Winston and the wanker

Written By: - Date published: 10:26 am, July 31st, 2008 - 49 comments
Categories: election funding, nz first - Tags:

Today’s front-page story in the DominionPost on New Zealand First is a complete beat-up. It starts off:

More questions have been raised about donations to NZ First over a $20,000 deposit to the party’s bank account that does not appear on its register of declared donations.

Really? The story goes on:

The Dominion Post has obtained a deposit slip showing $19,998 was deposited in one or more cheques into the party’s coffers in December 1999.

One or more cheques? For $19,998, not $20,000? The most likely explanation for that number is that the deposit form included two cheques for $9,999.

The donation, banked into the party’s Westpac account, fuels the issue of big-business donations to NZ First – a party that has proclaimed that it does not take money from big-business donors.

How does it do that if it is a deposit slip? We are not told who the donors are.

Electoral Commission records for 1999 show that NZ First did not declare any donations of more than $10,000 – the threshold requiring such a donation to be reported.

If the deposit was for two cheques for $9,999 both cheques would be under the threshold and would not be required to be declared. The deposit would be perfectly legal.

Contacted for comment yesterday, the party leader, Winston Peters, said: “Phil, I told you I’m not talking to a lying wanker like you. See you.” He then hung up.

Perhaps Winston has a point.

49 comments on “Winston and the wanker ”

  1. Oh no, [undirected stream of vitriol. deleted. do better D4J. SP]

  2. Bill 2

    For arguments sake, let’s assume everything is above board with WP. There is an opposition intent on mud slinging up through the election. They have picked target and are running with it..how long has it dominated the media now?

    If everything is hunky dory, then why put it to bed now if you can allow National to build it right up before slam dunking them at the final hurdle showing them up as… well, wankers I guess? (Sorry for the mixed metaphor)

    Just a thought.

    And that sports commentator guy had a nice neutralising effect on any potential ‘dirty politics’ too.

    Maybe I’m giving way too much credit to the ability of strategists to ‘guide’ the media. Like I say, just a thought.

  3. Nedyah Hsan 3

    MSM have had enough of Winston smearing them, and quite rightly choosing not to respond to basal allegations.
    So what to do when you don’t get a bite? Pick a line, beat it up, destroy the target, and then move on to the next one.

    It’s fairly interesting that the Herald still hasn’t taken up Win-stuns offer of reading his accounts.

    Meanwhile the immigration bill slowly plods through select committing and removing all New Zealands sovereignity when it comes to giving entry.

    captcha: or unjust

    How true.

  4. This really is barrel-scrapping – it’s obvious that two checks of $9999 were deposited, and donations of less than $9999 from different people do not need to be declared.

    There’s no wrongdoing here… perfectly legal and common practice among parties. Hell, ACT has an explicit policy of seeking $9999 donations to avoid having to declare donations.

    Farrar will, doubtless, be having a fit over these latest revealations and have another five posts up already.

  5. randal 5

    well sp they dont appear to have anythng else and they are so full of themselves that they are willing to embarrass the American Secretary of State. they have no shame. go over to tmops and kreacher (cloin16)and barcodia are taking the same line and they are vile peopele.

  6. Higherstandard 6

    Bill

    “There is an opposition intent on mud slinging up through the election.”

    There is almost universal distaste for this charlatan amongst the political parties. Labour and National need a kick in the arse for not counting him out of their plans on the basis of his continued obfuscation and antics, let alone his behaviour as a foreign minister making anti asian and anti immigrant comments every six months or so.

    captcha (play contest) ….. Yep

  7. monkey-boy 7

    Was ‘Ol Fatso’ Frank Sinatra’s older, less talented brother?

  8. The missing quote from the Dom Post article:

    “In 1999, ACT, National, Labour and the Greens all declared their parties received anonymous donations of at least $20,000.”

    Isn’t today the last Confidence & Supply vote ? Perhaps the Minister of Foreign Affairs will be “Gone by (Friday) Lunchtime.”

  9. Bill 9

    HS. I have no liking at all for WP and reckon he should have been kicked out of politics when he was deputy PM for his disgusting public racist statements back then.

    However, that’s not the point. I was only airing some loose early morning thoughts on possible manipulations of societal discourse and possible reasoning/outcome behind such manipulation.

    Probably far too conspiratorial on my part and giving far too much credit where none is due.

  10. J Mex 10

    “Ol’ Fatso will, doubtless, be having a fit over these latest revealations and have another five posts up already.”

    Charming.

  11. There’s no wrongdoing here perfectly legal and common practice among parties.

    Oh, and the rich scent of Peters’ hypocrisy too, of course.

    I get the impression Clark is over all this: hence her apparent acceptance that nothing illegal has been done — whilst observing that it’s a matter for “the court of public opinion”.

  12. Higherstandard 12

    Sorry Bill

    I wasn’t getting at you – I also don’t disagree that Winston may be manipulating the whole thing.. as I said somewhere else it’s no surprise that the NZ public view politicians with such contempt.

  13. Bill 13

    Didn’t feel ‘got at’ HS, so don’t worry…conspiracy is not necessarily wedded to paranoia….or is it?

  14. Felix 14

    Don’t worry Bill, I’ve had you thoroughly checked out and found that you’re not the slightest bit paranoid.

  15. burt 15

    Steve P.

    it’s obvious that two checks of $9999 were deposited, and donations of less than $9999 from different people do not need to be declared.

    Yes it’s obvious, it’s obvious that Winston has been asking for donations of just under $10K so he has no need to declare them. This may not be illegal but perhaps you could defend this apparent deliberate attempt to hide the donations.

    Didn’t Winston vote for the EFA (which makes no changes to the legality of actions like this) because transparency was soooo important. Is it only important for National but not the Labour-led govt?

  16. MikeE 16

    This might be a stupid question, but what if there was a 25c check fee?

    Would that put it over the threshold?

  17. mike 17

    Great to see you guys supporting WP on this, it leaves absolutley no room to attack National on anything to with donations or big business etc etc.

    Also, as it can only end badly and labour are getting more and more tarnished by the day as helen gives winnie a free ride.

    [lprent: Actually I think John A was actually attacking the fuckwit journo. His only ‘support’ for WP was to say that maybe he had a point when he called the journo a ‘wanker’. I would have as well bearing in mind that the journo didn’t bother to think before writing and consequently looks to me like a total loser. ]

  18. Daveski 18

    So the moral is it’s OK if it’s legal if WP does it but it’s not OK if the EB does it and it was legal.

    It’s funny because this site is full of people ready to spout on unabashed about how principled the left are compared to the dastardedly righties yet time after time they show that principles mean nothing if it impinges on power.

    It is clear that Winston has said one thing and done quite the opposite. If this was Key – say he’d said to the NZH that he prefers marmite on his toast but was spotted spreading raspberry jam – the Standardistas would have him for toast.

    Winston still thinks he’s the best thing since sliced bread 😉

    [lprent: same note as per Mike above. Tell me do you read the post before commenting? ]

  19. MikeE – $9999 + 0.25 = 9999.25, 9999.25<10000. So, no.

    burt. ACT had an official policy of asking for $9999 donations. We don’t know whether NZF asked for $9999 donations or the donors chose to make their donations just under the reporting limit off their own bat.

  20. Bill 20

    So Felix,the abduction? The ‘alien probes’? That was you? Oh.

  21. burt 21

    Steve P.

    burt. ACT had an official policy of asking for $9999 donations. We don’t know whether NZF asked for $9999 donations or the donors chose to make their donations just under the reporting limit off their own bat.

    So what? If ACT did it to is it OK for Winston?

    ACT didn’t grandstand about National using secret trusts… Winston did.

    “Others did it to” is not making it right. Send the whole lot to the SFO for all I care, just stop defending Winston based on the childish defence of “Others did it”. Get some principles… drop the partisan “It’s OK when we do it”.

    Hollow men….. Includes the Labour-led govt!

  22. If anything, this sort of nonsense from the DomPost just provides Peters with evidence that he is being unfairly targeted. Which plays to his supporters, who seem to lap up conspiracy theory and be united in a bizarre group persecution complex. On this occasion, Peters has a point.

    PS, Not doubting you at all SP… what’s the source for ACT having an explicit policy of seeking $9999 donations to avoid having to declare donations?

  23. Mike 23

    Correct me if I am wrong. Didn’t WP, at one time, say that donations over $500 should be declared?

  24. burt 24

    Mike

    The supporters of dishonest govt will assure youn that he never said that (baseless allegations) – even if he did say that Winston has shown that he only expects others to do as he says – he just does what he wants.

  25. Burt, Here’s a quote from John Armstrong’s piece in this morning’s Granny: “Then there is the reluctance of all parties to open their financial books for inspection. The only one which regularly publishes its accounts in any detail is Labour.”

    There, I feel morally superior all of a sudden!

  26. burt 26

    jafapete

    So when Labour amended the EFA to keep anon donations and use of trusts was it becasue it wanted Winston’s support?

    morally superior…. ha ha. retrospective validation took away any chance for moral high ground.

  27. Tim Ellis 27

    SP, I don’t think you can complain about people referring to Helen Clark’s physical features when you refer to David Farrar as “Ol’ Fatso”. That is gutter stuff, and it demeans everything you write when you stoop to that level. People would take you more seriously if you showed a little more self-restraint, and resisted cheap personal attacks.

  28. lprent 28

    TE: I thought he was talking about WhaleOil….

    I think he has more posts up than even DPF does on the topic. I have personally referred to ‘Oil as the bloated one, but that was more on the subject of his inflated idea of his technical expertise (roughly in the vaguely promising level).

    ‘oil of course seems to regard personal physical attributes as being the only thing worth talking about. Or rather it is usually one of the few intelligible things he does say.

    Personally I’ve never met either, except virtually.

  29. randal 29

    ol fatso is not a gentleman and the Prime Minister is the Right Honourable and if you dont know the difference and persist in your creepy assertions then I am sure one of her champions will find an opportune moment to throw some mud in your eye. besides ol’ fatso farrar is the creeps creep!

  30. Felix 30

    Yeah Bill, sorry about the cows too – that was Carl’s fault, he’s new.

  31. Tim Ellis 31

    LP you know even calling Whale the bloated one is a personal slur, but calling anybody “Ol’ Fatso” is going overboard.

    Randal I agree that making personal attacks about the Prime Minister’s physical appearance is not acceptable. You might want to measure yourself, too. I do not make creepy assertions about her, I simply think that SP can restrain himself from gutter swiping with cheap, nasty personal attacks on other people’s physical appearances. It is objectionable when anonymous individuals post cheap, cowardly slurs about other people.

  32. lprent 32

    TE: Tell me, have you seen what Whale calls me every other day. Of course he sometimes dresses it up by referring to me as “The Standard” when he calls me a liar, corrupt, and every other vile behaviour in creation.

    Are you suggesting that I should turn the other cheek? Personally I find his behaviour reprehensible and offensive and I prefer rubbishing him.

  33. The Peters thing has pushed National’s lack of substantive policy out of the news. It may also ultimately keep peters out of Parliamnt – likely the real goal here. Peters is very unlikely to be found to have done anything illegal. That he may be a hypocrite – going back to 1999? – is no breach of the law.

  34. Tim Ellis 34

    LP I’ve never met Whale, I don’t read his blog, and I’m not about to apologise on his behalf for his behaviour. I don’t think you’re trying to justify Steve Pierson calling David Farrar “Ol’ Fatso”. Steve Pierson just wrote on the other post that he was referring to David Farrar. It says so much more about the person making the attacks than the person they are attacking when they have to use such vitriol and venom, rather than confronting the issues.

  35. lprent: WhaleOil is best treated with ignore. I don’t link to him and I don’t read his blog. There is nothing there for me of any use or interest. If his filth turns on other sites through the keyboards of others, I ignore it. Any comment that is nothing but abuse – by anyone – is ignored. That anyone reads WhaleOil every day and thinks it is interesting is fascinating. I’d love to see some research into how the mind of such a person works. Reality is irrelevant. Facts mean nothing. Abuse is everything – the more the better.

    Sick, really.

  36. The descent of this thread into a debate about calling Whale Oil “ol’ Fatso” just about says it all.

    The DomPost should be ashamed of itself for trying to retail such drivel as news. It’s not remotely news. And when are they going to start investigating the Waitemata Trust and other secret funding channels for the National Party? It’s not even ‘fair and balanced’ drivel.

  37. lprent 37

    TE: Ummm – the posts about this site in the KB by DPF use much the same accusations and link to WhaleOil. The mere fact the language is milder doesn’t detract from the accusations.

    I won’t even mention the cesspool that is the comments section in KB talking about this site.

    It says so much more about the person making the attacks than the person they are attacking when they have to use such vitriol and venom, rather than confronting the issues.

    So I presume you’re going there right now to give the same lecture to those attack artists? I certainly haven’t seen you there? Or is this a lecture you reserve just for some of us?

    In the meantime I’ll refer to people in a manner that expresses my distaste for them.

  38. Tim Ellis 38

    Give me a break LP. I don’t read whaleoil. I read kiwiblog and the standard. I don’t read all of kiwiblog’s comments very often because quite often they go wildly off topic and after about the first twenty comments they aren’t often talking about the issue of the post. If kiwiblog links to whaleoil it doesn’t mean he’s endorsing everything he says, just as if you link to newzblog or kiwiblogblog you are not endorsing everything they say. I’m not giving you a lecture and it isn’t my job to go around lecturing people about what they put on their blogs, but the excuse that person A is justified in calling person B a fatso, because person C said something unkind about person A is just pathetic really. I like Tane’s and Irishbill’s and all-your-base’s writing, and Russell Brown for that matter, because they don’t engage in personal abuse. David Farrar doesn’t engage in personal abuse either. When SP wrote that he was letting the whole side down. There seems to be an acknowledgement on the other thread that he regrets making the comment, and in the heat of the moment it’s understandable. It would be nice if everyone, including commenters and blog writers, could show a little bit more restraint and refuse to personally abuse each other.

  39. lprent 39

    TE: Exactly.

    But you can understand that after having 6 months of this type of crap thrown at us, that I personally (ie outside my BOFH role) have been getting pretty tired of it. Consequently I have a reasonably low tolerance, and a noticeable tendency to get much more confrontational in my comments.

    In the BOFH role I have a tendency to preempt standard attack lines.

    In your case I wasn’t sure, so you got the comments rather than the notes. The “holier than thou attack line” is one that I do watch for. As you can see it is a guaranteed way to start a flamewar.

    Then I start stomping HARD. It Drivel drives reasonable commentators away.

    Anyway – off to be a BOFH.

  40. burt 40

    lprent

    But you can understand that after having 6 months of this type of crap thrown at us, that I personally (ie outside my BOFH role) have been getting pretty tired of it.

    Perhaps you don’t have the appropriate temprement for the blogsphere. You might want to consider publishing a newsletter where people cannot interact and comment and get you all flustered.

    also: “after having 6 months of this type of crap thrown at us” is that “us” individuals or generically ‘The standard’?

    John A.

    Are you a Winston First supportyer or do you just like it when political parties do tricky stuff to hide what they are doing with party funding?

  41. Rex Widerstrom 41

    All right, since I respect the intelligence of most of the people associated with The Standard and haven’t observed any of you descend into the gutter I’ll just ask you straight out.

    Given the performance of Ron Mark and his organ grinder in the House yesterday, you think these are people who are fit to represent the people of New Zealand in our Parliament, do you? You think that behaviour – the absolute height of hypocrisy in Marks’ case – is just the cut-and-thrust of politics and not the dragging of deomcracy into the gutter and below?

    That there’s absolutely nothing wrong with Labour (and indeed National) standing round trying to look like they haven’t noticed that the guest they’ve invited into their drawing room hasn’t just puked in the punchbowl, kicked the cat, exposed themselves to the other guests, swung punches at the people that politely asked them to leave and then goosed the waiter.

    That – regardless of the illegality or otherwise of their actions – their morality and integrity are such that they make ideal companions for the Labour Party?

    Well do you?

    Because frankly, if that’s what you’re saying I’m about to add you to the list of people I’d rather snorkel through a sewer to avoid than hold a conversation with. And that would truly sadden me, because I believe you’re better than that.

  42. burt 42

    Well said Rex.

  43. Swampy 43

    You can say the media is hassling Winston (short term view) or take the long term view and look at Winston, how his party runs, where they are going etc etc and say, Winston always was a lightweight, now he is trying to dodge the arrows something chronic, he is trying to pretend it will all blow over, like the way he always does and has, but where is the reality here?

    Winston is in his 60s, his party is a one man band, he has to retire sometime, and the public at large has really had enough of MMP politics IMO. Winston is way past his use by date and this latest charade proves it.

  44. Swampy 44

    “If anything, this sort of nonsense from the DomPost just provides Peters with evidence that he is being unfairly targeted. Which plays to his supporters, who seem to lap up conspiracy theory and be united in a bizarre group persecution complex. On this occasion, Peters has a point.”

    We expect the journos to be investigative, and Winnie himself revelled in that very field once upon a time (back when in National he was the guy who had a piece of every leak and bit of action in town).

    I might not like the way they are writing as such, but they have sure got Winston’s back up, and it’s high time someone called his bluff on his ever present attacks on the media.

  45. lprent 45

    Rex: I haven’t really bothered to look at NZF’s actions. As you know I view it as more of the problem of anonymous donations. That is something I disagree with even having in the political system.

    The morality? Well let me say that the 1993 act stinks to high heaven, and because that was the legal regime. All the parties stink, some more than others. I think that the Nat’s use of anon donations stinks far more than NZF’s – but that is irrelevant to your question.

    So what I’m left with is the legal (and moral) situation for 2005 under the EA 1993.

    The problem is that there is bugger all info to base a decision on. Personally I’m not into Whales style of decision making – decide what you’d like it to be and then build a theory.

    For instance with Bob Jones and the Spencer Trust, I thought of a number of possible legal solutions that would fulfil BJ’s wish to have the money go to NZF, and that wouldn’t require the donation to be registered with the EC in the returns for 2005/6. Then I listened to 9-noon on NatRadio at about 10 and heard a lawyer give 3 or 4 more.

    All of them fulfilled both the legal and the ‘moral’ obligations under the EA 1993. Which is of course ridiculous because it just shows how big a pile of junk that act was.

    So I’m still waiting for more info…

    In the meantime, I’m just grateful that some of these horrendous loopholes were plugged in the EFA 2007. There are still more to fix in my opinion..

  46. Rex Widerstrom 46

    I don’t disagree with your analysis re anonymous donations Lynn but I’d really like to hear whether his loudest supporters here – Steve Pierson and John A, it seems – want to (virtually) look me in the eye and tell me that after yesterday’s performance – questions of donations be damned – they support this charlatan, the arrogant bullying little corporal, and the grinning goon squad arrayed behind them.

    You didn’t answer that and nor do I expect you to, as to my knowledge you’ve never authored a post portraying Peters as the victim as opposed to the many, many people whose reputations he’s ruined on the way to the gutter.

    And I’ll keep asking till they answer, because there’s a nasty core of bigots who support what’s left of NZF – because, stripped of principle, what’s left is a pretty ugly diaspora of paranoids, racists, homophobes and thugs, scattered amongst the well-meaning but deluded.

    But I wouldn’t have thought socially liberal socialist / greenies was another group to whom such attitudes have visceral appeal.

    Tell me, guys, did you also applaud Marks’ disgusting “what’s wrong with stuffing our prisons full of people” speech the same day?

    Better yet, perhaps you could define for me what Peters, Mark and their ilk have to do before you find the stench unbearable?

  47. lprent 47

    burt: “The Standard” is a program running a blog site that I’m responsible for and pay for. Shit thrown at it hits me. Personally I wouldn’t say that I get ‘flustered’. I do usually have fun with the shit-throwers, and learn a lot. But occasionally you get irritated.

    There have also been many attacks against the people writing here. Some are justified because they point out errors in the posts. Some aren’t and appear to be to try and drive the writers, readers and commentators away – so we have a heavy moderation policy.

    It is hard work keeping a site like this running with its rather rapid growth curves. Currently getting close to 30% per month by bandwidth – just looked at the GB for the month. Looks like I’d better open up the parallel access a bit more.

    Have we had another mention in the MSM or is this just the storm? Loading has been way up over the last week.

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    My daughter arrived home from the supermarket yesterday and she seemed a bit worried about something. It turned out she wanted to know if someone could get her bank number from a receipt.We wound the story back.She was in the store and there was a man there who was distressed, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • What makes NZFirst tick
    New Zealand’s longest-running political roadshow rolled into Opotiki yesterday, with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters knowing another poll last night showed he would make it back to Parliament and National would need him and his party if they wanted to form a government. The Newshub Reid Research poll ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • September AMA
    Hi,As September draws to a close — I feel it’s probably time to do an Ask Me Anything. You know how it goes: If you have any burning questions, fire away in the comments and I will do my best to answer. You might have questions about Webworm, or podcast ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • Bludgers lying in the scratcher making fools of us all
    The mediocrity who stands to be a Prime Minister has a litany.He uses it a bit like a Koru Lounge card. He will brandish it to say: these people are eligible. And more than that, too: These people are deserving. They have earned this policy.They have a right to this policy. What ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • More “partnerships” (by the look of it) and redress of over $30 million in Treaty settlement wit...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point of Order has waited until now – 3.45pm – for today’s officially posted government announcements.  There have been none. The only addition to the news on the Beehive’s website was posted later yesterday, after we had published our September 26 Buzz report. It came from ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago
  • ALEX HOLLAND: Labour’s spending
    Alex Holland writes –  In 2017 when Labour came to power, crown spending was $76 billion per year. Now in 2023 it is $139 billion per year, which equates to a $63 billion annual increase (over $1 billion extra spend every week!) In 2017, New Zealand’s government debt ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • If not now, then when?
    Labour released its fiscal plan today, promising the same old, same old: "responsibility", balanced books, and of course no new taxes: "Labour will maintain income tax settings to provide consistency and certainty in these volatile times. Now is not the time for additional taxes or to promise billions of ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • THE FACTS:  77% of Kiwis believe NZ is becoming more divided
    The Facts has posted –        KEY INSIGHTSOf New Zealander’s polled: Social unity/division 77%believe NZ is becoming more divided (42% ‘much more’ + 35% ‘a little more’) 3%believe NZ is becoming less divided (1% ‘much less’ + 2% ‘a little less’) ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the cynical brutality of the centre-right’s welfare policies
    The centre-right’s enthusiasm for forcing people off the benefit and into paid work is matched only by the enthusiasm (shared by Treasury and the Reserve Bank) for throwing people out of paid work to curb inflation, and achieve the optimal balance of workers to job seekers deemed to be desirable ...
    3 days ago
  • Wednesday’s Chorus: Arthur Grimes on why building many, many more social houses is so critical
    New research shows that tenants in social housing - such as these Wellington apartments - are just as happy as home owners and much happier than private tenants. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The election campaign took an ugly turn yesterday, and in completely the wrong direction. All three ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Old habits
    Media awareness about global warming and climate change has grown fairly steadily since 2004. My impression is that journalists today tend to possess a higher climate literacy than before. This increasing awareness and improved knowledge is encouraging, but there are also some common interpretations which could be more nuanced. ...
    Real ClimateBy rasmus
    3 days ago
  • Bennie Bashing.
    If there’s one thing the mob loves more than keeping Māori in their place, more than getting tough on the gangs, maybe even more than tax cuts. It’s a good old round of beneficiary bashing.Are those meanies in the ACT party stealing your votes because they think David Seymour is ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • The kindest cuts
    Labour kicks off the fiscal credibility battle today with the release of its fiscal plan. National is expected to follow, possibly as soon as Thursday, with its own plan, which may (or may not) address the large hole that the problems with its foreign buyers’ ban might open up. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • Green right turn in Britain? Well, a start
    While it may be unlikely to register in New Zealand’s general election, Britain’s PM Rishi Sunak has done something which might just be important in the long run. He’s announced a far-reaching change in his Conservative government’s approach to environmental, and particularly net zero, policy. The starting point – ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    3 days ago
  • At a glance – How do human CO2 emissions compare to natural CO2 emissions?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    3 days ago
  • How could this happen?
    Canada is in uproar after the exposure that its parliament on September 22 provided a standing ovation to a Nazi veteran who had been invited into the chamber to participate in the parliamentary welcome to Ukrainian President Zelensky. Yaroslav Hunka, 98, a Ukrainian man who volunteered for service in ...
    3 days ago
  • Always Be Campaigning
    The big screen is a great place to lay out the ways of the salesman. He comes ready-made for Panto, ripe for lampooning.This is not to disparage that life. I have known many good people of that kind. But there is a type, brazen as all get out. The camera ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • STEPHEN FRANKS: Press seek to publicly shame doctor – we must push back
    The following is a message sent yesterday from lawyer Stephen Franks on behalf of the Free Speech Union. I don’t like to interrupt first thing Monday morning, but we’ve just become aware of a case where we think immediate and overwhelming attention could help turn the tide. It involves someone ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Competing on cruelty
    The right-wing message calendar is clearly reading "cruelty" today, because both National and NZ First have released beneficiary-bashing policies. National is promising a "traffic light" system to police and kick beneficiaries, which will no doubt be accompanied by arbitrary internal targets to classify people as "orange" or "red" to keep ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • Further funding for Pharmac (forgotten in the Budget?) looks like a $1bn appeal from a PM in need of...
    Buzz from the Beehive One Labour plan  – for 3000 more public homes by 2025 – is the most recent to be posted on the government’s official website. Another – a prime ministerial promise of more funding for Pharmac – has been released as a Labour Party press statement. Who ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Bryce Edwards: The Vested interests shaping National Party policies
    As the National Party gets closer to government, lobbyists and business interests will be lining up for influence and to get policies adopted. It’s therefore in the public interest to have much more scrutiny and transparency about potential conflicts of interests that might arise. One of the key individuals of ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago
  • Labour may be on way out of power and NZ First back in – but will Peters go into coalition with Na...
    Voters  are deserting Labour in droves, despite Chris  Hipkins’  valiant  rearguard  action.  So  where  are they  heading?  Clearly  not all of them are going to vote National, which concedes that  the  outcome  will be “close”. To the Right of National, the ACT party just a  few weeks  ago  was ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    4 days ago
  • GRAHAM ADAMS: Will the racists please stand up?
    Accusations of racism by journalists and MPs are being called out. Graham Adams writes –    With the election less than three weeks away, what co-governance means in practice — including in water management, education, planning law and local government — remains largely obscure. Which is hardly ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on whether Winston Peters can be a moderating influence
    As the centre-right has (finally!) been subjected to media interrogation, the polls are indicating that some voters may be starting to have second thoughts about the wisdom of giving National and ACT the power to govern alone. That’s why yesterday’s Newshub/Reid Research poll had the National/ACT combo dropping to 60 ...
    4 days ago
  • Tuesday’s Chorus: RBNZ set to rain on National's victory parade
    ANZ has increased its forecast for house inflation later this year on signs of growing momentum in the market ahead of the election. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: National has campaigned against the Labour Government’s record on inflation and mortgage rates, but there’s now a growing chance the Reserve ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • After a Pittsburgh coal processing plant closed, ER visits plummeted
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Katie Myers. This story was originally published by Grist and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. Pittsburgh, in its founding, was blessed and cursed with two abundant natural resources: free-flowing rivers and a nearby coal seam. ...
    4 days ago
  • September-23 AT Board Meeting
    Today the AT board meet again and once again I’ve taken a look at what’s on the agenda to find the most interesting items. Closed Agenda Interestingly when I first looked at the agendas this paper was there but at the time of writing this post it had been ...
    4 days ago
  • Electorate Watch: West Coast-Tasman
    Continuing my series on interesting electorates, today it’s West Coast-Tasman.A long thin electorate running down the northern half of the west coast of the South Island. Think sand flies, beautiful landscapes, lots of rain, Pike River, alternative lifestylers, whitebaiting, and the spiritual home of the Labour Party. A brief word ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Big money brings Winston back
    National leader Christopher Luxon yesterday morning conceded it and last night’s Newshub poll confirmed it; Winston Peters and NZ First are not only back but highly likely to be part of the next government. It is a remarkable comeback for a party that was tossed out of Parliament in ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 20 days until Election Day, 7 until early voting begins… but what changes will we really see here?
    As this blogger, alongside many others, has already posited in another forum: we all know the National Party’s “budget” (meaning this concept of even adding up numbers properly is doing a lot of heavy, heavy lifting right now) is utter and complete bunk (read hung, drawn and quartered and ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    4 days ago
  • A night out
    Everyone was asking, Are you nervous? and my response was various forms of God, yes.I've written more speeches than I can count; not much surprises me when the speaker gets to their feet and the room goes quiet.But a play? Never.YOU CAME! THANK YOU! Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • A pallid shade of Green III
    Clearly Labour's focus groups are telling it that it needs to pay more attention to climate change - because hot on the heels of their weaksauce energy efficiency pilot programme and not-great-but-better-than-nothing solar grants, they've released a full climate manifesto. Unfortunately, the core policies in it - a second Emissions ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • A coalition of racism, cruelty, and chaos
    Today's big political news is that after months of wibbling, National's Chris Luxon has finally confirmed that he is willing to work with Winston Peters to become Prime Minister. Which is expected, but I guess it tells us something about which way the polls are going. Which raises the question: ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • More migrant workers should help generate the tax income needed to provide benefits for job seekers
    Buzz from the Beehive Under something described as a “rebalance” of its immigration rules, the Government has adopted four of five recommendations made in an independent review released in July, The fifth, which called on the government to specify criteria for out-of-hours compliance visits similar to those used during ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • Letter To Luxon.
    Some of you might know Gerard Otto (G), and his G News platform. This morning he wrote a letter to Christopher Luxon which I particularly enjoyed, and with his agreement I’m sharing it with you in this guest newsletter.If you’d like to make a contribution to support Gerard’s work you ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • LINDSAY MITCHELL: Alarming trend in benefit numbers
    Lindsay Mitchell writes –  While there will not be another quarterly release of benefit numbers prior to the election, limited weekly reporting continues and is showing an alarming trend. Because there is a seasonal component to benefit number fluctuations it is crucial to compare like with like. In ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • BRIAN EASTON: Has there been external structural change?
    A close analysis of the Treasury assessment of the Medium Term in its PREFU 2023 suggests the economy may be entering a new phase.   Brian Easton writes –  Last week I explained that the forecasts in the just published Treasury Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update (PREFU 2023) was ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • CRL Progress – Sep-23
    It’s been a while since we looked at the latest with the City Rail Link and there’s been some fantastic milestones recently. To start with, and most recently, CRL have released an awesome video showing a full fly-through of one of the tunnels. Come fly with us! You asked for ...
    5 days ago
  • Monday’s Chorus: Not building nearly enough
    We are heading into another period of fast population growth without matching increased home building or infrastructure investment.Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Labour and National detailed their house building and migration approaches over the weekend, with both pledging fast population growth policies without enough house building or infrastructure investment ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Game on; Hipkins comes out punching
    Labour leader Chris Hipkins yesterday took the gloves off and laid into National and its leader Christopher Luxon. For many in Labour – and particularly for some at the top of the caucus and the party — it would not have been a moment too soon. POLITIK is aware ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Tax Cut Austerity Blues.
    The leaders have had their go, they’ve told us the “what?” and the “why?” of their promises. Now it’s the turn of the would be Finance Ministers to tell us the “how?”, the “how much?”, and the “when?”A chance for those competing for the second most powerful job in the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • MIKE GRIMSHAW:  It’s the economy – and the spirit – Stupid…
    Mike Grimshaw writes – Over the past 30-odd years it’s become almost an orthodoxy to blame or invoke neoliberalism for the failures of New Zealand society. On the left the usual response goes something like, neoliberalism is the cause of everything that’s gone wrong and the answer ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #38
    A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Sep 17, 2023 thru Sat, Sep 23, 2023. Story of the Week  Opinion: Let’s free ourselves from the story of economic growth A relentless focus on economic growth has ushered in ...
    6 days ago
  • The End Of The World.
    Have you been looking out of your window for signs of the apocalypse? Don’t worry, you haven’t been door knocked by a representative of the Brian Tamaki party. They’re probably a bit busy this morning spruiking salvation, or getting ready to march on our parliament, which is closed. No, I’ve ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    7 days ago
  • Climate Town: The Brainwashing Of America's Children
    Climate Town is the YouTube channel of Rollie Williams and a ragtag team of climate communicators, creatives and comedians. They examine climate change in a way that doesn’t make you want to eat a cyanide pill. Get informed about the climate crisis before the weather does it for you. The latest ...
    1 week ago
  • Has There Been External Structural Change?
    A close analysis of the Treasury assessment of the Medium Term in its PREFU 2023 suggests the economy may be entering a new phase. Last week I explained that the forecasts in the just published Treasury Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update (PREFU 2023) was similar to the May Budget BEFU, ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • Another Labour bully
    Back in June, we learned that Kiri Allan was a Parliamentary bully. And now there's another one: Labour MP Shanan Halbert: The Labour Party was alerted to concerns about [Halbert's] alleged behaviour a year ago but because staffers wanted to remain anonymous, no formal process was undertaken [...] The ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago
  • Climate Change: Ignoring our biggest problem
    Its that time in the election season where the status quo parties are busy accusing each other of having fiscal holes in a desperate effort to appear more "responsible" (but not, you understand, by promising to tax wealth or land to give the government the revenue it needs to do ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago
  • JERRY COYNE: A good summary of the mess that is science education in New Zealand
    JERRY COYNE writes –  If you want to see what the government of New Zealand is up to with respect to science education, you can’t do better than listening to this video/slideshow by two exponents of the “we-need-two-knowledge-systems” view. I’ve gotten a lot of scary stuff from Kiwi ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 week ago
  • Good news on the GDP front is accompanied by news of a $5m govt boost for Supercars (but what about ...
    Buzz from the Beehive First, we were treated to the news (from Finance Minister Grant Robertson) that the economy has turned a corner and New Zealand never was in recession.  This was triggered by statistics which showed the economy expanded 0.9 per cent in the June quarter, twice as much as ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 week ago
  • The Scafetta Saga
    It has taken 17 months to get a comment published pointing out the obvious errors in the Scafetta (2022) paper in GRL. Back in March 2022, Nicola Scafetta published a short paper in Geophysical Research Letters (GRL) purporting to show through ‘advanced’ means that ‘all models with ECS > ...
    Real ClimateBy Gavin
    1 week ago
  • Friday's Chorus: Penny wise and pound foolish
    TL;DR: In the middle of a climate emergency and in a city prone to earthquakes, Victoria University of Wellington announced yesterday it would stop teaching geophysics, geographic information science and physical geography to save $22 million a year and repay debt. Climate change damage in Aotearoa this year is already ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • CHRIS TROTTER: Calling the big dog’s bluff
      For nearly thirty years the pundits have been telling the minor parties that they must be good little puppies and let the big dogs decide. The parties with a plurality of the votes cast must be allowed to govern – even if that means ignoring the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 week ago
  • The electorate swing, Labour limbo and Luxon-Hipkins two-step
     Another poll, another 27 for Labour. It was July the last time one of the reputable TV company polls had Labour's poll percentage starting with a three, so the limbo question is now being asked: how low can you go?It seems such an unlikely question because this doesn't feel like the kind ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    1 week ago
  • A Womance, and a Nomance.
    After the trench warfare of Tuesday night, when the two major parties went head to head, last night was the turn of the minor parties. Hosts Newshub termed it “the Powerbrokers' Debate”.Based on the latest polls the four parties taking part - ACT, the Greens, New Zealand First, and Te ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago

  • New community-level energy projects to support more than 800 Māori households
    Seven more innovative community-scale energy projects will receive government funding through the Māori and Public Housing Renewable Energy Fund to bring more affordable, locally generated clean energy to more than 800 Māori households, Energy and Resources Minister Dr Megan Woods says. “We’ve already funded 42 small-scale clean energy projects that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Huge boost to Te Tai Tokerau flood resilience
    The Government has approved new funding that will boost resilience and greatly reduce the risk of major flood damage across Te Tai Tokerau. Significant weather events this year caused severe flooding and damage across the region. The $8.9m will be used to provide some of the smaller communities and maraes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Napier’s largest public housing development comes with solar
    The largest public housing development in Napier for many years has been recently completed and has the added benefit of innovative solar technology, thanks to Government programmes, says Housing Minister Dr Megan Woods. The 24 warm, dry homes are in Seddon Crescent, Marewa and Megan Woods says the whanau living ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Te Whānau a Apanui and the Crown initial Deed of Settlement I Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me...
    Māori: Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna te Whakaaetanga Whakataunga Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna i tētahi Whakaaetanga Whakataunga hei whakamihi i ō rātou tāhuhu kerēme Tiriti o Waitangi. E tekau mā rua ngā hapū o roto mai o Te Whānau ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Plan for 3,000 more public homes by 2025 – regions set to benefit
    Regions around the country will get significant boosts of public housing in the next two years, as outlined in the latest public housing plan update, released by the Housing Minister, Dr Megan Woods. “We’re delivering the most public homes each year since the Nash government of the 1950s with one ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Immigration settings updates
    Judicial warrant process for out-of-hours compliance visits 2023/24 Recognised Seasonal Employer cap increased by 500 Additional roles for Construction and Infrastructure Sector Agreement More roles added to Green List Three-month extension for onshore Recovery Visa holders The Government has confirmed a number of updates to immigration settings as part of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Poroporoaki: Tā Patrick (Patu) Wahanga Hohepa
    Tangi ngunguru ana ngā tai ki te wahapū o Hokianga Whakapau Karakia. Tārehu ana ngā pae maunga ki Te Puna o te Ao Marama. Korihi tangi ana ngā manu, kua hinga he kauri nui ki te Wao Nui o Tāne. He Toa. He Pou. He Ahorangi. E papaki tū ana ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Renewable energy fund to support community resilience
    40 solar energy systems on community buildings in regions affected by Cyclone Gabrielle and other severe weather events Virtual capability-building hub to support community organisations get projects off the ground Boost for community-level renewable energy projects across the country At least 40 community buildings used to support the emergency response ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • COVID-19 funding returned to Government
    The lifting of COVID-19 isolation and mask mandates in August has resulted in a return of almost $50m in savings and recovered contingencies, Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. Following the revocation of mandates and isolation, specialised COVID-19 telehealth and alternative isolation accommodation are among the operational elements ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Appointment of District Court Judge
    Susie Houghton of Auckland has been appointed as a new District Court Judge, to serve on the Family Court, Attorney-General David Parker said today.  Judge Houghton has acted as a lawyer for child for more than 20 years. She has acted on matters relating to the Hague Convention, an international ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government invests further in Central Hawke’s Bay resilience
    The Government has today confirmed $2.5 million to fund a replace and upgrade a stopbank to protect the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant. “As a result of Cyclone Gabrielle, the original stopbank protecting the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant was destroyed. The plant was operational within 6 weeks of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Govt boost for Hawke’s Bay cyclone waste clean-up
    Another $2.1 million to boost capacity to deal with waste left in Cyclone Gabrielle’s wake. Funds for Hastings District Council, Phoenix Contracting and Hog Fuel NZ to increase local waste-processing infrastructure. The Government is beefing up Hawke’s Bay’s Cyclone Gabrielle clean-up capacity with more support dealing with the massive amount ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Taupō Supercars revs up with Government support
    The future of Supercars events in New Zealand has been secured with new Government support. The Government is getting engines started through the Major Events Fund, a special fund to support high profile events in New Zealand that provide long-term economic, social and cultural benefits. “The Repco Supercars Championship is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • There is no recession in NZ, economy grows nearly 1 percent in June quarter
    The economy has turned a corner with confirmation today New Zealand never was in recession and stronger than expected growth in the June quarter, Finance Minister Grant Robertson said. “The New Zealand economy is doing better than expected,” Grant Robertson said. “It’s continuing to grow, with the latest figures showing ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Highest legal protection for New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs
    The Government has accepted the Environment Court’s recommendation to give special legal protection to New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs, Te Waikoropupū Springs (also known as Pupū Springs), Environment Minister David Parker announced today.   “Te Waikoropupū Springs, near Takaka in Golden Bay, have the second clearest water in New Zealand after ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • More support for victims of migrant exploitation
    Temporary package of funding for accommodation and essential living support for victims of migrant exploitation Exploited migrant workers able to apply for a further Migrant Exploitation Protection Visa (MEPV), giving people more time to find a job Free job search assistance to get people back into work Use of 90-day ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Strong export boost as NZ economy turns corner
    An export boost is supporting New Zealand’s economy to grow, adding to signs that the economy has turned a corner and is on a stronger footing as we rebuild from Cyclone Gabrielle and lock in the benefits of multiple new trade deals, Finance Minister Grant Robertson says. “The economy is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Funding approved for flood resilience work in Te Karaka
    The Government has approved $15 million to raise about 200 homes at risk of future flooding. More than half of this is expected to be spent in the Tairāwhiti settlement of Te Karaka, lifting about 100 homes there. “Te Karaka was badly hit during Cyclone Gabrielle when the Waipāoa River ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Further business support for cyclone-affected regions
    The Government is helping businesses recover from Cyclone Gabrielle and attract more people back into their regions. “Cyclone Gabrielle has caused considerable damage across North Island regions with impacts continuing to be felt by businesses and communities,” Economic Development Minister Barbara Edmonds said. “Building on our earlier business support, this ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New maintenance facility at Burnham Military Camp underway
    Defence Minister Andrew Little has turned the first sod to start construction of a new Maintenance Support Facility (MSF) at Burnham Military Camp today. “This new state-of-art facility replaces Second World War-era buildings and will enable our Defence Force to better maintain and repair equipment,” Andrew Little said. “This Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Foreign Minister to attend United Nations General Assembly
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta will represent New Zealand at the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York this week, before visiting Washington DC for further Pacific focussed meetings. Nanaia Mahuta will be in New York from Wednesday 20 September, and will participate in UNGA leaders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Midwives’ pay equity offer reached
    Around 1,700 Te Whatu Ora employed midwives and maternity care assistants will soon vote on a proposed pay equity settlement agreed by Te Whatu Ora, the Midwifery Employee Representation and Advisory Service (MERAS) and New Zealand Nurses Association (NZNO), Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. “Addressing historical pay ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • New Zealand provides support to Morocco
    Aotearoa New Zealand will provide humanitarian support to those affected by last week’s earthquake in Morocco, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced today. “We are making a contribution of $1 million to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to help meet humanitarian needs,” Nanaia Mahuta said. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Government invests in West Coast’s roading resilience
    The Government is investing over $22 million across 18 projects to improve the resilience of roads in the West Coast that have been affected by recent extreme weather, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins confirmed today.  A dedicated Transport Resilience Fund has been established for early preventative works to protect the state ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Government invests in Greymouth’s future
    The Government has today confirmed a $2 million grant towards the regeneration of Greymouth’s CBD with construction of a new two-level commercial and public facility. “It will include a visitor facility centred around a new library. Additionally, it will include retail outlets on the ground floor, and both outdoor and ...
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