Twyford reverses National’s flawed methamphetamine housing policy

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 6:29 am, December 9th, 2017 - 71 comments
Categories: Abuse of power, class war, drugs, housing, labour, national, phil twyford, same old national, the praiseworthy and the pitiful - Tags: housing corporation, methamphetamine

One of the stupidest most inhumane things the last Government did was to develop a tough on tenants policy regarding methamphetamine. Not on cooks, but on people living in flats where minuscule traces of methamphetamine were found. They were summarily evicted. Bad enough that proof that they actually caused the methamphetamine traces to be present was not required but what made it really crazy was they misinterpreted and misapplied Department of Health data on what was a safe level of methamphetamine.

Belligerent beneficiary bashing combined with scientific illiteracy is a powerful combination. And wrecked the lives of far too many people. And they were told.

From Radio New Zealand a year ago:

Housing New Zealand has ignored repeated warnings from senior government officials that it is misusing methamphetamine contamination guidelines to evict its tenants.

The Ministry of Health has repeatedly told Housing New Zealand that its methamphetamine guidelines were to be applied only for the clean up of former meth labs, and were not intended to monitor homes where the drug has been smoked.

Yet hundreds of tenants have been evicted from their state homes, after Housing New Zealand detected tiny traces of methamphetamine in them, and are often made to pay tens of thousands of dollars in clean up fees.

The ministry has just published new guidelines saying meth can be found at three to four times higher than the level being used as a reason to evict tenants.

Drug Foundation executive director Ross Bell said Housing New Zealand had caused a huge amount of harm by knowingly misusing the guidelines.

“Housing New Zealand have evicted people out of HNZ homes, out of social housing, they have blacklisted these tenants for 12 months and they knew these guidelines were wrong,” Mr Bell said.

“What do they do with the tenants that they’ve evicted, what do they do with the tenants who have been blacklisted, what do they do with the tenants who have been given $20,000 -$40,000 clean up bills?

“What are Housing New Zealand now going to do?”

What a difference a change of government makes. Now we have a Minister who understands the science, has human empathy and is also bewildered at the horrendous cost of methamphetamine testing that the last Government engaged in. A Minister who met with Robert Erueti who has suffered from significant health problems after being evicted after minuscule traces of methamphetamine were found in his Housing Corporation Flat and who has had to sleep rough for periods of time.

Again from Radio New Zealand:

Hundreds of Housing New Zealand properties have been left empty and millions squandered on methamphetamine testing, Housing Minister Phil Twyford says.

Mr Twyford apologised on Checkpoint with John Campbell today for the treatment of a man who spent 58 weeks in emergency housing in a motel – costing the government $44,000, after traces of methamphetamine were found in his home.

Mr Twyford pledged to make changes to the existing regime.

Last night Checkpoint reported that Robert Erueti was evicted from his state house where he lived for more than 15 years in February last year.

Mr Twyford said yesterday Mr Erueti should never have been evicted from his HNZ home.

“I wanted to tell him that Housing New Zealand are changing their policy and they are moving to a new approach for dealing with this issue that I think is more compassionate and more considered.”

The minister said if methamphetamine traces were found now support, not eviction, would be the first approach.

“Over the last three years Housing New Zealand, on behalf of the tax payer, has spent $75 million on testing and remediating houses that are or were allegedly contaminated.”

Mr Twyford said this had left hundreds of properties empty.

“Some 900 properties have been left vacant in the middle of a housing crisis on the basis of a methamphetamine contamination standard that cannot distinguish between a place that is genuinely contaminated from the manufacture of methamphetamine, and would endanger the health of someone living in that house, and an infinitesimally small residue that would pose no risk.”

He said a kind of moral panic over methamphetamine had taken hold.

“I think that has been drummed up and exploited by a meth testing industry that saw an opportunity to make a dollar.

“Put that together with the fact we had a standard that was patently not fit for purpose.”

Mr Twyford met Mr Erueti and his daughter Casey in Auckland and apologised.

“The eviction of Robert made his life immeasurably more difficult … I apologised to them on behalf of the government.”

This blog post from Russell Brown in August 2016 is remarkably prescient. He concludes with this passage which is as applicable now as it was then:

The real victims of this debacle are the Housing NZ tenants who lost their homes, often on the basis of no more than suspicion or gossip. As I note in the story, the corporation’s meth team went some pretty grim places with this problem – even “talking about” the idea of making universal drug tests a precondition of tenancy. They seem to have lost touch with Housing NZ’s role as a social agency.

I can’t be sure, but I suspect Housing NZ’s practice, at least as far as remediation goes, is already quietly changing. When I visited the Housing NZ flats in Greys Avenue a little over a month ago, I counted nine places boarded up up. There are only a couple now, and some of those opened have not been stripped out. Number 37, boarded up since March, is getting a paint job only. So needless cost may be being curbed now.

That will be of little comfort to those who have lost their homes and security. This is a story of how things get out of hand, and how moral panic and drug stigma lead us to make terrible decisions.

Well done Pbil Twyford, well done.

71 comments on “Twyford reverses National’s flawed methamphetamine housing policy ”

Comments are now closed

Antoine 1

9 December 2017 at 7:00 am

On balance this is awesome, well done Twyford

A.
Good shepherd 2

9 December 2017 at 7:06 am

Well done 👍🏼 Phil Twyford. Yes.

Appallingly done Nick Smith and the rest of those Nat ministers who ignored the science and the advice and the pleas of those who could see what they were doing was wrong and unnecessary.

The question is why?

Because it was expedient.

Their agenda is to keep othering the vulnerable, failing the public services, privatising Public property, advancing private interests, and worsening while denying there is a crisis. No housing crisis. No mental health crisis. No health crisis. No aging population with needs that they weren’t preparing to meet. No water crisis. No infrastructure crisis.

They should never be allowed anywhere near the treasury benches again.
- John up North 2.1
  
  9 December 2017 at 8:42 am
  
  Why? well it added to the Billshit line that the nats love to peddle – Beneficiaries are useless bludgers that sit on the couch doing drugs all day and don’t want to work. Once again due to their own irresponsible behaviour and poor life choices we have to give em the boot cause hard working, tax paying families shouldn’t pay for these “bad” people to have a roof over their heads while having “fun”.
Carolyn_Nth 3

9 December 2017 at 7:09 am

There was a new meth testing and decontamination standard issued in June.

Standards NZ.

Ministry of Health

The scope of NZS 8510 covers:

measures to manage risks to health, well-being, safety, and the environment
guidance on methods of screening, sampling and testing of properties and their contents
best practice procedures and criteria, for decontaminating methamphetamine-contaminated properties and their contents. This includes providing for room-by-room, ie, only those rooms found to be contaminated need to be decontaminated, to avoid unnecessary costs and disruption for residents and home owners
guidance on post-decontamination actions, including sampling and testing to verify decontamination has been achieved and reporting and documentation requirements.

How good was this? And what does Twyford’s policy do to improve on it?

Had Housing NZ’s policies already changed following the release of the new standard?
- Bill 3.1
  
  9 December 2017 at 8:54 am
  
  The August 16th blog post from Russel Brown linked in the post suggests changes were already being executed.
  
  What I’m picking is that the shift from eviction to support (whatever that might mean) is Twyford’s basic contribution, which though welcome enough, isn’t exactly headline stuff.
  
  So he’s decided to dress it up in some finery that he really doesn’t have anything to do with- the deeper shift in policy that occurred last June – in order to get some attention and adulation/traction.
  - patricia bremner 3.1.1
    
    9 December 2017 at 10:05 am
    
    “He decided to dress it up” Very cynical Bill. What he actually did was recognize and apologise for the harm done to tenants for bad policy.
    - Bill 3.1.1.1
      
      9 December 2017 at 10:28 am
      
      Well, going from the post header – “Twyford reverses National’s flawed methamphetamine housing policy” and from the main body of text “What a difference a change of government makes. Now we have a Minister who understands the science,…” – I’m reasonably assuming he’s made some claim to that effect.
      
      Of course, it could just as likely be that mickysavage has got carried away by his own enthusiasm to the extent of suggesting things that neither Twyford nor his staff have actually suggested.
      
      I agree that he (Twyford) has done as you say. And that apologising is a good thing. The announcement of the intent to approach tenants of contaminated properties with “support” is something I regard with caution.
      
      But then, as you rightly point out, I don’t exactly shy away from cynicism 😉
- mickysavage 3.2
  
  9 December 2017 at 12:05 pm
  
  Carolyn did you read the post?
  
  If you read Russell Brown’s post in August 2016 referred to above (written AFTER the Health guidelines were published) one of the big issues was that Housing Corp were misusing Health’s guidelines.
  
  There is also the Radio NZ comment “Housing New Zealand has ignored repeated warnings from senior government officials that it is misusing methamphetamine contamination guidelines to evict its tenants”.
  
  And this:
  
  “The Ministry of Health has repeatedly told Housing New Zealand that its methamphetamine guidelines were to be applied only for the clean up of former meth labs, and were not intended to monitor homes where the drug has been smoked.”
  - Carolyn_Nth 3.2.1
    
    9 December 2017 at 6:35 pm
    
    The new standard was published in June 2017, not 2016.
    
    I had looked at it when I had a new clause in my renewed tenancy agreement has a new meth testing clause. The 2017 standard didn’t exist when I looked this time last year. The new standard does say there needs to be proof a tenant caused any meth contamination. Consequently, I was OK about signing my new tenancy agreement.
    
    I listened to Twyford on RNZ Checkpoint last night, and thought he fudged the references to when the testing scam occurred – ie sounded more historical. I just listened again,
    
    At 2.35 secs, Twyford said Housing NZ are moving towards a more compassionate approach.
    
    In response to Campbell asking if he was announcing a new policy for the first time tonight on RNZ, Twyford then said:
    
    This is the first time that as Minister I’ve spoken about this policy.
    
    He says the guy in charge of HNZ has done the hard work on it, and Twyford supports him.
    
    At about 4.25 mins, Twyford says:
    
    you know over the last 3 years, Housing New Zealand, on behalf of the tax payer, has spent 75 million dollars, on testing and remediating, that are or were allegedly contaminated.
    
    Some 900 properties have been left vacant in the middle of a housing crisis,[pause] on the basis of a methamphetamine contamination Standard, that cannot distinguish between a place that is genuinely contaminated by the manufacture of methamphetamine and would therefore pose a risk to someone’s health who is living in the house, and infinitesimally small residue, that would pose no risk whatsoever…
    
    Campbell says something about the testing having been done at a level of 0.5, which is extremely low.
    
    Then, Twyford talks about the scam of testing, then he says:
    
    The Standard is patently not fit for purpose, or wasn’t.
    
    My bold, because that’s where I thought Twyford was fudging when the policy had actually changed at HNZ, when I listened last night.
    
    The Ministry of Health web page on the 2017 Standard, linked to above says:
    
    The standard adopts a single level of 1.5 µg/100 cm2 (1.5 micrograms of methamphetamine per 100 square centimetres of surface sampled) that ‘high use areas’ of affected properties should be decontaminated to, regardless of whether the properties were involved in the production or use of methamphetamine. High use areas are defined as those areas that can be easily accessed and are regularly used by adults and children.
    
    So, basically, Twyford does not appear to have announced a new policy, but reaffirms the recent direction HNZ has started to take.
    
    Twyford does make it explicit that he thinks it’s important to treat meth use as a health problem, not a criminal one.
    - mickysavage 3.2.1.1
      
      9 December 2017 at 7:21 pm
      
      Can you post the Meth clause? The HC website has the 2016 version still on the web. It does not refer to Meth but says:
      
      “keep your house and garden tidy and not damage the property – if friends, family or visitors damage the property, you need to pay for the repairs
      call us when repairs are needed
      …
      not use the property for an unlawful purpose or let anyone else use it for unlawful purposes”
      
      There may or may not have been a quiet backdown by National about the issue. But the comment stands. They wanted to appear to be tough on crime and created this situation.
      - Carolyn_Nth 3.2.1.1.1
        
        9 December 2017 at 7:46 pm
        
        What meth clause? what is HC?
        
        Note, in my first comment above, I asked about any changes to HNZ policies since the June 2017 Standard was announced.
        
        In his interview on Checkpoint last night, Twyford did not seem to be talking about a new government policy. He did refer to some recommendations from the head of HNZ.
        
        I’m not in a Housing NZ rental.
        
        PS: This Newsroom article from Oct 2017, says the new Standard doesn’t go far enough, and that HNZ is being cagey about how they will comply. Also, it says the standard still doesn’t differentiate between contamination from a meth lab and from smoking.
        
        Twyford did nothing to clarify any of this on RNZ yesterday, in terms of either government, or HNZ policies.
        
        mickysavage 3.2.1.1.1.1
        
        9 December 2017 at 8:26 pm
        
        Meth clause:
        
        “I had looked at it when I had a new clause in my renewed tenancy agreement has a new meth testing clause.”
        
        HC = HNZ. Sorry for my shorthand.
        
        I am confused. This post is about Housing NZ treatment of tenants using a misunderstanding of a MOH test. It is good that the MOH has tried to clarify matters. But where is the evidence that HNZ has changed its approach?
        
        Carolyn_Nth …
        
        9 December 2017 at 8:50 pm
        
        The meth clause in my tenancy agreement:
        
        General conditions:
        …
        
        Illicit substances: I/We agree that methamphetamine testing may be carried out during the course of the tenancy as part of the property inspection process.
        
        I was asking if HNZ had changed it’s approach. All the headlines say that on RNZ Checkpoint yesterday, Phil Twyford announced that — as under RNZ Checkpoint video:
        
        Phil Twyford announces live on Checkpoint he will change HNZ policy over evicting tenants for positive methamphetamine results.
        
        But in the audio recording, I really didn’t hear a clear statement about this. As reported in the RNZ print report on the interview, linked from your above post, Micky:
        
        “I wanted to tell him that Housing New Zealand are changing their policy and they are moving to a new approach for dealing with this issue that I think is more compassionate and more considered.”
        
        But Twyford doesn’t say who encouraged HNZ to move towards a new approach, or if the initiative had come from Twyford or Labour.
        
        In the audio recording, Twyford says:
        
        But I want to acknowledge Andrew Mackenzie the Chief Executive of Housing NZ, who has been of the view for some time himself (he’s been in the job about 14 months), and he hasn’t been happy with the approach that was taken. He has done the hard work on this, and I support him absolutely.
        
        I share his view that kicking people out of their homes – often vulnerable people – out of their homes in the middle of a housing crisis, and making them homeless, is not a constructive or sensible response to something like addiction.
        
        And it sounds like Mackenzie has been in his job since about the time Russell Brown wrote his blog post on the issue, saying he suspected things were changing recently.
        
        Twyford just wasn’t that clear on RNZ yesterday – he was just fronting up to talk about apologising to one of the previous HNZ tenants who had been evicted.
        
        PS:
        But where is the evidence that HNZ has changed its approach?
        
        I was pretty much asking for this in my first comment above, so, I wouldn’t have thought there was much point in asking me back.
        
        I asked above:
        Had Housing NZ’s policies already changed following the release of the new standard?
        
        The Chairman …
        
        9 December 2017 at 9:46 pm
        
        “I share his view that kicking people out of their homes – often vulnerable people – out of their homes in the middle of a housing crisis, and making them homeless, is not a constructive or sensible response to something like addiction.”
        
        That tends to imply people being evicted are addicts, therefore off to rehab?
        
        How would the state know they are addicts when at this stage they can’t even prove people being evicted are the cause of the contamination? Drug testing?
        
        Moreover, surely the Minster isn’t going to allow them to stay in a contaminated home? And with a shortage of state homes, the state will struggle to rehouse them. So where will they end up?
        
        I’m with you, Carolyn, there are lots of questions for the Minister to answer.
        
        Carolyn_Nth …
        
        10 December 2017 at 9:23 am
        
        Well, on reflection, and after last night reading the Newsroom article critiquing the 2017 Standard, I don’t think Twyford was making an announcement about a fully worked out policy.
        
        RNZ was quick to label Twyford’s statements as a policy announcement first made on RNZ. But it sounds more like a work in progress, and that Twyford has been communicating with the HNZ CEO on it.
        
        That is why Twyford was a bit waffley, and why it has not been officially announced anywhere else as a new government policy.
        
        So, it’s more of a statement of intent to improve the way HNZ tests for, and responds to meth contamination – and that HNZ has been working on their approach.
        
        But also, that Newsroom article shows good reasons why the Standard also needs further work.
        
        Nevertheless, it indicates a slight improvement of the way testing and responses to contamination have improved in the last year.
        
        In particular, raising the maximum acceptable limit of meth contamination from 0.5 microgram to 1.5/100cm2 has resulted in 40-60 percent of cases falling below the standard which would have been previously exceeded it.
        
        “That has been the improvement. Now fewer are being caught in the trap.”
        
        This was evidenced when Housing NZ released 50 houses for re-habitation upon the announcement of these new levels. It is worth noting that 50 represents less than 10 percent of the homes Housing NZ then had uninhabited due to meth contamination.
        
        The whole Newsroom article on this is well worth a read – many important points about the excessive focus on meth testing, the lack of evidence of major dangers to health, compared with other risks to tenant health from poor housing and other substances, etc.
        
        It is good that Twyford was indicating meth usage is a health issue (for the user) and not a criminal one.
        
        The Chairman …
        
        10 December 2017 at 10:41 am
        
        Thanks, Carolyn.
        
        With scientists disagreeing with the new testing standard (as reported in your link) one wonders why Labour aren’t doing more on correcting that and the cowboy industry?
        
        Surely, a standard not fit for purpose requires their immediate attention.
        
        Which in turn will free up more homes and reduce the amount requiring decontamination (thus tenants being removed) going forward.
        
        As for it being a policy announcement, it does seem to be more a case of work in progress.
Psycho Milt 4

9 December 2017 at 8:38 am

Housing New Zealand has ignored repeated warnings from senior government officials that it is misusing methamphetamine contamination guidelines to evict its tenants.

And you can guaran-fuckin-tee that they were doing this on the instruction of successive National Party cabinet ministers, as part of National’s drive to run down the state housing stock. I hope that’s going to find its way into the public domain during this government’s tenure.
Psycho Milt 5

9 December 2017 at 8:39 am

This bit is less than promising:

The minister said if methamphetamine traces were found now support, not eviction, would be the first approach.

The minister should be saying that this scam is over, full stop.
- David Mac 5.1
  
  9 December 2017 at 12:25 pm
  
  If he wants to go down that road I think the first approach would need to be proving beyond a doubt that the tenants are responsible for the residue. There is little stopping a contractor from having a toot on a pipe as he redecorates my 85 year old parents’ unit.
greywarshark 6

9 December 2017 at 9:52 am

There has to be some support for the past actions which would be based on the flimsiest health and safety background but people have believed them. So things can’t be just dismissed, can’t be just rolled back completely, but can reason prevail and true concern for both the tenants and the house owners.

And further, to limit the drug business, perhaps taking particular care to find the drug ‘cooks’ and keep them separate from other prisoners and under special surveillance. And keep note of the drug factories overseas and their customers in NZ. And further develop micro businesses through a dedicated agency, giving people with creative, questing minds an alternative pathway and passion for their daily lives.
patricia bremner 7

9 December 2017 at 10:05 am

[Deleted. Accidental duplicate comment] – Bill
greg 8

9 December 2017 at 10:11 am

when questioned by reporters smith wouldn’t take responsibility for anything done on his watch thank god hes gone but what a mess phil twyford has inherited
- Bearded Git 8.1
  
  9 December 2017 at 10:24 am
  
  +100 Greg…..Smith seems to be in denial….can’t tell truth from lies any more, if he ever could.
- Cinny 8.2
  
  9 December 2017 at 11:00 am
  
  smith was mentioned in our local paper this week, pushing his so called role as nationals representative for Tasman.
  
  He says Motueka will see more of him and his caravan, I’m suspecting he will be a regular at the Sunday Markets here, last time nick was at the market was in the form of a glorious sculpture on the back of a trailer 🙂
  
  From a locals point of view it will be fascinating to watch. national have had no presence here for three years, after the election prior to this one, national closed up shop and didn’t open another office in Motueka (thanks to all involved in that episode lolololz)
  - Rosemary McDonald 8.2.1
    
    9 December 2017 at 12:57 pm
    
    “…was in the form of a glorious sculpture on the back of a trailer.”
    
    Condolences to you and your neighbors Cinny, having to tolerate that solid lump of excrement on a regular basis…. 😉
    
    https://static2.stuff.co.nz/1256809340/734/3012734.jpg
    - Cinny 8.2.1.1
      
      9 December 2017 at 3:34 pm
      
      Thanks Rosemary 🙂 Sunday brunch at the market just became interesting lmao 🙂
  - savenz 8.2.2
    
    9 December 2017 at 2:26 pm
    
    If the Greens and Labour had worked together Nelson could have got rid of Smith.
    22,198 votes for Labour and Green candidates and Nick smith 16735.
    
    BOYACK, Rachel12452
    LAWREY, Matt9746
    SMITH, Nick16735
    
    Labour and Greens don’t need more PR spin doctors, they actually need to grow a brain and work together to win elections so they can actually implement more left leaning policy.
    
    We have Nick Smith because of the failure of Labour and Greens to stop him by collaborating aka Northland style.
    
    The combined votes show, Nelson did not want Smith to represent them.
    - Cinny 8.2.2.1
      
      9 December 2017 at 3:42 pm
      
      Rachel will take it out next election, she’s fantastic for a new candidate, was a little bit skeptical to start with, but massively impressed over the course of her campaign, she’ll be a wonderful MP for Nelson
      
      It was due to the instructions on a will and accompanying donation that the Greens went for gold in Nelson. On the upside at least it won’t require a byelection, Matt is on the NCC.
      
      As for smith, he is delusional, maybe he should give evangelism, or car sales a shot, he won’t last another election.
      - greywarshark 8.2.2.1.1
        
        9 December 2017 at 7:46 pm
        
        what interesting snippets of info Cinny. Are you saying that Matt was helped by a kindly bequest. I wondered about their choice not to combine against rudolph the red-nosed reindeer.
        
        Cinny 8.2.2.1.1.1
        
        10 December 2017 at 7:58 am
        
        Why yes Grey 🙂 here’s a link.
        
        http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11694864
        
        Will see if I can also find the more detailed information
        
        ” The Greens also have more money than usual to spend on their Nelson campaign, thanks to a $280,000 donation from a Nelson-based supporter.
        
        The donor, Elizabeth Riddoch, gave the money with the intention that it was spent in the Nelson and West Coast-Tasman electorates. However, the Electoral Commission sets a spending cap for political parties of around $25,000 per seat.
        
        Shaw said his party planned to spend the maximum permitted amount in Nelson – something it rarely did in any electorate.”
        
        http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11881194
        
        greywarshark …
        
        10 December 2017 at 9:36 am
        
        Ta Cinny you’re gold. As good as getting a bequest!
Bearded Git 9

9 December 2017 at 10:20 am

Another day another patently stupid policy dumped by Labour. Oh my coffee tastes good each morning.

Twyford was excellent on Checkpoint last night.
Lucy 10

9 December 2017 at 10:47 am

Whilst the policy was at the behest of the previous government the people who implemented and executed the policy with such vigour are still there. Will they be as happy to implement a more charitable policy? I would seriously doubt it.
- Rosemary McDonald 10.1
  
  9 December 2017 at 1:03 pm
  
  My thoughts exactly. I have said on more than one occasion that public servants do actually have free will. They have chosen to follow orders. They have a union ffs!
  
  Enablers.
  
  Bring on Nuremberg Aotearoa…..http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/87527119/Woman-found-dead-had-not-committed-benefit-fraud
  - greywarshark 10.1.1
    
    9 December 2017 at 7:49 pm
    
    Bit tough Rosemary. The past regime saw economists that didn’t follow ‘The Line’ not given jobs. Conform, conform or be blasted. Just think about being hunted down by neo-lib Daleks. There wasn’t much free will actually. Even the free market had big hooks.
    - Rosemary McDonald 10.1.1.1
      
      9 December 2017 at 9:26 pm
      
      “Conform, conform or be blasted. Just think about being hunted down by neo-lib Daleks. There wasn’t much free will actually. ”
      
      You reckon, greywarshark?
      
      Oh, there’s always free will…if one chooses to follow one’s conscience rather than being hobbled and gagged by love of a decent salary and reputation.
      
      Some of us came to a place some time back when, by virtue of choosing the line of most resistance, we found ourselves with nothing left to lose after being blasted.
      
      Daleks? I see them more as Cybermen.
      
      Met and engaged with a few over the past few years…mostly at WINZ or Ministry of Health: Disability Support Services. The bureaucrats who took to the ‘kick ’em while they’re down’ philosophy that thrived under both Labour and National like pigs to wallows.
      
      I’d clear the lot of these gutless, soulless ones out…out, every last one of them!
      
      Its going to require real courage and true commitment to turn this ship around. No room for weakling yes people.
- Wensleydale 10.2
  
  9 December 2017 at 1:20 pm
  
  I think the government needs to keep a firm hand on the reins and a vigilant eye on the suit-wearing paper-shufflers responsible for gleefully implementing that policy. Anyone who steps out of line, or decides that perhaps certain aspects of the new policy could loosely be interpreted in an altogether different and less compassionate way, should get dragged face-down over broken glass. In public.
Cinny 11

9 December 2017 at 10:51 am

Have always wondered who owned the meth testing and meth clean up companies. Have long suspected a money making rort within it all, assisted by the previous governments war on the poor.

Big up’s to Phil Twyford, he is doing and will do a stellar job in Government 🙂
- I feel love 11.1
  
  9 December 2017 at 11:28 am
  
  https://i.stuff.co.nz/opinion/98014441/editorial-meth-and-the-rise-of-an-industry Yeah Mike Sabin, how he first entered the public sphere, as a self styled anti drug warrior…
  - Cinny 11.1.1
    
    9 December 2017 at 3:52 pm
    
    Thanks for the link 🙂
Brigid 12

9 December 2017 at 10:53 am

“I think that has been drummed up and exploited by a meth testing industry that saw an opportunity to make a dollar.”

It would be interesting to find out if there’s any connection between this industry and certain members of the previous government.

Perhaps that’s giving the natz too much credit; perhaps they don’t even have the wit to set up such a gravy train. Perhaps they’re just too stupid for me to find the words to describe them with.
- Cinny 12.1
  
  9 December 2017 at 11:03 am
  
  Totally agree with you Brigid
  - I feel love 12.1.1
    
    9 December 2017 at 11:30 am
    
    https://i.stuff.co.nz/opinion/98014441/editorial-meth-and-the-rise-of-an-industry Mike Sabin, self styled anti drug warrior before he became infamous for the other thing.
Siobhan 13

9 December 2017 at 10:59 am

Unfortunately alot have damage has been done by Nationals policy between Landlords and tenants, and the (perceived)haves and havenots.

Sites like TM forums, Stuff comments and people you accidentally talk to in the supermarket etc are overwhelmed by people who think State House tenants are all rampant meth users, and no tweaking of policy will shift this.

I’m actually going to go out on a limb and suggest we need a Minister of Public Perceptions and Education, who through various mediums works at undoing the class divides, misinformation and down right bulls hit that have been so lovingly nurtured over the last 9 years (and longer).
- red-blooded 13.1
  
  9 December 2017 at 12:13 pm
  
  “Minister of Public Perceptions and Education”? No way! Ever read 1984? The Ministry of Truth? If we want this government to be seen as untruthful, manipulative propaganda pushing brainwashers, then set up such a ministry.
  
  Twyford seems to be doing a good job. He was well on top of this portfolio in the shadow cabinet and while there are lots of challenges, he’s making a good start.
- Jum 13.2
  
  9 December 2017 at 1:07 pm
  
  Siobhan,
  
  You are right in that the government has to, on a daily basis, let the people know what the Labour Government is doing and why, and making it clear that a past national govt has damaged society when that has occurred.
  Labour has always assumed that the majority of New Zealanders actually know and care what’s happening to their fellow New Zealanders; they don’t.
  So trusting the media to tell both sides of the story has never been successful for Labour.
  Mainstream media has been bought and sold for private profit.
  Labour MPs have to act as media disseminators for New Zealanders. That is not propaganda, Red-blooded; that is sharing all sides of the story.
  I’ve seen the 1984 film, read the story and seen the play – I think you’re actually describing the shadow-antics of the national party.
  - red-blooded 13.2.1
    
    9 December 2017 at 5:23 pm
    
    Getting your story out is NOT the same as having a Ministry of Public Perceptions and Education. Please note that I was commenting about perception – it would be entirely counterproductive to set up what would inevitably be seen as a Ministry of Spin. It would open the government up to attack as more than “Nanny State” (which was the label used to undermine the last Labour led government) – it would be seen as Big Brother and nothing that came out of such a ministry would be seen as trustworthy.
    
    “Sharing all sides of the story” is quite different from “educating” people into sharing one particular point of view.
    
    Ask yourself – how would you see such a ministry if it was pushing the perspective of a right wing government? Well, guess what – that’s how many others would see it while selling a left-leaning government’s message.
    
    Anyway, it’s a daft suggestion (sorry, Siobhan, but it is) and it’s not going to happen. Yes, MPs and other need to use all possible means to tell our side of the story, but no, we don’t need a Ministry of Truth.
David Mac 14

9 December 2017 at 12:42 pm

Yeah, I think we saw a number of testing agencies pop-up because there’s money to made from hyping up fear. Hopefully they’ll move on to a bogus antidote for Myrtle Rust.

They use age-old bait and switch techniques: “Oh the test you’ve had done just informs us that there is residue in the house. To determine how much and where will require the purchase of our ‘This week only’ Mega Lab offer”, $995.00.

The situation is compounded by a few Real Estate franchises. In search of a point of difference advertising their Rental Management services alongside claims like ‘Get management or your next rental from the company that insists on P Tests.’
- patricia bremner 14.1
  
  9 December 2017 at 1:01 pm
  
  Hi David Mac. Don’t think there is any money in plants affected by Myrtle rust so it is not a likely next target for these hangers on!!
  
  I still wonder about Bill’s blue shirt brigade, don’t you? Who was funding them? What was their purpose? Just another systems rort by a questionable crowd.
  
  There always appears to be money making at others expense in the background, you know what they say “follow the money”.
  
  Some of these companies which sprang up should be charged with fraud if they fudged or exaggerated the results and caused hardship by so doing.
  - David Mac 14.1.1
    
    9 December 2017 at 1:14 pm
    
    Hi Pat, I think much of why this lot of hyping up fear traders did well is because they got Govt buy-in. Not really criminal, cashing in on our human fragility. The Myrtle Rust-Busters Govt contract to dust NZ with icing sugar would be a handy earn. Shame about the results.
    
    I’ve been trying to think of areas where merchants sell their wares on the back of fear and I guess anything that relates to our security or peace of mind does. Mole-mapping, insurance, baby capsules.
Brigid 15

9 December 2017 at 1:24 pm

The Real Estate Institute even says
“Until now, there has been no standard across the country
for methamphetamine testing or decontamination, which has resulted in some scaremongering and mis-information for members of the public around these processes.
For example, it was not uncommon for a purchaser and vendor
to test the same property but receive entirely different results. The Standard is a leap forward in preventing this kind of situation.”
https://www.reinz.co.nz/Media/Default/REINZ%20Press/2017%20June/20170629%20-%20Meth%20standards.pdf
savenz 16

9 December 2017 at 2:41 pm

I’d like to see a bit more about P aimed at a wider audience. What about private rentals contaminated? Middle NZ? So many people’s lives destroyed by this curse. Stop the fucking stuff getting in, should be a priority as well as a cheap way to clean the homes up.

Labour and Greens need to actually treat each day as a pre Election Day. Try to work policy for the WIDER good and also TALK about the wider good of each policy.

If everything is always framed as being for the state renter’s good, the P addicts benefit etc etc – it’s not a message that will NOT resinate with middle NZ in many cases. Labour and Greens need to talk a more inclusive message.

Increasingly much of Labour and Green’s discourse seem to concentrate on a small percentage of the population in poverty which is understandable but then not actually ever include the wider population and how their policy will be good for them too. They then wonder why National had a wider percentage of votes even they are major destroyers of this country.

Labour then also concentrate on global business only aka TPPA.

So increasingly middle NZ is not actually included in left political announcements until about 6 months before each election (and even then just in terms of them paying more or less taxes in many cases) and then they wonder why National gets middle NZ votes.

One of the main priorities should be Labour and Greens having some sense of self preservation so National don’t win next election. If every policy appears to be about protecting global business (TPPA) or state renters then it’s a small percentage of the population they are speaking too, and then they wonder why middle NZ doesn’t vote for them.

Middle NZ have little political voice in terms of lobby groups as they are too busy working and raising families, but my, they do know how to tick a box extremely well come election time and can be relied on, to get to the voting booth.
The Chairman 17

9 December 2017 at 2:45 pm

While it’s good things are going to hopefully improve, do we have any indication of what the “support” approach the Minister has highlighted will look like on the ground?

Why did the Minster fail to disclose this?
Tanz 18

9 December 2017 at 4:27 pm

Phil Twyford can’t even answer questions in the House properly, like his frontbench mates, he is coming across as arrogant and as a smart alec. This new govt is rubbish so far, even the MSM are picking up on it.

So, we will have more P Houses because of this and no accountability, typical leftie rot from Labour. How does anyone count Winston as right wing!
- Incognito 18.1
  
  9 December 2017 at 4:35 pm
  
  190/120! You must seek medical attention immediately!
- One Anonymous Bloke 18.2
  
  9 December 2017 at 4:45 pm
  
  That’s the spirit: keep it up 😆
- dv 18.3
  
  9 December 2017 at 4:50 pm
  
  Phil Twyford can’t even answer questions in the House properl
  
  Tanz-Give a linked example.
timeforacupoftea 19

9 December 2017 at 4:43 pm

Well done Twitford, we all want state houses and free drugs.
- One Anonymous Bloke 19.1
  
  9 December 2017 at 4:47 pm
  
  That was a political message from the brainless parrot party.
savenz 20

9 December 2017 at 4:46 pm

The reality crack down on P is a help to everyone except P dealers.

Help everyone. Addicts, renters, landlords, homeowners, employers, employees, families, health service, justice, prisons … etc

The P epidemic has been a curse for all!

Make policy that is holistic and helps everyone.

Then put policy into 3 areas..

Stopping P getting into the country and being sold here.
Decontaminating P quickly and cheaply – as so much is effected from property to wastewater.
Rehab for P users.

Labour needs to get holistic in policy and not piecemeal. Don’t just be an ambulance at the bottom – problems need to be tackled across the board to stop the problem.
- One Anonymous Bloke 20.1
  
  9 December 2017 at 4:57 pm
  
  There is no way to cut off supply. But there is a way to reduce demand: reduce inequality: it’s directly linked to mental health and drug abuse.
  - savenz 20.1.1
    
    9 December 2017 at 5:46 pm
    
    Yes you can cut off supply by customs and border control and also cracking down on the people manufacturing it.
    - One Anonymous Bloke 20.1.1.1
      
      9 December 2017 at 7:39 pm
      
      [citation needed]
      - savenz 20.1.1.1.1
        
        9 December 2017 at 8:48 pm
        
        ah, I would think that’s common sense. You don’t need a citation to work out that cutting off supply of raw ingredients and manufacturer’s is going to reduce P.
        
        We could spend 64+ million on consultants and 9 years trying to work it out like National’s war on P, and evict 900 people and sell off state houses cheap while putting people into 1 room motels for $1000p/w that seems to be more an enablement of P with less customs, less police, less rehabilitation, less IRD following people that have a lot of assets but no taxable income, but I would hope Labour + Green might be able to do a bit better than that.
        
        One Anonymous Bloke 20.1.1.1.1.1
        
        9 December 2017 at 9:33 pm
        
        Has the whole war on drugs lesson not sunk in?
Tanz 21

9 December 2017 at 7:32 pm

And how is child poverty being reduced as Ardern poses for Vogue. We have a wanna be celebrity PM…. How about being just a PM and following through on that swag of pre-election promises (many now watered down or backtracked on). Ah well, poverty won’t change..
(there were a couple of Vogue like spreads even as Winston was deciding). Would Clark approve of such ‘look at me’ stunts??
- One Anonymous Bloke 21.1
  
  9 December 2017 at 7:35 pm
  
  Ah, the politics of envy 😆
- dv 21.2
  
  9 December 2017 at 7:39 pm
  
  Got an answer yet?
  
  Phil Twyford can’t even answer questions in the House properl
  
  Tanz-Give a linked example.
- Incognito 21.3
  
  9 December 2017 at 8:24 pm
  
  No chocolate fish for Jacinda till she has delivered on all election promises. What on Earth was she thinking going on the cover of some rag??
Michael 22

11 December 2017 at 12:39 pm

I think Twyford’s overrated and incapable of delivering his government’s camapign promises. However, he’s done the right thing here by overruling his bureaucrats and telling them not to be such arseholes. It does, however, remain to be seen whether HNZ bureaucrats will obey their new Minister or whether they will work around, undermine, or even sabotage him, as has been known to happen to previous Labour Ministers.

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Buzz from the Beehive One Labour plan – for 3000 more public homes by 2025 – is the most recent to be posted on the government’s official website. Another – a prime ministerial promise of more funding for Pharmac – has been released as a Labour Party press statement. Who ...
Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
6 days ago

Bryce Edwards: The Vested interests shaping National Party policies
As the National Party gets closer to government, lobbyists and business interests will be lining up for influence and to get policies adopted. It’s therefore in the public interest to have much more scrutiny and transparency about potential conflicts of interests that might arise. One of the key individuals of ...
Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
6 days ago

Labour may be on way out of power and NZ First back in – but will Peters go into coalition with Na...
Voters are deserting Labour in droves, despite Chris Hipkins’ valiant rearguard action. So where are they heading? Clearly not all of them are going to vote National, which concedes that the outcome will be “close”. To the Right of National, the ACT party just a few weeks ago was ...
Point of OrderBy tutere44
6 days ago

GRAHAM ADAMS: Will the racists please stand up?
Accusations of racism by journalists and MPs are being called out. Graham Adams writes – With the election less than three weeks away, what co-governance means in practice — including in water management, education, planning law and local government — remains largely obscure. Which is hardly ...
Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
6 days ago

Gordon Campbell on whether Winston Peters can be a moderating influence
As the centre-right has (finally!) been subjected to media interrogation, the polls are indicating that some voters may be starting to have second thoughts about the wisdom of giving National and ACT the power to govern alone. That’s why yesterday’s Newshub/Reid Research poll had the National/ACT combo dropping to 60 ...
Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
6 days ago

Tuesday’s Chorus: RBNZ set to rain on National's victory parade
ANZ has increased its forecast for house inflation later this year on signs of growing momentum in the market ahead of the election. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: National has campaigned against the Labour Government’s record on inflation and mortgage rates, but there’s now a growing chance the Reserve ...
The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
6 days ago

After a Pittsburgh coal processing plant closed, ER visits plummeted
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Katie Myers. This story was originally published by Grist and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. Pittsburgh, in its founding, was blessed and cursed with two abundant natural resources: free-flowing rivers and a nearby coal seam. ...
Skeptical Science
6 days ago

September-23 AT Board Meeting
Today the AT board meet again and once again I’ve taken a look at what’s on the agenda to find the most interesting items. Closed Agenda Interestingly when I first looked at the agendas this paper was there but at the time of writing this post it had been ...
Greater AucklandBy Matt L
6 days ago

Electorate Watch: West Coast-Tasman
Continuing my series on interesting electorates, today it’s West Coast-Tasman.A long thin electorate running down the northern half of the west coast of the South Island. Think sand flies, beautiful landscapes, lots of rain, Pike River, alternative lifestylers, whitebaiting, and the spiritual home of the Labour Party. A brief word ...
Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
6 days ago

Big money brings Winston back
National leader Christopher Luxon yesterday morning conceded it and last night’s Newshub poll confirmed it; Winston Peters and NZ First are not only back but highly likely to be part of the next government. It is a remarkable comeback for a party that was tossed out of Parliament in ...
PolitikBy Richard Harman
6 days ago

20 days until Election Day, 7 until early voting begins… but what changes will we really see here?
As this blogger, alongside many others, has already posited in another forum: we all know the National Party’s “budget” (meaning this concept of even adding up numbers properly is doing a lot of heavy, heavy lifting right now) is utter and complete bunk (read hung, drawn and quartered and ...
exhALANtBy exhalantblog
6 days ago

A night out
Everyone was asking, Are you nervous? and my response was various forms of God, yes.I've written more speeches than I can count; not much surprises me when the speaker gets to their feet and the room goes quiet.But a play? Never.YOU CAME! THANK YOU! Read more ...
More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
7 days ago

A pallid shade of Green III
Clearly Labour's focus groups are telling it that it needs to pay more attention to climate change - because hot on the heels of their weaksauce energy efficiency pilot programme and not-great-but-better-than-nothing solar grants, they've released a full climate manifesto. Unfortunately, the core policies in it - a second Emissions ...
No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
7 days ago

A coalition of racism, cruelty, and chaos
Today's big political news is that after months of wibbling, National's Chris Luxon has finally confirmed that he is willing to work with Winston Peters to become Prime Minister. Which is expected, but I guess it tells us something about which way the polls are going. Which raises the question: ...
No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
7 days ago

More migrant workers should help generate the tax income needed to provide benefits for job seekers
Buzz from the Beehive Under something described as a “rebalance” of its immigration rules, the Government has adopted four of five recommendations made in an independent review released in July, The fifth, which called on the government to specify criteria for out-of-hours compliance visits similar to those used during ...
Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
7 days ago

Letter To Luxon.
Some of you might know Gerard Otto (G), and his G News platform. This morning he wrote a letter to Christopher Luxon which I particularly enjoyed, and with his agreement I’m sharing it with you in this guest newsletter.If you’d like to make a contribution to support Gerard’s work you ...
Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
7 days ago

LINDSAY MITCHELL: Alarming trend in benefit numbers
Lindsay Mitchell writes – While there will not be another quarterly release of benefit numbers prior to the election, limited weekly reporting continues and is showing an alarming trend. Because there is a seasonal component to benefit number fluctuations it is crucial to compare like with like. In ...
Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
7 days ago

BRIAN EASTON: Has there been external structural change?
A close analysis of the Treasury assessment of the Medium Term in its PREFU 2023 suggests the economy may be entering a new phase. Brian Easton writes – Last week I explained that the forecasts in the just published Treasury Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update (PREFU 2023) was ...
Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
7 days ago

CRL Progress – Sep-23
It’s been a while since we looked at the latest with the City Rail Link and there’s been some fantastic milestones recently. To start with, and most recently, CRL have released an awesome video showing a full fly-through of one of the tunnels. Come fly with us! You asked for ...
Greater AucklandBy Matt L
7 days ago

Monday’s Chorus: Not building nearly enough
We are heading into another period of fast population growth without matching increased home building or infrastructure investment.Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Labour and National detailed their house building and migration approaches over the weekend, with both pledging fast population growth policies without enough house building or infrastructure investment ...
The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
7 days ago

Game on; Hipkins comes out punching
Labour leader Chris Hipkins yesterday took the gloves off and laid into National and its leader Christopher Luxon. For many in Labour – and particularly for some at the top of the caucus and the party — it would not have been a moment too soon. POLITIK is aware ...
PolitikBy Richard Harman
7 days ago

Tax Cut Austerity Blues.
The leaders have had their go, they’ve told us the “what?” and the “why?” of their promises. Now it’s the turn of the would be Finance Ministers to tell us the “how?”, the “how much?”, and the “when?”A chance for those competing for the second most powerful job in the ...
Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
1 week ago

Labour Manifesto 2023
Labour is in it for you. This election Kiwis will decide what kind of country they want New Zealand to be, who they trust to have their back, and how we can be better, together. This election matters. View our full Manifesto below. ...
Labour Blog
14 hours ago

Release: National's water U-turn will drive up New Zealanders' rates bills
The National Party's U-turn on water reform has left local councils high and dry and will drive up Kiwi's rates bills, Labour Party Local Government Spokesperson Kieran McAnulty says. ...
Labour Blog
17 hours ago

Labour's Rainbow Manifesto
A re-elected Labour Party will continue to tackle discriminations still faced by members of the Rainbow community in areas ranging from surrogacy and adoption to blood donation. ...
Labour Blog
1 day ago

Release: National’s plan means more cuts, more kids in poverty
National’s fiscal plan has failed to fill the massive fiscal hole in its dodgy tax scheme, it will mean more cuts to public services, more children being put into poverty and an end to action on climate change. ...
Labour Blog
3 days ago

Release: Labour will continue to back Kiwis when the going gets tough
Labour’s Social Development Plan will build on the social welfare safety net, rather than strip it back. ...
Labour Blog
3 days ago

Policy Announcements: Law & Order and Justice, Courts & Corrections
New Zealand First Policy Announcement: Law and Order New Zealand First believes that keeping society safe should be the priority of law-and-order policies. Every New Zealander deserves to feel safe, secure, and have their person and property respected. That is why New Zealand First continues to fix the flaws in ...
NZ First Press Release
4 days ago

Labour's Dirt Campaign Exposed With Media Help
In last night’s leaders debate Labour Leader Chris Hipkins referred to a quote without giving any explanation of its content, which was about the ‘disease of co-governance’ that is perpetuated by the Māori elite, and he said it was racist. Then, without even examining the content, National leader Christopher Luxon agreed with ...
NZ First News
4 days ago

Labour's Dirt Campaign Exposed With Media Help
In last night’s leaders debate Labour Leader Chris Hipkins referred to a quote without giving any explanation of its content, which was about the ‘disease of co-governance’ that is perpetuated by the Māori elite, and he said it was racist. Then, without even examining the content, National leader Christopher Luxon agreed with ...
NZ First Press Release
4 days ago

Chris Hipkins: Speech Progressing Together
Today, Chris Hipkins delivered a speech about Labour’s relationship with and ongoing commitment to Māori. ...
Labour Blog
4 days ago

Release: National out of ideas on law and order, copies Labour’s policies and costings
After years of criticising the Government on law and order, National have embarrassed themselves by conceding they have no new ideas and instead copied Labour’s Police policy announced three weeks ago, Labour Police spokesperson Ginny Andersen says. ...
Labour Blog
5 days ago

Release: Labour releases balanced, costed and credible fiscal plan
Labour’s fiscal plan will continue its focus on carefully managing the books while protecting critical public services like health and education and investing to deliver high wage jobs and a low carbon economy. ...
Labour Blog
5 days ago

Policy Announcement: Capped Time-Period For Job Seeker Beneficiaries
New Zealand First today is announcing a policy on adjusting the rules and restrictions around access to the Job Seeker Benefit. New Zealand First’s policy is to introduce a capped time-period for any person to access the Job Seeker Benefit during their lifetime. Any individual will have the ability to access the Job Seeker ...
NZ First News
6 days ago

Policy Announcement: Capped Time-Period For Job Seeker Beneficiaries
New Zealand First today is announcing a policy on adjusting the rules and restrictions around access to the Job Seeker Benefit. New Zealand First’s policy is to introduce a capped time-period for any person to access the Job Seeker Benefit during their lifetime. Any individual will have the ability to access the Job Seeker ...
NZ First Press Release
6 days ago

Release: National’s traffic light system has child poverty reduction stalling
National’s cuts to funding for beneficiaries will once again leave children and their parents with less, Spokesperson for Social Development and Employment Carmel Sepuloni said. ...
Labour Blog
6 days ago

Green Party will end child poverty
The Green Party will double the Best Start payment and make it available for every child under three years of age - and it will be paid for with a fair tax system. ...
Greens
6 days ago

Release: Labour pledges billion-dollar medicines boost
Labour will fund more medicines for more New Zealanders by investing over $1 billion of new funding into Pharmac if re-elected, Chris Hipkins announced today. ...
Labour Blog
6 days ago

National's welfare policy is cruel
The National Party’s job seeker policy announced today is heartless. ...
Greens
6 days ago

Labour's PHARMAC Policy A Placebo
Labour has just announced a policy to increase Pharmac funding by $1billion over four years to fund additional medicines. With the current Pharmac budget of $1.2billion per year and needing a further $213million, by Minister Verrall’s own admission, just to keep up with current costs - then this is nothing ...
NZ First News
6 days ago

Labour's PHARMAC Policy A Placebo
Labour has just announced a policy to increase Pharmac funding by $1billion over four years to fund additional medicines. With the current Pharmac budget of $1.2billion per year and needing a further $213million, by Minister Verrall’s own admission, just to keep up with current costs - then this is nothing ...
NZ First Press Release
6 days ago

Re: The Call For Corporate Manslaughter Legislation
This matter begins with the Pike River investigation being inadequate, inexplicably lengthy, and after millions of dollars, the evidence that should have been placed before the public still has not been. We have always believed that Pike River is a crime scene, and that a proper investigation would have come to that conclusion. Blue ...
NZ First Press Release
7 days ago

Re: The Call For Corporate Manslaughter Legislation
This matter begins with the Pike River investigation being inadequate, inexplicably lengthy, and after millions of dollars, the evidence that should have been placed before the public still has not been. We have always believed that Pike River is a crime scene, and that a proper investigation would have come to that conclusion. Blue ...
NZ First News
7 days ago

Release: Labour releases New Zealand’s first climate manifesto
New Zealand faces a stark choice this election – vote for Labour to continue to confront the climate emergency with eyes wide open or bury your head in the sand alongside Christopher Luxon. ...
Labour Blog
7 days ago

Green voice crucial for climate action
The Green Party is today welcoming Labour’s climate manifesto, but is clear that much more will need to be done to tackle the climate crisis. ...
Greens
7 days ago

Speech: Chris Hipkins – Wellington Rally, 24 September
...
Labour Blog
1 week ago

People need a government that will build many more homes
Labour’s plan to build more homes is a welcome step forward, but it lacks ambition. ...
Greens
1 week ago

Release: Supercharging public housing
Labour is supercharging its plan to solve the public housing shortfall created by National, promising another 6,000 homes on top of what has already been committed says Labour Housing spokesperson Dr Megan Woods. ...
Labour Blog
1 week ago

Release: New Super Visa for migrants’ parents and rights for Dawn Raid victims
Labour will back migrant working families by introducing a 10-year multiple-entry parents’ and grandparents’ Super Visa, and make good on the Dawn Raids apology by providing a one-off visa for overstayers who have been in the country ten years or more, Labour’s Immigration Spokesperson Andrew Little says. ...
Labour Blog
1 week ago

Only the Greens will deliver a fair amnesty for overstayers
The Green Party is today welcoming Labour coming to the table to ensure an amnesty for overstayers, but only the Greens will ensure immigration settings actually reflect the reality of people who have been failed by our immigration system. ...
Greens
1 week ago

Climate future of communities on the line this election
Green Party co leader James Shaw attended a South Dunedin Future street meeting today to discuss local responses to climate change. ...
Greens
1 week ago

Green Party calls for stronger action by Auckland Council to protect urban trees and native forest
The Green Party is calling on Auckland Council to do more to protect urban trees and housing developer Aedifice Property Group to restore and replant the native forest it cleared, and protect all the remaining trees on Ngahere Road in Pukekohe after a significant number of native trees were cut ...
Greens
1 week ago

Release: Ram Raids drop to two-year low
Latest Police data shows monthly ram raids have hit a two-year low, laying waste to Christopher Luxon’s false claim that there are two ram raids a day says Labour’s Police Spokesperson Ginny Andersen. ...
Labour Blog
1 week ago

Every party needs to step up on school lunches
Labour has finally said it would continue free school lunches - and the Green Party is calling on every party to step up. ...
Greens
1 week ago

Release: School lunches on the line this election
Free and healthy school lunches will be here to stay if Labour is re-elected, guaranteeing food for our kids who need it most and significant cost saving for parents. ...
Labour Blog
1 week ago

Release: Labour commits to a new hospital for the people of Hawke’s Bay
The next Labour Government will build a new hospital in Hawke’s Bay, Labour leader Chris Hipkins and Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall announced. ...
Labour Blog
2 weeks ago

Govt changes fall short of what’s needed for migrant protection
The Green Party will keep up the fight to support exploited migrant workers, including pushing to end single employer visas, after the government picked up Green recommendations to improve immigration settings. ...
Greens
2 weeks ago

Clean Power Payment the smartest way forward to reduce emissions and bills
Green Party co leader James Shaw visited a home in Auckland today that has been upgraded with a wide range of energy improvements, similar to those that would be supported through the Green Party’s Clean Power Payment. ...
Greens
2 weeks ago

Foreign Minister's Action – A Contempt For “Caretaker Government” Convention
The Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta’s presence in New York today at the United Nations General Assembly is a contempt of New Zealand’s “caretaker government” convention. Despite the long-standing caretaker convention, Minister Mahuta is today at the UN to sign a highly contentious “Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement”, delivering a ...
NZ First Press Release
2 weeks ago

Back To Black Responsibly
The Pre-Election Fiscal Update Changes Everything Within an hour of this speech there is going to be a debate between the political parties that the media, under MMP, still think are the only parties that matter in this campaign. Both of those parties are riddled with inexperience, as evidenced by ...
NZ First Press Release
2 weeks ago

Stop the cuts before they start – Labour launches new TV ad
National and ACT's tax plans don't add up, and that means deep cuts to the public services New Zealanders rely on, says Labour Campaign Chair Megan Woods. ...
Labour Blog
2 weeks ago

Free school lunches paid for with a wealth tax
The Green Party will expand free school lunches and pay for it with a fair tax system. ...
Greens
2 weeks ago

100 new public EV chargers to be added to national network
The public EV charging network has received a significant boost with government co-funding announced today for over 100 EV chargers – with over 200 charging ports altogether – across New Zealand, and many planned to be up and running on key holiday routes by Christmas this year. Minister of Energy ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
12 hours ago

Safeguarding Tuvalu language and identity
Tuvalu is in the spotlight this week as communities across New Zealand celebrate Vaiaso o te Gagana Tuvalu – Tuvalu Language Week. “The Government has a proven record of supporting Pacific communities and ensuring more of our languages are spoken, heard and celebrated,” Pacific Peoples Minister Barbara Edmonds said. “Many ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
19 hours ago

New community-level energy projects to support more than 800 Māori households
Seven more innovative community-scale energy projects will receive government funding through the Māori and Public Housing Renewable Energy Fund to bring more affordable, locally generated clean energy to more than 800 Māori households, Energy and Resources Minister Dr Megan Woods says. “We’ve already funded 42 small-scale clean energy projects that ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
4 days ago

Huge boost to Te Tai Tokerau flood resilience
The Government has approved new funding that will boost resilience and greatly reduce the risk of major flood damage across Te Tai Tokerau. Significant weather events this year caused severe flooding and damage across the region. The $8.9m will be used to provide some of the smaller communities and maraes ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
4 days ago

Napier’s largest public housing development comes with solar
The largest public housing development in Napier for many years has been recently completed and has the added benefit of innovative solar technology, thanks to Government programmes, says Housing Minister Dr Megan Woods. The 24 warm, dry homes are in Seddon Crescent, Marewa and Megan Woods says the whanau living ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
5 days ago

Te Whānau a Apanui and the Crown initial Deed of Settlement I Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me...
Māori: Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna te Whakaaetanga Whakataunga Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna i tētahi Whakaaetanga Whakataunga hei whakamihi i ō rātou tāhuhu kerēme Tiriti o Waitangi. E tekau mā rua ngā hapū o roto mai o Te Whānau ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
6 days ago

Plan for 3,000 more public homes by 2025 – regions set to benefit
Regions around the country will get significant boosts of public housing in the next two years, as outlined in the latest public housing plan update, released by the Housing Minister, Dr Megan Woods. “We’re delivering the most public homes each year since the Nash government of the 1950s with one ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 week ago

Immigration settings updates
Judicial warrant process for out-of-hours compliance visits 2023/24 Recognised Seasonal Employer cap increased by 500 Additional roles for Construction and Infrastructure Sector Agreement More roles added to Green List Three-month extension for onshore Recovery Visa holders The Government has confirmed a number of updates to immigration settings as part of ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 week ago

Poroporoaki: Tā Patrick (Patu) Wahanga Hohepa
Tangi ngunguru ana ngā tai ki te wahapū o Hokianga Whakapau Karakia. Tārehu ana ngā pae maunga ki Te Puna o te Ao Marama. Korihi tangi ana ngā manu, kua hinga he kauri nui ki te Wao Nui o Tāne. He Toa. He Pou. He Ahorangi. E papaki tū ana ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 week ago

Renewable energy fund to support community resilience
40 solar energy systems on community buildings in regions affected by Cyclone Gabrielle and other severe weather events Virtual capability-building hub to support community organisations get projects off the ground Boost for community-level renewable energy projects across the country At least 40 community buildings used to support the emergency response ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 week ago

COVID-19 funding returned to Government
The lifting of COVID-19 isolation and mask mandates in August has resulted in a return of almost $50m in savings and recovered contingencies, Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. Following the revocation of mandates and isolation, specialised COVID-19 telehealth and alternative isolation accommodation are among the operational elements ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 week ago

Appointment of District Court Judge
Susie Houghton of Auckland has been appointed as a new District Court Judge, to serve on the Family Court, Attorney-General David Parker said today. Judge Houghton has acted as a lawyer for child for more than 20 years. She has acted on matters relating to the Hague Convention, an international ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
1 week ago

Government invests further in Central Hawke’s Bay resilience
The Government has today confirmed $2.5 million to fund a replace and upgrade a stopbank to protect the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant. “As a result of Cyclone Gabrielle, the original stopbank protecting the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant was destroyed. The plant was operational within 6 weeks of the ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
2 weeks ago

Govt boost for Hawke’s Bay cyclone waste clean-up
Another $2.1 million to boost capacity to deal with waste left in Cyclone Gabrielle’s wake. Funds for Hastings District Council, Phoenix Contracting and Hog Fuel NZ to increase local waste-processing infrastructure. The Government is beefing up Hawke’s Bay’s Cyclone Gabrielle clean-up capacity with more support dealing with the massive amount ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
2 weeks ago

Taupō Supercars revs up with Government support
The future of Supercars events in New Zealand has been secured with new Government support. The Government is getting engines started through the Major Events Fund, a special fund to support high profile events in New Zealand that provide long-term economic, social and cultural benefits. “The Repco Supercars Championship is ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
2 weeks ago

There is no recession in NZ, economy grows nearly 1 percent in June quarter
The economy has turned a corner with confirmation today New Zealand never was in recession and stronger than expected growth in the June quarter, Finance Minister Grant Robertson said. “The New Zealand economy is doing better than expected,” Grant Robertson said. “It’s continuing to grow, with the latest figures showing ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
2 weeks ago

Highest legal protection for New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs
The Government has accepted the Environment Court’s recommendation to give special legal protection to New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs, Te Waikoropupū Springs (also known as Pupū Springs), Environment Minister David Parker announced today. “Te Waikoropupū Springs, near Takaka in Golden Bay, have the second clearest water in New Zealand after ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
2 weeks ago

More support for victims of migrant exploitation
Temporary package of funding for accommodation and essential living support for victims of migrant exploitation Exploited migrant workers able to apply for a further Migrant Exploitation Protection Visa (MEPV), giving people more time to find a job Free job search assistance to get people back into work Use of 90-day ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
2 weeks ago

Strong export boost as NZ economy turns corner
An export boost is supporting New Zealand’s economy to grow, adding to signs that the economy has turned a corner and is on a stronger footing as we rebuild from Cyclone Gabrielle and lock in the benefits of multiple new trade deals, Finance Minister Grant Robertson says. “The economy is ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
2 weeks ago

Funding approved for flood resilience work in Te Karaka
The Government has approved $15 million to raise about 200 homes at risk of future flooding. More than half of this is expected to be spent in the Tairāwhiti settlement of Te Karaka, lifting about 100 homes there. “Te Karaka was badly hit during Cyclone Gabrielle when the Waipāoa River ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
2 weeks ago

Further business support for cyclone-affected regions
The Government is helping businesses recover from Cyclone Gabrielle and attract more people back into their regions. “Cyclone Gabrielle has caused considerable damage across North Island regions with impacts continuing to be felt by businesses and communities,” Economic Development Minister Barbara Edmonds said. “Building on our earlier business support, this ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
2 weeks ago

New maintenance facility at Burnham Military Camp underway
Defence Minister Andrew Little has turned the first sod to start construction of a new Maintenance Support Facility (MSF) at Burnham Military Camp today. “This new state-of-art facility replaces Second World War-era buildings and will enable our Defence Force to better maintain and repair equipment,” Andrew Little said. “This Government ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
2 weeks ago

Foreign Minister to attend United Nations General Assembly
Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta will represent New Zealand at the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York this week, before visiting Washington DC for further Pacific focussed meetings. Nanaia Mahuta will be in New York from Wednesday 20 September, and will participate in UNGA leaders ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
2 weeks ago

Midwives’ pay equity offer reached
Around 1,700 Te Whatu Ora employed midwives and maternity care assistants will soon vote on a proposed pay equity settlement agreed by Te Whatu Ora, the Midwifery Employee Representation and Advisory Service (MERAS) and New Zealand Nurses Association (NZNO), Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. “Addressing historical pay ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
2 weeks ago

New Zealand provides support to Morocco
Aotearoa New Zealand will provide humanitarian support to those affected by last week’s earthquake in Morocco, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced today. “We are making a contribution of $1 million to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to help meet humanitarian needs,” Nanaia Mahuta said. ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
3 weeks ago

Government invests in West Coast’s roading resilience
The Government is investing over $22 million across 18 projects to improve the resilience of roads in the West Coast that have been affected by recent extreme weather, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins confirmed today. A dedicated Transport Resilience Fund has been established for early preventative works to protect the state ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
3 weeks ago

Government invests in Greymouth’s future
The Government has today confirmed a $2 million grant towards the regeneration of Greymouth’s CBD with construction of a new two-level commercial and public facility. “It will include a visitor facility centred around a new library. Additionally, it will include retail outlets on the ground floor, and both outdoor and ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
3 weeks ago

Nanaia Mahuta to attend PIF Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta will attend the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, in Suva, Fiji alongside New Zealand’s regional counterparts. “Aotearoa New Zealand is deeply committed to working with our pacific whanau to strengthen our cooperation, and share ways to combat the challenges facing the Blue Pacific Continent,” ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
3 weeks ago

PREFU shows no recession, growing economy, more jobs and wages ahead of inflation
Economy to grow 2.6 percent on average over forecast period Treasury not forecasting a recession Inflation to return to the 1-3 percent target band next year Wages set to grow 4.8 percent a year over forecast period Unemployment to peak below the long-term average Fiscal Rules met - Net debt ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
3 weeks ago

New cancer centre opens in Christchurch
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall proudly opened the Canterbury Cancer Centre in Christchurch today. The new facility is the first of its kind and was built with $6.5 million of funding from the Government’s Infrastructure Reference Group scheme for shovel-ready projects allocated in 2020. ...
BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
3 weeks ago

Newsroom daily quiz, Monday 2 October
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Newsroom
40 mins ago

Labour Party’s Manifesto Commitment To Extend Diplomatic Recognition To The State Of Palestine Is ...
Sunday, 1 October 2023 Justice for Palestine and Alternative Jewish Voices welcome the Labour Party’s announcement that if elected it will extend diplomatic recognition to the state of Palestine, by inviting the Head of the General Delegation of Palestine ...
Scoop politics
8 hours ago

Opportunities Party Candidate Reveals Takapuna As The Centre Of Burgeoning Cannabis Trade
The Opportunities Party (TOP) candidate for North Shore, Abe Gray, is proud of his electorate's outsized role in the burgeoning, newly legal trade in high THC cannabis flower. Did you know that millions of dollars worth of cannabis has been sold in ...
Scoop politics
9 hours ago

Luxon promises ‘quick off the starting block’ government
Despite potentially messy coalition talks, Christopher Luxon is confident he can get a full to-do list ticked off in 100 days 100 day promises, media jousts and tractors over the Auckland Harbour Bridge – it was a busy Sunday on the trail for politicians approaching the last sprint of the ...
Newsroom
12 hours ago

Winston Peters lashes out after being rattled by TV interviewers
Two interviews in two days have seen the NZ First leader make personal attacks on journalists after struggling badly to answer questions about his policies and costings Current polls show Winston Peters and his party returning to Parliament after being soundly defeated in 2020. With the resurgence has come closer ...
Newsroom
13 hours ago

Two Million Free Hours Of Maths And Literacy Catch Up
Intermediate and secondary school students will have access to two million free tutoring sessions to help lift maths and literacy achievement A maths and literacy training fund for all primary and intermediate teachers More funding to help young ...
Scoop politics
14 hours ago

Let’s Vote For The Aotearoa We Deserve
The Future is Up to Us released today by the Green Party is a clear vision of the future we can build together. The Green Party has also published an independent fiscal review of the policy priorities set out in The Future is Up to Us , which shows ...
Scoop politics
14 hours ago

National’s water U-turn will drive up New Zealanders’ rates bills
The National Party’s U-turn on water reform has left local councils high and dry and will drive up Kiwi’s rates bills, Labour Party Local Government Spokesperson Kieran McAnulty says. “The National Party said they’ll repeal Affordable Water ...
Scoop politics
14 hours ago

Election 2023: Green Party unveils policy priorities and fiscal plan review
The Green Party has unveiled its policy priorities as well as an independent fiscal review, which it says shows their plan adds up. ...
Radio NZ – political
14 hours ago

Why you must vote ACT for real change
Today, ACT Leader David Seymour released a video asking New Zealanders to Party Vote ACT to avoid inaction and instability. You can watch the video by clicking the image below. “ACT is making one final appeal to voters before the polls open tomorrow. ...
Scoop politics
14 hours ago

National Announces 100 Day Action Plan
If New Zealanders choose a National-led government to rebuild the economy and deliver tax relief, we will go to work immediately implementing our 100 Day Action Plan, National Party Christopher Luxon says. “New Zealanders have waited six long years ...
Scoop politics
14 hours ago

It could all come down to one seat: Seymour
With advance voting almost under way, Act pitches hard for voters to exclude "chaos" in a future government by ensuring National and Act can govern, Tim Murphy reports Act leader David Seymour is emphasising one extra seat could be the difference between "real change" and "chaos" in a centre-right government after ...
Newsroom
14 hours ago

'It's because I'm young, I'm female, and I'm Māori'
The country’s youngest candidate to run for Parliament has made three separate reports to police after her home was broken into and her rubbish rifled through. Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke says other political leaders have gaslighted her experience. Te Pāti Māori Hauraki Waikato’s candidate says she isn’t scared or shaken by the ...
Newsroom
14 hours ago

Election 2023: Labour reveals full policy plan
Labour has released its full policy plan this afternoon, with a focus on improving education for children and funding for training and work for youth. ...
Radio NZ – political
15 hours ago

Chris Hipkins isolating with Covid-19
The Prime Minister and Labour leader has tested positive for Covid-19 and is isolating for five days or until he returns a negative test After feeling unwell on Sunday morning and cancelling his attendance at a Samoan church service in Auckland, Chris Hipkins has now tested positive for Covid-19. He ...
Newsroom
16 hours ago

'Bugger' – Labour leader Chris Hipkins tests positive for Covid-19 at crucial point ...
Labour leader Chris Hipkins has revealed that he has tested positive for Covid-19, just as the party prepares to release its manifesto today. ...
Radio NZ – political
16 hours ago

Prime minister tests positive for Covid-19
Prime minister Chris Hipkins has tested positive for Covid-19, and will be isolating for five days or until he returns a negative test. A spokesperson confirmed he has cold and flu symptoms that began yesterday and will continue with engagements he can undertake via Zoom. Hipkins missed an event on ...
The SpinoffBy Anna Rawhiti-Connell
16 hours ago

Mediawatch: Giving young people an election voice
The TVNZ Young Voters' debate run by Re:News was a rowdy interjection into a relatively subdued election campaign, and its moderator has some ideas on how media organisations can better cater to young people. ...
Radio NZ – political
16 hours ago

‘I’ve got news for you and your masters’: Winston Peters takes aim at ‘corrupt’ TVNZ
In a bizarre interview with TVNZ’s Q&A programme this morning, NZ First leader Winston Peters said he would “make sure” he secured the broadcasting portfolio should his party make it into government. “We’ll start with TVNZ after the campaign,” he told journalist Jack Tame in an interview that made yesterday’s ...
The SpinoffBy Alice Neville
18 hours ago

Election 2023: National Party releases 100-day action plan if elected
The National Party has released its plan of what it would do in its first 100 days in government, if elected. ...
Radio NZ – political
18 hours ago

Hipkins missing morning campaign event but will launch Labour manifesto
Labour’s manifesto launch will go ahead this afternoon, despite leader Chris Hipkins missing an event on the campaign trail this morning due to being unwell. Deputy prime minister Carmel Sepuloni is speaking at a Sāmoan church service in Auckland this morning in Hipkins’ place, but according to a Labour spokesperson, ...
The SpinoffBy Alice Neville
18 hours ago

National sets out priorities in ‘100-day action plan’
National has pledged to remove the Auckland fuel tax, repeal water reform and resource management legislation, ban gang patches and remove funding for cultural reports used in sentencing in its first 100 days in office. The party has set out a range of priorities for its first 100 days in ...
The SpinoffBy Alice Neville
18 hours ago

Chris Hipkins unwell, to miss morning campaign event
The prime minister is missing an event on the campaign trail this morning because he’s unwell. Chris Hipkins was due to speak at a Sāmoan church service in Auckland, but deputy prime minister Carmel Sepuloni is stepping in to take his place. Hipkins is scheduled to launch Labour’s manifesto at ...
The SpinoffBy Alice Neville
19 hours ago

Make it strange: an interview with Bill Nelson
Lawrence Patchett talks to Bill Nelson about Root, Leaf, Flower, Fruit, a verse novel that Nelson has just released with Te Herenga Waka University Press. Bill Nelson demonstrated his versatility with his first book, Memorandum of Understanding. A book of surprising range and humour, it included a love poem styled ...
The SpinoffBy Lawrence Patchett
20 hours ago

The French vanilla fraud
None of New Zealand’s commercial French vanilla ice creams contain the crucial ingredient. Dylan Jones busts the case wide open. Like any good investigation, this one started as an innocuous Thursday night question among flatmates: what is French vanilla ice cream, and how is it different to regular vanilla? A ...
The SpinoffBy Dylan Jones
21 hours ago

An Ode for .. the Kingmaker
Bard Billot on Lord Winston The Duke of Hazard Lord Winston, the Duke of Hazard, Rose late and yawned. The Palace was loud with the hubbub Of busy courtiers preparing to flee the city. Outside the gates, the followers of Baron Luxon Prepared for their assault upon the ...
Newsroom
21 hours ago

Election 2023: All the latest developments on 1 October
National leader Christopher Luxon says he wouldn't do a deal with The Opportunities Party leader Raf Manji, even if it could help avoid a potential coalition with New Zealand First. ...
Radio NZ – political
22 hours ago

All Black legend’s Mitey legacy
School-aged children in the south are increasing their emotional literacy and talking about the tough stuff thanks to a rugby star’s commitment and a Southland teacher’s persistence Belinda Brown was a teacher with two decades of classroom experience when she heard Sir John Kirwan talk at a Winton pub about his ...
Newsroom
23 hours ago

The time is ripe to turn wine waste into gold
The promise of science to add commercial value to the waste of the New Zealand wine industry while limiting how much of it is sent to landfill Opinion: The New Zealand wine industry has been a great success story, creating world-renowned wines with continued export demand, but it’s an industry ...
Newsroom
23 hours ago

The Sunday Essay: The joy of paper diaries
My appointment diary will never be replaced by apps and platforms. It is the only true record of the minutiae of my life. The Sunday Essay is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand. Images by Tina Tiller. I bumped into an old friend and former colleague ...
The SpinoffBy Venetia Sherson
24 hours ago

The truth behind the ‘audacious’ return of the Pop-up Globe
The Pop-up Globe might be returning to the stage, but not everybody’s happy about it. Sam Brooks talks to some creditors – left in the dark after the company’s liquidation – about its shock 2023 return. On September 15, the Pop-up Globe announced it would be making an “audacious” return ...
The SpinoffBy Sam Brooks
24 hours ago

NZ elections 2023: Green Party, Te Pāti Māori call out ‘harmful emboldening of extremism’
RNZ News Green Party co-leader James Shaw has compared the language of New Zealand First leader Winston Peters to former US president Donald Trump, saying it may be emboldening violence against candidates in Aotearoa NZ’s election campaign. It comes after several candidates from different parties have spoken out about being ...
Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report
1 day ago

Hipkins claims the 'm' word
Chris Hipkins endured four seasons in one hour at an outdoor festival in an Auckland park – and claims to be sensing a rapid change in mood in the electorate as well, a fortnight from the election The Labour leader has gone there. He's publicly claiming his party has picked up 'momentum' in this ...
Newsroom
1 day ago

Labour releases Rainbow Manifesto, promising reformed surrogacy laws and LGBTQ+ refugee quota
The party also wants to look at possibly removing the stand-down period for blood donation men who have sex with men currently face. ...
Radio NZ – political
1 day ago

Green Party and Te Pāti Māori call out 'harmful emboldening of extremism' after incident...
Green Party co-leader James Shaw has compared the language of New Zealand First leader Winston Peters to Donald Trump, saying it may be emboldening violence against candidates. ...
Radio NZ – political
2 days ago

1 in 50 Fijian children may have rheumatic heart disease, says health chief
By Pauliasi Mateboto in Suva One in 50 Fijian children could have rheumatic heart disease and children between the ages of five to 15 years are the most at risk of rheumatic fever. While revealing these alarming statistics, Health Secretary Dr James Fong revealed the high figures indicated the high ...
Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report
2 days ago

NZ election 2023: Police investigate after invasion of Te Pāti Māori candidate’s home
RNZ News New Zealand police are investigating after the home of Te Pāti Māori election candidate Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke was invaded, vandalised, and a threatening letter left behind. They said the burglary of a Huntly home was reported to police on Monday. On Friday, Te Pāti Māori issued a statement saying ...
Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report
2 days ago

Anti-co-governance march to parliament overshadowed by counterprotest
A protest against co-governance led by Julian Batchelor, a prominent figure in the movement, has ended, with police saying there were no issues. About 300 people marched from Civic Square to parliament in Wellington today, according to a police press release, and they have now departed parliament grounds. About 45 ...
The SpinoffBy Alice Neville
2 days ago

ACT's business plan: Removing January holiday, putting minimum wage on hold
The ACT Party says it would abolish Fair Pay Agreements, put a hold on minimum wage increases for three years, and remove the 2 January public holiday. ...
Radio NZ – political
2 days ago

Police investigate after invasion of Te Pāti Māori candidate's home
Police are investigating after the home of Te Pāti Māori candidate Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke was invaded, vandalised, and a threatening letter left behind. ...
Radio NZ – political
2 days ago

Election 2023: All the latest developments on 30 September
There's no break in sight for the political party leaders as they continue to campaign in communities on Saturday. Follow RNZ's live blog for more. ...
Radio NZ – political
2 days ago

Andy Foster plots his glorious return
Former Wellington mayor Andy Foster is attempting a political comeback as a candidate for NZ First. He talks to Joel MacManus. Fear not, Wellingtonians, your leader has returned from exile: Andy Foster is back. After nine terms on council and one term as mayor, Foster lost his re-election bid to ...
The SpinoffBy Joel MacManus
2 days ago

Andy Foster plots his glorious return
Former Wellington mayor Andy Foster is attempting a political comeback as a candidate for NZ First. He talks to Joel MacManus. Fear not, Wellingtonians, your leader has returned from exile: Andy Foster is back. After nine terms on council and one term as mayor, Foster lost his re-election bid to ...
The SpinoffBy Joel MacManus
2 days ago

‘Who’s that?’ says Peters of Luxon in at times jovial, at times furious interview
In an interview that swung from jovial to furious and back again, Winston Peters joked about National leader Christopher Luxon’s claim not to know him, and denied his party was responsible for race-baiting that’s led to an escalation in vitriol towards Māori. In an interview on Newshub Nation this morning, ...
The SpinoffBy Alice Neville
2 days ago

‘Who’s that?’ says Peters of Luxon in at times jovial, at times furious interview
In an interview that swung from jovial to furious and back again, Winston Peters joked about National leader Christopher Luxon’s claim not to know him, and denied his party was responsible for race-baiting that’s led to an escalation in vitriol towards Māori. In an interview on Newshub Nation this morning, ...
The SpinoffBy Alice Neville
2 days ago

‘I had to drive into a wheelbarrow’: Miriama Smith on the TV ad that haunts her
The star of Shortland Street, The Gone and now Celebrity Treasure Island shares some of her favourite TV moments. Name a New Zealand television show, and Miriama Smith has probably been in it. For the past 30 years, the actor and presenter has been a welcome fixture on our TV ...
The SpinoffBy My Life in TV
2 days ago

The Week in Detail: Tiny homes, mental health awareness, and Afghan refugees
Every weekday, The Detail makes sense of the big news stories. This week, the big problems with tiny homes, how we can do our bit to mitigate climate change (besides recycling), why it's so difficult to keep our drinking water safe, the limits of mental health 'awareness', and the case of an ...
Newsroom
2 days ago

VOTE2023: Q&A with James Shaw
In this week's episode of VOTE2023, we talk to Green Party co-leader and Climate Change Minister James Shaw about student-focused policies, electric vehicles, the Emissions Trading Scheme, and whether the Green Party would form a coalition government with National This series is made by politics students and aims to entertain ...
Newsroom
2 days ago

Their house, my garden: Growing things in pots
See ya later, ground. This week on Their house, my garden, it’s all pots, balconies, window ledges and the kitchen bench. Sometimes you move into a tiny CBD apartment to live out your urbanite dreams. You put on your sparkly eyeshadow and smile till 3am behind the bar of a ...
The SpinoffBy Gabi Lardies
2 days ago

Getting the brain back on track: Is there new hope for sufferers of chronic illness?
After a mild traumatic brain injury turned her life into a ‘game of snakes and ladders with no ladders’, Ursula Cochran discovered a powerful tool she could use to start getting better – her own brain. Here, she explores the potential of mind-body training for sufferers of other chronic illnesses, ...
The SpinoffBy Ursula Cochran
2 days ago

Getting the brain back on track: How my recovery from chronic illness could hold hope for others
After a mild traumatic brain injury turned her life into a ‘game of snakes and ladders with no ladders’, Ursula Cochran discovered a powerful tool she could use to start getting better – her own brain. Here, she explores the potential of mind-body training for other sufferers. This piece is ...
The SpinoffBy Ursula Cochran
2 days ago

Long Read: The food lobby in Aotearoa
This is The Detail's Long Read – one in-depth story read by us every weekend This week, it's a story from RNZ's In Depth team: 'Fully embedded': The food lobby in Aotearoa. Investigative reporter Guyon Espiner has come out with a new series, Off the Shelf, looking at the quiet struggle to stop New Zealanders eating ...
Newsroom
2 days ago

Media targeting public for a war with China, warns Declassified Australia
Pacific Media Watch Barely a day passes without a story in the British or Australian media that ramps up fear about the rulers in Beijing, reports the investigative website Declassified Australia. According to an analysis by co-editors Antony Loewenstein and Peter Cronau, the Australian and British media are ramping up ...
Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report
2 days ago

Indonesian police raid church office, home in Nduga – arrest six, torture 12
Asia Pacific Report Members of Indonesia’s Nduga District Police and the Damai Cartenz Police Task Force have raided a residential house and the local head office of the Papuan Tabernacle Church (Kingmi Papua) in the town of Kenyam, Nduga Regency, Papua Pegunungan Province, reports Human Rights Monitor. Before raiding the ...
Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report
2 days ago

Candidate's home broken into, vandalised, threat left behind
The home of Te Pāti Māori candidate Hana Maipi-Clarke was broken into, vandalised, and a threatening letter left behind this week. ...
Radio NZ – political
2 days ago

‘Politically motivated attack’: Te Pāti Māori candidate’s home vandalised, ‘threatening le...
Te Pāti Māori’s candidate for Hauraki-Waikato says her home was “invaded, vandalised, and left with a threatening letter” in what the party is calling a “politically motivated attack”. Hana-Rawhiti Maipi Clark said the “premeditated and targeted attack” was the latest of three incidents to take place at her home just ...
The SpinoffBy Stewart Sowman-Lund
2 days ago

Ghoulish smoke and mirrors: Reaction to National's fiscal plan
The National Party's fiscal plan is ghoulish smoke and mirrors that will put more children into poverty, if you listen to Labour and the Green Party. ACT is critical, too. ...
Radio NZ – political
2 days ago

Taking The Politics Out Of The Covid-19 Royal Commission
“ACT will take the politics out of the Royal Commission into the Government’s Covid-19 response by allowing all New Zealanders to have their say on what should be investigated through a new crowdsourced terms of reference”, says ACT Leader ...
Scoop politics
2 days ago

Te Pāti Māori Candidate Hana Maipi-Clark’s Home Invaded In Politically Motivated Attack
Te Pāti Māori are not strangers to hate speech and online threats. Today however, a line was crossed. Our Hauraki-Waikato candidate, Hana-Rawhiti Maipi Clark’s home was invaded, vandalised, and left with a threatening letter. This premeditated and ...
Scoop politics
2 days ago

The disability royal commission recommendations could fix some of the worst living conditions – bu...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Di Winkler, Adjunct Associate Professor, La Trobe University The bite mark on Ashlee’s cheek, her broken teeth and other photos of injuries from assaults in disability housing are some of the haunting images emerging from the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
2 days ago

The Week in Politics: Luxon likely to get what he doesn't want
Analysis - Christopher Luxon's announcement that he'll work with Winston Peters after the election if he has to boosts NZ First's chances of getting back into Parliament, writes Peter Wilson. ...
Radio NZ – political
2 days ago

National's big guns come out in Tāmaki
National has wheeled out its stars into the blue, blue seat of Tāmaki which is under friendly fire attack from Act deputy leader Brooke van Velden First Bill English, then Christopher Luxon fronted within two days of each other for Simon O'Connor in the previously safe National heartland of the east ...
Newsroom
2 days ago

Concern at candidate's assault: 'He shook me, slapped my cheeks'
Chris Hipkins has condemned the increased risk of campaign trail violence as police investigate an assault on Labour’s Angela Roberts Labour’s candidate for Taranaki-King Country has confirmed she was assaulted following an election debate at the Inglewood Rotary Club earlier this week. Angela Roberts explained in a Facebook post after ...
Newsroom
2 days ago

National's fiscal plan doesn't answer tax cut questions
National may have hoped its detailed fiscal plan would put to bed the lingering questions about how it will pay for its tax cuts, but there are no satisfactory answers in sight, Marc Daalder writes Analysis: Grant Robertson says National's new fiscal plan has a $537 million hole in it and ...
Newsroom
2 days ago

Beneficiary Bashing Continues This Election With National, ACT & NZ First Policies
“People who experience poverty as sanctioned by a capitalist system shouldn’t be punished for the predicament they’re in” says Brooke Pao Stanley, AAAP Coordinator. These parties use fear based politics to gain popularity and continue to push a narrative ...
Scoop politics
3 days ago

Foreign policy has been missing from NZ’s election campaign – voters deserve answers to these bi...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Gillespie, Professor of Law, University of Waikato Tax cuts, crime, the cost of living, potholes and co-governance … these and various other issues are now familiar to most voters. But there has been one major election area missing the serious debate ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
3 days ago

Labour candidate slapped following debate in Taranaki
Labour candidate Angela Roberts, a list MP campaigning in Taranaki-King Country, was shaken and slapped by a member of the public following a debate on Tuesday this week. She described the incident on Facebook. While talking about education policy with an attendee after an event at Inglewood Rotary Club, the ...
The SpinoffBy Shanti Mathias
3 days ago

Forest Owners Welcome National's Forest Policy But Hold Reservations On Planting Restrictions
The Forest Owners Association generally welcomes the National Party forestry policy announcement that National wants to give certainty and support to the forestry and wood processing industry clearly recognising its economic and environmental advantages. ...
Scoop politics
3 days ago

Funding The Basics Brilliantly Would Be A Start
Both major parties needed to have prioritised ongoing new investment in children and education in their allowances for new spending, NZEI Te Riu Roa president Mark Potter said today. “The two fiscal plans released this week made pre-commitments ...
Scoop politics
3 days ago

National’s Fiscal Plan Continues Attack On Low Income Households
National has finally released its fiscal plan after much delay and it reveals a plan to cut the incomes and essential public services the poorest New Zealanders rely on, just so they can pay for tax cuts for landlords and the well-off, says NZCTU ...
Scoop politics
3 days ago

Governor-General’s Official Visit To Malaysia
The Governor-General of New Zealand, Rt Hon Dame Cindy Kiro, and Dr Richard Davies will depart for an official visit to Malaysia on Sunday 1 October 2023. Their Excellencies are travelling to Malaysia at the invitation of His Majesty Yang di-Pertuan Agong ...
Scoop politics
3 days ago

‘Forcing more children into poverty’: Labour responds to National’s fiscal plan
Labour says National’s plan to index benefits to inflation rather than wages will result in more children living in poverty. Speaking in Lower Hutt today, party leader Chris Hipkins said National was proposing “$2 billion in benefit cuts”. “In the middle of a cost of living crisis, they’re cutting benefits ...
The SpinoffBy Alice Neville
3 days ago

Review Of Wellbeing Strategy Needed As Police Recruitment Declines; Suicides Continue
Hatikvah Blue Hope Foundation is gravely concerned following the suicide of another serving police officer in the past month, and we extend our deepest sympathy to the grieving family. This tragedy comes as NZ Police is seeing a staggering 48.5% decline ...
Scoop politics
3 days ago

Here’s how to fix Australia’s approach to soil carbon credits so they really count towards our c...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Aaron Simmons, Adjunct Senior Research Fellow, University of New England William Edge, Shutterstock Australia’s plan to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 relies heavily on carbon credits. These credits are awarded to projects that avoid the release ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
3 days ago

Tough Times Ahead For Children In Hardship Under Next Government, CPAG Warns
The Child Poverty Action Group is asking the National Party to make good on its commitment to children in poverty, but says the party’s fiscal plan reveals it has no desire or intention to help those living in the greatest poverty in Aotearoa. ...
Scoop politics
3 days ago

Twyford reverses National’s flawed methamphetamine housing policy

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