The Todd Barclay debacle enters the sixth day of the news cycle

Written By: - Date published: 8:34 am, June 26th, 2017 - 61 comments
Categories: bill english, Media, national, national/act government, same old national, spin, the praiseworthy and the pitiful, you couldn't make this shit up - Tags: ,

This is really bad news for National.

The Todd Barclay story has entered into its sixth day of media coverage.

And Bill English is no John Key.  He is struggling to deal with the matter.

For evidence have a look at this Q&A interview between English and  Corryn Dann.  Or this interview between English and Paddy Gower on the Nation.

English looked extraordinarily uncomfortable.  Both times.  He must have had a hell of a weekend.

Part way through the Dann interview he relies on a defence of proof beyond reasonable doubt.  Memo to Bill, Members of Parliament should be upstanding conscientious law abiding members of our community.  If they do things and then refuse to speak to the police even though there are serious questions for them to answer then this is not a good look.  This is why the Todd Barclay story is in its sixth day of media analysis.

And English has brought this all onto himself.

Over the past six days he has:

  • said he could not recall who told him about the Barclay tape recording,
  • recalls that he told police that Barclay had told him that he [Barclay] had made the tape recording,
  • claimed that he reported the matter to the police,
  • agreed that he did not report the matter to the police,
  • thought that Barclay had the right to remain silent,
  • wondered if it was an offence to tape someone without their permission,
  • did not recall that he and John Key had sought to have others prosecuted for doing exactly that,
  • confirmed that Barclay should cooperate with police,
  • suggested that there may not be a tape,
  • remembered that Barclay offered to play him the tape.

And the National Party conference?  The chance to present a happy face and new policies and show that National should be trusted again with the reigns of power.  All blown.  Nothing to show for it.  Anyone aware of any new policy announcement?

This morning things have only got worse.  English has given this train wreck of an interview with Suzy Ferguson.  English could not answer the most straight forward of questions.  He had not sought to clarify with Todd Barclay if the tape existed.  And he said that he had no role in settlement of the employment dispute and he did not know how much had been paid out.

What utter bumpkum.  He is now Prime Minister and leader of the National Party.  The Leader’s office made the payment.  Couldn’t he sit down with Wayne Eagleston and ask him “whats the go here”?

As noted by Weka the latest breaking story from Newsroom, that National’s president and ruling council were reminded repeatedly how unsuitable Barclay was as a candidate will further lengthen the news cycle of this particular story.

The National Party caucus must be a very grumpy place right now.  If polling dips significantly, and there must be a real risk of this happening, then English may be in trouble.

But don’t take any note of what I say.  After all I am nothing more than a clearly partisan Labour Party hack.

https://twitter.com/MatthewHootonNZ/status/878822087548207105

61 comments on “The Todd Barclay debacle enters the sixth day of the news cycle ”

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  1. Sacha 1
    26 June 2017 at 8:39 am

    When voters see Hilary Barry on morning tv exasperated by the PM’s refusal to give straight answers, guess where their sympathies will be? Awesome clip: https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/you-need-front-up-and-tell-us-know-hilary-barry-challenges-bill-english-over-todd-barclay-saga

    • marty mars 1.1
      26 June 2017 at 9:04 am

      Gold. Hilary very frustrated by Bill and no wonder what a tool. This dumbarse leading the country – I don’t think so.

    • ianmac 1.2
      26 June 2017 at 9:20 am

      Imagine if all Interviewers asked questions of those who have the power. Wow. They did and continue to do so. A miracle for MSM! Will it continue and will other leaders be subject to the same scrutiny? Watch this space.

    • mickysavage 1.3
      26 June 2017 at 7:31 pm

      Man that was one tough interview. Her anger was palpable.

  2. ianmac 2
    26 June 2017 at 8:59 am

    The Interview this morning with Suzie is actually @
    http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/201848818/english-doesn-t-know-if-barclay-tape-still-exists

    [Thanks I managed to post the wrong link … now corrected – MS]

  3. riffer 3
    26 June 2017 at 9:50 am

    Very interesting how Bill English keeps looking away from Hilary Barry’s gaze throughout the entire interview. A huge tell. I wonder when he developed such a bad flick of the eyes?

    This page provides some insight into this behaviour:

    http://scienceblogs.com/cognitivedaily/2005/11/08/what-are-we-doing-when-we-look/

    • Cinny 3.1
      26 June 2017 at 9:59 am

      My 12 year picked up on something watching Hilarys interview this morning, the outgoing PM’s eyes turned really dark towards the end, angry eyes, like a demon.

      Cheers for the links and info everyone. Personally am looking forward to question time tomorrow.

      • Red 3.1.1
        26 June 2017 at 11:19 am

        That’s called propaganda conditioning Cinny,

        • Cinny 3.1.1.1
          26 June 2017 at 3:58 pm

          Crikey and I was thinking it’s just body language reacting to avoidance spotted by a 12 yr old who listens to Noam Chomsky, watches TED talks is aware of body language along with advertising propaganda and encouraged to form her own opinions and ideas.

          O.O Thanks Red you’ve inspired me to introduce her to Edward Bernays, dang she’ll really start to see through the smoke and mirrors after digesting his methods.

          Red, have you seen “The Man in The High Castle”? now that’s propaganda conditioning.

          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6RCGU_P1II

          • Red 3.1.1.1.1
            26 June 2017 at 6:44 pm

            Will watch later

          • In Vino 3.1.1.1.2
            26 June 2017 at 10:51 pm

            Not sure why you think that is so good, Cinny. Had read/studied it all before.. fact is that the Wehrmacht was not ready to face the French army in 1938, and Hitler knew it. He also knew that the French would not be aggressors, which is why he did not start the war too early. Propaganda? did I miss something?

            • Cinny 3.1.1.1.2.1
              27 June 2017 at 8:13 am

              It’s an awesome TV series, puts a real spin on how history could have been different. The propaganda embedded in the series, the lies of how things really are, the control of the people etc it’s right up there with house of cards. A distraction i thought that red might enjoy. It’s a very clever series, the links I gave does not give it enough credit.

              But it’s a fine example of control via propaganda. Looking forward to the third season.

  4. Brendon Harre 4
    26 June 2017 at 9:52 am

    There is a brilliant interview of Melanie Reid, who did the investigative journalism on the Todd Barclay affair. The interview goes far deeper than just the Todd Barclay affair. Melanie Reid discusses the state of journalism and democracy in NZ. She also talked about working for a small online news website Newsroom. https://www.newsroom.co.nz/ are worth following and even supporting with the odd donation if you can afford it.
    http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/sunday/audio/201848765/melanie-reid-investigative-journalism

  5. bwaghorn 5
    26 June 2017 at 9:57 am

    should a seen him on hews hub , a cant a cant i won’t laaa laaa not not listening , classic english
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/94070529/chart-of-the-day-how-big-is-southlands-economy-per-person

    odd thing to turn up on stuff must be the nats trying to put their finger in the dike

  6. roadrage 6
    26 June 2017 at 10:01 am

    Barcley will not be returned at the next election. He is gone. So the noise ain’t about Basrcley. Its how a MP given previous tapes was so unaware of consequences. I mean how notable that a tape exposing the former PMs hypocrisy resulted in his demise,all from the former electorate office of the now PM. The present PM knows the taped better than the taper. Was there ever any tape, was it just a ploy to transition to a new leader, was it the now routine election PR noise necessary for politicians to avoid answering real questions about real govt issues. Press fail, Nat fail, smoke win.

    • Gabby 6.1
      26 June 2017 at 5:52 pm

      Got to wonder if Wee Toddy was acting on advice and if so who Bingles might be covering for.

  7. Karen 7
    26 June 2017 at 10:23 am

    Suzie did a brilliant job on National Radio this morning patiently repeating questions while Bill responded with drivel completely unrelated to the questions. The Hillary Barry interview was also good particularly because of the incredulous look on her face.

    Then I watched the interview with Andrew Little shown on Q & A. Quite a contrast with Bill’s performance.

    https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/andrew-little-speaks-labours-marae-controversy-and-national-s-rough-week

    • weka 7.1
      26 June 2017 at 11:38 am

      That’s a good interview, really shows Little’s ethics and world view on what’s important.

  8. Red 8
    26 June 2017 at 11:22 am

    The people who watch Q&a and listen to radio red are not swing voters and are belt way junkies or tragic lefties looking for a glimmer of hope in a dark chasm that are the polls , the voting mass don’t care and are more interested in Rugby and sailing

    • Cinny 8.1
      26 June 2017 at 11:33 am

      Dude who are you trying to convince?

      • lprent 8.1.1
        26 June 2017 at 11:59 am

        Himself I think..

      • Draco T Bastard 8.1.2
        26 June 2017 at 12:04 pm

        Himself.

        He knows that the RWNJ policies that he supports have proven to be a failure again and his leaders proven liars.

      • Red 8.1.3
        26 June 2017 at 6:01 pm

        I am not trying to convince anybody just trying to avoid mass hysteria breaking out on this site by doing my duty and conveying the general populous view, no matter how difilcult this is for some, a circuit breaker for a lack of a better word Let see in September who is on the money re our little wager 😀

    • bearded git 8.2
      26 June 2017 at 1:26 pm

      the polls are pointing to a lab/gr/nzf government

    • mac1 8.3
      26 June 2017 at 4:35 pm

      Radio red, Red? Bollocks. If you think Nat Radio is red then you really have a discernment problem.

      Or maybe I have- and that all that material that I discern as tripe from the commentators is actually red propaganda.

      Red, mate, you have to just acknowledge that sometimes the other side’s story gets told, and that sometimes journalists fasten, as if it’s their job, onto a story of lies, corruption and deception, failure to follow cabinet manual procedures, failure to inform people of their responsibilities regarding possible criminal acts, and failure to follow party rules regarding candidate selection procedures.

      Especially when the country’s Prime Minister is involved.

      And if that is ‘red’ then ‘red’ is synonymous with words like ‘duty’, ‘democracy’ and ‘justice’ and is the opposite of such words as “criminality’, ‘lies’, “corruption’ and ‘cover-up’.

      Red. I hope you are well-named!

      • Red 8.3.1
        26 June 2017 at 6:49 pm

        That’s fine not saying otherwise, albeit bit of hyperbole and over sensitivity, and a teeny wee little bit of bias in your comment My point is people don’t care, not that it is reported Slave labour however way better click bait

        • mac1 8.3.1.1
          26 June 2017 at 7:13 pm

          Red, you call Nat Radio left wing you don’t get to call on bias.

          People don’t care?

          Not what I heard today.

          Day 6 and getting worse for the liars.

        • mickysavage 8.3.1.2
          26 June 2017 at 7:39 pm

          It is clearly radical left wing dogma to expect all angles of an issue to be reported on.

    • In Vino 8.4
      26 June 2017 at 10:54 pm

      And where is the capital S for Sailing, you bigoted rugby muppet??

      • mac1 8.4.1
        26 June 2017 at 11:16 pm

        “The people who watch Q&a and listen to radio red” writes Red at 8 above.

        In Vino, our russet friend by his own fair hand has pronounced himself to be big on questions but short on answers.

  9. Tricledrown 9
    26 June 2017 at 11:29 am

    Bill English trotted out lies and couldn’t answer the any question straight.
    But did paint himself into a corner about not being involved in it.
    English former next door neighbour for senior electorate office worker.
    Previous comments by Bill English where he has said he tried to smooth things over.
    Bill English is an amateur liar.
    Unlike Sir lie a lot.
    To say he knew nothing about the illegal taping the illegal payment to Dickson to withdraw from a criminal prosecution.
    Does not add up from a man who is supposed to be a financial genius.

  10. dukeofurl 10
    26 June 2017 at 12:31 pm

    Half of Barclays problems seem to be that the ‘rural rump’ of the electorate thought they selecting as MP a local Gore boy who had done well.

    Once elected he moved to Arrowtown and preferred to spend a fair amount of his time at either the Millbrook Golf resort clubhouse or the rooftop bars in Queenstown. ( as described in Spinoff by a local who was a former journalist)

    There would be a lot of resentment in Southland proper to the fast life available in Queestown and horrors Aucklanders living there. There was a cuckoo in their nest and they were determined to get rid of it – as you would.

    • Red 10.1
      26 June 2017 at 5:16 pm

      According to my sister, friends brother cousin twice removed who has now gone to ground, sheeeeeeeeez, you would think poor old Todd was Idi Amin the way you lot are carrying on

      • weka 10.1.1
        26 June 2017 at 5:48 pm

        nah, we just think he’s a fledgling Key sociopath. We don’t have to do Idi Amin here because we’ve got protofascists who know how to manipulate the existing democracy.

    • Gabby 10.2
      26 June 2017 at 5:55 pm

      Well we don’t know just how ‘fast’ the fast life he was leading was. Backbencher’s salary.

  11. Brendon Harre 11
    26 June 2017 at 2:50 pm

    I look forward to the politician or journalist who asks Bill English;

    -“as the PM of NZ you have access to all the resources of the SIS or GCSB -would you ever consider making secret recordings of employees or the public, even if it was possible to do so without the public finding out?”

    -“as the PM of NZ do you know when it is ok to make secret recordings and when it is not ok?”

    -“Whilst being in government have you always held yourself and the party you lead to this high standard?”

    • riffer 11.1
      26 June 2017 at 4:07 pm

      Do you actually think he’d reply honestly?

    • Stuart Munro 11.2
      26 June 2017 at 4:12 pm

      I’d like to hear them ask:

      “What are you thinking of doing after politics?” and

      “Do you really think SERCO staff will let you do that?”

  12. repateet 12
    26 June 2017 at 4:14 pm

    Isn’t it the Bull English debacle?

  13. Corokia 13
    26 June 2017 at 4:40 pm

    Why were National so determined to stick with Barclay for so long even when the local party members made it clear that he was a liar and obviously not suitable? Would it be anything to do with his tobacco company links? Are the Nats big wigs tied into something there I wonder?

    • Red 13.1
      26 June 2017 at 5:12 pm

      Do you really think he was a tobacco lobbyist at 20 to 22, I suggest he was very junior support crew in the lobbyist department, you no a bit like cunners inventing Fonterra on his cv, likewise taping somebody’s ain’t exactly the crime of the century Sorry for breaking Todd Barclay is Ghengis Khan meme

      • grumpystilskin 13.1.1
        26 June 2017 at 6:35 pm

        Yes, but interesting that despite the “stay the fuck away from this dude” messages that kept on popping up from party officials , National were sure on making this guy a future PM. With a moral compass like this where do you think they are headed? Be honest.

      • McFlock 13.1.2
        26 June 2017 at 7:00 pm

        lol right
        You hire someone who has had access to three(?) ministers, give them a corporate affairs manager title, and have them filing photocopies for 8 months without exploiting those relationships? Riiiiiight.

  14. Cinny 14
    26 June 2017 at 5:53 pm

    I’m not a lawyer but …..

    Who heard the tapes? What was said on the tapes? Were other senior politicians involved and if so who?

    The recording must have been a big worry for the large payout and confidentiality agreement which appears to be taping many mouths shut, so what exactly was recorded?

    Why has Barclay refused to be questioned by police? Is it because they would ask what is on the tapes? Does he not want them to know what’s on the tapes because it is that damning?

    Do we have whistle blower protection in NZ?

    • weka 14.1
      26 June 2017 at 7:18 pm

      I think Dickson says she doesn’t know what was recorded so I assume not much detail was given in the settlement process. She says that English told her that he didn’t want to listen to the tapes, so I’m guessing that no-one has officially listened to them. If they still exist Barclay is a bigger fool than he is already known to be.

      He refused to talk to police because by that stage he understood that he’d broken the law and it would cost him his career.

      I don’t think the confidentiality agreement would stop Dickson from talking to the police about what happened. It probably just covers things like how much she was paid.

      • Cinny 14.1.1
        26 June 2017 at 7:56 pm

        Maybe they just need to ask her and others the correctly worded questions? They are bloody good at dodging if the words aren’t spot on.

        I wonder what that agreement does actually cover? Could the confidentiality agreement be obtained by an OIA?

        • weka 14.1.1.1
          26 June 2017 at 8:01 pm

          Well it’s confidential, so I would assume not.

          • marty mars 14.1.1.1.1
            26 June 2017 at 8:07 pm

            I imagine Todd said something like Bill check this out, she said xyz here you listen and hear it for yourself. In other words I’d imagine bill has a pretty good idea of what Todd taped too.

  15. silvertuatara 15
    26 June 2017 at 7:24 pm

    It appears that 6 days of constantly changing his mind, answers and stories….it looks like after this afternoons news conference, English has finally taken to employing the “Barclay defense” of no longer engaging.

    I wonder if Barclay will consider charging English a consultancy fee for his modeling of how to legally avoid the moralistic and ethical elements of being transparently investigated for potential crimes by the NZ Police.

    It will also be interesting if English “Lawyers Up” should the police decide to press for a more transparent and open inquiry in which they seek to use all legal measures to locate the recording that is in question, including the use of search warrants and the like.

    Given Englishes performance over the past week I think that the MSM should also now ask English to confirm whether he had been offered to view the following other tapes;

    Pike River Mine Tapes,

    The Hit and Run Tapes in which no targeted insurgents were caught, detained or killed, but for which a number of innocent villagers were ambushed in the dark in Afganistan Villages were killed and injured.

    If he has seen them or been offered to view them the MSM should ask for him to confirm the length of the relevant tapes, and also for him to confirm whether any video and or audio footage has been held back from him so that he does not have any excuses that invoke a plausible deniability defense when the truth finally comes out what has been suggested in social media as two further National cover ups which English has single handedly stalled on setting up truly independent and recognise/sanctioned investigations for.

    • Robert Guyton 15.1
      26 June 2017 at 7:34 pm

      Key, English et al are employing a process of obfuscation wherever video and audio evidence is involved, silvertuatara?
      Goodness gracious! Who’d have imagined?

  16. mosa 16
    26 June 2017 at 8:17 pm

    English has already said ” its time to draw a line in the sand ” a message to the corporate media to stop asking questions and lets drop it as its not looking good was code Key to sweep any embarrassing analysis under the mansion carpet.

    It’s what the wealthy always do.

  17. Robert Guyton 17
    26 June 2017 at 8:32 pm

    “Labour leader Andrew Little told reporters it was starting to look like English had something to hide.

    “This is going all over the show; you start to wonder whether there is something here worth hiding. It looks like ..there’s something on those tapes. We’ve got to know what’s on those tapes.””

    We are never, ever going to hear them.

  18. mary_a 18
    26 June 2017 at 9:02 pm

    Anyone know where John Key, Natz new knight of the realm and most excellent practitioner of the dark arts, is hiding these days?

    I’d thought given events of the past week, Key might have been questioned on his part in the Barclay issue, particularly as money from the PM’s (Key at the time) fund was used to top up Glenys Dickson’s payout!

    He needs to be smoked out of his hole and chased by msm, made to answer questions.

    • Cinny 18.1
      27 June 2017 at 8:16 am

      For sures, I would have thought he would have attended their conference or be sticking up for the outgoing PM. But it appears he is AWOL

      When police re-open the case, will Key be called in for questioning along with Goodfellow and the rest of those involved?

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    Cable Cars, Gondolas, Ropeways and Aerial Trams are all names for essentially the same technology and the world’s biggest maker of them are here to sell them as an public transport solution. Stuff reports: Austrian cable car company Doppelmayr has launched its case for adding aerial cable cars to New ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    2 days ago

  • November AMA
    Hi,It’s been awhile since I’ve done an Ask-Me-Anything on here, so today’s the day. Ask anything you like in the comments section, and I’ll be checking in today and tomorrow to answer.Leave a commentNext week I’ll be giving away a bunch of these Mister Organ blu-rays for readers in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    3 days ago

  • National’s early moves adding to cost of living pressure
    The cost of living grind continues, and the economic and inflation honeymoon is over before it began. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: PM Christopher Luxon unveiled his 100 day plan yesterday with an avowed focus of reducing cost-of-living pressures, but his Government’s initial moves and promises are actually elevating ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Backwards to the future
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has confirmed that it will be back to the future on planning legislation. This will be just one of a number of moves which will see the new government go backwards as it repeals and cost-cuts its way into power. They will completely repeal one ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago

  • New initiatives in science and technology could point the way ahead for Luxon government
    As the new government settles into the Beehive, expectations are high that it can sort out some  of  the  economic issues  confronting  New Zealand. It may take time for some new  ministers to get to grips with the range of their portfolio work and responsibilities before they can launch the  changes that  ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    3 days ago

  • Treaty pledge to secure funding is contentious – but is Peters being pursued by a lynch mob after ...
    TV3 political editor Jenna Lynch was among the corps of political reporters who bridled, when Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters told them what he thinks of them (which is not much). She was unabashed about letting her audience know she had bridled. More usefully, she drew attention to something which ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • How long does this last?
    I have a clear memory of every election since 1969 in this plucky little nation of ours. I swear I cannot recall a single one where the question being asked repeatedly in the first week of the new government was: how long do you reckon they’ll last? And that includes all ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • National’s giveaway politics
    We already know that national plans to boost smoking rates to collect more tobacco tax so they can give huge tax-cuts to mega-landlords. But this morning that policy got even more obscene - because it turns out that the tax cut is retrospective: Residential landlords will be able to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • CHRIS TROTTER: Who’s driving the right-wing bus?
    Who’s At The Wheel? The electorate’s message, as aggregated in the polling booths on 14 October, turned out to be a conservative political agenda stronger than anything New Zealand has seen in five decades. In 1975, Bill Rowling was run over by just one bus, with Rob Muldoon at the wheel. In 2023, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • GRAHAM ADAMS:  Media knives flashing for Luxon’s government
    The fear and loathing among legacy journalists is astonishing Graham Adams writes – No one is going to die wondering how some of the nation’s most influential journalists personally view the new National-led government. It has become abundantly clear within a few days of the coalition agreements ...
    Point of OrderBy gadams1000
    3 days ago

  • Top 10 news links for Wednesday, Nov 29
    TL;DR: Here’s my pick of top 10 news links elsewhere for Wednesday November 29, including:The early return of interest deductibility for landlords could see rebates paid on previous taxes and the cost increase to $3 billion from National’s initial estimate of $2.1 billion, CTU Economist Craig Renney estimated here last ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Smokefree Fallout and a High Profile Resignation.
    The day after being sworn in the new cabinet met yesterday, to enjoy their honeymoon phase. You remember, that period after a new government takes power where the country, and the media, are optimistic about them, because they haven’t had a chance to stuff anything about yet.Sadly the nuptials complete ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • As Cabinet revs up, building plans go on hold
    Wellington Council hoardings proclaim its preparations for population growth, but around the country councils are putting things on hold in the absence of clear funding pathways for infrastructure, and despite exploding migrant numbers. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Cabinet meets in earnest today to consider the new Government’s 100-day ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • National takes over infrastructure
    Though New Zealand First may have had ambitions to run the infrastructure portfolios, National would seem to have ended up firmly in control of them.  POLITIK has obtained a private memo to members of Infrastructure NZ yesterday, which shows that the peak organisation for infrastructure sees  National MPs Chris ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago

  • At a glance – Evidence for global warming
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • Who’s Driving The Right-Wing Bus?
    Who’s At The Wheel? The electorate’s message, as aggregated in the polling booths on 14 October, turned out to be a conservative political agenda stronger than anything New Zealand has seen in five decades. In 1975, Bill Rowling was run over by just one bus, with Rob Muldoon at the wheel. In ...
    Bowalley Road
    4 days ago

  • Sanity break
    Cheers to reader Deane for this quote from Breakfast TV today:Chloe Swarbrick to Brook van Velden re the coalition agreement: “... an unhinged grab-bag of hot takes from your drunk uncle at Christmas”Cheers also to actual Prime Minister of a country Christopher Luxon for dorking up his swearing-in vows.But that's enough ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Sanity break
    Cheers to reader Deane for this quote from Breakfast TV today:Chloe Swarbrick to Brook van Velden re the coalition agreement: “... an unhinged grab-bag of hot takes from your drunk uncle at Christmas”Cheers also to actual Prime Minister of a country Christopher Luxon for dorking up his swearing-in vows.But that's enough ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • National’s murderous smoking policy
    One of the big underlying problems in our political system is the prevalence of short-term thinking, most usually seen in the periodic massive infrastructure failures at a local government level caused by them skimping on maintenance to Keep Rates Low. But the new government has given us a new example, ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • NZ has a chance to rise again as our new government gets spending under control
    New Zealand has  a chance  to  rise  again. Under the  previous  government, the  number of New Zealanders below the poverty line was increasing  year by year. The Luxon-led government  must reverse that trend – and set about stabilising  the  pillars  of the economy. After the  mismanagement  of the outgoing government created   huge ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    4 days ago

  • KARL DU FRESNE: Media and the new government
    Two articles by Karl du Fresne bring media coverage of the new government into considerations.  He writes –    Tuesday, November 28, 2023 The left-wing media needed a line of attack, and they found one The left-wing media pack wasted no time identifying the new government’s weakest point. Seething over ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • PHILIP CRUMP:  Team of rivals – a CEO approach to government leadership
    The work begins Philip Crump wrote this article ahead of the new government being sworn in yesterday – Later today the new National-led coalition government will be sworn in, and the hard work begins. At the core of government will be three men – each a leader ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Black Friday
    As everyone who watches television or is on the mailing list for any of our major stores will confirm, “Black Friday” has become the longest running commercial extravaganza and celebration in our history. Although its origins are obscure (presumably dreamt up by American salesmen a few years ago), it has ...
    Bryan GouldBy Bryan Gould
    4 days ago

  • In Defense of the Media.
    Yesterday the Ministers in the next government were sworn in by our Governor General. A day of tradition and ceremony, of decorum and respect. Usually.But yesterday Winston Peters, the incoming Deputy Prime Minister, and Foreign Minister, of our nation used it, as he did with the signing of the coalition ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • Top 10 news links at 10 am for Tuesday, Nov 28
    Nicola Willis’ first move was ‘spilling the tea’ on what she called the ‘sobering’ state of the nation’s books, but she had better be able to back that up in the HYEFU. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Here’s my pick of top 10 news links elsewhere at 10 am ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • PT use up but fare increases coming
    Yesterday Auckland Transport were celebrating, as the most recent Sunday was the busiest Sunday they’ve ever had. That’s a great outcome and I’m sure the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    4 days ago

  • The very opposite of social investment
    Nicola Willis (in blue) at the signing of the coalition agreement, before being sworn in as both Finance Minister and Social Investment Minister. National’s plan to unwind anti-smoking measures will benefit her in the first role, but how does it stack up from a social investment viewpoint? Photo: Lynn Grieveson ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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