Who is trying to shut down Hager defence fund?

Written By: - Date published: 8:02 am, October 10th, 2014 - 191 comments
Categories: journalism, law - Tags: ,

The Hager defence fund stands at over $41,000 $43,000 $44,000 and still climbing. But some mean-spirited wingnuts are trying to have it shut down, causing the host Spark / Givealittle organisation to post the following statement:

Statement from Spark Foundation – Legal fund for Nicky Hager

…While we acknowledge strong public opinion and debate on issues related to Nicky Hager and recent events reported in the media, it is important to note that it is not illegal for an individual to establish a fund for Nicky Hager and seek donations from the public. …

We encourage all interested parties who have reported this page to the Givealittle helpdesk to participate in the public debate around this fundraising and express views through various online news and social media.

Given what Hager has been, and will be put through, it takes a very special kind of wingnut hatred to try and shut down this community-based fundraising effort. I think I’ll donate again, just to piss them off.

191 comments on “Who is trying to shut down Hager defence fund? ”

  1. Tracey 1

    me too.

    It suggests they know only too well what money can buy you in the justice/political system.

    • Draco T Bastard 1.1

      They’ve known that for a long time – just look at all their cries about unions from union members each week. They know that a lot of people giving a little each can swing far more money than they can and that’s why the Left needs to go back to having mass parties with each member giving a little each week but also having a direct say in policy formulation and party direction.

  2. boldsirbrian 2

    Those opposing the fundraising are probably just as concerned with the large number of donors, prepared to make a substantial donation (about $40 on average) to Nicky. It’s a major acknowledgement of the deep rooted support for Hager.

    Mr. Botany (B.)

    • One Anonymous Bloke 2.1

      So many people to track down and vilify, the problem’s out of control. Really, the donors are all like gang members participating in organised crime. The Police must find out their identities for us.

    • Jenk 2.2

      boldsirbrian – this is way off subject, but why do you have Mr.Botany(B) at the end of your posts ?

      • Ben Clark 2.2.1

        You don’t know the AA Milne poem? it’s a classic!

        • Not a PS Shark Sashimi 2.2.1.1

          Thanks for that BC. A lovely start to the day.

        • greywarshark 2.2.1.2

          @ Ben Clark 9.11
          I think AA Milne has a great way with words and rhythm.

          Sir Brian had a pair of boots with great big spurs on;.
          A fighting pair of which he was particularly fond….

          Sir Brian woke one morning and he couldn’t find his battleaxe.
          He walked into the village in his second pair of boots.
          He had gone a hundred paces
          When the street was full of faces
          And the villagers were round him with ironical salutes.

      • boldsirbrian 2.2.2

        I was “Brian”. But after a week or two, I realised I wasn’t the only ‘Brian”. I changed my name to ‘boldsirbrian’. But I decided it needed a little balance

        Refer A.A.Milne “When we were very young”
        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKoL-fVMm5A
        Reading the book is even better. The illustrations are delightful.

        If it’s generally annoying, I’ll drop it. A little bit of A.A.Milne is however a good antidote to the world? (Along with Leunig)

        Mr. Botany (B.)

  3. One Anonymous Bloke 3

    The wingnut hatred won’t stop at frothing and whining. There will be hate attacks against “Meg” – if they can discover her identity, and an attempt to criminalise public fundraising for legal costs wouldn’t surprise me, given ubiquitous wingnut ignorance of the law.

    • Tracey 3.1

      I think her full identity is well known. I wonder if Slater has contacted his ex prostitute friend to dig up dirt on Meg?

    • lprent 3.2

      Meg is old friend of mine, as are her kids.

      I think that if she starts having attacks against her from arseholes with a “very special kind of wingnut hatred”, then I may have to release my habitual restraint and really start focusing on the perpetrators.

      • RedLogix 3.2.1

        An “lprent Attack Fund” would get my interest as well.

      • Tom Jackson 3.2.2

        Unleash the beast, lprent! 😉

      • higherstandard 3.2.3

        Swing that dick, you’ll get everyone hot under the collar.

        • RedLogix 3.2.3.1

          Lynn has run this blog since 2008 largely on his own resources and energy. Not many people have that level of personal heft.

          I’ve met him once (a few years ago) but it was enough to know that his real-life persona and character is consistent with how he has presented himself here for many years.

          And if Lynn is riled enough to react to wing-nut bullying – then I’ll be there too. It’s called loyalty.

        • Rodel 3.2.3.2

          HS= You are sooo clever. How do you think up such brilliant contributions to debates? We are overcome with anticipation for your next scholarly pronouncement. Genetically related to Cameron are you? ( sarc)

          But wait1 I’m repeating myself about some other troll.

  4. Jenny Kirk 4

    There’s a lot of hatred around – against Nicky Hager, the left, the greens – its all very sickening. We have become an extremely nasty society. No tolerance at all. A legacy from the days of Rogernomics which have continued through three decades and appear never-ending.

    • Anne 4.1

      The example is set at the very top…

      Hagers house raid

    • boldsirbrian 4.2

      .
      @ Jenny Kirk (4)

      The givealittle page for Nicky, helps to counter the Nasty society you refer to.
      The only way to counter the Nasty Society (and I agree with your sentiment), is to confront it, one person at a time, one day at a time.

      Mr. Botany (B.)

      • Jenny Kirk 4.2.1

        Yes – it helps, and I feel privileged to be able to donate a little to Nicky’s fund – thanks to Meg. Really good idea, and so easy to do.

      • Lindsey 4.2.2

        I read some of the comments on the Hager fund on NBR – that special kind of RWNJ hatred is alive and well there. I went home determined to donate.

    • wekarawshark 4.3

      “There’s a lot of hatred around – against Nicky Hager, the left, the greens – its all very sickening. We have become an extremely nasty society. No tolerance at all. A legacy from the days of Rogernomics which have continued through three decades and appear never-ending.”

      I think this is true, but I think we need to be careful to not think there are more people like this than there are. The internet makes the numbers look bigger, as does talkback radio. Within the political sphere, we have a higher number of people that are expected to be hard arses, so there are more nasty people there, plus the Key govt has taken it to a whole new level. Ditto the MSM, but I’m not sure we can say this across the population. There are still many kind, thoughtful and fairminded people out there. We need to find ways to encourage and support those values (and unfortunately I don’t think ts is a place that does that).

      • Tracey 4.3.1

        Especialy once you realise how many posters and talkback callers are part of a strategy which includes multiple handles to one person, the numbers are smaller but their sphere of influence in the media makes them seem louder

    • music4menz 4.4

      Hi Jenny- Don’t you think that your overarching comment that ‘we have become an extremely nasty society’ is just a bit over the top? There may well be people whose behaviour and attitudes we don’t like, but to condemn New Zealand society as a whole in this way really doesn’t add much to intelligent debate. I see and hear about tremendously generous and kind folk all the time who go about making our society a better place. I might not agree with their politics- frequently I know nothing about their politics- but their actions are good and beneficial and show an enormous amount of empathy and concern for their fellow New Zealanders.

      I’m happy to start giving examples, if you’d like, but I think all readers of The Standard could name innumerable examples for themselves that disprove your generalisation.

    • music4menz 4.5

      Hi Jenny- Don’t you think that your overarching comment that ‘we have become an extremely nasty society’ is just a bit over the top? There may well be people whose behaviour and attitudes we don’t like, but to condemn New Zealand society as a whole in this way seems a bit excessive. I see and hear about tremendously generous and kind folk all the time who go about making our society a better place. I might not agree with their politics- frequently I know nothing about their politics- but their actions are good and beneficial and show an enormous amount of empathy and concern for their fellow New Zealanders.

      I’m happy to start giving examples, if you’d like, but I think all readers of The Standard could name innumerable examples for themselves that disprove your generalisation.

      • greywarshark 4.5.1

        music4menz
        I think Jennys comment We have become an extremely nasty society. No tolerance at all. is a very fair one.

        It’s not over the top to say that about a mean, clutching society putting personal comfort and self-satisfaction before all else and finding excuses to abuse and destroy others who are worse-off in the process. This behaviour is so over the top, that the mean society is running out of bounds down the sides of the golden tower and drowning us underneath. And that hyperbole isn’t at all over the top, it is happening, it is observable to those who dare to see the facts.

        I’m not interested or heartened in hearing about being dependent on charity when it is decided that we deserve it. There are some people helping out, good on them. They are little candles in the dark. But we get very strong winds in NZ – candles aren’t enough to stop the dark depression descending.

        • RedLogix 4.5.1.1

          Sadly I agree very much with this gw.

          Recall how popular Muldoon was – and that how in the years after almost no bugger could be found who voted for him.

          • greywarshark 4.5.1.1.1

            @ Redlogix 12.09pm
            Yes I really disliked Muldoon. Did this phrase make you think of him? ( ‘finding excuses to abuse and destroy others who are worse-off in the process’).

            • Tracey 4.5.1.1.1.1

              The strategy of this lot make Muldoon seem like an amateur. He scowl as he rogered the nation, these gutssmile

          • kathy 4.5.1.1.2

            You got that one right, Relogix. I did a survey for the NRB, couldn’t believe the poverty stricken people who voted for Muldoon, but they were nowhere to be found after he disappeared.

          • Colonial Rawshark 4.5.1.1.3

            The “Rob’s Mob” strain in NZ society is stronger than ever.

            • greywarshark 4.5.1.1.3.1

              I think the attraction of Muldoon was to someone with guts and drive. The determination to have his say and get his way would be very attractive to those with spaghetti-spines here in NZ. And many still will jump to it whenever authoritatively spoken to without question. Just thinking about NZ political lif in general.

              So it’s a shoe-in for someone who conveys easy, relaxed authority like yek or Winston, the earnest ones like Cunliffe who think before they speak or Russel and Metiria who have the twin stresses of knowing they are holding NZ on course towards the possible gap in the reef but aren’t allowed near the wheel most of the time, well they don’t exude confidence and happiness do they.

              And that’s what we want in NZ, someone who will offer us these. We have been buying imported stuff, cheaper but of limited usage, for 25 years, ever since NZ companies collapsed. We are used to getting second best, what’s left after the good export stuff has gone, the apples that are bruised after falling off the truck. We get the low wages enabled for NZ, but then are expected to pay the high export prices for our meat and till recently, our milk.

              When you think about it why should people fall over themselves to vote for Labour and Cunliffe. Impressions matter, and we have learned that we can’t rely on Labour. to improve our lot. Even Helen and Cullen couldn’t restore us to the promised shangri-la that Labour’s Roger whatsname offered, Some pain, and then the gain. Hah! So go with the flow, change political parties and it could always get worse. That’s the watchword.

      • Murray Rawshark 4.5.2

        Jenny is right about society. It has become nasty. Society should act through state and local government institutions to create worthwhile conditions for all its members. This does not happen.

        It is precisely because society has fallen down, with its existence even being denied by the neolibs, that individuals of good heart step in with charitable works.

    • Rob 4.6

      Yes probably part of what some refer to as aspiration and others call greed.
      I feel we need a society where there can be opportunity available to all who wish to be part of that society.

      • greywarshark 4.6.1

        Rob
        I would like to amend that to all who wish to be part of society can as a basic, and then all should have opportunities to make a successful life working with others co-operatively and legally for their own good and the good of others. There that gives lots of opportunity and people can seek it out and get it and involve and include others too.

        • Tracey 4.6.1.1

          and where even the most vulnerable have the means to thrive.

          i have in mind the disabled in particular, most of whom are sentenced to a life of the most basic benefit for having been born unable to work, or become unable to work through genetics, accident or disease.

          • Susan Dax 4.6.1.1.1

            I have M.S. I have a husband who supports me, but not everyone is so lucky. I just wanted to say thank you for this comment 🙂

            • Tracey 4.6.1.1.1.1

              you are welcome. I wont consider we are a successful nation til things like this change. what good is gdp and growth and surplus if we doom the vulnerable to subsistence.

              • minarch

                you might like this then Tracey

                http://www.grossnationalhappiness.com/

                The Kingdom of Bhutan is all about the GNH not the GDP !

                • Clemgeopin

                  They have stopped smokers from smoking. I don’t think the smokers are happy. I also doubt if they don’t have poverty and beggars and not sure if they have old age pensions. How do they measure this GNH? No doubt the wealthy, the corporates, their king and those in power are happy as, as usual.
                  May be my doubts are unfounded. I don’t know.

                  • rawshark-yeshe

                    Corporates have little place in Bhutan, the last untrammelled Buddhist country on earth. GNH is a measure of contentment, not possessions.

                    In the ‘civilised’ west, we have everything, but not a single moment of contentment.

                    Bhutan is likely happy. Not without problems, but most are imported. It has been protected, mainly by charging a high daily tax of US$200 per day to tourists who are limited to a maximum stay of two weeks ( or maybe 10 days).

                    Sigh … contentedly 🙂

                    • Clemgeopin

                      Not without problems, but most are imported

                      Thanks for your reply.
                      Have you been there? What are the ‘problems’ you refer to? How well does the hereditary king and the wealthy do in comparison to the poor?

              • One Anonymous Bloke

                +1

                • greywarshark

                  @Clemgeopin
                  I think possibly they are happy because they don’t spend all their time envying others. If they have enough and if lucky, a bit extra, they enjoy that. We have got to the stage where only an excess is enough, for now.
                  And people always setting artificial standards looking down on others who aren’t dressed right etc.

                  • Clemgeopin

                    Have you been there, seen the place, lived there for a while and spoken to locals? If not, your comments are of not of real use.

                    I haven’t been to Bhutan, but I have stayed a while in Darjeeling and met quite a few Nepalies, Sikkimies and Bhutanese…..all very lovely people.

                    Darjeeling has the mountaineering institute, the first stop for Himalayan climbing, the base town that most climbers start from, including Sir Edmund Hillary.

                    I am ignorant of the actual supposed ‘happy’ situation and ‘GNH’ in Bhutan for its ‘ordinary’ humble and loyal people.

                    • greywarshark

                      @ Clemgeopin
                      I haven’t been there but have read about it. And I am drawing a bit on my own experience and a bit on comments from people who have been to visit different cultures such as Bhutan. And many are very happy compared to us. I don’t say grace before meals any more, but perhaps I will start again. Accentuate the positive.

  5. Skinny 5

    All these complaints do is fuel further donation support for Hagers. Nice work by the rightwing fanatics, your support is much appreciated!

  6. greywarshark 6

    We encourage all interested parties who have reported this page to the Givealittle helpdesk
    I don’t understand. What is ‘this’ page? Is it The Standard post or is it the project page for Nicky on Givealittle itself. If so, was there something in the comments there objected to? Or are the oppressors of our society trying to shut down communal assistance and support to those who want to expose and stop their machinations?

    • wekarawshark 6.1

      It’s the fundraiser page at GiveaLittle. Some people complained to the website owners. Nothing to do with ts.

  7. framu 7

    Aint it weird – its nothing more than the free market in action (according to current orthodoxy)

    but as usual – these bold champions of freedom dont like it

    • srylands 7.1

      Anyone who has objected to the defence fund on Givealittle is, by definition, not a bold champion of freedom. People should be free to donate their money to any lawful purpose.

      • StarSpangledBallet 7.1.1

        Agreed. People should be entitled to fritter away their money on any lawful purpose.

      • framu 7.1.2

        well – for once were in total agreement

        but i bet plenty of those who are out for hagers blood any way they can, like to identify with the libertarian ideology

      • Draco T Bastard 7.1.3

        Yes, and chances every single one of them votes National and proclaims the greatness of free-market capitalism.

        Of course, the free-market isn’t about freedom but using the financial power of the few to oppress society in such a way so that they can blame their victims.

        • Tracey 7.1.3.1

          Free to make big profit… Very rarely do they measure freedom of the people, or their prosperity or opportunity to thrive…

      • One Anonymous Bloke 7.1.4

        S Rylands – well said – I have some harsh words for you at times. That said, at least you hold to your faith.

  8. Chris 8

    The way it’s written is quite bizarre. It’s like saying “Political parties on the left have a right to say that we need to eradicate poverty in New Zealand. We live in a democracy. But let’s have a public debate about what we think of the people who support parties on the left.”

  9. Bugger it. Just donated for the second time too! 😆

  10. ianmac 10

    I believe the Nicky Fund is over $40,000 now. Good on us.

  11. Clemgeopin 11

    I too have donated an amount of money and may do so again. I have a couple of questions though (1) How do we know who set up the page? (2) How do we know for sure that the money will actually go into the account of Hager? Is this all just based on trust?

    • lprent 11.1

      Yes. Meg comes from a long line of women activists of the left. While she is off mostly being a mother at present with two kids under 5, she is still around throughout the social media.

      Don’t worry about that. I checked it as soon as I heard about the page. I was very happy that Meg set it up.

      By the usual trusted circuitous routes (no phone and no computers), apparently Nicky is very happy (ecstatic was the word used) for her to have done it as well.

      • Clemgeopin 11.1.1

        Thanks and glad to hear that. I am now off to add another small donation without any misgivings. Cheers!

        • Colonial Rawshark 11.1.1.1

          Yes I think I might put another small donation through as well. Long live investigative journalism in NZ!!!

    • boldsirbrian 11.2

      .
      @ Clemgeopin (11)

      The answers to your query are on the givealittle pages. The money goes straight into Nicky Hager’s bank account. If you, or anyone has concerns, you could email Nicky. (I do not have his email, however)

      Mr. Botany (B.)

      • Clemgeopin 11.2.1

        Thanks boldsirbrian. Good to know. Cheers!

      • wekarawshark 11.2.2

        Plus, GiveaLittle have protocols for checking the validity of fundraisers and the people organising. Have a look around the site, there is a quite a bit there.

        • Clemgeopin 11.2.2.1

          Yes, thanks.

          I just made my second donation and made this comment:

          ‘Hats off to REAL public service done by whistle blowers like you that expose the dirt in the higher echelons of power. We owe a gratitude to you and to other courageous modern heroes such as Edward Snowden, Julian Assagne and Glenn Greenwald. Best wishes mate. CGP on 10 Oct 2014 at 12:06’

          Just above that, there is another comment which I liked. Here it is.

          ‘ Nicky Hager, when the New Year Honours are announced, your name should be at the top of the list! It won’t be, of course – for various reasons – but the service you have done this country in your exposé of the rot and sleaze which has been, and is currently, challenging the very fibre of our democracy, is worth more than any of the baubles which Key and his chums on the Honours Committee will hand to their mates! It is a privilege and a pleasure to help in a small way. Take heart in knowing that you do have a lot of support and admiration for the manner in which you stand by your principles. It is heartening for many of us to know that there is at least one commentator who can be relied upon to provide us with the truth. Such a pity that there are not more of you! Guest Giver on 10 Oct 2014 at 12:07’

          So true, isn’t it!

      • Clemgeopin 11.2.3

        you could email Nicky

        Not really, because he can’t read them at present…His computer is some where in the back corner of some police station somewhere!

      • Melanie Scott 11.2.4

        I may be paranoid but I find that worrying. A lawyer’s trust account would be safer. The Nat govt’s toadies may try to freeze the account or pressure their overseas owned bank glove puppets to make the money ‘disappear’.

        • Colonial Rawshark 11.2.4.1

          What they did to people trying to donate to Wikileaks – they pressured payment systems like Visa, Mastercard and Paypal to stop processing donations.

          Worth remembering that the power elite can shut down any parts of the financial and communications infrastructure (that they own), whenever they wish to, for whatever reason they deem appropriate.

        • AsleepWhileWalking 11.2.4.2

          Excellent point and something to consider. I was worried about NH being taxed on the donated “income” so thought some kind of trust would be better from this perspective.

          • One Anonymous Bloke 11.2.4.2.1

            Personal gifts are explicitly exempt from taxation, or indeed, scrutiny, cf: Cabinet Club.

  12. Delia 12

    Bunch of whiners, who never stop.

    [lprent: Yes I agree. Those trying to close down the Hager donation page certainly are whining quite a lot, and they never seem to stop. ]

    • framu 12.1

      who you talking to/about there delia?

    • minarch 12.2

      ironic you are whining about people whining there Delia

      think it through next time…

    • One Anonymous Bloke 12.3

      A bunch of whiners who never stop is trying to shut down Hager’s defence fund. I donate out of my immense respect for Mr. Hager, and my desire to see the rule of law prevail against the National Party and its enablers, and for the schadenfreude of hearing their lamentations.

      How about you?

  13. BM 13

    Hager has almost made as much out of this as he did out of his book,actually probably more since he won’t have to pay tax on these donations.

    If I was Hager, I’d just go buy another computer and keep the change.

    Thank you Mr Plod.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 13.1

      Citation needed for Hager’s earning from Dirty Politics, or are you asserting opinion as fact?

      • BM 13.1.1

        I saw some back of the envelope number crunching on NBR, I’d have to find the link.

        Edit: Here you go

        http://www.nbr.co.nz/opinion/hager-legal-fund-flyer

        • One Anonymous Bloke 13.1.1.1

          Thanks. It’s good to see the profits of free enterprise going to such a worthy recipient for once.

        • Tracey 13.1.1.2

          If you think 56k would fund a case against the police and pay bills and mortgage or rent, you live on a different planet to the grownups here

          • One Anonymous Bloke 13.1.1.2.1

            Hager’s mortgage free. He says it’s one of the things that provides him with the security to do what he does, which in turn suggests to me that what he does isn’t a huge money-spinner.

        • lprent 13.1.1.3

          BM From your link…

          Hager’s share will ultimately be around $56,000 (bar a small advance, royalties aren’t usually paid until several months later).

          I highlighted several major points for you to consider. So at best Hager is just starting to receive money from the book. The reality is that most of the time it can take up to 5 or 6 months before royalty money arrives. However he is having to incur court filing charges now.

          • One Anonymous Bloke 13.1.1.3.1

            He must have some income from previous work – ICIJ encourages people to donate and so on.

            It’s the principle that matters as far as I’m concerned: I don’t see why he should have to pay a cent of his own money to defend New Zealand against these mongrels.

    • wekarawshark 13.2

      “If I was Hager, I’d just go buy another computer and keep the change.”

      Well of course, because you completely fail to appreciate the various issues involved, esp ones based on principles. Or you don’t care. Or both.

      • framu 13.2.1

        hes also missed that the biggest loss is the work – not the tool

        • One Anonymous Bloke 13.2.1.1

          Cloud storage – and in this case I expect his lawyer has copies of everything – or else what does “prepared” mean?

          • framu 13.2.1.1.1

            well – i take it to mean prepared in regards to dirty politics and an expectation of the police coming around to look for rawshark

            however – other work, including all the background documents and data could well be a different story.

            I dont know for sure of course – but i could imagine that NH is the kind of person who would have stacks of documents related to all manner of stories – all required to do his work.

            So – if all of those are digital, and if NH doesnt have a mistrust of “the cloud” (i do – its just a computer somewhere after all) then all his work and data may be on the cloud – but i doubt it

            then theres the non-work items that were seized as well

            • One Anonymous Bloke 13.2.1.1.1.1

              He said “sources” – not just Rawshark.

              I’ve said it before – the most damaging effect the raid will have on Hager’s work is that of intimidation, not hardware loss.

              Rawshark faces two years in prison. What do you suppose the sources for the tax haven book face if National Party thugs discover their identities?

              • framu

                oh – ok missed the plural somewhere

                however – i still think the loss of stacks of documents would impact his abiltiy to do his work.

                not to mention his families possessions

                regardless – either way its still more than “just get a new computer” as BM suggests

                but yes – your right on the unspoken messaging

      • Tracey 13.2.2

        And the assumption he can afford oneright now. He may not get royalties for the book and took a lump sum… Which he wantonly used to pay his rent/mortgage and bills.

    • Tracey 13.3

      At least assert his lawyers will make money BM, the fund is for hagers lawyers not hager. What is it with lack of reading comprehension on the right.

      • BM 13.3.1

        Has Hager hired a lawyer?, I haven’t really been following this very closely.

        • Weepus beard 13.3.1.1

          No you haven’t, have you? It’s clearly discussed in the link you posted earlier. You must have skim read it.

        • Tracey 13.3.1.2

          thats obvious. its easier to understand when you read factual reports rather than getting your info from the oil slick and kiwibog. steven price is his current lawyer. of course you would know that if you had actually read the link you posted.

          lprent surely at some point abject, recidivist stupidity gets the boot?

          • BM 13.3.1.2.1

            This case is of little interest to me, I saw the link on Kiwiblog and skimmed past everything until I got to what I was interested in, which was how much money he made from the book.

            • minarch 13.3.1.2.1.1

              ” how much money”

              yes BM this is ALWAYS the most important thing isnt it…

            • Tracey 13.3.1.2.1.2

              and yet here you are blathering your lack of ethics and moronic musings… kiwibog called for the cops to raid slater yet, or bemoaned their failure to do so years ago…

            • Weepus beard 13.3.1.2.1.3

              So uninterested you can’t leave it alone.

            • Tracey 13.3.1.2.1.4

              you understand that isnt actually what he made, dont you? sure nbr wrapped it up as factual but after a close reading you find it is speculation and unless they have hagers contract with the publisher, it is actualy pretty worthless opinion masquerading as fact.

        • Paul 13.3.1.3

          Yet you post on this regularly.

    • Tracey 13.4

      Yup, you would commit a fraud at worst and behave with zero morals at best. At least you finally declared your base ethics.

      • One Anonymous Bloke 13.4.1

        I don’t think so: the Givealittle Q&A says the money will go into a bank account of Hager’s choosing, and makes no mention of oversight into how the funds are dispersed.

        In any case, how is he supposed to stay in contact with his defence team in the absence of a phone etc?

        I think it’d be an ethical (partial) use of the funds. Mind you, Mr. Hager’s ethics are stricter than mine.

    • lprent 13.5

      Have you any idea what court fees are like? Most filings cost anywhere between $300 and $1500 a shot. Nicky will be do quite a number of them to get his contact details and documents back for everything from high court injunctions to privacy court. Not to mention if he has to pay lawyers.

      Then of course there will be the civil claims against the police for damages.

      It is all up front money. Not like the slow trickle of money coming in from royalties on his book which will come in slowly over the next year.

      • BM 13.5.1

        I would expect Hager to have cloud storage backups of all his important data.

        • wekarawshark 13.5.1.1

          Really? Why do you expect that?

          • BM 13.5.1.1.1

            What if his house burnt down or some one broke in and trashed it.

            These things do happen, which is why it pays to have backups and the backups being somewhere different, such as cloud storage.

            Hager doesn’t really strike me as a stupid man, so I’d expect him to have backups.

            • Tracey 13.5.1.1.1.1

              or an external harddrive, which was siezed.for someone who has little interest your suppositions know no bounds.

              • SHG

                If the backup is at the same premises as the original, it’s not a backup.

                • Of course it is.

                  Different forms of back-up guard against different forms of ‘risk’.

                  If my laptop crashes (the most likely source of lost data) I have a back-up – in my own house.

                  Of course, if my house burns down that back-up won’t help. But neither would a hard drive stored at my neighbours if the entire neighbourhood is destroyed in an earthquake. And neither will cloud storage if some massive solar flare burns the entire internet (I don’t even know if that’s possible – but hopefully you get my drift).

                  The real question is whether Hager had an appropriate form of back-up for the work he does and his dependence upon or valuing of that work and the likely risks to the data supporting that work – ‘appropriateness’ being constrained by his financial resources, of course.

            • wekarawshark 13.5.1.1.1.2

              “Hager doesn’t really strike me as a stupid man, so I’d expect him to have backups.”

              Yes of course, but that doesn’t mean it’s all on cloud storage, or that every piece of information the police took is on cloud storage or even duplicated somewhere. Am thinking paper files in particular, but I also hope that certain confidential information isn’t in the cloud. Have you ever run a big project like multiple books and articles and research and scanned in every document and uploaded it?

              This is daft line of argument, OAB’s running it as well. We simply don’t know how well prepared Hager was, or how much this is disrupting his family and his life and work.

              • One Anonymous Bloke

                Yeah, I think we can safely assume that it’s immensely disruptive and intimidating and awful.

                I’m not sure you understand my line of reasoning. Replacing the hardware is the easy part. Repairing the potential damage done to trust and an open society? Not so much.

                • wekarawshark

                  I understand the line of reasoning. It’s just that unfortunately you presented it as not a work tools/product issue; that Hager would have copies of everything he needs (which you have no way of knowing); and that the principles are far more important than the other effects. That may be true in Hager’s case, but it doesn’t help to minimise the effect of the raid on Hager and his family. It’s not an either or, and arguing that the hardware, papers and interruptions are waaaay less important (which is how you came across) just fucked me off. Leaving the financial issues aside, if I had to replace my phone, computer, ext hdd, paper files, camera etc it would not be ‘easy’. I’m glad that you have the privilege in your life that enables such a thing to be easy but please don’t assume that is true for everyone else.

                  • One Anonymous Bloke

                    Ah, sorry, that’s my brevity letting me down: it’s the relatively easy part of this task, “this task” being the return journey to being an open, corruption free, democratic society, which Mr. Hager evidently holds very dearly and actively engages in at no little personal cost.

              • Colonial Rawshark

                Cloud storage of personal data – highly problematic at best for someone in Hager’s line of work. Cloud storage like that through Amazon or Google is intrinsically compromised by the security services. Leaving you with something like MEGA which is better but still does not provide complete security (nothing can).

                BTW harks back to the ridiculous outcry over the celebrity nude selfies which were hacked. The point wasn’t the morality of the nude selfies – the point was storing personal info (ANY personal info) on faraway servers over which you have sweet F.A. actual control or oversight.

                • wekarawshark

                  actually the point was whether people have body autonomy 😉 but anyway, I agree about Cloud storage and have been surprised to see OAB suggesting this is a good place to store information you don’t want the government to see.

                    • wekarawshark

                      Did you see the comment the other day about Hager’s relative tech illiteracy?

                    • One Anonymous Bloke

                      Relative to Conan the Moderator, Steve Jobs is relatively technically illiterate. I hope and trust that Mr. Hager gets good advice in the areas in which his technical skills are lacking.

                      If not then my house is available to any refugee from the right wing pogrom against his sources that will inevitably ensue.

                    • wekarawshark

                      Yeah, I’m sure he pays someone to do all that stuff, although probably a different person that scans and uploads all his hardcopy information. /sarc.

                      I think the point here is that you have been making many assumptions, when we really have no idea.

                      btw, can you prove that encrypted data on cloud storage can’t been seen by anyone?

                    • One Anonymous Bloke

                      I’m pretty sure no-one has demonstrated an ability to crack GPG encryption.

                    • One Anonymous Bloke

                      By the way, there’s no need to get all right wing on my ass, I didn’t say he pays henchmen for security I said he got sound advice.

                    • wekarawshark

                      “I didn’t say he pays henchmen for security”

                      That’s nice, neither did I.

                      Am pretty sure the NSA won’t be doing a press release on which encryption they crack.

                    • Murray Rawshark

                      This is the last nested comment of this thread that I can reply to. I think OAB is right about nobody being able to crack GPG. I know many of the people working on the advances in quantum computing that would be necessary to do this. Their biggest successes so far are in increasing the hyperbole in their articles and funding applications. I’d say anything useful from them is a long way off, and if something else were available, funding for quantum computing would have dried up.

                      The NSA doesn’t put out press releases about their abilities, but I’d bet my life savings on them not being able to crack GPG. If you’re close to the people that work in this area, you don’t need press releases.

                    • Colonial Rawshark

                      It’s PGP

                      Also the NSA has worked with commercial encryption tool providers, and also at the algorithms level, to systematically weaken encryption strength to far below the theoretical claimed.

                      An open source non commercial PGP product is probably still the safest you can use. BUT remember that things like key loggers and other exploits can still be used to obtain keys, passwords, and capture data straight off your computer before encryption.

                      http://www.propublica.org/article/the-nsas-secret-campaign-to-crack-undermine-internet-encryption

                    • wekarawshark

                      Which is why the Guardian did all their Snowden UK work in a separate room with security, on four computers that weren’t networked, ever.

                      Adama rules 😉

                      Thanks Murray.

                    • One Anonymous Bloke

                      CV: it’s GPG: the Gnu Privacy Guard. PGP is compromised.

                • Murray Rawshark

                  GPG = GNU Privacy Guard
                  PGP = Pretty Good Privacy

                  No need to thank me, CV.

          • Tracey 13.5.1.1.2

            for the same reason he thinks hager made 56k from his book… he read it at kiwibog or oil slick, those doyens of the press, with high integrity and a history of honesty.

      • Tracey 13.5.2

        he is not lucky to have a QC ready to take an injunction at a moments like oil slick…

  14. Neil 14

    If one was to dig around a bit no doubt you would find these people that are trying to shut down the donations for Nicky Hagar’s legal fight will be linked to Cameron Slater & John Key.

  15. music4menz 15

    I wonder whether some of those who have contacted the Givealittle site aren’t more concerned about what might be viewed as a ‘charity’ donation site being used to raise funds for someone they don’t think of as a ‘charity’. Perhaps they aren’t so much concerned about people wanting to give money of their own free will to whomsoever they want. Some give money to Save the Children, some to Caritas, some to the Salvation Army, some to Nicky Hager.

    Just a thought.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 15.1

      Reads more like a threat to me, maggot.

    • Tracey 15.2

      can you post some links to you interesting assertions?

    • wtl 15.3

      The Givealittle site explicitly states that:

      “Is fundraising at Givealittle just for charities, schools and formal organisations?

      No, Givealittle is for all Kiwis who need to raise funds – whatever the good cause.

      • Tracey 15.3.1

        i think you are confusing music and others with being innocent posters, they are here disseminating the lies and mistruths fromkiwiblog and oil slick.

      • One Anonymous Bloke 15.3.2

        …but not for M4M and his sad little bunch of whining wingnuts: they’re doing a consumer boycott protest 😆

    • wekarawshark 15.4

      “I wonder whether some of those who have contacted the Givealittle site aren’t more concerned about what might be viewed as a ‘charity’ donation site being used to raise funds for someone they don’t think of as a ‘charity’.”

      So they can manage to make a complaint to an online organisation but they can’t manage to read the online organisation’s own website? Pull the other one.

    • Weepus beard 15.5

      Don’t think so. Even a quick look at the Givealittle site shows it is not solely for charity fundraising. No, this is a concerted effort by the politically active right to silence critics of the government.

    • greywarshark 15.6

      Musing 4 menz – more appropriate 15
      Just a thought. How sweet. You thinking about good things. Have a cup of tea to refresh yourself after your hard work. But your work requires more thought. I want a bigger thought not just a little one.

      Spend some more of your time actually doing something helpful for someone instead of just endlessly writing and whingeing about others.

      That goes for BM. He’s as much of a nuisance as a noisy blowfly.
      But you can hit those or shoo it out the window. So I guess he’s worse. Does he aid discussion?? He causes irritation, for sure. And I think that is a high point of his day and life. But is The Standard a charity-sitter for someone in their declining years?

    • AsleepWhileWalking 15.7

      One could argue that many of the causes on Givealittle aren’t actual charities. Ironically (with regards to your ill-informed comment) the site exsists mainly to support those causes.

  16. wekarawshark 16

    Number of donors to the fund about to hit 1,000.

  17. Morrissey 17

    It’s not a bunch of “wing-nuts” trying to shut down this fund. It’s the National Party.

  18. NZ Sage 18

    I’m always intrigued by the biased semantics of MSM.

    During the election campaign John Key “clarified” while David Cunliffe was “forced to explain”.

    Now we see that ALL donators to the Hager fund are “Hager supporters” not “concerned citizens”

    http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/nicky-hager-s-supporters-raise-thousands-legal-fight-6101255

    When will the average Kiwi see through this media BS.

  19. Roger fowler 19

    This report has motivated me to make another donation for Nicky’s legal defence. Thank you.

  20. Ffloyd 20

    I was wondering if N Hager has had interviews with the Police before the raid? Or did they just go in gangbusters? The more I read about the raid the angrier I get. Why would the police want to take a camera? Why did they do it while he was away? Was his family there? It seems they also took some of his work in progress on other things, therefore impeding his future livelihood. ,And the time they took does smack of intimidation. Pure and simple. Am off to make another donation.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 20.1

      You’re reading too much into it. They’d take a camera because it has memory and memory can be used for more than photos, not to mention that Hager and Rawshark may have taken selfies for posterity (just trying to thing like a cop); it’s all just procedure.

      Hager said the officers involved were apologetic: perhaps they don’t sympathise with their superior officers enough. Perhaps they have Rawshark sympathies.

      What if Rawshark were a cop!!!!

      Now that’s wild speculation: the notion that Hager might not be wrong when he says his sources are safe: not so much.

      • Ffloyd 20.1.1

        Duh??

      • Ffloyd 20.1.2

        Duh?? Selfies??

        • One Anonymous Bloke 20.1.2.1

          A feeble attempt at humour, poorly aimed.

          • Ffloyd 20.1.2.1.1

            Sorry, I’m sure! But in fact the questions I asked were genuine. I do not remember ever reading that Hager had been formally interviewed before the raid.

            • One Anonymous Bloke 20.1.2.1.1.1

              Andrew Geddis made the same observation. He also suggested various reasons for the police action that have nothing to do with politics and everything to do with policing.

              The RNZ interview with Kathryn Ryan on Wednesday is worth a listen.

  21. Dont worry. Be happy 21

    Is there a bank number to donate directly to Nick Hagers defence fund rather than through the web site. Dont do internet banking.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 21.1

      Why not email him as the Givealittle Q&A suggests?

    • Anne 21.2

      Same here. They won’t give you a bank number ( I think the money is going directly to Hager’s bank account.) Send a cheque to:

      Givealittle
      PO Box 78223
      Grey Lynn
      Auckland 1245.

      Write on back of cheque:

      For Hager Defence Fund
      Also your name and email address. (This is so they can confirm receipt)

    • AsleepWhileWalking 21.3

      They take credit/debit cards. I think of internet banking as logging into my bank and making a direct payment to a bank account.

      Don’t think it is a great idea for Hager to give out bank account details.

  22. ed forty 22

    I will switch to Vodafone or 2DEGREES if they stop the fund.

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    4 days ago
  • HealthNZ and Luxon at cross purposes over budget blowout

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSA announced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • 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 ...
    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
    16 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
    19 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
    23 hours 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

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