What’s up with Matt Doocey, Mike King & the $24mn of taxpayers money?
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1:55 pm, November 1st, 2024 - 15 comments
Categories: alcohol, Christopher Luxon, health, national, national/act government, same old national -
Tags: corruption, I am Hope, matt doocey, mental health, Mike King
Unfortunately NZ has one of the highest youth suicide rates in the world – double that of other OECD countries. Mental illness at all ages is a serious issue and directly correlates to crime, domestic violence, poverty, social costs, health costs.
Despite this, the National-led right wing government this year broke their promise to fund mental health registrars – effectively funding none. And very little has been put into mental health – including their effective disbanding of the Suicide Prevention Office which remains in name only.
After the budget, NZ chair of the Royal Australia New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, Dr Hiran Thabrew, said Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey had not backed up “his words [with] action.. Every day, people experiencing serious mental health or addiction issues are falling through the cracks. From an economic perspective, it’s short-sighted.”
Doocey also didn’t bother reading the Abuse in Care report despite it being personally sent to him months before the formal hearings. Doocey was supposed to be part of the team overseeing recommendations, but clearly, his rhetoric never matches his actions. How much could he care? Even Luxon said he read it cover to cover.
In September, the Mental Health Minister spoke to mental health practitioners, earning him murmurs of disbelief, anger and shakes of heads as he claimed mental health was well funded under this government.
And that brings me to Mike King’s I Am Hope, which National gave $24m of taxpayers money to in a process called highly “irregular,” not transparent and inappropriate by the AG.
Yesterday on my Substack, I predicted Doocey and Luxon would be out defending Mike King today and voila, it happened like clockwork.
“He can say what he wants to say” claimed Doocey after Mike King’s promotion of alcohol and drugs as a solution to youth mental anguish.
And Luxon has thrown his hat in too – claiming Labour are playing politics with mental health, after their Mental Health spokesperson suggested a pause on funding, given King’s public comments.
To be clear this is what King said on Newtalk ZB this week:
“Alcohol is not a problem for people with mental health issues. It’s actually the solution to our problem, until you come up with a better solution.”
“I would suggest to you that alcohol has prevented more young people from taking their own lives than it actually takes their own lives.”
And today he doubled down – in this NZ Herald excerpt:
Alcohol use has been found to be associated with a 94% increase in the risk of suicide, a meta-analysis report from 2022 said. Alcohol use and death by suicide: A meta-analysis of 33 studies included 10 million participants…
King told the Herald he stood by his statements and dismissed research about alcohol’s harms.
He also claimed there would be evidence proving him right, however, he did not provide any research when asked.
King hung up after being pressed on the issue, claiming the increased risk of suicide from alcohol consumption was a matter of opinion and that he would have to “agree to disagree”.
There is unfortunately more.
The National government had “directed” the Ministry to give King the $24m contract in the first place – and as per above, the Attorney General noted it was both irregular and bad practice to do so.
Second – documents obtained under the Official Information Act showed Health Ministry officials struggled to find a way to make the contract compliant with public procurement rules.
So they had to use a special ‘opt-out’ clause to twist the rules.
Finally, Treasury recommended the government not to fund Gumboot Friday at all – stating:
“Whilst innovative approaches may provide unique ways of responding to low mental-wellbeing, we consider investment to address mental health issues is better directed to preventative initiatives.”
Yesterday, Labour’s Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary called for a review of Gumboot Friday and to pause funding in light of King’s comments.
PS There are other claimed irregularities. For example, this Redditor noted only 50% of I am Hope’s funds goes to counsellors: the post may be of interest. Another point is the provider couldn’t pass standard procurement processes. They apparently only provide 1-2 sessions for free. $24mn is a lot of money – why was this favour made for them? And given the correlation between alcohol abuse and suicide and family violence, how can Mike King hold a leadership position in a charity that purportedly mentors and counsels youths?
This is based on an earlier version: https://mountaintui.substack.com/p/gumboot-fridays-founder-says-drugs
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- Release: Government to make public transport more expensive… again
The Government’s decision to push for significant fare increases on buses and trains over the next few years is a huge blow to communities across the country. ...4 days ago
- Release: National has given up on climate action
Climate action is missing from the list of things National is patting themselves on the back for one year on from becoming government. ...4 days ago
- Public transport fare hikes a disaster
The Government’s directive to councils to increase bus and train fares substantially over the next few years is a bitter pill to swallow for communities across the country. ...5 days ago
- Release: Minister leaves Community Housing Providers out in the cold
Housing Minister Chris Bishop’s speech to Community Housing Providers today should have been titled ‘we want you to build houses, but we refuse to spend money so you’re on your own’. ...5 days ago
- Green Party appalled by woeful Government offer to school support staff
Support staff across Aotearoa have been dealt yet another devastating blow with the release of the latest collective agreement offer from the Government. ...5 days ago
- Release: Chris Hipkins sad to hear about Nikki Kaye
"The news today that Nikki Kaye has passed away after her long battle with cancer is incredibly sad," Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...6 days ago
- Release: Government should be transparent on live exports
Targeted consultation on reinstating live cattle exports by sea won’t allow the New Zealand public to have their say. ...1 week ago
- NZ’s global climate rankings plummet as Govt removes agriculture from ETS
The Government has passed legislation to remove agriculture from the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) while Aotearoa’s reputation on climate action plummets. ...1 week ago
- Failed boot camp experiment must end
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- Release: National doesn’t care about manufacturing
The National Government is walking away from our manufacturing sector with constant reports of closures and job losses. ...1 week ago
- Release: David Parker speech – Piketty, Inequality and Climate Change
David Parker's speech from the University of Auckland's forum on Piketty, Inequality and Climate Change in September 2024. ...1 week ago
- Release: Youth mental wellbeing no longer a priority for Child Poverty Minister
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- Release: National’s lack of climate action taking NZ backwards
National Government’s backward-looking climate policy has seen New Zealand fall seven places on the Climate Change Performance Index to 41 out of 63 countries measured. ...1 week ago
- Release: Simple reason for drop in emergency housing
When the Government says it has reduced the number of people in emergency housing, what it means is it is stopping people from accessing it in the first place. ...2 weeks ago
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Labour warmly welcomes the Restoring Samoan Citizenship Bill as it passes its third reading, before becoming law. ...2 weeks ago
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The Government has taken a giant step backwards by reinstating live animal exports. ...2 weeks ago
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Teanau Tuiono’s Member’s Bill, the Citizenship (Western Samoa Restoration) Amendment Bill, has passed its third reading and will become law. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Minister of Education thinks New Zealand ends at the Bombay Hills
The Minister of Education has shown complete disregard for rural communities and their school bus routes in Question Time today. ...2 weeks ago
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A group of prominent economists has released an open letter to the Government, raising grave concerns about the far-reaching consequences of its fiscal policy. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Smoking numbers up under Costello’s watch
National’s repeal of Labour’s smokefree legislation has taken New Zealand further away from achieving a Smokefree 2025 and a smokefree generation. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Call for Palestine recognition by NZ, Australian and Canadian MPs
Parliamentarians from Australia, Canada and New Zealand have written an open letter to their respective Prime Ministers calling on them to recognise Palestine. ...2 weeks ago
- Justice Select Committee opens floor for Treaty Principles submissions
Today, the Justice Select Committee has decided to officially open submissions for the controversial Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
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Today, Hīkoi mō te Tiriti arrived in Wellington, with thousands gathering to march in unity against the divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- Hypocrisy as Te Whatu Ora contractor bill balloons
Te Whatu Ora’s bill for contracting and consulting staff has ballooned by nearly 20 percent under the National Government, breaking a promise they made during the election campaign to cut contractors. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Growing pressure to scrap Section 7AA Repeal Bill
The newly released Section 7AA Repeal Bill's select committee report is further evidence that the Government should scrap it. ...2 weeks ago
- Government’s move to monetise access to nature a slippery slope
The Green Party is voicing serious concerns over the Government’s proposal to charge for access to public conservation land, released today. ...2 weeks ago
- Green Party condemns the passage of Treaty Principles Bill
The Green Party condemns the passing of the Treaty Principles Bill at first reading, and is clear that the fight is not over. ...2 weeks ago
- Mautohe Cathedral Cove reopens to walkers
The Government has delivered on its promise to restore public walking access to the popular Mautohe Cathedral Cove in time for Summer 2024-2025. The walking track to the famous Coromandel beach - renowned for its natural rock arch feature and idyllic waters – was severely damaged by extreme weather events ...10 hours ago - Increased medicines access continues following budget boost
Associate Health Minister with responsibility for Pharmac David Seymour is pleased to see further increased availability of medicines for Kiwis following the Government’s increased investment in Pharmac. “Pharmac operates independently, but it must work within the budget constraints set by the Government,” says Mr Seymour. “When this Government assumed office, ...15 hours ago
- NZ and United Kingdom strengthen partnership
New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters and United Kingdom Foreign Secretary David Lammy held the inaugural annual New Zealand-United Kingdom Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue today in London. “The United Kingdom is our oldest, and one of our closest and most trusted partners,” Mr Peters says. “While we are separated ...2 days ago
- Minister reminds public health officials of priorities
Minister of Health Dr Shane Reti says the National Public Health Service should concentrate its focus on prioritising serious public health issues facing New Zealanders. “Earlier this week I was informed about an 8-page submission by the southern arm of the NPHS regarding a proposed fast food outlet in Wanaka,” ...2 days ago
- World class visitor centre for Punakaiki
Sightseers to the iconic Punakaiki (Pancake Rocks and Blowholes Track) will enjoy a richer experience thanks to a world class visitor experience centre run by local Iwi, Conservation Minister Tama Potaka says. This state-of-the-art facility provides visitors to the West Coast with a high-quality experience and helps boost the region’s ...2 days ago
- Healthy Homes Initiative improves health of more than 200,000 people
A five-year evaluation of the Healthy Homes Initiative has demonstrated the positive impact of warm, dry homes on the health and wellbeing of more than 200,000 people. The Healthy Homes Initiative, led by Health New Zealand, helps families living in cold, damp homes, providing support like education, beds and bedding, ...2 days ago
- A year of concrete progress for infrastructure and transport
In a busy year of delivery, the Government has made concrete progress toward improving the foundations of the infrastructure system and addressing New Zealand’s infrastructure deficit, and is streets ahead when it comes to getting transport back on track, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown say. “It ...3 days ago
- Mining stats show a sector delivering for NZ
New figures on mining activity across New Zealand show the Crown collected nearly a quarter of a billion dollars in revenue in the 2023/24 financial year, bolstered by royalties collected from petroleum and gold, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The statistics, released this morning by the Ministry of Business, Innovation ...3 days ago
- Safer ports – approved code of practice for loading and unloading cargo takes effect today
Today marks a significant milestone for the port and maritime sector, with the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon Brooke van Velden, and the Associate Minister of Transport celebrating the Approved Code of Practice for Loading and Unloading Cargo at Ports and on Ships (ACOP) coming into effect. “The ...3 days ago
- Red Tape tipline gets over 300 reports in first week
In just its first week, over 300 people have reported red tape issues to the new Red Tape tipline, Regulation Minister David Seymour says. “Red tape wastes valuable time, money and sanity. I am not surprised to see an outpouring of discontent from Kiwis who are sick of the tangle ...3 days ago
- More flexible dismissal process for high-income employees
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- NZ and Germany deepen cooperation
New Zealand and Germany are committed to enhancing their partnership, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “Our discussions in Berlin over the last few days have underlined the broad range of interests that New Zealand and Germany share,” says Mr Peters, following his meeting with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. ...3 days ago
- Chemical weapons and Iranian missiles targeted in new Russia sanctions
Foreign Minister Winston Peters today announced new sanctions in response to Russia’s ongoing illegal invasion of Ukraine – and joined partners in a Call to Action on sanctions-evading ‘shadow fleet’ activities. “These new sanctions respond to recent findings by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons that illegal ...3 days ago
- Exporters benefit from new trade system
The modernisation of New Zealand’s trade certification system, which supports $33 billion of exports, is making selling top Kiwi products overseas more reliable and adaptable for the future, Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard says.“New Zealand food and wine is admired around the world and brings jobs, money, and opportunities into ...3 days ago
- Whanganui to benefit from the latest health technologies
Today’s opening of a new MRI facility at Whanganui Hospital is the latest in a number of health infrastructure projects designed to improve healthcare services for the people of Whanganui and surrounding districts, says Minister of Health Dr Shane Reti. “I’m really pleased to have been able to deliver on ...3 days ago
- Strengthening timber trade with new assurance system
The Government is delivering on its commitment to combat trade in illegally harvested timber, with consultation starting today on operational details to implement New Zealand’s legal harvest assurance system, Forestry Minister Todd McClay announced today. “The system will limit the risk of importing illegally harvested timber and provide the international ...3 days ago
- Royal Commission into COVID-19 phase 1 report received
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden has today received the report from phase 1 of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19. “The delivery of the phase 1 report marks the conclusion of phase 1 of the Inquiry. Phase 1 Commissioners Professor Tony Blakely and John Whitehead have now ...3 days ago
- More support in reading and maths for Kiwi kids
The Government is ensuring more Kiwi kids get extra support with their reading and maths by boosting the level of targeted interventions in classrooms around the country. “We are relentlessly focused on giving more Kiwi kids confidence at school so they can achieve their potential. Due to high demand, we’re ...4 days ago
- SH1B Telephone Road to reopen next year
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has confirmed that State Highway 1B (SH1B) Telephone Road in Waikato will reopen in 2025, following agreement by KiwiRail and the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) on a package of improvements to enable the road and rail crossing to function safely and effectively together. “Economic growth, productivity, and ...4 days ago
- Growth of clinical psychology pipeline welcomed
The University of Canterbury is to be commended for increasing its intake of clinical psychology students, Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey and Minister for Tertiary Education and Skills Penny Simmonds say. “This Government is focused on increasing access to support and growing the workforce is critical to this,” Mr ...4 days ago
- NZ and France agree to intensify close relationship
New Zealand and France have renewed efforts to work together more intensively in the Indo-Pacific and on issues of mutual importance, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “It’s been a seriously productive few days in Paris, with New Zealand and France redoubling our efforts on bilateral relations, strategic alignment and ...4 days ago
- Squeezing more bang for buck from blackcurrants
The Government is backing a project to squeeze more value out of New Zealand blackcurrants, Associate Minister for Agriculture, Nicola Grigg says. “We’re investing in a two-year project with PharmaZen Limited to add value to our blackcurrant industry by piloting a processing facility in Canterbury which will allow growers to ...4 days ago
- First charter school announced to open Term 1 2025
Associate Education Minister David Seymour today announced Christchurch-based Mastery Schools New Zealand – Arapaki as the first new charter school set to open in term one 2025. “This announcement is a significant step in the Government’s efforts to lift educational achievement in New Zealand,” says Mr Seymour. “Charter schools will ...4 days ago
- More relief for Kiwi families
The latest drop in the official cash rate will mean more relief for Kiwis’ backpockets, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The 50 point drop in the rate is the third drop since August, meaning the rate has fallen 125 basis points in that time. “That is good news for families ...4 days ago
- Action on lifesaving immunisations
Minister of Health Dr Shane Reti has praised hauora Māori providers for continuing to lift delivery of life-saving immunisations across all ages and all populations. “In the first 10 months of the Immunising our Tamariki programme, hauora Māori providers have now delivered more than 69,000 vaccinations across all population groups, ...5 days ago
- Speech to the Community Housing Aotearoa Annual Conference
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- Fewer than 1000 Emergency Housing households
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- Māori housing partnership to deliver 198 affordable rental homes
An $82million Government investment into Māori housing providers will benefit many whānau across the country, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. Supported by funding administered by Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga – Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, 12 Māori housing providers will create a total of 198 whare in areas ...5 days ago
- ‘A path less travelled’ – delivered to the French Institute of International Relat...
Before beginning today, we would like to acknowledge the French Institute of International Relations. You have contributed to debates about international affairs over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. Can we also thank the Institute’s founder and Chairman, Thierry de Montbrial, and Deputy ...5 days ago
- Data set to quantify how business events benefit tourism
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- Trade Minister heads to Canada for CPTPP
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- Supporting rural New Zealand: one year of action
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- Speech to the Community Housing Aotearoa Annual Conference
Introduction Good morning. It’s great to be here at the Community Housing Aotearoa Conference and to see so many people dedicated to fixing New Zealand’s housing crisis. I’d firstly like to congratulate you on celebrating 20 years. Well done, and here’s to 20 more. I’d also like to thank you. ...6 days ago
- Levelling the playing field for Community Housing Providers
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- Statement on Nikki Kaye
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- Funding for 50 new senior doctors, more nurses
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There is "more division" nowadays, PM says, but blames much of that on the previous Labour government. ...4 hours ago - Tjibaou’s party unveils plan for New Caledonia’s future ‘independence’
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This goes back a bit…NZ First supported King to the extent of $10 mill back in 2020 and King supported NZ First in various statements.
https://www.1news.co.nz/2020/09/14/nz-first-pledges-10m-to-mike-kings-mental-health-initiative-gumboot-friday-if-elected/
So it is about patronage and putting the slipper into Labour after King had his hissy fit and handed back his honour.
The Natzos heavily assist the Liquor and Tobacco industries so no wonder they keep supporting Mr King despite his unhinged views.
Doocey is another Minister both out of his depth in the portfolio, and not the least interested in it–like various other CoC Ministers who operate on the seat of their pants and ignore official and expert advice.
Mike King provided a photo op for Luxon, as a newly minted PM, to give the appearance of doing something useful.
like a number of this governments moves. Ban gang patches to look tough but in reality will divert police attention from more oressing things and result in more ram raids and shop lifting whilst several police try to take a patch off a couple gang members. Charter schools which will waste hundreds of millions but make no difference to lifting education achievements.
I think that Mike King unwittingly got used by NZ First and National. The political right have never much interested in mental health in the past but they figured that in Mike King here was someone they could use for a bit of good news publicity – look how we are helping a good man…..!
If you lie with dogs long enough you will catch their fleas, and King is now starting to sound more and more like those good folk at ZB Newstalk. And now he has said something he should have thought harder about before saying, they will abandon and turn on him now he has served their purpose.
The Mike King saga is becoming a joke.
His comedy was truly awful.
And he was depressed all the time surviving on drugs and alcohol so he was a fake.
Now he gets a highly paid position advocating alcohol being the answer to suicide.
Like seriously.
But will this Right wing Government go down in the poll ratings over this?
Or are they still in the honey moon phase?
Went right off Mike King years ago seeing him tell a joke about a hairdresser sh*tting on his head after he asked for a number 2 haircut…Thought this guy is not in a good. mind space and still think that. Whatever's in his mind mind OK but giving him $24 million -that's not good.
No one has given Mike King $24 million. The registered charity of which he is the frontman received the money to deliver services to the community.
Not yet.
.
Comedian Mike King's agent wanted a $50,000 severance payment from New Zealand Pork to stop his client going "feral", documents say.
Papers released to the Herald on Sunday under the Official Information Act claim celebrity agent David Steele asked for the payment to stop King "going dog" and speaking out against the pork industry.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/kings-agent-sought-50000-to-stop-him-going-feral/ORKUJQMJCNQAHV32OF7HJ6WMDU/
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/517653/i-am-hope-chair-s-donations-to-national-questioned-after-24m-gumboot-friday-pledge
$30,000 buys a lot of support I guess, and whiney CLuxon moans about politicising the charity, give me a break.
that needs investigated. might be clean and all above board but looks a bit grubby and might have the appearance of some sort of political bung being given
This is National's nod to Winston, "Look we have given one of your supporters largess".
As Winston used to smoke drink and enjoyed the races, he enjoys the support of the tin hat anti-vax brigade.
As Mike now pontificates, he reminds us of Liz Gunn and her utterances. Off the wall.
IMO it was personal and political. A huge 24 million “In your face” to Jacinda and Grant from Winston.
More about this on The Spinoff
What King's $24 mi buys would be better put to other channels, for funding more than this. Ambulance at the bottom of the cliff. Research on people needs ethical scrutiny to avoid harming participants. Nothing North Korea about it.
$24 million is a mere bagatelle when contrasted with the near $2 Billons flushed down the loo by the previous administration!
https://www.rnz.co.nz/programmes/in-depth-special-projects/story/2018918734/what-ever-happened-to-the-dollar2-billion-that-was-poured-into-mental-healthcare
Yeah, so triage access to mental health practitioners through more austerity to public service. Where does one spend that budget in an environment that deems primary health unnecessary ? NZ's shameful record on mental health is not going to be addressed by charity events with alcohol supplied by very apparent conflicts of interest. Mental healthcare is a science, not a social media platform. Just ridiculous.
It wasn't flushed down the loo, from your link, for example, "Within the $1.1bn that went solely to health, nearly half went towards putting more than a thousand mental health advisers into GP practices and other primary care settings, known as the Access and Choice programme.”
Trying to deflect and minimize this fiasco that's been dodgy from the start won't make it go away.
"The Auditor-general has criticised the government's "unusual and inconsistent" procurement process in giving $24 million to Mike King's Gumboot Friday initiative."
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/in-depth/530265/unusual-and-inconsistent-process-to-justify-24m-gumboot-friday-contract-auditor-general-finds
Robinson's faith and optimism in the new government and Minister must be waning, and hit a new low by trying to defend Mike King.
“What Mike was trying to say…"
https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360471886/mike-king-was-trying-make-valid-point-about-alcohol-mental-health-boss-says