The right wing death threat against Winston

Written By: - Date published: 10:44 am, July 1st, 2019 - 117 comments
Categories: Christchurch Attack, national, nz first, same old national, Simon Bridges, terrorism, winston peters - Tags:

There was some disturbing news from Newshub last night.

And it rolls back to right wing extremist groups, the anti UN migrant pact protests and the Christchurch Mosque murders.

From Patrick Gower at Newshub:

Newshub can reveal police are investigating death threats made to Winston Peters by a notorious white supremacist.

Peters says National leader Simon Bridges has aligned himself with the anti-immigrant cause and is calling for him to resign.

Many will know Philip Arps – the white power extremist known for delivering a pig’s head to Al Noor Mosque in 2016 and publicly calling for the killing of Muslims.

He was the first New Zealander jailed for sharing the video of the shootings there on March 15. Now Newshub has obtained video of him threatening to kill the Deputy Prime Minister.

In Christchurch – seven weeks before the shootings – far-right groups attended a protest against a United Nations pact on immigration our Government signed up to.

The protesters believe the pact is ‘binding’ – meaning our immigration policy would be set by the UN and opening us up to immigrants – and blamed Peters.

“F**king publicly hang him,” Arps can be seen saying, along with throat-slitting gestures.

Peters is blaming it on a fake news campaign by neo-Nazis in Europe.

“A bunch of neo-Nazis in Austria were behind this – and they are,” he told Newshub.

In particular, he’s blaming it on Martin Sellner, the leader of the “hipster far-right” in Europe called “the new face of the far-right in Europe”.

The background to the pact has received some attention.  It is a non binding pact that is attempting to improve the plight of migrants.  And the movement against it has come from the European far right.

National’s complicity in the hoax is well documented.  They chose to scaremonger about the content of the pact and even set up a website to harvest email addresses of those opposed to the Pact.  It was pulled down at the time of the Christchurch killings by someone the party characterised as an emotional junior staffer.  You get the strong impression that if it was not for him the web page would still be up now.

Peters is calling on Simon Bridges to stand down.  Again from Newshub:

It wasn’t just extremists like Arps who came out against the pact. The National Party did too.

“National, if in Government, will overturn this,” leader Simon Bridges said in one video. “We believe it will cede our sovereignty to the UN on migration and that just isn’t right.”

Just like Sellner, the National Party set up an online petition. But immediately after the mosque shooting, when one of the alleged gunman’s weapons had anti-UN pact messaging – it was pulled down.

Peters says there are too many connections to the far right – deliberate or not – for Bridges to continue as leader of the Opposition, and he’s calling on him to resign.

“I don’t just think that any normal person would, in a political setting, say this is untenable. He’s gotta go.”

Bridges is doubling down.

Bridges says he won’t be resigning and says he doesn’t condone any threats to politicians.

He says National would still pull out of the United Nations Global Migration Compact, which the US and Australia haven’t signed.

“Winston Peters is wrong. New Zealand should decide our immigration settings, not the UN,” he says.

Ugly times …

 

117 comments on “The right wing death threat against Winston ”

  1. SPC 1

    Trump's USA and the Kiwi persecuting government of Australia as National's fellow travellers on "immigration" settings, and of course also on … continuing to burn that coal.

  2. Kevin 2

    If Bridges doesn't get it, why the fuck is he the leader of a political party?

    By not 'getting it' he is condoning what those far right extremist groups are saying.

    • Shadrach 2.1

      Are you saying that being opposed to the UN inserting itself into domestic policy is somehow linked to being a 'far right extremist'? Funny if you are, because there are many on the left who also oppose the UN Migration pact.

      • Anne 2.1.1

        there are many on the left who also oppose the UN Migration pact.

        I suppose you are one of them. How come I'm not surprised. (sarc)

      • Kevin 2.1.2

        How exactly is the UN "inserting itself into domestic policy"?

        • Shadrach 2.1.2.1

          Once we have signed the migration pact, we are committed to it’s contents, even if only morally. There should be no outside influence on a sovereign nations ability to control it’s own immigration rules.

          • McFlock 2.1.2.1.1

            inorite? It really sucks that if we sign up to say we'll follow some principles, then we might look like dicks if we decide to not follow those principles.

            It's a gross outrage and violation of our independence that if we say we will do something, some people will think less of us if we don't do it!

            • Shadrach 2.1.2.1.1.1

              We wouldn't risk looking like dicks if we hadn't have signed up in the first place. We're actually quite capable of establishing our own principles BTW.

              • McFlock

                I love the train of what passes in your head for "thought": let's not commit to doing the absolute basics in relation to the administration of migration because when the next tory government decides it won't try to achieve those pathetic competencies we will look like dicks.

                You do realise that we already do pretty much everything in the paragraph16 list, right? That it's mostly stuff that only developing nations would have difficulty in implementing, if they are not already implementing it?

                • Shadrach

                  You seem to believe we are incapable of forming our own policy around the 'absolute basics' without recourse to the UN. I don't. I view the UN as corrupt and incompetent. We can make up our own policy, just like many other countries.

                  • McFlock

                    Your loathing of multilateral cooperation doesn't really address the point that we merely said we'd do what we pretty much already do.

                    • Shadrach

                      I have no problem with cooperation. I do have a problem when we are led into it by a corrupt organisation like the UN. We don't need them.

                    • McFlock

                      If we're already doing it, we're not being led into anything.

                      You think a resource-rich mid-size nation can go it alone internationally, playing one bunch of great powers off against the others without being squashed like a bug, rather than using the shelter of international diplomatic cooperation that at least nominally prohibits offensive wars. Fair enough, although it's noit a perspective I view as being stable in the medium term.

                      But to complain about a non-binding agreement to do what we were pretty much already doing? It's a negative-free decision that gets us international diplomatic points.

                      Mind you, I recall that before 9/11 the militia types were terrified of the UN, too. I guess that if one can’t comprehend non-transactional cooperation within a society, one might be terrified of diplomatic cooperation between multiple societies.

                    • Shadrach

                      "If we're already doing it…"

                      There is no point signing up to the pact.

                    • Incognito []

                      That’s one of the most compelling arguments I’ve heard so far. Please elaborate.

                    • Shadrach

                      "Please elaborate."

                      Sure. The argument from various individuals here is that the UN Migration Pact is a harmless, non-binding agreement, the essence of which we already follow. McFlock put it thus "we merely said we'd do what we pretty much already do". If that is indeed the case, why are we signing the UN Pact?

                      McFlock also said "It's a negative-free decision that gets us international diplomatic points". I would argue that the many nations who have NOT signed the Pact are more concerned with the interests of their local citizens than earning brownie points with international diplomats.

                    • Incognito []

                      I’d agree with McFlock. You seem to be oblivious to the powerful signal it sends when we formalise it; the symbolism is lost on you. Think of it as a couple who have been living together for a long time and then decide to get married. You’d throw your hands in the air saying: why bother?

                      I also love the way you frame it as if it is binary choice between looking after your own local citizens and ingratiating yourself with the international diplomatic community (whatever that is). Sounds like wrong equivalence too.

                      Migration is a global issue that needs to be tackled in a collective way. Pulling up the drawbridge is such a medieval response and completely inadequate for this day and age.

                    • McFlock

                      152 nations supported it and many are in the process of sugning it.

                      Those that refuse seem to have objections to even looking vaguely inclined towards providing basic services to migrants, working to restrict human trafficking, viewing migration as a right, and not detaining migrants where unnecessary.

                      Says it all, really.

                    • Shadrach

                      "…the symbolism is lost on you."

                      Oh so it's only symbolism? If we're already doing it, we're already engaging in that symbolism, surely?

                      "I also love the way you frame it as if it is binary choice between looking after your own local citizens and ingratiating yourself with the international diplomatic community (whatever that is). "

                      The international diplomatic angle came from McFlock. Take it up with him.

                      "Migration is a global issue that needs to be tackled in a collective way. "

                      You're showing your hand. Immigration is an issue for sovereign governments to determine, based on their own peoples wishes. Other wise we end up with the kind of disaster the EU have had to deal with.

                    • Shadrach

                      "Those that refuse seem to have objections to even looking vaguely inclined towards providing basic services to migrants, working to restrict human trafficking, viewing migration as a right, and not detaining migrants where unnecessary."

                      All that shows is that you knowledge of the objections being raised is rather, unsophisticated.

                    • Shadrach

                      "152 nations supported it and many are in the process of sugning it."

                      So? 41 countries either voted against, abstained or didn't vote. Since then, some of those countries have stated their opposition. In many of the countries that voted in favour, there is huge local opposition. Signing the pact brought down the Belgium government (https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/dispute-over-migration-brings-down-belgian-government-1.3736136). And in many of those countries the main opposition party is opposed to the pact (including Canada and Brazil).

                      The opposition to the Pact is far more broad based than you seem to understand. But really that isn’t the point. The UN should not get to involve themselves in any nations immigration policy. The disastrous EU experiment should have taught us all that.

                    • McFlock

                      The UN isn't involving itself. Countries are choosing to agree among themselves.That's how the UN works. Sovereign nations negotiate and make agreements.

                      Your loathing of the EU gives the game away though. Obviously you prefer a model of fluctuating alliances and constant conflict between sovereign nations, which ended up in world war.

                  • Marcus Morris

                    Wouldn't mind spending a little time on justifying that statement would you. I am profoundly grateful for the work of the UN and its unceasing endeavour of bringing social and economic justice to so much of the world.

          • Incognito 2.1.2.1.2

            You cannot force me to do what I will do anyway. You cannot force me to the right thing. You cannot force me to commit to a good cause. I will resist the force but do it anyway.

            Does any of that apply to your stance or does it make any sense to you? Because your comments make little sense to me. You seem to resist for the sake of it. Just the thought of outside influence appears to make your stress hormone levels rise. Are you sure to be safe reading TS?

            • Shadrach 2.1.2.1.2.1

              Resist? Resist what? I'm not in favour of signing up to any principles from a corrupt and impotent organisation like the UN. We can make our own rules, thanks.

              • observer

                That's not a view I agree with, but if you apply it to all cases then at least it's consistent.

                Point is, National don't agree with you. e.g. Key was happy to sign up to the UN Declaration on Indigenous Rights. In government National will invoke the UN when convenient.

                So it's not a good faith position. It's pandering, and doesn't deserve any respect, because he'll drop his position as soon as it becomes awkward (as shown by the case of the "emotional junior staffer").

                • Shadrach

                  No argument from me. I frankly don't give a rats whether National agree with me or not.

          • AB 2.1.2.1.3

            "should be no outside influence on a sovereign nations ability to control it's own immigration rules"

            Influence and control are different things. The UN pact seeks to influence sovereign states but does not affect in any way states' ability to make, break or change their own rules. What we have is a simple disagreement over the content of the pact. It's best just to say so, rather than dress your disagreement up in high-sounding concern about sovereignty.

            • Dennis Frank 2.1.2.1.3.1

              Human nature to resist coercion, but also human nature to coerce. frown

              The UN's plan seemed to be moral guidance via consensus. No problem with that, eh? Oz govt supports Trump in knee-jerk rejection of the herding, Simon tags along with that. The sovereignty argument they use is a straw man, since they are unable to back it with evidence – the pact itself declares no breach of sovereignty is included!

              You got it right. Just more game-playing by rightists silly enough to believe assertions with no basis in reality can win a propaganda war.

            • Shadrach 2.1.2.1.3.2

              My concern is about sovereignty. I've been in too many discussions in which people resort to the 'oh but we signed up to the (insert some UN agreement)' argument to justify behaviour and/or policy that is simply not in our best interests.

              • Dennis Frank

                I've written consistently against excessive immigration here in recent years. I see no reason to be paranoid about the UN initiative, but I share your concern about how it could be used as leverage to misinform the naive. Not sufficient reason to reject it, imo. People have to learn to sort out information from disinformation, and they do that from experience. Trying to prevent them getting that experience is nanny-state thinking (paternalism – or maternalism if you prefer)…

                • Shadrach

                  I just don't trust the UN generally. I'm certainly not opposed to immigration, but we're well capable of making our own rules.

              • AB

                Do you see other international organisations – say the IMF and World Bank – as similar threats to sovereignty? Or does your like/dislike of the ideological content of their pronouncements colour your perception of the degree of the threat? Lefty UN is a threat to sovereignty, neoliberal World Bank is just rational economic management? Most people are a mess of such inconsistencies – and I frequently catch myself out in such self-deceptions.

                • Shadrach

                  I'm suspicious of any international organisation that seeks to exert undue influence on sovereignty. I just happen to view the UN as more corrupt that most.

      • lprent 2.1.3

        You mean like those various other UN initiatives that we have signed in a similar fashion like not committing genocide or protecting children from abuse or outlawing slavery?

        FFS: are you a genocidal pedophile slaver, or wish to support them… Becaue that is what it sounds like you are defending against.

        • Shadrach 2.1.3.1

          So you don't you now the difference between committing genocide and setting an independent immigration policy?

          I’m heading to Eastern Europe in September. Hungary havn’t signed the pact. Are they run by paedophiles and people who have committed genocide? What about Austria (I’m popping in to Vienna while I’m in Slovakia)? Please let me know so I can rearrange my itinerary.

          • Dennis Frank 2.1.3.1.1

            While in Austria, make the identitarian connection. The head honcho seems fluent in English. "Just a week after the Christchurch attack, Austria’s Generation Identity group — known as Identitarian Movement Austria — held a protest against “The Great Replacement” in Vienna, calling for “remigration” and “de-Islamization.” https://www.politico.eu/article/who-are-europe-far-right-identitarians-austria-generation-identity-martin-sellner/

            "Sellner’s movement provides instructions for step-by-step far-right radicalization. It recommends leveraging widespread grievances related to free speech or gender equality as a starting point, before gradually introducing new recruits to identitarian ideologies: “You sow the soft redpill seeds and then you water them constantly. An honest question to start with, a news piece here, an email there, and in the evening an anecdote over beer.”"

            This collegial approach would only work on unformed minds. You'd be resistant, but you'd get better informed about how the subculture works. Think of it as political/anthropological tourism…

            • Shadrach 2.1.3.1.1.1

              I'll only be in Vienna for a day, sorry. I'm splitting a month between Hungary, Poland, Slovakia (including a day trip to Vienna) and the Czech Republic. I will be interested to see countries that have maintained an independent immigration policy have fared compared to those who have swallowed the UN and EU Koolaid and gone full monty.

              • Dennis Frank

                It will, I agree. Saw Gower interview Sellner in the lead story on 3News just before. He seems genuine, and surprised me by rejecting violence. Sent the shooter's donation to the Chch victims. Folks will have to start differentiating the violent alt-right from the non-violent. Sharing the same ideology is no excuse for conflating them when the only valid rationale for hate-speech law is incitement to violence…

                • Incognito

                  When he speaks kindly, do not believe him,

                  For there are seven abominations in his heart

                  • Dennis Frank

                    People read facial expressions, body language, and also decode choice of words used in messaging, as it happens. It rings true or false, and the ring bypasses the rational mind. What we now call emotional intelligence is an ancient survival skill, honed by evolution for millennia.

                    Still, a reality check of group messaging (internet & print publication) to ascertain advocacy of violence is essential.

                    If his movement passes that credibility test, then all those leftists conflating the various strands of the alt-right will lose leverage in the culture war. Fair-minded people will see that their condemnations are no more credible than those from anti-islamists, who conflate the religion with terrorism. Again I heard him oppose terrorism, this morning on RNZ to Corin Dann…

                    • Incognito

                      Still, a reality check of group messaging (internet & print publication) to ascertain advocacy of violence is essential.

                      Well, He may have converted to non-violence but not so long ago he was not practising what he preaches:

                      In February 2017, Sellner was involved in a fight in a Vienna U-Bahn station where he used pepper spray on people he described as far-left activists. Since this incident, he has been banned from carrying weapons.

                      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Sellner

                      I don’t think one can read people well by video-link or TV interview.

                      I was not condemning but expressing a healthy dose of scepticism and caution. Indeed, by (the results of) their actions they will be known to us.

          • lprent 2.1.3.1.2

            So you can't tell the difference between the locally non-binding resolutions of the UN and the ones we have already signed up for – many as long ago as during the last world war? Some were done with the League of Nations or even earlier.

            Our own laws against genocide were based around the UN non-binding agreements – perhaps you’d like to discuss why, as an example, why those particular they’re a step towards a world state. Try discussing why laws against gencode are a bad idea at the same time – and let everyone laugh at you (more than they already are).

            Only a complete illiterate would equate those kinds of non-binding agreements as being binding on the whole nation by the UN. Sure we may have locally enacted legislation to support them – the armed forces law comes to mind. But those are subject to parliament removing them.

            It usually comes with some penalty costs. If only with the disdain of countries who don’t like pedophiles or genocidal maniacs.

            If you're too lazy to look at the process then please don't bother trying to make up stupid lies here.

            • Shadrach 2.1.3.1.2.1

              I can absolutely tell the difference. But I don’t trust the UN the way you clearly do. And when did I claim the UN pact was binding?

              • lprent

                Once we have signed the migration pact, we are committed to it’s contents, even if only morally. There should be no outside influence on a sovereign nations ability to control it’s own immigration rules.

                There… Morally binding is just as binding as anything else.

                Now substitute genocide – like this.

                Once we have signed the anti-genocide pact, we are committed to it’s contents, even if only morally. There should be no outside influence on a sovereign nations ability to control it’s own genocides.

                If you look at the history of why there are things like refugee policies (for instance), you’ll find that they are directly related to previous genocide policies.

                • Shadrach

                  You know full well what I meant by 'morally' binding. We are morally bound by something we sign, but we are not legally bound.

                  I'm not arguing against signing an anti-genocide pact. So you're comparison is more than silly. Let's sign it, I'm sure all those committing mass genocide will really sit up and take notice!

                  • lprent

                    Of course I understand what you are trying to say. I'm telling you are a legally an idiot and even moment's thought will make you aware of why you are.

                    We already signed treaties, pacts, agreements, conventions and just about every other name for things like anti-genocide conventions (around 1949) along with many others about things like the Red Cross, rules of war, sexual abuse of children, racial discrimination, slavery, religious freedom, refugees, and multitude of other things. We have then put recognition for these in our internal laws.

                    There is a pretty comprehensive list on the UN site of international ratified conventions and agreements. Try reading it some time. It

                    • Won't bite and isn't even scary.
                    • Won't brainwash even your weak mind.
                    • Mostly is so old that only extreme psychopathic bigots still disagree. For everyone else it resembles common or natural law.

                    However regardless how much local law is enacted, there is no legal difference if parliament is sovereign and the 'crown' is pretty much completely unconstrained. That law supporting a convention or any agreement can theoretically be removed at any time. Provided either or both are willing to take the consequences – the same as just about every other thing we've signed up for.

                    The 'moral' argument is simply that once a country decides to sign up for something like any of these then they are expected to live up to them. That usually particularly applies to local citizens. I'd imagine that if I had a government that tried to repudiate the refugee or religious freedom policy (and just about every other one we have signed up for), that I'm likely to start rebelling against the gilead fuckwits.

                    So to me that you're jerking off on about 'moral' obligations just indicates to me that

                    1. You don't understand the basics of international law and how it applies to nation states; or
                    2. You don't understand what international law is for – and therefore are too dangerous to leave around these kinds of debates (just think of what really unconstrained warfare would be like) ; or
                    3. You don't actually have any argument about this particular convention and prefer lying about it as scare tactic; or
                    4. You are simply a parrot without a brain.

                    I'm leaning towards that last one.

                    [Your comment ended up in Auto-Moderation – Incognito]

                    • Shadrach

                      "We already signed treaties, pacts, agreements, conventions and just about every other name"

                      Yes but we're not discussing those, are we? We're discussing the UN Migration Pact.

                      "The 'moral' argument is simply that once a country decides to sign up for something like any of these then they are expected to live up to them."

                      That sounds rather like a binding commitment then? And yet you accused me of lying for saying it was morally binding.

                      "So to me that you're jerking off on about 'moral' obligations…"

                      I haven't done anything of the sort. And your contradicting yourself by asserting that and yet also asserting we have a moral obligation. The sign of someone really struggling to put a coherent response together.

            • Shadrach 2.1.3.1.2.2

              "If only with the disdain of countries who don’t like pedophiles or genocidal maniacs."

              There you go again! Look down the list of countries that didn't sign the UN Migration Pact. How many are run by people who support pedophiles or genocidal maniacs? Perhaps you should compare then with some of the countries who are on the UNHCR, like Algeria, or China, or Somalia.

              • lprent

                How many didn't eventually sign up for the anti-genocide convention? currently South Sudan (I think) – brand new nation.

                How many didn't eventually sign up for the anti-pedophile conventions? 2

                https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laws_regarding_child_sexual_abuse

                As of December 2014, 195 countries have ratified the Convention, including every member of the United Nations except the United States and South Sudan.[5][6]

                Sometimes you have to wonder about a overtly 'christian' country when you look at Alabama and that they are really the solitary holdout against basic child abuse. I guess that is why they lead the western world in missing children.

                If you would actually learn to read relevant material (rather than the intellectual equivalent of Putin’s PR puppets), you’d find that typically every international convention takes decades to get ratified worldwide. That is because international conventions are usually pretty low on national legislative programs.

                So your argument has no credibility unless you can show active decisions to not ratify

                • Shadrach

                  "How many didn't eventually sign up for the anti-genocide convention?"

                  Who gives a shit? That's my point. YOU started making some kind of wild comparison between not signing an immigration pact and pedophilia and genocide. Not my problem you went down that particular dead end.

                  • lprent

                    As I said – you clearly didn't understand the existing conventions that we have signed up for. I can't see how this one is in any way different. It just establishes the same kinds of protections that we have signed up for about genocide and pedophiles.

                    I really can't explain why you feel the need to attack exactly the same kind of international convention. While claiming some kind of moral/legal issue that didn’t happen with those conventions. It seems like the act of a hypocrite. Full of false equivalences.

                    Simple stupidity? Or you are just an unthinking parrot too lazy to do some reading?

                    • Shadrach

                      It seems you simply cannot understand the difference between signing up to an agreement about pedophiles and genocide and a pact in which the UN is attempting to insert itself into sovereign nations immigration policy.

                      So you take the lazy way out and accuse people you disagree with of being stupid. It really is a broken record.

                    • lprent

                      I guess that you are too stupid to get the point. You haven't shown why that it is any different.

                      I can't see any reason why this agreement is any different to previous agreements that governments have ratified and supported. How is setting some rules about migration any different to accepting rules about the conduct of war or treatment of refugees or how to discrimination against pedophiles or working against genocide.

                      Simply asserting that it is different without explanation is simply the action of a dumb fool or someone who is too gutless or lazy to explain why they think it is different.

                      Personally I'm now coming to the conclusion that you're simply ashamed of your reasons – a touch of racial bigotry perhaps.

              • michelle

                yes we are still waiting for our Tino rangatiratanga Shadrach

    • woodart 2.2

      bridges will bark at every passing car, and try and climb on every passing bus, its all about getting clicks. if trump has taught us anything, its how to generate headlines, and bridges is desperate for them…

  3. Dennis Frank 3

    Alt-right paranoia derives from perception that immigrants pollute culture (rather than enrich it). Separatism rather than integration. Yet escalation into violence is in proportion to the reality of any threat. If immigration permits islamic violence to enter here, they get traction. No evidence of this happening, so no traction.

    The call from Arps ought to trigger a response from the state. I'm waiting. Recycling the shooter's video is small potatoes compared to threatening to kill the deputy PM. No point having hate speech laws if you keep refusing to use them, eh? Proof of incitement to violence seems evident. Govt must act on it.

  4. Enough is Enough 4

    Peters asking for someone else to resign in connection with anti immigration rhetoric is irony in the extreme.

    He has made a career out of demonising Asian and Muslim immigrants.

    I can't believe Paddy let him away with this and did not throw some of his own quotes back at him.

    • Shadrach 4.1

      Yes the irony is rich on this one.

    • mickysavage 4.2

      Maybe it is the Jacinda effect and he is a more tolerant caring person now?

    • Chris T 4.3

      Indeed

      It is actually hilarious

    • Gosman 4.4

      It is beyond hilarious. It is like we have passed through in to some alternative universe. Next he will come out against the alcohol and racing industries,

      • Peter 4.4.1

        I saw the thing on TV with a strange person holding a New Zealand flag yelling all sorts of things.

        It takes all types to make a world. Including a mass who don't think there's something awful about a person performing as the guy was.

      • reason 4.4.2

        He says National would still pull out of the United Nations Global Migration Compact, which the US and Australia haven’t signed.

        How many refugees have those fuckers created …. since they invaded Iraq … a decade and a half ago

        The usa alone has used over 100000 bombs and missiles in Iraq and Syria since 2014 …

        Similarly, many of the refugees come from Afghanistan and Iraq, two countries still being devastated by US wars of aggression.

        Dem bloody democrats … and hillary War Criminal clinton …

        "So in late 2011 there is an internal document called the Libya Tick Tock that was produced for Hillary Clinton, and it's the chronological description of how she was the central figure in the destruction of the Libyan state, which resulted in around 40,000 deaths within Libya; jihadists moved in, ISIS moved in, leading to the European refugee and migrant crisis.

        Not only did you have people fleeing Libya, people fleeing Syria, the destabilisation of other African countries as a result of arms flows, but the Libyan state itself was no longer able to control the movement of people through it."

        Clinton shared responsibility for massively de-stabilising the Middle East, which led to the death, suffering and flight of thousands of women, men and children.

        http://johnpilger.com/articles/clinton-assange-and-the-war-on-truth

        the struggle to maintain European ‘civilization’ against the barbaric hordes of uncivilized brown-skinned invaders arriving as a “swarm,” to borrow the unintentionally honest expression used by British Prime Minister David Cameron to describe the refugees. This is of course the neocolonial, supremacist position espoused most vocally by the far right throughout Europe, from Marine Le Pen and the Front National in France, to Hungary’s conservative Prime Minister Viktor Orban whose heavy-handed tactics – building fences, mobilizing troops and the unemployed, convicts, and fascists of various stripes – to block the refugee influx, have been both praised and condemned by various elements in Europe.

        https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2018/06/25/how-the-u-s-under-obama-created-europes-refugee-crisis/

        https://www.counterpunch.org/2015/09/25/the-refugee-crisis-separating-the-conspiracies-from-the-conspiracy/

        the media removes the refugees from their politico-historical context, transforming them into so-called “migrants” – an elusive term designed to obscure the reality of who these people are, and why they’re desperately trying to get into Europe – as if they’re simply poor people looking for work, rather than victims of imperialism looking to protect their families and escape wars and destabilizations initiated by the West.

        https://consortiumnews.com/2018/04/25/how-many-millions-have-been-killed-in-americas-post-9-11-wars-part-3-libya-syria-somalia-and-yemen/

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dj71ywmuOY

    • SHG 4.5

      Only Winston has the balls to run on anti-immigrant rhetoric his whole career and then complain that someone else is aligned with the anti-immigrant cause.

      Tune in tomorrow for when Winston accuses National of pandering to the grey power vote.

    • Muttonbird 5.1

      As I said this morning:

      This isn't a coincidental one-off nutter threatening a politician. It's him, and the Christchurch Australian murderer, the alt-right, Southern and Molyneux, Jordan Peterson and the incels, and Sellner and his fake news identarian crowd.

      https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-30-06-2019/#comment-1633053

      The two threats against John Key were individual people with mental health problems and with single issue grievances.

      The Irish threat maker and Arps are part of a well established global extreme right collective which Bridges seems quite happy to rub shoulders with…for votes.

      • Puckish Rogue 5.1.1

        Should lump Jordan Peterson in with the alt-right considering how much he's against the alt-right (and alt-left for that matter)

  5. observer 6

    There are several degrees of separation between Bridges and the neo-Nazi making death threats, so linking the two is drawing a very long bow.

    But I'd reflect on something else. The video shows a man in a public place, in full public view, repeatedly calling for another man's murder, with both his words and his actions.

    Now run that video again in your head, but this time make the speaker a Muslim. Then imagine the reaction – from media, public, politicians, and so on.

    It wouldn't just be news. It would be the news, dominating all media and a thousand angry talkback calls. Far more than the Arps story (so far). And the biggest victims would not be politicians.

    • Jenny - How to Get there? 6.1

      observer 6

      1 July 2019 at 1:50 pm

      Now run that video again in your head, but this time make the speaker a Muslim. Then imagine the reaction – from media, public, politicians, and so on.

      You don't have to imagine it, we know exactly what would have happened if for instance that speaker had been Tuhoe.

      The police went to great lengths to tap his private phone conversations in an extraordinary effort to catch Tama Iti out saying such things, so that they could charge him as a terrorist. And came up with nothing.

      But what if the police had managed to get a wire tapped recording of Tama Iti or other Tuhoe making the sorts of threats against politicians that these fascists have?

      We would never have heard the end of it.

      Police would have illegally leaked whatever they had to media. (which the police actually did at the time, even though they actually had nothing, but innuendo and gossip, to leak.)

      After a public media lynching, Iti instead of being tried and convicted of relatively minor fire arms charges, Iti would have been tried as the police were angling for, as a terrorist.

      If Tama Iti can be charged as a terrorist under the Suppression of Terrorism Act, on the mere suspicion of having said something like this, why haven't these fascists not been charged under the Suppression of Terrorism Act.

      If the Suppression of Terrorism Act cannot be used against white supremacist extremists until after they actually commit a terrorist act. what actual use is it?

      • Incognito 6.1.1

        What-if?

        If Tama Iti [sic] can be charged as a terrorist under the Suppression of Terrorism Act, on the mere suspicion of having said something like this, why haven't these fascists not been charged under the Suppression of Terrorism Act.

        You continue with this false framing of equivalence of something that did not actually happen.

        Nobody will ever be convicted of any crime “on the mere suspicion” because the standard required is “beyond reasonable doubt”.

        Please provide a link that Tame Iti or any of the Tūhoe Māori activists was charged under the Suppression of Terrorism Act.

        • lprent 6.1.1.1

          Short answer was that no-one in that operation was. The solicitor general stated that it didn't apply.

          The rogue police unit doing those operations had used that act when applying for warrants – which even the broad scope of which was exceeded and eventually repudiated by the courts (and evidence gained unlawfully was removed to the cases).

          That act is notoriously hard to use. I think that the dimwit from Australia is going to be the test case that makes it to court.

          • Incognito 6.1.1.1.1

            Thanks for confirming that and I hope Jenny is not only listening and actually hearing. Her comments on this are becoming a tad tedious.

          • Jenny - How to Get there? 6.1.1.1.2

            Leaked evidence controversy
            [edit]

            In November 2007, The Dominion Post published a front-page story "The terrorism files", including a photograph of an AOS officer with a gun, and an extract from the tapes: "'Get someone to assassinate the prime minister . . . just drop a bomb.", a story based on a copy of the police evidence affidavit, including their surveillance transcripts – material which was all covered by a judge's suppression order.[57][58]

            “The rogue police unit doing those operations…..”

            That a rogue police unit could call up a paramilitary operation involving hundreds of officers is beyond credibility. Only very high ranking officers with seniority and authority could have ordered such an operation.

            The 'rogue police unit' also broke the law to release a partial unsubstantiated 'extract' of an alleged wire tapped phone conversation between an unidentified individual and another unidentified individual threatening to bomb the Prime Minister.

            None of this so called 'rogue police unit' were ever disciplined or demoted for their illegal acts. So I think that it is safe to presume that they are still operating in the police and at the highest levels.

            Amazing how circumspect these same law breaking senior police officers are when it comes to white supremacists and fascists threatening acts of violence.

            Have the police learnt their lesson, as some here have suggested?

            Or is it that they are more fixated on Maori, or other dark skinned people.

            The kid glove treatment of violent racists and fascists, and the high arrest, conviction and imprisonment of Maori, compared to white New Zealanders would suggest the latter.

            “That act is notoriously hard to use. I think that the dimwit from Australia is going to be the test case that makes it to court.”

            If the Act is notoriously hard to use (against white people), even after they have committed acts of terrorism. then what practical use is it? (other than to be used to intimidate and demonise Maori, or any other minority the police take a dislike to).

            • gsays 6.1.1.1.2.1

              I, for one, do not find your observations "tedious" Jenny.

              The TSA, while hard to use (I don't know about notorious, tried and 'failed' once), was used and did what the state wanted it to do. Put those uppity Maori in their place.

              Well done on highlighting the common police practice of making statements early in the investigation that cast the perp in bad light, or leaking selective evidence.

              As to the complexity of the Act, Judith Collins criticised it when Justice Minister. The Law Commission started reviewing it and Minister Collins shut that down. Probably because of the further bad light it would shine on the GCSB, Key/Dotcom/Warners.

              But apparently, nothing to see here folks. Move along.

            • lprent 6.1.1.1.2.2

              The problem with the police is that they aren't a particularly hierarchical organization. They retain a the structure of regional militias who cooperate with relatively little higher level oversight. The problem is that that cooperation is based around the legal system, and that is pretty flawed when it comes to search warrants.

              If a search warrant is obtained, regardless of how daft or stupid the basis is, it usually gets granted by court registrars and acted on without significiant thought. Whoever gets it, asks for and is usually given cooperation by supporting forces, without sufficient attention to the detail of the allegations and without usually looking at the documentation that obtained them. Looking too closely would usually indicate a lack of trust and expose them to critical thought.

              The number of times that the basis that search warrants have been overturned or implicitly reprimanded by reviews and higher courts is pretty high and as far as I can tell – still increasing.

              In this case it was triggered by a group in Onehunga, who appeared to be bored shitless and looking for something to do after the flurry of post-911 activity. There simply isn't that much for them to do in NZ.

              A few years previously they'd been focusing on outright innocuous animal right activists (including my niece) with roughly the same kinds of mindless and outright moronic tactics.

              They'd been getting woven deeper into the post-911 paranoid security apparatus. They had mana amongst them… So when they invented their own little conspiracy to target and proceed to look for and find circumstantial evidence – most of which had obvious alternate explanations that they didn't bother to look at….

              Well a complete screw up ensued.

              But really you shouldn't follow their example and invent conspiracies where a simple fuckup is all that is required to explain blind stupidity. That is always Occam's razors favourite result.

  6. Ad 7

    The Deputy Prime Minister would take some pleasure turning this threat into a submission to the Christchurch Massacre Royal Commission.

    He would not hold back and would be outstanding tv news.

  7. infused 8

    Conflating two different issues to try and push an agenda. Simon is right to tell Peters to get lost.

    • Michael 8.1

      Bullshit. Neo-Nazi death threats against our Deputy Prime Minister are a direct result of dog-whistling by opportunistic right-wing politicians here in NZ.

      • infused 8.1.1

        What utter bullshit. It’s just another excuse to shut down discussion/debate by the left.

        Why do you think there is a big backlash at the moment around free speech etc? because of this sort of nonsense.

        • McFlock 8.1.1.1

          Massive cakes of moist, fetid bullshit.

          The "big backlash" is restricted to white-supremacist-esque fuckwits and the right wing politicians who want the votes of white-supremacist-esque fuckwits.

          The only "discussion/debate" any normal person wants to "shut down" is the histrionic fearmongering and outright lies that end up being regurgitated in the deranged rants of white-supremacist-esque mass murderers.

      • michelle 8.1.2

        yes the very desperate national are feeding the fire cause they are soooo desperate

    • Dennis Frank 8.2

      Simon is already lost, so he must want company. Told us kiwis are threatened by the UN pact due to it attempting to remove our sovereignty. Anyone capable of doing a reality check knows that's crap. From the Wikipedia page:

      "The draft agreement recognises the principles of national sovereignty:

      "The Global Compact reaffirms the sovereign right of States to determine their national migration policy and their prerogative to govern migration within their jurisdiction, in conformity with international law. Within their sovereign jurisdiction, States may distinguish between regular and irregular migration status, including as they determine their legislative and policy measures for the implementation of the Global Compact, taking into account different national realities, policies, priorities and requirements for entry, residence and work, in accordance with international law."

  8. Observer Tokoroa 9

    ObserverTokoroa 14

    1 July 2019 at 8:09 am

    "Peters says there are too many connections to the far right .."

    'The far Right" is a cuddily phrase for 'The Worldwide political Murderers'

    No one of right mind should be tied up with poltical Murderers, and National here must get in and clean their shit up immediately!

    It is strange that National ratbags, according to recent reports (which I have lost track of) continue to have access to Goverment Papers without due process or permission. It will not be a problem if I am wrong. Will it Simon Bridges ?

    But I sincerely think there should be be a determined effort by our Parliamentary Security Bodies to Rip through National and report on their connections with far right Groups and their access to Government Information. Also Report on whether our Security Staff knew in advance of the Slug into Winston Peters.

    For Instance, and In brief, who got a far right missile into Winston Peters – as Reported by Journalist Paddy Gower. just several Hrs ago. Peters is being monitored very effectively by exceedingly evil Far Right Murderers.

    But not unfortunately, by Our Security Staff, and Police. I wonder why !

  9. Ken 10

    A large proportion of these nutters will be the same people who want to be able to own military style automatic weapons.

    • cleangreen 10.1

      The right are gearing up for another fight against the imigrant issue as it makes good fodder for the neo-nazis again.

      To shore up their popular vote.

      Europe is a deep civilisation stepped in fighting invaders from the birth of Christ.

      This is the norm over there, 'but dont' bring their problems to our shores' should be the logic here.

      • Incognito 10.1.1

        This is the norm over there, 'but dont' bring their problems to our shores' should be the logic here.

        With all due respect, that would be terribly flawed logic.

  10. JohnSelway 11

    Just as a aside I think you'd be pretty hard press to find a major MP like Peters who hasn't received a death threat. Seems par for the course

    • observer 11.1

      That's absolutely true – from online anonymous trolls or foam-flecked letters in green ink, no return address.

      But as pointed out above, this was a public name and face, in a public place, a known business owner and somebody with a history of behaviour, not only drunken boasts in the bar. So it's really not the usual "par for the course".

  11. Incognito 12

    According to Bridges and the National Party, the UN Pact essentially is a binding threat to our sovereignty. This view they have in common with the far-right extremists. However, they have done very little to distance and differentiate themselves from the extremists. This then becomes a mutually validating positive feedback loop. Unfortunately, Bridges and National are not willing or capable to put nuance into the debate about migration.

    Migration has always been a polarising issue and it is no different here in NZ. This is not just an issue of scale because similar xenophobia and fearmongering surrounds moves to increase the numbers of international refugees despite these numbers being pathetically low.

    Of course, Bridges or National do not condone death threats, but in reality that is a distraction, a side issue, from the much bigger issue that is migration. National has form in getting others to do the dirty work for them and keep their hands pretty clean. Sadly, Winston Peters is not steering the debate in the right direction either as he is also prone to populism and political grandstanding.

    At the same time, there is no narrative coming from the left either, there is no moral or political leadership anywhere in sight (possibly with one notable exception). Many New Zealanders have concerns about migration, for example. These voices have no forum or representation in an environment dominated by two extreme poles. The pathetically weak Opposition leaves the door wide open to extremism. By not channelling voters’ concerns they are complacent and by not acting against extremism they become complicit (analogous to lying by omission). To me, populism is a milder form of ‘political terrorism’ where fuelling fear and propaganda are the main weapons tools.

    All this can be described as a major failure of our politicians and political parties. The lives lost of 51 people should be a wakeup call but instead (some) politicians and media double down and dig in for more polarisation and radicalisation. Because it suits them and/or because they seem to be out of their depth to change it.

  12. Fireblade 13

    "Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says the National Party's campaign against New Zealand signing a UN pact on migration was irresponsible and built on misinformation".

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/113910670/pm-national-campaign-over-un-pact-irresponsible-and-built-on-misinformation

  13. CHCoff 14

    Bridges wants the UN to excel to the standard of J. Key; that's understandable, his mentor and predecessor, who himself had rebuffed the UN and told it to 'step it on up' or something at his last UN address.

    But these things take time, i'm sure the UN hasn't forgotten, and is trying it's best.

  14. Observer Tokoroa 15

    The Rightside and the Shameside

    Like a perfect Selfie – National are showing their dirty colours daily. They are currently condoning and assisting the "Far Right Supremacy of Wealthy Sadists" that roam the World hoping to Murder normal persons.

    Why has National recruited over numerous years, the dirtiest, most lazy, sadistic group of people in this land as their Political Monstsrosity? They have less brain than dying rabbit.

    They own great wealth, they do not reveal their stolen Wealth by manipulating Tax; They despise the people who do the Work in NZ. They force the Land Lords to make lowly people pay exorbitant rents for slum results. Unbelievable.

    They have not lifted the economy of NZ one iota ever! They have fattened their Bottoms. For none of them go Hungry. Food is dearer than ever during their miserable dirty occupancy. Housing hardly exists. Every poor person is taxed in New Zealand. Thanks National !

    They are the promoters Of lethal Rapid Fire Murderer Guns. Rebelious bastards. They have all but failed with their Fletchers Constructions. Their Fonterra is hanging by a thread. Puffing coal throughout the air.

    They have built up the Casino – for Sir John Ratbag Key. And shat on the Poor.

    They built up Lethal Diseased Cattle. They have polluted every stream and River in New Zealand.

    They have done exactly what the Herald wants of them. Misled – Misled – Misled.

    By The Gods above – lets get Rid of them ! Now

    • Jimmy 15.1

      Wow OT, do you really believe all that stuff?

    • cleangreen 15.2

      Jimmy do you think and sun shines out of National's backside then do you?
      “Wow OT, do you really believe all that stuff”?

  15. Jenny - How to Get there? 16

    Newshub can reveal police are investigating death threats made to Winston Peters by a notorious white supremacist…..

    Why this "notorious white supremacist" [Phillip Arps] has not been charged under the Suppression of Terrorism Act is beyond me.

    White privilege perhaps?

    • Incognito 16.1

      It is crystal clear why it is beyond you: you are wedded to your own biased and binary views. You ignore comments here that do not confirm your views.

    • Dennis Frank 16.2

      The report says the police are investigating, so they haven't reached the moment of decision as to charge or not. You know how lawyers operate, eh? Take forever to figure anything out. That's why the justice system always produces results years later, when everyone has forgotten the crime…

      • Grant 16.2.1

        "Transportation for life" was the sentence it gave,

        "And then to be fined forty pound."

        The Jury all cheered, though the Judge said he feared

        That the phrase was not legally sound.

        But their wild exultation was suddenly checked

        When the jailer informed them, with tears,

        Such a sentence would have not the slightest effect,

        As the pig had been dead for some years.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Bishop scores headlines with crackdown on unwelcome tenants – but Peters scores, too, as tub-thump...
    Buzz from the Beehive Housing Minister Chris Bishop delivered news – packed with the ingredients to enflame political passions – worthy of supplanting Winston Peters in headline writers’ priorities. He popped up at the post-Cabinet press conference to promise a crackdown on unruly and antisocial state housing tenants. His ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 hour ago
  • Will it make the boat go faster?
    Ele Ludemann writes – The Reserve Bank is advertising for a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion advisor. The Bank has one mandate – to keep inflation between one and three percent. It has failed in that and is only slowly getting inflation back down to the upper limit. Will it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi The fact that a ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    5 hours ago
  • Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Bryce Edwards writes – Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 hours ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' at 10:10am on Tuesday, March 19
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Gavin Jacobson talks to Thomas Piketty 10 years on from Capital in the 21st Century The SalvoLocal scoop: Green MP’s business being investigated over migrant exploitation claims Stuff Steve KilgallonLocal deep-dive: The commercial contractors making money from School ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 hours ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things on Tuesday, March 19
    It’s a home - but Kāinga Ora tenants accused of “abusing the privilege” may lose it. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Government announced a crackdown on Kāinga Ora tenants who were unruly and/or behind on their rent, with Housing Minister Chris Bishop saying a place in a state ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 hours ago
  • New Life for Light Rail
    This is a guest post by Connor Sharp of Surface Light Rail  Light rail in Auckland: A way forward sooner than you think With the coup de grâce of Auckland Light Rail (ALR) earlier this year, and the shift of the government’s priorities to roads, roads, and more roads, it ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    7 hours ago
  • Why Are Bosses Nearly All Buffoons?
    Note: As a paid-up Webworm member, I’ve recorded this Webworm as a mini-podcast for you as well. Some of you said you liked this option - so I aim to provide it when I get a chance to record! Read more ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    9 hours ago
  • Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6.06 pm on March 18
    TL;DR: In my ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Monday, March 18:IKEA is accused of planting big forests in New Zealand to green-wash; REDD-MonitorA City for People takes a well-deserved victory lap over Wellington’s pro-YIMBY District Plan votes; A City for PeopleSteven Anastasiou takes a close look at the sticky ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    21 hours ago
  • Peters holds his ground on co-governance, but Willis wriggles on those tax cuts and SNA suspension l...
    Buzz from the Beehive Here’s hoping for a lively post-cabinet press conference when the PM and – perhaps – some of his ministers tell us what was discussed at their meeting today. Until then, Point of Order has precious little Beehive news to report after its latest monitoring of the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • Labour’s final report card
    David Farrar writes –  We now have almost all 2023 data in, which has allowed me to update my annual table of how  went against its promises. This is basically their final report card. The promise The result Build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • “Drunk Uncle at a Wedding”
    I’m a bit worried that I’ve started a previous newsletter with the words “just when you think they couldn’t get any worse…” Seems lately that I could begin pretty much every issue with that opening. Such is the nature of our coalition government that they seem to be outdoing each ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Geoffrey Miller writes – Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on Dune 2, and images of Islam
    Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture ...
    1 day ago
  • New Rail Operations Centre Promises Better Train Services
    Last week Transport Minster Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre. The new train control centre will see teams from KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Auckland One Rail working more closely together to improve train services across the city. The Auckland Rail Operations Centre in ...
    1 day ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things at 6.36am on Monday, March 18
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in an exit interview with Q+A yesterday the Government can and should sustain more debt to invest in infrastructure for future generations. Elsewhere in the news in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 6:36am: Read more ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than just a happy ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    1 day ago
  • The Kaka’s diary for the week to March 25 and beyond
    TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Bitter and angry; Winston First
    New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    1 day ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    1 day ago
  • Out of Touch.
    “I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The bewildering world of Chris Luxon – Guns for all, not no lunch for kids
    .“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    3 days ago
  • Expert Opinion: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
    3 days ago
  • Manufacturing The Truth.
    Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet –  is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
    3 days ago
  • A Powerful Sensation of Déjà Vu.
    Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
    3 days ago
  • Can you guess where world attention is focussed (according to Greenpeace)? It’s focussed on an EPA...
    Bob Edlin writes –  And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Further integrity problems for the Greens in suspending MP Darleen Tana
    Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Greens’ transparency missing in action
    For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    4 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    5 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    5 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • There’s a name for this
    Every year, in the Budget, Parliament forks out money to government agencies to do certain things. And every year, as part of the annual review cycle, those agencies are meant to report on whether they have done the things Parliament gave them that money for. Agencies which consistently fail to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Echoes of 1968 in 2024?  Pocock on the repetitive problems of the New Left
    Mike Grimshaw writes – Recent events in American universities point to an underlying crisis of coherent thinking, an issue that increasingly affects the progressive left across the Western world. This of course is nothing new as anyone who can either remember or has read of the late ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Two bar blues
    The thing about life’s little victories is that they can be followed by a defeat.Reader Darryl told me on Monday night:Test again Dave. My “head cold” last week became COVID within 24 hours, and is still with me. I hear the new variants take a bit longer to show up ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 13
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Angus Deaton on rethinking his economics IMFLocal scoop: The people behind Tamarind, the firm that left a $500m cleanup bill for taxpayers at Taranaki’s Tui oil well, are back operating in Taranaki under a different company name. Jonathan ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • AT Need To Lift Their Game
    Normally when we talk about accessing public transport it’s about improving how easy it is to get to, such as how easy is it to cross roads in a station/stop’s walking catchment, is it possible to cycle to safely, do bus connections work, or even if are there new routes/connections ...
    6 days ago
  • Christopher's Whopper.
    Politicians are not renowned for telling the truth. Some tell us things that are verifiably not true. They offer statements that omit critical pieces of information. Gloss over risks, preferring to offer the best case scenario.Some not truths are quite small, others amusing in their transparency. There are those repeated ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago
  • Funding hole for tax cuts growing by the day
    The pressure is mounting on the Government as it finalises its Budget Policy Statement, but yet more predicted revenue ‘goes missing’. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Climate Commission has delivered another funding blow to the National-ACT-NZ First coalition Government’s tax-cutting plans, potentially carving $1.4 billion off the ‘climate ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Luxon’s brave climate change promise
    The Government now faces the prospect of having to watch another tax raise the price of petrol when, only six days ago, it abolished the Auckland Regional Fuel tax. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon argued that the regional fuel tax imposed costs on lower-income people with less fuel-efficient vehicles  and that ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago

  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
    Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024.  “Lower fruit and vege ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government backs rural led catchment projects
    The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction.   Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
    Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government lowering building costs
    The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Trustee tax change welcomed
    Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister’s Ramadan message
    Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness.  It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister appoints new NZTA Chair
    Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
    Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology.  It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Progress continues apace on water storage
    Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government agrees to restore interest deductions
    Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
    Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity
    This year’s Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity and the contribution of Pacific communities to New Zealand culture, says Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti.  Dr Reti announced dates for the 2024 Pacific Language Weeks during a visit to the Pasifika festival in Auckland today and says there’s so ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-03-19T02:08:10+00:00