What a shame

Written By: - Date published: 11:03 am, September 25th, 2008 - 58 comments
Categories: national - Tags:

Bob Clarkson chose not to speak during his valedictory speech. Instead, he just held up a sign saying ‘bye bye’ (in the same font as Peter’s famous ‘no’ sign). An opportunity for both hilarity and embarrassing revelations missed. After all, this was the man who thanked the Exclusive Brethren for all their help in winning Tauranga at the National conference.

Still,  he couldn’t leave without displaying his mastery of the English language one last time  “I don’t require to be called a dignitary” (pronouncing it “digni-Tory”)  ” I don’t require to be in this place, I don’t require to dress up in a bloody suit every day.”

Farewell, you bigoted old idiot.

58 comments on “What a shame ”

  1. Dom 1

    I guess he just ran out of feet to shove in his mouth…

    I guess even bigoted old idiots need someone in Parliament to represent them.

    Actually, I take that back – they’re already over represented on National’s front bench…

  2. monkey-boy 2

    Great piss-take of Winston’s ‘No’ signs wan’t it?
    He was also inadvertently responsible for the conditions which exposed Winston Peters as a liar, as corrupt, and as endorsed by the Labour Party. The conditions which are currently sending even loyal Labour voters away from their usual voting patterns, in disgust. Not bad for a ‘bigoted old idiot’. Imagine how effective he might have been if he’d had the right-on credentials and intellect of say – Cullen.
    He might well have been the next in line for PM. In 2009. If Labour won. After Helen stepped down. But she won’t win. So it’s ‘Bye Bye’ to that too, I guess.

  3. ghostwhowalks 3

    Monkey boy National was the party that pushed Clarkson out. Remember it was only a few months back he was still the candidate for tauranga

    Did he do a Connell and tell the caucus the emperor has no clothes ?

  4. monkey-boy 4

    They still got a pretty good deal out of him didn’t they? Wish Helen had shown a similar sense of leadership over Winston?

  5. r0b 5

    What a lot of time you spend on your ego games monkey boy:

    Lee C (3404) Vote: 0 0 Says:
    June 28th, 2008 at 10:02 am
    Kiwiblog has gone off the boil a bit so I thought would visit The Standard under ‘deep cover’. So disguised as ‘Monkey-Boy’ I spent a couple of day provoking people. Infantile I know, but rather entertaining

    I remember compiling a small selection of your gallons of bile off Kiwibog once – ahh yes, here it is. You’ve grown a bit more sophisticated over a year or so, but it’s still the same irrational hatred underneath isn’t it.

    Wish Helen had shown a similar sense of leadership over Winston?

    Yawn.

  6. Stephen 6

    Aren’t IP addressses the same no matter the name?

  7. monkey-boy 7

    oFFS R0b get a life mate. it’s a free blogosphere. At least until your lost ‘refine’ the EFA.

  8. r0b 8

    Aren’t IP addressses the same no matter the name?

    For the same “session”, or over short periods yes, but over time IP addresses can change too. Depends where you log in from, who your ISP is, whether your IP address is dynamic or static, and so on.

  9. Dom 9

    monkey boy – you do realise that trolling and provoking are two different things?

    Actually, of course you don’t….

  10. r0b 10

    oFFS R0b get a life mate.

    You do post after post after post here to feed your vanity and amuse yourself, and you’re telling me to get a life? You might want to have a think about that some time big guy.

  11. monkey-boy 11

    I had a go, at least. read the post you refer to as my ‘ego-game’ What does the last paragraph say about Labour?
    Look at my posts about The Labour Party, actually read them. We’ve had this conversation before. The trouble with you, r0b is you are ideologically blinkered. If you read what I’m saying I am not talking as one riddled with ‘irrational hatred’, but as one who is worried about constitutional issues raised by poor lawmaking. Poor lawmaking which has been facilitated by an abuse of MMP.
    I’ll tell you another thing that is wrong with you r0b, it is that you lack the maturity to look behind what you consider to be the motives of the messenger, and actually come to terms with the ideas that are being promoted.
    While I’m at it, I’ll also give you an insight into why you feel so at home in these surroundings. Because, with a few exceptions, most of the contributers are infected with a ‘Four legs good, two legs better’ arrogance which is reflected, actually in your own ‘irrational hatred’ of anything that is not party-loyal to the present regime.
    You see the difference between what I do, and what you do, is that I know I am being provocative, but you actually have been intellectually neutered into believing the crap you pass off as reality. Take some of the advice that I have been given by a number of unimaginative intellectual eunuchs who think they are the cleverer ones amongst us:
    Grow up.
    (Not you, Anita).

    Wow, you just got spanked BY a monkey…

  12. John Stevens 12

    At least BC built a stadium, unlike Trevor Duckman. Paid for a lot of it too out of his own money, a concept you lefties seem to despise.

  13. monkey-boy 13

    Tell you what, r0b, if you promise to have a good read of what I put and open your mind, I will promise to stop ‘feeding my ego’ and posting/trolling/provoking here at the Standard.
    It’s that simple, and a lot is riding on your response.

  14. r0b 14

    Tell you what, r0b, if you promise to have a good read of what I put

    As in your comment of 1:23pm?

    It’s that simple, and a lot is riding on your response.

    I wouldn’t have thought so actually.

    So just to be clear, you’re asking me to respond to your comment of 1:23?

  15. randal 15

    I never got spanked by a monkey and anything that believed clarkson was in line for the PM’s job has less intelligence than an ameoba.

  16. monkey-boy 16

    Last one today – I used to be Labour, was born and bred Labour, and if the present bunch of chinless hypocrites and over-educated buffoons that are infecting the Labour Party were cleared out tomorrow, by the Party itself, I would join the Labour Party and I would vote Labour. Basic principles. But this shower of shites is a parady of teh ‘labour movement’. They are the kinds of peopel who in teh normal course of events would only encounter the working classes if they were delivering their mail. That is why I hate them, and fervently hope they are flushed into the river with the rest of the turds this election. Then perhaps the Labour Party itself can grow some real balls and desist from rewriting the constitution to keep a power-hungry oligarchy in its high salaries and other associated perks.
    Right now I got that off my chest, perhaps I can go back to being the court jester? It seems to be the only depth you are capable of working at.

  17. Ianmac 17

    Having read a number of contributions on a number of Blogs it seems to me that there is a concerted effort from anti-Labour posters, to swamp blogs with nasty streams of abuse. They seem to use the same words as though someone has assembled a list of toxic words to use. There is seldom any issue to respond to so I guess like others, I just skip over them after the first 3-4 words. Monkeyboy does not actually say anything, so skip him and his team of whatever they are.

  18. monkey-boy 18

    r0b you provided a series of links of what I have stated historically and drew ‘irrational hatred’ as a conclusion. read the evidence you have first put on the table and stop dicking around.

  19. “r0b
    September 25, 2008 at 12:52 pm

    What a lot of time you spend on your ego games monkey boy:

    Lee C (3404) Vote: 0 0 Says:
    June 28th, 2008 at 10:02 am
    Kiwiblog has gone off the boil a bit so I thought would visit The Standard under ‘deep cover’. So disguised as ‘Monkey-Boy’ I spent a couple of day provoking people. Infantile I know, but rather entertaining

    I remember compiling a small selection of your gallons of bile off Kiwibog once – ahh yes, here it is. You’ve grown a bit more sophisticated over a year or so, but it’s still the same irrational hatred underneath isn’t it.”

    haha those threads on kiwi blog are classic, much arguing, then redbaiter comes along, claims the “liberal media” conspiracy and proceeds to rewrite history with one single copy and paste.

    It probably goes a long way to explaining why the righties are so detached from reality, as shown in that video yesterday

  20. Felix 20

    Just to be clear, monkey-boy, I don’t think really think of you as a court jester.

  21. Matthew Pilott 21

    Wow, all that got me confused again. monkey-boy – are you trying to be funny now, but not normally, or are you trying to be funny normally, and being serious now? Your indecipherable ‘parody’ most of which is utter gibberish, well it’s impossible to tell whether you think you’re being funny, witty, incisive, or just spouting off a meaningless stream-of-conciousness.

    Just tell me what you think you’re doing when you usually post and I’ll take your word for it, and from no on, assume that all of your comments are in that style.

  22. monkey-boy 22

    Well Matthew, like I said it’s a free blogosphere. I suggest you cherry-pick whatever confirms your own predispositions and just run with it. Plenty will agree. That is the best way to run an echo-chamber.

  23. MikeE 23

    And Winston Peters, the darling of the Labour Party *isn’t* a bigoted old idiot?

    Who would you rather have in supposedly liberal parliament?

    And take off your partisan caps when answering.

  24. Pascal's bookie 24

    Who would you rather have in supposedly liberal parliament?

    Easy, John Rawls.

  25. r0b 25

    read the post you refer to as my ‘ego-game’ What does the last paragraph say about Labour?

    Can’t tell which post / paragraph you mean, but in general I think Labour have handled WP appropriately. I think he’s as guilty as sin, and I hope that he’ll soon be gone from parliament, but like it or not there is actually some genuine doubt about the conflicting versions of events. I think Clark has been very cautious, standing him down from his portfolios, but otherwise on insisting on due process, as she should. I also think that there has been a genuine media witch hunt against Peters (one he did a lot to bring on himself!), compared to say Key’s more serious misdemeanours and lies.

    If you read what I’m saying I am not talking as one riddled with ‘irrational hatred’, but as one who is worried about constitutional issues raised by poor lawmaking.

    You might have aspects of genuine concern, I can’t tell. What I can tell is that you certainly have aspects of vanity trolling (comment quoted above) and pretty nasty hatred:

    Labbbour’s greatest asset is Helen Clark. She has assiduously cultivated a mystique of power about herself, so that it is almost a heresy to be seen to criticise her. Some might label her as pompous, patronising, aloof, cynical, creative with the truth, or even corrupt, but she has a teflon personality.

    Funny about Teflon, once you put one decent scratch in it, it renders the implement largely useless. However, I have yet to see an incident of a teflon pan scratching itself.

    That is the job of the opposition.

    ===

    Lee C Says:
    November 3rd, 2007 at 7:43 am

    Speaking of narrowly averted suicides. Like I heard that one time when she was at low ebb, Helen attempted suicide. Sobbing quietly, she placed the revolver against her breast., pulled the trigger. and shot herself in the knee-cap.
    drum roll, cymbal clash.
    aythenkyu..

    ===

    Lee C Says:
    November 13th, 2007 at 7:31 pm

    I’d like to see Helen Clark Burn for democracy.

    I’ll tell you another thing that is wrong with you r0b, it is that you lack the maturity to look behind what you consider to be the motives of the messenger, and actually come to terms with the ideas that are being promoted.

    I’m fond of a good debate on ideas Lee, as I think the record shows. I’m also fond of exploring motives – part of one of my little side quests to raise the standards of online debate. I regard the posting of juvenile hateful bile and vanity trolling as a waste of time and space, lowering the standard of on line discussion, detracting from the issues that you profess to care about. So I sometimes call them when I see them, in the hopes of discouraging their future occurrence. Kinda like trying to encourage people to self moderate. I’d rather see good quality discussion here than the kind of nonsense that you sometimes get up to.

  26. Matthew Pilott 26

    So, you’ve cherry-picked the idea, made a few assumptions that everyone here only wants to hear consenting views, and you want me to do the same as you have clearly done? No thanks, mb, not my style. So, say your first comment in this thread. Reading it I’d conclude that you thought Clarkson was a Labour MP. Was that deliberate, some form of joke, of have I misinterpreted it?

    Here’s a thought – you know how being paranoid doesn’t mean they’re not after you? Well just because no one agrees with what you say doesn’t mean they won’t agree with other people’s dissenting views.

  27. burt 27

    Monkey-boy

    Last one today – I used to be Labour, was born and bred Labour, and if the present bunch of chinless hypocrites and over-educated buffoons that are infecting the Labour Party were cleared out tomorrow, by the Party itself, I would join the Labour Party and I would vote Labour.

    I can relate to that. Shame about the corruption – they won’t get my vote this election.

  28. Joanna 28

    Ianmac
    Yes! I have also noticed this for some time now.
    My personal favourite is “move along, nothing to see here” or similar which is often used by “righties” and normally makes no sense in the context they use it.
    I am glad others notice this too

  29. the sprout 29

    at least one Nat has understood the Crosby Textor strategy advice for candidates: KEEP MOUTH FIRMLY SHUT AT ALL TIMES

  30. Dom 30

    I’m with Ianmac and Joanna, is someone putting out instructions to right wing bloggers because I see an awful lot of similar themed comments on any threads where the government is mentioned. Not a conspiracy theory so much as a theory of organised trolling…

  31. Billy 31

    My personal favourite is “move along, nothing to see here’

    You talking about the Winston Peters business?

  32. Joanna 32

    drat, and I got the quote wrong “nothing to see here, move along” was what I meant to type.

    Billy, I was refering to a line (one of many) that is trotted out continuously in comments (on quite a few blogs). This one in particular purports to be a quote (most often from Helen Clark) that, to the best of my knowledge, has never actually been said by a New Zealand politician. As always, I will be happily corrected if this is wrong.

    But I’m betting you already knew that was what I meant

    Dom, I did think it could be organisied trolling but I actually am leaning towards simple laziness coupled with no real arguement to back up ideas.

  33. burt 33

    Joanna

    If you think no Labour MP (especially Helen Clark) has never said “move on” then you probably believe that Taito Field was just guilty of trying to help people and Winston is honest and his presence in the Labour-led govt is helping their chances of winning the election. Best of luck to you.

  34. monkey-boy 34

    Thank you for taking the time to respond Matthew at least you had a go.

    So far, I’ve had ‘irrational hatred’ ‘brain of an amoeba’ and your rather bizarre assumption that i think Clarkson is a Labour MP.
    And then people accuse me of trolling!
    I think I started out with a general statement about how the Labour Party’s behaviour is driving old-party-loyal away. I think I offered supporting evidence from previous posts (On r0b’s initiative) about how I have been consistent in this criticism since last year. I think I have outlined again why as an ex Labour, the present lot have driven me and ar driving others away. and I think I have been pretty consisent on this and the record proves it. Perhaps I should have drawn a diagram, but I respectfully submit that I have not deviated one iota in the past year… but the constant and wilful attempts by people to accept my particular brand of dissent is evidence that … I am paranoid.
    Ok I suppose I must be. But I am consistently paranoid, whereas many who address what I say are wilful in their choices of approach – often in a vain attemtp to appear arch and clever, because deep down they are intellectual snobs. Just like the present upper echelons of the LPNZ..

  35. monkey-boy 35

    Which is one of the reasons I hate them.

  36. burt 36

    Joanna

    Here is one link to follow. If you do a search on ‘move on helen clark’ there is a lot of links to follow. All the best.

    Clark Tells Peters, Media Move On

  37. Quoth the Raven 37

    Joanna – Another common thing for rightwing trolls is the “I used to be a labour supporter” line. It’s like that alone will put some weight behind their piss poor arguments and make their insane ramblings somehow rational.
    See monkeyboy above for a perfect example.

  38. Joanna 38

    Burt –
    1. cheap trick trying to tie my comment/beliefs to the Taito Field and Winston Peters sagas.
    2. Thanks for the link, if you had read my comment you would have seen i was talking about the ENTIRE quote. (but I accept Helen Clark has said “move on”)

  39. randal 39

    when I red your posts monkey boy the conclusion I draw is not irrational hatred but congenital idiocy.

  40. Matthew Pilott 40

    I get that you don’t like the EFA, MB, which is fair enough.

    In my line of work change management is a big deal, and I see enough of the resisitance to any form of change to recognise what is a genuine problem, and what is resistance to something different and unknown.

    As you are a former NZLP supporter I’m surprised you’d go for the intellectual snobbery line. What the right has done is to make being smart something to be denigrated, what you put forward is the most classic example – classic divisive and hate-filled tactics.

    Now, a career in academia is seen as something not in the ‘real world’, and probably means you’re leeching off tax payers. (on a different note, how often have I seen a Nat supporter bitch about our lack of R & D? Think about it.)

    On top of it all, if you’re smart, you probably think you’re better than everyone else, and spend a lot of time sneering and jeering the plebs.

    That someone could have reasonable left-wing beliefs and fall for that hate-filled rage at alterity makes me disbelieve your former NZLP support, MB.

    You may have voted for them, but to believe that I don’t think you ever supported tham.

  41. monkey-boy 41

    Well, Matthew, you and several of your fellow posters have evidently come to the conclusion that I’m lying, or an idiot, or spinning a classic right-wing divisive meme of some kind. And there is no trick too low. I’ll even pretend that I ‘used to support Labour’, it appears. Just to support my arguments, because being correct at all costs is sooo important isn’t it? So much for being honest, and for intellectual rigour. I may have a massive ego, but it doesn’t extend to begging anyone to please believe me, and it appears that regardless of how consistent I have been, there is always another objection to raise rather than face the simple basic point I have striven to illustrate. That Labour is ethically and morally bankrupt, and you refuse to accept it.. Like I said. It’s a free blogosphere. If the best you can come up with is that I am suffering from some form of ingrained resistance to progress, and by implication that makes your positions appear all the more laudable, because somehow they represent progress, then so be it. I’m not here to rain on your parade, merely to invite you to question truths that you seem to hold as self-evident. If the process makes you uncomfortable then that is a good thing. as stated by your own standards.
    ps ‘alterity’ !!

  42. burt 42

    monkey-boy

    If you were a Labour supporter you wouldn’t say these horrible things…. Labour good – National bad. There are only two choices because all other nasty parties are now supporters of National. We know they are supporters of national because they didn’t back Labour in their self serving interest to protect the poodle. The nasty National supporter parties should have accepted Labour’s grand vision of power at any price and if you liked corruption you would support Winston as well.

    Sorry but it’s re-education camp for you!

  43. Matthew Pilott 43

    Monkey-boy, if you try to blame me for comments other people have put forward yo’re not going to do much for your attempt to prove you’ve an open mind!

    Nor if you state point blank that you’re right, everyone else is wrong, and people who don’t agree with you are blind to the truth.

    Seems you, more than anyone else here, is so set in their ways that a debate is worth little.

    That Labour is ethically and morally bankrupt, and you refuse to accept it.. Like I said. It’s a free blogosphere.

    It’s a free blogosphere…you refuse to accept it. how is it free if I’m doing something wrong by refusing to accept your proclamations? Refusing to accept something means it must be the absolute truth. You need to rethink your position, or your manner of expressing it…

    I’m not here to rain on your parade, merely to invite you to question truths that you seem to hold as self-evident. If the process makes you uncomfortable then that is a good thing. as stated by your own standards.

    By all means. I welcome it. Some other commentators have been able to do so with varying levels of sucess. What I find utterly useless, and thoroughly incompelling are statements such as “bunch of chinless hypocrites and over-educated buffoons”, “rewriting the constitution to keep a power-hungry oligarchy in its high salaries and other associated perks” and “Labour is ethically and morally bankrupt”.

    What do they prove? 5/8 of fuck all. If you state that, and get haughty because I dare disagree, what do you hope to achieve? I’d hardly call it a useful method of making me challenge truths. It’s not uncomfortable either, if that’s all you can do.

    It’s more akin to saying “Your team sucks”. “No, your team sucks, and they’re gay”. Equally compelling arguments.

    Burt, we’re trying to have a rational discussion. If the best you can do is crawl out of the sand-pit for another tiresome repetition of the Burt Special, “Labour good, National Bad”, then I’d ask you don’t bother. Of course you’re free to do so, but it’s bordering on pathetic.

  44. Rakaia George 44

    Nice post SP. Perfectly summing up the attitude of the trendy lefty intellectual to the kind of blokes that actually built this country.

    Yer not fit to clean Bob’s boots.

  45. Phil 45

    What the right has done is to make being smart something to be denigrated, what you put forward is the most classic example – classic divisive and hate-filled tactics

    Now, a career in academia is seen as something not in the ‘real world’, and probably means you’re leeching off tax payers.

    Funny thing is, the left spends an awful lot of time making out that a career in international finance is not in the ‘real world’ and probably leeching of innocent investors.

  46. Matthew Pilott 46

    Phil – I’ve never seen it be said it’s not a ‘real job’ nor not in the ‘real world’, just pointing out the downsides of such jobs. As the current economic climate helps illustrate…

    Rakaia George – perfectly summing up the backward attitude that started the ‘tall poppy syndrome’ and made being good at something a sin. You’re not fit judge what anyone else is fit to do, nor claim the attitude of ‘those who actually built this country’. Bit of a liberal tradition that must have slipped your mind. Great to see that in your eyes, build a staduim and you can be as racist as you want. Keep it up.

  47. Felix 47

    monkey-boy
    September 25, 2008 at 1:36 pm

    “Last one today – ”

    Oh well, my hopes weren’t high.

  48. r0b 48

    Felix – ho! But wait there’s more – check it out:
    http://www.thestandard.org.nz/?p=476

    Lee C
    October 14, 2007 at 4:28 pm
    Ok you win. The Standard is obviously not for me. This is my final post.

    Fare ye well.

  49. Scribe 49

    rOb,

    Please don’t call Felix a ho.

  50. Quoth the Raven 50

    I remember this: According to the wonderful TheyWorkForYou website these five quotes have been Bob Clarkson’s scintillating and sum contribution to parliamentary debate since 21 August:
    (17 Oct 2007) Interjection : “Bureaucratic!’
    (10 Oct 2007) Interjection : “Tell us the end of the story.’
    (19 Sep 2007) Interjection : “Force?’
    (22 Aug 2007) Interjection : “A bit like the Labour Government.’
    (21 Aug 2007) Interjection : “Yes, I did, actually.’
    That’s 19 words in 21 sitting days – less than one word a day. And for that, we pay him $110,000 / year?

    Rakaia George – Go clean clarkson’s boots, I mean italian loafers.
    I hear the mouths close this year I may go for a fish.

  51. monkey boy 51

    ok r0b you got me – say farewell to another bigoted old idiot.

  52. Excellent. Won’t be missing that dickhead. He bought nothing to politics besides bigotry and those interjections which I’m apalled we spent $110,000 a year on. Seriously, for that kind of money we could replace Clarkson with a fully serviced water cooler which would not only contribute more but be a fuckload cheaper!

  53. Phil 53

    QtR,

    I bet we could find a lot of MP’s with the same scintillating record of 6 interjections in 21 days.

    The vast majority of the work they do happens outside of the debating chamber. MP’s aren’t like the Stig…

    On second thought, a lot of people might view an MP doing and saying nothing to be an awful lot better than any alternative…

  54. Why people voted for that idiot is beyond me?

  55. burt 55

    Brett Dale

    The answer is obvious – because he isn’t Winston Peters.

  56. Spider_Pig 56

    Another reason to vote for him? He was and still is a successful businessman, with real world experience. And he wasn’t Winston Peters. A shame that the rest of NZ voted Peters back in.

    Bob is certainly rough around the edges and cut from a different cloth but that cloth provided the smarts and drive to build a self made $50+ million fortune, and in turn will have made a lot of money for 1,000s of other New Zealanders.

    The same can not be said for most people.

  57. T-Rex 57

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/4706659a6160.html

    “Rough around the edges”?

    He is a f*cking moron. Tauranga must cringe in embarassment every time he speaks. That “straight talker” argument is roughly the same thing as “the case for Bush”. He talks simply because he is SIMPLE, not because he can see through all the subtlety and nuance and get to the heart of an issue.

    Homosexuality is “like picking your nose in public”, and anyone wearing a burqua should go back to “Islam or Iraq”. That’s good old Bob the Bewilderer’s level of contribution.
    And NO HE WOULN’T BE THE KIND OF GUY YOU CAN HAVE A BEER WITH.

    You do not need “smarts” to build a self made 50mil fortune, as Clarkson more than adequately demonstrates. Who else do we know that might fall into that category… driven but not very bright… hmmmmm, think think think…

  58. Swampy 58

    How does a “simple” person become a millionaire?

    It just doesn’t work that way.

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    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago
  • Cutting all that dam red tape
    Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track.  “Dam safety regulations ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago
  • Drought support extended to parts of North Island
    The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago
  • Passage of major tax bill welcomed
    The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Lifting economy through science, tertiary sectors
    Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Government announces Budget priorities
    The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.  The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Government to consider accommodation solution
    The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government approves extension to Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care
    Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says.                                         “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • $18m boost for Kiwis travelling to health treatment
    The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says.   “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • PM’s Prizes for Space to showcase sector’s talent
    The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Concerns conveyed to China over cyber activity
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government.     “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry
    Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function.  The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Brynderwyns open for Easter
    State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Speech to the Infrastructure Funding & Financing Conference
    Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Parliamentary network breached by the PRC
    New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • NZ to provide support for Solomon Islands election
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • NZ-EU FTA gains Royal Assent for 1 May entry to force
    The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union.    “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • COVID-19 inquiry attracts 11,000 submissions
    Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says.  “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Families to receive up to $75 a week help with ECE fees
    Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Unlocking a sustainable, low-emissions future
    A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says.  “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Chief of Army thanked for his service
    Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders
    25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government commits nearly $3 million for period products in schools
    Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech – Making it easier to build.
    Good morning, it’s great to be here.   First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning.  I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Pacific youth to shine from boost to Polyfest
    Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • 2024 Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships announced
    ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to Breast Cancer Foundation – Insights Conference
    Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Kiwi research soars to International Space Station
    New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to the New Zealand Planning Institute
    Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Support for Northland emergency response centre
    The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed.  “Northland has faced a number ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Celebrating 20 years of Whakaata Māori
    New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Some commercial fishery catch limits increased
    Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

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