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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    I WAS A CAPTAIN COOK MAN, Grant Robertson was a Robbie Burns man. If you know anything about the great student pubs of Dunedin in the 1970s, 80s and 90s, those allegiances should tell you a lot. While I was at varsity, the “Cook” had a reputation for entertaining more ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    12 hours ago
  • Spray, spray, spray. There we go. Problem solved.
    Good old WD40. Is there nothing it can't do?Door squeaking? No problem, WD-40.Chewing gum stuck to the carpet? No worries, WD-40. Crayon marks? Spanner rusted up? Zipper won't undo? WD-40. WD-40. WD-40. It can even waterproof your shoes, I hear.(More Than A Feilding makes no warranty as to the efficacy of WD40 ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    14 hours ago
  • Taxpayers might be piste off, as govt lending to ski field is lifted to $50m – but more corporate ...
    Buzz from the Beehive The distributions of two dollops of corporate welfare have been proudly announced in government press statements today, but neither mentions or relates to the further taxpayer funding for ski fields on the skids. The government’s official website tells of $7 million being provided to boost aerospace ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    15 hours ago
  • The police know they suck at the OIA
    In recent years I've done a long series of posts poking into police OIA data and how it hides how badly the police suck at carrying out their obligations under the Act. And in a response to a recent request, it seems the police have been doing the same. A ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    15 hours ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s disdain for the Press debate
    Christopher Luxon evidently thinks this election is SO in the bag that he can afford to spurn the still-undecideds, the entire South Island, and the old Christchurch money that still reads the Press and shops at Ballantynes. We should all shed a tear for the National Party candidates across the ...
    17 hours ago
  • ELIZABETH RATA: Two Treaties of Waitangi – the Articles Treaty and the Principles Treaty
    Elizabeth Rate writes – There are two versions of the Treaty of Waitangi.  The first is the 1840 Treaty – the ‘Articles Treaty’. The second is what I call the ‘Principles Treaty’. It dates from 1986 when the principles were first included in legislation. Astonishingly, the parliamentary ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    20 hours ago
  • Tuesday’s Chorus: When it's ok to borrow to invest
    Mayor Wayne Brown, a Northland land-banker himself, appears relaxed about borrowing to invest in land but not in, for example, transport infrastructure and services. File photo: Lynn Grieveson/Getty ImagesTL;DR: You couldn’t make this stuff up. A mayor determined to cut council debt by selling shares in a monopoly business because ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    20 hours ago
  • How well do our Rapid Transit Stations perform
    As we invest in our public transport network, it’s critical that we not only invest in transformative projects like the City Rail Link, but that we also get as much use as we can out of the network we already have – which will also maximise the outcomes of those ...
    22 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Ten reasons Labour’s support has halved
    The Labour Government was elected with 50 per cent of the vote three years ago, but current opinion polls show their vote could halve in this year’s election, which would be one of the biggest plunges in political history. Most polls have Labour on about 26 per cent. And the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    23 hours ago
  • Elizabeth Rata: Two Treaties of Waitangi: The Articles Treaty and the Principles Treaty
    Commentary There are two versions of the Treaty of Waitangi.  The first is the 1840 Treaty – the ‘Articles Treaty’. The second is what I call the ‘Principles Treaty’. It dates from 1986 when the principles were first included in legislation. Astonishingly the parliamentary representatives who inserted the word ‘principles’ ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    23 hours ago
  • Climate Emergency!
    It’s hard not to become a bit blasé towards climate change headlines. Flooding kills hundreds - blah. Catastrophic droughts - blah blah. One-in-a-hundred year events happening every year - blah blah blah.The earth had its highest temperature on record - again. Think we’ve read that one.So many articles telling us ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    24 hours ago
  • The Kākā Project: The economics of sufficiency
    The Kākā’s climate correspondent and had a chat with environmental historian and author Catherine Knight about why ‘feel good' actions like recycling and owning an electric car are unlikely to be enough to create a transition to zero emissions, let alone a just one. Knight says comments like ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Chippy misses a chance
    National leader Christopher Luxon has pulled out of any rescheduling of tonight’s Press debate, which has had to be cancelled because Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has Covid. The cancellation has given National an excuse to avoid a debate, which was always going to be a risk for Luxon. But ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • The Angry Majority.
    The People's Champion vs The People's Prosecutor: It is the news media’s job to elicit information from politicians – not to prosecute them. Peters’ promise to sort out TVNZ should be believed. If he finds himself in a position to carry out his threat, then it will only be because ...
    2 days ago
  • Verrall is chuffed by govt’s latest push into pay equity while Woods enthuses about an $11m spend ...
    Buzz from the Beehive The headline on a ministerial press statement curiously expresses the government’s position when it declares:   Government shows further commitment to pay equity for healthcare workers. Is it not enough to declare just one commitment? Or is the government’s commitment to pay equity being declared sector by ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago
  • A very worthy coalition partner for Seymour and Luxon
    There have been 53 New Zealand Parliaments so far. The 39th of them was elected in 1978. It was a parliament of 92 MPs, most of them men. The New Zealand Music Awards that year named John Rowles Male Vocalist of the Year and — after a short twelve months ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Labour still protecting the status quo
    Aotearoa has a cost of living crisis. And one of the major drivers of this crisis is the supermarket duopoly, who gouge every dollar they can out of us. Last year, the Commerce Commission found that the duopoly was in fact anti-competititve, giving the government social licence to fix the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s myths about the desolated state of the economy
    Familiarity breeds consent. If you repeat the line “six years of economic mis-management” about 10,000 times, it sounds like the received wisdom, whatever the evidence to the contrary. Yes, the global pandemic and the global surge in inflation that came in its wake occurred here as well – but if ...
    2 days ago
  • MICHAEL BASSETT: Hapless Hipkins and his racism
    Michael Bassett writes – Without so much as batting an eyelid, Chris Hipkins told an audience on Saturday that there had been “more racism” in this election campaign than ever before. And he blamed it on the opposition parties, National, Act and New Zealand First. In those ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • BRIAN EASTON: The ‘recession’ has been called off, but some households are still struggling
    While the economy is not doing too badly in output terms, external circumstances are not favourable, and there is probably a sizeable group of households struggling because of rising interest rates. Brian Easton writes – Last week’s announcement of a 0.9 percent increase in volume GDP for ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • Monday’s Chorus: Richie Poulton's lament
    “You can't really undo what happens during childhood”, said the director of the Dunedin longitudinal study. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Richie Poulton, the director of the world-leading Dunedin longitudinal study showing how devastating poverty in early life is, died yesterday. With his final words, he lamented the lack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • North-western downgrades
    This is a guest post from reader Peter N As many of us know, Auckland Transport and Waka Kotahi are well into progressing works on the northwestern interim “busway” with services to kick off in just over a month from now on Sunday 12th November 2023. Some of the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    2 days ago
  • Has Webworm Found New Zealand’s Weirdest School?
    Hi,Before we talk about weird schools people choose to send their kids to, a few things on my mind. I adored the Ask Me Anything we did last week. Thanks for taking part. I love answering your weird and nosy questions, even questions about beans.I am excited and scared as Mister ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • Another mother of a budget
    A National government would make spending cuts on a scale not seen since the 1990 – 96 Bolger government.That much was confirmed with the release of their Fiscal Plan on Friday.Government spending is currently high as a percentage of GDP — as high as it was during the Muldoon ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • A crucial week starts as early voting opens in the NZ Elections … it’s been a ride so far. Are y...
    Chris Hipkins down with Covid, at least for 5 days isolation, National continue to obfuscate, ACT continues to double-down on the poor and Winston… well, he’s being Winston really. Voters beware: this week could be even more infuriating than the last. No Party is what they used to be ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    2 days ago
  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #39
    A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Sep 24, 2023 thru Sat, Sep 30, 2023. Story of the Week We’re not doomed yet’: climate scientist Michael Mann on our last chance to save human civilisation The renowned US ...
    3 days ago
  • Clusterf**ck of Chaos.
    On the 11th of April 1945 advancing US forces liberated the Nazi concentration camp of Buchenwald near Weimar in Germany. In the coming days, under the order of General Patton, a thousand nearby residents were forced to march to the camp to see the atrocities that had been committed in ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • The party of business deals with the future by pretending it isn’t coming
    Years and years ago, when Helen Clark was Prime Minister and John Key was gunning for her job, I had a conversation with a mate, a trader who knew John Key well enough to paint a helpful picture.It was many drinks ago so it’s not a complete one. But there’s ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • 2023 More Reading: September (+ Old Phuul update)
    Completed reads for September: The Lost Continent, by C.J. Cutcliffe Hyne Flatland, by Edwin Abbott All Quiet on the Western Front, by Erich Maria Remarque The Country of the Blind, by H.G. Wells The Day of the Triffids, by John Wyndham A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles ...
    4 days ago
  • Losing The Left.
    Descending Into The Dark: The ideological cadres currently controlling both Labour and the Greens are forcing “justice”, “participation” and “democracy” to make way for what is “appropriate” and “responsible”. But, where does that leave the people who, for most of their adult lives, have voted for left-wing parties, precisely to ...
    4 days ago
  • The New “Emperor’s New Clothes”.
    “‘BUT HE HASN’T GOT ANYTHING ON,’ a little boy said ….. ‘But he hasn’t got anything on!’ the whole town cried out at last.”On this optimistic note, Hans Christian Andersen brings his cautionary tale of “The Emperor’s New Clothes” to an end.Andersen’s children’s story was written nearly two centuries ago, ...
    4 days ago
  • BRYCE EDWARDS: The vested interests shaping National Party policies
      Bryce Edwards writes – 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 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • LINDSAY MITCHELL: A conundrum for those pushing racist dogma
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – The heavily promoted narrative, which has ramped up over the last six years, is that Maori somehow have special vulnerabilities which arise from outside forces they cannot control; that contemporary society fails to meet their needs. They are not receptive to messages and ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • CHRIS TROTTER:  The greater of two evils
    Not Labour: If you’re out to punish the government you once loved, then the last thing you need is to be shown evidence that the opposition parties are much, much worse.   Chris Trotter writes – THE GREATEST VIRTUE of being the Opposition is not being the Government. Only very ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to Sept 30
    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:Labour presented a climate manifesto that aimed to claim the high ground on climate action vs National, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Litanies, articles of faith, and being a beneficiary
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past two weeks.Friday 29Play it, ElvisElection Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • Litanies, articles of faith, and being a beneficiary
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past two weeks.Friday 29Play it, ElvisElection Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • The ‘Recession’ Has Been Called Off, But Some Households Are Still Struggling
    While the economy is not doing too badly in output terms, external circumstances are not favourable, and there is probably a sizeable group of households struggling because of rising interest rates.Last week’s announcement of a 0.9 percent increase in volume GDP for the June quarter had the commentariat backing down ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    5 days ago
  • Climate Change: The wrong direction
    This week the International Energy Association released its Net Zero Roadmap, intended to guide us towards a liveable climate. The report demanded huge increases in renewable generation, no new gas or oil, and massive cuts to methane emissions. It was positive about our current path, but recommended that countries with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • “Racism” becomes a buzz word on the campaign trail – but our media watchdogs stay muzzled when...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Oh, dear.  We have nothing to report from the Beehive. At least, we have nothing to report from the government’s official website. But the drones have not gone silent.  They are out on the election campaign trail, busy buzzing about this and that in the hope ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • Play it, Elvis
    Election Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t have time for. You’re welcome, etc. Let us press on, etc. 1.  What did Christopher Luxon use to his advantage in ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • Pure class warfare
    National unveiled its fiscal policy today, announcing all the usual things which business cares about and I don't. But it did finally tell us how National plans to pay for its handouts to landlords: by effectively cutting benefits: The biggest saving announced on Friday was $2b cut from the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Ask Me Anything about the week to Sept 29
    Photo by Anna Ogiienko on UnsplashIt’s that time of the week for an ‘Ask Me Anything’ session for paying subscribers about the week that was for an hour, including:duelling fiscal plans from National and Labour;Labour cutting cycling spending while accusing National of being weak on climate;Research showing the need for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 29-September-2023
    Welcome to Friday and the last one for September. This week in Greater Auckland On Monday, Matt highlighted at the latest with the City Rail Link. On Tuesday, Matt covered the interesting items from Auckland Transport’s latest board meeting agendas. On Thursday, a guest post from Darren Davis ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    5 days ago
  • Protest at Parliament: The Reunion.
    Brian’s god spoke to him. He, for of course the Lord in Tamaki’s mind was a male god, with a mighty rod, and probably some black leathers. He, told Brian - “you must put a stop to all this love, hope, and kindness”. And it did please the Brian.He said ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Labour cuts $50m from cycleway spending
    Labour is cutting spending on cycling infrastructure while still trying to claim the higher ground on climate. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Labour Government released a climate manifesto this week to try to claim the high ground against National, despite having ignored the Climate Commission’s advice to toughen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The Greater Of Two Evils.
    Not Labour: If you’re out to punish the government you once loved, then the last thing you need is to be shown evidence that the opposition parties are much, much worse.THE GREATEST VIRTUE of being the Opposition is not being the Government. Only very rarely is an opposition party elected ...
    5 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #39 2023
    Open access notables "Net zero is only a distraction— we just have to end fossil fuel emissions." The latter is true but the former isn't, or  not in the real world as it's likely to be in the immediate future. And "just" just doesn't enter into it; we don't have ...
    5 days ago
  • Chris Trotter: Losing the Left
    IN THE CURRENT MIX of electoral alternatives, there is no longer a credible left-wing party. Not when “a credible left-wing party” is defined as: a class-oriented, mass-based, democratically-structured political organisation; dedicated to promoting ideas sharply critical of laissez-faire capitalism; and committed to advancing democratic, egalitarian and emancipatory ideals across the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    6 days ago
  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Hipkins fires up in leaders’ debate, but has the curtain already fallen on the Labour-led coalitio...
    Labour’s  Chris Hipkins came out firing, in the  leaders’ debate  on Newshub’s evening programme, and most of  the pundits  rated  him the winner against National’s  Christopher Luxon. But will this make any difference when New  Zealanders  start casting their ballots? The problem  for  Hipkins is  that  voters are  all too ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    6 days ago
  • Govt is energising housing projects with solar power – and fuelling the public’s concept of a di...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Not long after Point of Order published data which show the substantial number of New Zealanders (77%) who believe NZ is becoming more divided, government ministers were braying about a programme which distributes some money to “the public” and some to “Maori”. The ministers were dishing ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • MIKE GRIMSHAW: Election 2023 – a totemic & charisma failure?
    The D&W analysis Michael Grimshaw writes –  Given the apathy, disengagement, disillusionment, and all-round ennui of this year’s general election, it was considered time to bring in those noted political operatives and spin doctors D&W, the long-established consultancy firm run by Emile Durkheim and Max Weber. Known for ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • FROM BFD: Will Winston be the spectre we think?
    Kissy kissy. Cartoon credit BoomSlang. The BFD. JC writes-  Allow me to preface this contribution with the following statement: If I were asked to express a preference between a National/ACT coalition or a National/ACT/NZF coalition then it would be the former. This week Luxon declared his position, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • California’s climate disclosure bill could have a huge impact across the U.S.
    This re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Andy Furillo was originally published by Capital & Main and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. The California Legislature took a step last week that has the potential to accelerate the fight against climate ...
    6 days ago
  • Untangling South East Queensland’s Public Transport
    This is a cross post Adventures in Transitland by Darren Davis. I recently visited Brisbane and South East Queensland and came away both impressed while also pondering some key changes to make public transport even better in the region. Here goes with my take on things. A bit of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    6 days ago
  • Try A Little Kindness.
    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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    7 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
    7 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
    7 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
    7 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
    7 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 ...
    7 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
    7 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
    7 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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 ...
    1 week 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 ...
    1 week ago

  • Youth justice programme expands to break cycle of offending
    The successful ‘Circuit Breaker’ fast track programme designed to stop repeat youth offending was launched in two new locations today by Children’s Minister Kelvin Davis. The programme, first piloted in West and South Auckland in December last year, is aimed at children aged 10-13 who commit serious offending or continue ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    16 hours ago
  • Major milestone with 20,000 employers using Apprenticeship Boost
    The Government’s Apprenticeship Boost initiative has now supported 20,000 employers to help keep on and train up apprentices, Minister for Social Development and Employment Carmel Sepuloni announced in Christchurch today. Almost 62,000 apprentices have been supported to start and keep training for a trade since the initiative was introduced in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago
  • Government supporting wood processing jobs and more diverse industry
    The Government is supporting non-pine tree sawmilling and backing further job creation in sawmills in Rotorua and Whangarei, Forestry Minister Peeni Henare said.   “The Forestry and Wood Processing Industry Transformation Plan identified the need to add more diversity to our productions forests, wood products and markets,” Peeni Henare said. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago
  • Government backing Canterbury’s future in aerospace industry
    The Government is helping Canterbury’s aerospace industry take off with further infrastructure support for the Tāwhaki Aerospace Centre at Kaitorete, Infrastructure Minister Dr Megan Woods has announced. “Today I can confirm we will provide a $5.4 million grant to the Tāwhaki Joint Venture to fund a sealed runway and hangar ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Updated forestry regulations increase council controls and require large slash removal
    Local councils will have more power to decide where new commercial forests – including carbon forests – are located, to reduce impacts on communities and the environment, Environment Minister David Parker said today. “New national standards give councils greater control over commercial forestry, including clear rules on harvesting practices and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • New Zealand resumes peacekeeping force leadership
    New Zealand will again contribute to the leadership of the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) in the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt, with a senior New Zealand Defence Force officer returning as Interim Force Commander. Defence Minister Andrew Little and Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta have announced the deployment of New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • New national direction provides clarity for development and the environment
    The Government has taken an important step in implementing the new resource management system, by issuing a draft National Planning Framework (NPF) document under the new legislation, Environment Minister David Parker said today. “The NPF consolidates existing national direction, bringing together around 20 existing instruments including policy statements, standards, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government shows further commitment to pay equity for healthcare workers
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