Why Gareth Morgan’s sexist personality matters

Written By: - Date published: 11:12 am, August 21st, 2017 - 123 comments
Categories: sexism, you couldn't make this shit up - Tags:

I wish it didn’t matter, but here we are.

On the day that Labour launched their election campaign, with all sorts of important changes happening in NZ politics including the performance of Labour’s new leader, the shift to more green politics, the huge crowds that the event attracted, and Labour’s remarkable recovery in the polls, this is what Gareth Morgan had to say yesterday,

In case it’s not clear, in Morgan’s tweet Labour are the pig and Jacinda Ardern is merely lipstick. Pigs are pretty intelligent so I don’t consider this an insult to Labour as such, which leaves us with the sexist bits.

Maybe Morgan wants to say that Labour don’t have good policy and that having a charismatic leader doesn’t make up for that. Which would make sense if Ardern were not competent on so many levels that she’s just reset the whole election. I have Labour policy criticisms of my own, but Ardern being useless isn’t one of them, not even close. Even if she were, I’d still know how to address that without promoting sexist culture, and I’d value that because at the most basic level women matter.

The insult is not simply suggesting that an intelligent, media savvy, policy wonk leader like Ardern is merely a figurehead with no substance in herself or her party, it’s that the comment happened in the context of a society where women are routinely dismissed as lesser because they are women.

This kind of sexism corresponds with real life impacts for women from pay equity to rape culture to who even goes into politics in the first place. Not everyone has a fortune behind them to parachute them in. Attitude matters, especially in those who hold power, because what we say, and whether it perpetuates damaging stereotypes, reinforces the actions that are still shaping society.

Today as Morgan doubles down, he would like us to believe he would have used the same insult against Muldoon. I’m sure he would have but we’re not in the 1970s now and using people’s body shape to attack them is also a form of bigotry that is bizarre to have to explain in 2017.

None of this is news to women. For many women the reaction to the insult is instinctive because we live with this sexism on a daily basis. It’s hard to know if Morgan is really that socially incompetent that he doesn’t understand the sexism, or if he just doesn’t care. I’m guessing both, but either way, I don’t want any more dinosaurs in parliament.

Leaving aside the massive irony of Morgan trying to say that personality doesn’t matter when a) he is attacking an opponent’s character and b) his personality seems to be the main reason he gets attention on social media, there are other ironies here.

Probably the most important for me is that Morgan has a strong history of trying to institutionalise his personal anti-welfare values, and while he does seem to be getting on board with the fact that you can’t just toss groups of vulnerable people under a bus for policy expediencies’ sake, his inability to listen to what people are saying to him about important issues is a core part of his personality.

The thing that stands out most consistently for about TOP policy is that Morgan has some good ideas but when you start to scratch the surface you hit all sorts of problems in how the policy has been developed. This wouldn’t happen if the personality was less important and he was able to listen with good intent to what people are saying about his ideas.

It’s also important to understand that the rich white man said these things in the context of an election where the power holders just politically assassinated a Māori woman who pulled herself out of poverty and then used both her vulnerability and her power to call attention to the plight of people that Morgan has only just begun to recognise exist. Double bonus irony points because the system that Morgan is actively gaming for his own political ends was incapable of focussing on the policy that the Greens presented and instead spent weeks going after the figurehead. I must have missed Morgan standing up for policy at that point.

Let’s pretend for a moment that Morgan wasn’t playing macho, sexist politics and instead wanted to just say ‘all that matters is policy’. Someone can link me to TOP’s policies on gender equity or ending sexism but in the meantime here are the things that matter to me in politics in addition to policy. In no particular order because this isn’t a hierarchy it’s a set of relationships,

  • competency to be in government
  • values that match NZ cultures
  • values that hold all people as worthy of human rights
  • people who represent specific NZers
  • ability to work with others well and to build relationships
  • ability to lead
  • strength, ability and strategy to work within a degrading, sexist, racist, macho political culture in ways that don’t perpetuate it
  • strength, ability and strategy to work within a media culture that will use sexism, racism, degradation, and macho and gotcha politics to increase its market share
  • ability to develop policy that serves NZ well and is inclusive of all NZers
  • values, principles and ethics
  • courage
  • compassion
  • social intelligence

In some ways, I wish I’d just stuck up a post saying Gareth Morgan is being a dick, again. Because here we are reacting to the priorities of a 1%er with a massive ego underpinning his personality. And here we are seeing a rich, white man trying to assert his personal values into politics already overladen with white men of privilege.

I’ve avoided writing posts about TOP policy thus far because while I have serious concerns about both some of the policy and the ethos that underpins it, I haven’t wanted to amplify Morgan’s personality driven voice. But policy isn’t all that matters, values matter just as much.  This election is actually about those values and the battle going on right now is over who has power and whether NZ will choose to place people at the centre of politics again.

123 comments on “Why Gareth Morgan’s sexist personality matters ”

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  1. Sabine 1
    21 August 2017 at 11:17 am

    let me put it this way, he is neither a pig – smart and social animals – and no matter of lipstick will make him appealing.

    he is a fucking wanker, wanking about, spraying everyone like a dog who is marking territory.

    This is the year 2017, a women – no matter our preference – who is running for public office is asked about her baby bearing abilities, is told to ‘bake a cake for her boyfriend’ and is now told she is the lipstick on a pig.

    Yei, NZ women, your future is bright and rosy.

    • weka 1.1
      21 August 2017 at 11:35 am

      I had a hard time finding a decent front page photo, but TOP marks fitted the bill perfectly 😉

    • Eco maori 1.2
      22 August 2017 at 6:26 am

      Gomen He is just a straight shooting strait talking KIWI who can see thought all the bull shit that our hole systems are I am going to vote for him all the civilservants that really run the government will be quivering in there boots they can not let anyone in whom cannot be conned by them

  2. Carolyn_nth 2
    21 August 2017 at 11:21 am

    Weka wrote:

    But policy isn’t all that matters, values matter just as much. This election is actually about those values and the battle going on right now is over who has power and whether NZ will choose to place people at the centre of politics again.

    Exactly. And to your excellent list of things that matter, I’d add, something about the way we treat and talk about the least well off in our society, including beneficiaries, and those caught up in in our justice and mental health systems: systems that need re-working to be far less damaging.

    • weka 2.1
      21 August 2017 at 11:40 am

      Yes. TOP’s silence on this speaks to me as loudly as an other party that is failing to address vulnerability and compassion and build that degree of care into their policy and processes.

      • Dspare 2.1.1
        21 August 2017 at 2:29 pm

        The thing that strikes me about TOP policy is how patchy it is. Labour and Green policies form a cohesive whole, but TOP only have very specific isolated proposals. For example,; cannabis, and alcohol reform are two of their 13stated policies on their website, but they have no overarching health policy. Also the empty boxes labelled; “coming soon”, are just a bad look.

        http://www.top.org.nz/policy

        • Anonymous 2.1.1.1
          22 August 2017 at 9:33 pm

          Their overarching policy on health is prevention. That’s it. They’re leaving the government of the day to be in charge of defense, foreign policy and operational health. They’re not trying to be in government.

  3. Xanthe 3
    21 August 2017 at 11:34 am

    You may notice that Labour and Ardern are not riseing to this bait. Clearly they are more savvy than some commentators on this site. Once again moral outrage here will be counterproductive. The sooner this (non) story dies the better!

  4. Brendon Harre 4
    21 August 2017 at 11:38 am

    Gareth is a dick who thinks being intelligent is more important than having a good character. Jacinda is doing well because she is showing herself to have the characteristics and values New Zealanders want in a leader. She is warm, articulate, positive, firm when she needs to be…… so far Jacinda has passed the political character test with flying colours…….. While Gareth has failed his test……

  5. marty mars 5
    21 August 2017 at 11:39 am

    Awesome post – well written comprehensive and on point – thanks for laying it out so well.

    • weka 5.1
      21 August 2017 at 1:02 pm

      thanks marty! It took a bit because there are lots of layers in that one tweet. Glad I got some of it clear.

      • esoteric pineapples 5.1.1
        21 August 2017 at 8:49 pm

        I thought it was good too. I can understand why it took a long time to write. You really had to dig deep. As a writer myself, I know what it takes sometimes to draw what you need to say to the surface. Sometimes it is something that just seems to be a niggly thing and then the more you look into it, you realise that it is a lot bigger than that. When you don’t know exactly what that big thing is, you just have a feeling of unease. What good blogs do is help the reader understand what they are feeling but can’t put their finger on.

  6. Brutus Iscariot 6
    21 August 2017 at 11:53 am

    Key – called snake, slimy, creepy, dishonest, greedy. Shearer – Mumblefuck as per Bomber. Numerous other allusions to deficiency on his behalf. All character attacks, implicit or outright – part of the natural discourse.

    The implication of someone being shallow/lightweight are pretty tame as far as political insults go.

    As for the gender card, read some of the commentary on Collins and Bennett?

    • weka 6.1
      21 August 2017 at 1:04 pm

      “All character attacks, implicit or outright – part of the natural discourse.”

      Except that sexist (and racist) ones carry more weight and have different consequences.

      “As for the gender card, read some of the commentary on Collins and Bennett?”

      I’ll take from that that you personally don’t care if sexism exists. That’s useful to know, thanks.

    • Stuart Munro 6.2
      21 August 2017 at 2:44 pm

      The fact is he didn’t quite hit the mark.

      “Disraeli once described the manner of Bishop Wilberforce as “unctuous, oleaginous, saponaceous.” And the good prelate was ever afterward known as Soapy Sam. For every man there is something in the vocabulary that would stick to him like a second skin. His enemies have only to find it.”
      – Ambrose Bierce

      Makes a bit of a nonsense of Morgan’s professed distaste for personality politics.

    • Lara 6.3
      24 August 2017 at 8:25 am

      Gender card?

      Is that some special card that I can get as a woman? Where do I get this card from? What advantages does it give? Because I don’t have one.

      Also, if I get a gender card, can I also get a special victims card? Because I’m one of those too, and I’ve heard this “victim card” bandied about, and I don’t have mine….

  7. Darth smith 7
    21 August 2017 at 11:55 am

    What a prick he belongs in the gutter

  8. weka 8
    21 August 2017 at 12:08 pm

    As an aside, Morgan just donated another half a million dollars to TOP,

    https://twitter.com/norightturnnz/status/899406038935281664

    • AsleepWhileWalking 8.1
      21 August 2017 at 2:09 pm

      Is there some tax advantage like with charities?

      Because half a mill seems like a lot even for a rich guy. To me that amount reinforces my impression that he is out of touch with most.

      His comments on welfare always and without exception offend me. If God forbid his polices were implemented those who would suffer would be people already at a disadvantage especially disabled.

      He clearly doesn’t understand our welfare system (its not as hard to grasp as he says) nor has he consulted those who do. Without this foundational knowledge all he has are assumptions, and dangerous ones at that. I

  9. weka 9
    21 August 2017 at 12:09 pm

    Stephanie Rodgers nails it,

    Stephanie Rodgers‏ @bootstheory 3h

    Like I’ve been saying for ages, Gareth Morgan’s true baseline for “doing what works” is “doing what Gareth Morgan wants to do”

    It’s easy enough to find evidence to support your preconceptions. Every other political party, and voter, does the exact same thing

    But every other party is usually honest enough to acknowledge their bias, the values that guide them. GM doesn’t have values, he has ego.

    He surrounds himself with people like Sean Plunket who have the same attitude: “what I think is just plain common sense because I said so”

    But it’s an incredibly frail structure which cannot withstand criticism. Which just shows how much it’s about ego, not intellectual rigour.

    https://twitter.com/bootstheory/status/899377188062900224

    • mauī 9.1
      21 August 2017 at 12:28 pm

      Yes we must remove this mad egotist from politics. After all he wants to give $10,000 to families with children under 3 and all young adults, give free childcare to families with under 5s, dramatically improve renters rights.

      • weka 9.1.1
        21 August 2017 at 12:33 pm

        As I said in the post and as you and I have covered many times, many of his ideas are good but when you scratch the surface there are huge problems with his policies and he’s been spectacularly incapable of engaging with people who have been pointing to them.

        For example,

        “After all he wants to give $10,000 to families with children under 3 and all young adults”

        He wants to give $10,000 extra to wage-earning young adults, including those on high incomes, but those on welfare won’t get any increase. See, there’s a big hole in that policy.

        • swordfish 9.1.1.1
          21 August 2017 at 12:45 pm

          The day after 2014 Election – Morgan called for a new Blue-green Party

          But for me, the most frustrating aspect of the election result is the entrenched inability of the Green Party to grasp that the environmental message is something that appeals to middle-of-the-road New Zealanders, not just Lefties.

          Sadly the Green Party’s policies for environmental sustainability have always come with a nasty fishhook – the out-dated edict that social justice can only be achieved by rehashed socialism. This has rendered the Green Party a real melon to mainstream New Zealand – a watermelon to be precise, far too red on the inside for middle New Zealand to stomach. …

          The time is overdue for a Bluegreens political party, one that is happy to work with whoever is the senior party in government, and is focussed properly on improving our environment, society and economy together. Without this there is a large swathe of voters who are not represented adequately in Parliament.

          Can the Green Party assume that role? I doubt it very much, theirs is very much a socialist heritage and they exhibit an ongoing reluctance to get real on the importance of the economy. With their voter support capped at 10% (about the same as the craziest party in parliament, Winston Peter’s conspiracy theorists), the electorate continues to see no hope for the Green Party – the adverse impact on jobs and incomes is unpalatable. …

          That is why today I am calling for a Blue-green party – a party with a true environmental focus rather than a socialist party in drag. Tomorrow we will look at some of the policies such a party could pursue, policies that without a Bluegreen party are being left off the political agenda completely.

          • weka 9.1.1.1.1
            21 August 2017 at 12:57 pm

            Wow, I’d forgotten about that. He starts that piece with this,

            Congratulations to the National Party. To increase your majority in your third term, reflects public confidence in the leadership team and an endorsement that one’s policies are more attuned to the preferences of voters than those offered up by any other party, or any other combination of parties. This much is indisputable.

            http://morganfoundation.org.nz/time-for-a-bluegreen-party/

            All of which puts his attack on JA and Labour yesterday into clearer light.

        • Sabine 9.1.1.2
          21 August 2017 at 1:11 pm

          and what do families without ‘children’ get? oh, yeah, they get to finance it. Right?

          How many children do his children have, and would they be then also be eligible.

          • weka 9.1.1.2.1
            21 August 2017 at 1:15 pm

            don’t get me started 😉 (or do, there is a half written post on the Youth UBI policy).

            • Sabine 9.1.1.2.1.1
              21 August 2017 at 1:21 pm

              the thing is, if he were to advocate a ‘dividend’ to all Kiwis irrespective of the amount of children (why only families with three children? ) it would do a world of good to so many.
              Pay back some debt, fix that leaking roof, throw it at that business, buy a car that is not 20 years old etc etc etc, and at the same time businesses would rejoice, money!.
              but this bs about ‘families’ with children. What about families with dependent adult children, or families looking after dependent adult family members i.e. siblings, cuzzies, uncles/aunties, or families looking after dependent parents/grand parents. Nope, not ‘family’ enough?

              ITs this ‘here’ let me buy your vote with money coming from a fund that I don’t participate with.

              btw, his private contribution to his ‘party’ is that tax deductible?

              • RedLogix …
                21 August 2017 at 9:19 pm

                What about families with dependent adult children, or families looking after dependent adult family members i.e. siblings, cuzzies, uncles/aunties, or families looking after dependent parents/grand parents. Nope, not ‘family’ enough?

                Oh think it through. In the long term if we ever do get to a Universal UBI … then ALL of these family members would receive it.

                • Sabine …
                  21 August 2017 at 10:21 pm

                  no mate, i am speaking of a dividend for all, you are speaking of buying votes. and then only some.

                  how many children do mr. morgans children have. will that ‘benefit’ apply to them? are they paying taxes, or are they just given a free ride?

                  btw, i don’t need a UBI.
                  We have UBI, its called benefit, and if we would apply it correctly without forcing people to jump through hoops we would not be in the first place.

                  so no, again, your mate is trying to take money he does not contribute too, taxes, and pay one group against the next one.

                  so no. just flim flam bullshit. Maybe he should have given his 500.000 to some families with children rather then prop up his vanity party.

    • RedLogix 9.2
      21 August 2017 at 9:49 pm

      Like I’ve been saying for ages, Gareth Morgan’s true baseline for “doing what works” is “doing what Gareth Morgan wants to do”

      Which in the real world is precisely the basis on which any successful person gets anything done. That’s not the same thing as getting everything you want. No sane person expects that.

      But to achieve anything in the real world (as distinct from the bubble of the internet) you need vision and values. I’m not asking you to agree with them, or even like them. If not then feel free to say so.

      But demonstrably Morgan has achieved way more in his life than likely most of ever will because he’s willing to back himself and go for it. Of course you will have to face the industrial strength ‘tall poppy’ mowing down machine that operates in this country … but then Morgan’s real crime here is simply that he is male, he is white, he is wealthy, he does get things done … and he doesn’t give a shit about what we think of him.

  10. Andre 10
    21 August 2017 at 12:27 pm

    In terms of electoral impact, surely this brainfart from Morgan has to be good for Greens/Labour.

    Think about which voters will be attracted or repelled by this. It might pull some blue-greens (or black-greens) that are attracted by Morgan’s environmental views, but just can’t bring themselves to vote Green or Labour. Morgan sticking it to Labour may just tip them over.

    On the other hand, how will it be received by those leaning Green or Labour, but would like to see another new voice in Parliament pushing environmental and tax equity issues? Personally, it’s certainly erased the last vestiges of any inclination I may have had to vote TOP.

  11. adam 11
    21 August 2017 at 12:43 pm

    Liberalism will always revert to “I’m right, nah nah nah nahna.”

    Thanks Gareth for reminding everyone that at heart, your a money loving, know it all conservative, just like the rest of them…

  12. Ad 12
    21 August 2017 at 12:53 pm

    TOP vote should break to Labour now.

  13. Cinny 13
    21 August 2017 at 1:03 pm

    It’s the old boys club same old bullshit women have endured for eons, Morgan isn’t even standing for parliament is he?

  14. james 14
    21 August 2017 at 1:37 pm

    I don’t like TOP policies but this latest outrage against Morgan is stupid bullshit.

    • roy cartland 14.1
      21 August 2017 at 2:17 pm

      Not true. As EVERYONE commented during the Metiria fiasco, he knew what he was saying, and how it would sound. It just isn’t feasible that he “meant” the LP, not Jacinda, and anyone who thinks otherwise is the one with the problem.

      At the very least, a complete dick.

    • Robert Guyton 14.2
      21 August 2017 at 3:47 pm

      James is with the pale old male, Morgan and can’t see what all the fuss is about??
      Getaway!!

      • RedLogix 14.2.1
        21 August 2017 at 9:15 pm

        ” pale old male” .. another sexist double standard. Just as well I can’t be arsed getting outraged over it.

        (PS: You left out the ‘stale’.)

  16. Stuart Munro 16
    21 August 2017 at 2:20 pm

    I wonder myself whether the public response will be more ‘that’s blatant sexism’ or ‘that’s crude and unchivalrous’ – difficult to measure but negative both in progressive and conservative terms.

    It may well be deliberate – the ‘any publicity is good publicity’ playbook works for principally for parties that aren’t well known. Even in the relatively politically interested atmosphere of the Standard, when was the last time Morgan rated more than a passing mention?

  17. CLEANGREEN 17
    21 August 2017 at 2:30 pm

    JACINDA IS A VERY COOL LADY AFTER WATCHING THAT VIDEO. – @welovejacinda.

  18. mikesh 18
    21 August 2017 at 2:39 pm

    He´s saying that Labour´s policies are still ¨same old same old¨ and that the change of leadership is merely cosmetic. Whether he is right or wrong about that, he´s entitled to hold and express such opinions – I think it was Roussou who pointed that out a long time ago – but there is nothing sexist about them.

    • weka 18.1
      21 August 2017 at 2:58 pm

      Saying something isn’t sexist doesn’t make it so 😉

      • mikesh 18.1.1
        21 August 2017 at 5:34 pm

        I gave my reasons.

        • Psycho Milt 18.1.1.1
          21 August 2017 at 9:41 pm

          Somewhere else on the thread? On a different thread? If so, link to them. There is nothing in comment 18 to back up your assertion.

          • mikesh 18.1.1.1.1
            21 August 2017 at 9:48 pm

            Stephanie Rodgers should perhaps consider whether the expression ´pale, stale, and male´ is not sexist.

            • Psycho Milt 18.1.1.1.1.1
              21 August 2017 at 10:00 pm

              So, there was nothing sexist about Gareth Morgan’s comments because Stephanie Rogers used the expression “pale, stale and male?” That reasoning is pretty hard to follow.

              • mikesh …
                21 August 2017 at 10:56 pm

                It was hard to follow because that was not my argument. Actually the comment somehow got into the wrong place. It was actually intended as a reply to comment 9 by weka. Sorry about that.

            • weka 18.1.1.1.1.2
              21 August 2017 at 11:19 pm

              “Stephanie Rodgers should perhaps consider whether the expression ´pale, stale, and male´ is not sexist.”

              Stephanie didn’t say that. But even if she did, and even if it were sexist, you still haven’t in fact given any reason for your assertion that what Morgan did wasn’t sexist.

              • mikesh …
                22 August 2017 at 8:38 am

                I agree; but neither was the ¨lipstick on a pig¨ sexist.

                My ´reason´ was my interpretation of the metaphor.

                • weka …
                  22 August 2017 at 8:49 am

                  What you said was – Morgan’s tweet meant this,

                  1. Labour don’t have good/new policy
                  2. Changing the leadership is a cosmetic only change
                  3. irrespective of whether he is right, he’s allowed to say it

                  None of that explains why it’s not sexist.

                  Irrespective of the 3 points you made, calling Ardern merely cosmetic is sexist. For the reasons I explained in the post.

                  • mikesh …
                    22 August 2017 at 12:24 pm

                    It’s mildly insulting, but not sexist. Politicians often say unkind things about each other during an election campaign. And he was calling the change ‘cosmetic’ not Jacinda. Anyway you have your views and I have mine. You’ve said nothing that convinces me so I’m not going to argue further.

                    • weka …
                      22 August 2017 at 12:30 pm

                      sure, that’s you asserting it’s not sexist without saying why/how.

                      If Jacinda isn’t meant to be the lipstick, I’d like to know how else to parse it.

              • Mike Steinberg …
                22 August 2017 at 7:27 pm

                It’s a well known expression for making cosmetic changes to make something appear better than it is. It isn’t a s8xist expression.

                Obama used the same expression in relation to the McCain/Palin ticket in 2008. The GOP said that Obama was suggesting Palin was a pig. The Obama campaign responded:

                “Enough is enough. The McCain campaign’s attack tonight is a pathetic attempt to play the gender card about the use of a common analogy”

                http://www.politico.com/blogs/ben-smith/2008/09/obama-lipstick-on-a-pig-011693

                • weka …
                  22 August 2017 at 7:30 pm

                  It is sexist when you imply that a woman politician is nothing more than a paint job, in a society that routinely undermines women because they are women. I’ve explained this in the post. Sexism is contextual.

      • RedLogix 18.1.2
        21 August 2017 at 9:30 pm

        Saying something IS sexist doesn’t make it so either.

        You know from where I’m sitting right now, in a location as far removed from NZ as I ever expect to be, deep in the Columbian jungle, all this has an utterly surreal sense to it.

        Sometimes this little echo chamber really does lose touch with reality.

        • NewsFlash 18.1.2.1
          22 August 2017 at 8:12 pm

          Come on, Morgan deliberately played that card to give the impression that women are aren’t capable of having anything in the way of intelligence or anything else of value, I’ve watched Morgan over the last twenty years and he has NO empathy, Morgan only cares about Morgan.

          He considers himself to be a very good at economic strategies, but every one that he has promoted has been a dud.

          He is a sexist misogynist, like all RW conservatives, just look at the respect JK has for women.

          Morgan just wishes he was as popular as Ardern, but he doesn’t have the personality to motivate and inspire people and give them hope,

  19. rhinocrates 19
    21 August 2017 at 2:51 pm

    Making that oaf Sean Plunket director of communications was the giveaway that TOP was just going to be more of the same old sexist shit.

  20. Anne 20
    21 August 2017 at 3:44 pm

    Good post. Thanks weka.

    Here is Helen Clark and Gaylene Preston talking about exactly the same sort of thing. 30mins long but well worth a watch:

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/sunday/audio/201855409/helen-clark-and-gaylene-preston-my-year-with-helen

  21. Carolyn_nth 21
    21 August 2017 at 3:47 pm

    I’d say this has backfired heavily on TOP, and they will now be down for the count.

  22. Thomas 22
    21 August 2017 at 8:13 pm

    I don’t agree with what Gareth said, and I don’t agree with him doubling down. But neither do I think he meant it maliciously. And he should have known better.

    But I’m also really curious about how anyone could actually read TOP’s policies and not think they’re brilliant. In just a handful of policies they’ve created a web that is strong on economy, strong on environment, and strong on the social safety net. There is as much in the intersection of policies as there is in any given itself.

    The only story Labour’s policies tell me is “We’re not National” and, and Green’s say “We’re feisty and left of Labour”, but not a one of their policies make sense or are cohesive with any of their other policies. I just don’t get it.

    • Carolyn_nth 22.1
      21 August 2017 at 9:06 pm

      TOP policies look like a selection of topics chosen by someone behind a computer, used to looking at spreadsheets and statistics.

      Green policies are developed by members, in relation to GP values and principles. There’s a focus on communities, families and life, work, survival and leisure within communities and in relation to the environment. Like Labour policies, they are developed according to where the needs are seen to be most pressing.

      Labour has a stronger focus on the workplace and jobs, but they also focus on families, and communities within society – things needed to live a reasonable life, with a focus on social, employment, education and economic issues.

      Life is messy, unlike neat spreadsheets and charts. Many laws and regulations already exist, so parties develop policies to improve existing legislation, or to add ones where there are gaps, or new developments.

      If you think TOP’s policies neatly fit together, then it must be your perspective: one somewhat removed from the messiness of life and continually changing society. To me they look like a narrow selection, or an over-simplified map as to how someone sees life.

  23. mary_a 23
    21 August 2017 at 8:25 pm

    This proves Morgan is part of the old boys’ club. A good fit with Natz.

    Jacinda did a great job of not biting back at his sexist comment, instead handling it very diplomatically, making Morgan look the absolute dick he is.

    Well done Jacinda 👍

    • RedLogix 23.1
      21 August 2017 at 9:13 pm

      Another double standard “dick” metaphor. Just as well I can’t be arsed getting outraged over it.

      • marty mars 23.1.1
        21 August 2017 at 9:18 pm

        No youre running off half cocked now.

        • Union city greens 23.1.1.1
          21 August 2017 at 9:20 pm

          Be dum tish lol

        • RedLogix 23.1.1.2
          21 August 2017 at 9:24 pm

          Nope. Dick refers to the male penis as a derogatory putdown. It’s inherently WAY more sexist than lipstick.

          It’s just we’ve all gotten so used to using it no-one even notices anymore. And if any male should object … well he’s going off “half-cocked”. 🙂

          • Sabine 23.1.1.2.1
            21 August 2017 at 9:28 pm

            funny, i have been called a dick.

            hmm, not that i would sport the anatomy.

            but yeah, Mr. Morgan needs to have a talk with his wife about that whole thing.

            • RedLogix 23.1.1.2.1.1
              21 August 2017 at 9:36 pm

              The point is .. sexist putdowns using the male penis as an object of derision is really commonplace. We are so saturated in it we don’t even notice. No-one gets outraged, and if anyone objects they get laughed at.

              And the ‘lipstick’ metaphor was in common use for quite some time without anyone really getting outraged … until someone noticed there was a political motivation to fake some in order to attack Morgan.

              Good oh. Just don’t expect me to take any of this ‘sexist’ stuff seriously again.

              • Psycho Milt …
                21 August 2017 at 9:46 pm

                As someone who routinely calls people cunts or twats, I don’t really have a problem with also calling people dicks, pricks, cocks or whatever. The insult factor isn’t about sexism, it’s about Anglo-Saxon culture finding genitalia unmentionable. If you called a German a Schwanz or a Fotze, they’d probably be able to figure out you were trying to insult them but would more likely find your inability to learn proper insults amusing.

                • RedLogix …
                  21 August 2017 at 9:52 pm

                  So if using objects as intensely gender specific as the genitalia are considered perfectly acceptable to use as putdowns and insults … precisely how did “lipstick” get to be so objectionable?

                • Sabine …
                  21 August 2017 at 9:58 pm

                  you never use these words. they are beyond disgusting in the german language. If they laugh at you its because they are to polite to punch you. Thems fighting words dude.

                • Sabine …
                  21 August 2017 at 10:10 pm

                  @ weka, it really depends the situation.
                  we use colourfull language for sure, but these two words especially the F word are considered especially vile, maybe used in very cheap porn and even then. they are only demeaning.

                  one of the things we say in bavaria is ‘am oarsch leckscht mi’ or ‘ ja do leckscht mi am oarsch’ which would be very rude in english ( it means, you may lick my behind 🙂 ). In the early twenty century a gentlemen from the North of Germany had a courtcase against a bavarian farmer and brewer before the royal bavarian court that he lost. Why? the way it is used can mean surpise, upset, happiness, astonishment etc etc etc. so to be an insult it must be delivered in a situation demanding an insult. 🙂

                  so it really depends how you say something and where/when.

                  but these two words can easily get you in a hospital.

              • McFlock …
                21 August 2017 at 9:48 pm

                And if genders had equal place in society your point would be more widely accepted.

                But if you insist on judging every comment in a socioeconomic vacuum without regards to who is using what language from which perspective in society, you’ll just keep being perplexed and writing it off as “fake”.

                I’ll assume that at the very least you’ve realised that the “n” word isn’t generally acceptable to use unless one is in a specific demographic?

                • RedLogix …
                  21 August 2017 at 9:58 pm

                  Ah … the only ‘stale pale males can be sexist’ logic. Fair enough as an argument that trumps all.

                  You win.

              • Sabine …
                21 August 2017 at 9:57 pm

                Mate, he wanted to put her down and it back fired. Easy as.
                Sadly money can’t buy a lot of things. It might buy you a party, it might buy you some votes, but it can’t buy you common sense.
                And Gareth Morgan has no common sense.
                I know you like him and think he is the best thing since sliced cheese, UBI and all, but frankly that was an own goal. He should own up to it.

                Lipstick on a Pig is a gendered insult. Always was always will be. And frankly he is not even funny when delivering such a comment. Maybe if he were not such an arrogant dudebro but then he is.

                but then i was never gonna vote for the tax avoider anyways. You see that is what i see when i look at him, someone who is proud of avoiding taxes and who expects the wage slaves to fight his revolution for him. So nah, mate no matter how much lipstick you put on that pig, its still only a pig.

                • Union city greens …
                  21 August 2017 at 10:15 pm

                  One who wants me to pay capital gains tax on my home, even when I haven’t sold it and have no capital gains, based on a valuation based on inflated market prices because of foreign buyers and the domestic investor class inflating market prices.
                  Get te fuck, yer rich prick bam.

          • marty mars 23.1.1.2.2
            21 August 2017 at 9:35 pm

            It is also a short version of richard – and isn’t male penis redundant?

            Anyway you’re probably right – this is where it gets hard imo all the ins and outs of the arguments it’s difficult to hold on to the truth however we may interpret that.

            • Union city greens 23.1.1.2.2.1
              21 August 2017 at 9:40 pm

              Penis, gets hard, ins and outs, hold on to. I’m dying here lol

              Work German helmet in and I’ll have to take tomorrow off with a split side.

              • RedLogix …
                21 August 2017 at 9:54 pm

                Do you want me to go down the ‘lipstick slowly rising from within it’s sheath’ path?

                It’s a visual metaphor that’s been exploited by many an advert over the years. It could easily be argued that lipstick has more visual connotations with the penis than anything else.

              • McFlock …
                21 August 2017 at 9:55 pm

                I hope your boss hasn’t shafted you out of sick leave

  24. Thinkerr 24
    21 August 2017 at 8:36 pm

    3 things (inc 1 people may not like):

    1 – I think TOP is about as relevant as Bob Jones’ NZ Party or Colin Craig’s Conservative Party and will implode rather than becomes part of any govrnment.

    2 – Morgan might have made the same comment to Muldoon, but he wouldn’t have looked good in the rebuff and would likely never try it again.

    3 – ok, I know politics is about who you associate with (and therefore distance yourself from), but Bill English did well in acting quickly and putting Morgan in his place for a sexist remark against English’s #1 opposition candidate. There’s a time for playing politics and a time for standing up for what’s right and English did the right thing on this occasion, I think.

    • weka 24.1
      21 August 2017 at 8:40 pm

      The Bill English thing plays well until you remember FJK and Amanda Bailey (and all the others). It’s an act.

    • mikesh 24.2
      22 August 2017 at 10:53 pm

      The appropriate metaphor for that is “jumping on the bandwagon”. Bill probably needs to do a lot of that at the moment.

  25. RedLogix 25
    21 August 2017 at 9:02 pm

    This is the most funny post on The Standard of all time. Turns out faux outrage is not the sole preserve of rw trolls.

    • marty mars 25.1
      21 August 2017 at 9:11 pm

      That’s probably an exaggeration – of all time? Doubt it.

      He could have nipped this in the bud early if he had humility but he doesn’t and didn’t. This is how things end and I should know cos I supported Mana.

    • NewsFlash 25.2
      22 August 2017 at 8:41 pm

      It’s been slapped down all over the world on twitter, maybe you need to remove those rose coloured glasses.

      Morgan’s policies are designed to look reasonable, but as they say, “the devil is in the detail”, and Morgan has a history of misleading.

  26. Incognito 26
    21 August 2017 at 9:30 pm

    I reckon Gareth Morgan is no more than a moustache on a biker.

    • RedLogix 26.1
      21 August 2017 at 9:40 pm

      Given that both Gareth and Jo have probably travelled more rough bike miles around the world than your average biker on their bloated Harley’s … it’s hard to see quite how that works.

      • Incognito 26.1.1
        21 August 2017 at 9:56 pm

        Let’s stay with metaphors for the moment; what do you get when you remove the moustache from a biker’s face?

        Answer: a baby-faced biker.

        Explanation: “biker” stands for TOP and “moustache” stands for Gareth Morgan.

        Never liked HD myself but I do love twins.

      • Sabine 26.1.2
        21 August 2017 at 10:15 pm

        again, i would be very careful with ‘average biker’ on a bloated harley. are you talking about the tribal Nations, the Hells Angels, the Head Hunters, the Nomads etc. or just the unpatched riders that clock up thousands of k’s every year cause fun?
        i would venture a guess that they have done an equal amount of k’s.

        funny, Mr. Morgan and I we share ‘friends’ . Germans who toured the world on their bikes. At home one of them rides a bloated harley and the other a bonneville.
        When they came here they were on some old transalp.

        stereo types mate, a lot of bullshit. I myself own two classic hondas and a bonneville, my mate rides a bmw. see? bikes. we loves them.

  27. Carolyn_nth 27
    22 August 2017 at 8:05 am

    So Gareth Morgan said on Checkpoint last night, he made the statement to get attention, because no one was paying attention to TOP policies.

    Next time he says something obviously outrageous, I will ignore him.

    It IS about values, as weka, posted. And he has shown he’s happy to make sexist statements to get attention. Shows his values, really.

    • weka 27.1
      22 August 2017 at 8:56 am

      I watched the press conference. I suspect he doesn’t understand how it was sexist, but I don’t think he’s trying to either. Like Stephanie said, he’s just convinced he’s right. I don’t have a problem with his rationale for saying something outrageous to get media attention, Hone Harawira is similar. But I still think it’s all about him and he doesn’t realise how badly that comes across.

      Nevertheless he could have done that without being sexist, so I take from all that that he’s happy to play the game how he sees fit and never mind the punters (in this case women). Making use of casual sexism isn’t casual, it’s strategy. I don’t know if they planned this or just took advantage of it once the ball started rolling, but it’s hard not to see Sean Plunkett’s values in the thick of it as well.

      • CoroDale 27.1.1
        22 August 2017 at 3:03 pm

        Sexism or bestiality? Come-one Bro, shall we talk politics again.

        Wow, how is this for policy detail.

        “Labour will ban foreign speculators from buying existing New Zealand homes.”

        Wow, those “speculators” must be shaking in their boots.

  28. mikesh 28
    23 August 2017 at 5:36 pm

    Driving home just now I passed an electronic billboard with the words ToP accompanied by a picture of Gareth. Underneath it had the words ¨lipstick x pig x policy¨

    Arrogant? … perhaps. But perhaps it´s just good politics. The original metaphor was something of a cliche; if the PC´s hadn´t kicked up such a fuss then probably no-one would have noticed it. They´ll be kicking themselves if ToP get a lot of traction from this.

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    In 2014 former Australian army lawyer David McBride leaked classified military documents about Australian war crimes to the ABC. Dubbed "The Afghan Files", the documents led to an explosive report on Australian war crimes, the disbanding of an entire SAS unit, and multiple ongoing prosecutions. The journalist who wrote the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • Some “scrutiny”!
    Back in February I blogged about another secret OIA "consultation" by the Ministry of Justice. This one was on Aotearoa's commitment in its Open Government Partnership Action Plan to "strengthen scrutiny of Official Information Act exemption clauses in legislation" (AKA secrecy clauses). Their consultation paper on the issue focused on ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • TVNZ is loss-making, serves no public service due to bias, and should be liquidated
    Rob MacCulloch writes –  According to the respected Pew Research Centre, “In seven of eight [European] countries surveyed, the most trusted news outlet asked about is the public news organization in each country”. For example, “in Sweden, an overwhelming majority (90%) say they trust the public broadcaster SVT”. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • The conflicted Covid Chair
    David Farrar writes –  Kata MacNamara reports:    Details of Tony Blakely’s involvement in the New Zealand Government’s response to the pandemic raise serious questions about the work of the Covid-19 Royal Commission of Inquiry over which he presides. It has long been clear that Blakely, a ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Attacking the smartest and most resilient people in the room is never a good idea
    Chris Trotter writes – Are you a Brahmin or a Merchant? Or, are you merely one of those whose lives are profoundly influenced by the decisions of Brahmins and Merchants? Those are the questions that are currently shaping the politics of New Zealand and the entire West. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • A fortune-telling failure, surely, if the tarot cards can’t see a bulldozer coming
    RNZ reports –  It’s supposed to be a haven of healing and spiritual awakening but residents of the Kawai Purapura community say they’ve been hurt and deceived. It’s the successor to the former Centrepoint commune, and has been on the bush block opposite Albany shopping centre since 2008. It ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • The climate battleground heats up
    TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. Usually we have a video chat to go with this wrap, but were unable to do one this week. We’ll be back next week.Several reports ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Bernard’ s Dawn Chorus & Pick ‘n’ Mix for Tuesday, May 14
    The Transport Minister has set a hard 'fiscal envelope' of $6.54 billion for transport capital spending. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The economy is settling into a state of suspended animation as the Government’s funding freezes and job cuts chill confidence and combine with stubbornly high interest rates to ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on why anti-Zionism is not anti-Semitic
    To be precise, the term “anti- Zionism” refers to (a) criticism of the political movement that created a modern Jewish state on the historical land of Israel, and to (b)the subjugation of Palestinians by the Israeli state. By contrast, the term “anti-Semitism” means bigotry and racism directed at Jewish people, ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    4 days ago

  • Climate change is making hurricanes more destructive
    This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Because hurricanes are one of the big-ticket weather disasters that humanity has to face, climate misinformers spend a lot of effort muddying the waters on whether climate change is making hurricanes more damaging. With the official start to the hurricane ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • Wayne Brown’s PT Plan
    Yesterday the Mayor released what he calls his “plan to save public transport” which is part of his final proposal for the Council’s Long Term Plan (LTP). This comes following consultation on the draft version that occurred in March which showed, once again, that people want more done on transport, especially ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    4 days ago

  • Potaka's Private Universe.
    And it's a pleasure that I have knownAnd it's a treasure that I have gainedAotearoa’s coalition government is fragile. It’s held together by the obsequious sycophancy of Christopher Luxon, who willingly contorts his party into the fringe positions of his junior coalition partners and is unwilling to contradict them. The ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • Our slow regional councils
    The Select Committee hearing submissions on the fast-track consenting legislation is starting to become a beat-up of regional councils. The inflexibility and slow workings of the Councils were prominent in two submissions yesterday. One, from the Coromandel Marine Farmers Association, simply said that the Waikato Regional Council’s planning decisions were ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago

  • Ministers are not above the law after all
    Back in April, the High Court surprised everyone by ruling that Ministers are above the law, at least as far as the Waitangi Tribunal is concerned. The reason for this ruling was "comity" - the idea that the different branches of government shouldn't interfere with each other's functions. Which makes ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • NZTA takes the wheel after govt gives it the road map for regional roads (and puts a speed governor ...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Tolling was mentioned when Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced the government was re-introducing the Roads of National Significance (RoNS) programme, with 15 “crucial” projects to support economic growth and regional development across New Zealand. All RoNS would be four-laned, grade-separated highways, and all funding, financing, and ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • Change in Catalonia?
    or the past 14 years, ever since the Spanish government cheated on an autonomy deal, Catalonia has reliably given pro-independence parties a majority of seats in their regional parliament. But now that seems to be over. Catalans went to the polls yesterday, and stripped the Catalan parties of their majority. ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • Having an enrolment date is not depriving anyone of a vote
    David Farrar writes –  Radio NZ report: Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins said the Electoral Commission should make sure the system ran smoothly and “taking away the right of thousands of people to vote” was not the answer. “Thousands of people enroled and voted on the day. If ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Perhaps house prices don’t always go up
    Don Brash writes –  There was a rather revealing headline in the Herald on Sunday today (12 May). It read “One in 8 Auckland homes on market were bought during boom, may now sell for loss”. The first line of text noted that “New data shows one in ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Can’t read, can’t write, can’t comprehend – and won’t think…?
    Mike Grimshaw writes –  At a time when universities are understandably nervous regarding the establishment of the University Advisory Group (UAG) and the Science System Advisory Group (SSAG) it may seem strange – or even fool-hardy – to state that there are long-standing issues in the tertiary sector ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Time for some perspective
    Lindsay Mitchell writes –  A lack of perspective can make something quite large or important seem small or irrelevant. Against a backdrop of high-profile, negative statistics it is easy to overlook the positive. For instance, the fact that 64 percent of Maori are employed is rarely reported. For ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Will NZ Herald’s ‘poor journalism’ cost lives?
    Earlier this year, the Herald ran a series of articles amounting to a sustained campaign against raised pedestrian crossings, by reporter Bernard Orsman. A key part of that campaign concerned the raised crossings being installed as part of the Pt Chevalier to Westmere project, with at least 10 articles over ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    5 days ago

  • The Kaka’s diary for the week to May 19 and beyond
    TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to May 19 include:PM Christopher Luxon is expected to hold his weekly post-cabinet news conference at 4:00pm on Monday.Parliament is not sitting this week. It resumes next week for a two-week sitting session up to and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • Webworm Popup Photos!
    Hi,Thanks to all the beautiful Worms who came to the LA Webworm popup on Saturday.It was a way to celebrate the online store we launched last week — and it was super special.As I talk about a lot, I really value our community here — and it was a BLAST ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 days ago

  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #19
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, May 5, 2024 thru Sat, May 11, 2024. (Unfortunate) Story of the week "Grief that stops at despair is an ending that I and many others, most notably ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • DJ Fred Again – Assurance report received
    "On the 27th of March, I sought assurances from the Chief Executive, Department of Internal Affairs, that the Department’s correct processes and policies had been followed in regards to a passport application which received media attention,” says Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden.  “I raised my concerns after being ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 hours ago

  • District Court Judges appointed
    Attorney-General Judith Collins has announced the appointment of three new District Court Judges, to replace Judges who have recently retired. Peter James Davey of Auckland has been appointed a District Court Judge with a jury jurisdiction to be based at Whangarei. Mr Davey initially started work as a law clerk/solicitor with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago

  • Unions should put learning ahead of ideology
    Associate Education Minister David Seymour is calling on the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) to put ideology to the side and focus on students’ learning, in reaction to the union holding paid teacher meetings across New Zealand about charter schools.     “The PPTA is disrupting schools up and down the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours ago

  • Craig Stobo appointed as chair of FMA
    Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly today announced the appointment of Craig Stobo as the new chair of the Financial Markets Authority (FMA). Mr Stobo takes over from Mark Todd, whose term expired at the end of April. Mr Stobo’s appointment is for a five-year term. “The FMA plays ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours ago

  • Budget 2024 invests in lifeguards and coastguard
    Surf Life Saving New Zealand and Coastguard New Zealand will continue to be able to keep people safe in, on, and around the water following a funding boost of $63.644 million over four years, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Associate Transport Minister Matt Doocey say. “Heading to the beach for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago

  • New Zealand and Tuvalu reaffirm close relationship
    New Zealand and Tuvalu have reaffirmed their close relationship, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters says.  “New Zealand is committed to working with Tuvalu on a shared vision of resilience, prosperity and security, in close concert with Australia,” says Mr Peters, who last visited Tuvalu in 2019.  “It is my pleasure ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • New Zealand calls for calm, constructive dialogue in New Caledonia
    New Zealand is gravely concerned about the situation in New Caledonia, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.  “The escalating situation and violent protests in Nouméa are of serious concern across the Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says.  “The immediate priority must be for all sides to take steps to de-escalate the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • New Zealand welcomes Samoa Head of State
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon met today with Samoa’s O le Ao o le Malo, Afioga Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II, who is making a State Visit to New Zealand. “His Highness and I reflected on our two countries’ extensive community links, with Samoan–New Zealanders contributing to all areas of our national ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Island Direct eligible for SuperGold Card funding
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has announced that he has approved Waiheke Island ferry operator Island Direct to be eligible for SuperGold Card funding, paving the way for a commercial agreement to bring the operator into the scheme. “Island Direct started operating in November 2023, offering an additional option for people ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Further sanctions against Russia
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters today announced further sanctions on 28 individuals and 14 entities providing military and strategic support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.  “Russia is directly supported by its military-industrial complex in its illegal aggression against Ukraine, attacking its sovereignty and territorial integrity. New Zealand condemns all entities and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • One year on from Loafers Lodge
    A year on from the tragedy at Loafers Lodge, the Government is working hard to improve building fire safety, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “I want to share my sincere condolences with the families and friends of the victims on the anniversary of the tragic fire at Loafers ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Pre-Budget speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Ka nui te mihi kia koutou. Kia ora and good afternoon, everyone. Thank you so much for having me here in the lead up to my Government’s first Budget. Before I get started can I acknowledge: Simon Bridges – Auckland Business Chamber CEO. Steve Jurkovich – Kiwibank CEO. Kids born ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • New Zealand and Vanuatu to deepen collaboration
    New Zealand and Vanuatu will enhance collaboration on issues of mutual interest, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “It is important to return to Port Vila this week with a broad, high-level political delegation which demonstrates our deep commitment to New Zealand’s relationship with Vanuatu,” Mr Peters says.    “This ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Penk travels to Peru for trade meetings
    Minister for Land Information, Chris Penk will travel to Peru this week to represent New Zealand at a meeting of trade ministers from the Asia-Pacific region on behalf of Trade Minister Todd McClay. The annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade meeting will be held on 17-18 May ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Minister attends global education conferences
    Minister of Education Erica Stanford will head to the United Kingdom this week to participate in the 22nd Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers (CCEM) and the 2024 Education World Forum (EWF). “I am looking forward to sharing this Government’s education priorities, such as introducing a knowledge-rich curriculum, implementing an evidence-based ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Education Minister thanks outgoing NZQA Chair
    Minister of Education Erica Stanford has today thanked outgoing New Zealand Qualifications Authority Chair, Hon Tracey Martin. “Tracey Martin tendered her resignation late last month in order to take up a new role,” Ms Stanford says. Ms Martin will relinquish the role of Chair on 10 May and current Deputy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Joint statement of Christopher Luxon and Emmanuel Macron: Launch of the Christchurch Call Foundation
    New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and President Emmanuel Macron of France today announced a new non-governmental organisation, the Christchurch Call Foundation, to coordinate the Christchurch Call’s work to eliminate terrorist and violent extremist content online.   This change gives effect to the outcomes of the November 2023 Call Leaders’ Summit, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Panel announced for review into disability services
    Distinguished public servant and former diplomat Sir Maarten Wevers will lead the independent review into the disability support services administered by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. The review was announced by Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston a fortnight ago to examine what could be done to strengthen the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Minister welcomes Police gang unit
    Today’s announcement by Police Commissioner Andrew Coster of a National Gang Unit and district Gang Disruption Units will help deliver on the coalition Government’s pledge to restore law and order and crack down on criminal gangs, Police Minister Mark Mitchell says. “The National Gang Unit and Gang Disruption Units will ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • New Zealand expresses regret at North Korea’s aggressive rhetoric
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today expressed regret at North Korea’s aggressive rhetoric towards New Zealand and its international partners.  “New Zealand proudly stands with the international community in upholding the rules-based order through its monitoring and surveillance deployments, which it has been regularly doing alongside partners since 2018,” Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • New Chief of Defence Force appointed
    Air Vice-Marshal Tony Davies MNZM is the new Chief of Defence Force, Defence Minister Judith Collins announced today. The Chief of Defence Force commands the Navy, Army and Air Force and is the principal military advisor to the Defence Minister and other Ministers with relevant portfolio responsibilities in the defence ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Government puts children first by repealing 7AA
    Legislation to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act has been introduced to Parliament. The Bill’s introduction reaffirms the Coalition Government’s commitment to the safety of children in care, says Minister for Children, Karen Chhour. “While section 7AA was introduced with good intentions, it creates a conflict for Oranga ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Defence Minister to meet counterparts in UK, Italy
    Defence Minister Judith Collins will this week travel to the UK and Italy to meet with her defence counterparts, and to attend Battles of Cassino commemorations. “I am humbled to be able to represent the New Zealand Government in Italy at the commemorations for the 80th anniversary of what was ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Charter schools to lift educational outcomes
    The upcoming Budget will include funding for up to 50 charter schools to help lift declining educational performance, Associate Education Minister David Seymour announced today. $153 million in new funding will be provided over four years to establish and operate up to 15 new charter schools and convert 35 state ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • COVID-19 Inquiry terms of reference consultation results received
    “The results of the public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has now been received, with results indicating over 13,000 submissions were made from members of the public,” Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says. “We heard feedback about the extended lockdowns in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • The Pacific family of nations – the changing security outlook
    Foreign Minister, Defence Minister, other Members of Parliament Acting Chief of Defence Force, Secretary of Defence Distinguished Guests  Defence and Diplomatic Colleagues  Ladies and Gentlemen,  Good afternoon, tēna koutou, apinun tru    It’s a pleasure to be back in Port Moresby today, and to speak here at the Kumul Leadership ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • NZ and Papua New Guinea to work more closely together
    Health, infrastructure, renewable energy, and stability are among the themes of the current visit to Papua New Guinea by a New Zealand political delegation, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.   “Papua New Guinea carries serious weight in the Pacific, and New Zealand deeply values our relationship with it,” Mr Peters ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Driving ahead with Roads of Regional Significance
    The coalition Government is launching Roads of Regional Significance to sit alongside Roads of National Significance as part of its plan to deliver priority roading projects across the country, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “The Roads of National Significance (RoNS) built by the previous National Government are some of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • New Zealand congratulates new Solomon Islands government
    A high-level New Zealand political delegation in Honiara today congratulated the new Government of Solomon Islands, led by Jeremiah Manele, on taking office.    “We are privileged to meet the new Prime Minister and members of his Cabinet during his government’s first ten days in office,” Deputy Prime Minister and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • New Zealand supports UN Palestine resolution
    New Zealand voted in favour of a resolution broadening Palestine’s participation at the United Nations General Assembly overnight, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “The resolution enhances the rights of Palestine to participate in the work of the UN General Assembly while stopping short of admitting Palestine as a full ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Speech to the 2024 Infrastructure Symposium
    Introduction Good morning. It’s a great privilege to be here at the 2024 Infrastructure Symposium. I was extremely happy when the Prime Minister asked me to be his Minister for Infrastructure. It is one of the great barriers holding the New Zealand economy back from achieving its potential. Building high ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • $571 million for Defence pay and projects
    Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced the upcoming Budget will include new funding of $571 million for Defence Force pay and projects. “Our servicemen and women do New Zealand proud throughout the world and this funding will help ensure we retain their services and expertise as we navigate an increasingly ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Climate change – mitigating the risks and costs
    New Zealand’s ability to cope with climate change will be strengthened as part of the Government’s focus to build resilience as we rebuild the economy, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “An enduring and long-term approach is needed to provide New Zealanders and the economy with certainty as the climate ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Getting new job seekers on the pathway to work
    Jobseeker beneficiaries who have work obligations must now meet with MSD within two weeks of their benefit starting to determine their next step towards finding a job, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “A key part of the coalition Government’s plan to have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Accelerating Social Investment
    A new standalone Social Investment Agency will power-up the social investment approach, driving positive change for our most vulnerable New Zealanders, Social Investment Minister Nicola Willis says.  “Despite the Government currently investing more than $70 billion every year into social services, we are not seeing the outcomes we want for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Getting Back on Track
    Check against delivery Good morning. It is a pleasure to be with you to outline the Coalition Government’s approach to our first Budget. Thank you Mark Skelly, President of the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce, together with  your Board and team, for hosting me.   I’d like to acknowledge His Worship ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • NZ – European Union ties more critical than ever
    Your Excellency Ambassador Meredith,   Members of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassadors from European Union Member States,   Ministerial colleagues, Members of Parliament, and other distinguished guests, Thank you everyone for joining us.   Ladies and gentlemen -    In diplomacy, we often speak of ‘close’ and ‘long-standing’ relations.   ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Therapeutic Products Act to be repealed
    The Therapeutic Products Act (TPA) will be repealed this year so that a better regime can be put in place to provide New Zealanders safe and timely access to medicines, medical devices and health products, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello announced today. “The medicines and products we are talking about ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Decisions on Wellington City Council’s District Plan
    The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop, today released his decision on twenty recommendations referred to him by the Wellington City Council relating to its Intensification Planning Instrument, after the Council rejected those recommendations of the Independent Hearings Panel and made alternative recommendations. “Wellington notified its District Plan on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Rape Awareness Week: Government committed to action on sexual violence
    Rape Awareness Week (6-10 May) is an important opportunity to acknowledge the continued effort required by government and communities to ensure that all New Zealanders can live free from violence, say Ministers Karen Chhour and Louise Upston.  “With 1 in 3 women and 1 in 8 men experiencing sexual violence ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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