Walkergate: MP Quits

Written By: - Date published: 1:49 pm, July 8th, 2020 - 65 comments
Categories: Abuse of power, accountability, class war, corruption, democracy under attack, election 2020, Politics, same old national, todd muller - Tags: , ,

Embattled Tory MP Hamish Walker has announced that he will not contest the September election for National.

Ironically, the Covid 19 privacy breacher only became an MP when the incumbent, Todd Barclay, was caught breaching privacy and was forced to stand down.

This will not be the end of the matter.

Walker and National Party insider Michelle Boag will face further investigation, likely prosecution under the Privacy Act and possible criminal charges. No wonder Walker doesn’t want to go before the election; he’ll get nearly 6 months salary by staying on until election day. That’ll help pay the legal bills and fines, I guess.

Labour’s Stuart Nash claims it’s possible other Nat MP’s knew about the leaked list of Covid victim’s names. If so, then they deserve to go as well. They had a duty to the nation to play their part; they should have immediately told the new Minister of Health or the MOH head Ashley Bloomfield what they knew, the moment they knew it.

The same applies to temporary Tory leader Todd Muller, who sat on the news that Walker and Boag were the leakers for 24 hours.

That’s cowardly at best, irresponsible at worst.

The timeline of the leak is getting more interesting. Walker issued a dog whistle statement last week claiming that up to 11,000 people from “India, Pakistan and Korea” could be going to Dunedin, Invercargill and Queenstown for quarantine.

That’s very specific nationalities named, suggesting he had Boag’s material a week ago.

However, it has been reported that the leaked info does not have nationalities listed, so it looks very much like Walker has inferred the ethnicity of the Covid victims from their surnames.

Remember when Labour were accused of relying on ‘Chinese sounding names’ to make a point on housing?

National were all over that with shrill cries of racism.

Now …. crickets.

National leader Todd Muller reprimands Hamish Walker over 'racist ...

Muller’s response is to freeze Walker out, claiming that the MP went rogue.

That’s bullshit.

Walker was doing what National have been doing for a decade. Dirty Politics 2.0 is still dirty politics.

If Muller had any guts, he’d disband their sleazy ‘intelligence unit’ immediately.

But he won’t, because he has no authority, no mana and no hope.

Still, it’s good that NZ voters know that, in the team of 5 million, the National Party aren’t even fit to take a place on the sub’s bench.

 

UPDATE: Muller speaks live on the Walker/Boag scandal. And announces that National will make it all better by, er, building a road.

Asked why he waited to out Walker and Boag, Muller says he was effectively scared off by Walker’s lawyer. Muller claims that National are the party of values and that there is no such thing as ‘dirty politics’. Refers to the disgraced MP repeatedly as ‘Hamish’.

Says, as far as he knows, Nikki Kaye was not briefed by her friend Michelle Boag. Muller apologises to NZ and claims it does not reflect badly on his leadership.

To finish, Todd reminds us that National want to build a road. Rooooads!

 

65 comments on “Walkergate: MP Quits ”

  1. anker 1

    It defies belief that no one else in the National Party knew. Only Boag and Walker???? Really????????? Woodhouse had information about the isolation facilities and the two English women……………..

    National now will look even more ridiculous when they use the words shambles and disgraceful re the borders and Labour's Covid response…………..Unless there is some completely unexpected event, National are really done for. 28% may be looking very positive for National now.

    I am glad this has come out. but Walker is far from being an outlier or rogue……This type of approach to politics and electioneering pervades National.

    • A man left isolation to food shop at Countdown. A distraction which will be used by the Right. Chris said both he and the earlier woman would be charged.

      These two, Boag and Walker are part of a larger group. Their outing of themselves and separation from the party is to cauterize the wound and to stop the “Bleeding”. imo

    • tc 1.2

      Yes any chance Todd had of distancing himself from DP just got thrown back in his face.

      I'd like to see our useless MSM start asking the obvious question about nationals leader having no respect or discipline being shown by his rank and file.

      Todd's a compliant figurehead he's no leader.

    • Wairua 1.3

      Trump gives notice of withdrawal from World Health Organisation

      https://truthout.org/articles/trump-gives-official-notice-of-withdrawal-from-the-world-health-organization/

      The announced departure from the international agency comes after Trump has threatened for several months to cut off funding to the WHO, as well as leaving the organization altogether, over his belief that the UN agency has promoted a pro-China bias. Despite lacking evidence to back its claims, the White House has alleged that the WHO aided Beijing in covering up the initial response to coronavirus at the start of the disease’s spread in Wuhan late last year.

      In making these claims against the WHO, Trump claimed they were backed up by supposed reports from December 2019 in the medical journal The Lancet, which he said had shown the WHO and China were aware of the destructive possibilities of COVID-19 at that time. Those claims, however, were immediately repudiated by The Lancet, which pointed out that it had “published no report in December, 2019, referring to a virus or outbreak in Wuhan or anywhere else in China.”

  2. Pi 2

    "… likely prosecution under the Privacy Act …"

    As far as I can tell, he can't face prosecution under the Privacy Act as there are no offences under the Privacy Act relating to breach of Information Privacy Principles. Rather, breach of the IPPs is a civil matter and the Human Rights Review Tribunal can grant compensation awards.

    See: http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1993/0028/latest/DLM296639.html?search=sw_096be8ed819654ad_fine_25_se&p=1#DLM298433

    Or: https://privacy.org.nz/further-resources/knowledge-base/view/209

    • Correct. As an MP, Walker may have an out under the Privacy Act. Boag has no such protection.

      Privacy commissioner John Edwards said on Morning Report that Walker, as an MP, was likely not covered by privacy legislation, but he thought Michelle Boag and the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust were. Specifically asked if Boag was in breach of the Privacy Act, Edwards said “Without a very good health-related or business-related reason, I would say yes.”

      Worth noting that the helicopter trust has said Boag getting the info has nothing to do with them and that she did not receive the info, which was sent to her personal email, as part of her work for them.

      • maggieinnz 2.1.1

        Now, this is getting curly. According to the stuff article:

        ‘“The breach which has been admitted by Ms Boag was of an email that was sent to her personal account. As an administrative resource, Ms Boag has never had access to any clinical or patient data held by [the trust].

        “Any information we hold on patients is private with access on a restricted basis and has not been breached.”

        So, according to your quoted comment she is in breach, right?

        Also, if the data wasn't sourced from the trust it must have come from where? The MoH? Who else might have it?

        Other points: The trust has good reason to deny any breach occurred and without knowing specifically what their protocols are for determining a breach occurred can we accept their denial?

        • te reo putake 2.1.1.1

          My best guess is that either Boag simply lied and tried to use the trust as cover, or that it actually came from someone close to the trust.

          • maggieinnz 2.1.1.1.1

            Yeah, I think both options are feasible. She could be pointing to the trust as a distraction from where she really got the info or it could have come from someone inside/close to the trust. It wouldn't be hard to get the info out without triggering any sort of data security measures. Simply take a photo of the screen/document showing the data with your phone, make a spreadsheet using data from photo and send it to Boag's private email.

        • McFlock 2.1.1.2

          I guess the trust can make a criminal complaint of apparent data theft, so the police could apply for a search warrant to find out who sent the email to her personal account.

          Sorry, I forgot she's a nat. No case to answer, as far as the cops would know.

          • maggieinnz 2.1.1.2.1

            Does having the data sent to her private email put the breach outside of political protection do you know? I thought I saw somewhere that there's a distinction between in-house and out when it comes to what protection is afforded.

            You kind of have to view every scrap of wording as (potentially) duplicitous.

            • McFlock 2.1.1.2.1.1

              She has no parliamentary protection, Walker does. She might have some whistleblower protections if she'd followed that protocol, but I think there are tees to cross for that before you go to "email an opposition MP".

              Right about the wording: if she "received the information in her capacity as acting chief executive" (ARHT dispute this if it relates to their patient data), then she was entitled to have it and no criminal activity occurred.

              If it went to her "personal email", rather than ARHT resources, then the copy could be distributed by her without misusing ARHT computers to leak the data, and no criminal activity occurred from that point of view, either.

              But if she sent it to her personal email from ARHT, that's possibly dishonestly using their computers. I suspect there would be a similar offence if she instructed an ARHT subordinate to send it to her personal email.

              But she could have received it from a third party that addresed it to her as acting CEO, but used her personal email address. If she gave them that address for ARHT business, and received confidential patient data that should have gone to ARHT patient management, then that is a data leak by the third party and they need to be held accountable. But on-leaking it might also place her in hot water legally.

              • maggieinnz

                Appreciate the rundown.

                Yep, she's out for whistleblower protection because she didn't make a protected disclosure to appropriate authorities. Even if she claimed she handed it to Walker on the grounds it was a PD she should have made a PD statement, not actually caused further breaches by forwarding the doc.

                And it also seems that because her role was administrative she should not have had unredacted access to patient data even in her role.

                I'm not seeing a legitimate out for her given what you've outlined and what we know. Will be interesting how severe her wrist-slapping will be. They may get serious this time and forgo wetting the bus ticket.

                • McFlock

                  If she wangled it so that she didn't do anything technically criminal, there's little that can be done. She might be sued for shafting ARHT's reputation. Maybe fined for a privacy breach.

      • McFlock 2.1.2

        Worth noting that the helicopter trust has said Boag getting the info has nothing to do with them and that she did not receive the info, which was sent to her personal email, as part of her work for them.

        So whoever sent the document to Boag was the breach-point, and Boag at no time had any reasonable belief that she was entitled to possess that information.

        Also worth noting that Boag will claim to leak information she obtains as part of her employment, whereas she might have just thrown ARHT under the bus out of convenience.

      • Pi 2.1.3

        I think you are missing the point. There is no ability to prosecute for breaches of the Privacy Act, because breaches of the Privacy Act are not criminal offences.

        Edit: For clarity, there are criminal offences under the Privacy Act – but they relate to things like lying to the Privacy Commissioner.

  3. Chris 3

    How will the government expose this latest nats' black ops campaign – not just this current example with Walker and Boag, but the wider campaign Brownlee leads – in a way that properly convinces New Zealanders that what they're trying to do is in fact real and not to be tolerated?

    • tc 3.1

      Waste of time, let due process play out. Nash and Hipkins apply the heat till the GE.

      Win the election outright and use that as a mandate to legislate a new landscape. Mediaworks and granny got taxpayers money to play this game !

      • Incognito 3.1.1

        As exciting as the brain quakes and ongoing brain tremors of the Nats & Associates are, this is a huge distraction for the GE. Ploticians should be working their asses off writing policies and taking them to the voters. Instead of a political process we have a political circus.

  4. Tiger Mountain 4

    But wait there’s more…

    https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/122070095/auckland-rescue-helicopter-trust-says-michelle-boag-had-no-access-to-its-covid19-patient-data

    so who is the snout then…

    ”whites only!” Walker seems one of the even more arrogant shameless new breed Nats

  5. RedBaronCV 5

    Well at this point I think the our new ethically and morally responsible National party who have rammed individual responsibility down everyone's neck for a decade should pay for each and every cost associated with this breach so the taxpayer does not have to.

  6. xanthe 6

    Its not a team of five million any more……. Go team of 4,999,998 !

    • peterh 6.1

      No, team of five million less 13%, the same amount in the last poll who did not think govt was doing good in covit response, also the same 13% who wanted Muller PM

  7. woodart 7

    since the last three m.p.s from clutha -southland have been caught either, leaking, lying, spying, or double dipping, perhaps its time for a royal enquiry into the natz southland branch, and for the three strikes law to be used.

  8. Adrian 8

    All of the information in the 3 leaks must have come from someone senior in MoH.

    Woodhouse even tried to give the homeless man authenticity by claiming a high source in health told him, possibly because a person ending quarantine could not supply a forwarding address and the 11000 going to the whites only laager of Southland could have only come from MoH. Therefore all the info must have come from the same source, the trust has been used as a smokescreen.

    The conduit MUST have been Boag in all three cases and then the ethically bypassed one had the gaul to implicate the helicopter trust.
    She is so fucking toxic.

    Fuck she is toxic.

    th

  9. greywarshark 9

    I was wondering yesterday about wearing a mask. I have been thinking of doing so, and not because I am spooked by the occasional AWOL. But I do want people who have invested lives in NZ to be able to return and go into isolation of course. So I have to think about wearing a mask as I am increasing risk to myself. I've got a few things to do before I take that trip to infinity!

    I see that the Royal Society UK is advising on wearing a mask there. For good reason – that's the most practical and caring thing to come out of leaders there about Covid for a while.

    <i>Everyone in the UK should wear a face covering, the president of the Royal Society has said. In a statement published today, Venki Ramakrishnan said people should have face coverings with them when they leave their home and should always wear them in crowded public spaces, “particularly indoors in enclosed public spaces where physical distancing is often not possible.”</i> https://www.newscientist.com/article/2237475-covid-19-news-everyone-should-wear-face-coverings-says-royal-society/

    Now is there anything I can spray on my mask for added protection against the National Party contagion? Should it be flowery like Ringaringa Rosie to keep away the plague, or eau d'ail to keep away ghouls, plus a silver cross and a stake I think.

  10. Fireblade 10

    Does anyone actually believe that Todd Muller and/or Nikki Kaye didn't know that Boag and Walker had the patient list, and were going to use it for a dirty politics hit job? Based on the fact that the National Party has a history of playing dirty, it sounds like a bullshit arse-covering story to protect the party leadership.

  11. Reality 11

    I see Walker did not want Muller to disclose his identity, citing privacy concerns. If it wasn't so serious it would be hilarious. Where was his concern for privacy when leaking to the media. Mind boggling.

  12. ianmac 12

    Walker was not sacked from the National Party. He just said he would not stand at the Election.

    So Muller said he had written to the Party Board to sack Walker, but they didn't do what he asked them to do. Does this indicate that he does not have the confidence of his Board. Walker therefore continues as a sitting member in the House on full pay.

    • gsays 12.1

      To give credit where it is not due, I reckon Walker was given the option of leaving before pushed.

      In a similar vein to Clark perhaps cont…

      • Ed1 12.1.1

        I do not see any comparison at all – David Clark achieved a lot within the Health portfolio; he resigned as Minister when the major focus turned to administration and physical security. If National were serious about showing disapproval of Walker's actions they would have insisted on an immediate resignation. As it is he continues to be paid as for the other MPs that are not standing at the next election.

        • greywarshark 12.1.1.1

          Yes someone did a list of his achievements and they were multiple. Just another David Shearer I feel. I am going off David as a name.

  13. gsays 13

    The reason for the 4 lane road down south is clear, the churn of Nat candidates in the southern electorate and their lawyers toing and froing, have worn out the old one.

  14. Ed 14

    Interesting. So WHO did give her the information?

    'Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust says Michelle Boag 'never' had access to COVID-19 data.'

    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/07/auckland-rescue-helicopter-trust-says-michelle-boag-never-had-access-to-covid-19-data.html

    • Ken 14.1

      Michelle obviously has access to people who have access to info.

      The fact that some "nobody" healthcare worker will be thrown under a series of buses, takes nothing away from the dastardly deeds of Boag and Walker.

  15. Gabby 15

    Mike Bush. Wonder what access to info he has.

  16. Morrissey 16

    Best course of action for hopeless, hapless Tod Muller….

    https://media1.tenor.com/images/7227be633ae5578164544ffda8fd337e/tenor.gif?itemid=10882805

  17. George 17

    Boag was involved in a privacy breach situation years ago with a woman over ACC files I recall… Bronwyn Pullar… It was a big stink as well. Very strange. Boag was in deep as the support person apparently. Again leaked personal information of people. Hmmmmm…

    • UncookedSelachimorpha 17.1

      Pullya Benefit liked the same tactics…could there be a common thread there? A common connection to some sort of organised group perhaps?? A group that condones and encourages this sort of crap even?

      Nope, can't think of one.

  18. Morrissey 18

    She used to be feared by the lackeys in the National caucus, back in 2005 when National was trying to deal with another hopeless “leader”….

    10:05 a.m. The Brethren's Churchill Road Gospel Hall in Crofton Downs. The National Party caucus is in session. The former chairwoman of the party, MICHELLE BOAG, is reading the riot act. Demoralised politicians with sour, defeated expressions listen in gloomy silence. At first glance, everyone appears shell-shocked. However, closer inspection shows that several members are rather more sanguine. Deposed leader BILL ENGLISH actually seems to be enjoying it somewhat. To the anger of many, and the amusement of some, he is ostentatiously reading Nicky Hager's explosive book The Hollow Men. BOAG bores on relentlessly…

    BOAG: …. and in all fairness the less we hear of Don Brash over the next seven days the better.

    BILL ENGLISH: You chose 'im!

    BOAG: [grimly ignoring the disaffected former leader] And we will be hearing no more at all from our former "strategist" — if that's the right word for what he's been up to over the last fortnight. [she glares at MURRAY McCULLY like a basilisk] From now on, I and seven friends, who will remain anonymous, will be directing this campaign. For the last week of the campaign we need to stop shooting ourselves in the foot and remind people of our CORE
    PRINCIPLES. I sometimes wonder whether anybody remembers what the National Party STANDS for any more.

    DR LOCKWOOD SMITH: [excitedly waving hand in the air] Ooh! I know, I
    know!

    BOAG: [nervously] Ye-e-e-e-e-e-e-esss, Lockwood?

    DR LOCKWOOD SMITH: Never pay in cash, Never tell the truth, and Never play by the rules!

    BOAG: [closes eyes in despair, buries face in hands] Give me str-r-r-r-r-r-r-rength!

    DON BRASH: No, no, no, no, no, no, no! That's not right, Lockwood! Eeeeeeehhhhhh….

    JOHN KEY: [cool, smiling, unfazed] Actually, that IS the National Party philosophy.

    SIMON POWER: And it's a darned fine philosophy too.

    DON BRASH: Oh no, no, no, no, no, no, no……

    TONY RYALL: [in disgust] The right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing.

    BILL ENGLISH: [shaking his head] These right wing ideologues are tearing this party apart! IT'S A FAILURE OF LEADERSHIP!

    JOHN KEY: [cool, smiling, unfazed] We stand for… ooooohhhhh… taking the tax off petrol.

    RYALL: Eh? You said the opposite two weeks ago!

    SOWRY: It's ANOTHER flip-flop!

    BROWNLEE: [with boyish excitement] Right, that's enough thinking! Let's go GET Helen Clark with our new flip-flop policy!

    BOAG: [tartly, between clenched teeth] Shut up and sit down, you fatuous, footling fathead.

    BROWNLEE: [aggressively] You can't call me fatuous! That's size-ist!

    DON BRASH: Eeeeeeeehhhh, Gerry, when Michele calls you "fatuous", it does not mean you are fat, it means you are foolish.

    BROWNLEE: [cheerfully] Oh! Well, that's all right, then!

    DISAFFECTED CAUCUS MEMBER: Shut up and sit down, Brash! Michelle's in
    charge, not you!

    DOCTOR DON BRASH: Oh no, no, no, no, no, no. Eeeeeeeehhhhhh…..

    BOAG: [doggedly ignoring the mounting turmoil] Now we also need an attack strategy to get at Margaret Wilson, and —

    SIMON POWER: We could base our strategy on the fact she's got a wooden leg!

    BOAG: Yes! For once, a bright idea! Now let's brainstor—-

    [BOAG is interrupted mid-sentence by the late arrival of the deposed shadow welfare spokesperson.]

    MISS R*CH: Sorry I'm late.

    BOAG: [acerbically] Sit down quickly at the back of the room, next to Tony Ryall and Nick Smith, and that Maori woman.

    DAVID CARTER: Siberia!

    CAUCUS: Ha ha ha ha ha!

    BOAG: Stop that! This is a party in crisis! The time for levity is after we win the election!

    RYALL: Ha! THAT'll be the day! [imitating Fraser from Dad's Army] We're DOOMED! We're all DOOOOO-O-O-O-OOOMED!

    CAUCUS: Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! ….I'd rather have Captain Mainwaring in charge than Don Brash! …. We're TOAST, let's face it, fellas! … Don't PANIC!!!! … Ha ha ha ha ha!

    DOCTOR DON BRASH: Oh no no no no no no no no no. That's not funny.

    CAUCUS: Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

    BOAG: Stop this nonsense NOW! We need to FOCUS!

    DOCTOR DON BRASH: Eeeeeeeeeeehhhhhhhhh….

    [The room descends into uproar. After the laughter has roiled around the room for an extended period, the hubbub eventually dies down. K*TH*R*N* R*CH moves toward the back of the now silent room. Unfortunately, this necessitates moving past her successor, the bulldog-like JUDITH COLLINS…]

    https://morrisseybreen.blogspot.com/2017/12/national-party-emergency-caucus-meeting.html

    • ianmac 18.1

      The stage awaits thee Mr Morrissey.

    • Drowsy M. Kram 18.2

      Oh no no no no no no no no no. That's not funny.” I disagree laugh

    • georgecom 18.3

      only things you forgot were

      DOCTOR DON BRASH uuuuggggghhhhh eeeeeeeeeerrrrhhhh….my wifes from Singapore…….eeeehhhhhhhuuuuu…..I don't know, one thing I do know it that it's not the national party…….uuuuuhhhhhhh…….tax cuts………eeeeeerrrrhhhh……they met me for prayer……..zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

  19. Muttonbird 19

    Incredible to see the media roll over and allow National to claim rogue MP yet again. Rather than asking the question about the endemic, toxic National Party culture.

  20. Muttonbird 20

    A $1.5 billion dollar motorway between Christchurch and wait for it, a tiny town of 34,000 people.

    What's the BCR on that?

    • Pat 20.1

      a complete waste of resources….not to mention a decade of transport disruption on a massive scale…and for what? eventually a 5 minute time saved in travel for some travellers during high use periods which occur infrequently anyway.

      gross stupidity

      • Muttonbird 20.1.1

        Plus, the well-to-do of that region got $1.7 billion just ten years ago paid out by Bill English in the dead of the night!

        That Nats will be eyeing that area up for massive intensive farming and horticulture and the rivers be damned. Why doesn’t a journalist ask them about why the need for such an expensive road there.

  21. UncookedSelachimorpha 21

    The BIG question is – who leaked to Boag?? Both her and the Natz have gotten off very lightly on that question so far. The person who sent the info is in all probability both a criminal and highly unethical, and they presumably continue to have access to sensitive personal data. If inadvertent they need to be educated, and if deliberate – sanctioned.

    Hopefully the enquiry can compel Boag to reveal her source.

    • observer 21.1

      The latest reporting suggests that there was not a leak to Boag. She simply received regular, daily updates from the MoH. She was on the mailing list because of her CEO role.

      RNZ:

      “Boag told RNZ the Ministry of Health had sent daily emails to her private email, which included the sensitive details of the country’s Covid-19 cases.

      Boag couldn’t explain why it was sent to her private email, but suspected it was because she was only temporarily in the role of chief executive.

      The government has already confirmed emergency services were regularly sent the details of the country’s active cases, so they could take the proper precautions if responding to a call-out where someone with Covid-19 was present.”

      • mpledger 21.1.1

        It seems odd that that kind of data should be sent to a CEO – it's operational stuff. And if it was sent to her personal account then it must have been her choice to get it sent there – the MoH doesn't dream up an email address to send it to.

    • George 21.2

      According to Boag this didn't sit well with her in her role as CEO Of said emergency service as someone (like her) could then expose these people's private health information publicly. So she gave it to a National minister to prove his/her point. She should never ever be allowed again in a position of trust in a public organisation. Using your position of power to prove how easy it to abuse positions of power is not the moral high ground…it's hypocrisy.

      • observer 21.2.1

        Unfortunately there's a lazy, box-ticking convention that says – you hand out positions on boards to people already on boards, because they have proved their worth by being on boards.

  22. Maurice 22

    Careful people!

    Excessive crowing does not go down well with middle NZ and we need as many of those as possible to vote correctly ……

    A week is a long time in politics … and we are several weeks away from the GE

  23. millsy 23

    Boag is finished now. No one will give her any sinecures every again. No talking head slots either.

    • froggleblocks 23.1

      People used to think the same about Tony Veich.

      I guess Boag is a lot older though.

  24. mosa 24

    " How New Zealand's media endangered public health "

    This report from Glen Johnson of Aljazeera

    https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/zealand-media-endangered-public-health-200707103532946.html

    • Drowsy M. Kram 24.1

      Thanks Mosa – excellent report. "Will the media hold the National Party to account?"

  25. Observer Tokoroa 25

    BUT !

    just a minute – Frau Boag did not rescue the Westpack Rescue Helicopter…

    The Helicopter said so – in strong forthright words. They had nothing to do with the Frau. She made it up.

    As is the way of National business. Gave her all to the Walker Boy, who is now completely Snug in the National Party – Southland.

    Toddy has not solved anything. Has he ?

    National is always corrupt.

    I warrant that alter Boy Toddy, has not been to see the People he wantonly allowed to be plastered all over Southland and the two Islands of New Zealand.

    Instead, he is going to borrow the Helicopter – Frau Boag hasn't got -and build a a road to glory.

    Toddy the Ratbag. I will bet you a Toddy bears Picnic, that National has not put to right their scandalous dealings with the People dealt out by the Muller monstrosity.

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    Completed reads for September: The Lost Continent, by C.J. Cutcliffe Hyne Flatland, by Edwin Abbott All Quiet on the Western Front, by Erich Maria Remarque The Country of the Blind, by H.G. Wells The Day of the Triffids, by John Wyndham A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles ...
    1 day ago
  • Losing The Left.
    Descending Into The Dark: The ideological cadres currently controlling both Labour and the Greens are forcing “justice”, “participation” and “democracy” to make way for what is “appropriate” and “responsible”. But, where does that leave the people who, for most of their adult lives, have voted for left-wing parties, precisely to ...
    2 days ago
  • The New “Emperor’s New Clothes”.
    “‘BUT HE HASN’T GOT ANYTHING ON,’ a little boy said ….. ‘But he hasn’t got anything on!’ the whole town cried out at last.”On this optimistic note, Hans Christian Andersen brings his cautionary tale of “The Emperor’s New Clothes” to an end.Andersen’s children’s story was written nearly two centuries ago, ...
    2 days ago
  • BRYCE EDWARDS: The vested interests shaping National Party policies
      Bryce Edwards writes – 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 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • LINDSAY MITCHELL: A conundrum for those pushing racist dogma
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – The heavily promoted narrative, which has ramped up over the last six years, is that Maori somehow have special vulnerabilities which arise from outside forces they cannot control; that contemporary society fails to meet their needs. They are not receptive to messages and ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • CHRIS TROTTER:  The greater of two evils
    Not Labour: If you’re out to punish the government you once loved, then the last thing you need is to be shown evidence that the opposition parties are much, much worse.   Chris Trotter writes – THE GREATEST VIRTUE of being the Opposition is not being the Government. Only very ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to Sept 30
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:Labour presented a climate manifesto that aimed to claim the high ground on climate action vs National, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Litanies, articles of faith, and being a beneficiary
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past two weeks.Friday 29Play it, ElvisElection Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Litanies, articles of faith, and being a beneficiary
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past two weeks.Friday 29Play it, ElvisElection Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The ‘Recession’ Has Been Called Off, But Some Households Are Still Struggling
    While the economy is not doing too badly in output terms, external circumstances are not favourable, and there is probably a sizeable group of households struggling because of rising interest rates.Last week’s announcement of a 0.9 percent increase in volume GDP for the June quarter had the commentariat backing down ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    2 days ago
  • Climate Change: The wrong direction
    This week the International Energy Association released its Net Zero Roadmap, intended to guide us towards a liveable climate. The report demanded huge increases in renewable generation, no new gas or oil, and massive cuts to methane emissions. It was positive about our current path, but recommended that countries with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • “Racism” becomes a buzz word on the campaign trail – but our media watchdogs stay muzzled when...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Oh, dear.  We have nothing to report from the Beehive. At least, we have nothing to report from the government’s official website. But the drones have not gone silent.  They are out on the election campaign trail, busy buzzing about this and that in the hope ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Play it, Elvis
    Election Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t have time for. You’re welcome, etc. Let us press on, etc. 1.  What did Christopher Luxon use to his advantage in ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Pure class warfare
    National unveiled its fiscal policy today, announcing all the usual things which business cares about and I don't. But it did finally tell us how National plans to pay for its handouts to landlords: by effectively cutting benefits: The biggest saving announced on Friday was $2b cut from the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • Ask Me Anything about the week to Sept 29
    Photo by Anna Ogiienko on UnsplashIt’s that time of the week for an ‘Ask Me Anything’ session for paying subscribers about the week that was for an hour, including:duelling fiscal plans from National and Labour;Labour cutting cycling spending while accusing National of being weak on climate;Research showing the need for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 29-September-2023
    Welcome to Friday and the last one for September. This week in Greater Auckland On Monday, Matt highlighted at the latest with the City Rail Link. On Tuesday, Matt covered the interesting items from Auckland Transport’s latest board meeting agendas. On Thursday, a guest post from Darren Davis ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    3 days ago
  • Protest at Parliament: The Reunion.
    Brian’s god spoke to him. He, for of course the Lord in Tamaki’s mind was a male god, with a mighty rod, and probably some black leathers. He, told Brian - “you must put a stop to all this love, hope, and kindness”. And it did please the Brian.He said ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Labour cuts $50m from cycleway spending
    Labour is cutting spending on cycling infrastructure while still trying to claim the higher ground on climate. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Labour Government released a climate manifesto this week to try to claim the high ground against National, despite having ignored the Climate Commission’s advice to toughen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • The Greater Of Two Evils.
    Not Labour: If you’re out to punish the government you once loved, then the last thing you need is to be shown evidence that the opposition parties are much, much worse.THE GREATEST VIRTUE of being the Opposition is not being the Government. Only very rarely is an opposition party elected ...
    3 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #39 2023
    Open access notables "Net zero is only a distraction— we just have to end fossil fuel emissions." The latter is true but the former isn't, or  not in the real world as it's likely to be in the immediate future. And "just" just doesn't enter into it; we don't have ...
    3 days ago
  • Chris Trotter: Losing the Left
    IN THE CURRENT MIX of electoral alternatives, there is no longer a credible left-wing party. Not when “a credible left-wing party” is defined as: a class-oriented, mass-based, democratically-structured political organisation; dedicated to promoting ideas sharply critical of laissez-faire capitalism; and committed to advancing democratic, egalitarian and emancipatory ideals across the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago
  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • Hipkins fires up in leaders’ debate, but has the curtain already fallen on the Labour-led coalitio...
    Labour’s  Chris Hipkins came out firing, in the  leaders’ debate  on Newshub’s evening programme, and most of  the pundits  rated  him the winner against National’s  Christopher Luxon. But will this make any difference when New  Zealanders  start casting their ballots? The problem  for  Hipkins is  that  voters are  all too ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    4 days ago
  • Govt is energising housing projects with solar power – and fuelling the public’s concept of a di...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Not long after Point of Order published data which show the substantial number of New Zealanders (77%) who believe NZ is becoming more divided, government ministers were braying about a programme which distributes some money to “the public” and some to “Maori”. The ministers were dishing ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • MIKE GRIMSHAW: Election 2023 – a totemic & charisma failure?
    The D&W analysis Michael Grimshaw writes –  Given the apathy, disengagement, disillusionment, and all-round ennui of this year’s general election, it was considered time to bring in those noted political operatives and spin doctors D&W, the long-established consultancy firm run by Emile Durkheim and Max Weber. Known for ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • FROM BFD: Will Winston be the spectre we think?
    Kissy kissy. Cartoon credit BoomSlang. The BFD. JC writes-  Allow me to preface this contribution with the following statement: If I were asked to express a preference between a National/ACT coalition or a National/ACT/NZF coalition then it would be the former. This week Luxon declared his position, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • California’s climate disclosure bill could have a huge impact across the U.S.
    This re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Andy Furillo was originally published by Capital & Main and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. The California Legislature took a step last week that has the potential to accelerate the fight against climate ...
    4 days ago
  • Untangling South East Queensland’s Public Transport
    This is a cross post Adventures in Transitland by Darren Davis. I recently visited Brisbane and South East Queensland and came away both impressed while also pondering some key changes to make public transport even better in the region. Here goes with my take on things. A bit of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    4 days ago
  • Try A Little Kindness.
    My daughter arrived home from the supermarket yesterday and she seemed a bit worried about something. It turned out she wanted to know if someone could get her bank number from a receipt.We wound the story back.She was in the store and there was a man there who was distressed, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • What makes NZFirst tick
    New Zealand’s longest-running political roadshow rolled into Opotiki yesterday, with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters knowing another poll last night showed he would make it back to Parliament and National would need him and his party if they wanted to form a government. The Newshub Reid Research poll ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • September AMA
    Hi,As September draws to a close — I feel it’s probably time to do an Ask Me Anything. You know how it goes: If you have any burning questions, fire away in the comments and I will do my best to answer. You might have questions about Webworm, or podcast ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    4 days ago
  • Bludgers lying in the scratcher making fools of us all
    The mediocrity who stands to be a Prime Minister has a litany.He uses it a bit like a Koru Lounge card. He will brandish it to say: these people are eligible. And more than that, too: These people are deserving. They have earned this policy.They have a right to this policy. What ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • More “partnerships” (by the look of it) and redress of over $30 million in Treaty settlement wit...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point of Order has waited until now – 3.45pm – for today’s officially posted government announcements.  There have been none. The only addition to the news on the Beehive’s website was posted later yesterday, after we had published our September 26 Buzz report. It came from ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • ALEX HOLLAND: Labour’s spending
    Alex Holland writes –  In 2017 when Labour came to power, crown spending was $76 billion per year. Now in 2023 it is $139 billion per year, which equates to a $63 billion annual increase (over $1 billion extra spend every week!) In 2017, New Zealand’s government debt ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • If not now, then when?
    Labour released its fiscal plan today, promising the same old, same old: "responsibility", balanced books, and of course no new taxes: "Labour will maintain income tax settings to provide consistency and certainty in these volatile times. Now is not the time for additional taxes or to promise billions of ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • THE FACTS:  77% of Kiwis believe NZ is becoming more divided
    The Facts has posted –        KEY INSIGHTSOf New Zealander’s polled: Social unity/division 77%believe NZ is becoming more divided (42% ‘much more’ + 35% ‘a little more’) 3%believe NZ is becoming less divided (1% ‘much less’ + 2% ‘a little less’) ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the cynical brutality of the centre-right’s welfare policies
    The centre-right’s enthusiasm for forcing people off the benefit and into paid work is matched only by the enthusiasm (shared by Treasury and the Reserve Bank) for throwing people out of paid work to curb inflation, and achieve the optimal balance of workers to job seekers deemed to be desirable ...
    5 days ago
  • Wednesday’s Chorus: Arthur Grimes on why building many, many more social houses is so critical
    New research shows that tenants in social housing - such as these Wellington apartments - are just as happy as home owners and much happier than private tenants. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The election campaign took an ugly turn yesterday, and in completely the wrong direction. All three ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Old habits
    Media awareness about global warming and climate change has grown fairly steadily since 2004. My impression is that journalists today tend to possess a higher climate literacy than before. This increasing awareness and improved knowledge is encouraging, but there are also some common interpretations which could be more nuanced. ...
    Real ClimateBy rasmus
    5 days ago
  • Bennie Bashing.
    If there’s one thing the mob loves more than keeping Māori in their place, more than getting tough on the gangs, maybe even more than tax cuts. It’s a good old round of beneficiary bashing.Are those meanies in the ACT party stealing your votes because they think David Seymour is ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • The kindest cuts
    Labour kicks off the fiscal credibility battle today with the release of its fiscal plan. National is expected to follow, possibly as soon as Thursday, with its own plan, which may (or may not) address the large hole that the problems with its foreign buyers’ ban might open up. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Green right turn in Britain? Well, a start
    While it may be unlikely to register in New Zealand’s general election, Britain’s PM Rishi Sunak has done something which might just be important in the long run. He’s announced a far-reaching change in his Conservative government’s approach to environmental, and particularly net zero, policy. The starting point – ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    5 days ago
  • At a glance – How do human CO2 emissions compare to natural CO2 emissions?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    5 days ago
  • How could this happen?
    Canada is in uproar after the exposure that its parliament on September 22 provided a standing ovation to a Nazi veteran who had been invited into the chamber to participate in the parliamentary welcome to Ukrainian President Zelensky. Yaroslav Hunka, 98, a Ukrainian man who volunteered for service in ...
    5 days ago
  • Always Be Campaigning
    The big screen is a great place to lay out the ways of the salesman. He comes ready-made for Panto, ripe for lampooning.This is not to disparage that life. I have known many good people of that kind. But there is a type, brazen as all get out. The camera ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • STEPHEN FRANKS: Press seek to publicly shame doctor – we must push back
    The following is a message sent yesterday from lawyer Stephen Franks on behalf of the Free Speech Union. I don’t like to interrupt first thing Monday morning, but we’ve just become aware of a case where we think immediate and overwhelming attention could help turn the tide. It involves someone ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Competing on cruelty
    The right-wing message calendar is clearly reading "cruelty" today, because both National and NZ First have released beneficiary-bashing policies. National is promising a "traffic light" system to police and kick beneficiaries, which will no doubt be accompanied by arbitrary internal targets to classify people as "orange" or "red" to keep ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Further funding for Pharmac (forgotten in the Budget?) looks like a $1bn appeal from a PM in need of...
    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 ...
    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. ...
    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 ...
    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
    6 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 ...
    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

  • 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
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    2 weeks ago
  • Govt boost for Hawke’s Bay cyclone waste clean-up
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    2 weeks ago
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    2 weeks ago
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    2 weeks ago
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    2 weeks ago
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    2 weeks ago
  • Strong export boost as NZ economy turns corner
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    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 ...
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    2 weeks ago
  • Further business support for cyclone-affected regions
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    2 weeks ago
  • New maintenance facility at Burnham Military Camp underway
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    2 weeks ago
  • Foreign Minister to attend United Nations General Assembly
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    2 weeks ago
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    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. ...
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    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 ...
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    3 weeks ago
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    3 weeks ago
  • Nanaia Mahuta to attend PIF Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
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    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. ...
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    3 weeks ago

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