The winners and losers from National’s leadership spill

Written By: - Date published: 8:12 pm, November 25th, 2021 - 146 comments
Categories: Christopher Luxon, david seymour, jacinda ardern, Judith Collins, national, same old national, Shane Reti, Simon Bridges - Tags:

This is quite simple.

The winners are:

  • Jacinda Ardern.  Want a leader who is going to keep her cool during an emergency whether it be a terrorist attack or a pandemic?  You can trust Jacinda to give her all to the job and not be distracted.
  • The Labour Party.  After a period of time about 7 years ago I know far too much about the Labour Party got its shit together and now its caucus and the party as a whole is united and determined to get on with the job.
  • ACT.  David Seymour looks more and more like the real leader of the opposition and I never thought I would say this.  He is succeeding even though his caucus looks very brittle and one decent investigation away from a scandal.
  • Shane Reti.  While everyone around him has been losing their shit he has remained calm and focused on the job.  I am sure they will not do it but from a leftie perspective he looks like their best option, although he would not beat Jacinda.

The losers are:

  • Judith Collins.  Karma is a bitch.
  • Simon Bridges.  Judith has done the damage.  Now every time his name is mentioned as a potential leader people particularly women will question his judgment and how a good Christian could even think such things.
  • The National Party.  It’s stocks have never been lower and the prospects of it splitting into an urban liberal party and a rural country party must be pretty high.
  • The National Party board.  People are going to look at it and wonder how Judith could have come out and claimed support from the board for what she did.
  • Nick Smith.  He had his career trashed by Judith because he was perceived to be a threat.
  • Todd Muller.  He had his career trashed by Judith because he was perceived to be a threat.
  • Chris Luxon.  If he really wants to be the next Prime Minister he needs years to learn the job properly.  And to put some space between his Christian fundamentalism and current events.  This is too early for him.

The immediate questions are will Todd Muller be returned to Caucus and will Judith cause a by election.

Interesting times …

 

146 comments on “The winners and losers from National’s leadership spill ”

  1. Winner: Jacinda – who displayed real stateswomanship (?) by not wading into the Natz meltdown with some caustic comments.

    • Gezza 1.1

      Yes and no. The best political advisors would all be saying keep away from it; say nothing to Ms Ardern. It makes you look good not capitalising on National’s implosions & there’s nothing good that would come of commenting on a National leadership meltdown that is obviously going to benefit Labour just by virtue of it happening.

      The moral high ground is the easy & obvious choice here.

  2. Anker 2
    • Umm not sure the Labour Party is as united as you like to think Mickey. A lot of gender critical men and women unhappy with legislation such as gender self ID.
    • a lot of Rainbow people pushing gender self ID and a lot of lesbians in the party unhappy with this. A potential tinder box.

    I think if Bridges becomes leader Nationals support will increase. A lot of disenfranchised blokes who are looking for the come back hero. Bridges will also appeal to the growing number of anti woke. Bridges also knows the ropes and the pitfalls. He’s a survivor.
    People having heard the details of Jacqui Deans complaint will realise that it was done and dusted, she wasn’t meant to hear it, it was about Bridges and his wife’s attempt to conceive a girl and it was f…..g five years ago. Dean has been used by Collins. Most mature people manage to get over something we overhear if the person apologises and doesn’t repeat the mistake.

    Your capacity to put the best slant on Labour and all they do is impressive. Personally I think Collins going could be bad news for Labour for the reasons I outlined

    • Hanswurst 2.1

      A lot of disenfranchised blokes who are looking for the come back hero.

      Which men have been 'disenfranchised'?

      • Anker 2.1.1

        use to work with quite a few of these blokes. Voted Labour because of Covid. National looked a mess. Said I told you so when Muller went and never liked Collins. Quite a few of these types comment on TDB nowadays (not necessarily Labour voters but fed up with woke stuff). Guys who follow Jordon Peterson. People who bought Simon Bridges book.

        I could imagine if I was bloke at the moment, I might feel like an unpopular demographic. So someone who gets knocked down and then gets up again, got to have some appeal.

        • RedLogix 2.1.1.1

          Guys who follow Jordon Peterson

          His audience is by no means solely male. It was my own partner who first started listening to him back in 2016 when I was working in Canada and long before he became a well known figure.

          I could imagine if I was bloke at the moment, I might feel like an unpopular demographic.

          Yes – not a lot of people can genuinely put themselves into someone else's shoes like that.

          • Tricledrown 2.1.1.1.1

            Jordan Peterson the modern day Freud /Fraud no scientific evidence to back his mansplaining.

            For real science the Otago longitudinal research proves most of what Peterson purveys is pure bunkum. Calvinist moralism not unlike the Nationals core principals.

            That's why National aren't connecting with the younger generation.Luxton the conservative chistian will fail.

            • RedLogix 2.1.1.1.1.1

              For real science the Otago longitudinal research proves most of what Peterson purveys is pure bunkum.

              Given the sheer volume of research and papers the DLS has produced this claim is meaningless.

              Also the term ‘mansplaining’ is one of those noisy little words that carries no useful meaning either.

            • GreenBus 2.1.1.1.1.2

              2.1.1.1.1

              Mansplaining-what a great word.

              From Google.

              Mansplaining (a blend word of man and the informal form splaining of the gerund explaining) is a pejorative term meaning "(of a man) to comment on or explain something to a woman in a condescending, overconfident, and often inaccurate or oversimplified manner".

              And not just to woman either, us fellas sometimes get a unwarranted ear bashing from big fish on these blogsites.

            • Anker 2.1.1.1.1.3

              I wasn't defending Jordan Petersen. I am on the record on this site of saying that most of what he says, I don't agree with. I was asked who the disenfranched men were and I made the suggestion that they are the men who listen to JP.

              Couldn't agree more about the Dunedin longitudinal study. Brilliant and world leading and truly objective. It doesn't filter stuff through an ideological lens. Some of its findings around male and female violence has been unpopular though. What claims does Petersen make that the Dunedin study contradict?

              • RedLogix

                Couldn't agree more about the Dunedin longitudinal study. Brilliant and world leading and truly objective.

                Absolutely. Some years back I was referencing it here quite frequently. It's produced so much reliable data that somewhere I read that it spins off something like 1300 papers a month (I could have that wrong). It's speaks to a very wide range of topics and as you say – not all of it welcomed by the ideological left. So does Peterson.

                I agree without some specificity GB's claim carries no useful information.

            • SPC 2.1.1.1.1.4

              Strike 1 – conflating a Murray called John with a Christopher.

              Strike 2 – the elect Calvinist and the born again Pentecostal would have to be on different sides of the heavenly mansion (co-existence and all …)

            • Gezza 2.1.1.1.1.5

              Luxton the conservative chistian will fail.

              Amazing how many people seem to feel compelled to put a “t” into his surname & don’t bother to check.

              The guy’s family name is Luxon – no t.

              Nicky Hager’s another one. Poor chap gets his family name mis-spelled as Hagar by many a lazy commenter.

              • In Vino

                John Luxton used to be a reasonably well-known National MP.

                People just don't pay attention to small differences like Luxton and Luxon (correct for this new guy.)

                • Blazer

                  'looks like a roll on deodorant' is perfect,.

                  Beats …'bald headed ,bible bashing ,Muldoon ..lookalike'…easily!wink

                • Simbit

                  Ex PM John Key is almost always called "John Keyes" when people I know mention him at all.

                  • Gezza

                    Keys. Yes, I have the same experience.

                    Quite a few folk posting on political blogs call Robertson Robinson.

                    And Tame Iti, as often as not, it seems to me, gets mis-named Tama Iti.

    • Visubversa 2.2

      I would not get too excited there Anker. Yes, there are a bunch of us lesbians who are not happy with the Labour Party's embrace of gender ideology. However, we have been around a long time and we know the value of political discipline. We survived Rogernomics and the bully boys of MMSC. We were there when Labour was 14% in the polls. We know that the Green Party is even more subservient to the homophobic and misogynistic cult that is gender ideology than Labour, and we are certainly never going to vote Tory. We may stop paying our VFL, and we won't deliver the leaflets, but most of us will die members of the Labour Party

      • Anker 2.2.1

        Visubversa, geninue question. Why do you think that is? We all know how Labour has introduced this legislation by stealth. Why do you think people stay?

        I won't be voting for them. On that I am clear.

      • Michael 2.2.2

        Visubversa – well said and pleased to hear it. Labour (and the Greens) need to stay focused and not divert themselves into identity politics. Fight injustice wherever it occurs, including gender-based injustice, but don't let it become the consuming issue. The political Right will do all it can to paint Labour-Greens as obsessed with identity politics at the expense of "the business community". We must not let them.
        Anker – have you misspelled your handle?

        • Anker 2.2.2.1

          I haven't mispelled my handle Michael. What made you ask?

          In my opinion it is too late for Labour and the Greens. They are waist deep, the Greens neck deep in identity politics.

          • Michael 2.2.2.1.1

            The letter "W" is missing from the front of it.

            Labour and Greens are both invested in identoty politics. However the Right uses the term to smear any efffort to pursue social justice.

            [RL: Pull another childish stunt like that – and you will be on holiday from here.]

      • lprent 2.2.3

        Doing politics is a long-term process. Plan on changing things over a 20-30 year process from when it isn’t a thing to when everyone is jumping on the bandwagon.

        • Anker 2.2.3.1

          I wasn't defending Jordan Petersen. I am on the record on this site of saying that most of what he says, I don't agree with. I was asked who the disenfranched men were and I made the suggestion that they are the men who listen to JP.

          Couldn't agree more about the Dunedin longitudinal study. Brilliant and world leading and truly objective. It doesn't filter stuff through an ideological lens. Some of its findings around male and female violence has been unpopular though. What claims does Petersen make that the Dunedin study contradict?

        • Anker 2.2.3.2

          Are you referring to gender ideology here I Prent? Interested to know

          • lprent 2.2.3.2.1

            Nope. FYI The examples that I gave when I was discussing this with my partner were about the expected treatment of animals, the gradual cleanup of sewerage dumping into harbours/coastal waters/waterways, and the slow blocking of tax loopholes. She wasn’t that interested in any of them. But was moderately glad that people were looking at them.

            You'll probably note that all of these are related to strategic changes that have occurred over the last 30 years. I’m interested in social issues – but really only as they affect the body politic. And there are so many issues that are more important than the mistakes of otherwise that people make with their own lives and that of their children. I concentrate my concern on those that are large enough to be an societal issue rather than a personal one.

            If we want to continue selling high value animal proteins to the world then changing animal welfare standards is vital. Who in the hell wants to pay a premium here or offshore for stressed animals littered with antibiotics selecting for ever more resistant bugs. Looking at video of factory farming practices or even my memories of bobby calf treatment when I was on farms is enough to make me consider becoming vegan.

            Plus it is an ethical issue as it has become more and more obvious that degree of sentience in all animals is far higher than was postulated.

            Water pollution is just damn stupid. Short changing dealing with sewerage is a major health hazard. Destroying farm lands with excessive water use, destruction of aquifers, and down stream pollution in the names of 'property-rights' for short-term profit and long-term destruction on the basis on local interests is just idiotic.

            The three waters proposal that the government is going to push through is a direct result of 30 years of waiting for councils to honour their words with actions and failing to see any.

            Tax loophole cleanup has now been going on for about 30 years in NZ. It is important because of many reasons. But the most important is that it diverts funds from where they should be used productively to where they are squandered doing things of no benefit to the country.

            For me – these kinds of issues are the stuff of what I consider to be worthwhile politics.

            So when I look at what I consider to be grossly short-sighted obsessions of recent semi-moralistic trends with the kind of guesswork unverifiable numbers involving relatively small number of people (see your comment at 2.2.3.3) and outright scare-mongering about gender… Well I can't see what the issues are apart from the personal insecurities in self-image of those obsessed by it.

            For me it is no different than the people who prefer to speculate on what really happened with the fall of the twin towers.

            Of course I do this from the basis on being a childless male who has no particular hangups of insecurities about gender or even less interest in it. Plus I have read the laws and constraints about ages of consent for a whole lot of things and spent time with other peoples kids often enough to have opinions about when they are capable of making their own decisions. I’m an uncle who tends to deal with the families kids when they get hard for their parents to manage.

            So far I haven't seen anything in those gender debates that really shows me where there is an issue – and I really can't be bothered with pious fuckwits like you who try to drag me into one without any logic or reason apart from their apparently stupid obsessions. I have tolerated this in the past requesting that people tell me why they seem to be rationally say why they are obsessed with this. Some have tried – so far they haven't managed to say anything

            Have I made my views clear ? Or should I start really unleashing my views on you? Because if I see one more attempt at swerving what I say about into some kind of loyalty test – then I'm going to start the obvious sets of rebuttals about personality disorders of the morality police.

            • Anker 2.2.3.2.1.1

              It was a simple yes or no question Iprent.

              I understand now the gender issues are of no interest to you. Fair enough. It is an issue that is important to me though, but perhaps not for the reasons you think (?morality reasons).

              I have no idea of what you mean by one more attempt to at swerving what I say about into some kind of loyalty test". I don't recall interacting with your comments much at all. But I am open to being corrected if this is the case.

              I also don't understand what you mean about personality disorders of the morality police. My views on gender arent' coming from a place of morality, but maybe that is not what you are implying.

              While I value this site and the work you do for it, to be honest, I found your response to a straight forward question on my behalf a bit unfair.

        • Anker 2.2.3.3

          In 20 -30 years I fully expect that the children who have been put on puberty blockers, cross sex hormones, had surgery to remove their breasts, uterus, penises etc before the age of 25, (the same people who want be able to transition back to their natal sex, because for the women, they have an Adams apple and a deep voice etc) to be taking a class action against the Govt or that a Royal Commission of enquiry will be fully underway as to why the adults around them, including professionals and politicians enabled them to permantly mutilate their bodies before they could give true informed consent. These people will be dealing with issues of infertility and inability to experience sexual pleasure as well.

          According to Stella O'Malley, a Irish psychotherapist and author, she has 22,000 of these individuals already i.e the detransitioners, in the support groups she runs through Genspect

          • RedLogix 2.2.3.3.1

            she has 22,000 of these individuals already i.e the detransitioners,

            That's a startling number. At least 10 times what I might have guessed.

            • Anker 2.2.3.3.1.1

              https://genspect.org/stella-omalley-testifies-about-new-zealand-conversion-therapy-bill/

              Red Logix here is Stella O'Malley's presentation to the select committee on the Conversion Practices Bill. She mentions the number of detransitioners there.

              They don't want to listen to this stuff. A psychologist at Bath Uni wanted to do some research on de-transitioners and initially his research was approved and then cancelled. He maintains it was that the Uni didn't want to attract protests and vitriol from the trans activists

              • RedLogix

                O'Malley touches on the huge increase in young girls wanting to transition to males, and I'm assuming destroying any chance they have in future to have children. And of course all the consequences that fall from this. Yet so far this has gone widely unexamined or even debated here.

                'Repressed homophobia' strikes me as a very odd and conveniently ideological explanation.

                • Anker

                  Yes I must admit I have been skeptical about a repressed homosexuality, but the more I have thought about it, the more credible it seems for some. I imagine it could be very frightening realizsing you are same sex attracted, even in these more enlightened times. I know this to be true from a very close relative who is gay. Very hard for them to accept and tried to be heterosexual for some time.

                  But if now it is cool to be trans, then it may be an eloquent solution to the internalized homophobia O'Malley talks of. And afterall she does work with these young people so gets to hear their stories.

                  Despite being accused of being transphobic etc, I am sticking with this cause, because I can't bear the thought of these young kids stuffing up their bodies, while the adults around them are cheering them along. I watched another talk by Stella and she makes the very valid point that it is really important not to celebrate these kids being trans. This backs them into a corner and she gives the case of Jazz Jennings, the poster child for kids transitioning in the States. I think she mentions in this talk that Jazz's surgeon had trouble making a vagina out of her penis and there wasn't enough penile tisses. and they were trying to make a vagina out of the material due to the puberty blockers.

                  How anyone can think this is o.k. is beyond me.

                  • RedLogix

                    I imagine it could be very frightening realizsing you are same sex attracted, even in these more enlightened times.

                    Fair enough – I'm not going to die in a ditch on this because hell I cannot know what is inside these young people's minds. But still it seems odd that as homosexuality has become dramatically more accepted – to the point of being 'cool' as you put it – that young people should at the same time be more fearful of it.

                    And as O'Malley points out – why just teenage girls?

                    But otherwise – yes. I suspect we have no idea what is really going on here.

      • Ad 2.2.4

        Nicely said.

      • Alison Lewis 2.2.5

        Yes, I will remain a member of the Labour Party but I won't be voting for this Government in 2023, I won't be voting at all probably, for the first time ever. Totally disillusioned with this Government re its attitude towards women who have legitimate concerns around Sex Self-ID, backed by knowledge of what has happened to women's rights in countries such as the United States, Canada, Norway, Iceland, Ireland and the UK (even though Sex Self-id has not been passed into law there). Scotland under Nicola Sturgeon is pushing for Sex Self-ID and she has been scornful of the women who have raised concerns with the legislation.

        • Anker 2.2.5.1

          I am with you Alison Lewis. That is exactly how I feel.

          I realize things like fixing the housing crisis and even poverty are possibly quite complex and I give them the benefit of the doubt on that.

          The other issue that has really put me off voting for Labour is the refusal to move anti social state house tennants out. I feel deeply for the people who will be at the lower end of the socio economic strata who are having to endure such behaviour. This is quite sadistic of whoever can reverse this policy to allow it to continue. It should be an easy fix. Its not as if the houses of anti social evictees would sit empty. Let other families/people in need of reasonable shelter have them and live in peace witht their neighbours. I hope National make a really big issue out of this.

          • Peter 2.2.5.1.1

            With Labour in Opposition, David Seymour as PM, voted in by those who do vote, the Labour party will have all the time it wants to totally dedicate its energy to issues of gender.

    • Anne 2.3

      Mickey has something of the order of 35 to 40 years experience in the NZ Labour Party and politics in general. He is also a long standing lawyer who knows how to be dispassionate and set aside personal views when reflecting on issues. He is also transparent and always makes disclosures of any personal associations that may affect his judgement. I find him a trustworthy commentator and author.

      "Personally I think Collins going could be bad news for Labour for the reasons I outlined."

      Important though they are to some people, I don't think those reasons you refer to… figure strongly in the minds of most voters Anker @ 2.

      • Anker 2.3.1

        Anne @ 2.3 I think we are all entitled to chose what issues matter to us. This one matters to me.

        i think your promotion of MS knowedge , integrity etc is a bit of a dig at me because I made a comment on MS putting the best slant on Labour. My apologies if I am wrong about that Anne. But on refelction, I probably shouldn’t have said that. Apologies Mickey if any offence taken.

        These issues might figure more in the minds of voters if they were reported on in a fair and balanced way in the media. Part of my objection to what is happening is that a group of people who expouse an ideological belief legislate for this belief and try to impose the ideology onto to others. Debate is shut down about this ideology because you become labelled a bigot for expressing a reasonable opinion.

        • Anne 2.3.1.1

          "I think your promotion of MS knowedge , integrity etc is a bit of a dig at me…"

          No it wasn't Anker but can appreciate why you might have thought so. Genuine mistake. No need to apologise. 🙂

          Having been a member of the LP for a number of years I know Mickey's background quite well. Its sometimes hard to make a judgement on someone who may be a regular TS contributor but whom you may have never met.

          I know the issue in question is very important to you, but all I was saying is that many people don't get that importance and are not interested. Which is probably why the MSM doesn't address it very often.

          • Gezza 2.3.1.1.1

            Micky doesn’t have an “e” in his moniker. Just saying.

          • Anker 2.3.1.1.2

            Cheers Anne. Glad I cleared it with you.

            Guess another apology is owed to Micky about the e I added to his name.

            I am inclined to do that sort of thing (innocently I might add)

    • Nic181 2.4

      If Labour lets it’s self be drawn into the LGBT nightmare it’s done for. Labour needs to support the economy, the environment, the workers, climate change issues and keep well away from sex issues. It’s a no win path to oblivion!

      • Anker 2.4.1

        I agree Nic 181, but unfortunately it is too late. Labour is deeply imbedded in the LBGT nightmare as you call it. A lot of their female MP's seem deeply immeshed in gender ideology

  3. Alan 3

    Looser – Labour, already in decline in the polls, now faced with the prospect of an opposition with a more acceptable leadership team.

    Looser – Labour, racking up a raft of failures that will become glaringly obvious once the cloak of covid is removed – e.g., housing, child poverty, gangs taking over state houses etc, etc. Easy pickings for the opposition leading up to the election.

    Looser – Greens, already not very visible, maybe retain about 8%, but irrelevant once labour slips to 40%.

    Winner – National, upwards and on wards, the gap between the left and right blocks has shrunk massively over the last 12 months, this trend will continue.

    For left wing fans, today is a bad day. And jeez, just imagine if Jacinda, the ticket to ride, decides it is all getting a bit hard and starts to look at other career opportunities……

    • Ad 3.1

      It's spelled loser, loser.

    • McFlock 3.2

      You reckon the nats will go with someone with voter appeal this time? Who?

    • Hanswurst 3.3

      Winner – National, upwards and on wards

      So they're heading for a hospital pass?

    • Gezza 3.4

      Alan

      [Loser] – Labour, already in decline in the polls, now faced with the prospect of an opposition with a more acceptable leadership team.

      Well, let’s wait and see – shall we? If it’s Bridges that’s a risk, he tanked them last time. If its Luxon he’s a newbie & thus scope exists for plenty of fumbles. If it’s Mitchell he’s got the charisma of a four by two, doesn’t serm spectacularly articulate & has an accent that grates on the ear.

      [Loser] – Labour, racking up a raft of failures that will become glaringly obvious once the cloak of covid is removed – e.g., housing, child poverty, gangs taking over state houses etc, etc. Easy pickings for the opposition leading up to the election.

      Your strongest point. Labour has some very weak Ministers who seem fearful of, & captured by, their departments. They need to get some steel up their spines & get to work finding out why they’re not performing & when they’re going to.

      [Loser] – Greens, already not very visible, maybe retain about 8%, but irrelevant once labour slips to 40%.

      Maybe. Don’t care about the Greens here at Pookden Manor. They’re an amorphous crew of lah de dahs – you name it, if it’s weird or obscure – they’ll have an advocate for it.

      Winner – National, upwards and on wards, the gap between the left and right blocks has shrunk massively over the last 12 months, this trend will continue.

      As I said earlier, let’s wait & see. I haven’t a clue what National stands for these days, apart from Parliament. They need some kind of sense of direction, they’ve been all over the place.

      For left wing fans, today is a bad day. And jeez, just imagine if Jacinda, the ticket to ride, decides it is all getting a bit hard and starts to look at other career opportunities……

      If Ardern bails, Labour will struggle – she’s Labour’s biggest asset, & their second biggest asset has been, first Bridges, then Collins, imo. BUT – Labour knows better than National how to target more voters by demographics AND they have the adantage being in power of being able to entice more voters with election year spending.

    • Mark Craig 3.5

      Mr Wilkinson at this stage in your deams laddie.

  4. cathy-o 4

    pedantic niggle –

    Looser is the opposite of tighter

    Loser is the opposite of winner

    • Alan 4.1

      oops, thank you Cathy

      • In Vino 4.1.1

        Illogicalities of stupid English spelling system:

        Loose sounds like goose (hard s like ss) but not like choose (soft s like z)

        Lose sounds like choose – same vowel sound with z sound, but only one o.

        Chose does not sound like lose because the vowel sound is totally different.

        Are there any conservative idiots on this thread who actually believe that English spelling should be taught through phonics?

        • RosieLee 4.1.1.1

          And there's an announcer on RNZ who insists on pronouncing "dose" as "doze".

        • Anne 4.1.1.2

          I dunno. English is a difficult language to comprehend sometimes – even for the English. I was in my teens before someone informed me that "choir" was NOT pronounced "Coy..a". And around 10/11 years old when someone else advised me it was "Hospital" not "Hospiddle".

          • alwyn 4.1.1.2.1

            I imagine they say Hospiddle in Whangarei Anne.

            With the sewage that is running down the inside of the walls in the Medical Wing it seems to be appropriate.

            "Sewage is now seeping into the walls from a 'stack' that runs down six floors." "The first leaks were discovered two months ago." "The Northland District Health Board expects the failing piping will take two years to fix, costing $2.8 million, because it is surrounded by asbestos."

            https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/sewage-leaking-into-whangarei-hospital-medical-wings-walls/NQQLYOTQ7ESDYVBY4JA4VYQJFU/

            I suppose that this is something that the current Government has managed. The falsely claimed that National did such a thing but now Labour have done it in reality. Shame if you are a patient of course but spending $51 million, to date, on the aborted cycleway next to the Auckland Harbour Bridge must have been much more fun.

            https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/126575243/51m-spent-on-axed-auckland-harbour-cycling-bridge-project-residents-in-limbo

            • Nic the NZer 4.1.1.2.1.1

              Context is important. They only say Hospiddle when they don't 'like Mike'.

            • Pete 4.1.1.2.1.2

              I visited the medical wing there twice in the past month and it seemed like business as usual in the rooms I went into. Is that a tribute to the Whangarei MPs of the past 25 years, John Banks, Phil Heatley and Shane Reti?

            • Tricledrown 4.1.1.2.1.3

              That pales into insignificance compared to the sky tower cost over run on John Key's deal that's cost more than double and nearly bankrupted the largest building company in NZ.

              Alwyn not to mention the large Poole of funds to a Charter school which was paid to board members.

              Minions are out of favour right now Alwynger the right need to Poole their resources and look to the sky. As National supporters could just about all fit into a telephone box.

              • alwyn

                " sky tower cost over run"

                I thought you would be one of those who say that businesses that can't compete should be allowed to fail.

                If a business freely enters a contract and gets it wrong and there was nothing unforseen about the situation why is it the Governments fault? On the other hand when a Government does something as stupid as proposing a billion dollar bike bridge the person who proposed it, and incurred the waste of $50+ million should be out on his ear.

          • Chris 4.1.1.2.2

            The PM probably says hospiddle.

    • mac1 4.2

      Certainly National cannot be accused of having a 'tight team' but loose does describe their behaviour- loose of tongue, loose of loyalty, loose of cohesion, loose of morality, loose with the truth, loose with funding, loose with supporters' wishes and expectations.

      They can come back, but the soul-searching and honesty is yet to begin, to start the process.

      Instead, as I have predicted before and as Mickysavage states above, "prospects of it splitting into an urban liberal party and a rural country party" loom greater as inertia in needed reform and change convince more to abandon their cause as a lost one.

      Every recent failed MP, flawed candidate, flunked leader underscores this poverty of spirit and performance.

      • RedLogix 4.2.1

        "prospects of it splitting into an urban liberal party and a rural country party"

        This has long been the case in Australia; they've effectively been a tripolar political system even though the long-standing coalition between the Liberals and Nationals has obscured this.

        • Michael 4.2.1.1

          More like Neoliberal Right and Far Right. Urban fat cats in tactical alliance with white surpremacists and bible-thumpers for the sake of grabbing the spoils. Both groups repel me but I can see their appeal to someone like you.

          • RedLogix 4.2.1.1.1

            white surpremacist

            The word 'racist' got misused to the point where it became useless – so now it's this emotive little phrase with connotations of the KKK and Nazis.

            This is a tactic being used to incite race violence.

            • Michael 4.2.1.1.1.1

              “supremacist” – my bad.
              You said: “This is a tactic being used to incite race violence.”
              I say: By the political Right. Nice to see the organisers of "Unite the Right" get a taste of justice themselves in the US the other day.

              • RedLogix

                Nice to see the organisers of "Unite the Right" get a taste of justice themselves in the US the other day.

                I'm pretty sure those who suffered losses as a result of the BLM riots mostly peaceful protests will have taken notice.

            • SPC 4.2.1.1.1.2

              The funny thing about the average white supremacist is their insecurity about their color and physique.

              Donald Trump’s most scandalous photo

              https://showbizgossiplifestyle.blogspot.com/2021/07/donald-trumps-most-scandalous-photo.html

            • Tricledrown 4.2.1.1.1.3

              It's not inciting violence but pointing out the history of white superiority which exists . Its a manifestation of an inferiority complex.

              Murdoch is the number one purveyor of this divide and conquer strategy.

              Democracy is his enemy as his rich billionaire mates pay less and less tax by undermining the vote with voter suppression.

              It doesn't effect the white well off middle classes so they are happy to pretend it doesn't exist.

              • RedLogix

                It's not inciting violence but pointing out the history of white superiority which exists . Its a manifestation of an inferiority complex.

                It may well have history – but these days it's little more than a lazy piece of noise used on any person with white skin you happen to disagree with.

  5. Stan 5

    Luxon, I agree, too soon for him. Need some time and distance from his evangelical beliefs, many of which will turn off the general (non-evangelical) population. Much too easy to attack, and actually may always be this way.

    There's really nobody who seems fit to be opposition leader, not that this matters to your average National Voter who thought Andrew Falloon or Hamish Walker would make a good MP.

    • georgecom 5.1

      has to be bridges, the only real option. retread a leader who was knifed as 'national won't win with Bridges as leader', a nice quote from Todd Muller to follow Simon round between now and the next election. And then at some point Jamie Lee Ross will get on the stand and accuse Bridges of being a corrupt politician. True or not, and coming from Ross it must be taken with a large grain of salt, it will raise questions bridges will have to front. Yup, he is the man. dust him off and let some of the old skeletons out of the cupboard.

      Reti – a nice bloke who would make a nice leader, especially if you like a nice low profile party. Sort of the Geoffrey Palmer of National. A nice bloke.

      The guy from Botany. Anyone else reckon he looks like a roll on deodorant. Whats his name, Rexona Luxon?

    • RosieLee 5.2

      And so many of these stale, pale males have rather unpleasant backstories.

  6. Adrian 6

    Agree Mac about the loose epithet, but can’t help wondering, do you think they are getting coaching from Ian Foster.

    • mac1 6.1

      Well, Adrian, they're like the ABs in that in the tight stuff they're rather loose and kick the ball back to the opposing team rather than run with it.

      As for their clearing out the opposition at the tackle- slow, uncommitted.

      Their team seems to be full of wingers all waiting for some loose ball to be magic with.

      My coaching uncle once told a famous AB winger, who was one of these glory boys, not to score between the posts. The winger just thought to win all they had to do was get the ball out to him. He however made the mistake of asking his coach why he should not score under the bar.

      He was told his head was so big he would get stuck there………..

  7. newsense 7

    Chris Bishop not mentioned? Always seems to do a good public facing display of civility and gentility, as well as liking rugby.
    Where does this leave the Nat factions and what are they?

  8. SPC 8

    For mine Collins knew her time was up and so set about taking out Bridges as successor. Her support for Luxon confirms this, she would would need the patronage of the new leader to survive.

    • Gezza 8.1

      Interesting Theory. One of my visiting family guests – they left today to return home after a 5 day stay – reckons Collins has deliberately engineered her own removal as she knew she was going to be dumped soon anyway.

  9. Maurice 9

    The elephant in the room is Mallard – when has the Speaker of the House been so critical of their own Party?

    The present cannon smoke will clear in relatively short order and if "Kiwi Jab" joins "Kiwi Build" along with a litany of other perceived failures when the "Covid for Christmas" wave hits with the vaxxed being exposed but the unvaxxed being locked away largely dodging the bullet …. then some very ugly and scruffy chickens may come home to roost.

    The present turmoil of an opposition party is mere distraction.

    • Ad 9.1

      The virus isn't waiting for parliamentary process.

      That Labour may in time lose the crown for "World's Best Managed Pandemic Response", doesn't alter the fact that they wear it now.

      We might like to have a functioning Opposition, but we're not going to have one now until mid 2022.

      In terms of chickens coming home, many of them are infected and we all know that the disease rate will rise in February.

      • Maurice 9.1.1

        Legislation will have little if any effect upon the spread. Indeed it is designed to enable that spread. At least the vnvaxxed may have a little more protection than the vaxxed – by being sequestered from society.

        How many will die?

        • Tricledrown 9.1.1.1

          Mandates do work scientific evidence has proven that fact.

          Looking for the 26% who don't agree is why National is floundering trying to make King hits on the Govt. Backfiring just like Crushless Collins.

        • Ad 9.1.1.2

          So I've been holed up in my house for 101 days for nothing?

          • RedLogix 9.1.1.2.1

            It depends. Lockdowns were only ever a tool for buying time.

            What do you think was purchased?

            • Ad 9.1.1.2.1.1

              Time for the system to get its shit together.

              • Tricledrown

                So you would prefer Europe which is going back into lockdown or Victoria Australia 285 days.

                Your argument doesn't ad up.

                But we appreciate Aucklands sacrifices to protect our health system and give time for everyone to get vaccinated and build immunity.

                Aucklanders are heroes.

          • Maurice 9.1.1.2.2

            Rather – Very little

            101 days of living life as you choose that you will never get back

        • GreenBus 9.1.1.3

          9.1.1

          They will break the rules when it suits them. They don't like rules either. So we need to be aware and keep distances when possible.

        • Patricia Bremner 9.1.1.4

          Not as many will die as have done elsewhere if we keep to the rules Maurice.

          If people stupidly have endless parties there will be outbreaks. Are you hoping for the latter Maurice???? Are you waiting to say "I told you so"?

  10. observer 10

    Imagine you are a party leader who has just been dumped, in the most publicly humiliating way. What would you do next?

    I expect for most of us it would be switch off the phone, chill out, a nice walk, fresh air, family time, etc. Maybe have a lie-in. Not Judith Collins.

    She's on Newstalk ZB this morning chucking poor Shane under the bus: "Dr Shane Reti and I decided the only thing to do was what I did."

    If anyone thinks this is all over, and she will graciously exit the stage, they don't know Judith Collins.

    • garibaldi 10.1

      Oh we know her alright observer and personally I am glad she is staying on so that she can continue with her nasty underhand revenge antics. It is exactly what National deserves.
      Maybe leave Bridges in there too now that he will always be damaged goods.

    • RedLogix 10.2

      My guess is the Party will have to expel her.

      • SPC 10.2.1

        She might struggle to retain electorate backing and then all the party has to do is "warn" her of a low list placement and so she will simply retire.

        • RedLogix 10.2.1.1

          In the usual run of events I think Ad's comment below about 'keeping your enemies close' would apply. But Collins has an unusually ambitious and ruthless streak that's probably safer on the outside of the tent.

          But yes I think you're right – rather than more public drama it would be smarter to handle it as you've suggested.

          • SPC 10.2.1.1.1

            They need to learn from the Chicago school – no drama Obama.

            But I suspect they will go the Alinski route (to compete with ACT)

            1. Three Waters – loss of local asset management (as influenced by local farming and business interests) control to iwi …

            2. Howling from the provinces about environment (waterway quality), conservation (habitat and wildlife protection) and global warming mitigation responsibility being too much central government for the laid back provincial landowning class.

            3. He Puapua, the haka dancing iwi invading Wellington to end democracy

            4. The call for those born biological female woman to stand by their Promise Keeper man Chris (the new birther movement)

            5. Public debt meaning a threat of estate taxes is on coming over the horizon to get babyboomers (the next Taxpayers Union astro turf war).

            • RedLogix 10.2.1.1.1.1

              Well at least one experienced National voice wants to go the 'no drama' route.

              Former attorney-general Christopher Finlayson said the events of yesterday were beyond human comprehension.

              He hopes some of the key players – including Simon Bridges and Judith Collins – use the summer to consider whether their future lies in politics.

              "I think there comes a time when people need to consider, it happened to me, whether or not their contribution to politics is complete and whether there are other avenues that they could pursue.

              "Maybe Simon and Judith need to reflect on the events of the last 18 months and consider whether or not they should perhaps move on for the good of the party."

              • Patricia Bremner

                Chris Findlayson forgot to mention Bedfellow. How come he has weathered everything from Ede and c/o to this? Must be teflon.

                • RedLogix

                  I think you mean Goodfellow? And the so far unexamined role of the Board in this. Good questions.

                  If I had to guess it would be his firm grip on the donation stream.

    • Ad 10.3

      The new permanent National leader should immediately appoint her to what she knows best: spokesperson on Police, Justice, Crime, and ACC.

      They need a specific Crime portfolio, and the ACC one is about to get real important with Robertson's massive social insurance project.

      They can't afford the loss of talent and they desperately need her and her supporters on the inside.

    • Michael 10.4

      Observer – I hope you're right. The Nats will stay toxic as long as Crusher and Peter Badfellow are around. That means Cameron Slater too, as he is indispensable to their power within the Party.

    • Enough is Enough 10.5

      If you want to keep your enemies quiet, you bring them in very close. Nine weeks after the general election in 1996, Helen Clark faced off a challenge from senior colleagues (led by Michael Cullen, with Phil Goff and Annette King close by). Guess what she did with them. Brought them in very close which resulted in a unified caucus for more than a decade.

      I am not sure National understands politics so I dount they will do this, but the best move for the new leader would be to bring Collins in close and giver her a front bench placing.

      • Tricledrown 10.5.1

        A new portfolio for Collins chief shit stirrer

      • observer 10.5.2

        I disagree. The analogy doesn't stack up.

        Clark knew that those MPs had a future in the party and could be relied on to behave like normal human beings. Judith Collins is Judith Collins. Beyond redemption.

        A better comparison would be John Key taking over from Brash in 2006, and pushing him out. There was the same discussion back then – "give him a portfolio". He got nothing. The Brash fans squealed for a few days (good old Kiwiblog was full of rage). Until the polls came out. The smiling assassin got it right.

        Like Michael above, I will be overjoyed if the new leader is foolish enough to keep the time bomb ticking. Bridges won't. The others? We'll see.

  11. Ad 11

    In a minor tangent, it's beginning to look like Labour wiping out the ability of Members to have a say in leadership contests was actually useful.

    Labour's clean approach in the 2017 appointment of Ardern from Deputy to Leader looks quite assured.

  12. Tricledrown 12

    So you would prefer Europe which is going back into lockdown or Victoria Australia 285 days.

    Your argument doesn't ad up.

    But we appreciate Aucklands sacrifices to protect our health system and give time for everyone to get vaccinated and build immunity.

    Aucklanders are heroes.

  13. swordfish 13

    .

    and the prospects of it splitting into an urban liberal party and a rural country party must be pretty high.

    Wouldn't have thought so … the major parties are nothing if not durable & resilient … I remember numerous Nats & their media backers prophesying the split / end of the Labour Party during the Key years … all wishful thinking / disingenuous rhetorical strategies.

  14. SPC 14

    One side of new leadership is the influence they might have on party (and possibly future government) positions

    For example

    Luxon supports a "no jab, no pay" policy for sanctioning welfare beneficiaries who do not vaccinate their children.

  15. JO 15

    Into the valley of death she surged, her banner of martyrdom emblazoned thus: 'I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself and falls on t'other,' accompanied by the volley and thunder of the 1812 Overture's cannon. It's a very old human story.

  16. Enough is Enough 16

    I think they will go with the Luxon/Willis leadership team. Top 10 will be:

    • Luxon
    • Willis
    • Reti
    • Bridges
    • Bishop
    • Stanford
    • Mitchell
    • Bayly
    • Lee
    • Penk
    • SPC 16.1

      Willis as deputy would highlight/commit them to the agreement with Labour that

      1. threatens to darken the sun in the urban neighbourhood.

      2. undermine urban planning design of intensification around public transport.

      3. risk overloading areas with already stressed wastewater and roading.

      4. lead to low quality design and building quality (and with likely consequences for councils responsible for consents – as per leaky homes).

    • rod 16.2

      I think they are all waiting for John Key to tell them what to do.smiley

  17. North 17

    Haven't had the time to read any of the thread but Judith's gonna say "ka ki te" ? Neh….because Judith is an 'officeholder'. And she will take her stipend. A caricature of rump Papakura…..an 'officeholder'. I mean Hyacinth Bucket is more pleasing to the senses and she's not even an 'officeholder'.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • At a glance – Does CO2 always correlate with temperature?
    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 ...
    5 hours ago
  • Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6.06 pm on Tuesday, March 19
    TL;DR: In today’s ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Tuesday, March 19:Kāinga Ora’s dry rot The Spinoff DailyBill McKibben on ‘Climate Superfunds’ making Big Oil pay for climate damage The Crucial YearsPreston Mui on returning to 1980s-style productivity growth NoahpinionAndy Boenau on NIMBYs needing unusual bedfellows Urbanism SpeakeasyNed Resnikoff's case ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 hours ago
  • Relentlessly negative
    Negative yesterday, negative today. Negative all year, according to one departing reader telling me I’ve grown strident and predictable. Fair enough. If it’s any help, every time I go to write about a certain topic that begins with C and ends with arrrrs, I do brace myself and ask: Again? Are ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    7 hours ago
  • Scoring 4.6 out of 10, the new Government is struggling in the polls
    Bryce Edwards writes –  It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    8 hours ago
  • Promiscuous Empathy: Chris Trotter Replies To His Critics.
    Inspirational: The Family of Man is a glorious hymn to human equality, but, more than that, it is a clarion call to human freedom. Because equality, unleavened by liberty, is a broken piano, an unstrung harp; upon which the songs of fraternity will never be played. “Somebody must have been telling lies about ...
    8 hours ago
  • Don’t run your business like a criminal enterprise
    The Detail this morning highlights the police's asset forfeiture case against convicted business criminal Ron Salter, who stands to have his business confiscated for systemic violations of health and safety law. Business are crying foul - but not for the reason you'd think. Instead of opposing the post-conviction punishment and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    8 hours ago
  • Misremembering Justinian’s Taxes.
    Tax Lawyer Barbara Edmonds vs Emperor Justinian I - Nolo Contendere: False historical explanations of pivotal events are very far from being inconsequential.WHEN BARBARA EDMONDS made reference to the Roman Empire, my ears pricked up. It is, lamentably, very rare to hear a politician admit to any kind of familiarity ...
    9 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Scoring 4.6 out of 10, the new Government is struggling in the polls
    It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support for the various parties in ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    9 hours ago
  • 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
    10 hours 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
    13 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
    14 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
    14 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
    14 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
    15 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
    16 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
    18 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
    1 day 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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 ...
    2 days 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 ...
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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 ...
    2 days 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 ...
    2 days 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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 ...
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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 ...
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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

  • Government moves to quickly ratify the NZ-EU FTA
    "The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours 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
    12 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
    14 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
    14 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    7 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
    7 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
    7 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
    1 week 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

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-03-19T11:02:11+00:00