The politics of Palestine

Written By: - Date published: 10:57 am, November 21st, 2023 - 34 comments
Categories: chris hipkins, International, israel, labour, Palestine, war - Tags:

Earlier this week the New Zealand Labour Party made a statement on Palestine and it was a good one.

Certainly much better than the positions adopted by its sister Labour parties overseas.

UK Labour has refused to call for a ceasefire although 56 Labour MPs defied the Party Whip and voted for calls for one to be included in the King’s speech.  And in Australia the ALP refuses to call for a cease fire although Albanese’s own Labor Branch passed resolutions calling for one and noting that Israel “has moved from that of defending itself, to acts of retribution on an innocent Palestinian population”.

I am pleased that New Zealand Labour decided to be more staunch and declare that the killing of innocent children and the bombing of hospitals and schools should not be tolerated.

From Radio New Zealand:

Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins has called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, saying “the violence and the killing has to stop”.

He has stressed that he has made the announcement as Labour leader, not caretaker Prime Minister.

But Hipkins said it had become “untenable” for him to remain silent.

“It runs against Labour Party values to see the horrific scenes we are witnessing without calling for a ceasefire,” he said.

“Israel and Gaza need to immediately ensure that conditions for a ceasefire be met. We call on all parties to strive to restore calm and restraint.

“We remain very concerned about the humanitarian impact of the conflict.”

Hipkins has called on Israel to allow supplies to be delivered and for Hamas to free its hostages.

“Ultimately we want to see a just and lasting peace.

“The violence and the killing has to stop.”

National responded by agreeing with Labour but then accusing Labour of playing politics.  Again from RNZ:

“National supports the goal of a ceasefire, but acknowledges the conditions have not existed for one so far.

“On Friday afternoon the caretaker government approached National about calling for a ceasefire.

“In response, National asked to see MFAT advice on the matter – we provided feedback on that advice and indicated we were open to a discussion with Labour on it.

“National was then informed of the Labour leader’s statement four minutes before the press conference commenced.

“Given New Zealand’s long-standing bipartisan approach to foreign policy it is very disappointing that Chris Hipkins is playing politics with such a serious issue.

“If reports of a possible temporary ceasefire being close are correct, with hostage exchanges from both sides and humanitarian aid into Gaza, this is what New Zealand has consistently called for. It is hoped that any temporary ceasefire could last longer than five days and lead to peace talks,” National’s statement concluded.

I don’t understand how the statement could be considered to be political.  How many civilians need to be killed and how many hospitals need to be attacked before it is appropriate to do something?

Meanwhile there is talk about a brokered cease fire where some of the Israeli hostages will be released along with some Palestinian women and children who have been detained without trial.

And the battering of Gaza continues.

Al-Shifa, once Gaza’s main hospital, has stopped functioning as a medical facility and is now a “death zone” according to the World Health Organization.

Thirty-one “very sick” premature babies have been evacuated to Cairo.  At least eight others have died.

Food and power and fuel remain in short supply.

And the United Nations Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese has labelled Israel’s activities in Gaza as a complete violation of all basic principles that international law establishes.

She was quoted in this Radio New Zealand article as follows:

“Let’s be clear: [Hamas’] killing civilians and taking civilian hostages are war crimes, and I’ve extended and continue to extend my deepest condolences to all communities affected.

“At the same time, what has happened in the occupied Palestinian territories – primarily in Gaza – is a complete violation of all basic principles that international law establishes.

“There have been over 12,000 people killed over a month now by Israeli bombs and military operations, 5000 of these are children, over 1.6 million people forcibly displaced, 30,000 Palestinians injured, and there is no measure to rescue them because Israel has also tightened its illegal blockade … a collective punishment on the 2.2 million people living in the Gaza strip, half of whom are children.

“Half of the civilian infrastructure has been destroyed, 40,000 homes and churches, mosques, entire residential buildings, refugee camps and schools, bakeries, universities, there’s very little to start, restart life after a ceasefire is declared.

“I’ve warned three times against the risk that Israel might be committing the crime of genocide in Gaza … there has been calls to flatten Gaza, to erase Gaza from Earth, and to kill the Gazans because they are ‘also responsible for what Hamas has done’ and there is no distinction here between civilians and militants.”

Presuming we have a government soon it will be interesting to see what position National and its allies take.  Anything short of a full throated demand for a ceasefire will be a totally inadequate statement.

34 comments on “The politics of Palestine ”

  1. Bearded Git 1
    21 November 2023 at 12:30 pm

    Don't hold your breath on National taking a position similar to Labour and the Greens. Luxon will slavishly follow the USA. After all he speaks with an American accent at times.

    What gets up my nose is all the talk about the hostages-a diversionary tactic by the Israelis and USA. The focus should be on the thousands being murdered by Israel in Gaza, not on a couple of hundred hostages.

    (In any event the hostages would benefit from a ceasefire as they are in the firing line and would be more likely to be released if there was a permanent ceasefire.)

    Reply
    • Corey 1.1
      21 November 2023 at 1:33 pm

      No, Luxon will slavishly follow China, it's mps routinely worship China and It's mp's are pro China on everything from military build up in the pacific to disturbingly, China's position on Taiwan both of which are far more relevant to this country.

      Jacinda Arderns Labour government moved us closer to the United States on foreign policy than any government in the last 40 years, so much so that Helen Clark and Co were constantly on social media bemoaning the loss of nzs independent foreign policy.

      Nationals official stance on Israel/Palestine will be for a two state solution which is nz's official stance and it will just call for humanitarian pauses.

      Our allies are freaking out about National being in government and hoping against hope that they make Peters foreign affairs minister rather than one of the China apologists in the national party.

      It's quite interesting that National is the pro communist China party and Labour is the pro western alliance party trying to divest us out of China, it's virtually the opposite globally, but the influence of mass immigration from China on NZ politics and party funding is quite worrying.

      Reply
      • Wei 1.1.1
        21 November 2023 at 6:49 pm

        What on earth does China's position on Taiwan have to do with New Zealand? The 'position' on Taiwan has not changed for many decades, and after all, all Western countries accept the one-China policy and that includes NZ.

        You could perhaps explicate on China's so-called military "build up" in the Pacific? How does it compare to the US presence?

        The true monsters in the world are those who have massacred close to 20,000 innocent civilians in a month, half of them children, and that is encouraged and enabled by US, not Chinese, imperialism.

        Reply
    • Terry 1.2
      21 November 2023 at 3:30 pm

      Israel are not murdering anyone. It’s the responsibility of the Palestinian regime in Gaza.

      Just like with WW2, both Germany and Japan continued to fight on until the bitter end, resulting in massive casualties of their own civilians and military. But there was no doubt that we needed to be rid of those regimes. They were solely responsible responsible for their deaths and the destruction of their respective countries.

      The Palestinian regime in Gaza is every bit as bad as the Germans an Japanese were during WW2.

      Reply
      • Wei 1.2.1
        21 November 2023 at 6:51 pm

        In my own reading of history, it was Germany and Japan who were the aggressors in WW2

        Whereas the Palestinians have not invaded anyone else, do not have a proper standing army, and are for the most part refugees having been ethnically cleansed out of their original homeland.

        Big difference.

        Reply
        • SPC 1.2.1.1
          21 November 2023 at 8:05 pm

          I would not say that the majority were now out of their homeland (not, if one included those displaced within historic Palestine).

          About 3M in the WB, 2M in Gaza and 1.5M in Israel.

          It's about half the total. The largest group of the others 2M in Jordan.

          The PCBS puts the total Palestinian population worldwide at 12.7 million, with over 1.5 million within Israel, 6 million in other Arab countries (primarily as refugees) and 700,000 in other countries (PCBS, 2017). As many as 5 million Palestinian refugees are eligible for UNRWA assistance, including 1.3 million in Gaza and around 800,000 in the West Bank. In addition there are around 335,000 Palestinians in Israel who, though they have Israeli citizenship, are unable to return to their homes. Over 2 million UNRWA-registered refugees reside in Jordan, 450,000 in Lebanon and 440,000 in Syria.

          https://minorityrights.org/country/palestine/

          Reply
        • Terry 1.2.1.2
          22 November 2023 at 7:36 am

          Well the Palestinian regime in Gaza did start this latest round of violence. They did so in a manner that would make even the most hardened Nazi SS feel a sense of pride.

          If we go back in history the Palestinian leaders have refused to agree to the creation of Israel, and there has been fighting on and off for decades. The Israelis have always won these wars, even against all the odds. Historically those who win the wars keep or control the land.

          Reply
          • Francesca 1.2.1.2.1
            22 November 2023 at 9:04 am

            What a load of crap.The Nazis were the powerful state killing a much smaller minority

            Israel is now that far more powerful state supported by the usual suspects of the west, hammering and slaughtering a much smaller and far less armed minority

            If Hamas manages with what little it has to respond to the constant attacks , that predate Oct 7th by many years, that makes them resourceful, not Nazi

            Reply
          • tc 1.2.1.2.2
            22 November 2023 at 4:18 pm

            So hamas is the Palestinian regime in your world…..life's simple with sweeping generalisations like that.

            Reply
      • Francesca 1.2.2
        22 November 2023 at 6:17 am

        Israelis aren't doing the killing?

        https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-ml-israel-army-032309-2009mar23-story.html

        The kind of mentality that allows soldiers to kill women and children

        Reply
  2. Gabby 2
    21 November 2023 at 12:32 pm

    I suspect that Israel will not be satisfied with deep condolences, not even the deepest, and that they will pursue hamas until that body is no longer viable.

    Reply
    • Muttonbird 2.1
      21 November 2023 at 8:39 pm

      Israel cannot bomb their way out of this. They will have to compromise at some point, or face decade upon decade upon decade of fear and instability.

      Reply
    • SPC 2.2
      21 November 2023 at 8:51 pm

      Hamas has snookered BN, they were his pawn in de-legitimising Palestinian nationalism, so the occupied land settlement project could be fully rolled out. But if he cannot live with them, what happens to the 1977 Likud plan?

      Reply
  3. SPC 3
    21 November 2023 at 2:28 pm

    “If reports of a possible temporary ceasefire being close are correct, with hostage exchanges from both sides and humanitarian aid into Gaza, this is what New Zealand has consistently called for. It is hoped that any temporary ceasefire could last longer than five days and lead to peace talks,” National’s statement concluded.

    Hapless.

    Peace talks involving whom – Hamas?

    Many nations designate Hamas a terrorist organisation and that includes New Zealand.

    https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-bipartisan-group-urge-un-to-designate-hamas-as-a-terrorist-organization

    Reply
    • Bearded Git 3.1
      21 November 2023 at 3:14 pm

      “If reports of a possible temporary ceasefire being close are correct, with hostage exchanges from both sides and humanitarian aid into Gaza, this is what New Zealand has consistently called for."

      Bollocks (as Wayne says). Pause bombing, send in aid and then start the bombing again. What good is that? A permanent ceasefire is what is needed.

      Meanwhile the illegal Israeli settlers on the occupied West Bank have taken opportunity to shoot at and intimidate Palestinians to make them leave their land during the Hamas-induced military crackdown there. The IDF just look away.

      “Sam Stein is a Jewish peace activist from Long Island who has spent years working in the West Bank and has physically inserted himself between extremist settlers and Palestinians. He said that all the recent violence was “not random acts of hatred. Instead, he said, it is a “guided approach” to create “Jewish continuity” in the West Bank. Jewish settlers are aided in this project by the fact that they are allowed to carry weapons and Palestinian civilians are not. ”

      https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/02/world/middleeast/west-bank-palestinians-israel-settlers.html

      Reply
      • SPC 3.1.1
        21 November 2023 at 4:08 pm

        Meanwhile the illegal Israeli settlers on the occupied West Bank have taken opportunity to shoot at and intimidate Palestinians to make them leave their land during the Hamas-induced military crackdown there. The IDF just look away.

        It was already unofficial policy, it was formalised with the inclusion of a nationalist fascist group (created by Netanyahu for this purpose) in the latest government.

        The NSM a few years back now, when just an MK, walked into Hebron and attacked Arab street vendors while the IDF watched.

        He, the Finance Minister and Heritage Minister have become 3 impersonators of human beings (with power they have become gollums and are now the best ally of Hamas in their campaign to de-legitimise the state of Israel). Gantz made a mistake joining the unity government without requiring their removal.

        A permanent ceasefire is what is needed.

        They needed an offshore hospital ship off the coast and the ability to take people there weeks ago.

        They need(ed) to get the civilians out of Gaza City safely (provision of transport and times to do it safely).

        They need shelter, food and water (and medical supplies) in the south.

        The world should expect Hamas to return all the children and parents and the injured and old among the hostages as part of any 5 day cease-fire. Otherwise establish a means to verify the well-being of the other hostages.

        Reply
    • Ghostwhowalks 3.2
      21 November 2023 at 4:46 pm

      "Many nations designate Hamas a terrorist organisation and that includes New Zealand."

      False . A fundamental misunderstanding my friend

      A check of the NZ list of designated terrorist entries does NOT find Hamas listed at all

      what you will find is :

      Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades (IQB)

      Also known as the Military wing of Hamas, Ezzedeen Al-Qassam Brigades (EQB) or Izz al-Din Al-Qassem Brigades (IQB)

      Hamas or Islamic Resistance Movement (Ḥarakat al-Muqāwamah al-ʾIslāmiyyah) isnt designated at all

      https://www.police.govt.nz/advice/personal-community/counterterrorism/designated-entities/lists-associated-with-resolution-1373

      Reply
    • Wei 3.3
      21 November 2023 at 7:11 pm

      Many countries do not, including Russia, China, and Iran.

      In fact most countries do not.

      If Hamas is a terrorist organisation, so much more must be the US military and IDF.

      Reply
      • UncookedSelachimorpha 3.3.1
        22 November 2023 at 3:17 pm

        Bastions of international law and human rights, all. Their opinion on who is and isn't terrorist is worth very little, in my view.

        .

        Reply
  4. GreenBus 4
    21 November 2023 at 5:20 pm

    Who will step in to stop the IDF murdering civilians? Anyone? Lots of talk but no doey!

    Those aircraft carrier battle groups are there for a reason. To stop anyone interfering with

    the IDF slaughter of Palestine. Who's gonna step up? Nobody's keen to take on the USA.

    So once again the finger is pointed at the great satan, they can stop it by stopping the support provided to IDF.

    At least that's how I see it.

    Reply

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    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Giving Tuesday
    For the first time "in history" we decided to jump on the "Giving Tuesday" bandwagon in order to make you aware of the options you have to contribute to our work! Projects supported by Skeptical Science Inc. Skeptical Science Skeptical Science is an all-volunteer organization but ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • Let's open the books with Nicotine Willis
    Let’s say it’s 1984,and there's a dreary little nation at the bottom of the Pacific whose name rhymes with New Zealand,and they've just had an election.Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, will you look at the state of these books we’ve opened,cries the incoming government, will you look at all this mountain ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Climate Change: Stopping oil
    National is promising to bring back offshore oil and gas drilling. Naturally, the Greens have organised a petition campaign to try and stop them. You should sign it - every little bit helps, and as the struggle over mining conservation land showed, even National can be deterred if enough people ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • Don’t accept Human Rights Commission reading of data on Treaty partnership – read the survey fin...
    Wellington is braced for a “massive impact’ from the new government’s cutting public service jobs, The Post somewhat grimly reported today. Expectations of an economic and social jolt are based on the National-Act coalition agreement to cut public service numbers in each government agency in a cost-trimming exercise  “informed by” head ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • The stupidest of stupid reasons
    One of the threats in the National - ACT - NZ First coalition agreements was to extend the term of Parliament to four years, reducing our opportunities to throw a bad government out. The justification? Apparently, the government thinks "elections are expensive". This is the stupidest of stupid reasons for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • A website bereft of buzz
    Buzz from the Beehive The new government was being  sworn in, at time of writing , and when Point of Order checked the Beehive website for the latest ministerial statements and re-visit some of the old ones we drew a blank. We found ….  Nowt. Nothing. Zilch. Not a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • MICHAEL BASSETT: A new Ministry – at last
    Michael Bassett writes – Like most people, I was getting heartily sick of all the time being wasted over the coalition negotiations. During the first three weeks Winston grinned like a Cheshire cat, certain he’d be needed; Chris Luxon wasted time in lifting the phone to Winston ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Luxon's Breakfast.
    The Prime Minister elect had his silver fern badge on. He wore it to remind viewers he was supporting New Zealand, that was his team. Despite the fact it made him look like a concierge, or a welcomer in a Koru lounge. Anna Burns-Francis, the Breakfast presenter, asked if he ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • LINDSAY MITCHELL:  Oranga Tamariki faces major upheaval under coalition agreement
     Lindsay Mitchell writes – A hugely significant gain for ACT is somewhat camouflaged by legislative jargon. Under the heading ‘Oranga Tamariki’ ACT’s coalition agreement contains the following item:   Remove Section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 According to Oranga Tamariki:     “Section ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • BRIAN EASTON:  Peters as Minister
    A previous column looked at Winston Peters biographically. This one takes a closer look at his record as a minister, especially his policy record. Brian Easton writes – 1990-1991: Minister of Māori Affairs. Few remember Ka Awatea as a major document on the future of Māori policy; there is ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Cathrine Dyer's guide to watching COP 28 from the bottom of a warming planet
    Is COP28 largely smoke and mirrors and a plan so cunning, you could pin a tail on it and call it a weasel? Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: COP28 kicks off on November 30 and up for negotiation are issues like the role of fossil fuels in the energy transition, contributions to ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Top 10 news links at 10 am for Monday, Nov 27
    PM Elect Christopher Luxon was challenged this morning on whether he would sack Adrian Orr and Andrew Coster.TL;DR: Here’s my pick of top 10 news links elsewhere at 10 am on Monday November 27, including:Signs councils are putting planning and capital spending on hold, given a lack of clear guidance ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the new government’s policies of yesteryear
    This column expands on a Werewolf column published by Scoop on Friday Routinely, Winston Peters is described as the kingmaker who gets to decide when the centre right or the centre-left has a turn at running this country. He also plays a less heralded but equally important role as the ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    4 days ago

  • The New Government’s Agreements
    Last Friday, almost six weeks after election day, National finally came to an agreement with ACT and NZ First to form a government. They also released the agreements between each party and looking through them, here are the things I thought were the most interesting (and often concerning) from the. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    4 days ago

  • How many smokers will die to fund the tax cuts?
    Maori and Pasifika smoking rates are already over twice the ‘all adult’ rate. Now the revenue that generates will be used to fund National’s tax cuts. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The devil is always in the detail and it emerged over the weekend from the guts of the policy agreements National ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • How the culture will change in the Beehive
    Perhaps the biggest change that will come to the Beehive as the new government settles in will be a fundamental culture change. The era of endless consultation will be over. This looks like a government that knows what it wants to do, and that means it knows what outcomes ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago

  • No More Winnie Blues.
    So what do you think of the coalition’s decision to cancel Smokefree measures intended to stop young people, including an over representation of Māori, from taking up smoking? Enabling them to use the tax revenue to give other people a tax cut?David Cormack summed it up well:It seems not only ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #47
    A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science  Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Nov 19, 2023 thru Sat, Nov 25, 2023.  Story of the Week World stands on frontline of disaster at Cop28, says UN climate chief  Exclusive: Simon Stiell says leaders must ‘stop ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • Some of it is mad, some of it is bad and some of it is clearly the work of people who are dangerous ...
    On announcement morning my mate texted:Typical of this cut-price, fake-deal government to announce itself on Black Friday.What a deal. We lose Kim Hill, we gain an empty, jargonising prime minister, a belligerent conspiracist, and a heartless Ayn Rand fanboy. One door closes, another gets slammed repeatedly in your face.It seems pretty ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • “Revolution” is the threat as the Māori Party smarts at coalition government’s Treaty directi...
    Buzz from the Beehive Having found no fresh announcements on the government’s official website, Point of Order turned today to Scoop’s Latest Parliament Headlines  for its buzz. This provided us with evidence that the Māori Party has been soured by the the coalition agreement announced yesterday by the new PM. “Soured” ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • The Good, the Bad, and the even Worse.
    Yesterday the trio that will lead our country unveiled their vision for New Zealand.Seymour looking surprisingly statesmanlike, refusing to rise to barbs about his previous comments on Winston Peters. Almost as if they had just been slapstick for the crowd.Winston was mostly focussed on settling scores with the media, making ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • When it Comes to Palestine – Free Speech is Under Threat
    Hi,Thanks for getting amongst Mister Organ on digital — thanks to you, we hit the #1 doc spot on iTunes this week. This response goes a long way to helping us break even.I feel good about that. Other things — not so much.New Zealand finally has a new government, and ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago

  • Thank you Captain Luxon. Was that a landing, or were we shot down?
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.Also in More Than A FeildingFriday The unboxing And so this is Friday and what have we gone and done to ourselves?In the same way that a Christmas present can look lovely under the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago

  • Cans of Worms.
    “And there’ll be no shortage of ‘events’ to test Luxon’s political skills. David Seymour wants a referendum on the Treaty. Winston wants a Royal Commission of Inquiry into Labour’s handling of the Covid crisis. Talk about cans of worms!”LAURIE AND LES were very fond of their local. It was nothing ...
    Bowalley Road
    6 days ago

  • Disinformation campaigns are undermining democracy. Here’s how we can fight back
    This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Misinformation is debated everywhere and has justifiably sparked concerns. It can polarise the public, reduce health-protective behaviours such as mask wearing and vaccination, and erode trust in science. Much of misinformation is spread not ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • Peters as Minister
    A previous column looked at Winston Peters biographically. This one takes a closer look at his record as a minister, especially his policy record.1990-1991: Minister of Māori Affairs. Few remember Ka Awatea as a major document on the future of Māori policy; there is not even an entry in Wikipedia. ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    7 days ago

  • The New Government: 2023 Edition
    So New Zealand has a brand-spanking new right-wing government. Not just any new government either. A formal majority coalition, of the sort last seen in 1996-1998 (our governmental arrangements for the past quarter of a century have been varying flavours of minority coalition or single-party minority, with great emphasis ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    7 days ago

  • The unboxing
    And so this is Friday and what have we gone and done to ourselves?In the same way that a Christmas present can look lovely under the tree with its gold ribbon but can turn out to be nothing more than a big box holding a voucher for socks, so it ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    7 days ago

  • A cruel, vicious, nasty government
    So, after weeks of negotiations, we finally have a government, with a three-party cabinet and a time-sharing deputy PM arrangement. Newsroom's Marc Daalder has put the various coalition documents online, and I've been reading through them. A few things stand out: Luxon doesn't want to do any work, ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    7 days ago

  • Hurrah – we have a new government (National, ACT and New Zealand First commit “to deliver for al...
    Buzz from the Beehive Sorry, there has been  no fresh news on the government’s official website since the caretaker trade minister’s press statement about the European Parliament vote on the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement. But the capital is abuzz with news – and media comment is quickly flowing – after ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    7 days ago

  • Christopher Luxon – NZ PM #42.
    Nothing says strong and stable like having your government announcement delayed by a day because one of your deputies wants to remind everyone, but mostly you, who wears the trousers. It was all a bit embarrassing yesterday with the parties descending on Wellington before pulling out of proceedings. There are ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    7 days ago

  • Coalition Government details policies & ministers
    Winston Peters will be Deputy PM for the first half of the Coalition Government’s three-year term, with David Seymour being Deputy PM for the second half. Photo montage by Lynn Grieveson for The KākāTL;DR: PM-Elect Christopher Luxon has announced the formation of a joint National-ACT-NZ First coalition Government with a ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • “Old Coat” by Peter, Paul & Mary.
     THERE ARE SOME SONGS that seem to come from a place that is at once in and out of the world. Written by men and women who, for a brief moment, are granted access to that strange, collective compendium of human experience that comes from, and belongs to, all the ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago

  • Weekly Roundup 23-November-2023
    It’s Friday again! Maybe today we’ll finally have a government again. Roll into the weekend with some of the articles that caught our attention this week. And as always, feel free to add your links and observations in the comments. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 week ago

  • Geoffrey Miller: New Zealand’s strategy for COP28 in Dubai
    The COP28 countdown is on. Over 100 world leaders are expected to attend this year’s UN Climate Change Conference in in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which starts next Thursday. Among the VIPs confirmed for the Dubai summit are the UK’s Rishi Sunak and Brazil’s Lula da Silva – along ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    1 week ago

  • New Zealand welcomes European Parliament vote on the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement
    A significant milestone in ratifying the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was reached last night, with 524 of the 705 member European Parliament voting in favour to approve the agreement. “I’m delighted to hear of the successful vote to approve the NZ-EU FTA in the European Parliament overnight. This is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Further humanitarian support for Gaza, the West Bank and Israel
    The Government is contributing a further $5 million to support the response to urgent humanitarian needs in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel, bringing New Zealand’s total contribution to the humanitarian response so far to $10 million. “New Zealand is deeply saddened by the loss of civilian life and the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

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