Waitangi up close

Written By: - Date published: 1:07 am, February 7th, 2011 - 37 comments
Categories: john key, Maori Issues - Tags: ,

I went to Waitangi on Waitangi Day for the first time this year.  I heartily recommend it to everybody – I don’t think enough (especially non-Maori) folk go and experience it, and it’s worth doing.

I went up (camping) with my whanau on Friday night, so was there for the full weekend – the political day on the 5th of Feb and the actual celebration of the 6th.

The political day was interesting.  National were received in the morning into the Te Tii Marae.  John Key got called out by the Hone’s nephew on “stealing the foreshore”, but he didn’t get called out by the media on what the source of additional “tensions” compared to previous years were.  He ascribed them to the schism in the Maori Party, and from what I’ve seen the media agreed with him.  Those people on the ground that I talked to however saw much more of the unease to do with the issues and matters of policy.  They’d save the Maori Party tensions for the Maori Party; why they were “tense” with National was over the Marine and Coastal Areas Bill – which there’s a lot of unhappiness with – along with a healthy dose of displeasure at cost of living and how National’s policies are impoverishing most Maori.

Matters were made much worse by National and John Key’s trampling on protocol.

After the formal speeches on the marae there was to be a cup of tea (and kai) followed by questions for the PM from the locals.  John Key and crew scarpered.  The provision of hospitality that’s so important was ignored, and the facing up to the hard questions dodged.  There was little respect.

There was also little sign of the Maori Party other than Hone’s posse (who were in abundance).  Pita fronted for the cameras (where’s Tariana these days?  Other than her pixie interview about her weight loss she’s been AWOL for months), but the wider party was more notable by their absence.

Labour and the Greens were received together in the afternoon.  It was the friendliest it’s been for Labour for 9 or 10 years – “like old friends coming home” was how one from the marae described it.  Parekura Horomia gave what was described by some as his best-ever speech, and, despite some disagreement over policies, there was much laughter between chums.

Russel Norman spoke well in an environment he didn’t look entirely relaxed in, showing how well the Green’s principles match with Maoridom.  Metiria would obviously have been at home there, but as a woman, didn’t speak on the marae.

Phil Goff’s speech struck a chord, with him saying that on this day when we celebrate becoming two peoples in one nation, we are instead seeing two nations emerge – as the wealthy and privileged gain ever more advantage, leaving the rest of us behind.  His calls for a Labour-Green government to bridge that gap after the election had him hitting some very traditional Labour notes – siding with the majority who aren’t benefiting from National’s policies by wanting fairer wealth distribution.

The celebration day was excellent too, even if I didn’t make the 5am dawn service…  For those who haven’t been there’s quite a festival.  A remarkable number of stalls, with good kai and a surprisingly large number offering massages.  A good concert, sport, mass waiata and haka, to say nothing of the mass waka arrival in the morning.

The polluted water meaning no swimming or shell-fish retrieval was a bit of a downer.  The point was made that we need the foreshore and seabed to be in good enough shape for anybody to use as a first step before we resolve that issue.  Our country was probably looking more polluted than clean and green to the tourists who happened by.

It is also all a little difficult to find out what’s happening when, and some things are, in good traditional Kiwi way, a bit hap-hazard.  So I’ll enjoy it even more next year when I go, as I’ll have more of an idea what’s going on.  Perhaps y’all can join me – particularly the Pakeha amongst us, as I felt very under-represented at a supposed meeting of two peoples.

37 comments on “Waitangi up close ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. SHG 1
    7 February 2011 at 2:32 am

    Russel Norman spoke well in an environment he didn’t look entirely relaxed in, showing how well the Green’s principles match with Maoridom. Metiria would obviously have been at home there, but as a woman, didn’t speak on the marae.

    LOL, you can take the Maori out of the Stone Age, but…

    • orange whip? 1.1
      7 February 2011 at 8:43 am

      Oh look, a racist right-winger. Who would’ve thought…

      • SHG 1.1.1
        7 February 2011 at 10:18 am

        You’re defending a system in which women are so marginalised they’re not even allowed to SPEAK?

        • Zorr 1.1.1.1
          7 February 2011 at 10:34 am

          Actually, depending on the rank of the woman they can speak. MOST people, men AND women, aren’t allowed to actually speak during the formal ceremonies on a marae. It is a great privilege to be one of the few that are.

        • orange whip? 1.1.1.2
          7 February 2011 at 11:02 am

          No. Where did I do that?

          I just filled in the ellipses at the end of your comment and the result was a really racist statement.

          Which is presumably why you didn’t type it in full.

        • Adele 1.1.1.3
          7 February 2011 at 2:29 pm

          Teenaa koe, SHG

          Your ignorance is showing. The first voice heard in any formal setting on Marae is the karanga – that can only be performed by women. Women establish the foundation for men to speak – no karanga, no whaikoorero.

          Don’t judge my culture by your own cultural inadequacies.

  2. Locus 2
    7 February 2011 at 5:19 am

    Bunji, thanks for such a positive and interesting post. It will be a pleasure to join you at Waitangi next year. Why on earth do the MSM not bother to pick up on the same things that you did? John Key’s policies on the foreshore and seabed, tax and the environment are fundamentally damaging to Maori – and to the ideals that make most Kiwis proud to be New Zealanders.

    • travellerev 2.1
      7 February 2011 at 8:33 am

      An interesting observation and it has made me curious to perhaps go to the Marae next year as I am a recent arrival in this country and would love to learn more about the relations between Maori and Pakeha.

      I did go to the Kawhia Kai festival though and had some nice and interesting encounters while eating excellent Kai and watching some very engaging Kapa Haka performances and like with the Waitangi ceremonies it seems Pakeha were in the minority in Kawhia too which is a shame because the festival is a wonderful way to experience Maori hospitality and food.

      (And though it may seem I am promoting it rest assured I have no interests in the festival other than taking the opportunity to meet and mingle with people from a different cultural background than mine and a lack of understanding as to why it seems to be shunned by Pakeha as the local population are so clearly ready to welcome everybody.)

      • Bunji 2.1.1
        7 February 2011 at 10:21 am

        I definitely recommend everyone come and join the fun. It’s a great and positive festival, celebrating our cultures. The protests are only such a small part of it, even if that’s all that makes the news.

  3. higherstandard 3
    7 February 2011 at 7:33 am

    Waitangi on Waitangi day is a side show for a small number of Nga Puhi radicals to get 5 minutes on TV.

    Scrap it – it’s a joke compared to the National days around the world that actually celebrate one’s country.

    • Pat 3.1
      7 February 2011 at 8:07 am

      Let me think. A choice between Waitangi with Hone Harawira showing off, or Eden Park with Jesse Ryder showing off. I choose Eden Park.

      • orange whip? 3.1.1
        7 February 2011 at 8:29 am

        Waitangi day as entertainment. What an interesting perspective, Pat.

      • pollywog 3.1.2
        7 February 2011 at 8:55 am

        except theres no guarantee Ryder will show off…

        … at least with ‘ol faithful’ Hone, you know he’s gonna blow regular as clockwork as long as there’s a camera pointed at him with the mic on

        and why am i reminded of a muppet with a hand up it’s arse when i imagine Norman speaking on Maori ?

        • Craig Glen Eden 3.1.2.1
          7 February 2011 at 9:28 am

          “and why am i reminded of a muppet with a hand up it’s arse when i imagine Norman speaking on Maori ?”

          You like Muppets? How the hell would we now what makes you tick?

    • Bunji 3.2
      7 February 2011 at 10:24 am

      Waitangi on Waitangi Day is… a great and enjoyable festival.

      Yes those from Nga Puhi have their say, but if you were given 5 minutes in the spotlight to try and hold our politicians to account, wouldn’t you? (and if not, why are you on a political blog site?)

      But you could go to the festival and not even notice that if you didn’t choose to focus on it. There’s so much more going on – mainly good kai and a real celebration of positive maori culture.

  4. vto 4
    7 February 2011 at 9:01 am

    How long until maori no longer consider themselves something special and instead take a place alongside all other types of NZers on an equal footing do you think?

    • pollywog 4.1
      7 February 2011 at 9:36 am

      when there’s a Maori PM and head of state under new flag and all treaty settlements are signed off with the money in the bank and a shitload of land and foreshore repatriated…

      …how long do you reckon that’ll take ?

    • higherstandard 4.2
      7 February 2011 at 9:40 am

      Nah I disagree VTO – as per Waitangi day what we get on TV and the media is the stirrers in Nga Puhi hogging the headlines.

      The vast amount of maori in the country are absolute salt of the earth and the most welcoming and hospitable people you’d ever come across.

    • vto 4.3
      7 February 2011 at 10:01 am

      I meant Maori as a group / political thingy, not as individuals of course.

      Any society with separate rules and norms and settings for separate groups of people will eventually blow apart.

      And Polly I suspect that will take forever. It must happen before then.

      • higherstandard 4.3.1
        7 February 2011 at 10:06 am

        Fair call, although when you get group/political thingy they tend to be a bleating bunch of arses when not in power and do nothing apologist tards when they are in power no what race or political leaning they come from.

      • Pascal's bookie 4.3.2
        7 February 2011 at 10:19 am

        Any society with separate rules and norms and settings for separate groups of people will eventually blow apart.

        But that’s the problem, innit?

        Fact is, Maori have been treated as if their rights didn’t need to be bothered with, and they are quite rightly arsed off about it.

        • vto 4.3.2.1
          7 February 2011 at 10:29 am

          Yes absolutely P’s b. And that can be dealt with.

          They are two separate issues though – one of redress for past wrongs and one of rules and settings for a bunch of people living together in the same place.

          Dealing with the first issue is unfortunately mixing in with the second issue.

      • pollywog 4.3.3
        7 February 2011 at 10:45 am

        oh chur vto…

        Well that’ll be when Maori unite under a ‘one people’ banner as opposed to independent sovereign nation status afforded iwi and guaranteed by the treaty.

        Most NZer’s, even Maori, fail to recognize the treaty was signed by the Crown as represented by Pakeha to be a single entity, and a loose collection of Rangatira representing each individual iwi to be multiple entities. Consequently, most never consider the consequences sovereign status of each iwi still remaining in place confers.

        Sovereignty, as it exists, was never co opted into Maori as being represented by one party or one people and it won’t until all treaty settlements are signed off and Maori review their status to form a single self determining governing body, most probably that being an evolution of the Iwi Leaders Group not the Maori Party.

        As far as i know. Maori never formalised treaties with each other to cessate inter tribal warfare nor assimilated other tribes by any other means than by conquest and coercion, as Ngai Tahu did in consolidating disparate iwi under one treaty claim.

        …and therein lies the problem of special status. Each iwi has their own special status within Maoridom which needs to be acknowledged before any consideration of them as NZ’ers on an equal footing can meaningfully take place.

        Talking of Maori this and Maori that as generic and homogeneous term for all is about as relevent as referring to all Asians as one people. All it shows is an ignorance of their true nature and cultures.

        From my perspective Maori, and the wider Pasifika peoples, would be better off uniting under one confederation of peoples. The United States of Pasifika replete with single currency and citizenship.

        so how long do you think that’s gonna take, cos thats the long game i’m playing

        🙂

        • vto 4.3.3.1
          7 February 2011 at 11:08 am

          Good effort, but I suspect it’s gonna take a generation or six. And by that time some other great demographic upheaval will have passed across the South Pacific and upset the current positionings anyway.

          • pollywog 4.3.3.1.1
            7 February 2011 at 11:43 am

            However long it takes is consistent with the Pasifikan worldview on time and ancestry/progeny…We ain’t going anywhere fast.

            Home for us is always gonna be home no matter who’s in power.

            I keep saying 2 more generations and we’ll have pretty much assimilated the colonial mindset into a Pasifikan state of mind and that includes the French in Tahiti and the Americans in Hawaii

            …though at some stage i reckon i’m gonna have to go there and tell em how it is too…heh

            Waitangi Day should be a day of celebrating Maori sovereignty for each iwi with the tradition of a pilgrimmage by hapu, whanau and whanaunga back to the rohe where a feast is put on by Rangatira to acknowledge their prosperity, benevolence and gratitude for the privilege of their right to rule.

            Celebrating the treaty signing, as is, at Waitangi, is like mourning the death of a loved one lost in battle and toasting the victors at the expense of the defeated…Fucked if i’m gonna do that.

            Waitangi day is the time i usually take stock of my family and our position in life and review the state of the Pasifikan Nation. Remember the past and how much we have lost while celebrating the future of all things Pasifika yet to be gained.

            …it should be our Thanksgiving day

            • Draco T Bastard 4.3.3.1.1.1
              7 February 2011 at 12:26 pm

              A fairly normal conservative back to the future mindset. Hey, look, it was sooo much better back then, lets go there – yeah, not gonna happen.

              You may not have noticed this thing called Anthropogenic Climate Change. Old customs won’t survive it as the conditions that brought them about will no longer apply (Hell, they don’t apply any more anyway). In a few decades we will be doing what we need to survive as a people and that will involve radical new customs.

              • pollywog …
                7 February 2011 at 12:45 pm

                But shit wasn’t so much better back then and theres no way i want to return to it.

                I’m all for cultural and social evolution, survival and all that. Just hope the radical new customs don’t involve canibalism again…we been there, done that

                …not a good look eh !

  5. ianmac 5
    7 February 2011 at 9:49 am

    Bunji: Refreshing to read a non-MSM view of Waitangi. A positive view. Thanks

  6. adriank 6
    7 February 2011 at 11:53 am

    On the topic of Waitangi Day, I’m pretty shocked about the way the speech made by Kerei Tia Toa (http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/4623103/Earthquake-prediction-for-Wellington) is being treated. The media seem to be taking it at face value and writing it off as the rantings of a senile old man rather than considering for a moment that his intention may be somewhat allegorical (and how could it not be with the Beehive specifically mentioned?).

  7. Draco T Bastard 7
    7 February 2011 at 11:56 am

    Phil Goff’s speech struck a chord, with him saying that on this day when we celebrate becoming two peoples in one nation,

    hmmmmm…

    As each chief signed, Hobson said “He iwi tahi tātou”, meaning (in English) “We are now one people”.

    Seems to me that we should be celebrating becoming one people in one nation.

    Our country was probably looking more polluted than clean and green to the tourists who happened by.

    Anybody with eyes to see can tell that our country is more polluted than “clean and green”.

    The provision of hospitality that’s so important was ignored, and the facing up to the hard questions dodged. There was little respect.

    And that is absolutely disgusting. Shows how little respect he has for customs and Te Tiriti

    • pollywog 7.1
      7 February 2011 at 12:35 pm

      As each chief signed, Hobson said “He iwi tahi tātou”, meaning (in English) “We are now one people”.

      Seems to me that we should be celebrating becoming one people in one nation.

      Not really…because Maori never said it to each other. By signing as individual iwi, it guaranteed Maori were not one people and Hobson, by saying it to each as they signed, guaranteed it to be also.

      In doing so he perpetrated the great lie that has since been repeated and co opted as truth by successive powers.

      He may have thought of Pakeha and Maori being united as British subjects under the treaty but Maori were nowhere, nor are still anywhere near being united as one people subject to one rule of Maori law until they sing their own treaty amongst themselves to say they are one people and one nation.

      and what Goff said just shows how ignorant he is of Maori identity and nationhood issues. So whatever chord he struck would only sound harmonious if you were tone deaf or deafened by the silence of duplicitious Maori.

  8. Nick C 8
    7 February 2011 at 12:18 pm

    Glorious Labour Leader Phil Goff gives great speech, accurately shows people of Waitangi why national party dogs are ruining once glorious Peoples Republic of New Zealand. Speech recieves rousing applause. Phil is welcomed as old friend of Maori people. Labour spokesperson Parekura Horomia also gives great speech, is shown as great friend of elders of Waitangi. Labour Party ally Russel Normon shows off great environmental knowledge. All agree he would be very good Minister in Labour Government.

    national party dogs disgrace sacred and glorious customs of elders of Waitaingi. national ‘Leader’ john key insults Waitangi Treaty and leaves early, to cries of disdain from Maori people. All agree that he has polluted the rivers and streams which were once glorious and sacred to Waitangi people. ‘maori party’ co-leader pita sharples hides in fear of mighty Labour Leader Phil Goff, other ‘maori party’ co-leader is yet to be seen. Wise and brave Hone Harawira who has been converted to oppose ‘maori party’ dogs gives glorious speech, all agree that he should be Leader of the maori party.

    Did I sum it up for you?

    • pollywog 8.1
      7 February 2011 at 12:48 pm

      I’d buy that for a dollar Nick C

    • Locus 8.2
      8 February 2011 at 9:01 am

      Most beloved hand waving national Leader John Key grins happily while being mobbed by media, steers them in direction of warring Maori factions, and gives speech saying nothing of consequence, accurately shows TV viewers our glorious leader’s impish grin and ‘ordinary man’s manliness’. Media dribble and wag tails as they receive honour of talking to glorious leader. Meanwhile everyone else at Waitangi sense the real issue on people’s minds is increasing divide between rich and poor, inadequacy of Marine and Coastal Areas Bill, and rapid decline of Maori in every socio-economic statistic worth thinking of.

  9. dotty 9
    8 February 2011 at 1:57 am

    The Waitangi Day celebration should be moved around the country. Every ten years back at Waitangi
    them off to a Marae in Invercargill, Hamilton, Christchurch, Napier, Dunedin, New Plymouth, Picton, Palmerston North, Greymouth before going back to Waitangi ten years later. $1000 to film on a Marae would never happen if it was only there every ten years. Plus it might shut up Hone’s whanua for awhile, loud hailer on a Marae down south, yeah right

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  • Postcard from Sydney: Southwest and City Metro extension

    This is a guest post from Sydney reader Nik Clement After 2 years in Auckland I moved back to Sydney just over a year ago. While in Auckland, I went to the opening of Puhinui station and used it a fair bit, living in Manukau Central and being able ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    3 days ago
  • Tolling revolt brewing in National heartland

    Kia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, September 18:Locals gathered in Woodville last night to protest at the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s decision to toll the new road linking the Manawatu and Hawkes Bay, saying ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • The doom spiral

    This is a re-post from The Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler In his last post, Zeke discussed incredible warmth of 2023 and 2024 and its implications for future warming. A few readers looked at it and freaked out: This is terrifying and This update really put me in a ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago
  • Government directs Te Puni Kōkiri to conduct Māori Language Week in English

    The coalition government has issued a directive to Te Puni Kōkiri, the Ministry of Māori Development, instructing them that – in the interests of clear communication – they are to conduct this year’s Māori Language Week primarily or exclusively in English. The directive is in line with the Government’s policy ...
    The CivilianBy Ben Uffindell
    4 days ago
  • Government celebrates fact that New Zealand’s healthcare is so good people are queuing up for it a...

    At yesterday’s post-cabinet press conference, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, flanked by his Health Minister Shane Reti and someone we can’t independently verify was a real sign language interpreter, announced that he had some positive news for the country. “Alright team, I’m just going to hand over to uh, Dr. Shane, ...
    The CivilianBy Ben Uffindell
    4 days ago
  • Heartwarming: Thoughtful driver uses indicator to tell you what they’ve just done

    It’s 4:10pm in the morning, and you’re in the middle lane heading north on the great southern motorway of our nation’s capital, Auckland. There are no cars directly in front of you, but quite a few in the lane to your left. Suddenly, without warning, a black ute enters your ...
    The CivilianBy Ben Uffindell
    4 days ago
  • NPC teams will now be allowed to actually use the Ranfurly Shield in play

    Following decades of controversy, the governing body of New Zealand rugby, New Zealand Rugby, has ruled that the team currently holding the Ranfurly Shield may once again use it in play during the National Provincial Championship (NPC). The ruling restores the utility of a prize that for many years was ...
    The CivilianBy Ben Uffindell
    4 days ago
  • Climbing out of the hamster wheel

    I arrived home with a head full of fresh ideas about mindfulness and curbing impulsive aspects in my character.On the second night home I grabbed a piece of ginger and began swiftly slicing it on our industrial strength mandolin, the one I have learned through painful experience to treat with ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • More Notes From Stinky Town

    Good morning, folks. Another wee note from a chilly Rotorua morning that looks much clearer than yesterday. As I write, the pink glow in the east is slowly growing, and soon, the palest of blue skies should become a bit more royal.A couple of people mentioned yesterday that I should ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Make it make sense: why axe valuable local projects?

    Last week, Matt looked at how the government wants to pour a huge chunk of civic infrastructure funding for a generation  into one mega-road up North, at huge cost and huge opportunity cost. A smaller but no less important feature of the National Land Transport Plan devised by Minister of Transport ...
    Greater AucklandBy Jolisa
    4 days ago
  • Driving blind at higher speeds

    An open letter by experts about plans to raise speed limits warns the “tragic consequence will be more New Zealanders losing their lives or suffering severe injury, along with a substantial burden on the nation's healthcare and rehabilitation services”. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāKia ora. Long stories short, here’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • 2024’s unusually persistent warmth

    This is a re-post from The Climate Brink My inaugural post on The Climate Brink 18 months ago looked at the year 2024, and found that it was likely to be the warmest year on record on the back of a (than forecast) El Nino event. I suggested “there is a real chance ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago
  • National plan for 2000 more Kiwis a year in prison

    Open for allYesterday, Luxon congratulated his government on a job well done with emergency housing numbers, but advocates have been saying it‘s likely many are on the streets and sleeping in cars.Q&A featured some of the folks this weekend - homeless and in cars. Yes.The government’s also confirmed they stopped ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • I Found a Note in a Tree

    Hi,On most days I try to go on a walk through nature to clear my head from the horrors of life. Because as much as I like people, I also think it’s incredibly important to get very far away from them. To be reminded that there are also birds, lizards, ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    4 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Politicians need to lift their game

    Declining trust in New Zealand politicians should be a warning to them to lift their game. Results from the New Zealand Election Study for the 2023 election show that the level of trust in politicians has once again declined. Perhaps it is not surprising that the results, shared as part ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago
  • Police say they won’t respond to bomb threats anymore as ‘it’s never anything’

    Police Commissioner Andrew Coster says that New Zealand’s police force will no longer respond to bomb threats, in an attempt to cut costs and redirect police resources to less boring activities. Coster said that threat response and bomb disposal was a “fairly obvious” area for downsizing, as bomb threats are ...
    The CivilianBy Ben Uffindell
    5 days ago
  • A dysfunctional watchdog

    The reality of any right depends on how well it is enforced. But as The Post points out this morning, our right to official information isn't being enforced very well at all: More than a quarter of complaints about access to official information languish for more than a year, ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Climate Change: The threat of a good example

    Since taking office, the climate-denier National government has gutted agricultural emissions pricing, ended the clean car discount, repealed water quality standards which would have reduced agricultural emissions, gutted the clean car standard, killed the GIDI scheme, and reversed efforts to reduce pollution subsidies in the ETS - basically every significant ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Vegas Baby

    Good morning, lovely people. Don’t worry. This isn’t really a newsletter, just a quick note. I’m sitting in our lounge, looking out over a gloomy sky. Although being Rotorua, the view is periodically interrupted by steam bursting from pipes and dispersing—like an Eastern European industrial hellscape during the Cold War.Drinking ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Why Entrust Needs New Leadership

    I am part of a new team running in the Entrust election in October. Entrust is a community electricity trust representing a significant part of Auckland, set up to serve the community. It is governed by five trustees are elected every three years in an election the trust itself oversees. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    5 days ago
  • London Bridge is falling down

    In the UK, London is the latest of council groups to signal potential bankruptcy.That’s after Birmingham, Britain’s second largest city, went bankrupt in June, resulting in reduced sanitation services, libraries cut, and dimmed streetlights.Some in the city described things as “Dickens” like.Please, Sir, Can I have some more?For families with ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Govt may kick elderly out of hospitals

    The Government is considering how to shunt elderly people out of hospitals, and also how to cut their access to other support. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Monday, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Getting the nephs off the couch

    The so-called “Prince of the Provinces”, Shane Jones, went home last Friday. Perhaps not quite literally home, more like 20 kilometres down the road from his house on the outskirts of Kerikeri. With its airport, its rapidly growing (mostly retired) population, and a commercial centre with all the big retail ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • De moralibus orcorum: Sargon of Akkad, Rings of Power, Evil, and George R.R. Martin

    I have noted before that The Rings of Power has attracted its unfortunate share of culture war obsessives. Essentially, for a certain type of individual, railing on about the Wokery of Modern Media is a means of making themselves a online livelihood. Clicks and views and advertising revenue, and all ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    5 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #37

    A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, September 8, 2024 thru Sat, September 14, 2024. Story of the week From time to time we like to make our Story of the Week all about us— and ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago
  • Salvation For Us All

    Yesterday, I ruminated about the effects of being a political follower.And, within politics, David Seymour was smart enough on Friday to divert attention from “race blind” policies [what about gender blind I thought - thinking of maternity wards] and cutting school lunches by throwing meat to the media. Teachers were ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A warm embrace

    Far, far away from here lives our King. Some of his subjects can be quite the forelock tuggers, but plenty of us are not like that, and why don't I wheel out my favourite old story once more about Kiwi soldiers in the North African desert?Field Marshal Montgomery takes offence ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Literal clowns are running the place, we must put a timeout on this stupidity… right Aotearoa?

    These people are inept on every level. They’re inept to the detriment of our internal politics, cohesion and increasingly our international reputation. And they are reveling in the fact they are getting away with it. We cannot even have “respectful debate” with a government that clearly rejects the very ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    6 days ago
  • Fact brief – Does manmade CO2 have any detectable fingerprint?

    Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park from the Gigafact team in collaboration with John Mason. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Does manmade CO2 have any ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago
  • Judge Not.

    Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. Matthew 7:1-2FOUR HUNDRED AND FORTY men and women professing the Christian faith would appear to have imperilled their immortal souls. ...
    Bowalley Road
    7 days ago
  • Managed Democracy: Letting The People Decide, But Only When They Can Be Relied Upon To Give the Righ...

    Uh-uh! Not So Fast, Citizens! The power to initiate systemic change remains where it has always been in New Zealand’s representative democracy – in Parliament. To order a binding referendum, the House of Representatives must first to be persuaded that, on the question proposed, sharing its decision-making power with the people ...
    Bowalley Road
    7 days ago
  • Looking For Labour’s Vital Signs.

    Flatlining: With no evidence of a genuine policy disruptor at work in Labour’s ranks, New Zealand’s wealthiest citizens can sleep easy.PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN has walked a picket-line. Presidential candidate Kamala Harris has threatened “price-gauging” grocery retailers with price control. The Democratic Party’s 2024 platform situates it well to the left of Sir ...
    Bowalley Road
    7 days ago
  • Forty Years Of Remembering To Forget.

    The Beginning of the End: Rogernomics became the short-hand descriptor for all the radical changes that swept away New Zealand’s social-democratic economy and society between 1984 and 1990. In the bitterest of ironies, those changes were introduced by the very same party which had entrenched New Zealand social-democracy 50 years earlier. ...
    Bowalley Road
    7 days ago
  • Kōrero Mai – Speak to Me.

    Good morning all you lovely people. 🙂I woke up this morning, and it felt a bit like the last day of school. You might recall from earlier in the week that I’m heading home to Rotorua to see an old friend who doesn’t have much time. A sad journey, but ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    7 days ago
  • Winning ways

    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on anything you may have missed. Street architecture adjustment, KolkataShare Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    7 days ago
  • 48 seconds on a plan that would reverberate for a million years

    Despite fears that Trump presidency would be disastrous for progress on climate change, the topic barely rated a mention in the Presidential debate. Photo: Getty ImagesLong stories short, here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    7 days ago
  • Using blunt instruments and magical thinking to ignore evidence of harm

    The abrupt cancellations and suspensions of Government spending also caused private sector hiring, spending, and investment to freeze up for the first six months of the year. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāThis week we learned:The new National/ACT/NZ First Coalition Government ignored advice from Treasury that it didn’t have to ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    7 days ago
  • Is This A Dagger Which I See Before Me: A Review and Analysis of The Rings of Power Episode 5 (Seaso...

    Another week of The Rings of Power, season two, and another confirmation that things are definitely coming together for the show. The fifth Episode of season one represented the nadir of the series. Now? Amid the firmer footing of 2024, Episode Five represents further a further step towards excellent Tolkien ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • In Open Seas; A Book

    The background to In Open Seas: How the New Zealand Labour Government Went Wrong:2017-2023Not in Narrow Seas: The Economic History of Aotearoa New Zealand, published in 2020, proved more successful than either I or the publisher (VUP, now Te Herenga Waka University Press) expected. I had expected that it would ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • The Hoon around the week to Sept 13

    The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts and talking about the week’s news with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on the latest climate science on rising temperatures and the climate implications of the US Presidential elections; and special guests Janet ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Do or do not. There is no try

    1. Upon receiving evidence that school lunches were doing a marvellous job of improving outcomes for students, David Seymour did what?a. Declared we need much more of this sort of good news and poured extra resources and funding into them b. Emailed Atlas network to ask what to do next c. Cut ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago
  • Dangerous ground

    The Waitangi Tribunal has reported back on National's proposed changes to gut the Marine and Coastal Area Act and steal the foreshore and seabed for its greedy fishing-industry donors, and declared it to be another huge violation of ti Tiriti: The Waitangi Tribunal has found government changes to the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago
  • Climate Change: National wants to cheat on Paris

    In 2016, the then-National government signed the Paris Agreement, committing Aotearoa to a 30 (later 50) percent reduction in emissions by 2030. When questioned about how they intended to meet that target with their complete absence of effective climate policy, they made a lot of noise about how it was ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago
  • Treasury warned Govt lower debt limits meant less ‘productivity-enhancing investment’

    Treasury’s advice to Cabinet was that the new Government could actually prudently carry net core Crown debt of up to 50% of GDP. But Luxon and Willis instead chose to portray the Government’s finances as in such a mess they had no choice but to carve 6.5% to 7.5% off ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Is the Media Complicit?

    This is a long read. Open to all.SYNOPSIS: Traditional media is at a cross roads. There is a need for those in the media landscape, as it stands, to earn enough to stay afloat, but also come across as balanced and neutral to keep its audiences.In America, NYT’s liberal leaning ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Black Friday

    It's Black Friday, the end of the weekYou take my hand and hold it gently up against your cheekIt's all in my head, it's all in my mindI see the darkness where you see the lightSong by Tom OdellFriday the 13th, don’t be afraid.No, really, don’t. Everything has felt a ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Roundup 13-September-2024

    Ooh, Friday the thirteenth. Spooky! Is that why certain zombie ideas have been stalking the landscape this week, like the Mayor’s brainwave for a motorway bridge from Kauri Point to Point Chev? Read on and find out. This roundup, like all our coverage, is brought to you by the Greater ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 week ago

  • Tourism on the table for Pacific Ministers’ meet-up

    Tourism and Hospitality Minister Matt Doocey will meet with Trade and Tourism Minister of Australia Don Farrell and Fiji Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica in Rotorua this weekend for a trilateral tourism discussion. “Like in New Zealand, tourism plays a significant role in Australia and Fiji’s economy, contributing massively to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago
  • Young people report on family and sexual violence

    The Te Puna Aonui Expert Advisory Group for Children and Young People has presented its report today on improving family and sexual violence outcomes for young people, to the Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence, Karen Chhour.  The presentation at the Auckland event was an opportunity for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago
  • $18 million being invested in the victims of crime

    The Government is putting more than $18 million towards improving the experience of the criminal justice system for victims, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Minister for Children Karen Chhour say. “No one should experience crime, but for those who through no fault of their own become victims, they need to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago
  • Landmark phonics check in te reo Māori

    For the first time, schools can use a purpose-built tool to check how a child is progressing in reading through te reo Māori. “Around 45 schools are trialling a New Zealand first te reo Māori phonics check, known as Hihira Weteoro. It will help kaiako (teachers) focus on what ākonga ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    15 hours ago
  • New sea walls safeguard Ōpōtiki’s transformation

    Two new breakwater walls at Pākihikura (Ōpōtiki) Harbour will provide boats with safe harbour access to support the continued growth of aquaculture in Bay of Plenty, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters and Regional Development Minister Shane Jones say. The Ministers and leaders from Tē Tāwharau o Te Whakatōhea and other ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago
  • Kitmap to improve access to science infrastructure

    Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins today announced an online platform to optimise the use of New Zealand’s science and technology research infrastructure and to link the public and private sector. “This country is home to world-class science, technology, and engineering expertise. Kitmap is set to empower Kiwi innovators, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago
  • Driving the uptake of low emission heavy vehicles

    The Government has launched the Low Emissions Heavy Vehicle Fund (LEHVF) to promote innovation and offset the cost of hundreds of heavy vehicles powered by clean technologies, Energy Minister Simeon Brown and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts say. “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago
  • Speech on replacing the Resource Management Act

    Replacing the RMA Hon Chris Bishop: Good morning, it is great to be with you. Can I first acknowledge the Resource Management Law Association for hosting us here today. Can I also acknowledge my Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Simon Court, who is on stage with me. He has assisted me in establishing the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago
  • Replacement for the Resource Management Act takes shape

    Two new laws will be developed to replace the Resource Management Act (RMA), with the enjoyment of property rights as their guiding principle, RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Parliamentary Under-Secretary Simon Court say. “The RMA was passed with good intentions in 1991 but has proved a failure in practice. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Tough laws pass to make gang life uncomfortable

    Legislation passed through Parliament today will provide police and the courts with additional tools to crack down on gangs that peddle misery and intimidation throughout New Zealand, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “From November 21, gang insignia will be banned in all public places, courts will be able to issue non-consorting orders, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • New levy rates set to ensure continued funding of FENZ

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government has agreed to the rates for the redesigned levy that will fund Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) from July 2026.  “Earlier this year FENZ consulted publicly on a 5.2 percent increase to the levy. I was not convinced that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Police allocate Officers to Beat and Gang Units

    The Coalition Government welcomes Police’s announcement today to deploy more police on the beat and staff to Gang Disruption Units.  An additional 70 officers will be allocated to Community Beat Teams across towns and regional centres.  This builds on the deployment of beat officers in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch CBDs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Consultation begins on significant updates to the biosecurity system

    Proposals to strengthen the country’s vital biosecurity system, including higher fines for passengers bringing in undeclared high-risk goods, greater flexibility around importing requirements, and fairer cost sharing for biosecurity responses have been released today for public consultation. Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says “The future is about resilience and the 30-year-old ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Wānaka community to benefit from new overnight health service

    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says an Overnight Acute Care Service opening in October will provide people in Wānaka and the surrounding area with the assurance of quality overnight care closer to home.  “When I was in Wānaka earlier this year, I announced funding for an overnight health service – ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Preventing potholes with data-driven technology

    The Government is rolling out data collection vans across the country to better understand the condition of our road network to prevent potholes from forming in the first place, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Increasing productivity to help rebuild our economy is a key priority for the Government and increasing ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • GDP data shows effect of high interest rates

    Gross Domestic Product (GDP) data for the quarter to June 2024 reinforces how an extended period of high interest rates has meant tough times for families, businesses, and communities, but recent indications show the economy is starting to bounce back, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ data released today ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • NZ to host first Fiji, Australia trilateral trade Ministers’ meeting in Rotorua

    Trade Minister Todd McClay will host Fijian Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica and Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell for trilateral trade talks in Rotorua this weekend. “Fiji is one of the largest economies in the Pacific and is a respected partner for Australia and New Zealand,” Mr McClay says. Australia and New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • NZ hosts Annual CER Trade Ministers’ meeting in Rotorua

    Trade Minister Todd McClay will meet with Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell for the annual Closer Economic Relations (CER) Trade Ministers’ meeting in Rotorua this weekend.  “CER is our most comprehensive agreement covering trade, labour mobility, harmonisation of standards and political cooperation. It underpins an important trading relationship worth $32 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government proposing changes to jury trials

    The Government is seeking the public’s feedback on two major changes to jury trials in order to improve court timeliness, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “The first proposal would increase the offence threshold at which a defendant can decide to have their case heard by a jury. “The second is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Business key to regional economic dialogue

    Local businesses and industries need to be front and centre in conversations about how regions plan to grow their economies, Regional Development Shane Jones says. The nationwide series of summits aims to facilitate conversations about regional economic growth and opportunities to drive productivity, prosperity and resilience through the Coalition Government’s Regional ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • More funding for Growing Up in New Zealand study

    The Government is investing $16.8 million over the next four years to extend the Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) Longitudinal Study. GUiNZ is New Zealand’s largest longitudinal study of child health and wellbeing and has followed the lives of more than 6000 children born in 2009 and 2010, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Tough targets for charter schools will raise achievement

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour says that Charter Schools will face a combination of minimum performance thresholds and stretch targets for achievement, attendance and financial sustainability. “Charter schools will be given greater freedom to respond to diverse student needs in innovative ways, but they will be held to a much ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • NZ votes for Middle East resolution at UN

    New Zealand has voted for a United Nations resolution on Israel’s presence in occupied Palestinian Territory with some caveats, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “New Zealand’s yes vote is fundamentally a signal of our strong support for international law and the need for a two-state solution,” Mr Peters says.    “The Israel-Palestine ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Honouring the legacy of New Zealand’s suffragists

    Suffrage Day is an opportunity to reaffirm New Zealand’s commitment to ensuring we continue to be a world leader in gender equality, Minister for Women Nicola Grigg says. “On 19 September, 131 years ago, New Zealand became the first nation in the world where women gained the right to vote. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Foreign Minister to travel to New York, French Polynesia

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters is travelling to New York next week to attend the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, followed by a visit to French Polynesia. “In the context of the myriad regional and global crises, our engagements in New York will demonstrate New Zealand’s strong support for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Thanking social workers on their national day

    “Today, on Aotearoa New Zealand Social Workers’ Day, I would like to recognise the tremendous effort social workers make not just today, but every day,” Children’s Minister and Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence Karen Chhour says. “I thank all those working on the front line for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Minister of State for Trade heads to Laos for ASEAN meetings

    Minister of State for Trade Nicola Grigg will travel to Laos this week to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Economic Ministers’ Meetings in Vientiane.   “The Government is committed to strengthening our relationship with ASEAN,” Ms Grigg says. “With next year marking 50 years since New Zealand became ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Members appointed to retail crime MAG

    The Government has appointed four members to the Ministerial Advisory Group for victims of retail crime, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee say. “I am delighted to appoint Michael Hill’s national retail manager Michael Bell to the group, as well as Waikato community advocate and business ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Speech to the New Zealand Nurses Organisation AGM and Conference 2024

    It’s my pleasure to be here to join the opening of the NZNO AGM and Conference for 2024.  First, I’d like to thank NZNO Kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku, NZNO President, Anne Daniels, and Chief Execuitve Paul Gaulter for inviting me to speak today.  Thank you also to all the NZNO members ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Improvements for New Zealand authors

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says changes to the Public Lending Right [PLR] scheme will help benefit both the National Library and authors who have books available in New Zealand libraries. “I am amending the regulations so that eligible authors will no longer have to reapply every year ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister commends Police for gang operation

    Police Minister Mark Mitchell congratulates Police for the outstanding result of their most recent operation, targeting the Comancheros. “That Police have been able to round up the majority of the Comancheros leadership, and many of their patched members and prospects, shows not only the capability of Police, but also shows ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • New appointments to the EPA board

    Environment Minister Penny Simmonds has announced a major refresh of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) board with four new appointments and one reappointment.   The new board members are Barry O’Neil, Jennifer Scoular, Alison Stewart and Nancy Tuaine, who have been appointed for a three-year term ending in August 2027.  “I would ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
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  • Enabling rural recovery works in Hawke’s Bay

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