?

      Did the media make people vote for Peters?

      Was the information made available to the public accurate?

      If yes, can that be a problem>

      What are you suggesting?

      • Vaughan 1.1.1
        7 May 2012 at 8:41 am

        The media has pretty shocking ethics around political reporting. One aspect of this is that the current government is somewhat a media creation – the media ran a campaign of encouraging voters to stay home by publishing so many polls that showed national way ahead. Problem with that is, polls are done off landlines, not cellphones, and a growing number of mostly youth have been disappearing off the landline grid for a number of years. The media knew this, but it’s less dramatic to report properly on polling than to play up a landslide which was never going to happen.

      • Pete George 1.1.2
        7 May 2012 at 8:53 am

        The media play a free hand in the political process, devoid of democratic process. What they choose to publicise and what they choose to ignore plays a big part in what the public see of an election campaign.

        The cafe meeting was as much a creation of the media as it was a ploy of Act (particularly) and National. It then overshadowed up to a week of the campaign, which used up coverage that legitimate campaigning didn’t get.

        It was suggested this adversaly affected Labour in particular – it’s debatable whether more coverage would have won them more votes.

        But it swung a significant portion of the floating and protest vote to New Zealand First. As Anthony suggests in his post Peters seemed to be in collusion with someone who new the contents of the recording – and the most likely ones were those who are kniown to have a copy of the recording, TV3 and the Herald.

        TV3 went as far as promoting a speech given by Peters in Invercargill where he talked about the recording.

        I think this suggests the possibility of very dubious use of media power to influence an election. It could adversely affect any party, and I don’t think it’s good for democracy.

        • Pete 1.1.2.1
          7 May 2012 at 9:39 am

          The media relationship with the political establishment is a symbiotic one. The media’s core business isn’t delivering news to an audience, it’s delivering an audience to advertisers. Winston Peters, regardless of your views on the man, makes for good television. He is a skilled populist politician and even I – a staunch Labour supporter – can appreciate his ability to put a bit of stick about and inject some life into the political theatre of this country. So I can understand why he’d be given some airtime.

          I do think your comment demonstrates a lack of faith in the New Zealand electorate too. Voters are going to vote for who they want to. It’s not TV3 and the Herald who are marking those boxes on election day.

          • Pete George 1.1.2.1.1
            7 May 2012 at 9:46 am

            But it’s TV3 and the Herald et al that sell the population on burgers and beauty products, what makes you think they don’t sell the politics their advertises want?

            • Colonial Viper 1.1.2.1.1.1
              7 May 2012 at 10:03 am

              Corporate advertisers in the US can deliberately affect news editorial standards and positions; I don’t think that contagion has really made it to NZ yet.

            • Pascal's bookie 1.1.2.1.1.2
              7 May 2012 at 10:07 am

              Are you saying (unspecified) advertisers wanted Peters to get back in?

              What exactly is the allegation here?

              • Pete George …
                7 May 2012 at 10:11 am

                Not an allegation, just suggesting a possibility.

                What if a survery showed that people eat 20% more burgers under a XXX government?

                We simply don’t know what happens. Perhaps there is always a good separation in media between commercial and journalistic interests, but it’s all done out of sight, no accountability and transparency that media demand of politicians and parties.

                Isn’t that a double standard?

                • Colonial Viper …
                  7 May 2012 at 10:13 am

                  What if a survery showed that people eat 20% more burgers under a XXX government?

                  so funny

                • McFlock …
                  7 May 2012 at 1:03 pm

                  Not an allegation, just suggesting a possibility.

                  Oh, okay – just wasting everyone’s fucking time with no point you’re prepared to commit to, once again. 
                  Might I suggest the possibility that you regularly fellate aardvarks? Perfectly possible, if you can get an import permit. I’m not making the allegation, you understand, just suggesting the possibility.   

                • North …
                  7 May 2012 at 9:18 pm

                  You’re a great one for having a dollar each way Pete George. While blasting Sir Botox Banks for the nasty, creepy, false idol he is you nevertheless pretty much engage apologism for the man.

                  Latest effort, your suggestion that his and Key’s own goal with the cuppa tea fiasco (which begot them Winston actually) should really be sheeted home to the media. More apologism.

                  Where the hell are you coming from Pete George ? Please have the honesty and the courage not to parade a mock distaste for Sir Botox and a PM whose contempt for us all is increasingly evident in dead eyes and a poker face.

                  • Pete George …
                    8 May 2012 at 6:02 am

                    No bob each way on this, I’ve always been critical of the whole sideshow. I haven’t said that the blame for the fiasco should “be sheeted home to the media”, but they have been a significant part of it.

                    Banks seemed to be desperate for the attention of the symbolism of a cafe meeting.

                    Key seemed to me to be a reluctant participant – but of course it was his decision to take part, and I am sure it’s one he regrets making.

                    And the media were enthusiastic promoters of and reporters of the whole nonsense.

                    I think it was a bad look for all involved, and democracy and the election campaign was poorly served by it all.

                    Political patheticism.

        • Pascal's bookie 1.1.2.2
          7 May 2012 at 10:04 am

          Pish posh.

          Key and Banks decided to have their cuppa. The media didn’t force them to. It was part of the Epsom election race, which was of huge legitimate interest. The polling showed Banks wasn’t a shoe in, and the media were quite rightly intrested in whether or not Key would give a more explicit signal. The cup of tea routine has been used many times before, including by Dunne IIRC.

          So Key decided to send the signal. If he had decided the other way, that too would have been a story deserving of coverage.

          As it turned out, the tape was made, and the Key and Banks conversation was recorded, No one forced Key to talk about NZ First, no one forced Key to lay a complaint with the police, and no one forced him to attack the media. He chose to do these things, all of which were of legitimate interest.

          • Pete George 1.1.2.2.1
            7 May 2012 at 10:13 am

            I question whether there was anything of real interest in that whole sorry saga. I agree that Key and Banks were major players – but so were the media. They pushed and pestered for the meeting a week before it took place.

            It was trash trivia.

            • vto 1.1.2.2.1.1
              7 May 2012 at 10:27 am

              “trash trivia”. How on earth is the Prime Minister of New Zealand conspiring with a blow-in from Act to rort the NZ election 2011 “trash trivia”???????

              • Matthew Whitehead …
                8 May 2012 at 1:16 pm

                Endorsing a third-party candidate really isn’t a rort, it’s a natural result of a system where electorates can provide extra seats, and precisely one of the biggest reasons we should get rid of electorates as soon as practical.

            • Pascal's bookie 1.1.2.2.1.2
              7 May 2012 at 10:30 am

              They didn’t push and pester for a meeting. They wanted to know if Key was going to give a signal or not.

              It’s pretty hard to see how that is not a legitimate question. Key could have said ‘yay’ or ‘nay’ at any time. But he decided not to. Then he talked about political things, and was recorded, and filed a police complaint, and attacked the media.

              It was certainly of interest to the people whose votes it’s assumed were changed by the whole affair.

              So who are you to say that they should have been denied the information that they felt was decisive?

    • Lanthanide 1.2
      7 May 2012 at 9:15 am

      “How he became so well informed has not been examined by the media. Why not?”

      Um, because they all know exactly how he became informed? You know who had the copies of the tape/transcript, right? You know it was the media, right? Specifically TV3.

      When asked how he knew, he said something like “well we all know where TV3’s offices are”.

    • jack 1.3
      7 May 2012 at 11:06 pm

      I doubt it. Peters has connections, he’s been in Parliament for a long time and he is smart. I think the last people Peters trust is the newsmedia.

  2. Maui 2
    7 May 2012 at 8:02 am

    “I became completely disillusioned with the people running the country. And that’s coming from someone who’s been a National voter for 18 years.”

    Join the crowd ..

    • Jim Nald 2.1
      7 May 2012 at 8:42 am

      and join most of my once-was-old-Tory family members … my still staunch-National voting brother has been wavering recently

  3. ghostwhowalksnz 3
    7 May 2012 at 8:04 am

    How he became well informed ?
    The contents of the tapes became common knowledge- a newspaper had the original remember.
    Peters was in a position to be able to use it.

  4. deuto 4
    7 May 2012 at 8:14 am

    I just missed Ambrose being interviewed on Morning Report – just before 8am. Must listen when it comes up on the website. Do hope he sues for defamation. Perhaps someone with money will come to his aid on legal costs. Dotcom? That would be a hoot.

  5. Graeme 5
    7 May 2012 at 11:29 am

    I am ashamed to admit, I voted for that sneaky little bastard Key in 2008……He promised a brave new world in NZ politics.
    That’s the last fucking time i take any politician seriously, and expect them to hold their word.
    My Grandfather literraly begged me not to, and may he rest in peace, everything he said would happen, has happened. The attacks on workers rights, the law for sale, the lie’s, the deceit, and general sneaky behaviour of a right leaning Govt.

    • Cin77 5.1
      7 May 2012 at 12:16 pm

      I feel your pain, my poor mother almost howled when I suggested voting National in 08!

      I’m a good girl and did exactly what she told me, thanks Mum for the advice 🙂

      • Lanthanide 5.1.1
        7 May 2012 at 1:42 pm

        People unthinkingly listening to their families is why so many people vote for National in the first place.

        • TheContrarian 5.1.1.1
          7 May 2012 at 5:50 pm

          “People unthinkingly listening to their families is why so many people vote for National in the first place.”

          Complete bullshit

          • Lanthanide 5.1.1.1.1
            7 May 2012 at 6:39 pm

            No.

            It can be equally said of Labour, or any other large mainstream party. Where’s the bullshit?

            • TheContrarian 5.1.1.1.1.1
              7 May 2012 at 7:06 pm

              “It can be equally said of Labour, or any other large mainstream party”

              That I can agree with. It came across as if the only reason people could be voting National, in particular. was because of their families. I apologise for the misunderstanding.

              • Matthew Whitehead …
                8 May 2012 at 1:21 pm

                I think we can all agree that people should be voting based on policy, or maybe secondarily the history of candidates in serving their constituents or in being effective advocates for your principles.

  6. Tiger Mountain 6
    7 May 2012 at 11:39 am

    Stuff Ambrose personally is my reaction, he has done the country a service by default only. That does not excuse the heavy handed treatment he got. If he has learnt something from all this-brilliant, he appears a bit of a slow learner though as a long time tory voter.

    “it burns us” but some of you keep doing it.

    • tc 6.1
      7 May 2012 at 6:27 pm

      Agree, the number of folk who just refuse to see beyond granny and the Nat shills that passes itself off as the MSM is saddening.

      Just the other day I was listening to someone sooo impressed with shonkey in one of his tailored corporate events as he had them laughing and said a lot of impressive stuff…..another new kiwi with no shipley or muldoon experience.

      It’s all to easy for the NACT without an MSM with a spine or interest in future generations quality of life.

  7. PunditX 7
    7 May 2012 at 11:42 am

    Huge sympathy with Ambrose, my only reservation is after being force fed a shit sandwich by Key he still describes himself as a National voter…

    • deuto 7.1
      7 May 2012 at 12:09 pm

      I doubt that he is a National supporter any longer. Although he did not say so directly, in the interview on Morning Report today (link at 4.1 above) he said something to the effect that the tea tape event had changed his political views.

  8. Jenny 8
    7 May 2012 at 6:30 pm

    the fateful tea party, the meeting between Key and Banks intended to gift the electorate to ACT.

    ANTHONY R0BINS

    The tea party gifted Epsom to Banks.

    A simple little concept.

    But how did it work?

    How do you gift a whole electorate from one political party to another?

    When you think about it, it’s amazing really, and hardly the sort of thing that is often witnessed in a democratic election, of any sort.

    Right up until the tea party the National Candidate Paul Goldsmith according to polls was leading Banks by a large margin.

    This was despite Goldsmith doing his utmost to dissuade Epsom from voting for him. Even pulling down his own bill boards, rudely snubbing a delegation of Epsom voters who tried to meet with him to discuss some of the issues in the electorate concerning them. Being objectionable and rude in person and being invisible in public.

    Still Goldsmith was leading.

    But one pot of tea and it all changed.

    The question must be;

    Will the conservative voters of Epsom be happy to be the subject of so much cynical horse trading again?

    Can their votes be that easily taken for granted?

    I now see that John Key has all but given his papal blessing to the Conservative Party. Colin Craig in return has promised to keep National in power.

    Well, well. Will the voters of Epsom be content to be led by the nose again?

    I wonder.

    • Colonial Viper 8.1
      7 May 2012 at 7:48 pm

      But one pot of tea and it all changed.

      In reality, I believe that the people of Epsom when polled answered in such a way to hold ACT to account for their misbehaviour and make them work harder for their votes.

      But they were always going to vote ACT on polling day because that is what was going to help National the most.

      • Jenny 8.1.1
        7 May 2012 at 9:24 pm

        Not really. If David Parker had not stood…. It is very likely that the 3000 votes he received would most likely have gone to Goldsmith, defeating Banks.

  9. Anne 9
    7 May 2012 at 6:43 pm

    Will the voters of Epsom be content to be led by the nose again?

    Of course they will. It’s not about policies, principles and fair pay-packets for all NZers. These people live in Remuera/Epsom. They regard themselves as the Upper Crust of NZ society. The Upper Crust stick together and will always do what their Lord and Master (in this case, John Key) tells them to do. I have known a few of them and they are impervious to independent political thought.

    • Goldilocks 9.1
      7 May 2012 at 7:11 pm

      Not all Epsom voters Anne – I live in Epsom, and I’m neither upper-crust, nor a NACT voter.

      It IS frustrating to think that my electoral vote will probably be wasted on a Labour or Green candidate, though

    • Jenny 9.2
      7 May 2012 at 7:22 pm

      I don’t care how rich you are. There is something in the human psych that resents being taken for granted.

      Will the voters of Epsom will troop into the voting booth and vote for the newly anointed Colin Craig?

      What would this mean for national politics?

      What if, after being ‘gifted’ this seat in a byelection, Craig was able to hold this seat through a national election?

      If Craig’s party vote holds up, the Conservatives could have four MPs in the next parliament virtually guaranteeing them the king maker role.

      What would this mean?

      Firstly it probably would mean the return of another National led government, but with a few added twists.

      For one thing, Colin Craig is an admitted Climate Change Denier.

      • Jenny 9.2.1
        7 May 2012 at 9:27 pm

        What we must do, is give the people of Epsom a real choice.

        • Pete George 9.2.1.1
          7 May 2012 at 9:31 pm

          If there’s a by election in Epsom it would be quite different to a general election, as there is only one seat at stake, for Act to hold or another party to gain, so the dynamics would be quite different.

          And the Herald poll wasn’t much use, especially if Banks (presumably) doesn’t stand.

  10. Jenny 10
    7 May 2012 at 7:53 pm

    With Colin Craig standing in Epsom, Epsom could be ground zero for the first ever election campaign run over the issue of climate change.

    Is it real?

    Is it a fraud?

    Is it dangerous?

    Will rich people be just as affected as everyone else?

    To give this byelection some real zest – What is needed is an independent businessman, or independently wealthy individual, a conservative who has had the time and the interest and the intelligence to investigate this problem and who is able to decimate the denier argument in an election campaign.

    A Kiwi version of Al Gore crossed with Winston Churchill.

    Would Colin Craig be able to hold his own?

    Will Craig back down?

    Will he try to run away from the issue?

    Could Colin Craig be skewered over his support for denialism?

    I want a front row seat for this one.

    • Anne 10.1
      7 May 2012 at 8:06 pm

      Saw him on TV tonight. Not very bright. He would be the nearest thing we have to a Tea Party Candidate. If Labour and the Greens put their heads together and each came up with the right candidate, they would be able to have his guts for garters.

      • Jenny 10.1.1
        7 May 2012 at 9:16 pm

        A realistic candidate in Epsom needs to be a tory. Someone convinced of the danger of climate change.

        One of them, not one of us.

        An environmental Churchill if you will.

  11. Te Reo Putake 11
    7 May 2012 at 9:32 pm

    Technical question. Can a resident (non-citizen) stand for Parliament? If so, I’d have thought there’s a high chance of a flashy, rich and egotistical criminal standing in Epsom next election. No, not Banksie. Kim Dotcom. He’s got the dosh to take this all the way and he’s certainly got the motivation.

    • Pete George 11.1
      7 May 2012 at 9:33 pm

      1.2 Candidate eligibility
      To be a candidate you must:

      be enrolled as a voter,
      be a New Zealand citizen, and
      not be disqualified from enrolling.

      http://www.elections.org.nz/rules/electorate-candidates/electorate-candidate/ceo-nomination-of-candidates.html

    • Jenny 11.2
      7 May 2012 at 10:19 pm

      Dotcom has no policies, and not many convictions, (NPI), as far as I can tell anyway.

      Also, he doesn’t follow New Zealand politics.

      For instance, Kim didn’t even know that his old wheeler dealer friend Banksie had done a deal to become the MP of Epsom, that is until he found himself in Mt Eden. (the prison).

      But he does bear a grudge, and it might might make him happy to derail the auction block that is the Epsom electorate.

      He may may want to bankroll a principled candidate who is willing to take on Craig.

  12. Bankzee 12
    7 May 2012 at 10:02 pm

    ahem, ahem, ahh, blow me, phizz, spit that bit of tea leaf out, God damn it, never thought of this.

    Oh, you are writing about me again? I was only there very briefly, had a cuppa of Darjeeling, a few words, moved on right away. Nothing to stick neither here, nor there. I was out shopping in Newmarket by the way. Never remember much of this photo. Cuppa? Well, what is a cuppa of sorts, we all have one in the morning. Ambrose? Yes I heard about nectar and ambrosia somewhere. Written in the bible, I think. I know the bible too. So what is wrong with that? I am a good guy, never tell un truths and always do good to (most) people.

    Huljich Wealth Mangement? Never heard of them! John Key? Well, who is he? Charter Schools, well where does that come from again?

    I am sorry, must go now, you are harassing me. I am innocent, never was there, it was all trivial anyway, and Winston is to blame for it all! Rodney Hide is also a bit of a let down now, given his last comments in the Herald a day ago. Wonder if I have any friends. But that is David against Goliath, the life story I will write about, before I go. Good night all, you dear old misled souls, be blessed though. JB

  13. Jenny 13
    8 May 2012 at 12:13 am

    ‘
    Climate Change:

    It is the issue, that from now on, every political movement and party will have to be measured and judged on.

    Climate Change:

    If left to run it’s course, experts tell us the death toll will be measured in the tens of millions, crop failure, famine, drought, flood, wild fires, extreme weather events. Add to this the destruction of countless and irreplaceable natural habitats, animals and plants . The bio-sphere severely impoverished, made unrecognisable to any previous generation.

    Climate Change:

    It is the question of our age.

    Climate Change:

    Colin Craig denies it is a problem.

    We should thank this admitted climate change denier for being prepared to step onto the national stage to argue his case.

    Climate Change:

    All we need now is a realistic candidate acceptable to this electorate who can argue the opposite position. Someone who can point out that climate change threatens everyone and their children and grandchildren, all people, every age, every class, every race, from the top of society to the bottom.

    Who are the likely candidates?

    Any volunteers?

    • Colonial Viper 13.1
      8 May 2012 at 12:18 am

      I’d volunteer, but I believe that energy and resource depletion is going to nail modern civilisation as we now it first. Sometime in the next 10 years, in fact. Something as simple as $4/L or $5/L petrol will do it.

      BTW the more economic collapse we get in Europe, China and Japan, the less our GHG problems will be.

    • jaymam 13.2
      8 May 2012 at 1:52 am

      Why don’t you volunteer to be a candidate, Jenny?
      I don’t think Epsom has ever had a woman candidate. 🙂

  14. Graeme 14
    8 May 2012 at 4:33 pm

    If the voters of the left in Epsom understood MMP better, they would have all voted for Goldsmith, and ACT would have been finished. I voted Goldsmith for that very reason, and it turns out the difference was that chunk of 4 odd thousand votes…..That’s how we get rid of ACT.

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    It’s hard not to become a bit blasé towards climate change headlines. Flooding kills hundreds - blah. Catastrophic droughts - blah blah. One-in-a-hundred year events happening every year - blah blah blah.The earth had its highest temperature on record - again. Think we’ve read that one.So many articles telling us ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    16 hours ago

  • The Kākā Project: The economics of sufficiency
    The Kākā’s climate correspondent and had a chat with environmental historian and author Catherine Knight about why ‘feel good' actions like recycling and owning an electric car are unlikely to be enough to create a transition to zero emissions, let alone a just one. Knight says comments like ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    17 hours ago

  • Chippy misses a chance
    National leader Christopher Luxon has pulled out of any rescheduling of tonight’s Press debate, which has had to be cancelled because Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has Covid. The cancellation has given National an excuse to avoid a debate, which was always going to be a risk for Luxon. But ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    18 hours ago

  • The Angry Majority.
    The People's Champion vs The People's Prosecutor: It is the news media’s job to elicit information from politicians – not to prosecute them. Peters’ promise to sort out TVNZ should be believed. If he finds himself in a position to carry out his threat, then it will only be because ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 day ago

  • Verrall is chuffed by govt’s latest push into pay equity while Woods enthuses about an $11m spend ...
    Buzz from the Beehive The headline on a ministerial press statement curiously expresses the government’s position when it declares:   Government shows further commitment to pay equity for healthcare workers. Is it not enough to declare just one commitment? Or is the government’s commitment to pay equity being declared sector by ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago

  • A very worthy coalition partner for Seymour and Luxon
    There have been 53 New Zealand Parliaments so far. The 39th of them was elected in 1978. It was a parliament of 92 MPs, most of them men. The New Zealand Music Awards that year named John Rowles Male Vocalist of the Year and — after a short twelve months ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago

  • Labour still protecting the status quo
    Aotearoa has a cost of living crisis. And one of the major drivers of this crisis is the supermarket duopoly, who gouge every dollar they can out of us. Last year, the Commerce Commission found that the duopoly was in fact anti-competititve, giving the government social licence to fix the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago

  • Gordon Campbell on National’s myths about the desolated state of the economy
    Familiarity breeds consent. If you repeat the line “six years of economic mis-management” about 10,000 times, it sounds like the received wisdom, whatever the evidence to the contrary. Yes, the global pandemic and the global surge in inflation that came in its wake occurred here as well – but if ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    1 day ago

  • MICHAEL BASSETT: Hapless Hipkins and his racism
    Michael Bassett writes – Without so much as batting an eyelid, Chris Hipkins told an audience on Saturday that there had been “more racism” in this election campaign than ever before. And he blamed it on the opposition parties, National, Act and New Zealand First. In those ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • BRIAN EASTON: The ‘recession’ has been called off, but some households are still struggling
    While the economy is not doing too badly in output terms, external circumstances are not favourable, and there is probably a sizeable group of households struggling because of rising interest rates. Brian Easton writes – Last week’s announcement of a 0.9 percent increase in volume GDP for ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • Monday’s Chorus: Richie Poulton's lament
    “You can't really undo what happens during childhood”, said the director of the Dunedin longitudinal study. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Richie Poulton, the director of the world-leading Dunedin longitudinal study showing how devastating poverty in early life is, died yesterday. With his final words, he lamented the lack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • North-western downgrades
    This is a guest post from reader Peter N As many of us know, Auckland Transport and Waka Kotahi are well into progressing works on the northwestern interim “busway” with services to kick off in just over a month from now on Sunday 12th November 2023. Some of the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    2 days ago

  • Has Webworm Found New Zealand’s Weirdest School?
    Hi,Before we talk about weird schools people choose to send their kids to, a few things on my mind. I adored the Ask Me Anything we did last week. Thanks for taking part. I love answering your weird and nosy questions, even questions about beans.I am excited and scared as Mister ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago

  • Another mother of a budget
    A National government would make spending cuts on a scale not seen since the 1990 – 96 Bolger government.That much was confirmed with the release of their Fiscal Plan on Friday.Government spending is currently high as a percentage of GDP — as high as it was during the Muldoon ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago

  • A crucial week starts as early voting opens in the NZ Elections … it’s been a ride so far. Are y...
    Chris Hipkins down with Covid, at least for 5 days isolation, National continue to obfuscate, ACT continues to double-down on the poor and Winston… well, he’s being Winston really. Voters beware: this week could be even more infuriating than the last. No Party is what they used to be ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    2 days ago

  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #39
    A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Sep 24, 2023 thru Sat, Sep 30, 2023. Story of the Week We’re not doomed yet’: climate scientist Michael Mann on our last chance to save human civilisation The renowned US ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • Clusterf**ck of Chaos.
    On the 11th of April 1945 advancing US forces liberated the Nazi concentration camp of Buchenwald near Weimar in Germany. In the coming days, under the order of General Patton, a thousand nearby residents were forced to march to the camp to see the atrocities that had been committed in ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • The party of business deals with the future by pretending it isn’t coming
    Years and years ago, when Helen Clark was Prime Minister and John Key was gunning for her job, I had a conversation with a mate, a trader who knew John Key well enough to paint a helpful picture.It was many drinks ago so it’s not a complete one. But there’s ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • 2023 More Reading: September (+ Old Phuul update)
    Completed reads for September: The Lost Continent, by C.J. Cutcliffe Hyne Flatland, by Edwin Abbott All Quiet on the Western Front, by Erich Maria Remarque The Country of the Blind, by H.G. Wells The Day of the Triffids, by John Wyndham A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    3 days ago

  • Losing The Left.
    Descending Into The Dark: The ideological cadres currently controlling both Labour and the Greens are forcing “justice”, “participation” and “democracy” to make way for what is “appropriate” and “responsible”. But, where does that leave the people who, for most of their adult lives, have voted for left-wing parties, precisely to ...
    Bowalley Road
    3 days ago

  • The New “Emperor’s New Clothes”.
    “‘BUT HE HASN’T GOT ANYTHING ON,’ a little boy said ….. ‘But he hasn’t got anything on!’ the whole town cried out at last.”On this optimistic note, Hans Christian Andersen brings his cautionary tale of “The Emperor’s New Clothes” to an end.Andersen’s children’s story was written nearly two centuries ago, ...
    Bowalley Road
    3 days ago

  • BRYCE EDWARDS: The vested interests shaping National Party policies
      Bryce Edwards writes – As the National Party gets closer to government, lobbyists and business interests will be lining up for influence and to get policies adopted. It’s therefore in the public interest to have much more scrutiny and transparency about potential conflicts of interests that ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • LINDSAY MITCHELL: A conundrum for those pushing racist dogma
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – The heavily promoted narrative, which has ramped up over the last six years, is that Maori somehow have special vulnerabilities which arise from outside forces they cannot control; that contemporary society fails to meet their needs. They are not receptive to messages and ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • CHRIS TROTTER:  The greater of two evils
    Not Labour: If you’re out to punish the government you once loved, then the last thing you need is to be shown evidence that the opposition parties are much, much worse.   Chris Trotter writes – THE GREATEST VIRTUE of being the Opposition is not being the Government. Only very ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • The Hoon around the week to Sept 30
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:Labour presented a climate manifesto that aimed to claim the high ground on climate action vs National, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Litanies, articles of faith, and being a beneficiary
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past two weeks.Friday 29Play it, ElvisElection Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Litanies, articles of faith, and being a beneficiary
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past two weeks.Friday 29Play it, ElvisElection Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • The ‘Recession’ Has Been Called Off, But Some Households Are Still Struggling
    While the economy is not doing too badly in output terms, external circumstances are not favourable, and there is probably a sizeable group of households struggling because of rising interest rates.Last week’s announcement of a 0.9 percent increase in volume GDP for the June quarter had the commentariat backing down ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago

  • Climate Change: The wrong direction
    This week the International Energy Association released its Net Zero Roadmap, intended to guide us towards a liveable climate. The report demanded huge increases in renewable generation, no new gas or oil, and massive cuts to methane emissions. It was positive about our current path, but recommended that countries with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • “Racism” becomes a buzz word on the campaign trail – but our media watchdogs stay muzzled when...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Oh, dear.  We have nothing to report from the Beehive. At least, we have nothing to report from the government’s official website. But the drones have not gone silent.  They are out on the election campaign trail, busy buzzing about this and that in the hope ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • Play it, Elvis
    Election Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t have time for. You’re welcome, etc. Let us press on, etc. 1.  What did Christopher Luxon use to his advantage in ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Pure class warfare
    National unveiled its fiscal policy today, announcing all the usual things which business cares about and I don't. But it did finally tell us how National plans to pay for its handouts to landlords: by effectively cutting benefits: The biggest saving announced on Friday was $2b cut from the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • Ask Me Anything about the week to Sept 29
    Photo by Anna Ogiienko on UnsplashIt’s that time of the week for an ‘Ask Me Anything’ session for paying subscribers about the week that was for an hour, including:duelling fiscal plans from National and Labour;Labour cutting cycling spending while accusing National of being weak on climate;Research showing the need for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Weekly Roundup 29-September-2023
    Welcome to Friday and the last one for September. This week in Greater Auckland On Monday, Matt highlighted at the latest with the City Rail Link. On Tuesday, Matt covered the interesting items from Auckland Transport’s latest board meeting agendas. On Thursday, a guest post from Darren Davis ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    5 days ago

  • Protest at Parliament: The Reunion.
    Brian’s god spoke to him. He, for of course the Lord in Tamaki’s mind was a male god, with a mighty rod, and probably some black leathers. He, told Brian - “you must put a stop to all this love, hope, and kindness”. And it did please the Brian.He said ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • Labour cuts $50m from cycleway spending
    Labour is cutting spending on cycling infrastructure while still trying to claim the higher ground on climate. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Labour Government released a climate manifesto this week to try to claim the high ground against National, despite having ignored the Climate Commission’s advice to toughen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • The Greater Of Two Evils.
    Not Labour: If you’re out to punish the government you once loved, then the last thing you need is to be shown evidence that the opposition parties are much, much worse.THE GREATEST VIRTUE of being the Opposition is not being the Government. Only very rarely is an opposition party elected ...
    Bowalley Road
    5 days ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #39 2023
    Open access notables "Net zero is only a distraction— we just have to end fossil fuel emissions." The latter is true but the former isn't, or  not in the real world as it's likely to be in the immediate future. And "just" just doesn't enter into it; we don't have ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • Chris Trotter: Losing the Left
    IN THE CURRENT MIX of electoral alternatives, there is no longer a credible left-wing party. Not when “a credible left-wing party” is defined as: a class-oriented, mass-based, democratically-structured political organisation; dedicated to promoting ideas sharply critical of laissez-faire capitalism; and committed to advancing democratic, egalitarian and emancipatory ideals across the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    5 days ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • Hipkins fires up in leaders’ debate, but has the curtain already fallen on the Labour-led coalitio...
    Labour’s  Chris Hipkins came out firing, in the  leaders’ debate  on Newshub’s evening programme, and most of  the pundits  rated  him the winner against National’s  Christopher Luxon. But will this make any difference when New  Zealanders  start casting their ballots? The problem  for  Hipkins is  that  voters are  all too ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    5 days ago

  • Govt is energising housing projects with solar power – and fuelling the public’s concept of a di...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Not long after Point of Order published data which show the substantial number of New Zealanders (77%) who believe NZ is becoming more divided, government ministers were braying about a programme which distributes some money to “the public” and some to “Maori”. The ministers were dishing ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago

  • MIKE GRIMSHAW: Election 2023 – a totemic & charisma failure?
    The D&W analysis Michael Grimshaw writes –  Given the apathy, disengagement, disillusionment, and all-round ennui of this year’s general election, it was considered time to bring in those noted political operatives and spin doctors D&W, the long-established consultancy firm run by Emile Durkheim and Max Weber. Known for ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • FROM BFD: Will Winston be the spectre we think?
    Kissy kissy. Cartoon credit BoomSlang. The BFD. JC writes-  Allow me to preface this contribution with the following statement: If I were asked to express a preference between a National/ACT coalition or a National/ACT/NZF coalition then it would be the former. This week Luxon declared his position, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • California’s climate disclosure bill could have a huge impact across the U.S.
    This re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Andy Furillo was originally published by Capital & Main and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. The California Legislature took a step last week that has the potential to accelerate the fight against climate ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • Untangling South East Queensland’s Public Transport
    This is a cross post Adventures in Transitland by Darren Davis. I recently visited Brisbane and South East Queensland and came away both impressed while also pondering some key changes to make public transport even better in the region. Here goes with my take on things. A bit of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    6 days ago

  • Try A Little Kindness.
    My daughter arrived home from the supermarket yesterday and she seemed a bit worried about something. It turned out she wanted to know if someone could get her bank number from a receipt.We wound the story back.She was in the store and there was a man there who was distressed, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • What makes NZFirst tick
    New Zealand’s longest-running political roadshow rolled into Opotiki yesterday, with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters knowing another poll last night showed he would make it back to Parliament and National would need him and his party if they wanted to form a government. The Newshub Reid Research poll ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago

  • September AMA
    Hi,As September draws to a close — I feel it’s probably time to do an Ask Me Anything. You know how it goes: If you have any burning questions, fire away in the comments and I will do my best to answer. You might have questions about Webworm, or podcast ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago

  • Bludgers lying in the scratcher making fools of us all
    The mediocrity who stands to be a Prime Minister has a litany.He uses it a bit like a Koru Lounge card. He will brandish it to say: these people are eligible. And more than that, too: These people are deserving. They have earned this policy.They have a right to this policy. What ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago

  • More “partnerships” (by the look of it) and redress of over $30 million in Treaty settlement wit...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point of Order has waited until now – 3.45pm – for today’s officially posted government announcements.  There have been none. The only addition to the news on the Beehive’s website was posted later yesterday, after we had published our September 26 Buzz report. It came from ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • ALEX HOLLAND: Labour’s spending
    Alex Holland writes –  In 2017 when Labour came to power, crown spending was $76 billion per year. Now in 2023 it is $139 billion per year, which equates to a $63 billion annual increase (over $1 billion extra spend every week!) In 2017, New Zealand’s government debt ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • If not now, then when?
    Labour released its fiscal plan today, promising the same old, same old: "responsibility", balanced books, and of course no new taxes: "Labour will maintain income tax settings to provide consistency and certainty in these volatile times. Now is not the time for additional taxes or to promise billions of ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago

  • THE FACTS:  77% of Kiwis believe NZ is becoming more divided
    The Facts has posted –        KEY INSIGHTSOf New Zealander’s polled: Social unity/division 77%believe NZ is becoming more divided (42% ‘much more’ + 35% ‘a little more’) 3%believe NZ is becoming less divided (1% ‘much less’ + 2% ‘a little less’) ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the cynical brutality of the centre-right’s welfare policies
    The centre-right’s enthusiasm for forcing people off the benefit and into paid work is matched only by the enthusiasm (shared by Treasury and the Reserve Bank) for throwing people out of paid work to curb inflation, and achieve the optimal balance of workers to job seekers deemed to be desirable ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    6 days ago

  • Wednesday’s Chorus: Arthur Grimes on why building many, many more social houses is so critical
    New research shows that tenants in social housing - such as these Wellington apartments - are just as happy as home owners and much happier than private tenants. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The election campaign took an ugly turn yesterday, and in completely the wrong direction. All three ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    7 days ago

  • Bennie Bashing.
    If there’s one thing the mob loves more than keeping Māori in their place, more than getting tough on the gangs, maybe even more than tax cuts. It’s a good old round of beneficiary bashing.Are those meanies in the ACT party stealing your votes because they think David Seymour is ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    7 days ago

  • The kindest cuts
    Labour kicks off the fiscal credibility battle today with the release of its fiscal plan. National is expected to follow, possibly as soon as Thursday, with its own plan, which may (or may not) address the large hole that the problems with its foreign buyers’ ban might open up. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    7 days ago

  • Green right turn in Britain? Well, a start
    While it may be unlikely to register in New Zealand’s general election, Britain’s PM Rishi Sunak has done something which might just be important in the long run. He’s announced a far-reaching change in his Conservative government’s approach to environmental, and particularly net zero, policy. The starting point – ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    7 days ago

  • At a glance – How do human CO2 emissions compare to natural CO2 emissions?
    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
    1 week ago

  • How could this happen?
    Canada is in uproar after the exposure that its parliament on September 22 provided a standing ovation to a Nazi veteran who had been invited into the chamber to participate in the parliamentary welcome to Ukrainian President Zelensky. Yaroslav Hunka, 98, a Ukrainian man who volunteered for service in ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    1 week ago

  • Always Be Campaigning
    The big screen is a great place to lay out the ways of the salesman. He comes ready-made for Panto, ripe for lampooning.This is not to disparage that life. I have known many good people of that kind. But there is a type, brazen as all get out. The camera ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago

  • Youth justice programme expands to break cycle of offending
    The successful ‘Circuit Breaker’ fast track programme designed to stop repeat youth offending was launched in two new locations today by Children’s Minister Kelvin Davis. The programme, first piloted in West and South Auckland in December last year, is aimed at children aged 10-13 who commit serious offending or continue ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago

  • Major milestone with 20,000 employers using Apprenticeship Boost
    The Government’s Apprenticeship Boost initiative has now supported 20,000 employers to help keep on and train up apprentices, Minister for Social Development and Employment Carmel Sepuloni announced in Christchurch today. Almost 62,000 apprentices have been supported to start and keep training for a trade since the initiative was introduced in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago

  • Government supporting wood processing jobs and more diverse industry
    The Government is supporting non-pine tree sawmilling and backing further job creation in sawmills in Rotorua and Whangarei, Forestry Minister Peeni Henare said.   “The Forestry and Wood Processing Industry Transformation Plan identified the need to add more diversity to our productions forests, wood products and markets,” Peeni Henare said. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago

  • Government backing Canterbury’s future in aerospace industry
    The Government is helping Canterbury’s aerospace industry take off with further infrastructure support for the Tāwhaki Aerospace Centre at Kaitorete, Infrastructure Minister Dr Megan Woods has announced. “Today I can confirm we will provide a $5.4 million grant to the Tāwhaki Joint Venture to fund a sealed runway and hangar ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago

  • Updated forestry regulations increase council controls and require large slash removal
    Local councils will have more power to decide where new commercial forests – including carbon forests – are located, to reduce impacts on communities and the environment, Environment Minister David Parker said today. “New national standards give councils greater control over commercial forestry, including clear rules on harvesting practices and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago

  • New Zealand resumes peacekeeping force leadership
    New Zealand will again contribute to the leadership of the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) in the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt, with a senior New Zealand Defence Force officer returning as Interim Force Commander. Defence Minister Andrew Little and Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta have announced the deployment of New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • New national direction provides clarity for development and the environment
    The Government has taken an important step in implementing the new resource management system, by issuing a draft National Planning Framework (NPF) document under the new legislation, Environment Minister David Parker said today. “The NPF consolidates existing national direction, bringing together around 20 existing instruments including policy statements, standards, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Government shows further commitment to pay equity for healthcare workers
    The Government welcomes the proposed pay equity settlement that will see significant pay increases for around 18,000 Te Whatu Ora Allied, Scientific, and Technical employees, if accepted said Health Minister Ayesha Verrall. The proposal reached between Te Whatu Ora, the New Zealand Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • 100 new public EV chargers to be added to national network
    The public EV charging network has received a significant boost with government co-funding announced today for over 100 EV chargers – with over 200 charging ports altogether – across New Zealand, and many planned to be up and running on key holiday routes by Christmas this year. Minister of Energy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Safeguarding Tuvalu language and identity
    Tuvalu is in the spotlight this week as communities across New Zealand celebrate Vaiaso o te Gagana Tuvalu – Tuvalu Language Week. “The Government has a proven record of supporting Pacific communities and ensuring more of our languages are spoken, heard and celebrated,” Pacific Peoples Minister Barbara Edmonds said. “Many ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • New community-level energy projects to support more than 800 Māori households
    Seven more innovative community-scale energy projects will receive government funding through the Māori and Public Housing Renewable Energy Fund to bring more affordable, locally generated clean energy to more than 800 Māori households, Energy and Resources Minister Dr Megan Woods says. “We’ve already funded 42 small-scale clean energy projects that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Huge boost to Te Tai Tokerau flood resilience
    The Government has approved new funding that will boost resilience and greatly reduce the risk of major flood damage across Te Tai Tokerau. Significant weather events this year caused severe flooding and damage across the region. The $8.9m will be used to provide some of the smaller communities and maraes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Napier’s largest public housing development comes with solar
    The largest public housing development in Napier for many years has been recently completed and has the added benefit of innovative solar technology, thanks to Government programmes, says Housing Minister Dr Megan Woods. The 24 warm, dry homes are in Seddon Crescent, Marewa and Megan Woods says the whanau living ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Te Whānau a Apanui and the Crown initial Deed of Settlement I Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me...
    Māori: Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna te Whakaaetanga Whakataunga Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna i tētahi Whakaaetanga Whakataunga hei whakamihi i ō rātou tāhuhu kerēme Tiriti o Waitangi. E tekau mā rua ngā hapū o roto mai o Te Whānau ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Plan for 3,000 more public homes by 2025 – regions set to benefit
    Regions around the country will get significant boosts of public housing in the next two years, as outlined in the latest public housing plan update, released by the Housing Minister, Dr Megan Woods. “We’re delivering the most public homes each year since the Nash government of the 1950s with one ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Immigration settings updates
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