Water rights hui

Written By: - Date published: 8:37 am, September 6th, 2012 - 115 comments
Categories: hone harawira, john key, mana-party, maori party, national, water - Tags: , ,

Next Thursday there will be a national hui on water rights called by Maori King Tuheitia. John Key is playing divide and rule, and thus has forbidden National MPs from attending:

Key: Government won’t go to water hui

Prime Minister John key says the Government will not attend a hui called by the Maori King over water rights because it rejects calls for a national water settlement.

Key also made it clear none of his MPs should attend the hui because that would cause confusion about them representing the Crown.

That’s a huge snub to Maoridom, and I think it is petty beyond belief, but that’s the call that Key has made, and it’s easy to understand where he’s coming from. More difficult to understand is the craven position of the Maori Party:

Maori Party likely to snub water rights hui

The Maori Party looks unlikely to attend what is expected to be the biggest meeting of Maori in 30 years – next week’s water rights hui.

Prime Minister John Key says the Government is also planning to avoid the meeting at Turangawaewae Marae because it does not believe there is any need for it. “We do not want to engage in a national hui because we do not believe that there needs to be one,” he says.

…That leaves the Maori Party. Co-leader Tariana Turia says she doubts they will be attending. “Well at this point I don’t really see the point in going,” she says.

Fellow co-leader Pita Sharples agrees. “We believe this is a thing that iwi/hapu have to work out themselves,” he says.

So the Maori Party is not going to attend the biggest meeting of Maori in 30 years? A party supposedly formed to represent the interests of Maori is going to leave iwi to work things out for themselves? This is beyond pathetic, and makes the Maori Party look like complete puppets to National. Hone Harawira thinks so too, and says so in very inflammatory language:

Harawira: Maori Party are ‘house n****rs’

Mana Party leader Hone Harawira has launched a stinging attack on the Government over its decision not to attend a national hui on water rights.

Writing on Facebook last night, Mr Harawira implied the Maori Party was controlled and led by Prime Minister John Key. “Notice how John Key says none of his Maori MPs are allowed to go to the National Maori Hui on Water … and two minutes later Tariana Turia and Pita Sharples say that they’re not going,” says Mr Harawira. “Not hard to see who’s the REAL leader of the Maori Party!”

…”Time John Key realised a few home truths like (1) he can tell his little house n****rs what to do, but (2) the rest of us don’t give a shit for him or his opinions!” writes Mr Harawira.

I don’t condone the language, but it’s hard to argue with the conclusions.

115 comments on “Water rights hui ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. TheContrarian 1
    6 September 2012 at 8:51 am

    Who was it who was saying the other day that Hone is sounding more and more like a statesman? Hmmm

    • deano 1.1
      6 September 2012 at 9:49 am

      well, he’s referencing Malcolm X who was the leader of a black nationalist movement.

      The word n*gger is very strong, of course, but the term house n*gger has a very specific political meaning – it’s not about the colour of the skin, it’s about the willing subservient relationship

    • Colonial Viper 1.2
      6 September 2012 at 9:58 am

      He hit a home run with this one.

      • Enough is Enough 1.2.1
        6 September 2012 at 10:10 am

        No he didn’t.

        All anyone will be talking about now is his stupid comment. Nobody cares about the historical relevance of his comments.

        Hone has a way of grabbing headlines. In this case it will deflect from the good story.

      • King Kong 1.2.2
        6 September 2012 at 11:11 am

        He certainly has though this is just what you would expect from uneducated semi literate field nigger.

        Dont worry people its not offensive because Malcom X said it.

      • Colonial Viper 1.2.3
        6 September 2012 at 11:13 am

        All anyone will be talking about now is his stupid comment. Nobody cares about the historical relevance of his comments.

        of course, that’s the direction the Righties want to push it 🙂

        • Draco T Bastard 1.2.3.1
          6 September 2012 at 2:41 pm

          That’s because, in their efforts to turn the clock back a few centuries, NACT don’t want people to remember just what they’re taking us back to as it will stop them becoming the masters of all they survey.

        • Balanced View 1.2.3.2
          6 September 2012 at 9:28 pm

          Yes they do – so why are the so called left playing this game?? Why would Hone chose headline hogging language? Why would Labour come out and start talking the race card as well?

          This is exactly what National want – and it almost defies belief that Labour are giving it to them.

    • fnjckg 1.3
      6 September 2012 at 4:22 pm

      touche
      very passionate people te tangata whenua

  2. tracey 2
    6 September 2012 at 9:01 am

    Key needs advice on the meaning of consultation if he is going to use it as defence to legal action. His not going isnt what will come back to haunt him, but his quoted reason, that theres no point because his mps would just be repeating that… Xyz is not consultation.

    Good win for us all and the environment, particularly rivers, at the environment court. Those farmers still polluting whether from ignorance or wilfulness cannot be protected anymore than any other industry that discharges waste. The irony is many dairy farmers are trying to access to the river for irrigation, so they understand rivers are important.

    If you choose to start a business which needs water in a drought afflicted area, such as north canterbury, tgen live or die by that decision. Dont expect us to divert rivers and sacrifice ecology for your decisions, poorly made

  3. ThinkOfTheCatapults 3
    6 September 2012 at 9:04 am

    As was mentioned on the Dim-Post (http://dimpost.wordpress.com/2012/09/06/that-word-again), the term “house nigger” is a perfect description of the Maori Party:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_Negro
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Message_to_the_Grass_Roots

    • TheContrarian 3.1
      6 September 2012 at 9:10 am

      Wow, defending the use of one the most reviled pejorative terms of the modern era.

      Stay classy.

      • ThinkOfTheCatapults 3.1.1
        6 September 2012 at 9:18 am

        The term, no.
        The context, yes.

        ThinkOfTheCatapults – Staying classy since 06/09/12 9:10am

      • Kotahi Tāne Huna 3.1.2
        6 September 2012 at 9:28 am

        lol yes all those naughty rappers are going to get their wrists slapped.

        In my experience expressions of utter contempt are rarely expressed in polite language.

        • TheContrarian 3.1.2.1
          6 September 2012 at 9:30 am

          I always thought political discourse was different from rap song lyrics.

          • Pascal's bookie 3.1.2.1.1
            6 September 2012 at 9:35 am

            lol.

            Listened to much rap music have we?

            ‘Political discourse’ is all up in that shit.

            • TheContrarian 3.1.2.1.1.1
              6 September 2012 at 9:47 am

              Yes I listen to a lot of hip hop actually…didn’t realise an MC rapping about politics was comparable to a politician speaking about his fellow MP’s

              • Colonial Viper …
                6 September 2012 at 10:00 am

                Your PC sensitivities are quite overwhelming

                • TheContrarian …
                  6 September 2012 at 10:14 am

                  It’s not “PC sensitivities” its about the tone of our political discourse. Much like throat slitting gestures (thanks Key) don’t have a place in parliament neither does calling your opposing party terms like ‘house niggars’.

                  • Colonial Viper …
                    6 September 2012 at 10:18 am

                    It’s not “PC sensitivities” its about the tone of our political discourse.

                    You’re more worried about tone than substance. And Hone hit the mark here. Key is the real leader of the Maori Party.

                  • Colonial Viper …
                    6 September 2012 at 10:19 am

                    It’s not “PC sensitivities” its about the tone of our political discourse.

                    You’re more worried about tone than substance. Hone hit the mark here. Key is the real leader of the Maori Party.

      • Tiger Mountain 3.1.3
        6 September 2012 at 9:29 am

        Hone is quite entitled to use a term that goes back to Malcom X in terms of modern politics and way beyond to it’s original meaning in US slave society. Right wingers sometimes call Greens “watermelons”. It is all about context and track record which is why money grabbing sexist gangsta musicians using “nigga” was so offensive.

        Hone Harawira was the only NZ MP at the time who could have credibly attended Australia’s “Sorry Day”, which he did. Mana members will give the water rights hui a good rev up. The only service the Māori party has ultimately done this country is showing the paucity of identity politics in the parliamentary setting.

      • Pascal's bookie 3.1.4
        6 September 2012 at 9:30 am

        Does ‘house nigger’ mean ‘nigger’? Or are there levels of irony involved?

        Did Malcolm X feel the same way about African Americans as the Grand Wizard of the KKK?

        Deep questions. Plenty of shallow answers available to avoid them though.

        • TheContrarian 3.1.4.1
          6 September 2012 at 10:08 am

          Fine, here’s you shallow answer:

          I don’t think the term nigger has any place in political lexicon by those in parliament…and I think if any other politician had used it, say someone on the right, The Standard and its minions would be crying foul.

      • Pascal's bookie 3.1.5
        6 September 2012 at 9:33 am

        NWA are a white supremacist rap group, obvs.

      • Carol 3.1.6
        6 September 2012 at 9:36 am

        And you a lot of Kiwis, don’t get the difference between the usual perjorative use of the N-word, and why it has become regarded as unacceptable, and the way Hone has used it…. as seen here and the accompanying online poll result:

        http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/7623209/Harawira-launches-into-water-hui-debate-with-N-bomb

        As well as DimPost’s explanation, I seem too recall that it took a long time for the majority of people in the US, NZ and elsewhere, to understand why the N Word, as coined by, and as came to be used by, white people, is so offensive.

        http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigger#Etymology_and_history

        It’s guess it’s going to take just as long for about as many people to understand the degree of anger and sense of betrayal, when the word is used by brown and black people against their own as a stinging criticism.

        Some are just slow to get the point.

      • deano 3.1.7
        6 September 2012 at 9:58 am

        If he can called them niggers, that would have been one of the most “reviled pejoratives” in our language. But he called them house niggers, which isn’t the same thing because its not a race descriptor. A Pakeha can be a house nigger if they happily toe the line of their wealthy, powerful bosses. More than one of the rightwing commentators here meet that test.

        • Tiger Mountain 3.1.7.1
          6 September 2012 at 10:28 am

          hallelujah! someone gets it. I wouldn’t use the term ever but “house nigger” partly means presenting as one thing while actually being another. Hence slurs such as ‘watermelon’ and ‘potato’. Hone is a Māori nationalist with a good deal of class analysis as well which obviously many find hard to deal with.

          Tari and Pete are sell-out merchants as described.

  4. tracey 4
    6 September 2012 at 9:08 am

    What was the meeting ms turia attened with her maori nationalist beret on? Wasnt that an issue for iwi and hapu too?

  5. Carol 5
    6 September 2012 at 9:12 am

    Winston’s answer to Key’s divide and rule tactics is for all of us to claim to be Maori now:

    http://nzfirst.org.nz/news/new-zealanders-encouraged-challenge-racist-policies

    New Zealand First says if cynical backroom deals between the National and Maori parties leads to preferential treatment for Maori over water rights then all New Zealanders should claim to be Maori.

    Rt Hon Winston Peters says such a move would force the Government to declare exactly who it considers to be Maori enough to get special deals on assets already owned by all New Zealanders.

    “John Key could write to those New Zealanders he considers ineligible to let them know they’ve missed out.

    • BernyD 5.1
      6 September 2012 at 1:41 pm

      Go Winston Peters !

      • Carol 5.1.1
        6 September 2012 at 2:14 pm

        I don’t agree with most of Winston’s ethnic/’racial’ and social conservatism, but I’d never vote NZ First. However, I think he’s about the best opposition MP we’ve got. He is focused, succinct, on target, and has a catchy way of putting things. And I mostly like the way he has opposed asset sales.

  6. Raymond A Francis 6
    6 September 2012 at 9:43 am

    So, is the Labour going to attend and if not what is their stance on water rights

  7. Anne 7
    6 September 2012 at 10:46 am

    Keep at it Hone. Tell it like it is. It’s such a refreshing change from his pathetic, lickle spittling, hypocritical former colleagues. He uses the word ‘nigger’ in the correct way. I’m reminded of the same hypocrisy over another word. It’s okay to call someone a “commie” in the most derogatory way, but woe betide anyone who calls someone a “nazi”.

    I really hope that Hone is wrong though, and no-one from the Maori Party will show up. That will be the end of the road for them. What self respecting Maori would want to have anything more to do with them.

  8. redfred 8
    6 September 2012 at 11:01 am

    From Malcolm X Autobiography

    “Since slavery, the American white man has always kept some handpicked Negroes who fared much better than the black masses suffering and slaving out in the hot fields. The white man had these “house” and “yard” Negroes for his special servants. He threw them more crumbs from his rich table, he even let them eat in his kitchen. He knew that he could always count on them to keep “good massa” happy in his self-image of being so “good” and “righteous.” “Good massa” always heard just what he wanted to hear from these “house” and “yard” blacks. “

    He goes on later to describe many of the other Black leaders in the 60s as House Negroes.

    From Hone perspective probably more than appropriate.

    • TheContrarian 8.1
      6 September 2012 at 11:13 am

      You’ll note the term ‘Negro’s’ being used instead of ‘niggers’.

      If Hone wanted to make his point (a point which may very well be valid) he should have been chosen his words better.

      • Colonial Viper 8.1.1
        6 September 2012 at 11:27 am

        Semantics. Hone scored the point with a bullseye. Maori Party full of House Negroes. (Does that meet with your approval better bro)

      • Tiger Mountain 8.1.2
        6 September 2012 at 11:32 am

        Get over it TC, Pascal’s Bookie put it in perspective upthread, you are not meant to be impressed.

        People use, abuse, mangle and reclaim language regularly, e.g. “queer”, “coconut”, “slut walk”.
        On FB Hone is getting the thumbs up from supporters “tells it like it is” etc.

        • TheContrarian 8.1.2.1
          6 September 2012 at 11:34 am

          I don’t have to ‘get over it’.
          I have an opinion and if you don’t agree, fine. 

          • Colonial Viper 8.1.2.1.1
            6 September 2012 at 1:53 pm

            Maori Party = House Negroes

            John Key = House Master

          • mike 8.1.2.1.2
            7 September 2012 at 12:49 am

            Contrarian, Tiger Mountain didn’t say that you ‘had to’ get over it, he was simply expressing his opinion that you should. But of course erecting straw man after straw man is basically your whole argumentative style. (N.B. it’s getting old.)

            8.1 – You’re claiming that Hone didn’t make his point? I guess you’re entitled to your opinion, but I’m thinking it’s a nonsensical claim in light of the messages of support he’s got in social media, the exposure he achieved in mainstream media, the fact that the Maori Party has done a u-turn and is now attending the hui. “House negros” just wouldn’t have had the same impact, coverage, nor result. He made his point big time.

            Language is about context. If I call you a ‘c*nt’, that’s highly offensive. But if I call you a ‘good c*nt’, that’s a compliment (crude maybe, but that’s true in kiwi culture). Hone didn’t use the term ‘n*gger’, he used the term ‘house n*gger’. Google it if you’re not sure about the difference.

            Tiger Mountain is right, language is malleable, and the rules of how words are used changes over time. I don’t like people getting precious over ‘the n-word’. As I said it’s about context, no one owns language. It can be used in a powerfully racist way, witness Seinfeld star Michael Richards’s famous onstage meltdown: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOtU6EjHjoY But it’s used proudly in hip hop, and as a term of endearment in the urban black community.

            He shouldn’t have used it because he’s an MP? Says who? You? To use your own words you’re a powerless nobody on a blog, so I’m just gonna go ahead and throw that self-righteous opinion in the toilet.

            I also think you should get over it.

            All I ever see you doing on this site is disagreeing with people, I suspect, for the sake of disagreeing. (And no I didn’t miss your handle, I just don’t see the point.) It’s annoying, lame, and most of all, boring. It distracts from a potentially meaningful conversation. Now I’ve got nothing against someone wanting to play Devil’s advocate, but the thing is you’re just not very good at it. Weak. Surely you can find something better to do with your time.

      • Adele 8.1.3
        6 September 2012 at 10:00 pm

        The Contrarian

        African Americans would prefer to be called nigga (amongst themselves and definitely not by white folk) than to be referred to as a negro. Negro is viewed as a pejorative term whereas the other has become an affectionate endearment, of sorts.

        • Populuxe1 8.1.3.1
          6 September 2012 at 10:42 pm

          I suppose you’ve asked them then? All of them? Or are you operating under the conviction that the whole US is one big Spike Jones movie?

          • Adele 8.1.3.1.1
            6 September 2012 at 11:52 pm

            Populuxe

            Why don’t you ask Māori if they like being called a savage by you.

            • Colonial Viper 8.1.3.1.1.1
              7 September 2012 at 12:08 am

              according to populuxe’s reasoning some of them will be just fine with it.

              • Populuxe1 …
                7 September 2012 at 3:20 pm

                By slandering me like that, CV, it’s patently obvious you wouldn’t know reasoning if it bit you in the arse so well padded by your wife’s father’s money.
                 
                [lprent: It isn’t legal defamation. It is an opinion and rather carefully worded by comparison to the usual stuff around here. Please don’t waste my tired eyes explaining the obvious. ]

            • Populuxe1 8.1.3.1.1.2
              7 September 2012 at 3:14 pm

              Given that I would in no circumstances whatsoever say something like that, that would be slander. Mind you, it wouldn’t matter what I said anyway – obviously I’m just a two dimensional bogeyman to you anyway, so debate would be pointless.
               
              [lprent: see previous note. That wasn’t even an opinion. It was more of a leading question. If you want to use technical terms then perhaps you should learn what they apply to. For a starter it’d be more likely to be libel than slander – this is a permanent record. And in any case the distinction in NZ is pretty well completely subsumed inside of defamation. ]

  9. Sunny 9
    6 September 2012 at 11:34 am

    Most peoples as sorely robbed, affronted, marginalised, jailed, ignored and mocked as Maori have been since Europeans arrived here would not be organising talks and seeking negotiated agreements under the law of this land.

    They’d be picking up guns.

    All honour then to Maori and to the Treaty, a living document in every sense of the word.

    So what if Hone uses strong honest language? He says what he thinks and I agree, in exactly the same words.

    Rather Hone’s honest outrage than the PR-coached suit speaking smooth faced liars and crooks out to steal our assets, our public health system, our public education system, our no fault ACC system…anything they can get their thieving hands on.

    • North 9.1
      6 September 2012 at 6:42 pm

      Sunny at 9 above; right on with your last paragraph………”Rather Hone’s honest outrage than the PR coached……liars and crooks…….”

      Must say it disgusts me when I hear howls of outrage at HoneSpeak from the Oh-So-Earnest who are nothing more than poachers desperately trying to be seen as gamekeepers in the matter of racist pejorative.

      Hone and all Maori remain the victims of subliminal racism on a vast and sickening scale in this darling little “One Nation” of ours. The PR bullshit and the occasional vain-glorious donning of someone else’s korowai doesn’t alter that reality one jot.

      To hell with them Johnny-Come-Lately gamekeepers and their clutching of their pearls. To me “statesman” connotes mana, honour – not smooth crap talk advisedly and disingenuously put about to make the “right” impression and accrue personal advantage.

      Think back on JokeyHen commandeering the little girl from McGechan Close why don’t ya ? Having earlier “pejoratived” her parents and every other resident of her very street.

  10. gobsmacked 10
    6 September 2012 at 12:14 pm

    So, how should we describe the Maori Party?

    How?

    *sniggers*

  11. Dr Terry 11
    6 September 2012 at 1:51 pm

    Members of the Maori Party like us all, are citizens of Aotearoa/New Zealand who are aligned with the National Party. By no means do they represent the voice of all Maori, and presently are in a bit of a cleft stick; in other words National use them in order to divide and rule.

  12. Carol 12
    6 September 2012 at 3:33 pm

    Harawira says he was referring to Maori Nat MMs with his H-N jibe:

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/7623209/Harawiras-N-bomb-directed-at-National-MPs

    He said he was referring to National’s own Maori MPs; such as Paula Bennett, Tau Henare, Simon Bridges, Hekia Parata.

    “You’ve got to be careful about trying to draw dots here… I made a very clear statement about John Key and the way that he treats his MPs.”

    National’s Maori MPs were strong and intelligent leaders within Maoridom.

    “They should be able to make up their own minds as to whether or not they will accept an invitation to attend a national Maori hui on water.

    “If people want me to stop using language from Alabama in the 1950s, maybe they should go back to John Key and tell him to stop treating his Maori MPs like he’s a plantation owner from Alabama in the 1950s.”

    • Colonial Viper 12.1
      6 September 2012 at 5:58 pm

      “If people want me to stop using language from Alabama in the 1950s, maybe they should go back to John Key and tell him to stop treating his Maori MPs like he’s a plantation owner from Alabama in the 1950s.”

      Just gold.

      • Populuxe1 12.1.1
        6 September 2012 at 8:02 pm

        That comparison just cheapens the horrible history of black people in the US. Maori were never enslaved, had more self-determination at their most oppressed than American blacks did until the 1960s, and Maori never had to fight for the right to vote.o make that sort of comparison is crass easy point scoring.

        • Kotahi Tāne Huna 12.1.1.1
          6 September 2012 at 8:14 pm

          Ah, but Hone wasn’t comparing National Party Māori MPs to slaves – he’s saying Key has a slave-owner’s attitude.

        • Adele 12.1.1.2
          6 September 2012 at 9:02 pm

          Populuxe

          Your dry retching attempt to use black people to point score against brown people is a miserable attempt to deflect. Black and Brown people can’t stand hypocritical and nasty little fuckers like you. There is a common bond found in oppression and suppression and the continued struggle against prejudice, racism and colonialism motivated by greed.

          I have been host to a few African-Americans and I am fairly sure they would have a few things to say about your advocacy on their behalf, one being…’get the fuck outta here cracka.’

          • Populuxe1 12.1.1.2.1
            6 September 2012 at 10:34 pm

            Oh dear Christ spare me. It might come as a newsflash Adele, but within every community there is a diversity of opinion. There are many Maori activists who see the struggle for Tino rangatiratanga as being a completely unprecedented in the world and not to be compared with other histories. There are also a number of African-American academics who don’t like what they see as the uniqueness of their historical enslavement being hijacked by other movements (nor, I might add, do all black people talk ghetto like some sort of cliche). You’re as ridiculously reactionary as a National supporter bitching about “greedy bloody Maoris”. I suggest you crack a book or two on the subject and try to get over the idea that your limited experience set represents the whole fucking world before you start hurling abuse.

    • Jim Nald 12.2
      8 September 2012 at 7:43 pm

      National has got “Maori” MPs! Wow.

  13. fnjckg 13
    6 September 2012 at 4:30 pm

    wot about ‘tomato’?

  14. Pascal's bookie 14
    6 September 2012 at 6:40 pm

    Sharples likely to attend water hui http://t.co/lxPC7EHp

    Hone’s rhetoric is totally counterproductive and oh wait what now?

    • TheContrarian 14.1
      6 September 2012 at 6:45 pm

      Hmm I don’t read anything about Hone’s remarks being responsible for Sharples agreeing to attend. Maybe you linked to the wrong article?

      • Colonial Viper 14.1.1
        6 September 2012 at 6:48 pm

        Hone’s effective, that much is certain.

      • Pascal's bookie 14.1.2
        6 September 2012 at 6:59 pm

        Yeah totally unrelated. He about faced because he just changed his mind that’s all. wasn’t afraid of looking bad. Wasn’t called out. He just changed his mind. Not to prove Hone wrong, nope. No pressure there at all. Totally confident that in his absence, his absence would not be discussed.

        Yep. Changed. his. mind. for. no. reason.

        Obvs.

        • gobsmacked 14.1.2.1
          6 September 2012 at 7:15 pm

          Yes, Hone’s been smart one way or the other.

          If Sharples made the decision independent of Hone’s pressure, then Hone’s logic was …

          1) Pita (or the Maori Party) will have to go to the hui
          2) I’ll attack him for not going
          3) He’ll then look like he’s following me. As opposed to following Key.

          Going public ahead of a decision is clever politics – whether you’ve actually influenced that decision or not.

    • North 14.2
      6 September 2012 at 6:48 pm

      “……oh wait what now ?” what ???

  15. Tiger Mountain 15
    6 September 2012 at 8:04 pm

    Some of you bonehead commenters here don’t seem to be able to acknowledge that Te Mana Movement is a bonafide hybrid parliamentary party slash political movement of a new type. Māori nationalism tinged with a class analysis is not popular in some circles and f*****g good job.

  16. marty mars 16
    7 September 2012 at 3:33 pm

    I don’t agree with Hone using that term – as i’ve said in a post on it

    “Everything is going okay and the Mana movement is building – cut the bullshit Hone and get on with the job e hoa.”

    http://mars2earth.blogspot.co.nz/2012/09/saying-less.html

  17. Hammer 17
    7 September 2012 at 11:35 pm

    The good news from this;
    In November 2014 the line from the Nats will be…..

    “A vote for Labour is a vote for [that MotherF….ker & N…..er] Hone ”

    He is shooting Labour in the foot; meanwhile his mates up North will be proud of him

    Keep it up Hone – National appreciates your support in moving the centre vote over to them.

  18. millsy 18
    8 September 2012 at 7:23 pm

    The left is totally on the wrong side of this issue.

    Handing ownership of water to a private group (in this case, iwi) totally flies in the face of socialist/social democratic principles — you know, something about the public (by that I mean the state) and common ownership of all natural resources including our water, with avalibilty to all.

    Ngai Tahu’s support of the extension of the ECan regime underlines the fact that big business, big iwi and big agriculture have a desire to take all the water for themselves and freeze out the domestic users.

    I dare to say it, but the principles embodied in the Treaty of Waitangi are incompatible with principles of socialism, especially the one about common ownership of the means of production distrubution and exchange.

    Too bad that we let the likes of Crimp and Ansell pick up that ball and run to the other side of the paddock.

    • Colonial Viper 18.1
      8 September 2012 at 7:27 pm

      Handing ownership of water to a private group (in this case, iwi) totally flies in the face of socialist/social democratic principles

      If it stops the Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanleys and Deutsche Banks from owning our power generators, so be it.

      • millsy 18.1.1
        8 September 2012 at 7:35 pm

        And you think that having the bro-ocracy owning our power generators would make everything so gosh darn peachy? I thought you were better than that CV. Privatisation is OK when its sold to a brown person.

        I find that capitalist values combined with 150-odd years of grievances lead to some very heavy utu.

        • weka 18.1.1.1
          8 September 2012 at 8:55 pm

          Iwi aren’t ‘private’ groups, although I can see that if you are white it might feel like that.

          • millsy 18.1.1.1.1
            9 September 2012 at 12:33 am

            Yes they are. And it is not racist to suggest that.

            • Colonial Viper 18.1.1.1.1.1
              9 September 2012 at 12:48 am

              They are communal/tribal groups which control associated westernised organisational structures including trusts, not for profits, and company structures.

  20. Adele 20
    8 September 2012 at 8:25 pm

    Millsy

    Your constant gripe against Māori appears to be that once we get our greedy hands on stuff, we won’t share, or if we do, we will make you pay dearly. Where is the evidence to support such views or the view that Māori would even want to put up the ‘keep out’ sign?

    • millsy 20.1
      9 September 2012 at 12:31 am

      In Wellington, some recreational users are finding that they cannot access certain lakes have been closed off since they were passed to iwi as part of the Port Nicholson Block Settlement

      Mt Tawawera has been completely blocked off by its Maori owners, as has Mt Hikurangi.

      The Te Horo stock tunnel in North Taranaki has been blocked off for 14 years because the Maori owners of the land refuse to let DOC contractors come in and do it up

      Since the land that the Kaingaroa Forest was returned to the central North Island collective public access has been restricted

      The list is endless…

      Maori are no different to Pakeha private owners when it comes to public access. That is why we have things like reserves and national parks, so the public are able to enjoy this great country without imginging on private property rights.

      • Adele 20.1.1
        9 September 2012 at 12:58 pm

        Millsy

        In Wellington, some recreational users are finding that they cannot access certain lakes have been closed off since they were passed to iwi as part of the Port Nicholson Block Settlement

        In 2010, The Port Nicholson Block Settlement Trust (PNBST) stopped duck-shooting on the Pencarrow lakes (Lake Kohangatera and Lake Kohangapiripiri). Duck shooting had been a feature of the lakes public usage for over 80 years. The decision was reversed in the same month. The original prohibition was put in place to ensure that PNBST upheld “onerous” conditions of the conservation covenant it had agreed to as part of its settlement package.

        After discussions with government, PNBST agreed it would be able to address those obligations over a longer time frame, so the hunters could continue shooting. From my understanding both lakes are pristine waterways with only one introduced fish species (brown trout) and fishing has never been allowed.

        Mt Tarawera has been completely blocked off by its Maori owners, as has Mt Hikurangi

        Tarawera Maunga is private land. In 2000, Ngāti Rangitihi, the owners, awarded a contract to a local Rotorua business Mt Tarawera New Zealand Ltd to control entry by tourists onto the maunga. The company provides guided 4WD tours and walking access is prohibited. Whakaari (White Island) is also private land owned by Pākehā and it too charges tourists for access to the island.

        Certainly there are perceptual difficulties with the commercialisation of Tarawera especially in contrast to Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe and Tongariro which were established as reserves by Ngāti Tūwharetoa in the 1860s and then conveyed to the Crown in the 1880s on condition that they became protected areas.

        Access to Hikurangi is available either by car or trek. It is closed occasionally for farming or cultural reasons and those closures are publically notified beforehand.

        The Te Horo stock tunnel in North Taranaki has been blocked off for 14 years because the Maori owners of the land refuse to let DOC contractors come in and do it up

        The Te Horo Stock Tunnel is classified as a public road, but cliff erosion along the coast (the reason for it being blocked off) means the only way to get to it is over land belonging to the Gibbs whanau of Nga Hapū o Poutama. The New Plymouth District Council, lines company Vector and oil exploration company Maui Development all want access to their land. In a recent Court judgement against the Gibbs, under the Public Works Act, Russell Gibbs said “This isn’t about preserving the Te Horo tunnel, it’s about the council taking land.”

        Since the land that the Kaingaroa Forest was returned to the central North Island collective public access has been restricted

        Access to Kaingaroa Forest has always been restricted as it’s a commercial enterprise (radiata pine plantation). Access to the forests are controlled and managed by Timberlands Ltd (forest management company not owned by Māori). Access requires a permit but can be restricted because of fire risk etc.

        Māori would like their property rights respected so in that respect they are similar to Pākehā.

        • millsy 20.1.1.1
          10 September 2012 at 7:46 pm

          That is why we need things like national parks, lakes, rivers etc in full PUBLIC OWNERSHIP for ALL NEW ZEALANDERS to enjoy.

          more than 17000 hectares of conservation land has been transferred to iwi as a result of treaty settlements, the biggest privatisation and upward weath transfer in history.

          I do not want parents to take their kids to the local swimming hole, only to find it blocked off by its Maori owners.

          • RedLogix 20.1.1.1.1
            10 September 2012 at 8:06 pm

            That is why we need things like national parks, lakes, rivers etc in full PUBLIC OWNERSHIP for ALL NEW ZEALANDERS to enjoy.

            No no millsy. The Treaty of Waitangi and international law is quite clear. All of New Zealand properly belongs to iwi. That is every square mm of land, every asset and resource right out to the boundary of the continental shelf. No if’s no buts … no exceptions.

            The rest of the people who live here have only temporary squatter rights to any of this and ultimately must either pay a proper market rent, or surrender it back to it’s legal owners and leave.

            • Populuxe1 20.1.1.1.1.1
              10 September 2012 at 9:27 pm

              Well, not really:

              Article the First
              The Chiefs of the Confederation of the United Tribes of New Zealand and the separate and independent Chiefs who have not become members of the Confederation cede to Her Majesty the Queen of England absolutely and without reservation all the rights and powers of Sovereignty which the said Confederation or Individual Chiefs respectively exercise or possess, or may be supposed to exercise or to possess over their respective Territories as the sole sovereigns thereof.

              And international law also recognises the right of occupation, not only as codified in the 1899 and 1907 Hague Peace Conferences and later modified by the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention, but also in the form of Uti possidetis. Colonialism is against international law, but not retrospectively, and in any case you probably wouldn’t have a case that we are a current colony by legal definition.

              • Adele …
                10 September 2012 at 11:32 pm

                Populuxe

                There are two texts to the Treaty. An English text and a Māori text. It is important to appreciate that the Maori text is not a translation of the English text nor is the English version a translation of the Maori

                That the English text was signed by only 39 Rangatira whereas the Māori text was signed by over 500 Rangatira also speaks to the difference in versions..

                Article 1 in the Māori text does not cede sovereignty:

                Ko te tuatahi
                Ko nga Rangatira o te wakaminenga me nga Rangatira katoa hoki ki hai i uru ki taua wakaminenga ka tuku rawa atu ki te Kuini o Ingarani ake tonu atu – te Kawanatanga katoa o o ratou wenua.

                Kawangatanga is a transliteration of the word ‘governance’, which was in current use at the time and was a term understood by Māori. The expectation created by its use would appear to be that the Crown would establish governance over its own people – especially when read in conjunction with Article 2:

                Ko te tuarua
                Ko te Kuini o Ingarani ka wakarite ka wakaae ki nga Rangitira ki nga hapu – ki nga tangata katoa o Nu Tirani te tino rangatiratanga o o ratou wenua o ratou kainga me o ratou taonga katoa. Otiia ko nga Rangatira o te wakaminenga me nga Rangatira katoa atu ka tuku ki te Kuini te hokonga o era wahi wenua e pai ai te tangata nona te Wenua – ki te ritenga o te utu e wakaritea ai e ratou ko te kai hoko e meatia nei e te Kuini hei kai hoko mona.

                In the Māori text, Māori were guaranteed ‘te tino rangatiratanga’ or the unqualified exercise of their chieftainship over their lands, villages, and all their property and treasures. Māori also agreed to give the Crown the right to buy their land if they wished to sell it.

                At the time of the Treaty signing, Mäori outnumbered Päkehä by an estimated 40 to one, and the tribes were a powerful military force. Therefore it seems unlikely that Mäori would have agreed to the unqualified transfer of their authority to the new arrivals. It is much more likely that they understood that the Treaty guaranteed the continuation of tribal jurisdiction over tribal affairs.

                Notwithstanding the various arguments about the status of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in Internationa Law, the approach by the Courts has strong parallels with International Law on treaty interpretations. For example the doctrine of good faith which establishes the rule that parties to a treaty must perform their obligations in good faith.

                Significantly too, the Waitangi Tribunal has also referred to the rule of contra proferentem applied by some international tribunals to bilingual treaties, which dictates that in cases of ambiguity, a treaty is to be interpreted against the party drafting it. Courts in North American jurisdictions have applied an adaptation of this international law rule to treaties concluded between indigenous peoples and North American governments, and these authorities have been cited with approval by the Waitangi Tribunal.

                As for the rest of your waffle on occupation…supprime tuum stultiloquium!

                • Populuxe1 …
                  10 September 2012 at 11:47 pm

                  I merely point out that there is no definitive answer in International Law and it would have to be tested.

                  • Colonial Viper …
                    10 September 2012 at 11:53 pm

                    Why would it have to be tested in international law? NZ has worked out its own mechanisms for dealing with these issues.

                    • Populuxe1 …
                      10 September 2012 at 11:57 pm

                      Because it was international law being discussed, not national – though of course you are correct that national law indeed has systems in place as befits our national sovereignty.

                    • Peter …
                      12 September 2012 at 2:55 pm

                      Contra preferentum. The indigenous version of any international text takes precedent.

                • blue leopard …
                  10 September 2012 at 11:49 pm

                  @Adele

                  Hey! Nice summary of NZ History 101!!
                  Oh dear…I wonder how many times you have to relay that information to people…
                  Amazing we are not taught it in school…would save a lot of…well….ignorance and unnecesary strife really now wouldn’t it?

            • millsy 20.1.1.1.1.2
              10 September 2012 at 10:29 pm

              Never a truer word spoken in jest….

  21. Jenny 21
    8 September 2012 at 9:09 pm

    Harawira got it wrong when he said Key was behaving like a plantation owner in the 1950s. What he should have said is Key is acting like a plantation owner in the 1850s.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 27

    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 27 were:1. The Minister for Ford Rangers strikes againTransport Minister Simeon Brown was again the busiest of the Cabinet ministers this week, announcing an ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    19 mins ago
  • Ticket To Anywhere

    You got a fast carAnd I want a ticket to anywhereMaybe we make a dealMaybe together we can get somewhereAny place is betterYesterday’s newsletter, Trust In Me, on the report of abuse in state care, and by religious organisations, between 1950 and 2019, coupled with the hypocrisy of Christopher Luxon ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 hour ago
  • Stories of varying weight

    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on anything you may have missed. Share Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 hours ago
  • Balancing External Security and the Economy

    New Zealand is again having to reconcile conflicting pressures from its military and its trade interests. Should we join Pillar Two of AUKUS and risk compromising our markets in China? For a century after New Zealand was founded in 1840, its external security arrangements and external economics arrangements were aligned. ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    18 hours ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: The unravelling of the offsets

    The ‘50 Shades of Green’ farmers’ protest in 2019 was heavy on climate change denial, but five years on, scepticism and criticism about the idea that pine forests can save us is growing across the board. File photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top six news items of note in climate ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    23 hours ago
  • What makes us tick

    This morning the sky was bright.The birds, in their usual joyous bliss. Nature doesn’t seem to feel the heat of what might angst humans.Their calls are clear and beautiful.Just some random thoughts:MāoriPaul Goldsmith has announced his government will roll back the judiciary’s rulings on Māori Customary Marine Title, which recognises ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    24 hours ago
  • Foreshore and seabed 2.0

    In 2003, the Court of Appeal delivered its decision in Ngati Apa v Attorney-General, ruling that Māori customary title over the foreshore and seabed had not been universally extinguished, and that the Māori Land Court could determine claims and confirm title if the facts supported it. This kicked off the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the Royal Commission report into abuse in care

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-07-27T00:45:43+00:00