Weapons of mass distraction

Written By: - Date published: 6:32 pm, April 15th, 2013 - 111 comments
Categories: brand key, you couldn't make this shit up - Tags:

I knew John Key was getting desperate, but really? Weapons of Mass Destruction? How stupid does he think we are?

Key’s claim that New Zealand websites have been hacked by terrorists looking for the secrets of WMDs is such an obvious beat-up that even Hillary Barry felt compelled to question whether Key was serious in her live cross to Paddy Gower.

Let me be clear, I have no doubt that there has been some incidental computer hacking stuff going on but frankly I think Key is lying about the gravity of the situation to distract from the rolling fiasco that his Prime Ministership has become. And given his form on leaving important stuff out I don’t think he should be given the benefit of the doubt.

I have to say though, I have a sneaking admiration for the shear gall he’s shown in trying to recycle the most notorious lie of the twenty-first century. I guess it’s like they say – if you’re gonna lie. Lie big.

111 comments on “Weapons of mass distraction ”

  1. ianmac 1

    For we ordinary folk the threat from Weapons of Mass Destruction sounds real scary so just as well that nice Mr Key is there to protect us. I mean who would want a big mushroom cloud messing up our town. And all that Labour Party can do is ask for an Enquiry and waste time talking and talking. We need action now! Go for it John Key.
    (Warning: sarcasm!)

  2. karol 2

    This intrusions line must have been on Key’s agenda for a while. Fletcher’s speech last month in Hamilton included mentions of cyber-intrusions. The speech was aimed at business.

    The WMD might have been a last minute panic exaggeration, now Key is on the back foot.

    • ghostrider888 2.1

      yep. only had the “politicking” line to roll out on te News, along with “all the measures Labour wanted to introduce” re #

    • Anne 2.2

      This intrusions line must have been on Key’s agenda for a while.

      I say it goes right back to before he officially appointed Fletcher to head the GCSB. Hence the reason for circumventing the proper process with such appointments.

      Note how it’s all about the supposed shambles at the GCSB – and Superman Key has stepped in to sort it out – and not about his despicable lying and cheating.

      Come on Kim Dotcom… if you know something spit it now!

    • outofbed 2.3

      Hold on, if If there is now a terrorist threat why would you put Fletcher a civilian in charge of th GCSB.
      Surely you would want someone with a defense force background.
      I call Bullshit!!!

      • TruthSeeker 2.3.1

        “Come on Kim Dotcom… if you know something spit it now!”

        Absolutely.

        Outofbed, what happened to those “secret meetings” in October 2011 that they couldn’t keep a lid on?

  3. ghostwhowalksnz 3

    Very good research on and definition and origin of the terms Weapons of Mass Destruction from National Defense University , US.

    http://www.ndu.edu/press/lib/pdf/CSWMD-OccasionalPapers/CSWMD_OccationalPaper-8.pdf

  4. Pascal's bookie 4

    Not really sure how foreign terrorists hacking us to look for WMDs means we need to spy on kiwis but.

    • karol 4.1

      Key said:

      “There are people within our country who have links to offshore terrorist groups,” the prime minister said.

      That included cyber attacks and covert attempts to use science and technology for projects involving weapons of mass destruction, Key said.

      “I cannot tell New Zealanders everything our intelligence agencies are doing, or what the details of their operations are,” he said.

      As quoted in the Stuff article.

      I guess we’ve just got to take Key’s word for it.

      • marty mars 4.1.1

        I wonder which ethnic group/s will get the blame for ‘having links’ with terrorists.

        • Pascal's bookie 4.1.1.1

          Irish. To be fair, I wouldn’t trust me either.

        • frances louis 4.1.1.2

          The Muslims, they always used by Protestant America, to take the blame.

        • Well Mighty.M/There is an old saying regarding a USA assassinations It’s the one time the Synagogues are full .”Please God don’t let it be a Jew”

          I would presume the same thing now applies to the Muslims .The red necks will be out in force .
          How they will cope if its some Right-Wing group will be interesting..

    • felix 4.2

      Jesus man what’s wrong with you, didn’t you hear what he said? TERRORISTS!!!

    • AmaKiwi 4.3

      The plot was to strap biological weapons to Hector dolphins, who are resident in NZ territorial waters.

  5. prism 5

    Perhaps the Korean Peninsula will provide the distractions from our badly run, empty policy damned country? Sort of like the Falklands did for Thatcher.

  6. Rhinocrates 6

    Great. Now I can expect those defenders of freedom, Labour, to respond thus: Robertson will issue fourteen press releases that no-one will read raising an objection about an umlaut in paragraph fourteen, no a comma in three, ah, maybe a hyphen in number twelve, Trevor Mallard will post a boob joke on his facebook page, Goff will think “Cool…” and then, feeling neglected, Shearer will struggle out of his straitjacket, take a deep breath and intone mightily:

    “As someone said, possibly someone… it might have been me. It probably was, I mean me, friends, Romans, countrymen, I come not to…. um… where’s my bit of paper? Oh… here it is… I mean… Eggs. Cheese. Milk… Two loaves of bread (white, sliced)… I have, I agree, Weapons of Mass Destruction…. Mass has been destroyed in this country, and I… um, well, yes, the destruction of mass might affect gravity. The earth is losing mass and there should be an enquiry, so, um, yes, to be reasonable…. um, I think that I might indeed, and I mean to hold the government to account on this because I’m always holding the government to account. I said that. People are destroying mass and there’s not enough gravity, I mean, Labour, um, I stand for gravity. I mean I have to stand because of gravity. If there wasn’t gravity, I wouldn’t be standing, I’d be floating… um, what I mean is… raspberry jam… peanut butter, toilet paper (triple-ply, scented), I mean Labour, my party – and I’m sure my followers agree, that absolutely, I am a place for weapons of mass destruction, so I must, I mean I might… um, zucchinis, Brut 33, frozen peas, dishwashing liquid… corn flakes… and yes, assertively, I mean, um, Bell tea bags, I think that we should indeed, um, I mean subject to some sort of, um, clover honey, baked beans, allow some sort of expansion of surveillance powers, taking into account the threat of Brasso and this week’s Listener.”

    • One Anonymous Knucklehead 6.1

      Laugh all you want. I can reveal that dirty foreigners have accessed the National Party’s website and right now are seeking to copy the government’s education policy, assett sales and economic management program in an effort to export them and destabilise their own countries the way we have this one.

      • Rhinocrates 6.1.1

        Actually, I think it’s the other way around – Key’s copying Thatcher and her vapid successor, Cameron. I’m lambasting Shearer for cravenly failing to oppose that.

        … sorry, did I miss your irony in thinking that you’d missed my irony?

        🙂

        Oh, what a maze of mirrors we have wandered into under this administration!

      • prism 6.1.2

        OneAK
        Did you mean ‘ansett’ sales?

    • prism 6.2

      Rhinocrates
      Something to watch out for – try full gain bread, white is supposed to be like pure calories. Just to help you keep your priorities right.

  7. Bill 7

    So, hang the fuck on a minute…Key is saying that WMD technology is developed in NZ. I’d like to know what that technology is – I mean does it pertain to chemical weapons, biological weapons – what is it? And why?

    • freedom 7.1

      Reality is we have numerous hi-tech companies in NZ who do create specialized componentry for I dare not imagine what or for whom or for how much.

      e.g. These guys sound like they are doing an increasingly private job, good lawyers they have too.
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palantir_Technologies

      and just a couple of months ago another kiwi business was in the media for securing a new contract worth tens of millions supplying some boards or something or other to a US tech company. Then there is the cutting edge Bio-Tech stuff we do at various public and not so public locations. In a world where Finance and IP are the most traded weapons of mass destruction on the planet, these threats are more real than we would care to admit.

      Fact is NZ, when it comes to international reputations for being straight shooting peace loving supporters of freedom, ours is not so shiny and has not been for a long time.

      • ghostrider888 7.1.1

        well dug up freedom

      • Bill 7.1.2

        Reality is we have numerous hi-tech companies in NZ who do create specialized componentry for I dare not imagine what or for whom or for how much

        So shouldn’t somebody be bombing them? (edit – Oh, and us by association.) I mean, that’s what teh WoT be all about, no? Or are these guys all guys with pink skin making shit for other guys with pink skin or mates of guys with pink skin? ‘Cause that’d be totally different and legit like.

      • QoT 7.1.3

        Oh my god, they have a product called Palantir Gotham. Can you literally try any harder?

    • KJT 7.2

      Financial WMD, of course! Like the reserve bank act.

    • Murray Olsen 7.3

      Douglas touted Rogernomics all around Eastern Europe and Fonterra milk powder killed a few Chinese babies. Maybe those are the WMDs he means?

    • David H 7.4

      Yep everytime Key opens his mouth it’s a Whinge of Massive Desperation.

  8. Anne 8

    You’re as mean as hell Rhinocrates but so clever and funny with it. Thanks for the much needed laughs. 😀

    • Red Rosa 8.1

      +1

    • Rhinocrates 8.2

      Really, I’ve got to laugh, otherwise I’ll never stop crying. An utterly awful, corrupt government and the so-called major opposition party that won’t even oppose. The Prozac isn’t enough.

      • freedom 8.2.1

        ” The Prozac isn’t enough.” (even if it was said in jest) don’t rely on the pretty candies Rhinocrates. IMHO always talk honestly and directly with any doctor prescribing medication that alters your brain chemistry.

        SSRI’s and the ever growing busloads of pharma friends they have invited do not help you get better, they just help the symptoms to be masked, primarily for the comfort and the benefit of others. Look at it this way, if the meds stopped being dispensed, for whatever reason, would you be able to say it does not matter and you know enough about how to stay well without their help? SSRI’s might be clever pharma, but they are tourists at a carnival. And when the tourists go home, you are left with one hell of a mess to sort out.

        tourists never stay to clean up a carnival, that’s what friends are for

        • Anne 8.2.1.1

          It was said as part of the humorous take on the matter freedom. I’m sure there was no intention to be flippant about a serious problem. Lighten up a little…

        • Rhinocrates 8.2.1.2

          Thanks for your sincere concern, Freedom, I do appreciate it – but don’t worry, that was a bit ironic… All the best.

  9. Tim 9

    Expect Puller to dream up something very soon – but I think she’s probably running low on ideas

  10. gobsmacked 10

    Helen Clark had nine years to deal with the WMDs hidden inside New Zealand websites and what did she do about them? NOTHING!!11!!!

    Thank goodness John Key is here to protect us – I mean, to protect the people who spy on us. If I hadn’t done anything wrong then I wouldn’t be getting spied on, would I? So logically, I must have WMDs. Arrest me now!

    *waves to spies visiting the Standard*

    • karol 10.1

      These terr-ist are bloody clever with their computer stuff. They probably have devised 3-D printers, that automatically download info sent to them. The printers will then create WMDs right at your physical address.

      PS: reply to outofbed below.

  11. outofbed 11

    Hold on, if If there is now a terrorist threat why would you put Fletcher a civilian in charge of th GCSB.
    Surely you would want someone with a defense force background.
    I call Bullshit!!!

  12. One Anonymous Knucklehead 12

    This is ridiculous.

    OK, so the SIS and police need the ability to read some emails. Here’s how you do it. A GCSB staff member is seconded to the appropriate department for the duration of the operation. Paid through their pay-roll, officially their employee.

    Job done, surveillance achieved whilst remaining within the law (which can remain unchanged) and no warrantless surveillance. Separation of powers maintained.

    • Tim 12.1

      well ekshly, it’s easier than that, and doesn’t need that fullsome expertise of the Joy Soy Ess Boy.
      We’re being fed a crcok.
      Never mind – If KdC doesn’t blow their shit out of the water, someone else will before too long.

  13. Steve 13

    I’m not sure Mr Key is remembering this right. And if anyone is really hoodwinked by his constant BS, including today’s howler – predictably lapped up by MSM – then I fear for the future of our brilliant country.

  14. emergency mike 14

    Dear John, using ‘terrorism’ and WMDs to rip up your citizen’s civil rights is so last decade.

    Seriously, did anyone else get a major GW Bush flashback watching Key deliver that statement? This speaks to the blithe arrogance of the man, that he can pull this one out after the way the very same line was used as propaganda in the US.

    It also speaks to his desperation, he must be truly worried about this whole mess to pull this card out.

    • felix 14.1

      Yep, and next he gets Coleman to stand in front of an aerial photo and point with a stick at blurry rectangles.

      • emergency mike 14.1.1

        You have to admit though, they were quite troublingly rectangular.

        I wonder who Key would get to point at blurry rectangles?

        Brownlee: “These are terrorist camps. I’ll punch anyone that says different.”

        Bennett: “Yes and we also believe that some beneficiaries are hiding out in these buildings, we need to drug test them ASAP.”

        Parata: “After we close down what are clearly rectangular chemical weapons labs, we will close all schools in New Zealand and relocate all pupils to this area. Actually we are not closing any schools. But we will merge most of them. I’m just about to email the schools that will close. Most schools will be closed.”

        Banks: “Look, these terrorists are brown skinned people who want to burglarise your house looking for Sudafed. Maybe the Green Party is ok with that but I’m not going to put up with it.”

        John Key: “Ackshully, the reality is, at the end of the day, and I’m being honest and up front here, this is is absolutely evidence of a photo. Labour can’t deny that, as much as they try. Besides, Helen Clarke did it too. David Shearer’s hidden bank accounts.”

    • karol 14.2

      So last decade/

      Well that’s what happens when Key hires an ex-Alexander Turnbull pvte secretary to run the GCSB.

      He probably has the Iraq misinformation dossier saved on a hard drive somewhere.

      • emergency mike 14.2.1

        Yes good one Karol.

        Fletcher: “Hey John, do you care about your credibility or your legacy?”

        Key: “Of course not, once I sell everything off I’m outski. Why?”

        Fletcher: “Terrorists and WMDs. It worked for Bush and Blair.”

        Key: “Those guys are my heros…”

        Fletcher: “Bingo.”

  15. Rodel 15

    Jeesus John! .WMPs… or in the revision of Tony Blair WMD ‘programmes’. Is it something to do with 1080?…and I thought John Banks was, and aims at low intellect…Oh No John No John… No

    John… No .That’s so stooooopid. I’d ask Crosby Textor for my money back.. Sh*t in fact can you ask them for MY money back?
    Isn’t is time for Steven and Paula or watsername Collins to implement a coup…….Even for a lefty New Zealander you are becoming embarrassing.

    Oh dear…No… Now I remember..I had a dream that Paula became prime minister. …woke up sweating… Stay there John !

    But seriously John dubja do you really think NZers are as thick as Americans..maybe 47% are.
    I hope its not Romney’s 53%.Hey anyway I guess its better than channel 15!

    Dear God I wish we had a Jon Stewart… we have enough poltico wingnuts to keep him employed , don’t we?

  16. Kevin Welsh 16

    Surely, finally, even the most dyed-in-the-wool National supporter is going ‘what the fuck?”

    • Pascal's bookie 16.1

      *laugh* Turn it up.

      You watch. By ten am tomorrow at the latest they’ll be popping up here saying that anyone who doesn’t support rewarding the GCSB for their transgressions hates NZ and loves the terrorists and blah blah freedom isn’t free and you can spy on my shit because nothing to fear nothing to hide but you’ll never take my Freeeeedom because I AM SPARTA and wolverines! and you can take my showerhead from my cold dead hands or some shit I don’t know.

    • Murray Olsen 16.2

      I think you are misoverestimating the intelligence and credulity if the average National supporter, let alone dyed in the wool Tories. As sure as most imports come from overseas, enough of them will swallow it.

      • Colonial Viper 16.2.1

        Nah, a fair number of old school Tories will see through this clumsy distraction easily. They still won’t vote for Labour though.

        • Don't worry be happy 16.2.1.1

          Good Lord CV Labour supporters don’t vote Labour! That’s the problem…..

          • Colonial Viper 16.2.1.1.1

            There’s that, but that’s partially a result of Labour being uninterested in the Labour non-vote. Instead, the real chase and effort is for ‘the middle’ and for ‘soft National’ voters.

      • Colonial Viper 16.2.2

        Also National vs Labour vs Left supporters – it’s not so much a matter of intelligence, it’s a matter of world view, values, and also elements of tribal/clan identity.

  17. ghostrider888 17

    wait, John, i’m picking up a communique, Mars Needs Women, angry red women,
    Hijack what you’re wanting
    Not afraid to use it
    Strip and abuse it
    New Gods a moving
    Miracles are losing…

    *thigh

  18. Pascal's bookie 18

    Here’s this stuff on the SIS page see:

    http://t.co/Z3QQMkYDmA

    link on there, SIS report about WMD.

    notice anything?

    Looks like the Terrorists have stolen it already :0

    aiieee, run fer the hills

  19. Tim 19

    A mate of mine and I once considered doing a risk analysis of Wellington’s “infrastructure” a few years ago.
    You know, like pointing out just how vulnerable Datacom was to loss of communications or severe degradation – let alone gubbamint departments; the Brooklyn substation; Wellington Airport, etc.

    Then we thought …… nah fuck it! Some consultant will come along charge a few hundred grand to point out the bleeding obvious.

    Though there have been one or two improvements since we had that idea (like Datacom shoving its fibre in metal conduit), not a lot has changed (walk 100 metres down the raod, and pretty much the same shit could be achieved).

    Just as well we aren’t terrorists. A roll of number 8, mal-intent, a wintery night and it could STILL all turn to custard.
    Weapons of Mass Distraction ffs!

    It reminds me of that Jeremy Paxman Empire series recently screened. They survive and replicate themselves on the basis of bluff, weaponry and the knowledge there is a compliant public. The latter of course is the Key – pardon the pun.
    When you oppress an increasing number, that compliance can’t last, and I’ve no doubt it won’t

  20. Dan1 20

    I was fascinated the way he read the announcement about the weapons of mass destruction. It was as if he was reading a script at rehearsal for a Monty Python show.

    Maybe it was?!

  21. North 21

    My God – Maxwell Smart returns.

    Chief, check that man’s shoes !

    Agent 99 – Hek Yeh Parasite ?

    Nah. 99 was cool.

    She knew Max was a fuckwit.

  22. outofbed 22

    Are you fed up with the local political machine? Are you tired of going to the same boring job every day? Is school getting you down? If you are suffering from any of these afflictions, this is for you!

    Making a thermonuclear device is quite simple. It can be done on a lazy summer weekend when there isn’t much on television anyway…

  23. BLiP 24

    John Key: What are we going to tell them?

    Ian Fletcher: Ummm . . .

    John Key: C’mon, mate, you gotta have some idea.

    Ian Fletcher: Well, last time I was involved in this sort of thing it was all about WMD.

    John Key: Brilliant. Lets do that then.

    Ian Fletcher: Sounds good to me, mate.

    (EDIT: Emergency Mike beat me to it. Note to self: read all the comments before adding 2 cents)

    • ghostrider888 24.1

      your “2 Cents” appreciated beyond face value. au revoir and moore BLiP

    • David H 24.2

      “Ian Fletcher: Well, last time I was involved in this sort of thing it was all about WMD”

      So in other words, he is one of the ones that knew that the reason for invading Iraq was a fallacy?

      • BLiP 24.2.1

        Yes.

        . . . Documents released in the inquiry into the Iraq war show Mr Fletcher was privy to “extremely sensitive” and secret documents forecasting the march to war.

        Mr Fletcher saw early military planning and advice stating “US military planning is in full swing” in July 2002 – eight months before the invasion began and before Britain had committed to join the attack.

        Sir Andrew’s tenure ended in 2005, as did Mr Fletcher’s role. Sir Andrew later revealed Britain had gone to war on legal advice which was one page long – and substantially different to advice which had been given 10 days earlier . . .

  24. outofbed 25

    You couldn’t make this shit up
    Yet they have
    But it sort of makes sense
    So Key is caught out lying, people are starting to suspect
    Why not come out with the biggest fucking whopper one can
    Safety of NZ wmd blah blah
    I would not possibly lie over this
    And I can’t be proved to be a lie cos its oh so secret

    Fucking ballsy move if you ask me
    It should be his undoing
    It probably won’t though
    God, if only we had a strong opposition

  25. peterlepaysan 26

    Who, or where, is Shearer?

    • Colonial Viper 26.1

      Putting out a sharp retort to Key’s stupidity, maybe something along the lines of

      “the PM does the nation a dis-service by casually politicising WMD and using them as a convenient, unverifiable political excuse”

      or, maybe not.

  26. RedBaronCV 27

    WMD could be arriving on this site soon. The Pundit has been down for about 24 hours.

  27. ianmac 28

    We had better have a closer look at why the WMD angle is put in the front of us. These guys in Cabinet are not stupid, much as we like to mock them. The WMD are unprovable but no doubt there is some electronic componentry used in making say a trigger or guidance item. The WMD is almost certainly a ploy to agitate the naysayers and conspiracy folk, like us because we could never disprove the WMD.

    So what can we do instead? All I can think of so far is demand a full Enquiry before a Bill is posed.
    Or ummm….

    • Colonial Viper 28.1

      Same pattern as the USA. Promote the ever present threat of terrorists and terrorist agents right here amongst us, as well as the ongoing shadow of WMD, to institute political cover for the intelligence and surveillance initiatives you want to run against your own people.

    • rosy 28.2

      “These guys in Cabinet are not stupid, much as we like to mock them”

      Maybe not. But they’re not using their own words either. A politician talking to the masses and using words like ‘exfiltrating’? GCSB wrote that little talk for him.

  28. Adrian 29

    I have waited for this day for 4 1/2 years and this is it, he’s finally jumped the shark. To quote the great David Lange, he’s going to be dogtucker.

    • Colonial Viper 29.1

      His political judgement has gone seriously out the window in the last 6 months. Who knows what the fuck is going on, but there have got to be some in his inner circle who are rolling their eyes right now.

      • muzza 29.1.1

        Come on CV – what political judgement did Key ever have, in reality to anyone with an IQ above 60!

        Edit – Make that to anyone who can hear and/or see!

  29. Gruntie 30

    From NZ Herald , 30 May, 2006

    Guidance systems such as JDAM (Joint Direct Attack Munition) – for which Rakon has supplied a key component for the past 10 years – are made as tail kits which are then attached to a bomb.

    In a statement released yesterday Rakon said: “We have not developed or supplied any products or technology for nuclear defence programmes. We have developed products for high shock applications. None of our product is specific to the munitions industry. They can be used by a range of industries from mining to aerospace.”

    [Leaving aside the fact that the JDAM isn’t a WMD, I seriously doubt that terrorists are looking for instructions on how to make the tail kits of smart-dumb bombs. Wouldn’t they need, you know, military aircraft to drop them from first? The more conventional weapons delivery system for these groups is the beat-up old Toyota. Eddie]

  30. Paul Campbell 31

    I suspect Key’s going on about this:

    http://www.interestingprojects.com/cruisemissile/

    don’t follow that link, expect a knock on the door in about an hour …..

    • Bill 31.1

      Pressed the big red button I did. Will report back in an hour – or not. 😉

      • Paul Campbell 31.1.1

        Bill? Bill?

        • Bill 31.1.1.1

          Maybe they’re having difficulty getting their heads around the non-sequential street numbers in these parts? As a good upstanding citizen I’m thinking I should maybe just phone them with directions.

          edit. Nah, won’t bother. Pretty sure they’ll be keeping loose tabs from the two previous occasions…

  31. Pascal's bookie 32

    Remember when Key pulled the SAS home for the Rubber Wool Cup?

    The ‘WMD’ the ‘Terrorists’ were trying steal was clearly the ABs lineout codes.

  32. Descendant Of Sssmith 33

    The national party is a weapon of mass destruction – it’s only logical to protect yourself.

    They have certainly destroyed a lot of this country since they have been in govt and look set to continue.

    Labour is a weapon of self-destruction.

  33. irascible 34

    Perhaps the GCSB is to be allowed to spy on the real weapons of mass destruction – KeY, Brownlee, English & Ryall whose arms are deep into the destruction of the NZ economy and asset base.

    • One Anonymous Knucklehead 34.1

      If they are to focus more on economic crimes I have been wondering what the potential consequences are for the National Party.

      I would like to see more aggressive oversight of political donations, for example, but the appropriate authorities are the SFO and the police, not the GCSB.

  34. One Anonymous Knucklehead 35

    Key is playing at being President of the USA. He’s already had his “I am not a crook” moment, and his brain fades mimic Reagan. Now he’s George W Bush.

  35. SpaceMonkey 36

    National’s 2014 election campaign slogan: “You’re either with us or against us!”

  36. remo 37

    George ‘WMD’ Key. Monkeysee. Monkeydoo. A Freedom-For-Security program.
    Imagine waking up to a prime minister seriously contending neocon WMD mantra for breakfast serial BS after all we have learned. oops…thats just happened. The Failure of Imagination. WMD/Iraq – over a million dead. Afghanistan hundreds more children and thousands of their parents laid out on alter of WMD imperatives already proven to have been built on the lies of 9 sorry..11 (years), but no jail for those illegalities; infact Bush/Blair etal making GOOD money out of their parts, and advantaging the security superstate.
    GCSB Law change is a tactical imperative. NSA USA – Whaihopi is NSA. Security superstate. Are we REALLY expected to think ‘oversight’ is going to grow any independence of THAT ownership model? Sure, John.
    Instead we get ‘law change’. Likened to ‘regime change’.
    Years of illegal intercepts practiced and proven, and we get ‘law change’ without due process. Where was the ‘oversight’ there, John? Bye bye democracy. Dotcom reported suing for property return rather than further confrontation with deep-state, so no breath holding for truth fatwah.

  37. Chris 38

    I have never thought that john key was funny until now.And not in a good way.

  38. JonL 39

    “How stupid does he think we are?” – he knows how stupid most of us are! That’s why he keeps coming out with this garbage! The 65% who obey and respond to perceived authority will buy it, even if they have misgivings……..
    and that’s all he needs……..

  39. Sonny 40

    This is obviously Leftist green Balderdash. Keep truckin John. Let the Polls decide.

  40. AC 41

    The only weapon off mass destruction is Gerry’s arse letting wind in a confined space.

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  • 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
    1 day 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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 19

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

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

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

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

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

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

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