When will Key rule out working with Brash?

Written By: - Date published: 7:44 am, July 11th, 2011 - 73 comments
Categories: act, don brash, john key, national, racism - Tags:

ACT adman John Ansell has resigned in the fallout from the race-baiting ad he designed for ACT, which Brash proudly endorsed. The Maori Party has effectively ruled out working with ACT. Isn’t it time for John Key to do the same? He cannot avoid responsibility. ACT lives or dies at his word. If National doesn’t try to win Epsom, that is an endorsement of Brash’s racism.

Or would Key be happy to have a racist at his cabinet table?

[Danyl gives a fuller account of the comments from various ACTriods during this debacle at Dimpost]

73 comments on “When will Key rule out working with Brash? ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Colonial Viper 1
    11 July 2011 at 8:20 am

    National had a strong hand in choosing the ACT candidate team, the people there now are exactly the people that National want to work with, in Government.

  2. Secret Squirrel 2
    11 July 2011 at 8:28 am

    National only need to work with the current Act MPs, not with Brash or Ansell. If the MPs are still doing what they were elected and selected to do then there shouldn’t be a problem. Chucking them out of their jobs becasue it suits some people suporting other parties would be bad democracy.

    • Eddie 2.1
      11 July 2011 at 8:34 am

      No, Brash is ACT’s leader. He decides how they vote. Working with ACT now is working with Brash.

      But i’m talking post-election anyway. I want to know whether Key still plans to run a party-vote only campaign in Epsom, hereby letting the racist Brash and co back into Parliament.

  3. Bunji 3
    11 July 2011 at 8:31 am

    Plenty of misogyny as well as racism from Ansell of Act & Iwi/Kiwi, on Stuff:

    Mr Ansell said ACT should target male voters because women did not want to talk bluntly and were ruled by their emotions.

    “We [ACT] are about talking bluntly and women don’t want to talk bluntly. They just want to keep their relationships intact. It’s far more important for them than improving society,”

    Men ultimately deferred to the brain for hard decisions, while women looked to their emotions, he said.
    …
    those who speak “the truth” – like sacked Employers and Manufacturers Association boss Alasdair Thompson – are punished.
    …
    Mr Ansell said he was not racist, but had views about certain races.

    And more lovely quotes on DimPost:

    “When the white man opens the door and says come in and rape us, of course, if you’ve got any sort of business like sense you’ll go for whatever you can get.”

    And they wonder why they’re struggling to get support? You do your best to only appeal to rich old white men and bizarrely discover that they’re not actually the majority in society…

  4. Jim Nald 4
    11 July 2011 at 8:42 am

    Key rule out working with Brash? Why would Key do that?

    Does the current publicity look like it is tactically being outsourced by National to ACT?

    Look at who is current leader of ACT – Key’s and National’s former leader.

    • Colonial Viper 4.1
      11 July 2011 at 8:46 am

      You’re suggesting that Ansell’s racist and sexist outburst was pre-approved by National PR. Interesting.

      The ad campaign would definitely have been approved by the ACT board.

    • Secret Squirrel 4.2
      11 July 2011 at 8:51 am

      Does the current publicity look like it is tactically being outsourced by National to ACT?

      It would be more credible to suggest Labour have secretly employed John Ansell. Or Winston Peters.

      • felix 4.2.1
        11 July 2011 at 9:33 am

        If only they were so cunning…

        Seriously though, it’s a mystery to me why anyone would employ Ansell. Nothing he has done since “Iwi/Kiwi” has gotten any traction. Comparing those billboards to all of his other work it’s hard to see them as anything but a fluke.

        • McFlock 4.2.1.1
          11 July 2011 at 1:23 pm

          That’s the problem with the sort of entrepreneurial “innovation” that NZ is so fond of these days – it relies on self-promotion based on a single previous success (despite numerous attempts) rather than a realistic evaluation of “can I do this job?”. And even if the project goes under and your employers/shareholders go bust, you’ve been receiving a nice salary all the time and (unless you publicly disgraced yourself) it still counts on your CV.

    • Jim Nald 4.3
      11 July 2011 at 9:40 am

      You can arrive at your own assessment.

      Why would Key rule out working with National’s and his former leader?

      The debate in the media today is filled with two of National’s partners: Brash and Sharples.
      The sound and fury from National’s partners, sitting on either side of National place National in the centre, and crowd out other voices and discussion of other issues.

      This is a cynical variation of the good cop-bad cop routine, this time with the addition of a third political actor. National can comfortably position and portray itself as being moderately sandwiched between a ranting, rabid old mad dog playing white cop and the Maori Party being the brown cop.

      Both Brash and Sharples fill the media soundwaves, while the elephant in the room is National which is in government and happily ruling with the support of the political parties led Brash and Sharples.

      This political mix is toxic for the future of this nation.

      • Jim Nald 4.3.1
        11 July 2011 at 9:47 am

        Hi Lprent

        I can’t seem to edit either one of the comments I posted this morning.

        For the former comment, there was only a blank screen that popped up when I tried to edit. So I rebooted my laptop.

        For the latter comment, I got the message:
        “You do not have permission to edit this comment. – Close”

        Can you look into this please?

        I might try to use another computer later this morning to see if the same problem comes up.

        • Lanthanide 4.3.1.1
          11 July 2011 at 12:17 pm

          “You do not have permission to edit this comment. – Close”

          I had that on Saturday I think. The timer was counting down and had about 3 minutes left, but it said I didn’t have permission.

          I’ve had this same issue sporadically in the past, at least several months ago though now.

  5. Lew 5
    11 July 2011 at 8:48 am

    “Vote John, Get Don.” I’m sure Lyndon Hood would not object to an adaptation of this image for a campaign advertisement: http://img.scoop.co.nz/stories/images/0809/58a1b4ff008bee187f7d.jpeg

    L

    • tsmithfield 5.1
      11 July 2011 at 9:44 am

      I’m sure that would be OK so long as they get it properly authorised and don’t end up with another complaint going to the police. 🙂

  6. tsmithfield 6
    11 July 2011 at 9:24 am

    Yeah, I agree that both Key rule out working with the racist Act and Goff should rule out working with the racist NZ First Party.

    • higherstandard 6.1
      11 July 2011 at 9:30 am

      Gawd what a bore neither Brash nor Winston nor Hone are racists they just pander to them and incite them for votes which IMO is an even more vile practice.

  7. Tangled up in blue 7
    11 July 2011 at 10:51 am

    The Maori Party has effectively ruled out working with ACT.

    What do you mean by “ruled out working with”? Are you suggesting that next term they wouldn’t give National confidence-and-supply if ACT is part of the team?

  8. Pascal's bookie 8
    11 July 2011 at 11:26 am

    Paddy Gower sez:

    It has gone nowhere.
    It is stagnant.
    It is treading water.
    It is looking like a couple of old blokes on political life support.
    The latest effort with the advertisement in the Herald shows Don Brash and his mate John Ansell acting as yesterday’s men with no plan.
    It was a cut and paste job.
    So instead of being the adrenalin shot to bust them back into life the advert is more like slow euthanasia.

    Don Brash took the leadership on April 28.

    That was 11 weeks ago.

    Since then, Brash has been virtually anonymous.

    This is what has happened – or hasn’t happened – since:

    No re-branding of the ACT party.
    No significant speech on economic issues by Dr Brash.
    In fact we are still due a centrepiece speech on where ACT is going full stop.
    No high-calibre new candidates have come forward.
    Heather Roy has done a runner. Sinking ship stuff?
    Brash has left the door open for a comeback by disgraced former MP David Garrett after police cleared him of fraud. In fact, Brash said he was “absolutely delighted” for Garrett and for ACT. Uh-oh.
    Sir Roger Douglas emerges as Alasdair Thompson’s only supporter saying he was “destroyed by lynch mobs”. Uh-oh.
    So ACT is looking pretty disorganised.

    Don Brash and ACT had no strategy past the coup.

    http://www.3news.co.nz/Politics/Goweronpolitics.aspx

    • Jim Nald 8.1
      11 July 2011 at 11:53 am

      I had to check out that webpage. Had to see it for myself.
      Have Paddy Gower’s eyes and mind opened?
      Will he run a piece about this on telly?
      I might turn on the telly again for TV3.

  9. Steve Wrathall 9
    11 July 2011 at 12:57 pm

    Would Key be happy to have a racist at his cabinet table?

    Apparently so:

    “Why are we fighting whakapapa against whakapapa? There’s so much enemy that is not brown.”
    Dr Pita Sharples, March 2009, in meeting with Mongrel Mob and Black Power members flown to Auckland at taxpayers’ expense for a secret hui.
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/2975445/Minister-flies-gang-bosses-to-secret-meeting

    • Pascal's bookie 10.1
      11 July 2011 at 1:42 pm

      That’s all just tired old boilerplate though. Brash, like Ansell, had their moment n teh sun back in 05. It was a fluke. They should move on, the country has.

    • Kaplan 10.2
      11 July 2011 at 2:07 pm

      Thanks for showing us just how in-significant his speeches have been. 🙂

  11. randal 11
    11 July 2011 at 1:26 pm

    well I wouldn’t give him (brash) too many many more winds on the key. he looks like he is a bout to break a spring and go fagurko.

  12. Jim Nald 12
    11 July 2011 at 1:45 pm

    Ok, how about this for a thought: National prefers to go for a clear majority in the house and will rule as a single party government for the next term?

    • grumpy 12.1
      11 July 2011 at 2:05 pm

      Good thought, abolish Maori seats and bring back FPP, that should keep them in for a while………..

      • Jim Nald 12.1.1
        11 July 2011 at 2:26 pm

        ~ Newsroom newsflash ~

        “National will win 68 seats in the general election, ten more than in 2008, respondents to the latest 3News poll have predicted”

        Woohoo, National, an outright majority. No need for coalition partners. Go for it solo! Nice way to start this campaign before RWC.

  13. Pascal's bookie 13
    11 July 2011 at 1:49 pm

    When even Coddington is calling you an old racist,

    http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1107/S00106/radio-new-zealand-audio-brash-an-old-racist-coddington.htm

    the gig is up. Bow out gracefully or go down in flames really.

    heh. Begging to debate Pita about his tawdry little ad.

    Pa The Tic.

  14. Frank Macskasy 14
    11 July 2011 at 2:11 pm

    Hitler called.

    Left a message for Don Brash.

    He’d like his policies back, thankyou.

    • Steve Wrathall 14.1
      11 July 2011 at 7:31 pm

      Why would Brash take policies from a socialist?

      • Georgecom 14.1.1
        11 July 2011 at 9:50 pm

        He wouldn’t be Steve. The joke says he is taking policies from Hitler, a dascist, a right winger. On the same side of the political spectrum as Don and ACT.

        • Colonial Viper 14.1.1.1
          11 July 2011 at 9:59 pm

          lol why does Steve think that German dictator was a socialist???

          Hey Steve, did you know that Darth Vader is the biggest socialist of them all??? lolz

  15. queenstfarmer 15
    11 July 2011 at 2:33 pm

    Act’s ad was appalling, but why should National rule out working with Act any more than Labour ruled out (or didn’t rule out) working with New Zealand First?

    • McFlock 15.1
      11 July 2011 at 4:57 pm

      Well, there’s every reason to believe that Winston didn’t actually mean it. After all, the only thing one can guarantee about Winston’s political principles is that his primary principle is to get elected.

      The reverse is the case in Act – it’s becoming more and more obvious that the rhetoric about personal responsibility was a thin veneer covering its innate racism.

      • queenstfarmer 15.1.1
        11 July 2011 at 9:20 pm

        “there’s every reason to believe that Winston didn’t actually mean it.”
        Wow, that is one of the best I’ve heard 😀

        • Colonial Viper 15.1.1.1
          11 July 2011 at 9:33 pm

          National won’t rule out working with ACT because the party is staffed by National people that it put there (or at least supported in their roles).

          • Jim Nald 15.1.1.1.1
            11 July 2011 at 10:11 pm

            But really! ACT is a rump of Nat. Does Key think people are that stupid?

          • queenstfarmer 15.1.1.1.2
            11 July 2011 at 11:31 pm

            What difference does that make? National is also working with Maori and United Future. In fact I don’t think they’ve ruled out working for anyone. Likewise, Labour worked with NZ First and hasn’t ruled them out this time around either.

            My question remains – why should National rule out working with a party because it has some highly questionable politicking (in fact attacking National), any more than Labour refused to rule out working with Winston Peters for the same thing?

            The only answer so far is (verbatim) “well, there’s every reason to believe that Winston didn’t actually mean it.”

            • Colonial Viper 15.1.1.1.2.1
              12 July 2011 at 12:06 am

              why should National rule out working with a party because it has some highly questionable politicking (in fact attacking National)

              So a platform based on blatant racism and an attempt to stir up pakeha heckles in certain narrow minded quarters is now just “politicking”?

              And National doesn’t need to rule it out because anything goes? Dead baby’s passports and all? Look, at least Goff has made it clear that Harawira is too unreliable, too outspoken and too volatile to work with.

              Key has no similar standards when it comes to ACT apparently, and it seems that neither do you.

              • queenstfarmer …
                12 July 2011 at 9:07 am

                So a platform based on blatant racism and an attempt to stir up pakeha heckles in certain narrow minded quarters is now just “politicking”?

                That description could be referring to either Act or NZ First. But in either case, I’ll stick with my actual description of “highly questionable politicking”.

                Look, at least Goff has made it clear that Harawira is too unreliable

                So you still can’t answer my question about NZ First.

                • Colonial Viper …
                  12 July 2011 at 9:13 am

                  I’m amused you keep referring to NZ First’s history, whereas here we are talking about ACTs current platform for the current election 🙂

                  Goff at least has standards to rule out an unreliable, outspoken, element; Key consorts with an actively racist party and has no such standards 🙂

                  • queenstfarmer …
                    12 July 2011 at 10:07 am

                    Of course we’re talking about the current election. I’m amused why you keep dodging the question “why should National rule out working with Act any more than Labour ruled out (or didn’t rule out) working with New Zealand First?”

                    As you will see, that question is all about the present day and coming election, not NZ First’s history, as you claim.

  16. Jim Nald 16
    11 July 2011 at 2:43 pm

    Panic Pants to the rescue please.
    How about … photo-op of the day, inspired by Murdoch’s support for Brooks …

    … John Key pictured leaving office with his arm around Brash whom he described as his number one priority.

    Thanks to:
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/europe/5267190/Sacked-staff-get-last-laugh-with-crossword

    http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201129/SCCZEN_AP111107070753_220x147.JPG

  17. vanakast 17
    11 July 2011 at 2:48 pm

    When will Labour and National realise that pandering to any particular race is RACISM. Since when has equal opportunity for EVERY new zealand irrespective of their race or background been racist? You are all delusional.

    • lprent 17.1
      11 July 2011 at 4:54 pm

      You are a useful idiot mouthing a phrase without any apparent understanding of what you’re talking about. If there is a correlation and causation that shows a racial bias reducing equality of opportunity, then you’d prefer to ignore it?

      For instance. Go and look at ANY study in NZ on the legal system in NZ . You’ll find a racially based concentration through the legal system from arrest to prison. Then consider how you can get equality of opportunity when there is a system that takes selectively removes parents from their kids.

      Now tell me how you are going to correct for that inequality of opportunity? It is a symptom, but it also effectively reduces equality of opportunities for the kids whose parents are in prison.

      I can think of two ways – randomly throw more parents into prison to balance up the ethnic selectivity, or try to lift the group being discriminated against.

      Personally I prefer the first technique – lets discriminate against idiots like yourself who prefer mouthing a phrase to actually understanding the issues. Lets throw you into prison – this will increase the equality of opportunity for your kids by reducing their opportunities.

      • Steve Wrathall 17.1.1
        11 July 2011 at 7:37 pm

        “Go and look at ANY study in NZ…”
        And you’ll find special scholarships for Maoris. When the Maori privilege industry really cranked up in the 70s and 80s, it was implied that we could do away with special treatment, once all historical “injustices” were resolved.
        Now it is admitted that such racial privilege is supposed to last “forever”.
        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJpRwCi9Cs8
        That’s the sea change that’s happening: Non-Maori NZers are realising it will only end when they say “enough”.

        • Rich 17.1.1.1
          11 July 2011 at 8:41 pm

          Maybe you need a scholarship to be taught that Maori words are not pluralised. Illiterate retard.

          • Steve Wrathall 17.1.1.1.1
            12 July 2011 at 4:52 pm

            When you use a noun from another language in an English sentence you pluralise it with an ‘s’. Or are you suggesting that typhoon, tsunami or kindergarten be pluralised the way their source languages do. Oh. and most Maoris do pluralise Maori words with an ‘s’. Please educate yourself.

            • Colonial Viper 17.1.1.1.1.1
              12 July 2011 at 6:50 pm

              Steve defending his cultural ignorance from the point of view of the Queen’s English.

              Nice. Sorta underlines the point eh.

        • Frank Macskasy 17.1.1.2
          11 July 2011 at 10:27 pm

          Steve, those scholarships you refer to are paid by Iwi. It’s their money for their kids.

          Jeezus, Maori can’t win, can they.

          If they’re at the bottom of the heap or in prisons (courtesy of part of European culture introduced to this country), then they’re bagged by rightwingers.

          If they try to better their children, they get characters like you, having a go at them.

          If they’re unemployed, they’re bludgers.

          If they set up businesses, it’s “jobs for the bros”.

          That’s the thing with bigotted fools like you – there ain’t no pleasing them. Foul mood? Yeah, I’m in a foul mood. You rightwingers slag off everyone and anyone that doesn’t meet your narrow definitions, but you don’t do a damn thing about problems in society except whinge and moan. You don’t want to pay your taxes, but you feel fine with using taxpayer-funded schools, roads, etc. You support free market excesses – and when those businesses go ‘belly-up’, you blame the workers who are left jobless as welfare beneficiaries.

          I doubt if people like you will ever be satisfied, and that’s what that self-serving, self-righteous creep Brash is counting on. At least Winston goes for the “angry” vote. But Brash is worse – he goes for the “hate vote”.

          You must feel damned good when that hate dictates your words. But if only you know what you and your ilk sounded to the rest of us.

  18. vto 18
    11 July 2011 at 2:58 pm

    They may be racists but by that definition so is Harawira and any other proponents of “positive” discrimination on the basius of race.

    I cannot understand why so many people cannot see the inherent problem in establishing two sets of rules and arrangements for different peoples in one land. Those rules and arrangements are set on the basis of race. That is racism.

    And of course it all stems from that out-of-date document the Treaty of Waitangi. It is unsuitable for today’s times.

    And somehow in all of the above comment of mine no doubt I will be deemed the racist one. And how does that work when the call is for the disestablishment of selection on the basis of race?

    Either get rid of the rules set on the basis of race, or give it up and acknolwedge that people are permitted to select on the basis of race. For fucks sake everyone keeps avoiding the nub of the issue and instead gets into abuse and labelling of redneck and racist and blah de blah. Where is the honesty?

    • pollywog 18.1
      11 July 2011 at 4:11 pm

      FFS vto

      By the 1970s, it had become clear that (1) most human differences were cultural; (2) what was not cultural was principally polymorphic – that is to say, found in diverse groups of people at different frequencies; (3) what was not cultural or polymorphic was principally clinal – that is to say, gradually variable over geography; and (4) what was left – the component of human diversity that was not cultural, polymorphic, or clinal – was very small.

      A consensus consequently developed among anthropologists and geneticists that race as the previous generation had known it – as largely discrete, geographically distinct, gene pools – did not exist.

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_%28classification_of_humans%29

      It’s not about race. It never has been, it’s about culture and the elitist attitude of one culture to deny another a fair go at self determination by deliberately undermining and under resourcing them.

      http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/5252660/I-m-not-racist-but

      Those rules and arrangements are set on the basis of race. That is racism.

      Yes the rules and arrangements set up from day one were always designed to favour the euro ‘race’/culture. And because of it we still have institutionlised racism/cultural elitism, though way more subtle in form than the overt in your face style of our parents generation.

      How else does one explain the unemployment rates for Pasifikan, inclusive of Maori, NZ youth being so far above European NZer rates ? Are our kids really dumber and lazier or does shit like this come into play ?

      http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/5238839/Maori-pupils-needs-not-met-by-system

      like i said if people are going to bandy about the ‘race’ card then lets have a debate about race as a false social construct designed to marginalise non whites or at least determine which ‘race’ is superior that they can dictate the terms and rule of law by which we should all live by.

      • vto 18.1.1
        12 July 2011 at 11:43 am

        Ok no worries polly. Please replace the word “race” with the word “culture”.

        Thing is, nothing changes. The enmities and unsustainable structures remain.

        Look, my point above has zip to do with who got stuck in the eye and who got to set the rules. It is a bigger picture point. Sure, redress the wrongs, no problem. And different races, oops I mean cultures, can quite freely go about their own traditions and ceremonies and etc. But bottom line again… you cannot have two separate sets of rules for two different groups of people in one land. It just fails.

        The treaty needs re-writing (which doesn’t mean anyone has to lose or dip out btw).

        • Colonial Viper 18.1.1.1
          12 July 2011 at 12:04 pm

          you cannot have two separate sets of rules for two different groups of people in one land. It just fails.

          How about different rules favouring the rich over the poor?

          Asset owners versus income earners?

          Disabled vs not disabled?

          Qualified and unqualified?

          More at risk from obesity and less at risk from obesity?

          Drivers who are 16 and drivers who are 46?

          What I am trying to point out is that sometimes different rules are necessary because society needs to deal with different realities to achieve desired results.

          • vto 18.1.1.1.1
            12 July 2011 at 12:08 pm

            Fair enough and probably quite appropriate at times. But those are temporary measures to amend those “realities” and once complete should be ended. As should things in NZ at some point in the very near future imo.

          • Frank Macskasy 18.1.1.1.2
            12 July 2011 at 12:12 pm

            Oh, well said, Viper!!!

  19. the pink postman 19
    11 July 2011 at 3:04 pm

    Its rather sad just how much racism is around.
    Last week I had a client for some JP work.. and he mentioned that there are some young people from Israel selling face cream inn Centre Place in Hamilton . I thought he was going to comment on the product. Imagine my surprise when he said ”As soon as I saw them I

    • vto 19.1
      11 July 2011 at 3:09 pm

      Yes mr postman agreed.

      Maybe we should all just give up on clearing out racism and acknowledge those most base of human instincts to firstly, make quick judgments on people on the basis of appearance and secondly, to stick to their own types whether religious, sports clubs, gender or race. They are two instincts that are impossible to bend it would seem.

      Let’s just give up and accept it. (and then load the stores and pack the ammo dumps)

  20. deservingpoor 20
    11 July 2011 at 7:49 pm

    Last time I checked, Maori were over represented in every negative social statistic there is. If that is ACT’s idea of privilege, they’re welcome to it.
    Nation states are a relatively new phenomenon. Two or more distinct cultures with their own laws and customs occupying the same geographical space is actually the historical norm.
    And anyway, exactly which law is it that Maori aren’t subject to?

  21. logie97 21
    11 July 2011 at 8:00 pm

    “…What happens with him and the Act Party, frankly I don’t give a toss about, but at the end of the day I don’t think any of us would be surprised that he’s making those comments.”

    He said the comments would not sour National’s relationship with ACT…”

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10737738

    Anyone notice the same lack of tact and nouse that our PM has displayed before… the infamous interview with Paul Henry regarding the Governor General.

    Key has no class unfortunately and it is becoming even more apparent every day.

  22. gobsmacked 22
    11 July 2011 at 9:22 pm

    It had to happen sooner or later … and today was the day:

    Hide attacks Brash –

    http://tvnz.co.nz/politics-news/brash-we-re-fed-up-pandering-maori-radicals-4295476

    So, just to recap …

    Minister in government attacks leader of his own party, who isn’t in government or Parliament, but hopes to be after the election, provided the party that he used to lead allows a candidate who used to be in that party to defeat the candidate of that party so that the aforementioned party can form a government with the support of the party that the former leader now leads, and who is now busy slagging off the current leader of the aforementioned party, in order to get enough votes to keep that party in power.

    I hope that clarifies matters.

  23. Scott 23
    12 July 2011 at 12:33 am

    I had a fairly extended debate with John Ansell about this time last year, and what concerned me about his ideology was the way it seemed to fuse, in an efficient and (to the right audience) superficially credible manner, elements of nineteenth century scientific racism and twentieth century assimilationism:
    http://readingthemaps.blogspot.com/2010/08/power-of-bad-ideas.html
    A new paradigm for Maori-bashers? I hope not.

    One of the depressing features of Ansell’s recent outbursts has been his endorsement of the nutbar conspiracy theories which hold that a white civilisation existed thousands of years ago in New Zealand (http://books.scoop.co.nz/2008/11/18/no-to-nazi-pseudo-history-an-open-letter/) and that the ‘true’ TOW has been suppressed (http://www.tewahanui.info/pdfs/5/twn05pg07.pdf). If these ideas are now mainstream in Act then the party might be changing qualitatively…

    • rosy 23.1
      12 July 2011 at 6:40 am

      Thanks for this Scott, I knew nothing about the pseudo history and had brushed off the the ‘other’ TOW as a draft at best. To think that people in powerful positions use these nutty conspiracies is appalling and certainly sheds new light on where Ansell’s motivation. Just mind-bogglingly stupid.

  24. Frank Macskasy 24
    13 July 2011 at 10:43 am

    A recent media report on Don Brash seeking Maori candidates for ACT…

    ACT leader Don Brash has tried and failed to woo Maori candidates to the party’s list.

    Former Federated Farmers head Don Nicolson confirmed yesterday he would stand against Deputy Prime Minister Bill English in Clutha-Southland. Dr Brash expected ACT’s board would give him a high place on the party’s list.

    The list will be finalised at the end of the month.

    Dr Brash expected to announce other “strong candidates” in the coming weeks but admitted attempts to woo non-European contenders, including “two or three Maori”, were unsuccessful.

    “A couple of them weren’t suitable. One of them would have been suitable but wasn’t willing to stand at this point. He was quite a young person. He thought about it for quite a while but on balance decided not to.”

    He declined to say who they were.

    ACT ran a newspaper advertisement over the weekend that asked: “Fed up with pandering to Maori radicals?”

    Asked if he was being deliberately provocative, he said: “We are trying to draw attention to that particular policy, absolutely.”

    Dr Brash admitted he was “disappointed” with how ACT was polling….

    Source & More: http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/5275700/Brash-tries-to-attract-Maori-candidates

    Now isn’t that interesting: Don Brash announcing that ACT is seeking Maori candidates.

    Now aside from the patently ridiculous aspect of this – kinda like vegans looking for chefs who can cook steaks – why is ACT seeking Maori candidates?

    Isn’t that a race-based selection?

    I thought ACT ideology was supposedly “blind” to race and preferred “merit” instead?

    *sniff, sniff* Methinks I detect a hint of… hypocrisy? Double standards? Contradiction?

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Stories of varying weight

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent talking about the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s release of its first Emissions Reduction Plan;University of Otago Foreign Relations Professor and special guest Dr Karin von ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #29 2024

    Open access notables Improving global temperature datasets to better account for non-uniform warming, Calvert, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society: To better account for spatial non-uniform trends in warming, a new GITD [global instrumental temperature dataset] was created that used maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) to combine the land surface ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

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

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

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

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 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
    22 hours ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-07-27T00:22:14+00:00