TVOne’s reporting of the latest Colmar Brunton Poll result

Written By: - Date published: 8:16 am, October 20th, 2015 - 90 comments
Categories: Andrew Little, greens, john key, labour, making shit up, Media, national, nz first, Politics, polls, spin, tv, winston peters, you couldn't make this shit up - Tags:

I try to avoid commercial television and radio.  Too many egos and the commercial agenda is too transparent.  This is why I believe state media has such an important role to play. Radio New Zealand for instance does a very good job in providing in depth analytical Stories on current events.  But Television New Zealand leaves a lot to be desired.

Last night’s report on the latest Colmar Brunton poll is a classic example of its failure to report a story properly.

The written article started by saying that Andrew Little was “down to single figures (eight per cent)” while “John Key remains well ahead.”  It then reported on the party support figures.  But it did not report that the opposition parties now have a significant advantage over National and that support for National’s support parties is disappearing.

The film was even worse.  It felt like a John Key love in with video of him speaking to the UN and being a soldier boy in Iraq being shown.  What a guy.  He had the chance to make comments on various issues and even had the chance to say that National was finishing the year quite strong.

Meanwhile the only presentation of Andrew Little was negative with the reporting essentially being that he was not polling that well and how he must be worried.

But the changes in the poll were all within the margin of error for the poll.  Little going down 2% and Jacinta Ardern going up 1% suggests a marginal change if one actually occurred.  All of the movements were minor and within the realm of statistical noise.

And get this.  The one damning statistic, that on these polling numbers National would be out of office WAS NOT EVEN MENTIONED.

I wonder if Television New Zealand has heard about the Research Association of New Zealand’s political polling code?   This is a document which sets out best practice guidelines for the conducting and reporting of political polls in New Zealand.  The code includes these rules:

  • Stories should focus on changes that are statistically significant
  • Stories should focus on significant trends, which may not be just between the current and last poll, but over a number of polls
  • Stories should include analysis of not just individual party results, but also likely “bloc” results as the highest polling party may not be most likely to get to form Government

Arguably each of these rules were broken by the analysis.  The changes in the results were not statistically significant, the current trend is essentially there is no change and the failure to report the block result is as startling an omission as you can imagine.

And concentration on preferred Prime Minister rankings is rather silly when you think that the only vote that matters in an MMP system is that which the parties enjoy.

The overall trend is fine for the left.  On these figures Labour has increased its support by 6% points since the last election and the opposition block is already well ahead.  I can confidently predict that National’s support will not improve and with the absence of a viable coalition partner it will struggle next election.  Unless National wants to swallow a rather large dead rat and make Winston Prime Minister.

90 comments on “TVOne’s reporting of the latest Colmar Brunton Poll result ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. esoteric pineapples 1
    20 October 2015 at 8:33 am

    It is going to be New Zealand First who decides what government we have at the next election. Sadly, I am predicting they will go with National on the argument that they can keep them honest and not too extreme in their policies, although I am quite happy to be proven wrong.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 1.1
      20 October 2015 at 8:37 am

      50/50 I reckon, which probably means Winston Peters will come up with some bizarre third option.

    • Leftie 1.2
      20 October 2015 at 11:48 am

      @esoteric pineapples

      I do not think it is a foregone conclusion that Winston Peter’s, who hates John key, and hasn’t supported a National government for almost 20 years, (last time he apologized for it), is going to go with National.

      • Chooky 1.2.1
        21 October 2015 at 7:55 pm

        +100 Leftie…and NZF certainly would not have done a deal with jonkey nact on the flag like Greens leader James Shaw did..rescuing John key

        ( …hence undercutting Andrew Little’s bottom line that the present flag , the most popular flag choice of NZers, should be included in the first referendum, saving the country the cost of a second referendum)

        … NZF has unequivocally denounced the TPP…and states it is their intention to repeal any agreement if in government ( no other party has done this)

        …so quite a few votes will be heading to NZF next Election imo

    • John 1.3
      21 October 2015 at 3:05 pm

      But remember that Labour/Greens combined are at 43% v Nats at 47%. In two years time we may not need NZ First. Peter’s has got a fairly strong quite left caucus too who simply hate Key. They may mutiny on this if Peters insists on National.

  2. Tracey 2
    20 October 2015 at 8:42 am

    Out of office? Unless NZF went with National/ACT/UF/MP?

  3. Brendan 3
    20 October 2015 at 8:44 am

    Can you lay a formal complaint?

    • savenz 3.1
      20 October 2015 at 8:50 am

      +1 – lay a complaint. Otherwise they will keep doing it.

      • dukeofurl 3.1.1
        20 October 2015 at 11:17 am

        BSA will easily swat that away as ‘being trivial’

        Im not sure that its allowed in the legislation but they do.

        • savenz 3.1.1.1
          20 October 2015 at 12:02 pm

          Just lay a complaint anyway. With the All blacks tweeting go Nats on election day and our State broadcaster obviously reporting a very slanted picture of the polls, putting TV1 on notice with a complaint will at least get a message across.

          • dukeofurl 3.1.1.1.1
            20 October 2015 at 12:27 pm

            Tsk tsk. They dont take any notice of those things unless they are ‘upheld’

            Its hardly a complaint they will take seriously that someting is only mentioned in the 5th paragraph.

            What is more interetsing is the different reporters for different media put much the same tack on it.

            Collusion ?. More likely is they got it ‘pre- written ‘ from Keys media team and Key was available to do a voice to camera and response while Little wasnt available ?

    • Tracey 3.2
      20 October 2015 at 8:52 am

      on basis of lack of balance, readily available.

  4. One Anonymous Bloke 4
    20 October 2015 at 8:45 am

    RANZ needs to put its house in order: Dirty Curia are members.

    How hard is it to enforce their code of practice?

    • dukeofurl 4.1
      20 October 2015 at 10:09 am

      For many years he wasnt a member, which was was strange, but it must have conflicted with ‘other priorities’

  5. Karen 5
    20 October 2015 at 8:51 am

    The emphasis in the story on polling for preferred PM is ridiculous because as they know only the party vote counts.

    TVNZ also failed to point out that a whopping 32% of respondents responded to the preferred PM with ‘don’t know’, making it even more ridiculous to make the story about this, and not the fact that National no longer has enough support to form a government with current partners (party preference has12% don’t knows).

    Appalling bias shown by our state broadcaster.

    • Tracey 5.1
      20 October 2015 at 8:53 am

      I’m sure they aren’t

    • Anne 5.2
      20 October 2015 at 9:03 am

      TV1 is no better than the Herald, TV3 and ZB Radio – hopelessly compromised with a blatant disregard for objective reporting. They are hollow men and women who have little connection to political or social reality. Case in point: Q+A last Sunday morning introduced panel member, Josie Pagani as… a member of the Labour Party and representing the LEFT. No more need be said.

      • maui 5.2.1
        20 October 2015 at 12:10 pm

        If Pagani had any moral fortitude she would refuse to be on any media unless she wasn’t portrayed as representing Labour or any other left parties in any way. How about just political commentator? But she keeps on misrepresenting groups, fucking hell.

    • ianmac 5.3
      20 October 2015 at 9:31 am

      “TVNZ also failed to point out that a whopping 32% of respondents responded to the preferred PM with ‘don’t know’”
      And that Karen is the most significant statistic! It does show that about 300/1000 polled are no longer enamoured with Key.

      • Bob 5.3.1
        20 October 2015 at 11:57 am

        “And that Karen is the most significant statistic! It does show that about 920/1000 polled are no longer enamoured with Little”
        Doesn’t look too good when you put it that way does it?

        • maui 5.3.1.1
          20 October 2015 at 12:18 pm

          When has the majority ever wanted Little as PM? His popularity rankings have always been low and that’s just the nature of being the opposition leader.

        • Karen 5.3.1.2
          20 October 2015 at 12:27 pm

          John Key has been the Prime Minister for 7 years. Everybody knows who he is and that he is the PM. That 27% of the 1000 people polled named him as their preferred PM doesn’t surprise me.

          Andrew Little has been the leader of the Labour Party for less than a year, and he had a very low media profile in the years before that. I suspect that a majority of New Zealanders still have not formed any opinion of him at all, and a fair few still don’t know who he is. The 32% ‘don’t knows’ reflects that situation.

          Is that a problem? Two years out from the election I don’t think so.

          Little said he would spend his first year getting the Labour caucus working together and travelling the country meeting people. Next year I would hope polls show a steady increase in party preferences for both the Green and Labour Parties, but the preferred PM is unlikely to change very much until we are closer to the election.

    • b waghorn 5.4
      20 October 2015 at 4:49 pm

      I think an unintended consequence of MMP is we have ended up with a form of presidential type politics so preferred prime minister does have a bit of weight to it .

  6. Ed 6
    20 October 2015 at 9:03 am

    I don’t understand why they are still assuming that United Future will gain a seat – I thought Dunne had announced he was retiring. It is most unlikely that Ohariu will return a replacement United Future MP. Whether that would result in a net gain to any particular party depends on the application of the formula – a good illustration of why the changes in support shown by the survey are well within any margin of error.

  7. RedLogix 7
    20 October 2015 at 9:13 am

    Almost as bad as Claire Trevett’s effort:

    New Zealand First up, Labour down in latest poll

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11531667

    • Bearded Git 7.1
      20 October 2015 at 9:32 am

      @redlogix

      Where she says NZF’s 9% “is within cooee” of the Greens 12% “. NZF have to up their vote by 33% to get level with the Greens.

  8. Iceberg 8
    20 October 2015 at 9:40 am

    Dealing with powerlessness by shooting the messenger is getting a bit old, don’t you think?

    • dukeofurl 8.1
      20 October 2015 at 10:11 am

      Ask the Brits about ‘dont shoot the messenger’ meme. I bet they wish they used both barrels.

      You start with bad reporting and then go to bad polling – the whole point is to give a close prediction of an actual election result.

      The UK pollster had the last say: they blamed the voters for not telling the truth…mmmm.

      In reality the methodology is wrong, they ask the wrong questions ( at the end of the usual consumerist pap questions) and in the wrong way.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 8.2
      20 October 2015 at 10:12 am

      31 + 12 + 9 = being the messenger’s employer 😆

  9. Brutus Iscariot 9
    20 October 2015 at 9:40 am

    “And get this. The one damning statistic, that on these polling numbers National would be out of office WAS NOT EVEN MENTIONED.”

    That’s just as much fantasy as the NZH interpretation.

  10. Colonial Viper 10
    20 October 2015 at 10:24 am

    The Left has needed its own MSM channel for years now. Still we are left complaining about the corporate MSM that we have, despite the fact that they are not going to change who their masters are.

    • Nessalt 10.1
      20 October 2015 at 6:09 pm

      You do know what MSM stands for don’t you? The only way you could achieve this is by having a private finder. They would have to be pretty loaded which would have you sleeping with the enemy as you see the enemy. See how this doesn’t work?

    • geoff 10.2
      20 October 2015 at 10:09 pm

      Haha yeah what the left needs is another echo chamber, eh CV!

  12. Puckish Rogue 12
    20 October 2015 at 11:32 am

    Ahhh Micky I can always tell when you’re worried

    National 47% vs Lab/Grns 43% which means the left have to rely on Winston Peters whereas National might have to rely on Winston

    and this coming on the back of the Roy Morgan poll as well:

    http://www.roymorgan.com/findings/6506-roy-morgan-new-zealand-voting-intention-october-2015-201510150600

    But well done in geeing up the troops 🙂

    • mickysavage 12.1
      20 October 2015 at 11:49 am

      So you want to rely on Peters in two years time?

      Besides in just over 12 months Labour/Green have gone from 36% to 43%. Looks like a very acceptable medium trend to me.

      • Puckish Rogue 12.1.1
        20 October 2015 at 11:59 am

        Do I want to rely on Winston, of course not but then neither do you and remember for Winston it’ll be a choice between working with National only or working with Labour and the Greens and the more you slice that pie the less pie there is to go round…not that winston enjoys the baubles of office no sir

        The real problem the left has is that National is still roughly at the same level of support they’ve been at for the last couple of election cycles whereas Labour is still trying to get to the previous levels of David Shearer

        Now Labour has to hope that the TPPA (which doesn’t seem to have hurt National) will be a bust whereas the likelyhood is it’ll just get better

        • Leftie 12.1.1.1
          20 October 2015 at 12:10 pm

          @Puckish Rogue

          I think the fall out of the TPPA is yet to hit National, who are fortunate to have msm onside.

          Labour under David Cunliffe polled higher than under David Shearer, so why would Labour want to go back to that?

          • Puckish Rogue 12.1.1.1.1
            20 October 2015 at 12:52 pm

            So we can expect Labour will poll similar at the next election then?

            • Leftie 12.1.1.1.1.1
              20 October 2015 at 1:54 pm

              @Puckish Rogue

              Can you expect John Key’s dirty politics to produce the same outcome next time?

              • Puckish Rogue …
                20 October 2015 at 3:49 pm

                There was no “dirty politics” there was only only politics but yes I expect a similar electoral result for National with maybe even an extra seat of two for Act

                • McFlock …
                  20 October 2015 at 3:56 pm

                  really? You didn’t read the book of that title, then?

                  • Puckish Rogue …
                    20 October 2015 at 4:06 pm

                    And how well has the smear job worked out for the left? National still in power, John Key still riding high in the polls, National still high in the polls and Labour going nowhere fast

                    • McFlock …
                      20 October 2015 at 4:12 pm

                      You know you’re arguing with a tory when they think that disclosing the secret connections between a minister and pay-for-spray muckrackers is a “smear job”.

                      Yes, national is still in power. And you’re still a moral vacuum who thinks that babies being killed by state houses is part of some game.

                    • mickysavage …
                      20 October 2015 at 8:18 pm

                      Smear job? Pffft the left are amateurs compared to you guys.

                • Leftie …
                  20 October 2015 at 4:20 pm

                  @Puckish Rogue

                  You are in denial, it was all about John key’s dirty politics, he couldn’t have won without it, and if the media had of told the truth, National would not have been elected.
                  Given that people are more aware of National’s dirty politics, and National have already lost a safe seat since the election, and with Colmar Brunton suggesting that National would be down another 2 seats, maybe the outcome would NOT be the same as last time.

    • Leftie 12.2
      20 October 2015 at 12:02 pm

      @Puckish Rogue

      You have nothing to crow about. By all accounts, John Key and National have stalled in the polls. Even by Roy Morgan’s dubious rankings, JK and the Nats are no longer hitting those big 50+’s like they used to. The right are trending downwards, the left are trending up.

      • Puckish Rogue 12.2.1
        20 October 2015 at 12:54 pm

        I agree that the left will win the 2020 elction if it makes you feel better

        • Leftie 12.2.1.1
          20 October 2015 at 1:59 pm

          @Puckish Rogue

          It may be sooner than that, and how I “feel” about it is irrelevant.

          • Puckish Rogue 12.2.1.1.1
            20 October 2015 at 3:52 pm

            No it really won’t be sooner

            • Leftie 12.2.1.1.1.1
              20 October 2015 at 4:04 pm

              @Puckish Rogue

              How do you know? It may very well be sooner than you would like to think.

              • Puckish Rogue …
                20 October 2015 at 4:10 pm

                A. National is still high in the polls
                B. John Key is even higher in the preferred PM stakes
                C. Andrew Little is in a race with Winston Peters for preferred PM which, considering the difference in party sizes, suggests that theres not even a lot of support for Andrew Little to be PM in Labour
                D. How many leaders won elections with low preferred polling numbers
                E. The economy is still chugging along quite nicely, employment is still reasonable and the outlook is still looking pretty good
                F. Mortgage rates are still low

                • Leftie …
                  20 October 2015 at 4:33 pm

                  John key, stick at 40% used to ride high in the 50’s and in some polls the 60’s and has lost a lot of support over the last few years. Some Labour PM’s polled low prior to becoming PM’s. Wasn’t Helen Clark polling at just 2% at some point?

                  Who are the pollsters really polling? it still doesn’t suggest “theres not even a lot of support for Andrew Little to be PM in Labour”

                  The economy is tanking, coupled with an unprecedented level of government debt. Not a very bright future for most. The last 7 years have been an unmitigated disaster.

      • Bob 12.2.2
        20 October 2015 at 1:06 pm

        It might be best to check the Poll of Polls before suggesting trends that don’t exist: http://polity.co.nz/poll-of-polls

    • tracey 12.3
      20 October 2015 at 12:42 pm

      Sigh, It isn’t a game. There are real people’s lives getting worse.

      • Leftie 12.3.1
        20 October 2015 at 2:04 pm

        Who implied it was a game?

        • tracey 12.3.1.1
          20 October 2015 at 3:51 pm

          Anyone who talks about it as winning and losing and is poll pre-occupied

          • McFlock 12.3.1.1.1
            20 October 2015 at 3:57 pm

            i.e. our local moral vacuums.

          • Leftie 12.3.1.1.2
            20 October 2015 at 4:00 pm

            @Tracey

            Well, it is an article on the Colmar Brunton poll and TV One’s, (namely Kate Bradford’s), skewered reporting of it that we are commenting on.

            • Grindlebottom 12.3.1.1.2.1
              20 October 2015 at 4:16 pm

              I just can’t get my head around Katie Bradford as TV One’s political reporter. She just seems a real lightweight who treats the role like a spot on Entertainment Tonight.

  13. Bea Brown 13
    20 October 2015 at 4:37 pm

    McFlock
    If state houses kill children does that make Michael Joseph Savage NZ’s very own mass murderer?

    • Colonial Viper 13.1
      20 October 2015 at 6:22 pm

      reminder to all well heeled toffs: it’s not a damn game.

    • maui 13.2
      20 October 2015 at 6:34 pm

      So Savage organised the building of homes that were stated as being the very best of their time, improved the housing stock and you’re saying this killed people? I’m not sure if you’re joking or not. They could also afford heating back then.

      • Anne 13.2.1
        20 October 2015 at 7:20 pm

        Ignore the troll!

      • Naki man 13.2.2
        20 October 2015 at 7:38 pm

        “They could also afford heating back then.”
        Well that is if you call an open fire heating.

        • John Shears 13.2.2.1
          20 October 2015 at 10:43 pm

          What else would you call it Naki man?
          Some of the comments you and others make on this thread are just plain stupid.

          I grew up in the Sth Island with really hard frosts and snow in the winter. Heating was open fires in 2 rooms and the kitchen range Kauri Villa no insulation.
          Plenty of wood and coal and yes it was heating all right. How do you think we survived 30 to 38 degree frosts ? If you forgot to turn off the water and drain the pipes they would burst as would the radiators in cars if not drained. No electric blankets Hot Water bottles which would also be frozen in the morning.
          Get a life.

    • North 13.3
      20 October 2015 at 7:40 pm

      Go away Bea Brown. The dogs in the street know you as an unhinged right wing loon’. Go pash your Ponce Key dolly. And to you Naki……history will be rewritten on account of your perspicacity noting that MJ Savage callously denied the poor heat pumps, way back in ’35. Well done……oaf !

  14. Colonial Viper 14
    20 October 2015 at 6:32 pm

    Having just read the TV One news article:

    The National Party remains steady on 47 per cent, while Labour is down one to 31, and the Green Party is on 12.

    New Zealand First is up two to nine per cent.

    So, LAB + GR is still four points behind National. And the MSM is not going to make assumptions about who Winston is going to go with.

    To me the only fair and factual headline would be:

    Labour/Greens fall short of National; Winston the King Maker

    We also know why the MSM didn’t run that line. Too much spotlight on NZ First.

  15. Saarbo 15
    20 October 2015 at 7:54 pm

    Yep, watched the article and thought exactly the same as you MS, very annoying as don’t bother with TV3 since they told us they aren’t interested in serious NEWS. Not convinced TVNZ are either, a hopeless biased article.

  16. Melb 16
    20 October 2015 at 8:39 pm

    “But the changes in the poll were all within the margin of error for the poll. Little going down 2% and Jacinta Ardern going up 1% suggests a marginal change if one actually occurred. All of the movements were minor and within the realm of statistical noise.”

    Hey Mickey, this demonstrates a common misunderstanding about the margin of error.

    The stated MOE applies at the polling mark of 50%. At much lower response rates the margin of error is also much lower. So a change of 2% when Andrew Little is only polling 8-10% is going to still be statistically significant.

    A lot of people get this wrong, hopefully you change it so as to not spread the misinformation further.

  17. Melb 17
    20 October 2015 at 8:44 pm

    “And get this. The one damning statistic, that on these polling numbers National would be out of office WAS NOT EVEN MENTIONED.”

    Big call mate. On these numbers Labour + Greens would also be out of office. It all hinges upon what Winston chooses. I think you would be making a mistake to assume NZ First will automatically side with Labour and the Greens – have you already forgotten 1996?

    • lprent 17.1
      20 October 2015 at 11:07 pm

      …have you already forgotten 1996?

      Winston hasn’t forgotten 1998

      On 14 August 1998, Shipley sacked Peters from Cabinet. This occurred after an ongoing dispute about the sale of the government’s stake in Wellington International Airport. The issue itself appeared merely the outward manifestation of much deeper disagreement.

      Peters immediately broke off the coalition with National.

      Or that Shipley and National then proceeded to try to destroy Nz First.

      Then there is 2008 and the National party campaign against NZ First using their Act hand puppets.

      In the months before the 2008 general election, New Zealand First became embroiled in a dispute over donations to the party from Owen Glenn, the Vela family and Bob Jones. This resulted in an investigation into party finances by the Serious Fraud Office on 28 August 2008 and an investigation into Peters by the Privileges Committee.[12] On 29 August 2008 Peters stood down from his ministerial roles while the investigations were ongoing.[13] Although the Serious Fraud Office and the police both found that Peters was not guilty of any wrongdoing, the episode harmed Peters and the party in the lead-up to the election.[14]

      Basically it was lousy bookkeeping by what was essentially a rather amateurish political party. But it was neither corrupt nor illegal. I doubt that Winston wants anything to do with the political arseholes who engineered those. He’d prefer to force a minority government with no agreement rather than deal with such scum again – especially John Key.

      The only thing that I can see causing a problem with NZ First and a ‘left’ coalition is that Winston & NZ First don’t trust the Greens after their role in the kangaroo kourt travesty at the privileges committee in 2008. Sure they were getting their own back for 2005. It wasn’t wise.

    • Draco T Bastard 17.2
      21 October 2015 at 12:42 am

      No and I’m pretty sure that Winston hasn’t either. As a populist MP leading a populist political party he really screwed up there going against what popular opinion wanted which was to get rid of National.

      He won’t do that again.

  18. Mike S 18
    21 October 2015 at 12:57 am

    In regards to Little’s 8% as preferred PM. Does this mean that roughly 75% of those who would vote Labour don’t prefer Little as PM? (or don’t know who he is (the 32% don’t know) Because surely you would expect him to be closer to the Labour party vote percentage?

    Also, I see they still don’t acknowledge the fact that they use a landlines only sample selection. I don’t know anyone with a landline and none of them are National voters. (Except my parents who have a landline and are National voters.)

    • Melb 18.1
      21 October 2015 at 1:03 am

      Colmar Brunton were the most accurate poll in line with the 2014 election. The don’t sample landlines, but would account for that in their methodology.

      Two polling outfits sample mobiles – Roy Morgan which came middle of the pack, and TV3/Reid Research, which came dead last.

      So sampling mobiles isn’t all some people think it’s cracked up to be.

      • One Anonymous Bloke 18.1.1
        21 October 2015 at 8:14 am

        “most accurate”

        Not to rain on their parade, given their track record, it’s far more likely the ‘accuracy’ was a fluke. Wait ’til they’ve done it two or three times in a row before popping the cork.

      • Leftie 18.1.2
        21 October 2015 at 9:03 am

        @Melb

        Most accurate? No way. Generally the pollsters over exaggerate National’s ratings, then just out from the election result they adjust it. Not to mention the fact, that changes in technology have made polling inaccurate.

        Roy Morgan say they use landlines and mobile phone numbers, given that less people use landlines now, and there is no white pages that list peoples “current” mobile numbers, and telcos do not give out that kind of information, how does Roy Morgan etc get mobile phone numbers to randomly call?

        • Chooky 18.1.2.1
          21 October 2015 at 10:10 pm

          +100… unfortunately the polls are a self -fulfilling prophecy…and their sampling is far from accurate…many people wont talk to pollsters .

          • Grindlebottom 18.1.2.1.1
            21 October 2015 at 10:35 pm

            I don’t blame them. Some pollsters are the devil’s spawn. I’ll bet it’s been scientifically proven somewhere on the dark web.

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    Earlier this week at Parliament, Labour leader Chris Hipkins was applauded for saying that the response to the final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care had to be “bigger than politics.” True, but the fine words, apologies and “we hear you” messages will soon ring ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: In news breaking this morning:The Ministry of Education is cutting $2 billion from its school building programme so the National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government has enough money to deliver tax cuts; The Government has quietly lowered its child poverty reduction targets to make them easier to achieve;Te Whatu Ora-Health NZ’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Weekly Roundup 26-July-2024

    Kia ora. These are some stories that caught our eye this week – as always, feel free to share yours in the comments. Our header image this week (via Eke Panuku) shows the planned upgrade for the Karanga Plaza Tidal Swimming Steps. The week in Greater Auckland On ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 day ago
  • God what a relief

    1. What's not to love about the way the Harris campaign is turning things around?a. Nothingb. Love all of itc. God what a reliefd. Not that it will be by any means easye. All of the above 2. Documents released by the Ministry of Health show Associate Health Minister Casey ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago
  • Trust In Me

    Trust in me in all you doHave the faith I have in youLove will see us through, if only you trust in meWhy don't you, you trust me?In a week that saw the release of the 3,000 page Abuse in Care report Christopher Luxon was being asked about Boot Camps. ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • The Hoon around the week to July 26

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking about the Royal Commission Inquiry into Abuse in Care report released this week, and with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on a UN push to not recognise carbon offset markets and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 26, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Transport: Simeon Brown announced $802.9 million in funding for 18 new trains on the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines, which ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Radical law changes needed to build road

    The northern expressway extension from Warkworth to Whangarei is likely to require radical changes to legislation if it is going to be built within the foreseeable future. The Government’s powers to purchase land, the planning process and current restrictions on road tolling are all going to need to be changed ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #30 2024

    Open access notables Could an extremely cold central European winter such as 1963 happen again despite climate change?, Sippel et al., Weather and Climate Dynamics: Here, we first show based on multiple attribution methods that a winter of similar circulation conditions to 1963 would still lead to an extreme seasonal ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • First they came for the Māori

    Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedFirst they came for the doctors But I was confused by the numbers and costs So I didn't speak up Then they came for our police and nurses And I didn't think we could afford those costs anyway So I ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Join us for the weekly Hoon on YouTube Live

    Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on UnsplashWe’re back again after our mid-winter break. We’re still with the ‘new’ day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when we have our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Will the real PM Luxon please stand up?

    Notes: This is a free article. Abuse in Care themes are mentioned. Video is at the bottom.BackgroundYesterday’s report into Abuse in Care revealed that at least 1 in 3 of all who went through state and faith based care were abused - often horrifically. At least, because not all survivors ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Will debt reduction trump abuse in care redress?

    Luxon speaks in Parliament yesterday about the Abuse in Care report. Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:PM Christopher Luxon said yesterday in tabling the Abuse in Care report in Parliament he wanted to ‘do the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Olywhites and Time Bandits

    About a decade ago I worked with a bloke called Steve. He was the grizzled veteran coder, a few years older than me, who knew where the bodies were buried - code wise. Despite his best efforts to be approachable and friendly he could be kind of gruff, through to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Why were the 1930s so hot in North America?

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters and Bob Henson Those who’ve trawled social media during heat waves have likely encountered a tidbit frequently used to brush aside human-caused climate change: Many U.S. states and cities had their single hottest temperature on record during the 1930s, setting incredible heat marks ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • Throwback Thursday – Thinking about Expressways

    Some of the recent announcements from the government have reminded us of posts we’ve written in the past. Here’s one from early 2020. There were plenty of reactions to the government’s infrastructure announcement a few weeks ago which saw them fund a bunch of big roading projects. One of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Thursday, July 25 are:News: Why Electric Kiwi is closing to new customers - and why it matters RNZ’s Susan EdmundsScoop: Government drops ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • The Possum: Demon or Friend?

    Hi,I felt a small wet tongue snaking through one of the holes in my Crocs. It explored my big toe, darting down one side, then the other. “He’s looking for some toe cheese,” said the woman next to me, words that still haunt me to this day.Growing up in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • Not a story

    Yesterday I happily quoted the Prime Minister without fact-checking him and sure enough, it turns out his numbers were all to hell. It’s not four kg of Royal Commission report, it’s fourteen.My friend and one-time colleague-in-comms Hazel Phillips gently alerted me to my error almost as soon as I’d hit ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Thursday, July 25, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day were:The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry published its final report yesterday.PM Christopher Luxon and The Minister responsible for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • A tougher line on “proactive release”?

    The Official Information Act has always been a battle between requesters seeking information, and governments seeking to control it. Information is power, so Ministers and government agencies want to manage what is released and when, for their own convenience, and legality and democracy be damned. Their most recent tactic for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • 'Let's build a motorway costing $100 million per km, before emissions costs'

    TL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:Transport and Energy Minister Simeon Brown is accelerating plans to spend at least $10 billion through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to extend State Highway One as a four-lane ‘Expressway’ from Warkworth to Whangarei ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Lester's Prescription – Positive Bleeding.

    I live my life (woo-ooh-ooh)With no control in my destinyYea-yeah, yea-yeah (woo-ooh-ooh)I can bleed when I want to bleedSo come on, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)You can bleed when you want to bleedYea-yeah, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)Everybody bleed when they want to bleedCome on and bleedGovernments face tough challenges. Selling unpopular decisions to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Casey Costello gaslights Labour in the House

    Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone icon on the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Why is the Texas grid in such bad shape?

    This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Headline from 2021 The Texas grid, run by ERCOT, has had a rough few years. In 2021, winter storm Uri blacked out much of the state for several days. About a week ago, Hurricane Beryl knocked out ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on a textbook case of spending waste by the Luxon government

    Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • LXR Takaanini

    As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    3 days ago
  • Four kilograms of pain

    Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Luxon gets caught out

    NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • A worrying sign

    Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Are we fine with 47.9% home-ownership by 2048?

    Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloitte report for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Let's Win This

    You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Waimahara: The Singing Spirit of Water

    There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    4 days ago
  • A major milestone: Global climate pollution may have just peaked

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’s Oliver LewisScoop: Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announced the Board of Te Whatu Ora- Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • HealthNZ and Luxon at cross purposes over budget blowout

    Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2500-3000 more healthcare staff expected to be fired, as Shane Reti blames Labour for a budget defic...

    Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • Might Kamala Harris be about to get a 'stardust' moment like Jacinda Ardern?

    As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    5 days ago
  • Solutions Interview: Steven Hail on MMT & ecological economics

    TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
    The KakaBy Steven Hail
    5 days ago
  • Reported back

    The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Vandrad the Viking, Christopher Coombes, and Literary Archaeology

    Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On The Biden Withdrawal

    History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    5 days ago
  • Joe Biden's withdrawal puts the spotlight back on Kamala and the USA's complicated relatio...

    This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Why we have to challenge our national fiscal assumptions

    A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Existential Crisis and Damaged Brains

    What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • A speed limit is not a target, and yet…

    This is a guest post from longtime supporter Mr Plod, whose previous contributions include a proposal that Hamilton become New Zealand’s capital city, and that we should switch which side of the road we drive on. A recent Newsroom article, “Back to school for the Govt’s new speed limit policy“, ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #29

    A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago
  • I'd like to share what I did this weekend

    This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • For the children – Why mere sentiment can be a misleading force in our lives, and lead to unex...

    National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Order image, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A friend in uncertain times

    Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • The Chaotic World of Male Diet Influencers

    Hi,We’ll get to the horrific world of male diet influencers (AKA Beefy Boys) shortly, but first you will be glad to know that since I sent out the Webworm explaining why the assassination attempt on Donald Trump was not a false flag operation, I’ve heard from a load of people ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • It's Starting To Look A Lot Like… Y2K

    Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 20

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Pharmac Director, Climate Change Commissioner, Health NZ Directors – The latest to quit this m...

    Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Flooding Housing Policy

    The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • A Voyage Among the Vandals: Accepted (Again!)

    As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā's Chorus for Friday, July 19

    An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-July-2024

    Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: A market-led plan for failure

    TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Tobacco First

    Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Trump’s Adopted Son.

    Waiting In The Wings: For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSA announced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • Joint statement from the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago
  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

    Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    24 hours ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

    New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts.  “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

    An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Funding confirmed for regions affected by North Island Weather Events

    The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

    Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.   “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Strengthening partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto

    He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Transport Minister thanks outgoing CAA Chair

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
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    2 days ago
  • Test for Customary Marine Title being restored

    The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says.  “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
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    2 days ago
  • Opposition united in bad faith over ECE sector review

    Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet.  “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
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    2 days ago
  • Kiwis having their say on first regulatory review

    After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks.  “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
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    2 days ago
  • Government upgrading Lower North Island commuter rail

    The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
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    2 days ago
  • Government moves to ensure flood protection for Wairoa

    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
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    3 days ago
  • PM speech to Parliament – Royal Commission of Inquiry’s Report into Abuse in Care

    Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.  At the heart of this report are the ...
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    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges torture at Lake Alice

    For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
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    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges courageous abuse survivors

    The Government has acknowledged the nearly 2,400 courageous survivors who shared their experiences during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care. The final report from the largest and most complex public inquiry ever held in New Zealand, the Royal Commission Inquiry “Whanaketia – through ...
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    3 days ago
  • Half a million people use tax calculator

    With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
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    3 days ago
  • Paid Parental Leave improvements pass first reading

    Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says a bill that has passed its first reading will improve parental leave settings and give non-biological parents more flexibility as primary carer for their child. The Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill (No3), passed its first reading this morning. “It includes a change ...
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    3 days ago
  • Rebuilding the economy through better regulation

    Two Bills designed to improve regulation and make it easier to do business have passed their first reading in Parliament, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill and Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Bill make key changes to legislation administered by the Ministry ...
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    3 days ago
  • ‘Open banking’ and ‘open electricity’ on the way

    New legislation paves the way for greater competition in sectors such as banking and electricity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Competitive markets boost productivity, create employment opportunities and lift living standards. To support competition, we need good quality regulation but, unfortunately, a recent OECD report ranked New ...
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    3 days ago
  • Charity lotteries to be permitted to operate online

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries for charitable purposes, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, and local hospices, will soon be allowed to operate online permanently. “Under current laws, these fundraising lotteries are only allowed to operate online until October 2024, after which ...
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    4 days ago
  • Accelerating Northland Expressway

    The Coalition Government is accelerating work on the new four-lane expressway between Auckland and Whangārei as part of its Roads of National Significance programme, with an accelerated delivery model to deliver this project faster and more efficiently, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “For too long, the lack of resilient transport connections ...
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    4 days ago
  • Sir Don to travel to Viet Nam as special envoy

    Sir Don McKinnon will travel to Viet Nam this week as a Special Envoy of the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.    “It is important that the Government give due recognition to the significant contributions that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made to New Zealand-Viet Nam relations,” Mr ...
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    4 days ago
  • Grant Illingworth KC appointed as transitional Commissioner to Royal Commission

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says newly appointed Commissioner, Grant Illingworth KC, will help deliver the report for the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons, due on 28 November 2024.  “I am pleased to announce that Mr Illingworth will commence his appointment as ...
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    4 days ago
  • NZ to advance relationships with ASEAN partners

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters travels to Laos this week to participate in a series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led Ministerial meetings in Vientiane.    “ASEAN plays an important role in supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Mr Peters says.   “This will be our third visit to ...
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    4 days ago
  • Backing mental health services on the West Coast

    Construction of a new mental health facility at Te Nikau Grey Hospital in Greymouth is today one step closer, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “This $27 million facility shows this Government is delivering on its promise to boost mental health care and improve front line services,” Mr Doocey says. ...
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    4 days ago
  • NZ support for sustainable Pacific fisheries

    New Zealand is committing nearly $50 million to a package supporting sustainable Pacific fisheries development over the next four years, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announced today. “This support consisting of a range of initiatives demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment to assisting our Pacific partners ...
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    4 days ago
  • Students’ needs at centre of new charter school adjustments

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour says proposed changes to the Education and Training Amendment Bill will ensure charter schools have more flexibility to negotiate employment agreements and are equipped with the right teaching resources. “Cabinet has agreed to progress an amendment which means unions will not be able to initiate ...
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    4 days ago
  • Commissioner replaces Health NZ Board

    In response to serious concerns around oversight, overspend and a significant deterioration in financial outlook, the Board of Health New Zealand will be replaced with a Commissioner, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today.  “The previous government’s botched health reforms have created significant financial challenges at Health NZ that, without ...
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    5 days ago
  • Minister to speak at Australian Space Forum

    Minister for Space and Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins will travel to Adelaide tomorrow for space and science engagements, including speaking at the Australian Space Forum.  While there she will also have meetings and visits with a focus on space, biotechnology and innovation.  “New Zealand has a thriving space ...
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    5 days ago
  • Climate Change Minister to attend climate action meeting in China

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will travel to China on Saturday to attend the Ministerial on Climate Action meeting held in Wuhan.  “Attending the Ministerial on Climate Action is an opportunity to advocate for New Zealand climate priorities and engage with our key partners on climate action,” Mr Watts says. ...
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    5 days ago
  • Oceans and Fisheries Minister to Solomons

    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is travelling to the Solomon Islands tomorrow for meetings with his counterparts from around the Pacific supporting collective management of the region’s fisheries. The 23rd Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee and the 5th Regional Fisheries Ministers’ Meeting in Honiara from 23 to 26 July ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Government launches Military Style Academy Pilot

    The Government today launched the Military Style Academy Pilot at Te Au rere a te Tonga Youth Justice residence in Palmerston North, an important part of the Government’s plan to crackdown on youth crime and getting youth offenders back on track, Minister for Children, Karen Chhour said today. “On the ...
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    7 days ago
  • Nine priority bridge replacements to get underway

    The Government has welcomed news the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has begun work to replace nine priority bridges across the country to ensure our state highway network remains resilient, reliable, and efficient for road users, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“Increasing productivity and economic growth is a key priority for the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Update on global IT outage

    Acting Prime Minister David Seymour has been in contact throughout the evening with senior officials who have coordinated a whole of government response to the global IT outage and can provide an update. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has designated the National Emergency Management Agency as the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New Zealand, Japan renew Pacific partnership

    New Zealand and Japan will continue to step up their shared engagement with the Pacific, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “New Zealand and Japan have a strong, shared interest in a free, open and stable Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says.    “We are pleased to be finding more ways ...
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    1 week ago
  • New infrastructure energises BOP forestry towns

    New developments in the heart of North Island forestry country will reinvigorate their communities and boost economic development, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones visited Kaingaroa and Kawerau in Bay of Plenty today to open a landmark community centre in the former and a new connecting road in ...
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    1 week ago
  • 'Pacific Futures'

    President Adeang, fellow Ministers, honourable Diet Member Horii, Ambassadors, distinguished guests.    Minasama, konnichiwa, and good afternoon, everyone.    Distinguished guests, it’s a pleasure to be here with you today to talk about New Zealand’s foreign policy reset, the reasons for it, the values that underpin it, and how it ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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