The great big list of John Key’s big fat lies (UPDATED)

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, January 27th, 2016 - 79 comments
Categories: Abuse of power, accountability, activism, alcohol, assets, auckland supercity, benefits, brethren, business, child welfare, christchurch earthquake, climate change, Conservation, crosby textor, cycleway, Dirty Politics, disaster, economy, Economy, education, employment, energy, Environment, equality, exports, farming, farming, Financial markets, flip-flop, food, global warming, Globalisation, greens, health, health and safety, human rights, infrastructure, International, john key, Keynes, kiwisaver, labour, loan sharks, manufacturing, Maori Issues, minimum wage, Mining, Minister for International Embarrassment, Minister for Overseas Holidays, Minister for Photo-ops, monetary policy, national, national/act government, overseas investment, Parliament, political parties, Politics, poverty, Privatisation, privatisation, Public Private Partnerships, public services, racism, schools, science, scoundrels, slippery, Social issues, socialism, spin, Spying, superannuation, sustainability, tax, telecommunications, tourism, trade, transport, treasury, treaty settlements, unemployment, Unions, wages, workers' rights, you couldn't make this shit up - Tags:

‘

Yep, its that time again when readers are reminded of some of the lies John Key told in the lead-up to and in the seven years since his National Ltd™ came to power.  No doubt there will be a bunch more lies to be added later today when John Key presents his “State Of The Nation” address and, in doing so, further bolsters his legacy as the most dishonest Prime Minister New Zealand has ever had. So, from the top . . .

John-Key-leather-chair-DimPost.wordpress.com_

 

  1. I promise to always be honest
  2. I will not be hiring Crosby/Textor
  3. The Government I lead will be a Government of good standards.
  4. we are not going to sack public servants, the attrition rate will reduce costs
  5. we are not going to cut working for families
  6. I firmly believe in climate change and always have
  7. We seek a 50% reduction in New Zealand’s carbon-equivalent net emissions, as compared to 1990 levels, by 2050. 50 by 50. We will write the target into law.
  8. National Ltd™ will provide a consistent incentive for both biofuel and biodiesel by exempting them from excise tax or road user charges
  9. National Ltd™ will increase the number of front line police officers by 600 before the end of 2011
  10. there is no truth in Nicky Hager’s book “The Hollowmen”
  11. I didn’t know about The Bretheren election tactics
  12. If they came to us now with that proposal [re trans-Tasman Therapeutic Goods regime], we will sign it
  13. I can’t remember my position on the 1981 Springbok Tour
  14. Tranzrail shares
  15. I did not mislead the House (1)
  16. Lord Ashcroft
  17. National Ltd™ would not have sent troops into Iraq
  18. Standard & Poors credit downgrade
  19. the double-down grade doesn’t really matter and its only about private sector debt
  20. I did not mislead the House (2)
  21. I didn’t say I want wages to drop
  22. I can’t remember why I voted against increasing the minimum wage
  23. lifting the minimum wage to $15 an hour will increase unemployment
  24. the real rate of inflation is 3.3 percent.
  25. the tourism sector has not lost 7,000 jobs
  26. no I have never heard of Whitechapel
  27. I won’t raise GST
  28. people who are on the average wage and have a child are $48 a week better off after the rise in GST
  29. the purchase of farmland, by overseas buyers will be limited to ten farms per purchase
  30. the Pike River Mine was consented to under a Labour Government
  31. no promises were made to get the remains of the miners out of the Pike River mine
  32. I did not provide a view on the safety of the Pike River coalmine
  33. I did not mislead the House (3)
  34. capping, not cutting the public service
  35. raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour will cost 6000 jobs
  36. north of $50 a week
  37. privatisation won’t significantly help the economy
  38. wave goodbye to higher taxes, not your loved ones
  39. I never offered Brash a diplomatic job in London
  40. Tariana Turia is “totally fine” with the Tuhoe Treaty Claim deal
  41. Kiwisaver
  42. National Ltd™ is not going to radically reorganise the structure of the public sector
  43. tax cuts won’t require additional borrowing
  44. New Zealand does not have a debt problem
  45. New Zealand troops in Afghanistan will only be involved in training, not fighting
  46. the wage gap between New Zealand and Australia has closed under my National Ltd™ government
  47. It took 9 years for Labour to make a complete and utter mess of the economy
  48. National Ltd™ has changed the Overseas Investment Act to include 19 different criteria
  49. the price of goods and services has risen by 6 percent since the last election, while the after-tax average wage has actually gone up by 16 percent
  50. no, although its a week ago and here I am being interviewed on television about them, I havn’t seen Gerry Brownlee’s comments regarding demolitions in Christchurch and which caused such outrage, but I can talk all about them
  51. our SAS soldiers were not involved in the Kabul Hotel gunfight
  52. the use of the Vela brother’s helicopter was required so I could attend meetings relating to national/international security concerns
  53. the DPS makes the decision about accompanying the Prime Minister or not, I had no choice but to take them on holiday to Hawaii
  54. I did not mislead the House (4)
  55. oh, maybe our SAS soldiers were in the Kabul hotel gun fight but they weren’t wounded by friendly fire
  56. New Zealand has lost $12 billion from GDP due to the Christchurch earthquake . . . oh, it might actually be around $15 billion from GDP due to the Christchurch earthquake . . . Blinglish said what?
  57. 10,000 houses will have to be demolished in Christchurch due to the earthquake
  58. 14,000 new apprentices will start training over the next five years, over and above the number previously forecast
  59. our amendments to the ETS ensure we will continue to do our fair share internationally
  60. we are committed to honouring our Kyoto Protocol obligations
  61. any changes to the ETS will be fiscally neutral
  62. New Zealand has grown for eight of the last nine quarters”
  63. National Ltd™ will tender out the government banking contract
  64. we will be back in surplus by 2014-15
  65. Nicky Hager’s book “Other People’s Wars” is a work of fiction
  66. unemployment is starting to fall
  67. we have created 60,000 jobs
  68. we have created 45,000 jobs
  69. the 2011 Budget will create in the order of 170,000 jobs
  70. I don’t know if I own a vineyard
  71. no, I did not mislead the House (5)
  72. the Isreali spy killed in the Christchurch quake had “only one” passport
  73. the Police will not need to make savings by losing jobs
  74. I voted to keep the drinking age at 20
  75. New Zealand is 100% Pure
  76. I’ve been prime minister for four years, and it’s really 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year
  77. baseball in New Zealand is attracting more government support
  78. the decision to buy brand new BMWs was made by the Department of Internal Affairs without reference either to their minister or to me
  79. I didn’t have a clue that Ministerial Services, which I am in charge of, was going to buy brand new BMWs
  80. even though four of my ministers knew all about it, I didn’t have a clue that brand new BMWs were being bought.
  81. even though my Chief of Staff met with officials to discuss purchase of the the brand new BMWs, I didn’t have a clue
  82. even though I personally signed papers discussing the matter, I still didn’t have a clue
  83. Labour forced us into buying the brand new BMWs, its their fault
  84. ummm, look, sorry about that BMW thing , it was because I was so upset
  85. I did not describe David Beckam as thick as batshit
  86. I did not mislead the House (6)
  87. the public demanded that we change the labour laws for The Hobbit
  88. “The Hobbit” created 3000 new jobs
  89. we have delivered 800 extra doctors in the public service
  90. I did not mislead the House (7)
  91. I wasn’t working at Elders when the sham foreign exchange deals took place
  92. I was starting School Certificate exams in 1978
  93. I don’t know who arrived on the CIA jet to visit the spies I am responsible for
  94. reducing barriers to property developers will increase the availability of affordable housing
  95. Labour left the economy in poor shape
  96. forecasts show unemployment will fall
  97. we have closed the wage gap with Australia by $27
  98. Ngati Porou and Whanau Apanui are not opposed to mining
  99. I have not had any meetings with Media Works
  100. our [NZ’s] terms of trade remain high
  101. the TPPA is an example of democracy
  102. the TPPA will still have to be ratified by Parliament
  103. National Ltd™ will use the proceeds of state asset sales to invest in other public assets, like schools and hospitals
  104. New Zealand troops will be out of Afghanistan by April 2013
  105. overseas investment in New Zealand adds to what New Zealanders can invest on their own
  106. overseas investment in New Zealand creates jobs, boosts incomes, and helps the economy grow
  107. National Ltd™ will build 2000 houses over the next two years
  108. there are only 4 New Zealand SAS soldiers in Bamiyan and all working in the area of logistics and planning only
  109. selling state assets will give cash equity to those companies
  110. the Sky City deal will provide 1000 construction jobs and 800 casino jobs
  111. all five bidders for the convention centre were treated equally
  112. my office has had no correspondence, no discussions, no involvement with the Sky City deal
  113. I did not mislead the House (8)
  114. I can’t remember what was discussed at my meeting with the SkyCity Chief Executive on 14 May 2009
  115. I have no record of the 12 November 2009 email from Treasury advising that the SkyCity deal was dodgy and needed to be referred to the Auditor General
  116. there was nothing improper about the Sky City deal
  117. SkyCity will only get “a few more” pokie machines at the margins
  118. any changes to gambling regulations will be subject to a full public submission process
  119. Sky City has approached TVNZ about the purchase/use of government-owned land
  120. I did not mislead the House (9)
  121. this government has been very transparent about all its dealings with SkyCity
  122. I did not mislead the House (10)
  123. the Auditor General has fully vindicated National over the Sky City deal
  124. I did not mislead the House (11)
  125. the Deputy Auditor General supports the view that there was nothing inappropriate about the Sky City deal
  126. I did not mislead the House (12)
  127. I did not breach the confidentiality of the Auditor General’s Report into the Sky City deal
  128. the Labour Government did exactly the same sort of deal back in 2001
  129. Labour has promised to not revoke the Sky City legislation
  130. the construction of the new SkyCity convention centre will not cost taxpayers or ratepayers a cent with SkyCity meeting the full project costs in return for some concessions from the Government
  131. there’s a 50/50 chance the Hobbit is going off shore unless we do something
  132. David Shearer has signed up for the purchase of shares in Mighty River
  133. Solid Energy asked the government for a $1 billion capital investment
  134. National will not be using $100 million from the sale of Mighty River Power shares to bail out Solid Energy
  135. fracking has been going safely on in Taranaki for the past 30 years without any issues
  136. no frontline positions will be lost at DOC
  137. Iain Rennie came to me and recommended Fletcher for the GCSB job
  138. I told Cabinet that I knew Ian Fletcher
  139. I forgot that after I scrapped the shortlist for GCSB job I phoned a life-long friend to tell him to apply for the position
  140. I told Iain Rennie I would contact Fletcher
  141. I haven’t seen Ian Fletcher in a long time.
  142. I did not mislead the House (13)
  143. I have no reason to doubt at this stage that Peter Dunne did not leak the GCSB report
  144. I called directory service to get Ian Fletcher’s number
  145. the new legislation narrows the scope of the GCSB
  146. the GCSB has been prevented from carrying out its functions because of the law governing its functions
  147. because the opposition is opposed the GCSB law amendments, parliamentary urgency is required
  148. the increasing number of cyber intrusions which I can’t detail or discuss prove that the GCSB laws need to be extended to protect private enterprise
  149. it was always the intent of the GCSB Act to be able to spy on New Zealanders on behalf of the SIS and police
  150. National Ltd™ is not explanding the activities of the GCSB with this new law
  151. cyber terrorists have attempted to gain access to information about weapons of mass destruction held on New Zealand computers
  152. the law which says the GCSB cannot spy on New Zealanders is not clear
  153. it totally incorrect that the Government effectively through GCSB will be able to wholesale spy on New Zealanders
  154. we self identified that there was a problem with the GCSB spying on Kim Dotcom
  155. the illegal spying on Kim Dotcom was an isolated incident
  156. The advice I have had in 4 years as a Minister is that in no way ever has there been an indication of unlawful spying
  157. the Ministerial Warrant signed by Bill English did not cover anything up
  158. I wasn’t briefed about the raid on Kim Dotcom’s home.
  159. first I heard I heard about Kim Dotcom was on 19 January 2012
  160. first I heard about the illegal spying on Kim Dotcom was in 17 September 2012
  161. I did not mislead the House (14)
  162. I won’t be discussing Kim Dotcom during my Hollywood visit.
  163. The Human Rights Commission couldn’t get its submission on the GCSB legislation in on time.
  164. it would cost too much to for the police and SIS to carry out the spying on New Zealanders that this new legislation will permit
  165. critics of the GCSB legislation, including the Law Society, the Human Rights Commission, and the Privacy Commission, are all uninformed
  166. no, I did not mislead the House (15)
  167. I do not know how Mr Henry is conducting the Inquiry
  168. no, I did not mislead the House (16)
  169. the Henry Inquiry had permission to view Ministers’ emails
  170. no, I did not mislead the House (??)
  171. we do not spy on journalists
  172. the passing of phone records to the Henry Inquiry was an error on the part of a contractor
  173. I wasn’t aware that my own Chief of Staff was instructing Parliamentary Services to hand over information concerning journalist Andrea Vance
  174. National Ltd™ has never tried to impinge on the role of the media
  175. I had nothing to do with information on a journalist being handed over to the inquiry into the leaking of the GCSB report
  176. the terms of the inquiry made it clear to everyone that it was only the phone records of parliamentary staff and ministers that were to be provided
  177. I have the utmost respect for the media and the role it plays in New Zealand’s democracy
  178. the Henry Inquiry did not access a journalist’s building-access records
  179. the Henry Inquiry did not ask for phone and email records
  180. no, I did not mislead the House (17)
  181. the Greens are opposed to the GCSB and the SIS even existing
  182. the GCSB needs to spy on New Zealanders because there are al-Qaeda terrorists in New Zealand
  183. the GCSB is not sharing meta-data with the NSA
  184. John Minto is in the Green Party
  185. the GCSB needs to spy on New Zealanders because of the terrorist threat, even though official reports released over my signature say there is no risk and the SIS has the matter in hand
  186. the GCSB Bill does not give the GCSB the power to look at the content of communications as part of its cyber-security functions
  187. no, I did not mislead the House (18)
  188. Edward Snowden hacked into the NSA data base to obtain the documents which show details of the GCSB setting up a mass surveillance system
  189. I will release documents which show that an operation to provide mass surveillance data only ever made it to the business plan stage.
  190. Ummm . . . now that people are paying attention, the programme got underway but I stopped in in March 2013 or, askshully, it might have been September 2013.
  191. Kim Dotcom is paying Glenn Greenwald to come to New Zealand
  192. There’s no ambiguity. No middle ground. I’m right and Glenn Greenwald is wrong,
  193. I’ll resign if the GCSB conducts mass surveillance
  194. there never has been any mass surveillance and New Zealand has not gathered mass information and provided it to international agencies.
  195. The GCSB does not have the physical capability to carry out mass surveillance
  196. New Zealand has not gathered mass information and provided it to international agencies.”
  197. there will be no mining on Conservation land in the Corromandel
  198. no, I did not say we would follow the US and Australia into a war against North Korea
  199. New Zealand has an arrangement to have asylum seekers processed in Australian detention camps
  200. I did not mislead the house (19)
  201. I paid for that lunch and I’ve got the credit card bill to prove it
  202. I am honest and upfront
  203. the only way net new jobs can be created is by private investors putting their money into businesses in New Zealand
  204. you can’t hide if yuu’re Prime Minister
  205. an increase in the number of people looking for work indicates that confidence is returning to the economy
  206. the 10 percent of taxpayers in New Zealand who are the top earners pay 76 percent of all net personal tax.
  207. I did not mislead the House (20)
  208. Aaron Gilmour was <a href= http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHlarcvmR7U&feature=youtu.be> one of a number of people in a group who were badly behaved
  209. the substantial wage growth under Labour was eroded by inflation
  210. National Ltd™’s 2010 tax changes were fiscally neutral
  211. I did not mislead the House (21)
  212. the bulk of New Zealanders earn between $45,000 and $75,000 a year
  213. Pike River Coal did not put profits and its production ahead of the safety and lives of those 29 workers.
  214. Radio Live had sought advice from the Electoral Commission about my show just before the election
  215. it is because of National Ltd™’s policies that the price of fresh fruit and vegetables has dropped.
  216. the length-of-the-country cycleway will create 4000 jobs.
  217. police training for next year has not been cancelled
  218. National Ltd™ has only cut back-office jobs in the health service
  219. The Crown’s dividend stream from the Meridians, the Mighty Rivers of the world is large and there is no motivation to sell assets; actually we’re about creating assets not selling assets.”
  220. National believes employment law should treat all parties fairly. It should . . . Protect employees and employers.
  221. I am not trying to tackle such issues in a “fearful” way ahead of the next election
  222. Wellington City is dying.
  223. National Ltd™ has been working on a number of things with New Zealand First on a number of things one of which has a financial component but I can’t talk about it
  224. the best way to get growth in the economy is to reduce public debt
  225. New Zealand mum and dad investors will be our number one priority in the allocation of Mighty River shares
  226. we won’t let “cowboy” oil exploration companies operate here in New Zealand
  227. the Green Party is racist by not allowing Chinese residents in New Zealand to buy a house
  228. the Labour Party is promising a four-bedroom house in Auckland for $300,000
  229. the food in schools programme is in the 2013 budget
  230. the meat exports are being held up in China because of issues in relation to the Chinese looking to trace counterfeit meat
  231. its notoriously difficult to win three elections in a row
  232. I am deeply concerned about every child in New Zealand who is in poverty
  233. there is no manufacturing crisis in New Zealand
  234. the government’s exposure to MediaWorks’ going into receivership is reasonably limited
  235. the money from the sale of state assets will not be used to prop up Solid Energy
  236. I don’t see a place for a Winston Peters-led New Zealand First in a government that I lead. It’s not a matter of political convenience, it’s a matter of political principle.
  237. The vast majority of the buildings in Christchurch came through the earthquakes in good shape
  238. the commemoration of New Zealand’s involvement in the Korean War will not be used to bolster trade talks
  239. third generation Chinese New Zealanders will be required to present their passport before buying a house under the Labour government
  240. the Labour housing policy is an attempt by David Shearer to save his leadership
  241. the Labour housing policy is in breach of free trade agreements
  242. only 2% of the proceeds of the sale of Mighty River will be spent on the sales process
  243. David Cunliffe is lying to you
  244. Labour wants to nationalise the super market industry
  245. The government will engage in no further negotiations with Rio Tinto
  246. Without a government subsidy of hundreds of millions of dollars Chorus will go broke
  247. No, I did not mislead the House (??)
  248. the justice system is already adequate for handling situations involving new evidence
  249. my Minister Nick Smith was not aware of the content of the leaked draft submission on the Ruataniwha situation until 17 September
  250. New Zealand First will nationalise a host of industries and businesses
  251. I have no responsibility for the statements I make
  252. Mark Mitchell was just gossiping at a cocktail party when he tipped Webster off about Len Brown’s affair
  253. it was a lack of external analysis and accountability which put Solid Energy into its debt crisis
  254. the Commerce Commission misinterpreted the law when deciding the price for access to the Chorus copper infrastructure
  255. no analyist predicted that the cost of access to the copper infrastructure would go down
  256. there has been only one problem with oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico
  257. If it was my vote, it would be no pay increases for Mps
  258. Greenpeace are just scare mongering about any oil leaks off the New Zealand coast
  259. For every election for the last five elections , we have had royal visitors to New Zealand.
  260. No decision has been made on the timing of the sale of Air New Zealand shares
  261. its not true that in New Zealand the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer
  262. This summer is the most active season ever for oil and gas exploration, with the industry spending up to $750 million. At the same time, the Government is strengthening the regulations that govern drilling, particularly in deep water.
  263. Labour is trying to mislead people about eligibility for Best Start because they don’t get the payment while they also get paid parental leave.
  264. A mountain of evidence shows that the quality of teaching – inside the classroom – is the biggest influence on kids’ achievement
  265. Governor General Jerry Mateparae has been jostled while walking onto Te Tii Marae at Waitangi .
  266. Cameron Slater, who I speak to regularly and who told me about Winston meeting Kim Dot Com, has got absolutely nothing to do with the National Party.
  267. Cameron Slater rang me
  268. What I do know is that when this Government came in, there were predictions that unemployment would rise to over 10 percent.
  269. The Cabinet Office had cleared Judith Collins of a conflict of interest
  270. The golf tournament in which I played the chairman of Oravida was for charity.
  271. The Cabinet Office has cleared Collins of a conflict of interest after it translated comments on Oravida’s website which stated that she had praised its products
  272. My Justice Minister, Judith Collins, didn’t lie to Parliament, she just didn’t understand the question.
  273. The [MFAT] paperwork shows right through this that not only did the Minister have a very busy programme, all on judicial and justice issues, but, secondly, all the way through it talks about a private dinner.
  274. No, I did not mislead parliament. (??)
  275. No, I did not mislead the House(??)
  276. The Unions decide the leadership of the Labour Party and picked David Cunliffe
  277. Unions give the Labour Party millions of dollars a year
  278. The economic mess inherited by the Abbott government in Australia can be likened to the economic mess inherited by National Ltd™ when it came into office in 2008.
  279. National Ltd™ inherited an economic mess from Labour
  280. National Ltd™ inherited an economic mess from Labour in 2008
  281. No, I did not mislead the House(??)
  282. Twelve percent of New Zealand households pay 76 percent of all net tax in New Zealand
  283. Natinal Ltd™ ignored the plight of babies living in the poorest famililies because there is other assistance available
  284. the Malaysian government declined to waive diplomatic immunity for the man charged with burglary and attempted rape
  285. the UN officials visiting down south are focussing on sustainable agriculture
  286. I would apologise to the woman if I knew who she was
  287. My government has led the charge on the transperancy of MPs’ spending
  288. Only 1 percent of New Zealand farm land is in foreign ownership
  289. Internet Mana put together the video depicting a burning effigy of me.
  290. Under National Ltd™ the prison population has gone down.
  291. National Ltd™ has been nowwhere near the Labour party computer system
  292. The OIA request to the SIS about Phil Goff’s briefing on the Isreali spies had nothing to do with my office.
  293. National Ltd™ talks to the blogs exactly the same way we talk to the MSM
  294. The allegations in Nicky Hager’s book are all wrong.
  295. Nicky Hager has got nothing to prove any of the allegations.
  296. All this stuff in “Dirty Politics” is coming from the left.
  297. National Ltd™ is not using blogs as attack sites any more than anyone would do
  298. The release of “Dirty Politics” is part of a coordinated attack from the left because it is unable to win the discussion on the issues that matter.
  299. Very little of the book “Diry Politics” is about me.
  300. Most of the assumptions and allegations made by Nicky Hager in “Dirty Politics” are dissolving before his eyes.
  301. All of Nicky Hager’s allegations are unravelling.
  302. Nicky Hager didn’t check the facts before publishing “Dirty Politics
  303. When National came into office the economy was in tatters.
  304. Over the last year an extra 84,000 jobs were created.
  305. In our party we believe in supporting families.
  306. The Greens have two co-leaders who want to be co-deputy-prime ministers in some kind of bizarre job-sharing experiment.
  307. “Internet-Mana put the burning efigy video together
  308. No one other than Cameron Slater asked for the SIS document confirming that Phil Goff had been breifed on the Israeli spies in Christchurch.
  309. I wasn’t informed that the SIS was going to release the information about the Israeli spies in Christchurch to Cameron Slater.
  310. Under Labour, family homes held in a trust will attract the Capital Gains Trust
  311. More than 300,000 New Zealanders have their homes held in a trust
  312. New Zealand already has a Capital Gains Tax
  313. 2014 Election
  314. There will be no New Zealand military intervention in Iraq, barring an unlikely United Nations Security Council mission
  315. There will be no more asset sales
  316. David Seymour did not ask for a Ministerial position with the National Party
  317. The New Zealand military personnel are just attending a regular ordinary meeting in the United States (x 13 times)
  318. New Zealand is not involved in any coalition to fight in the Middle East
  319. It is not currently illegal for someone to fight overseas for a terrorist group
  320. When it comes to requests for official information, my ministers always act within the law.
  321. I have never called or texted Cameron Slater in my capacity as Prime Minister
  322. No, I did not mislead the House. (??)
  323. I did not admit to having abused the OIA process.
  324. I did not mislead the House(??)
  325. The Gwynn Report into the handling of OIA requests by the SIS completely exonerated me
  326. Its not true that the process I put in place for the SIS reporting to me was politicised
  327. The review into Judith Collins has got nothing to do with the release of information to Cameron Slater
  328. My office had nothing to do with the release of information to Cameron Slater
  329. No, I did not mislead the House (??)
  330. I can’t remember all the phone texts I exchanged except when I say I can
  331. I did not engage in an exchange of text messages with Cameron Slater, I just acknowledged one unsolicited message from him
  332. The DPMC head attended the Roger Sutton PR conference because his department is taking over Cera next year.
  333. New Zealand was one of the very few countries in the world that were settled peacefully.
  334. I was being asked a specific question about the Chisholm report when I said I had had not contact with Cameron Slater
  335. No, I did not mislead the House
  336. When the particular question was asked there was quite a lot of noise in the house and so I only heard the first bit.
  337. I have not been in contact with Cameron Slater ahead of the release of Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Cheryl Gwyn’s report into the SIS’s role in Slater’s 2011 political attack on former Labour Leader Phil Goff.
  338. No, I did not mislead the House (??)
  339. The number of children in those low decile schools which I have visited who actually require lunch is the odd one or two
  340. The Greens are responsible for the rise in income equality within New Zealand
  341. I don’t want to overly concern or frighten people about the threat of a terrorist action in New Zealand.
  342. Labour is promoting a separatist approach to dealing with the Treaty of Waitangi which could result in Northland becoming an independent republic
  343. The owner of Oravida, Stone Shi, won a round of golf with me after he placed the winning bid at a charity auction
  344. I didn’t know until late January 2015 that Mike Sabin was facing family issues which may lead to his resignation
  345. My meeting with Donghua Liu was not a Cabinet Club meeting, oh, hang on, yes it was, oh, maybe it wasn’t
  346. Labour did not seek a Parliamentary vote when sending SAS troops into Afghanistan on a combat mission and didn’t even tell New Zealand they were going
  347. When I said “the price of The Club” I meant “The Club” was all the 62 nations in the US-led coalition of troops to fight in Iraq
  348. New Zealanders gave National Ltd™ a two year mandate to send troops into Iraq as part of the US-led coalition
  349. News about repairing bridges in Northland is just the standard release of policy
  350. Nicky Hager and Kim Dotcom prevented National Ltd™ from announcing the decision to upgrade ten bridges in Northland.
  351. New Zealand gas emissions have not increased since I became Prime Minister
  352. If you think about iTunes, if you download a song and it’s $1.29, there’s no reason the GST shouldn’t apply to that. In reality, GST would be 2 cents
  353. The timing of the release of information about GCSB spying on Tim Grocer’s WTO rivals was deliberate and all part of a particular agenda by Nicky Hager and some others
  354. Major roading projects and the free trade deal with Korea will be at risk if Winston Peters wins the Northland election
  355. It was my office, not the police, which was the first to be told about the 1080 infant formula blackmail threat.
  356. There is no housing crisis in Auckland
  357. I promise that “metadata” will be defined in legislation
  358. You are allowed to use the resources of the officials during an election in terms of what would be Government policy
  359. No, I did not mislead the House (??)
  360. As long as Simon Bridges didn’t get any policy advice from his officials about developing the “10 bridges for your vote!” bribe, then there’s no possible problem under the Cabinet Manual.
  361. Labour did the same thing as Bridges when it used “officials actually in my opinion actually” to get policy advice as they did in the 2008 campaign with deposit guarantees, but they actually maybe they shouldn’t have done it”
  362. I assumed that all ten bridges up for double-laning in Northland were justified on a cost benefit analysis
  363. Claims the GCSB was planning to hack into a data link run by the Chinese embassy are unproven.
  364. When it comes to the GCSB you’ve got a bunch of people who’ve been out there propagating information that’s actually been proven to be incorrect.
  365. When I gave her the two bottles of wine, the cafe worker thanked me for that and said ‘that’s all fine, no drama'”.
  366. At the Hip Group’s coffee shop we have lots of fun and games, there’s always lots of practical jokes and things.
  367. I will talk to the King of Saudi Arabia about women’s rights including the right to vote
  368. House prices rose faster under Labour
  369. The $1,000 kick-start for new KiwiSaver members will remain as it is now
  370. There will be no new taxes
  371. Over the next two years we are going to create 150,000 new jobs
  372. The average wage will move from $55,000 to $62,000
  373. We spent $11.5 million for a Saudi Arabian to set up a farm in order to avoid potential legal claims
  374. Andrew Little has been set up by Annette King and Phil Goff
  375. The problem requiring the $11.5 million bribe was caused by Labour’s previous Minister of Trade, Phil Goff
  376. No, I did not mislead the House (???)
  377. I was not aware of any potential legal action by the Saudis involved in the live sheep trade.
  378. Labour was looking to make the same sort of deal with the Saudis and knew all about the possibility of legal action.
  379. Details in cabinet papers confirming what I’ve said about Labour have been redacted by officials.
  380. Signifcantly reducing New Zealand’s green-house gas emissions would be disastrous for the economy
  381. We don’t have to give iwi first right of refusal on the Auckland land the government intends for private housing development
  382. No decisions have yet been made about future housing developments on specific pieces of land
  383. Nick Smith Smith was helpfully providing journalists with a “conceptual” view of the amount of vacant land in Auckland, not necessarily places where houses might be built.
  384. Between 3000 and 4000 refugees were welcomed into New Zealand every year once the family reunification scheme was taken into account.
  385. New Zealand is sixth in the world when it comes to accepting in UNHCR refugees.
  386. Australia takes in 20,000 refugees a year and has been doing so for a long time.(2)
  387. Milk is more expensive in the UK than it is in New Zealand
  388. Milk powder prices won’t stay down for long
  389. Formal advice from the Inland Revenue Department states that the removal of the $1,000 kickstart contribution will not make a blind bit of difference to the number of people who join KiwiSaver
  390. No, I did not mislead the House (??)
  391. I never said that a whole month of Maori language would make people bored.
  392. I would never give an answer with “an intention to embarrass someone or make someone upset”
  393. Yes, my team of crack ministers are going to give Mr Al-Khalaf $11 million or whatever it is, but he’s putting in $80 million
  394. National Ltd™ has been way more transparent than any other Government that’s been around
  395. Treasury was consulted about the details of the Saudi sheep farm deal
  396. the Saudi sheep farm deal was for the purchase of services, intellectual property, and a network of contacts
  397. When asked by Radio New Zealand about what exact services, intellectual property, and contacts New Zealand gained from the deal I answered the questions absolutely but Susie Fergusson didn’t want to hear that the whole issue was Labour’s fault
  398. The problem which led up to the Saudi sheep farm deal was caused by Labour.
  399. The Saudi sheep farm deal was never about compensation even though I said earlier it was because Labour left the government liable for a claim for compensation
  400. Labour misled the Saudi investors about the live sheep trade
  401. No, I did not mislead the House. (??)
  402. There was no suggestion made to a Saudi businessman that he could sue the New Zealand Government
  403. Protesters against TPPA are misinformed and only about one-third of them are genuine
  404. There isn’t a single Canadian on this planet who would want to change their flag back to the old one
  405. Changing the flag will deliver billions of dollars to the New Zealand economy
  406. Maurice Williamson wasn’t acting in his capacity as a member of parliament when he made his series of disgusting jokes
  407. My government’s target of reducing 100% Pure Clean Green New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions to 11 percent below 1990 levels by 2030 is not inadequate.
  408. New Zealand cannot take any more refugees until we have sorted out the process and had a look at housing stock.
  409. National will set up two recreational fishing parks, one in the Haukraki and another in Marlborough sounds
  410. If the “Red Peak” design does not get on the ballot paper the sole person responsible for that is Andrew Little
  411. New Zealand doesn’t need a policy on dealing with climate change refugees because that’s not an issue we are going to need to deal with in the next year or two
  412. “To accept any other flag … we would have to change the law, and we’re not going back to Parliament to change the law.” John Key Sep 7.
  413. Assets bought out of the < a href= http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/281741/pm-accused-of-breaking-election-promise> Future Investment Fund</a> will be long-lived, here in New Zealand, and owned by the Crown on behalf of all taxpayers
  414. I promise to spend $1 billion on health, $1 billion on schools and $400 million on irrigation from the proceeds of asset sales.
  415. As the personal who signs off on sending troops to Iraq I feel very intimately involved with this operation. I take personal responsibility.
  416. I did not know about the report into the conditions at Taji prior to my arrival there even though the report was released on 30 September
  417. It was the Overseas Investment Office which refused permission for Shanghai Pengxin to buy Lochinver Station
  418. My office and I both obey the word and the spirit of the OIA law
  419. Labour prefers to protect the interests of rapists and child molesters rather than those of ordinary New Zealanders
  420. New Zealand citizens detained on Christmas Island are there voluntarily
  421. New Zealanders held on Christmas Island include murderers and rapists
  422. “The question about broader detainees.”
  423. Australia and New Zealand share common values, including a strong commitment to democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.
  424. Labour wants to fly the Christmas Island detainees back to NZ’
  425. I’ve never been asked to apologise for saying the opposition supports rapists and murderers
  426. I’m making sure New Zealanders are protected’
  427. With regard to emission from agriculture and our high level of renewable electricity generation, New Zealand faces unique domestic challenges in reducing its emissions,”
  428. Judith Collins was completely cleared by an independent inquiry
  429. A major contributor to the fact that there are so many children living in poverty is because their parents are using drugs
  430. The reason there is poverty in New Zealand is due to people not working
  431. The science around climate change predictions is doubtful
  432. The TPP has to go through our Parliament has to be ratified by our Parliament and has to bear scrutiny
  433. Not a single part of TPP cuts across the Treaty of Waitangi

As always, any link-testing (some of them are getting a bit old and unreliable) and/or additions are more than welcome.

79 comments on “The great big list of John Key’s big fat lies (UPDATED) ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Ad 1
    27 January 2016 at 7:21 am

    Prime Ministets are evaluated more by what they do than what they don’t do.

    Key has made sure what he says is increasinly trivia bar set pieces, but what his government changes has effect.

    Not supporting him at all, but you will see today what I mean.

    • weka 1.1
      27 January 2016 at 7:58 am

      The biggest problem we have today is that everything is filtered through the MSM. We literally have no way of knowing how people will perceive or respond.

      • Ad 1.1.1
        27 January 2016 at 8:21 am

        That’s less true than ever.
        The MSM is weakening very fast, and Key himself is our most directly accessible PM.

        • weka 1.1.1.1
          27 January 2016 at 8:52 am

          All things are relative I guess (in terms of accessability). You implied above that we will see something today, care to say what it is?

          When you say PMs are more evaluted by what they do than what they don’t do, who is doing the evaluating?

          I’m asking these questions in the context of the post.

        • Tautuhi 1.1.1.2
          28 January 2016 at 11:02 pm

          The other parties in NZ do not have access to MSM and are often misreported by compliant commentators.

  2. risildowgtn 2
    27 January 2016 at 7:39 am

    666

  3. Gangnam Style 3
    27 January 2016 at 8:00 am

    “New Zealand was settled peacefully” was that there? Thats an overwhelming list of lies, though a good resource to link to. Also in the print version of the ODT last week he said something like “Everything National have done has been proven to be correct”, It was from the Sunday Herald but the online version is different to the one I read. But this “…followed by a road-trip with his wife, Bronagh, from Los Angeles to San Francisco.” I would even doubt the veracity of that cute little story.

  4. frednz 4
    27 January 2016 at 8:34 am

    This is an incredible list. What indeed is going on with the man that has apparently been so popular ….

    It’s not doing any good hiding this list inside this website, needs to be distributed far and wide !!

    There are lots and lots of people unhappy with the state of NZ but they all complain to each other on blog sites and face book groups that the wider public never ever see – instead they are brainwashed by msm.

    • shorts 4.1
      27 January 2016 at 9:34 am

      if its the case with the previous lists this list will surface in many different places, over and over again and time and time again as is the way with things on the net

      however no matter what currently the mainstream media dominate the public discourse on how well the public perceive the govt to be doing – thats reflected in polls and the previous two elections, a large chunk of the public are willingly ignorant and quite happy with the status quo

      we seem to live in an age where with good media handling any scandal can be survived by a “popular” (powerful) man – cameron and key are testament to this (pigs and ponytails). Hopefully this won’t be the case for too long as the consequences for our nation and species are getting really really serious if we don’t enact real change

      saying all that the opposition (labour) could do a shitload (understatement) more to present a valid alternative

  5. cogito 5
    27 January 2016 at 8:45 am

    Key will dish out as many lies as kiwis are prepared to lap up.

    “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”
    Matthew 7: 13.

  6. David H 6
    27 January 2016 at 9:13 am

    32 Lies today!

  7. travellerev 7
    27 January 2016 at 9:29 am

    Thank you BLiP, What a wonderful compilation! Will link to it from my blog with gratitude for the awesome job you keep doing!

      • Anne 7.1.1
        27 January 2016 at 10:09 am

        How about sending a copy of your ‘list’ to Bryce Edwards? I don’t read his political column on a regular basis because I’m sick of the inherent bias in what – and who -he chooses to highlight and his fence-sitting.

        However it would be interesting to see what he did with it – if anything.

  8. Atiawa 8
    27 January 2016 at 10:49 am

    October 22, 2015 John Key had this to say in the Taranaki Daily News when last visiting the province.
    ” This summer is expected to be the biggest season in prospecting we’ve seen around NZ. These oil companies take a very long term view in determining where their supplies are.”

    Regardless of your views on oil & gas exploration, his statement was a blatant lie. The summer of 2015/16 was never going to be a busy one for “prospecting”.
    It seems like only yesterday that his government were using the province as their provincial flag bearer for creating the conditions for economic growth, i.e. high milk prices, oil exports returns were in the top five overseas earnings.
    Oh dear, how the mighty have fallen.

    • marty mars 9.1
      27 January 2016 at 11:19 am

      lol

      good work BLiP as usual

      my guess for the lie count today is 18

    • mac! 9.2
      27 January 2016 at 1:01 pm

      Thanks, BLiP, for the tally-keeping. What worries me about all this, is that many do not care. For instance, I listened to a RNZ vox pop survey yesterday on the TPPA. Most had no idea what the TPPA was.

      The other lesson I had reinforced with your video of Key above- that the camera lies, as well. As with the vox pop, it’s all in the hands of the editor as to the truth or otherwise.

      • BLiP 9.2.1
        27 January 2016 at 1:41 pm

        ‘

        FIRST – its not my video. I stole it off someone on Twitter.

        And, yeah, the level of deliberate, almost belligerent, ignorance about the goings on of John Key and his National Ltd™ neoliberal thugs is amazing. I can’t understand it. My latest theory is that there are lots of reasons but one of the main ones is that National Ltd™ voters cannot or will not accept that they have been duped. I think its too embarrassing for them. The other reason is that, so far as I can tell, you could probably just squeeze a Zigzag paper between National™ and Labour policies; “they’re all liars and useless, better the devil you know”, and all that.

        • Rosie 9.2.1.1
          27 January 2016 at 2:37 pm

          Lols, it’s in the Cassette Boy vein. Now many will surely be familiar with Cameron’s conference rap:

          With our PM, we have plenty of material to hand over to Cassette Boy to create a similar video. Cameron and Key, are after all cut from the same CT cloth, right down to the samey sort of sloganeering, It would be very easy material for them to work with.

          As for the reasonings behind the inertia of voters to accept Key and co’s state of affairs I would agree with this:

          “My latest theory is that there are lots of reasons but one of the main ones is that National Ltd™ voters cannot or will not accept that they have been duped. I think its too embarrassing for them.”

          Just looking at my immediate and extended family, that’s the truth of it. They’ve gone from fawning praise for Key, to embarrassed silence over the years. There really is an air of “don’t mention the war”. If I do mention anything political the atmosphere gets really tense with silent defensiveness. Very interesting to watch the changed behaviour.

          • cogito 9.2.1.1.1
            27 January 2016 at 8:32 pm

            @ Rosie

            What do they think of Winston?

            • Rosie 9.2.1.1.1.1
              28 January 2016 at 10:00 am

              What do the family think of Winston? They don’t think. They are still in an FPP mindset and see just two flavours, red and blue.

              They have been born and will die being Nat supporters so their minds are set like concrete. Voting NZ First wouldn’t even occur to them despite their discomfort with Key. It would be a radical act for them to vote for a minor party, as their party vote, because they don’t yet understand MMP. To sum up, they vote, they don’t think.

              I do hope other Nat supporters with a bit more mental flexibility and curiosity may consider NZ First though. They have quite a bit to offer the conservative voter.

        • mac1 9.2.1.2
          27 January 2016 at 2:42 pm

          The first reason I prefer. There is a known phenomenon that voters like to have chosen the winner. From that, it follows that few like to admit that they were wrong with their choice.

          Unless they’re angry at being betrayed, sold out, or conned.

          The “Don’t vote, it only encourages them” meme has been around for a long time- since 1999 at least, when I heard it often. This is a view that gives the Right some advantage, since those right-leaning voters will generally always vote, as they know that politics, and its attendant power, does matter.

          “They’re all the same” is a variant of this. I don’t believe in the zig-zag paper. There is a lot of difference between the major parties. Labour is yet to update and articulate its policies, but general positions are different from National on many issues. I know many on the Left believe otherwise.

          It does suit the Right to have this view promulgated. Obviously, though, the more Left the Labour Party, the more it is differentiated from National, but the more the centrist voter is deterred. After eight years in opposition, Labour has had few chances to actually act on its beliefs as different as they are to National’s.

          Where I come from, water quality is an issue in the south of this electorate. The Labour position at elections that I know about was that government money should be addressing this basic human necessity and right. At the moment, after
          eight years of National, and a change of MP, nothing has happened. Too big for local bodies, especially when ECAN was neutered undemocratically- another big point of difference, surely.

          That’s at one electorate level.

          At national levels there are more big differences to be expounded- troops overseas, unemployment, student debt and cost of education, taxation, health, foreign involvement in our economy, the TPPA, housing both for the State and private sectors………….

  10. fisiani 10
    27 January 2016 at 11:19 am

    The list verges well into the hysterical.
    blip obviously does not know what constitutes a lie.
    It follows the tradition of attacking Honest John Key and trying to make mud stick. Keep on compiling a list. Let me help you and give you a few from later today.
    It’s nice to talk to you (LIE)
    My government will help the poor with biggest benefit rise in a generation (LIE)
    I had a good break and feel refreshed (LIE)
    We have lots of exciting reforms to undertake this year (LIE)
    we want to make it easier for people to buy a home (LIE)
    Our troops are doing a good job in Iraq (LIE)
    blah blah blah….

    • marty mars 10.1
      27 January 2016 at 11:21 am

      lol fi – now you’re getting into the swing of things

    • cogito 10.2
      27 January 2016 at 11:58 am

      perhaps he could LIE down and expire.

    • framu 10.3
      27 January 2016 at 12:38 pm

      well, some of yours are just opinions, some are slogans

      but this one

      “My government will help the poor with biggest benefit rise in a generation (LIE)”

      is actually a lie- as its a rise in the base benefit with claw backs in the top ups

      cheers fisi

      • Expat 10.3.1
        27 January 2016 at 10:56 pm

        framu

        Fisi is an ardent JK supporter, shares the same habits, hence the lies (BS).

        Don’t for get the fact that the ratio of benefits to applicants has gone down to 18% along with reducing the number of registered unemployed to 250k by changing eligibility rules.
        They may pay slightly more, but to a hell of lot less recipients, but fisi or jk won’t tell you that.

    • reason 10.4
      27 January 2016 at 10:46 pm

      Excellent list Blip ……………. first time readers are always shocked by how much John Key lies ……………

      It’s common knowledge that he lies ……. with less than one quarter of New Zealand now believing he is honest……

      Fairfax-Ipsos August 2013–Leader Trust–Fully believe John Key ?: Yes 24%,

      But most of the large majority of NZers who know Key is dishonest would be shocked at just how much he lies …………………….

      Definitely the most dishonest PM we have ever had ……….

  11. Mosa 11
    27 January 2016 at 12:10 pm

    An appalling list of deceptions but not surprising Mr Key so well regarded and a genuine all round great bloke would tell the man or woman on the street that the sky was orange and they would look up and see exactly that. I always had the misconception that if u misled parliament it was a serious offence obviously not as he can lie get caught out and rush back and retract his statement to the house and all is forgiven his arrogance and contempt is horrifying. At least Richard Nixons crimes were exposed by people wanting and demanding the truth and a high standard of ethics that they believed should be exercised at all times how standards have changed .New Zealanders will eventually end their love affair but it will be too late.

    • rob 11.1
      27 January 2016 at 3:11 pm

      alias, I think it is already too late. this currently run b/shitting,fascist govt have slowly been selling this country out and importing their own voters in to look after then.

  12. Rosie 12
    27 January 2016 at 12:28 pm

    Congratulations on fine work BLiP. Is it really 433 so far? Thats a lot of porkies even for a leader whose default setting is deception. I hear the sound of a lot of air being sucked through his teeth.

    • Jones 12.1
      27 January 2016 at 1:09 pm

      Yep… that sound is one of his tells…

    • Heather Grimwood 12.2
      27 January 2016 at 6:39 pm

      To Rosie at 12 : The sucking – in – of- air- between- teeth particularly noticeable in parliamentary broadcasts has long concerned me.

  13. Crashcart 13
    27 January 2016 at 1:28 pm

    I honestly wonder if this is one of the biggest mistakes, those who want to see National lose, make. I am by no means a fan of this government but I can’t help but think they learnt a lesson in their 9 years of opposition that the current opposition has not.

    For the first two terms of the Clarke period National would try and attack her personally. Be it paintings, getting to rugby games or the not so direct rumours about her sexuality and marriage. None of this worked. Labour remained high in the polls. It wasn’t until the 3rd term where they switched and started attacking Labour as a whole and painting the entire party. This was seen with Light bulbs, shower heads and the whole Nanny State meme.

    Why did this change work. Because most of the population has a negative impression of politicians as a whole. When you try and paint one as bad it is in relation to what is perceived as every one being bad. More than this people think of politics as being a bunch of kids misbehaving in parliament like they are in the school ground. Any attacks on each other outside of the house seem to be extensions of this and so not really important.

    However if you paint a party as a group who will interfere in your life and impact on your rights well then you will start to get a turn in attitude. National learnt this.

    So what do we see from current opposition. Attempts to try and paint a guy who seems like a normal decent sort of guy as evil. The most that is ever achieved is people think he is as bad as any other politician. Even if a truly huge scandal was to land, National could cut him loose, blame him as a solo bad person, and replace him with the next one in line. Continue to sell the message of steady as she goes and we won’t mess with you.

    I suppose in summery I think more focus needs to go on negative impacts to the populace rather than why all the current government are such bad people. Yes John Key has told a lot of lies in his time. I think the last 7 years has shown that trying to yell this is not effective.

    • BM 13.1
      27 January 2016 at 1:34 pm

      It strikes me more as impotent frustration than any sort of strategy.

    • cogito 13.2
      27 January 2016 at 2:05 pm

      “guy who seems like a normal decent sort of guy”

      LOL.

      • Crashcart 13.2.1
        27 January 2016 at 3:37 pm

        That a great counter argument. Are you suggesting that he has not been successful at presenting an every day sort of guy persona?

        • cogito 13.2.1.1
          27 January 2016 at 4:59 pm

          Adopting a persona and being that type of person are two quite different things…. just like a Chinese Rolex is different from a real one….

          • Jones 13.2.1.1.1
            27 January 2016 at 10:57 pm

            Agree but you don’t have to be the person, just appear to be the person.

            And National already have a response to any criticism aimed at them… “but Labour did it too!”

    • Expat 13.3
      27 January 2016 at 11:11 pm

      @Crashcart

      Agree with what you’re saying, but the media was a lot more balanced then, now it’s the mouthpeice for the govt, it’s hard for any one with an opposing view to gain any traction as you well know, there aren’t many around today (reporters critical of the govt).

  14. Mosa 14
    27 January 2016 at 1:34 pm

    On I forgot to add a thankyou you to blip for keeping us informed.

    • seeker 14.1
      27 January 2016 at 2:09 pm

      Exactly Mosa. We must not close our eyes and ears, and BLiP helps us to be aware of the staggering mound of lies the Prime Minister of New Zealand has uttered. Thankyou BLiP, stirling work.

      I think r0b was unfortunate’y spot on when he wrote in his post on January 25th about post reality based politics regarding Donald Trump and described Key as “another herald of this brave new world”

      “Donald Trump Says He ‘Could Shoot Somebody’ and Not Lose Voters.

      “They say I have the most loyal people — did you ever see that? Where I could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldn’t lose any voters.” he said. “It’s like incredible.” …”

      Yes, it is incredible. And given the crap that Trump has put out there – all the while increasing his lead – it doesn’t even seem impossible…….

      Trump knows that he has gone beyond an old fashioned reality-based politics of consequences and accountability, and that his supporters are so “loyal” that they will lap up anything. I think that John Key is another herald of this brave new world. ….”

      A world devoid of truth, how hideous. (my words).

      (Apologies, have forgotten how to enter gigantic quotation marks which would have made this comment clearer, will try and relearn for future.)

  15. savenz 15
    27 January 2016 at 2:26 pm

    People are waking up and realising Key is a joke and the Natz are dangerous. The National strategy (which seems to be working so far) is to tie up the opposition in trivia and small projects with an onslaught of extreme changes, so that there is confusion and no massive co ordinated attack on the National party by opposition parties that reaches the public or dents them in any real way.

  16. mary_a 16
    27 January 2016 at 4:04 pm

    Well done BLIP and many thanks for reminding us of the fraudulent despot we have as our leader.

    With what’s coming up in the immediate future you will be able to build on your stock pile of FJK lies.

    TPPA signing
    Final flag referendum
    “prominent NZer’s court case coming up in April

    Lies will be spewing from FJK’s mouth thick and fast within the next three months. You will be extremely busy.

  17. righty right 17
    27 January 2016 at 6:47 pm

    john key lies because he has to. new Zealand is a house of cards that depends on john keys lieing powers to keep the ship afloat

  18. fisiani 18
    27 January 2016 at 8:17 pm

    So not a single one of Blips slurs have turned out to be a lie. Such a waste of time.

    • Wensleydale 18.1
      27 January 2016 at 8:58 pm

      A bit like you trolling this blog every day of your wretched excuse for a life.

      [lprent: Incorrect at two levels. If he was trolling then he’d be banned, I’m not exactly pleasant about that behaviour. Having a different opinion isn’t trolling, and when anyone’s behaviour steps over the line I or one of the other moderators would have a tendency to ban. ]

  19. righty right 19
    27 January 2016 at 10:08 pm

    a lie can become the truth therefore it isn’t a lie any longer and vast majority zealanders are one with john key

  20. reason 20
    27 January 2016 at 11:06 pm

    the biggest MINORITY vote for Key/Nats ………………..

    His high dishonesty ratings are a ticking bomb for the Nats .

    Looks at how the people of Northland punished the Nats and Key for the lies they were told, causing their recent Sabin by-election ……………

  21. justsomeguy 21
    28 January 2016 at 6:46 am

    #208 link needs fixing

  22. Smilin 22
    28 January 2016 at 8:21 am

    My barrow aint big enough to carry all that around but if i give it ago the photo might be as famous as the one from the 30’s illustrating inflation of a worthless currency
    Prediction of $70 US a barrel for oil this time next year, hows he goin to lie his way out of that one

  23. weka 23
    28 January 2016 at 9:23 am

    Good to have the update, and thanks for all the work BLiP. A bit of feedback, the huge list of categories is distracting and creates unnecessary scrolling. It makes the front page today look esp bad.

  24. Smilin 24
    28 January 2016 at 9:27 am

    The biggest problem with the Key govt is that they have continue their party’s agenda to destroy the power of the unions started by Bolgers govt and Roger Douglas
    Also their stated aim to rid the country of socialism and communism as a founding principle of their party
    All their politics is has that in it no matter what time of the day they front up
    If any one sees that as democratic they got to be FITH

  25. Ian 25
    28 January 2016 at 8:09 pm

    Key has Helen ,Goff ,and Shearer on side now. It’s a whitewash guys. You have failed.

    • Paul 25.1
      28 January 2016 at 8:14 pm

      Goff is leaving the National politics.
      Clark is not even in the country.

      Whitewash?? What nonsense.

  26. grunta 26
    29 January 2016 at 1:08 pm

    What a load of shit this list is lol

  27. GiveMeStrength 27
    30 January 2016 at 9:21 am

    WOW amazing work BLiP,

    M head is just spinning. We’ve come a long way from the original list, and I’m beginning to wonder if we need to empty sewage tank soon.

    Someone call in the kaka waka.

  28. Leon 28
    31 January 2016 at 6:14 am

    John Key says the majority of New Zealanders want the TPPA signed. This is a big fat lie because over 50% said no. Roughly 30% said yes and the rest don’t care on the poles.

  29. Draco T Bastard 29
    31 January 2016 at 7:32 pm

    Key’s biggest lie of all: his 1991 statement to the Equiticorp inquiry

    John Key, did you lie to the Serious Fraud Office?

    Considering the list of his documented lies, probably.

Links to post

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 27

    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 27 were:1. The Minister for Ford Rangers strikes againTransport Minister Simeon Brown was again the busiest of the Cabinet ministers this week, announcing an ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    46 mins ago
  • Ticket To Anywhere

    You got a fast carAnd I want a ticket to anywhereMaybe we make a dealMaybe together we can get somewhereAny place is betterYesterday’s newsletter, Trust In Me, on the report of abuse in state care, and by religious organisations, between 1950 and 2019, coupled with the hypocrisy of Christopher Luxon ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 hour ago
  • Stories of varying weight

    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on anything you may have missed. Share Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 hours ago
  • Balancing External Security and the Economy

    New Zealand is again having to reconcile conflicting pressures from its military and its trade interests. Should we join Pillar Two of AUKUS and risk compromising our markets in China? For a century after New Zealand was founded in 1840, its external security arrangements and external economics arrangements were aligned. ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    19 hours ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: The unravelling of the offsets

    The ‘50 Shades of Green’ farmers’ protest in 2019 was heavy on climate change denial, but five years on, scepticism and criticism about the idea that pine forests can save us is growing across the board. File photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top six news items of note in climate ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    23 hours ago
  • What makes us tick

    This morning the sky was bright.The birds, in their usual joyous bliss. Nature doesn’t seem to feel the heat of what might angst humans.Their calls are clear and beautiful.Just some random thoughts:MāoriPaul Goldsmith has announced his government will roll back the judiciary’s rulings on Māori Customary Marine Title, which recognises ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 day ago
  • Foreshore and seabed 2.0

    In 2003, the Court of Appeal delivered its decision in Ngati Apa v Attorney-General, ruling that Māori customary title over the foreshore and seabed had not been universally extinguished, and that the Māori Land Court could determine claims and confirm title if the facts supported it. This kicked off the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the Royal Commission report into abuse in care

    Earlier this week at Parliament, Labour leader Chris Hipkins was applauded for saying that the response to the final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care had to be “bigger than politics.” True, but the fine words, apologies and “we hear you” messages will soon ring ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: In news breaking this morning:The Ministry of Education is cutting $2 billion from its school building programme so the National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government has enough money to deliver tax cuts; The Government has quietly lowered its child poverty reduction targets to make them easier to achieve;Te Whatu Ora-Health NZ’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Weekly Roundup 26-July-2024

    Kia ora. These are some stories that caught our eye this week – as always, feel free to share yours in the comments. Our header image this week (via Eke Panuku) shows the planned upgrade for the Karanga Plaza Tidal Swimming Steps. The week in Greater Auckland On ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 day ago
  • God what a relief

    1. What's not to love about the way the Harris campaign is turning things around?a. Nothingb. Love all of itc. God what a reliefd. Not that it will be by any means easye. All of the above 2. Documents released by the Ministry of Health show Associate Health Minister Casey ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago
  • Trust In Me

    Trust in me in all you doHave the faith I have in youLove will see us through, if only you trust in meWhy don't you, you trust me?In a week that saw the release of the 3,000 page Abuse in Care report Christopher Luxon was being asked about Boot Camps. ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • The Hoon around the week to July 26

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking about the Royal Commission Inquiry into Abuse in Care report released this week, and with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on a UN push to not recognise carbon offset markets and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 26, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Transport: Simeon Brown announced $802.9 million in funding for 18 new trains on the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines, which ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Radical law changes needed to build road

    The northern expressway extension from Warkworth to Whangarei is likely to require radical changes to legislation if it is going to be built within the foreseeable future. The Government’s powers to purchase land, the planning process and current restrictions on road tolling are all going to need to be changed ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #30 2024

    Open access notables Could an extremely cold central European winter such as 1963 happen again despite climate change?, Sippel et al., Weather and Climate Dynamics: Here, we first show based on multiple attribution methods that a winter of similar circulation conditions to 1963 would still lead to an extreme seasonal ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • First they came for the Māori

    Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedFirst they came for the doctors But I was confused by the numbers and costs So I didn't speak up Then they came for our police and nurses And I didn't think we could afford those costs anyway So I ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Join us for the weekly Hoon on YouTube Live

    Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on UnsplashWe’re back again after our mid-winter break. We’re still with the ‘new’ day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when we have our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Will the real PM Luxon please stand up?

    Notes: This is a free article. Abuse in Care themes are mentioned. Video is at the bottom.BackgroundYesterday’s report into Abuse in Care revealed that at least 1 in 3 of all who went through state and faith based care were abused - often horrifically. At least, because not all survivors ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Will debt reduction trump abuse in care redress?

    Luxon speaks in Parliament yesterday about the Abuse in Care report. Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:PM Christopher Luxon said yesterday in tabling the Abuse in Care report in Parliament he wanted to ‘do the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Olywhites and Time Bandits

    About a decade ago I worked with a bloke called Steve. He was the grizzled veteran coder, a few years older than me, who knew where the bodies were buried - code wise. Despite his best efforts to be approachable and friendly he could be kind of gruff, through to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Why were the 1930s so hot in North America?

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters and Bob Henson Those who’ve trawled social media during heat waves have likely encountered a tidbit frequently used to brush aside human-caused climate change: Many U.S. states and cities had their single hottest temperature on record during the 1930s, setting incredible heat marks ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • Throwback Thursday – Thinking about Expressways

    Some of the recent announcements from the government have reminded us of posts we’ve written in the past. Here’s one from early 2020. There were plenty of reactions to the government’s infrastructure announcement a few weeks ago which saw them fund a bunch of big roading projects. One of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Thursday, July 25 are:News: Why Electric Kiwi is closing to new customers - and why it matters RNZ’s Susan EdmundsScoop: Government drops ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • The Possum: Demon or Friend?

    Hi,I felt a small wet tongue snaking through one of the holes in my Crocs. It explored my big toe, darting down one side, then the other. “He’s looking for some toe cheese,” said the woman next to me, words that still haunt me to this day.Growing up in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • Not a story

    Yesterday I happily quoted the Prime Minister without fact-checking him and sure enough, it turns out his numbers were all to hell. It’s not four kg of Royal Commission report, it’s fourteen.My friend and one-time colleague-in-comms Hazel Phillips gently alerted me to my error almost as soon as I’d hit ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Thursday, July 25, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day were:The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry published its final report yesterday.PM Christopher Luxon and The Minister responsible for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • A tougher line on “proactive release”?

    The Official Information Act has always been a battle between requesters seeking information, and governments seeking to control it. Information is power, so Ministers and government agencies want to manage what is released and when, for their own convenience, and legality and democracy be damned. Their most recent tactic for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • 'Let's build a motorway costing $100 million per km, before emissions costs'

    TL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:Transport and Energy Minister Simeon Brown is accelerating plans to spend at least $10 billion through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to extend State Highway One as a four-lane ‘Expressway’ from Warkworth to Whangarei ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Lester's Prescription – Positive Bleeding.

    I live my life (woo-ooh-ooh)With no control in my destinyYea-yeah, yea-yeah (woo-ooh-ooh)I can bleed when I want to bleedSo come on, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)You can bleed when you want to bleedYea-yeah, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)Everybody bleed when they want to bleedCome on and bleedGovernments face tough challenges. Selling unpopular decisions to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Casey Costello gaslights Labour in the House

    Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone icon on the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Why is the Texas grid in such bad shape?

    This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Headline from 2021 The Texas grid, run by ERCOT, has had a rough few years. In 2021, winter storm Uri blacked out much of the state for several days. About a week ago, Hurricane Beryl knocked out ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on a textbook case of spending waste by the Luxon government

    Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • LXR Takaanini

    As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    3 days ago
  • Four kilograms of pain

    Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Luxon gets caught out

    NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • A worrying sign

    Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Are we fine with 47.9% home-ownership by 2048?

    Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloitte report for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Let's Win This

    You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Waimahara: The Singing Spirit of Water

    There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    4 days ago
  • A major milestone: Global climate pollution may have just peaked

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’s Oliver LewisScoop: Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announced the Board of Te Whatu Ora- Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • HealthNZ and Luxon at cross purposes over budget blowout

    Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2500-3000 more healthcare staff expected to be fired, as Shane Reti blames Labour for a budget defic...

    Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • Might Kamala Harris be about to get a 'stardust' moment like Jacinda Ardern?

    As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    5 days ago
  • Solutions Interview: Steven Hail on MMT & ecological economics

    TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
    The KakaBy Steven Hail
    5 days ago
  • Reported back

    The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Vandrad the Viking, Christopher Coombes, and Literary Archaeology

    Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On The Biden Withdrawal

    History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    5 days ago
  • Joe Biden's withdrawal puts the spotlight back on Kamala and the USA's complicated relatio...

    This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Why we have to challenge our national fiscal assumptions

    A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Existential Crisis and Damaged Brains

    What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • A speed limit is not a target, and yet…

    This is a guest post from longtime supporter Mr Plod, whose previous contributions include a proposal that Hamilton become New Zealand’s capital city, and that we should switch which side of the road we drive on. A recent Newsroom article, “Back to school for the Govt’s new speed limit policy“, ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #29

    A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago
  • I'd like to share what I did this weekend

    This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • For the children – Why mere sentiment can be a misleading force in our lives, and lead to unex...

    National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Order image, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A friend in uncertain times

    Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • The Chaotic World of Male Diet Influencers

    Hi,We’ll get to the horrific world of male diet influencers (AKA Beefy Boys) shortly, but first you will be glad to know that since I sent out the Webworm explaining why the assassination attempt on Donald Trump was not a false flag operation, I’ve heard from a load of people ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • It's Starting To Look A Lot Like… Y2K

    Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 20

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Pharmac Director, Climate Change Commissioner, Health NZ Directors – The latest to quit this m...

    Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Flooding Housing Policy

    The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • A Voyage Among the Vandals: Accepted (Again!)

    As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā's Chorus for Friday, July 19

    An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-July-2024

    Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: A market-led plan for failure

    TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Tobacco First

    Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Trump’s Adopted Son.

    Waiting In The Wings: For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSA announced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • Joint statement from the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago
  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

    Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

    New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts.  “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

    An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Funding confirmed for regions affected by North Island Weather Events

    The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

    Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.   “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Strengthening partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto

    He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Transport Minister thanks outgoing CAA Chair

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Test for Customary Marine Title being restored

    The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says.  “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Opposition united in bad faith over ECE sector review

    Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet.  “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Kiwis having their say on first regulatory review

    After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks.  “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government upgrading Lower North Island commuter rail

    The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government moves to ensure flood protection for Wairoa

    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM speech to Parliament – Royal Commission of Inquiry’s Report into Abuse in Care

    Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.  At the heart of this report are the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges torture at Lake Alice

    For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges courageous abuse survivors

    The Government has acknowledged the nearly 2,400 courageous survivors who shared their experiences during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care. The final report from the largest and most complex public inquiry ever held in New Zealand, the Royal Commission Inquiry “Whanaketia – through ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Half a million people use tax calculator

    With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Paid Parental Leave improvements pass first reading

    Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says a bill that has passed its first reading will improve parental leave settings and give non-biological parents more flexibility as primary carer for their child. The Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill (No3), passed its first reading this morning. “It includes a change ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Rebuilding the economy through better regulation

    Two Bills designed to improve regulation and make it easier to do business have passed their first reading in Parliament, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill and Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Bill make key changes to legislation administered by the Ministry ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • ‘Open banking’ and ‘open electricity’ on the way

    New legislation paves the way for greater competition in sectors such as banking and electricity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Competitive markets boost productivity, create employment opportunities and lift living standards. To support competition, we need good quality regulation but, unfortunately, a recent OECD report ranked New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Charity lotteries to be permitted to operate online

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries for charitable purposes, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, and local hospices, will soon be allowed to operate online permanently. “Under current laws, these fundraising lotteries are only allowed to operate online until October 2024, after which ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Accelerating Northland Expressway

    The Coalition Government is accelerating work on the new four-lane expressway between Auckland and Whangārei as part of its Roads of National Significance programme, with an accelerated delivery model to deliver this project faster and more efficiently, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “For too long, the lack of resilient transport connections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Sir Don to travel to Viet Nam as special envoy

    Sir Don McKinnon will travel to Viet Nam this week as a Special Envoy of the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.    “It is important that the Government give due recognition to the significant contributions that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made to New Zealand-Viet Nam relations,” Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Grant Illingworth KC appointed as transitional Commissioner to Royal Commission

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says newly appointed Commissioner, Grant Illingworth KC, will help deliver the report for the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons, due on 28 November 2024.  “I am pleased to announce that Mr Illingworth will commence his appointment as ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ to advance relationships with ASEAN partners

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters travels to Laos this week to participate in a series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led Ministerial meetings in Vientiane.    “ASEAN plays an important role in supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Mr Peters says.   “This will be our third visit to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Backing mental health services on the West Coast

    Construction of a new mental health facility at Te Nikau Grey Hospital in Greymouth is today one step closer, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “This $27 million facility shows this Government is delivering on its promise to boost mental health care and improve front line services,” Mr Doocey says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ support for sustainable Pacific fisheries

    New Zealand is committing nearly $50 million to a package supporting sustainable Pacific fisheries development over the next four years, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announced today. “This support consisting of a range of initiatives demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment to assisting our Pacific partners ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Students’ needs at centre of new charter school adjustments

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour says proposed changes to the Education and Training Amendment Bill will ensure charter schools have more flexibility to negotiate employment agreements and are equipped with the right teaching resources. “Cabinet has agreed to progress an amendment which means unions will not be able to initiate ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Commissioner replaces Health NZ Board

    In response to serious concerns around oversight, overspend and a significant deterioration in financial outlook, the Board of Health New Zealand will be replaced with a Commissioner, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today.  “The previous government’s botched health reforms have created significant financial challenges at Health NZ that, without ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister to speak at Australian Space Forum

    Minister for Space and Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins will travel to Adelaide tomorrow for space and science engagements, including speaking at the Australian Space Forum.  While there she will also have meetings and visits with a focus on space, biotechnology and innovation.  “New Zealand has a thriving space ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Climate Change Minister to attend climate action meeting in China

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will travel to China on Saturday to attend the Ministerial on Climate Action meeting held in Wuhan.  “Attending the Ministerial on Climate Action is an opportunity to advocate for New Zealand climate priorities and engage with our key partners on climate action,” Mr Watts says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Oceans and Fisheries Minister to Solomons

    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is travelling to the Solomon Islands tomorrow for meetings with his counterparts from around the Pacific supporting collective management of the region’s fisheries. The 23rd Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee and the 5th Regional Fisheries Ministers’ Meeting in Honiara from 23 to 26 July ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Government launches Military Style Academy Pilot

    The Government today launched the Military Style Academy Pilot at Te Au rere a te Tonga Youth Justice residence in Palmerston North, an important part of the Government’s plan to crackdown on youth crime and getting youth offenders back on track, Minister for Children, Karen Chhour said today. “On the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Nine priority bridge replacements to get underway

    The Government has welcomed news the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has begun work to replace nine priority bridges across the country to ensure our state highway network remains resilient, reliable, and efficient for road users, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“Increasing productivity and economic growth is a key priority for the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Update on global IT outage

    Acting Prime Minister David Seymour has been in contact throughout the evening with senior officials who have coordinated a whole of government response to the global IT outage and can provide an update. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has designated the National Emergency Management Agency as the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New Zealand, Japan renew Pacific partnership

    New Zealand and Japan will continue to step up their shared engagement with the Pacific, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “New Zealand and Japan have a strong, shared interest in a free, open and stable Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says.    “We are pleased to be finding more ways ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New infrastructure energises BOP forestry towns

    New developments in the heart of North Island forestry country will reinvigorate their communities and boost economic development, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones visited Kaingaroa and Kawerau in Bay of Plenty today to open a landmark community centre in the former and a new connecting road in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • 'Pacific Futures'

    President Adeang, fellow Ministers, honourable Diet Member Horii, Ambassadors, distinguished guests.    Minasama, konnichiwa, and good afternoon, everyone.    Distinguished guests, it’s a pleasure to be here with you today to talk about New Zealand’s foreign policy reset, the reasons for it, the values that underpin it, and how it ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-07-27T01:13:20+00:00