Todd’s going … who is next?

Written By: - Date published: 7:31 am, June 24th, 2021 - 67 comments
Categories: Judith Collins, leadership, national, same old national, todd muller - Tags:

Yesterday I put up a short post about a National MP who apparently had spent Parliamentary Services money on a Television that may have been placed in his or her home and there was some weird comment about how he or she had done something with a sofa.

It was clearly an inside job.  The only questions were who was it and who leaked it and what did this say about National’s internal civil war?

The day got worse for National.  In the afternoon there was the announcement that the MP involved was Harete Hipango, she who had recently replaced Nick Smith after he jumped after being told by Crusher Collins that there was a Parliamentary Service inquiry into his behaviour (hint alert the irony is extraordinary).

The story about Nick has never appeared.  Questions have been raised, was this a sabotage job by Judith?

Then Hipango readied herself to take over.  But it transpires that she had a few Parliamentary Services issues of her own that she had to deal with.  Because it was confirmed that the MP who allegedly misused Parliamentary Services resources was none other than Harete herself.

A week ago there was this hit job of a Newsroom piece on the prospect of her return.

From Jo Moir at Newsroom:

A liability and not a team player.

That’s how some in the National Party caucus have described returning MP Harete Hipango, who is next in line after the resignation of Nick Smith.

Known for her strong opposition to abortion law reform and euthanasia legislation, Hipango was only in Parliament for three years, but in that time raised the eyebrows of her colleagues with some of her more controversial takes.

One National MP told Newsroom she “sailed her own waka’’ and seemed to think the party should be honoured she had agreed to join, rather than being grateful for the opportunity to be in Parliament.

Several National MPs said she wasn’t particularly well-liked in the caucus and didn’t have a lot of friends.

Hipango alluded to this in a recent interview for RNZ’s Matangireia, saying it was very lonely during her time as an MP and Māori woman in the National Party caucus.

She went on to say, “the Māori voice in the National Party is still yet to be truly valued’’ and there was a serious diversity problem.

After the astounding announcement that National’s newest MP had Parliamentary Services spending issues Todd Muller announced that he will stand down as an MP at the end of this term nominally so that he can eventually spend more time with his family.

But then the real reason leaked out, he had been told that he had to go.  He was not allowed the dignity of drifting out of the public consciousness but was further collateral damage from National’s civil war.

From Claire Trevett at the Herald:

National MP Todd Muller’s resignation announcement followed a late-night caucus meeting in which Muller admitted he was one of several unnamed MPs criticising returning MP Harete Hipango in a media article.

Muller has confirmed to the Herald that he admitted at that caucus meeting to making a comment that was quoted in the media.

“I did not leak. I made a comment to a journalist that was subsequently quoted. Yesterday I admitted to that and apologised for this.”

He would not comment further on whether that was a factor in his resignation, or whether National leader Judith Collins had demanded he resign.

Collins is understood to be furious about Muller’s admission.

One source said Muller was threatened with a move to suspend him from caucus if he did not announce his resignation.

The next morning Muller announced he would resign at the next election, saying it was a “difficult decision” but he had “decided that I need to prioritise my health and family and move on to the next chapter of my life.”

The tit for tat feeling of what was happening is extraordinary.  Every action is met by a crudely balanced nuclear option of a response.  Talk about giving back double.  Maybe Muller was the one who said that Hipango “sailed her own waka” but this appears to be accurate rather than disloyal.

It seems that the most vulnerable in each faction are going to be picked off as all eyes are on the leadership spill numbers.  And the moves do not bode well for National’s climate change response as Muller was the sane one who brought National behind the Zero Carbon legislation.

From a left perspective this is great fun.

I really hope Judith succeeds and hangs on.  The liberal wing of the National Party, the most important wing, is clearly being decimated because of Judith’s leadership goals.  National is becoming more conservative and more irrelevant.

The question has to be asked.

Which MP is next?

67 comments on “Todd’s going … who is next? ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Jimmy 1
    24 June 2021 at 8:13 am

    Yes I thought (and it is only my opinion) that Judith basically told Muller to go. To be honest, he should have left when Nicki Kaye left. Only thing I'm surprised about is that he will stay until the next election.

  2. Gosman 2
    24 June 2021 at 8:13 am

    This allows more space for ACT to soak up liberal right wing voters.

    • Robert Guyton 2.1
      24 June 2021 at 8:21 am

      Like a dry bread-crust dropped into a bowl of sour milk? 🙂

    • Incognito 2.2
      24 June 2021 at 8:33 am

      Yeah, nah, you’re dreaming, mate. You’ll have to watch out for the old horse coming through the middle.

      • Forget now 2.2.1
        24 June 2021 at 10:22 am

        We did hear that old horse whinny just the other week. I reckon he will be timing his run for the 2024 finish line. rather than breaking cover too much right now. Though he is pretty long in the tooth, and rumours about health may affect that nag's stamina.

        National biting the bullet and readmitting Peters to the party as leader outside of parliament would be an interesting scenario. Might even win them election if Labour's gambles don't pay off. Not going to happen though.

        I am more worried that the Christian Right may instead fill the vacuum; it'll be nearly two decades since Capill was convicted of raping children next election, so that stigma won't be as burdensome. However, the CR's inability to work together may remain the best defense against that.

      • Gosman 2.2.2
        24 June 2021 at 1:24 pm

        Winnie does not appeal to liberal voters. He's strictly old school conservative.

    • Sanctuary 2.3
      24 June 2021 at 8:37 am

      ACTs collection of gun nuts and lobbyists are not attractive to "liberals" unless your definition of a liberal is an aging boomer in Remmers who thinks that being liberal is having the rules apply to everyone else.

      • Ad 2.3.1
        24 June 2021 at 9:07 am

        Utes mate, follow the utes.

        At the big Auckland Contractors ball last weekend, Seymour and Collins were on hand to work the room. In a business sector employing over 10% of the working population and spending billions a year, not a single Labour or Green MP bothered to show up.

        • woodart 2.3.1.1
          24 June 2021 at 10:14 am

          "in a business sector running flat out due to gov action, orders for new utes are well up." there fixed it for you.

          • Ad 2.3.1.1.1
            24 June 2021 at 10:25 am

            Ardern un-fixed it by telling those ute-users to go electric.

            • Patricia Bremner 2.3.1.1.1.1
              24 June 2021 at 1:49 pm

              Ministers having to stay in Wellington?
              Seymour and Collins don't hold the levers., and they are not in the driver's seat.

            • Graeme 2.3.1.1.1.2
              25 June 2021 at 7:36 am

              Must be an insular mob of knuckle draggers in the contracting world up there, around here they're talking Cybertruck and hybrid LandRovers to replace the Ram or F150.

              Although the EV uptake here is pretty high, a lot of Teslas driving around know a V8 boy who went Tesla quite early and is on his third now, keeps trading up to the quickest. There's also a Ram in his fleet for work, I'm pretty sure that'll be gone once his Cybertruck arrives.

              I'm a bit more hopeful of change, and probably quite quickly.

              • Ad …
                25 June 2021 at 9:26 am

                We're all talking about it. No fleet replacement is free.

                And the way those DueenstownLakes tradies charge, it's a wonder they don't specify their Ford E150s in solid gold.

                • woodart …
                  25 June 2021 at 10:06 am

                  you are full of it ad. full of what is another question. double cab utes didnt exist 30 yrs ago. it was all holden and falcon utes. contractors and farmers might make loud whingeing noises about their vehicles, but as was shown in the seventies with l.p.g. and c.n.g. powered vehicles, they are very quick to change technology when pushed. electric vehicles will be no different.

        • Anne 2.3.1.2
          24 June 2021 at 10:28 am

          Maybe they weren't invited.

          Ardern might have been but too late… her diary was fully booked.

          • Ad 2.3.1.2.1
            24 June 2021 at 12:32 pm

            OMG. Like there wasn't an MP in the entire caucus available as a client rep for multiple billions of expenditure. Yeah right.

      • Gosman 2.3.2
        24 June 2021 at 1:28 pm

        ACT appeals to liberals in multiple areas. Free speech, less restrictive social rules, more choice around health and education, less economic regulation and central control. All bread and butter liberal ideas.

        • lprent 2.3.2.1
          24 June 2021 at 8:36 pm

          Auckland super-shitty, 90 day rule, three strikes that just expensively raise prison numbers with not significiant changes in convictions once you take demographics into account, and some really awful 'dancing'.

          Plus of course the the support for idiots who love selling weapons to terrorists.

          Whats not appealing.

          Coded dog whistles trying to say that it doesn’t matter in the face of evidence that it does (like prison populations) tend to go down badly outside of rtacist bigots. Plus we have only have examples of ACT fucking things up stupidly.

          It is hard to see anything useful that they have proposed over decades. That includes their almost continuous calls over the last year and a bit to open borders widely in a world wide pandemic that has years to go yet, punctuated by calls to close them for a couple of weeks.

          ACT – the home for incompetent thinkers with signs of early onset chicken little syndrome.

          • gsays 2.3.2.1.1
            24 June 2021 at 8:48 pm

            There is also the euthanasia enthusiasts.

            That wide net scoops a few votes.

      • Maurice 2.3.3
        25 June 2021 at 3:12 am

        Think of these in the Rural sector who are so seriously pissed off that they urinate in the Soy Beans before shipping them off to make Soy Milk and Toffu for the city slickers they now dislike intensely …

        Enjoy that Soy Latte'

  3. WC1 3
    24 June 2021 at 8:14 am

    The cynical might say that Todd is hanging around until he gets 9 years in Parliament and the benefits that come with that. I imagine that will never have to front up to a WINZ questioning about entitlement!

    • alwyn 3.1
      24 June 2021 at 11:32 am

      When will you ever learn?

      The "perks" you are alluding to were abolished in 1992. The last MP to qualify for them was Nick Smith who did 31 years in Parliament. In return I gather he gets a pension of about $86,000/year and some relatively minor travel concessions. They probably come to about as much as an average MP runs up in about 3 months.

      There are no current MPs who are eligible for the old scheme and there never will be another one. Let it go.

      • In Vino 3.1.1
        24 June 2021 at 8:09 pm

        Fair comment. It is a pity that alwyn has to keep on repeating this.

        • alwyn 3.1.1.1
          25 June 2021 at 6:42 pm

          Do you think I should give up and just leave this sort of rubbish to just go on being repeated forever?

          I find the canard that banks can just seize depositors funds to make up for their losses and then go on with business as usual equally as frustrating. Luckily it doesn't seem to be brought up nearly as often in recent times.

  4. tc 4
    24 June 2021 at 8:29 am

    Long may the cult of personality continue up top….you reap what you sow.

  5. peter 5
    24 June 2021 at 9:04 am

    Hipango finds it very lonely sitting in the National caucus.

    Is she putting that down to being a Maori woman?

    It seems there are other reasons for her feeling as she does.

    One remarkable thing is that given what is known about her and her past performance, she was the next cab off the rank. They have so few MPs yet she is ranked that highly?

  6. Ad 6
    24 June 2021 at 9:04 am

    No need to worry about the collapse of the National Party from within, because according to Chris Trotter the massive majority of Labour is but mere puffery that will soon melt away:

    http://bowalleyroad.blogspot.com/2021/06/skating-on-thin-ice-labours-support-is.html

    "Not that you can tell Labour’s apparatchiks any of this. Their ears are blocked to any suggestion that the Government has advanced dangerously far ahead of public opinion. Nor can they be convinced that they have made themselves vulnerable to the sort of brutal, right-wing political attacks that Labour’s and the Greens’ radical policies on race, gender, culture and climate change are bound to attract."

    Covid19 hasn't just been a gift to Labour: it's been a gift to politics itself to revive the necessity of government in all its forms. That Labour and the Greens are making use of this rolling crisis as cover for all sorts of other massive interventions is simply smart politics. National would certainly done the same.

    It's great to see the right fracturing. We're well overdue for renewal.

    • mickysavage 6.1
      24 June 2021 at 11:38 am

      Trotter has this strange view of politics where everyone occupies a certain segment and winning only involves putting enough segments together. He never allows for the possibility that groups of people change and evolve their thinking. My personal view is that Covid has made many of us realise the importance of community and there has been a fundamental change in the way many people think.

      • Ad 6.1.1
        24 June 2021 at 12:31 pm

        Well exactly. Covid is the perfect admixture of community response and state response. But only if it's done well, and the alternatives to that are all around us and getting closer.

      • Gosman 6.1.2
        24 June 2021 at 1:37 pm

        Me thinks you might be guilty of wishful thinking…

      • Chris 6.1.3
        24 June 2021 at 1:52 pm

        "My personal view is that Covid has made many of us realise the importance of community and there has been a fundamental change in the way many people think."

        I hope you’re right, but I think it’s way too early to know how widespread the impact of this might be. We've had one election only, and the highly divisive Collins as nats leader. Hateful attitudes are still extremely prominent amongst the general population. Willy Jackson acknowledged this when he said releasing the He Pua Pua report to NZ First before the election could have been disastrous for the government. He's right because whipping up racial hatred – all sorts of hatred – amongst the general population is still an easy thing to do. Just look at the opposition to Covid restrictions the nats are hell-bent on generating (while at the same time castigating government for every minor Covid security slip up, of course).

        All it could take is a change of leader and the nats are back in the saddle. Sure, general attitudes have changed since Covid. But whether this is meaningful and widespread cultural change, only time will tell. Any perceived demise in the National Party could easily be due to its current leader. Let's hope it isn't, but it's certainly too early to know.

        • In Vino 6.1.3.1
          24 June 2021 at 8:15 pm

          Fully agree. Hard to tell which was more influential in that last election: a new communal sense, or an off-putting performance by the Nats.

          • KJT 6.1.3.1.1
            25 June 2021 at 12:16 pm

            The sense I get from the Chamber of Commerce types I associate with, is they are conservatives. And conservatives like to feel safe.

            National's flip flopping about borders made them feel anything but safe.

            Also for most of them business is booming. People are doing up their boats and houses, buying new kitchens, spending in local shops, etc. Instead of the overseas trips. Farm contractors are doing very well as the imported labour force dries up.

            Tourist industries and tourism shops are feeling the pinch, but the local cafes are full. Some tourist only shops have closed but a lot of the tourist attractions have done a lot better than they expected, with New Zealanders seeing the country.

      • Patricia Bremner 6.1.4
        24 June 2021 at 2:09 pm

        We realised we need each other in ways not anticipated. We grew impatient with those who did not think of the collective. We appreciated feeling we were "in this together". so many middle Nats moved their thinking. Self preservation really.

        Those who push against this new solidarity find they are frowned on. That may change as we feel less threatened by the virus and get high vaccination numbers.

        The number of threats grow as climate change rolls on, and off shoots such as fungal infections disease and disruption increase. Community has replaced individual, as that "individual" stance is now a luxury and most realise BAU is unlikely to fully return.

        Trotter sees the world through a right left lens and finds tribal alteration strange.
        Just a thought Toddy leaked, how often? who were the journalists?

      • Cricklewood 6.1.5
        24 June 2021 at 5:30 pm

        I suspect a big chunk of support is actually a very content home owning middle class after all many have gained on paper 100-200k in the last year…

        Trotter is right in that the current situation could very quickly change ie a wobble in house prices…

        That and issues around delivery are starting to stack up… housing, housing affordability, mental health, light rail and I'll bet the harbour crossing joins that list.

      • Sanctuary 6.1.6
        25 June 2021 at 12:03 pm

        Trotter's problem is old age.

      • Sanctuary 6.1.7
        25 June 2021 at 1:21 pm

        There is a quote from Apsley Cherry-Garrard in his book “The Worst Journey in the World: Antarctica, 1910-1913”

        "…The mind of a horse is a very limited concern, relying almost entirely upon memory. He rivals our politicians in that he has little real intellect. Consequently, when the pony was faced with conditions different from those to which he was accustomed, he showed little adaptability…"

        Whenever I read a Chris Trotter column these days, I am reminded of Cherry-Gerrards pony.

    • Christopher Randal 6.2
      25 June 2021 at 6:20 pm

      "Not that you can tell Labour’s apparatchiks any of this. Their ears are blocked to any suggestion that the Government has advanced dangerously far ahead of public opinion. Nor can they be convinced that they have made themselves vulnerable to the sort of brutal, right-wing political attacks that Labour’s and the Greens’ radical policies on race, gender, culture and climate change are bound to attract."

      I tend to agree. Two points as examples

      Cycle Bridge vs paying nurses

      Unhealthy obsession with EV vs the unaffordability of that technology for the poor people of South Auckland (of which I am one). You want me to have a hybrid – give me one

      • Incognito 6.2.1
        25 June 2021 at 10:02 pm

        You want me to have a hybrid – give me one

        This is a profound misunderstanding of the policy.

    • McFlock 6.3
      25 June 2021 at 6:34 pm

      One can lead, follow, or get out of the way. Trotter seems to be sad that Labour are leading.

      Thing is, no matter what Labour do they're not going to maintain this lead in parliament. All glory is fleeting. And if you can't move boldy when you have one of the most populat governments in decades, a House majority, and an opposition in chaos, when can you move boldly?

      At least when Labour's electoral twilight approaches, they'll have accomplished something more significant than lab5 managed. They haven't changed the game yet, but at least they're looking at the rulebook with an eraser and a pencil.

      • Anne 6.3.1
        25 June 2021 at 6:44 pm

        And what's more, Helen Clark and Michael Cullen are right behind them every step of the way. They were able to set the scene under difficult circumstances. The 6th Labour Govt. is slowly able to bring it to fruition.

        Sad that Michael Cullen is most probably not going to see the results.

  7. Tony Veitch (not etc.) 7
    24 June 2021 at 10:02 am

    Which MP is next?

    I'll go out on a limb here and suggest that Brownlee will be the next to jump ship.

    Losing Ilam was a blow below the belt for him and he won't be able to conjure up the enthusiasm to fight for the seat in '23.

    • woodart 7.1
      24 June 2021 at 10:11 am

      the brilliant unforgetable M.P. for rangitikei (whatis his name?) must have qualified for his pension . after brownlee ,he will probably jump. he is not important enough to be pushed.

      • solkta 7.1.1
        24 June 2021 at 10:29 am

        That MP has only been an MP since 2011, not long enough to qualify for the old super scheme.

        edit: the scheme changed in 2003 so wasn’t there early enough rather than long enough.

        • alwyn 7.1.1.1
          24 June 2021 at 11:34 am

          He wasn't there in 1992 you mean. That was when it was scrubbed for all new MPs.

        • Rapunzel 7.1.1.2
          24 June 2021 at 3:28 pm

          Muller has only been in Parliament since 2014 – Ryall was still there in 2011 – Muller was at Fonterra & made no more impact in that role that he did in Parliament other than shredding the leadership

          • solkta 7.1.1.2.1
            24 June 2021 at 9:36 pm

            Woodart was referring to the MP for Rangitikei, Ian McKelvie.

            • woodart 7.1.1.2.1.1
              25 June 2021 at 10:14 am

              thanks for the name solkta. he is such a dynamic performer I should remember(yeah right!). as for super schemes, he was a mayor before being parachuted into a safe nat seat, so can assume he managed to slide his council super into parliamentary scheme. not that he would need it after inheriting large parts of manawatu-rangatikei .

            • Rapunzel 7.1.1.2.1.2
              26 June 2021 at 6:09 am

              Oh my mistake – because I'm local to BOP I probably think locally

    • ianmac 7.2
      24 June 2021 at 11:59 am

      No. Brownlee will not jump now! This is his big chance to move into the spaces opening up. With so few viable National MPs left, this is his big chance.

      Big Jerry for National Leadership!

      • woodart 7.2.1
        24 June 2021 at 12:37 pm

        and maureen pugh as his deputy! the south will rise again! an over the hill teacher and someone phucking useless(s.bridges).

    • Robert Guyton 7.3
      24 June 2021 at 1:36 pm

      I'd hate to see Gerry going out on a limb…

  8. Jenny How to get there 8
    24 June 2021 at 12:28 pm

    Love the photo.

    Looks like they are falling off the world.

  9. gsays 9
    24 June 2021 at 3:35 pm

    Muller seemed too decent a person to be involved with that back-stabbing, fornicating, self serving, unfit to rule rabble.

  10. mary_a 10
    24 June 2021 at 4:24 pm

    A queue seems to be forming for retiring/resigning Natty MPS, for love or health reasons. They must be so seriously smitten it's affected their health!

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    There are fears that mooted changes to building consent liability could end up driving the building industry into an uninsured hole. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Here’s my pick of the top 10 news and analysis links elsewhere as of 10 am on Thursday, November 30, including:The new Government’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on how climate change threatens cricket‘s future
    Well that didn’t last long, did it? Mere days after taking on what he called the “awesome responsibility” of being Prime Minister, M Christopher Luxon has started blaming everyone else, and complaining that he has inherited “economic vandalism on an unprecedented scale” – which is how most of us are ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    3 days ago

  • We need to talk about Tory.
    The first I knew of the news about Tory Whanau was when a tweet came up in my feed.The sort of tweet that makes you question humanity, or at least why you bother with Twitter. Which is increasingly a cesspit of vile inhabitants who lurk spreading negativity, hate, and every ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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