“The literal truth”

Written By: - Date published: 10:49 am, February 16th, 2008 - 49 comments
Categories: Media, spin - Tags: ,

Fran O’Sullivan’s continuing her ongoing philosophical project of interrogating the notion of truth in her latest repetition of Kiwiblog talking points Herald column. In it she picks up on the Owen Glenn interview and from a few disparate facts weaves a story of intrigue and mystery. Or rather provides us with an insight into the strange life of her mind.

I’m not even going to bother a point by point refutation of this odd piece of fiction because to be honest after a close reading I realised there is very little substance in there to refute. The real gold is in the rhetoric. Here’s one of my favorites:

The Labour Party president’s comments may be literally true.

Did you get that? “literally true”. Apparently the literal truth isn’t good enough anymore. I guess that means we need to look at the figurative truth then Fran? And, after mentioning the fact that Glenn lent the party money for fundraising (money which has been paid back in full), that’s exactly what she goes on to do:

Owen Glenn’s disclosures call into sharp relief how much of the $800,000 Labour paid back into taxpayers’ coffers is the result of similar loans. The public is entitled to know.

Now you’ll note that Fran doesn’t put forward a skerrick of evidence for her allegation but then decides the public is entitled to know. There’s a name for this kind of argument and one of our more vociferous commenters has written about it on his blog before but, as The Standard is a “G” rated blog, I’m not even going to link to it. I will however say this:

The paucity of facts in this column and O’Sullivan’s recent piece on the “above ground option” call into sharp relief how much of her “reporting” is actually done while under the influence of hallucinogenic substances. The reading public is entitled to know.

Now do you see how this kind of rhetoric works Fran? Because, despite what you may think, everyone else does. I can only assume that when the Herald subbed the title of your column “Public deserves better answers” they were referring to your standard of commentary.

49 comments on ““The literal truth” ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Robinsod 1
    16 February 2008 at 10:55 am

    Hey Irish – I’m assuming you were referring to my Newzblog post:

    http://newzblog.wordpress.com/2008/01/21/pig-fucking/

    ‘Cos I ain’t seen such a blunt example of the pig fucker argument since IP was banned. Shit! Perhaps IP is Fran O’Sullivan!

    IrishBill says: yeah I was and I wanted to link the post but couldn’t you have found a less offensive term?

  2. Robinsod 2
    16 February 2008 at 11:00 am

    Hey Bro – Don’t blame me, I didn’t make it up. And anyway surely it’s ok if the 36th Leader of the free world uses it?

  3. Chemist Peter 3
    16 February 2008 at 11:05 am

    fighting a lot of fires at present bro, and the mother of all scandals is yet to hit, be prepared!!!

  4. IrishBill 4
    16 February 2008 at 11:08 am

    Would that be a literally true scandal or just another figuratively true one? Can you even tell the difference CP?

  5. Inventory2 5
    16 February 2008 at 11:47 am

    Speaking literally, why would Owen Glenn lie, and who has more at stake here – Owen Glenn or Helen Clark?

  6. Pacman 6
    16 February 2008 at 11:59 am

    It is another Bill Cinton “I did not have sexual relations…”. If you believe a bj is not sexual relations then that could be considered literally true.

    Now Mike Williams says he has not donated anything but there is a repaid 100k loan interest free. I think this is a valid comparison, Owen donated free money to Labour.

    The claim that he got it back has no standing – Go here http://www.ird.govt.nz/fbt/categories/low-interest-loans/ and you can see that the IRD see people lending money for free to be dodgy enough to charge tax on the value of the interest.

  7. Santi 7
    16 February 2008 at 12:10 pm

    Who is lying here, Clark or Owen? One of these two is telling porkies.

    You guys make a song and dance about political donations. Here it is, in front of you, staring at you, the fact Labour has collected a handsome amount, and all you do is play it down, obeying your political masters.

    Shame on The Standard for its lack of scruples (balls). After all, that is a pre-requisite to be a socialist.

  8. Archon 8
    16 February 2008 at 12:18 pm

    Pretty much.

    It brings the Shipley dinner back into mind. Fast forward a few years and it is alleged that Helen Clark offers their biggest donor a cabinet post and you want to have a go at the journo’s who want answers?

    Makes me wonder just how far Labour would have to go before the standard would question their ethics.

    IrishBill says: O’Sullivan doesn’t want answers. She wants to be able to use a call for answers to intimate a smear. If she gets answers I will be very surprised if she writes an “I got answers and here they are” column. Mark Twain is quoted as saying “a lie gets halfway around the world before the truth gets its shoes on”. This appears to be a maxim for the right and its cheerleaders.

  9. IrishBill 9
    16 February 2008 at 12:26 pm

    IV2, I don’t know and I don’t really care as I don’t think it’s a scandal. What I do know is that Fran doesn’t know either but instead of choosing to admit that she’s disguised politically biased speculation as “fact”.

    PM, “literal”: “true to fact; not exaggerated; actual or factual”. If Fran had said “this may not be the complete truth” and then discussed the interest on the loan you might have a point but she doesn’t. In fact she makes no substantive points throughout the column. If you can manage a substantive point why can’t a so called “journalist”? Perhaps you should offer to write for the Herald.

    Santi, I think you have mistaken an analysis of O’Sullivan’s extremely poor rightwing spin for an analysis of the issue she’s talking about. It’s good to see you’re trying though, you almost had a rational argument going there until you broke off into that kiwiblog right spiel in your last para.

  10. mike 10
    16 February 2008 at 12:58 pm

    This is a real doozy in Election year. The Nats are going ride this puppy until its legs fall off. Helen or Owen is talking shite and the Nats can’t wait to prove it is Helen. Literal or not.

    IrishBill says: so by “Literal or not” are you are implying you don’t care if it’s true or not but it’s a good chance to smear the government? I’m assuming you are a Herald subscriber?

  11. the sprout 11
    16 February 2008 at 1:02 pm

    and with “analysis” like you get from the Herald, the truth is clearly completely irrelevant.

  12. Inventory2 12
    16 February 2008 at 1:10 pm

    “IrishBill says: so by “Literal or not’ are you are implying you don’t care if it’s true or not but it’s a good chance to smear the government? I’m assuming you are a Herald subscriber?”

    Bill – that’s pretty rich coming from one of the authors of a blog whose sole purpose seems to be to smear the National Party and its leadership. To use one of Robinsod’s favourite words, that’s – ironic – don’t you think

    IrishBill says: let’s see you provide an example of a Standard post that states something that is not fact or is otherwise not clearly marked as rumour or genuinely held opinion before you go quoting the ‘Sod on this one IV2.

  13. Chemist Peter 13
    16 February 2008 at 1:10 pm

    Yeah, and Helen Clark has the biggest balls of the lot.
    The lying people at the below standard here are fighting a lot of fires at present, but these are only scrub fires compared to the massive blaze that will ignite shortly.

    IrishBill says: yawn.

  14. Billy 14
    16 February 2008 at 1:12 pm

    Big money buying favours with a political party. Surely this is something you guys should be concerned about.

    I do not remember the criticism you are now levelling against O’Sullivan being applied to Steve Maharey’s fanciful and wholly unsupported claims that National Party policy was written in the United States.

    IrishBill says: Aside from the fact that the standard didn’t exist then I’d say there is a difference between a remark from a partisan politician and a media commentator with no stated affiliations.

  15. Whaleoil 15
    16 February 2008 at 1:15 pm

    This is irony for sure as it was Clark herself who milked an after dinner conversation with Kevin Roberts and Jenny Shipley for all it was worth.

    Suck it up Clark, suck it up

  16. Billy 16
    16 February 2008 at 1:25 pm

    How about a more recent example. Is it the “literal truth” that Katherine Rich reesigned for personal reasons? Any “skerrick of evidence” that she was forced out so that the fat old white men can pursue their agenda of far-right payback for their paymasters? No? Shall we run the line anyway?

  17. the sprout 17
    16 February 2008 at 1:30 pm

    what is this, the Wayne Idour Hour?

  18. Draco TB 18
    16 February 2008 at 1:34 pm

    Big money buying favours with a political party. Surely this is something you guys should be concerned about.

    It would be – if that was what happened. There’s no evidence that Owen Glen got anything or was offered anything for his money though.

  19. r0b 19
    16 February 2008 at 1:35 pm

    Fran: Owen Glenn’s disclosures call into sharp relief how much of the $800,000 Labour paid back into taxpayers’ coffers is the result of similar loans. The public is entitled to know.

    Nicky Hager’s disclosures call into sharp relief how much of the $1.5 Million National laundered through supposedly anonymous trusts for the 2005 election was an attempt to subvert the intent of the electoral law and purchase National policy. The public is entitled to know.

  20. IrishBill 20
    16 February 2008 at 1:37 pm

    Billy, how about you re-read that post. It is made entirely clear that is is the honest opinion of the author that Rich jumped for more than personal reasons. When an writer starts a paragraph with the phrase “I can’t help but think” it’s pretty obvious they’re stating opinion.

    Draco TB, good point, unlike the leaked email that showed the Insurance Council were advising National on what parts of their ACC policy to release in 2005.

  21. IrishBill 21
    16 February 2008 at 1:38 pm

    Rob, I missed that O’Sullivan column. Can you post a link?

  22. Barnsley Bill 22
    16 February 2008 at 1:49 pm

    Clearly you guys have to immediately shout down anything O’sullivan writes about your party. Fair enough too, it is the reason for this blog existing.
    However Fran was quoting an article in the previous days dom where Oowen Glenn has been directly quoted claiming he donated because of the EB’s and that Clark had offered him Transport if he would agree to jump on board.
    Williams and some nameless face in Clark’s office have denied both claims. Which leaves us in a simple choice situation. Either Glenn is a liar or Williams and Clark are liars. Either option is embarrassing for the govt.
    The points she made about use of money interest were not covered in the quoted article but are valid. Avoiding use of money interest payments is fraud. No doubt one of the less lazy member of the right leaning blogging community will call IRD about this. Me, I can’t be bothered.
    The way you guys immediately start screeching “but they did it too” is no longer working for you.

  23. r0b 23
    16 February 2008 at 1:53 pm

    IrishBill, I don’t have the link handy, but I think it was the same column where she took John Key to task for the hopeless failure of “bootcamps” at preventing youth offending, and admonished the Kiwiblog Right for the kind of rabid abuse that spawns violent brick chuckers.

  24. Billy 24
    16 February 2008 at 1:53 pm

    “There’s no evidence that Owen Glen got anything or was offered anything for his money though.”

    http://www.dpmc.govt.nz/honours/lists/list.asp?id=40

    Mr Owen George GLENN, of Monaco.
    For services to business and the community.

    IrishBill says: That’s a real smoking gun you’ve got there, Billy. I suggest you take this evidence to the media ASAP.

  25. the sprout 25
    16 February 2008 at 2:12 pm

    “immediately shout down anything O’sullivan writes”

    just having her name and photo at the top of her pieces is usually enough to discredit the content for any sentient reader.

  26. sdm 26
    16 February 2008 at 2:35 pm

    This line that the left seem to run ‘oh we ignore the herald because of its right wing stance’ I find more than a little odd. Consider the other day, for instance, when Hezbollah leader Imad Moughniyah was killed in a car bomb. Who wrote the lead article on the matter in the World section? ROBERT FISK. He is as far left as they come.

    I absolutley guarentee you that if this was the other way round, and John Key was offering a donor a cabinet position, you would be screaming for his head. No doubt in my mind

    But no, if its critical of the government, shoot the messenger. Nicki Hager has no agenda but O’Sullivan does? Right….

    IrishBill says: Hager based his book on facts and evidence. O’Sullivan bases her columns on conjecture and fabrication.

  27. Billy 27
    16 February 2008 at 2:42 pm

    That was a bit snide, Irishbill. I was just countering the absurd contention by one of your commenters that there was no evidence that Glenn got anything for his contribution. Your sarcasm shows just how ridiculous his comment was.

  28. IrishBill 28
    16 February 2008 at 2:49 pm

    Billy, I note Marilyn Waring is also on the honours list. I’m assuming you think this is pay-off for crossing the floor in 1984?

  29. Billy 29
    16 February 2008 at 2:52 pm

    You’re right, Bill. I’m sure Owen Glenn of Monaco would have received an honour whether or not he’d funded the Labour Party.

  30. IrishBill 30
    16 February 2008 at 2:55 pm

    Billy, considering he gave $7.5m to Auckland university for a new business school, I’m pretty sure he would’ve too. I’m glad you are finally seeing sense.

  31. r0b 31
    16 February 2008 at 3:05 pm

    Oh for goodness sake Billy. This has been gone over so often you can only be playing deliberately ignorant. “For services to business and the community” – such as…

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/4401616a6479.html

    He is still a New Zealand citizen and returned this week to open Auckland University’s business school.

    He has given $7.5 million toward the $50 million cost and $600,000 a year in scholarships. The school has been named after him and the study hall after his late mother.

    To try and spread the meme that an honour is some kind of payback for a political donation is a pathetic insult to Glenn and to other philanthropists like him.

  32. Santi 32
    16 February 2008 at 3:17 pm

    Irish, are you losing the plot?

    Your barrage of denial cannot hide the fact Owen’s donation (and its consequences) are real. If, as you affirm, O’Sullivan’s article is false and full of lies then it deserves to be publicly scrutinised and clarified by the participants.

    Your faith in Helen Clark appears to know no bounds. You’d do a good impersonation of a Pretorian Guard (Al Capone’s bodyguard also comes to mind).

    IrishBill says: Directing baseless insults at one of the blog owners is a good way to get banned. You’re on warning.

  33. r0b 33
    16 February 2008 at 3:32 pm

    Billy, Santi and co. desperately tries to get some milage out of this storm in a teacup.

    Hello Santi – HC cannot appoint random millionaires into cabinet. What she can do is encourage well qualified people to to join the party and put themselves up for selection through the normal mechanisms. If selected as an MP and they perform well they may even advance rapidly.

    For a similar example consider John Key. No political experience, relevant background gives him a high place on the National list, he advances rapidly. What a Scandal!

    FFS get a life.

  34. Santi 34
    16 February 2008 at 3:39 pm

    rob, in your impeccable logic it’s a “storm in a teacup” when involves Labour but NEVER with your political opponents. Very flexible principles, uh?

    I don’t give a toss about Key or the Nats, I’m pointing out the lack of scruples of your socialist mob, always prepared to do whatever it takes to cling to power.

    You are helping by supporting the Labour Party and its corrupt practices. Feel free to do it but do not expect a free ride.

  35. r0b 35
    16 February 2008 at 3:49 pm

    I don’t give a toss about Key or the Nats, I’m pointing out the lack of scruples of your socialist mob, always prepared to do whatever it takes to cling to power.

    Since when is trying to attract talented and successful people to join a party and make a contribution to political life a bad thing to do? Only in your head, Santi, could that constitute a lack of scruples.

    You are helping by supporting the Labour Party and its corrupt practices.

    You believe that calling the Labour Party corrupt often enough will make it true. It won’t. You want a corrupt party? Try National. Have you read The Hollow Men Santi?

    Feel free to do it

    Don’t need your permission Santi.

  36. dave 36
    16 February 2008 at 5:04 pm

    When an writer starts a paragraph with the phrase “I can’t help but think’ it’s pretty obvious they’re stating opinion
    Except of couse if it is a Labour Cabinet minister or Findlay MacDonald – in which case they are lying.

    By definition they cannot think.

  37. burt 37
    16 February 2008 at 6:08 pm

    rOb

    From above.

    http://www.thestandard.org.nz/?p=1123#comment-18532

    Nicky Hager’s disclosures call into sharp relief how much of the $1.5 Million National laundered through supposedly anonymous trusts for the 2005 election was an attempt to subvert the intent of the electoral law and purchase National policy. The public is entitled to know.

    This thread is not about National, if National did it too is that making it OK for Labour or should Labour be challenged to the same standards as you think National should be?

    The thing I find most interesting is a billionaire who appears to structure his affairs to avoid tax completely donating to a party that is increasing taxation and has implemented very low ‘wealth’ thresholds.

  38. Robinsod 38
    16 February 2008 at 6:15 pm

    very low ‘wealth’ thresholds.

    Oh my god it can think for itself (well kinda). “Low wealth thresholds”? Did you come up with that all by yourself burty boy? Good boy burty-boy, good boy, who’s a good boy, eh who is? you are burty-boy yous a good boy, that deserves an extra special treat…

  39. Mwahahahaha 39
    16 February 2008 at 7:35 pm

    Labour – gone by 2009…if not before.

  40. Spam 40
    16 February 2008 at 7:41 pm

    Since when is trying to attract talented and successful people to join a party and make a contribution to political life a bad thing to do? Only in your head, Santi, could that constitute a lack of scruples.

    “Inviting him to join a party”? The allegation is that he was ‘invited’ to a position as a minister of the crown. Remember people squealing that Don Brash shouldn’t be allowed to be Prime Minister because he was a list MP and not an electoral MP? Could it be the same people for whom it is alleged wanted to appoint someone to a ministerial position?

  41. the sprout 41
    16 February 2008 at 8:21 pm

    Spam, i think you may have missed that OG’s isn’t actually a minister of the crown.

  42. AncientGeek 42
    16 February 2008 at 8:22 pm

    The Fran O’Sullivan scandal… a spoof of the rabid right’s debating techniques

    Lets summarize what we know so far….

    1. The herald doesn’t like having the left in government. This has manifested in a number of concerted campaigns. They have argued in an editorial that this is not the case, pointing to a count of editorials. They omitted to point out their campaigns on things like the EFA, and their habit of largely having opinion-editorials from the right.

    2. Fran O’Sullivan has been one of these attack poodles. She has consistently never had a much of a good word to say about the left in government. Where there has been a topic to offer opinion on the right, for instance with the hollow men revelations, she is curiously silent. Indeed one could say suspiciously silent.

    3. In the past she has written editorials about Owen Glenn. She suggested that other people, who have never been philanthropic in NZ and who are not even Kiwi’s would be better suited to get a gong than Owen Glenn. Mr Glenn has made major contributions to Auckland University.

    4. Fran has been known to print editorials that look suspiciously like releases or comments from the tory party, especially from McCully, add her spin and claim that they were hers. A clear case of plagiarism.

    5. Recently she has taken to making up topics to attack the left on. Last week it was a mythical over-head option for the state highway extension at Waterview.

    6. This week she has taken some comments from Owen Glenn to a journalist, that have not been confirmed by him, and directly refuted by the other party. She has spun this into a conspiracy theory with absolutely no supporting evidence and published it in the herald.

    Now it seems to me that at best this means that Fran has departed from her once proud reporting standards.

    At worst there may be a conspiracy between her and the tories.

    Perhaps she is being paid to say this.

    This may be a case under the EFA.

    The rabid right swallows this whole because they prefer to not think.

    I think this can probably be extended……..

    And now a breathless “wait but there is more”…

  43. Silent Laughing 43
    16 February 2008 at 8:23 pm

    So meanwhile National bluster on about matters of no consequence
    In the real world Owen Who?
    And slowly election time approaches,
    people start to stir,
    take an interest,
    National start to look hollow,
    polls narrow,
    the race card is played ,
    its counter productive,
    So the KBR squeal ever louder
    but no one is listening,
    only laughing
    The inevitable happens,
    National disintegrates.
    Shame really

  44. AncientGeek 44
    16 February 2008 at 8:23 pm

    Hell I’m starting to sound like Fran or Michele.

  45. AncientGeek 45
    16 February 2008 at 8:29 pm

    Or even worse – that reads like something off the Fox network “news”

  46. AncientGeek 46
    16 February 2008 at 8:33 pm

    SL: very good…

    They do look a bit hollow. With all this effort on attempting to smear their opposition, you have to wonder if the tories are expending any effort on their own policies. At present you could probably sum up their existing known policy in a couple of paragraphs.

    cap: happy 120
    one could wish

  47. AncientGeek 47
    17 February 2008 at 12:12 am

    There are a couple of posts “Press Council ducks interesting issue” and “More grumbling about the Press Council” in the Media Law Journal.

    They are extremely interesting when you consider how inaccurate the main stream media are getting. Possibly it has something to do with the ‘whiffy’ level of industry self-regulation

  48. Draco TB 48
    18 February 2008 at 4:33 pm

    It seems that drawing unsubstantiated conclusions is normal for NZHerald writers.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10493145

    I don’t think it is a federal case that he did not – but Labour deserves to squirm over its relationship with Glenn and the way it tailored the Electoral Finance Bill to suit its own self-serving circumstances. The original cabinet paper on electoral reform banned all donations from overseas sources. The final product banned donations from overseas unless it was from an ex-pat donor.

    Never seemed to consider that there are ~1 million NZers living overseas, most of them adults, and that more than one of them may want to donate to political parties in their home country (some of them may even want to donate to National). Also never seemed to consider that preventing them from donating would have been completely against their right to take part in their democracy.

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    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
  • The Hoon around the week to July 19

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent talking about the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s release of its first Emissions Reduction Plan;University of Otago Foreign Relations Professor and special guest Dr Karin von ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #29 2024

    Open access notables Improving global temperature datasets to better account for non-uniform warming, Calvert, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society: To better account for spatial non-uniform trends in warming, a new GITD [global instrumental temperature dataset] was created that used maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) to combine the land surface ...
    Skeptical Science
    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
    17 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
    20 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
    20 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
    22 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
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  • ‘Open banking’ and ‘open electricity’ on the way

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