Winston Peters Names Alleged Super Leaker

Written By: - Date published: 4:44 pm, July 22nd, 2020 - 87 comments
Categories: Abuse of power, accountability, act, class war, david seymour, Deep stuff, democracy under attack, election 2020, national/act government, Politics, same old national, the praiseworthy and the pitiful, winston peters, you couldn't make this shit up - Tags: , , , ,

In an extraordinary moment in the house, Winston Peters has named the person he says leaked his superannuation details.

The NZ First leader, using Parliamentary privilege, has claimed that former National Party press secretary Rachel Morton was the source.

Morton, on twitter, says “the claims made by Winston Peters about me today are categorically not true.”

Peters claims the breach of his privacy was an “ACT-inspired hit job”.

Rachel Morton and ACT leader David Seymour have a close relationship. This could be the basis of Winston Peters’ claim that the leaking was orchestrated by the ACT and National parties.

Peters claimed Morton heard about his details when she was present in a ministerial office when former Minister Anne Tolley told Paula Bennett.

He says “This is what dirty politics looks like.”

Peter’s belief that ACT are behind the leak probably explains the recent twitter exchange suggesting fist fighting between Peters and  David ‘the Fighting Hologram’ Seymour.

Peters’ anger may have been stoked by being ordered by the High Court to pay over $300,000 in costs after his court action over the superannuation details leak failed.

This has some clear implications for the election outcome.

Never mind Judith Collins being sniffy about working with NZ First post election.

If NZ First does make it back and Collins calls, I can’t see Winston Peters picking up the phone now, unless it’s to laugh, then hang up.

87 comments on “Winston Peters Names Alleged Super Leaker ”

  1. Sacha 1

    Rachel Morton and ACT leader David Seymour have had a close relationship.

    Ew. My regard for her just plummeted.

    • I Feel Love 1.1

      Same, yech.

    • Incognito 1.2

      Apparently, he’s a good dancer.

    • observer 1.3

      This is a good example of the kind of thing where political insiders say "oh, everyone knows about that". Not really.

      I know (obviously) who Seymour is, and (vaguely) who Morton is, but did not know about their relationship, didn't need to and don't care. No public interest, until they are asked to comment on each other – this may have happened with Morton as a reporter/commentator but I don't recall it.

      • McFlock 1.3.1

        Pretty much the same.

        • I Feel Love 1.3.1.1

          I just saw Morton on Q & A a few weeks back, she was part of Bridges team, talking about Muller. Very smooth, capable and likable. I don't remember her as a reporter. NZ really is a tiny place (I'm related to someone in the top ranks of National but not spoken to in years).

          • Nick 1.3.1.1.1

            Yes I saw that also and thought she was crap, gets paid to manoeuvre people to be nasty and devious.

            [Please stick to the same user name and e-mail address that you have used here before; most recent comment was 21 July 2020, thanks – Incognito]

    • Muttonbird 1.4

      You mean he had a relationship with a staffer?

      • Shanreagh 1.4.1

        Shock horror, imbalance of power…..

        • McFlock 1.4.1.1

          An ACT MP is in a supervisory role of a National party staffer?

          If anything, maybe the other way around, in which case you might have a point…

          • Muttonbird 1.4.1.1.1

            An ACT MP is in a supervisory role of a National party staffer?

            Is this the case? If so, it's an almost identical situation to ILG's dalliance.

            I'm guessing Rimmer will not be firing himself!

            • McFlock 1.4.1.1.1.1

              Obviously it's not true. So there's not an imbalance of power in that regard, so no, it's not like ILG.

              • Muttonbird

                Is there really not an imbalance of power though? I'm sure David Seymour was treated like royalty in National Party corridors.

                • McFlock

                  royalty or pet?

                  And Morton seems to have a decent CV under her belt, not someone fresh out of school.

                  I suspect the only real problem is that which faces every workplace personal relationship there – it's easy to throw the allegation of improper information sharing because of the mere existence of that relationship. Winston's allegation being a case in point (I suspect winston believes it, but it's also a handy dead cat).

                  But I don't see any clear danger of misconduct in the relationship itself. Nothing in the "you're fecking joking, how could that not strike him as a terrible idea" territory of e.g. ILG

    • Grantoc 1.5

      Really. You believe Peter's!!??

  2. Anne 2

    I said at the start of the year this would be one of the dirtiest campaigns ever but hell…….

    surprise frown

  3. Speaking to reporters outside the House, Seymour said Peters was simply repeating "sleazy, baseless innuendo saying things that never happened" in the House.

    "I categorically deny involvement in that leak – I had nothing to do with it."

    He said that Morton did not give him information and he did not pass on any information, as alleged by Peters in the House.

    "The reason this accusation is being made is we're in a personal relationship – he's abusing that fact and I think that's a new low for New Zealand politics."

    Seymour said Peters is struggling in the polls and is "finished and is now trying to drag other people down with him".

    "Winston Peters is a desperate man making it up and in this case, telling lies."

    He said he didn't know anything about Peters superannuation payments until they hit headlines.

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12350174

    • McFlock 3.1

      He said he didn't know anything about Peters superannuation payments until they hit headlines.

      lol must have been one of the few people Tolley didn't tell…

  4. Climaction 4

    Can name whoever he wants under parliamentary privilege, true or nor

    coward. Never got his shorts or hair dirty on the wing playing rugby

    • I Feel Love 4.1

      always looked good though, always had style, always had amazing hair.

    • bwaghorn 4.2

      He did the first kick off to a team I was in at a new ground way back . Never stayed on the field long enough to see any action (he would have been about 40 then) which we all thought was probably wise , but cowardly.

    • Grafton Gully 4.3

      "Never got his shorts or hair dirty on the wing playing rugby" ?

      "Desperately trying to halt Winston Peters' bid for the line is Sam Rollerston. Peters managed to slip the tackle and score a try."

      https://photonews.org.nz/gisborne/issue/GPN118_19640423/t1-body-d35.html

      • Climaction 4.3.1

        did he? or did he stand on the other side of the road behind the fenced off carpark with a hand painted sign?

        He's a coward

        if his accusations carried any truth at all he wouldn't hide behind parliamentary privilege.

        pop quiz, name three senior (cabinet or higher at some point) politicians since mmp began who have alleged conspiracy under privilege that have had those allegations substantiated.

        be surprised if you can name one

      • RedBaronCV 4.3.2

        That! was a blast from the past. And a Cherrington too . Northland had an entire Senior A rugby team all but one with the name Cherrington.

  5. Just Is 5

    I just watched Seymour's speil in Parliament, having a go at Peters who had already left, he made some quite serious allegations, the speaker, Mallard ordered Seymour to withdraw the comments and apologize, Seymour refused and was subsequently ordered out of the house.

    Once sitting for the day was complete, he allowed Seymour back into the house on the proviso he withdraw the comments and apologize, which he duly did.

    Seymour accused Peters of lying about the relationship with Nationals Rachel Morton over the leaked Super overpayments.

  6. mary_a 6

    Winston Peters is getting some final desperate shots in before he loses the election. I sincerely hope Shane Jones doesn't win the Northland seat for NZF. I've had a gutsful of Peters, his lying deceptive BS and everything else he stands for.

    • Rosemary McDonald 6.1

      I've had a gutsful of Peters, his lying deceptive BS and everything else he stands for.

      He's not even funny anymore. A bit sad and pathetic. He needs to take a leaf from the dearly departed Todd and have a nice cup of tea and a lie down. Or go fishing.

      This is just ott. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12350106

    • Peter 6.2

      Do you dislike lying deceptive BS from any MP or just from Peters?

      • Rosemary McDonald 6.2.1

        Personally I think all politicians have a tendency to deception and bullshit. Anyone who believes otherwise is risking bitter disappointment. Peters is particularly irritating because of his holier- than -the -rest- of -the -mob attitude. The Super overpayment thing…he should have just put up and shut up. You'd think if a person was going to make a career out of drawing attention to the shenanigans of others they'd make doubly sure to keep their own affairs squeaky clean.

        I'm over the lot of 'em to be honest.

      • mary_a 6.2.2

        I'm beginning to think BS, deception and lying is a must for a politician!

        However, as far as Peters is concerned, he is becoming boring and pathetic with his he knows this, that and the other, but with the exception in this instance, he doesn't reveal anything! He's a clown and needs to retire.

    • Grafton Gully 6.3

      He took on the Richwhite. Fay and Key cabal – remember ???

      https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10448343

      • Climaction 6.3.1

        13 years ago for more allegations under privilege?

        taken them on isn't the same as being right.

        any degenerate can throw around accusations under parliamentary privlege

        • Marcus Morris 6.3.1.1

          The "Wine boxes" were produced back in the early nineties. 13 years ago???

  7. Zuszsa 7

    It was an extraordinary exchange. Peters was all over the place. He named Morton and Seymour and Chris Bishops father (!!) as being behind it all. Bishop and Seymour denied it all with fiery speeches. It was so bad Poto Williams felt the need to abandon her planned speech and instead talk about the need for dignity in parliament.

    It certainly took everyone's mind off IL-G.

  8. Gabby 8

    No Antarctica trip for Samantha, I rickn.

  9. Peter 9

    It's messy, it's awful, it's disgusting, it's a stain on the way things are done here. Right, that's dealt with the fact that Peters' information got past a minion in the MSD.

    It's messy, it's awful, it's disgusting, it's a stain on the way things are done in Parliament. Right, that's dealt with the fact that Peters' information got to a minion in the MSD went through that Ministry and ended up getting to a number of his opponents in Parliament.

    It's messy, it's awful, it's disgusting, it's a stain on the way things are done in Parliament and New Zealand. Right, that's dealt with the fact that Peters' information got to a minion in the MSD, ended up getting to a number of his opponents in Parliament and miraculously ended up plastered all over the news.

    It's messy, it's awful, it's disgusting, it's a stain on the way things are done in Parliament and New Zealand. Right, that's dealt with the fact that Peters' information ended up plastered all over the news shortly before the election.

    It's messy, it's awful, it's disgusting, it's a stain on the way things are done in Parliament. It’s what you get when Peters attacks after being wronged.

    • lprent 9.1

      Good summary. Since we don’t know who leaked Winston Peters paying back an superannuation over payment (something that happens quite a lot) to the press and probably will never be certain, I have no objection to a splatter movie across the whole of the political spectrum and public service.

      It was a total egregious breach of private information. Whoever did it deserves time in a prison. The next best thing is to make sure that the entirety of the public service and political classes find blood all over their shocked faces.. It will discourage more arseholes playing dirty politics 2.0.

      • Shanreagh 9.1.1

        I agree with you – especially the last para. My hope is that it will shake loose something.

        Leaking personal information about anybody is terrible, leaking deeply personal financial info that included info about a person not in politics ie family is shameful,

        doing it for dirty political gain is something else again.

        Hopefully someone will come clean.

      • Anne 9.1.2

        @ Peter, lprent &Shanreagh

        yes yes yes

        I’ve been there and know the horrendous damage it can do – damage that can go on for years.

      • Peter 9.1.3

        The problem lies with whoever released the information.

        The other problem is with the 'no surprises' policy. That 'requires departments to inform Ministers promptly of matters of significance within their portfolio responsibilities, particularly where these matters may be controversial or may become the subject of public debate.'

        Any matter to do with any MP could be deemed to be 'controversial or may become the subject of public debate.'

        Examples: An MP is paying child support for a child and no-one except those directly involved knows about it. Scandal! Controversy, public debate. IRD should inform the Minister.

        An MP in the quiet of the night gets a speeding ticket or DIC charge. Controversy, public debate. Police should inform the Minister regardless of suppression orders or before they could be granted.

        An MP or spouse has has some sort of financial transaction with a particular company. Knowledge of that, would be likely to see controversy and debate. IRD would inform the Minister.

        All the information to be got to only those who need to know of course. It'll would be safe there. The problem for Peters trying to prove who leaked the information was that 'only those who needed to know' seems to have included so many. Was the information read out at a 'junior staffers' party?

        I can't be bothered going back and checking, but I'm sure Maarten Wevers, Sir, ("in 2018, he resigned as chairman and from the board of the Earthquake Commission, having lost the confidence of the minister responsible") who was a witness in the Peters' case didn't say that the case showed that the 'no surprises' policy did not work and will not work when there are malevolent opportunists.

        As I said, in our political climate anything any MP does is likely to end up, or could be turned into controversy or become the subject of public debate.

        Those named today obviously have Peters to blame for their names being involved. Should they blame the clerk and the manager in an Auckland office for promoting the situation? Those who actually constructed the no surprises rule? The parliamentarians who got the confidential information?

        Imagine the shitstorm from the likes of David Farrar and Jordan Williams if their confidential information was broadcast far and wide, it'd be Big Brother this Big Brother that. Those named today are all incensed about Peters mentioning them.

        Oh dear, how sad, never mind. Suck it up. It's most likely what they expected of Peters.

        (I've got no truck with Peters or his party. He probably perpetrated some scummery today. There are far wider implications than just him though.)

        • lprent 9.1.3.1

          The other problem is with the ‘no surprises’ policy. That ‘requires departments to inform Ministers promptly of matters of significance within their portfolio responsibilities, particularly where these matters may be controversial or may become the subject of public debate.’

          I’d agree. And that is exactly what I mean when I say it is inappropriate. I can’t see anything political that couldn’t be shoved under the ‘no surprises’ label as a catch-all politically. It was exactly what Paula Bennett used (a no surprises justification) when she used private information held in her ministerial responsibility to attack critics of the government policy back in 2010 (?).

          Fortunately as several legal people have pointed out recently – that is just a matter of changing the cabinet manual to get rid of this obnoxious intrusion into state held private information. It isn’t a legal stipulation – it is a just a convenience for ministers. Just adding a proviso that anything that would be subject to a privacy breach with the public servant and the minister being held directly accountable would be sufficient.

          (I’ve got no truck with Peters or his party. He probably perpetrated some scummery today. There are far wider implications than just him though.)

          Yep – that is my view as well. The issue is important.
          I also think that he used a privileged channel that was actually designed for exactly how he used it.

          • Shanreagh 9.1.3.1.1

            I also think that he used a privileged channel that was actually designed for exactly how he used it.

            The reason that the info got to then Minister was a total misuse/misunderstanding of how/why the 'No surprises/heads-up' policy should have been used. There was, in my view, no reason at all for MSD to have included anything about this info about an MP's, or any other named private individual's/family's private financial matters.

            • lprent 9.1.3.1.1.1

              I was referring to Peter’s use of parliamentary privilege.

              • Shanreagh

                Yes I understand that. I totally agree that he used the correct channel for exactly the type of disclosure he has now made.

                Thought I had said this but not apparently, sorry!

                Just my view that had the info not got to the then MSD minister it would never have been leaked from there, I think this is what they are saying. My view is that MSD may have given the Minister this as part of a misapplication of the heads-up/no surprises policy.

      • Rosemary McDonald 9.1.4

        superannuation over payment (something that happens quite a lot)

        Really?

        Perhaps some folk don't take the whole form filling thing seriously?

        https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12284147

        • Shanreagh 9.1.4.1

          I take form filling very seriously. MSD still managed to use a crossed out tax code on my form instead of the new one that was initialled by me and circled and initialled by the MSD staff member who interviewed me.

          It was not until IRD contacted me several months later to point out I was owing quite a large Student loan repayment that I realised this. I immediately contacted MSD with another tax code declaration and paid back the owing, thankfully I was still working and had a bit of $$$$ to enable me to do this. Wouldn't have been able to now.

          MSD do not send any sort of pay advice out. You have to take it on trust that they have got it right. Bad move really to do be trusting like this, and anyone who has any sort of complicated Tax/MSD link-up should be very careful.

          Since that mistake of MSD's I ring to ask for the split and then double-check the maths myself.

          I bet Winston and his partner do as as well!

        • lprent 9.1.4.2

          I can't point to a source offhand. Rushing off to work. But it is somewhere in here…

          https://oag.parliament.nz/reports

          My opinion was based on reading an auditor-general report several years ago looking at the under and over payments for various beneficiary groups. Including super. As I remember it with super, the probability was higher than I expected – mostly due to changes in circumstances.

          But generally across all benefits, the most common reason appeared to be various kinds of misunderstandings about forms. Closely followed by misunderstandings by staff on valid entitlements or by taking default actions – as appeared to be the case with Peters (a unticked question does not warrant processing the application at all (it should also be yes/no)).

          My conclusion at the time was that as far as possible it should be done with onscreen forms that force active fill in on all relevant fields, and with hypertext on all options. Remove people out of the system as mach as possible and get them to focus on people who are functionally illiterate (ie can't use computers) and for phone queries.

  10. ScottGN 10

    A double dead cat bounce day.

  11. RosieLee 11

    I think Winston has lost the plot.

  12. Chris T 12

    I have never seen Winston so shitting himself and desperate for anything to save himself before.

    Guess the two weirdos from the UK didn't give as much help as promised.

    • Muttonbird 12.1

      There's not many who will be upset to see the back of Winston Peters. Judgement day for him and his band of centrist hand-brakes is nigh.

      I enjoy watching him duke it out with Rimmer though.

  13. Shanreagh 13

    Well someone did leak the details and I have no doubt that the establishment has come together to hide what they can. This shot across the bows may dig out the other offender/s and stop the ridiculous not me, not me, not me …..it did not just float out into the ether.

    In my experience, unless checked, some departmental and agency heads will routinely share this kind of stuff with their Ministers without any caveats/care as a strange 'heads-up'.

    Both ministers I worked for said that they looked after the 'political' stuff, that was their job and did not want to receive it from their seconded or career advisers or their departmental or agency heads.

    Different if the department had a genuine mea culpa ie departmental stuff-up and wanted to share it in a careful and considered way with the Minister to ask for guidance or pave the way to a conciliatory approach with a colleague MP.

    • Anne 13.1

      Well someone did leak the details and I have no doubt that the establishment has come together to hide what they can.

      That is exactly what happens and who cares a damn about the innocent victim. For this reason I have some sympathy for Peters. It was vicious and unwarranted and hurt his partner as much as himself.

      Which could be why he is determined to get to the bottom of it.

      • Rosemary McDonald 13.1.1

        It was vicious and unwarranted and hurt his partner as much as himself.

        Considering they both supposedly went to the WINZ office and filled out the his form together back in 2010 and still got it 'orriby wrong….and they clearly have way too much moolah sloshing around if they didn't notice an extra 18k in the bank. I have no sympathy whatsoever.

        https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12284147

        • Shanreagh 13.1.1.1

          and they clearly have way too much moolah

          Surely not the politics of envy rearing its ugly head?

      • Tiger Mountain 13.1.2

        I agree, pity Winston’s legal team were not more on to the forensic side of it to be able to furnish proof.

  14. observer 14

    The poll results are in:

    1%: Winston, you tell him! Got my vote.

    1%: David, you tell him! Got my vote.

    98%: roll eyes.

    People talk about a Nat-NZF deal. But to get to 61, it would (bar a miracle) have to be a Nat-ACT-NZF deal. Imagine that working.

    A Lab-Green majority just got a day closer.

  15. Shanreagh 15

    Was she in a relationship with Seymour when she was working in Bennett's office?

    In 2017 Seymour said she's the one. (see intro)
    Presumably you don’t say that if you have only seen them across a crowded room…..its lurve etc.

  16. Dot 17

    I do not vote for Winston Peters but I defend his right to deal with dirty politics.
    The case motive _ which parties would benefit from releasing this personal information just before an election ?
    Which party has a record of dirty politics ? remember John Key.
    Which party leader is relentless in his attempts to increase the importance of his
    minor party David Seymour.

  17. RedBaronCV 18

    I've got a lot of sympathy for Winston – his personal details were leaked – for what may be political reasons. There have been earlier beat ups about Winston, the donations that were not a scandal at 2008. Ever since the wine box stuff he seems to have had these problems.

    Much like some one without second thought leaked the covid names. Somebody somewhere needs to pay a decent price for leaking individual detail (where there is no whistle blower aspect) or it will continue.

    And there was another blog article about bills of that size mean we have an unaffordable justice system.

    And although I've never voted for Winston I can see that he has spent his adult life in the service of his fellow citizens as an MP and a Minister ( and a good foreign one).

    When the hopefully distant day comes who will have the bigger funeral? Winston, Judith, Brash – no brainer really.

  18. Ian 19

    Calving is about a week early and dairy farmers are working hard. A true hard and early.

  19. Muttonbird 20

    Farrar watch:

    David has done a paywalled post on the differences in shagging staffers. It all depends on which party that staffer belongs to, you see.

    David has realised how vulnerable David Seymour is right now so he's trying to have the line drawn in order to save ACT.

    • Peter 20.1

      How vulnerable David Seymour is right now? How do you mean? Surely in recent weeks he would've been counting how many Actmates he'd have in the House with him.

      • Muttonbird 20.1.1

        Vulnerable on having relationships with staffers.

        That is the crux of the problem with ILG isn't it? That it was the power imbalance and the working relationship which was the problem, not the infidelity itself.

        If that is the problem then Seymour also had a relationship with a staffer. It so happens that staffer was a National Party staffer and Divid Farrar is at extreme pains to point that out.

  20. Brian Tregaskin 21

    "

    Farrar watch:

    David has done a paywalled post on the differences in shagging staffers. It all depends on which party that staffer belongs to, you see.

    David has realised how vulnerable David Seymour is right now so he's trying to have the line drawn in order to save ACT."

    How vulnerable David Seymour is right now? How do you mean? Surely in recent weeks he would've been counting how many Actmates he'd have in the House with him."

    Careful people this thread is heading into defamation territory

    • Muttonbird 21.1

      I wasn't aware that Seymour's relationship with Rachel Morton was in dispute.

    • Peter 21.2

      My question was genuine. I am naive about 'water cooler stuff.' Some of the references I've just read are foreign to me.

      In recent weeks Act would undoubtedly have gained from the shambles in National. Seymour will be rolling along counting how many cobbers he could have.

  21. Brian Tregaskin 22

    Facebooks most watched video of the day in NZ!
    Winston Peters reveals who leaked his superannuation details
    https://www.facebook.com/NZFirst/videos/328411621518428

  22. sumsuch 23

    God, I hate the surface waves of politics. Symptoms to be analysed, like 'our' doctors and chemists do. And forces we can all see, and feel.

  23. Hanswurst 24

    Is it beyond the realms of reason that Peters was actually using this issue to draw attention to Seymour's relationship with Morton, as a way of drawing attention to any apparent similarities to Iain Lees-Galloway? After all, conservative-minded voters casting about for someone other than National to vote for will (rightly or wrongly) probably consider both Act and NZ First, so they are both actually partly in bitter competition for the same constituency, despite their obvious differences.

  24. rrm 25

    Winston Peters claimed NZ Super at a better rate than he was entitled to for YEARS.

    But somehow the revelation of this is the REAL wrong here, and it's "Dirty Politics" and he is actually the victim in all of this.

    [Monday is Troll Day on TS. See you on Monday then – Incognito]

    • dv 25.1

      From Wikipedia

      In late August 2017, Peters admitted being overpaid in superannuation for seven years while living with his longtime partner Jan Trotman. The overpayment occurred because the relationship status box on his application form was left blank. Peters stated that he and the Ministry agreed that there had been a payment error but said he had paid the money back – amounting to nearly $18,000. Peters paid interest and penalties on the overpayment.[138]

      The overpayment was subsequently leaked to the media. Peters described it as a private matter and expressed outrage that it had been leaked.

      • Shanreagh 25.1.1

        The overpayment was subsequently leaked to the media. Peters described it as a private matter and expressed outrage that it had been leaked.

        It most surely is a private matter. IRD & MSD have much information about private individuals, we rely on their ethics/morals/adherence to legislation, regs and guidelines not to let this info get into the public arena.

        I am not sure of the exact obligations that a Minister has under thier warrant from the Governor General but surely would not be less than they expect of their public servants.

        • dv 25.1.1.1

          It most surely is a private matter

          Agree absolutely

          The form filing was careless, especially as Pteres and his partner went into winz

    • Incognito 25.2

      See my Moderation note @ 8:33 AM.

  25. novacastrian 26

    Perhaps it's high time parliamentary privilege is outlawed entirely.

    What Peter's has done is no different to what Mallard has done in reality. Both have used, and in my view misused parliamentary privilege, the difference being Mallard has stiffed the taxpayer $80k plus in legal fees thus far.

    • Shanreagh 26.1

      Disagree totally.

      Important in constitutional terms.

      Are you happy to have your dealings with say the IRD or MSD shared across the media? Especially by people who have vowed to work for the good of all NZers?

      If you are you may have a point.

      Otherwise nooooo……..

  26. Hanswurst 27

    Had Peters' version of events already alleged by anybody else? I ask because the title of the post seems to suggest that Peters is naming someone who is the subject of an existing allegation, whereas all that I have been able to see is Peters making allegations himself.

    • Peters has said many times he knew who the leaker was, Hanswurst. He has now named them.

      • Tiger Mountain 27.1.1

        Pity then, that Winston’s legal team could not join the dots and trace people’s whereabouts and interactions to bloody prove it!

        • te reo putake 27.1.1.1

          Yep! You’d think an experienced lawyer like Winston would have got his ducks in a row before proceeding. Or done the parliamentary privilege expose before going to court and seeing what came of it.

          • Shanreagh 27.1.1.1.1

            Or done the parliamentary privilege expose before going to court and seeing what came of it.

            I think it is entirely because Winston is a lawyer that he left this very public naming without recourse, to the last and tried the usual legal channels first. It happened to him remember.

            Hopefully it will shake something loose, you know like consciences etc though perhaps that is a an unrealistic hope. No-one deserves to have their or their family's personal private financial interactions leaked to the media.

  27. karol121 28

    He (Winnie) is enlightening, if not just a little tedious from time to time.

    And here's me suspecting that it may have been some wild thing with a wilder gruff, set loose to roam Yom Kippur.

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    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    41 mins ago
  • Misremembering Justinian’s Taxes.
    Tax Lawyer Barbara Edmonds vs Emperor Justinian I - Nolo Contendere: False historical explanations of pivotal events are very far from being inconsequential.WHEN BARBARA EDMONDS made reference to the Roman Empire, my ears pricked up. It is, lamentably, very rare to hear a politician admit to any kind of familiarity ...
    1 hour ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Scoring 4.6 out of 10, the new Government is struggling in the polls
    It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support for the various parties in ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    2 hours ago
  • Bishop scores headlines with crackdown on unwelcome tenants – but Peters scores, too, as tub-thump...
    Buzz from the Beehive Housing Minister Chris Bishop delivered news – packed with the ingredients to enflame political passions – worthy of supplanting Winston Peters in headline writers’ priorities. He popped up at the post-Cabinet press conference to promise a crackdown on unruly and antisocial state housing tenants. His ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 hours ago
  • Will it make the boat go faster?
    Ele Ludemann writes – The Reserve Bank is advertising for a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion advisor. The Bank has one mandate – to keep inflation between one and three percent. It has failed in that and is only slowly getting inflation back down to the upper limit. Will it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi The fact that a ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    6 hours ago
  • Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Bryce Edwards writes – Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 hours ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' at 10:10am on Tuesday, March 19
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Gavin Jacobson talks to Thomas Piketty 10 years on from Capital in the 21st Century The SalvoLocal scoop: Green MP’s business being investigated over migrant exploitation claims Stuff Steve KilgallonLocal deep-dive: The commercial contractors making money from School ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    7 hours ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things on Tuesday, March 19
    It’s a home - but Kāinga Ora tenants accused of “abusing the privilege” may lose it. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Government announced a crackdown on Kāinga Ora tenants who were unruly and/or behind on their rent, with Housing Minister Chris Bishop saying a place in a state ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    8 hours ago
  • New Life for Light Rail
    This is a guest post by Connor Sharp of Surface Light Rail  Light rail in Auckland: A way forward sooner than you think With the coup de grâce of Auckland Light Rail (ALR) earlier this year, and the shift of the government’s priorities to roads, roads, and more roads, it ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    9 hours ago
  • Why Are Bosses Nearly All Buffoons?
    Note: As a paid-up Webworm member, I’ve recorded this Webworm as a mini-podcast for you as well. Some of you said you liked this option - so I aim to provide it when I get a chance to record! Read more ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    11 hours ago
  • Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6.06 pm on March 18
    TL;DR: In my ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Monday, March 18:IKEA is accused of planting big forests in New Zealand to green-wash; REDD-MonitorA City for People takes a well-deserved victory lap over Wellington’s pro-YIMBY District Plan votes; A City for PeopleSteven Anastasiou takes a close look at the sticky ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    23 hours ago
  • Peters holds his ground on co-governance, but Willis wriggles on those tax cuts and SNA suspension l...
    Buzz from the Beehive Here’s hoping for a lively post-cabinet press conference when the PM and – perhaps – some of his ministers tell us what was discussed at their meeting today. Until then, Point of Order has precious little Beehive news to report after its latest monitoring of the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • Labour’s final report card
    David Farrar writes –  We now have almost all 2023 data in, which has allowed me to update my annual table of how  went against its promises. This is basically their final report card. The promise The result Build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • “Drunk Uncle at a Wedding”
    I’m a bit worried that I’ve started a previous newsletter with the words “just when you think they couldn’t get any worse…” Seems lately that I could begin pretty much every issue with that opening. Such is the nature of our coalition government that they seem to be outdoing each ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Geoffrey Miller writes – Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on Dune 2, and images of Islam
    Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture ...
    1 day ago
  • New Rail Operations Centre Promises Better Train Services
    Last week Transport Minster Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre. The new train control centre will see teams from KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Auckland One Rail working more closely together to improve train services across the city. The Auckland Rail Operations Centre in ...
    1 day ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things at 6.36am on Monday, March 18
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in an exit interview with Q+A yesterday the Government can and should sustain more debt to invest in infrastructure for future generations. Elsewhere in the news in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 6:36am: Read more ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than just a happy ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    1 day ago
  • The Kaka’s diary for the week to March 25 and beyond
    TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Bitter and angry; Winston First
    New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    1 day ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    1 day ago
  • Out of Touch.
    “I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The bewildering world of Chris Luxon – Guns for all, not no lunch for kids
    .“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    3 days ago
  • Expert Opinion: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
    3 days ago
  • Manufacturing The Truth.
    Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet –  is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
    3 days ago
  • A Powerful Sensation of Déjà Vu.
    Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
    3 days ago
  • Can you guess where world attention is focussed (according to Greenpeace)? It’s focussed on an EPA...
    Bob Edlin writes –  And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Further integrity problems for the Greens in suspending MP Darleen Tana
    Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Greens’ transparency missing in action
    For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    4 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    5 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    5 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • There’s a name for this
    Every year, in the Budget, Parliament forks out money to government agencies to do certain things. And every year, as part of the annual review cycle, those agencies are meant to report on whether they have done the things Parliament gave them that money for. Agencies which consistently fail to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Echoes of 1968 in 2024?  Pocock on the repetitive problems of the New Left
    Mike Grimshaw writes – Recent events in American universities point to an underlying crisis of coherent thinking, an issue that increasingly affects the progressive left across the Western world. This of course is nothing new as anyone who can either remember or has read of the late ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Two bar blues
    The thing about life’s little victories is that they can be followed by a defeat.Reader Darryl told me on Monday night:Test again Dave. My “head cold” last week became COVID within 24 hours, and is still with me. I hear the new variants take a bit longer to show up ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 13
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Angus Deaton on rethinking his economics IMFLocal scoop: The people behind Tamarind, the firm that left a $500m cleanup bill for taxpayers at Taranaki’s Tui oil well, are back operating in Taranaki under a different company name. Jonathan ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
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    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
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    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
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    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
    Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024.  “Lower fruit and vege ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government backs rural led catchment projects
    The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction.   Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
    Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government lowering building costs
    The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Trustee tax change welcomed
    Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister’s Ramadan message
    Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness.  It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister appoints new NZTA Chair
    Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
    Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology.  It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Progress continues apace on water storage
    Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government agrees to restore interest deductions
    Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
    Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity
    This year’s Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity and the contribution of Pacific communities to New Zealand culture, says Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti.  Dr Reti announced dates for the 2024 Pacific Language Weeks during a visit to the Pasifika festival in Auckland today and says there’s so ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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