Where’s Key?
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11:39 am, November 30th, 2009 - 17 comments
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Brash’s taskforce releases its report today. Where’s Key? CHOGM ended yesterday but he’s not back until Wednesday.
Catching Aussie by 2025 is meant to be his big vision. He can’t get them to wait a couple of days or get back quicker?
We know this serious stuff isn’t really Key’s thing. But the fact that he’s not going to be here for release of this cornerstone report says something more. It’s just political theatre. About dragging the discourse rightwards.
Being overseas keeps him from being directly associated with the crazy things Brash will say.
Strawman Brash scares the public. Key comes back. Plays Mr Moderate. Public placated, relieved. Room to move to the right opened up.
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After wasting a year, Nicola Willis has delivered a worse deal for the Cook Strait ferries that will end up being more expensive and take longer to arrive. ...2 weeks ago
- Bill to sanction unlawful occupation of Palestine
Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick has today launched a Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as the All Out For Gaza rally reaches Parliament. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour fully supports greyhound racing ban
The Government has done the right thing in moving to ban greyhound racing. ...2 weeks ago
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- Rangatahi voices must be centred in Government’s Relationship and Sexuality Education refresh
In response to a new report from ERO, the Government has acknowledged the urgent need for consistency across the curriculum for Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) in schools. ...2 weeks ago
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The Green Party is appalled at the Government introducing legislation that will make it easier to penalise workers fighting for better pay and conditions. ...2 weeks ago
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Auckland Central MP, Chlöe Swarbrick, has written to Mayor Wayne Brown requesting he stop the unnecessary delays on St James Theatre’s restoration. ...2 weeks ago
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Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has appointed Sarah Ottrey to the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). “At my first APEC Summit in Lima, I experienced firsthand the role that ABAC plays in guaranteeing political leaders hear the voice of business,” Mr Luxon says. “New Zealand’s ABAC representatives are very well respected and ...2 days ago
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Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced four appointments to New Zealand’s intelligence oversight functions. The Honourable Robert Dobson KC has been appointed Chief Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants, and the Honourable Brendan Brown KC has been appointed as a Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants. The appointments of Hon Robert Dobson and Hon ...2 days ago
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- Ending contracted emergency housing in Rotorua
The Government today announced the intended closure of the Apollo Hotel as Contracted Emergency Housing (CEH) in Rotorua, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. This follows a 30 per cent reduction in the number of households in CEH in Rotorua since National came into Government. “Our focus is on ending CEH in the Whakarewarewa area starting ...3 days ago
- Vocational education and training decisions support return to regions
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The Government is taking action to better manage synthetic refrigerants and reduce emissions caused by greenhouse gases found in heating and cooling products, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds says. “Regulations will be drafted to support a product stewardship scheme for synthetic refrigerants, Ms. Simmonds says. “Synthetic refrigerants are found in a ...3 days ago
- Ngāruawāhia section of Waikato Expressway back to 4 lanes for Christmas
People travelling on State Highway 1 north of Hamilton will be relieved that remedial works and safety improvements on the Ngāruawāhia section of the Waikato Expressway were finished today, with all lanes now open to traffic, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“I would like to acknowledge the patience of road users ...3 days ago
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Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, Penny Simmonds, has announced a new appointment to the board of Education New Zealand (ENZ). Dr Erik Lithander has been appointed as a new member of the ENZ board for a three-year term until 30 January 2028. “I would like to welcome Dr Erik Lithander to the ...3 days ago
- Government to celebrate Waitangi Day around NZ
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- More gangs added to Gangs Act list
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Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds and Associate Minister of Education David Seymour today announced legislation changes to strengthen freedom of speech obligations on universities. “Freedom of speech is fundamental to the concept of academic freedom and there is concern that universities seem to be taking a more risk-averse ...4 days ago
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- Minister reopens Mangamuka Gorge
State Highway 1 through the Mangamuka Gorge has officially reopened today, providing a critical link for Northlanders and offering much-needed relief ahead of the busy summer period, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“The Mangamuka Gorge is a vital route for Northland, carrying around 1,300 vehicles per day and connecting the Far ...4 days ago
- Funding confirmed for second Ashburton Bridge
The Government has welcomed decisions by the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) and Ashburton District Council confirming funding to boost resilience in the Canterbury region, with construction on a second Ashburton Bridge expected to begin in 2026, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Delivering a second Ashburton Bridge to improve resilience and ...4 days ago
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The Government is backing the response into high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Otago, Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says. “Cabinet has approved new funding of $20 million to enable MPI to meet unbudgeted ongoing expenses associated with the H7N6 response including rigorous scientific testing of samples at the enhanced PC3 ...4 days ago
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A total of 41 appointments and reappointments have been made to the 12 community trusts around New Zealand that serve their regions, Associate Finance Minister Shane Jones says. “These trusts, and the communities they serve from the Far North to the deep south, will benefit from the rich experience, knowledge, ...4 days ago
- Torture redress for survivors of the Lake Alice Unit
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- Greater reporting on Treaty settlement commitments
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- New Zealand to assist Vanuatu on earthquake response
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I understand the direct flight between Trinidad and Wellington was full.
Why does the Brash Report have to come out today, Tim?
It doesn’t. But it just so happens Key won’t be here. Fancy that.
Is Ellis joking?
Nice post Z. Key is a fairweather PM – here for the parties and not for the clean up afterwards…
No conspiracy at all, Jelly Key is having a pina colada at the pool bar. All that jetting about and networking, poor bloke needs a break.
Or he is in hiding trying to shake off Audrey Young!
somebody must have put some superglue in the lock he got stuck in.
All these conspiracy theories are a nice idea, except:
1. When Mr Hide announced the taskforce he said their first report would be in November (and this is the last day of November)
2. Former Labour Finance Minister David Caygill is on the taskforce.
I think they could wait a day or two for the PM.
Former labour finance minister Roger Douglas is in ACT. Whoopididty shit.
PB, you may not have noticed that the last Labour Government appointed Mr Caygill to do a ministerial inquiry into electricity, then to chair the electricity commission, EECA, and deputy chair of the commerce commission.
So? You may not have noticed that the last Labour govt was hardly a hot bed of radical leftism.
How much did the Brash Taskforce cost? Adding more expense to the bureaucracy? OIA anyone?
What’s the point of setting it up, ruling out before it reports and then putting on an Act of playing coy and hesitant? There should be a cap on these set-ups.
Taxpayers should be asking for their money back.
I’d love my tax dollars back from the train set purchase too, but neither is going to happen.
SIx weeks on Hawaii, two weeks in China, a week in the US, a week in the Caribbean and lets not forget the long weekend at Huka Lodge – not a bad perks for a full time job. What does he do, again?
He is the most popular prime minister in the most popular government in living memory. Not bad for a part timer. How’s the other guy doing?
He’s not even a part timer, Timmy, he’s a temp.
Rumour has it Key is in Mexico undergoing an advanced treatment to grow balls. He needs it.
John Key’s probably leaving the floor to Phil Goff. Right now Goff’s doing more for National than anyone else.