Winston sues

Written By: - Date published: 8:10 am, June 12th, 2018 - 78 comments
Categories: bill english, Deep stuff, Dirty Politics, election 2017, national, paula bennett, Politics, same old national, Steven Joyce, winston peters - Tags:

winston_peters

I have mixed views about this.  I can understand how annoyed Winston Peters must feel that his private information was leaked during an election campaign for political purposes.  And his political targets, Anne Tolley and Paula Bennett, must be first on the list of whodunnit, given they were provided with no surprises briefings on Winston’s super overpayment.

But I am not sure that suing senior public servants is helpful or conducive to good management of the government.

The latest is reported by Radio New Zealand:

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters is taking legal action seeking $400,000 for breach of privacy over the leaking of his superannuation overpayment details.

Papers were lodged in the High Court in Auckland [yesterday].

It was revealed during last year’s election campaign that Mr Peters had been mistakenly overpaid superannuation for seven years.

He paid the money back when the error was discovered, but was furious the information was leaked to the media.

The legal action is against the heads of the Ministry of Social Development and State Services Commission, the Attorney-General on behalf of the Ministry of Social Development and the former National Party ministers – Anne Tolley and Paula Bennett.

It is interesting that Peters has decided not to pursue two National staffers who were part of the original discovery proceeding.  Presumably the information disclosed failed to implicate them.  Joyce and English are also off the list of people being sued.

The sting had a dirty politics feel about it.  This is what I wrote last year just after the news hit the campaign trail:

The timing and the mode of disclosure, using multiple media contacts to ensure the news was maximised suggests strongly that the spreading of the news was deliberate rather than accidental.  It appears that Newshub and Newsroom both knew about the story.  It has been reported this morning that Anne Tolley had been given a heads up by way of a no surprises disclosure two weeks ago.  And Newshub has disclosed that it received an anonymous phone call a couple of days after Tolley was told of Peters’ problems.

Information passed on via a dubious interpretation of the no surprises policy to Ministers then makes its way to media so they can perform a hit job on one of National’s opponents at a damaging time for them.  And no fingerprints.  Although Winston clearly thinks he has discovered some.

This will be an interesting case to follow …

78 comments on “Winston sues ”

  1. Hongi Ika 1

    Yep it was a set up they definitely tried to frame him, and it worked a treat.

    • Stunned Mullet 1.1

      It didn’t try to ‘frame’ him. It did try to discredit him through leaking of factual information.

      • Robert Guyton 1.1.1

        “It didn’t try to ‘frame’ him. It did try to discredit him through leaking of factual information.”

        “It”?
        “discredit” – why would “it” want to discredit Winston? To cause him harm? For fun? To gain in some other way? Not electoral gain, surely??? That’s corrupt behaviour, isn’t it?
        “leaking”? Why would “it” leak? For the public good – the only credible reason for leaking anything? Or for “its” “personal” gain?
        Sounds rotten. I’m pleased Winston is pursuing “it”. I wish him well.

        • Stunned Mullet 1.1.1.1

          I suspect you’ll argue exactly the opposite when it’s someone on the other side of the political fence.

          • Robert Guyton 1.1.1.1.1

            No. I won’t. Public good. I’m strong on that. This was not that. This was neferious.

            • cleangreen 1.1.1.1.1.1

              100% Robert, I stand with you on this one as these National supporters really were happy to see illegal behaivior reign as long as it financially rewarded them too.

              So I am supporting Winston fullly here.

              And will also support this other press release I attach here below over the Nicy hargar “illegal search and siezure event that the police have now aditted was wrong, and was showing more polioce corruption also under the last ‘toxic ‘ National Government.

              This also involved attempting to silence ‘The Daily Blog’ that is the sister to The Standard as another ‘left wing social media blogsite’ that would possibly have been the next dark ops operation to attack; – if the attack on Martyn Bradbury had been successful to closing down the TDB site.

              Today over on “the daily blog” editor Martyn Bradbury finally levels his allegations of damages against him by the NZ Police during the National Government “dark ops media/journalism illegal probe” silencing operation.
              My statement to the NZ Police now they have settled the illegal persecution of Nicky Hager
              By Martyn Bradbury / June 12, 2018

              “…once the abuses of power have been settled, and the damages paid, THEN we should start asking how many other people have been caught out by this and who set the Police on this politically influenced investigation in the first place.”

              Yes, yes, yes, give the freedom back to our “investigative Journalists again” so they now can now continue their work to (without fear and incrimination) freely investigate the “dark ops National Government operations they carried out” as they attempted to subvert and silence our “freedom of the press journalism in NZ”

              • Akldnut

                About time too, it took way too long to come to a decision the rest of the country knew in heartbeat.

                Hagers result will hopefully inspire other journalists to do some real investigative work rather than google what the others are writing at the time and plagiarise it.

                • Chris

                  Maybe, but if it does it’ll be the Ian Wisharts and other right wing filth that’ve emerged from the cultural shift brought on by the greedy hateful and selfish.

              • Robert Guyton

                Sweet!

          • Hongi Ika 1.1.1.1.2

            I am interested in knowing who “it” was ?

  2. Ad 2

    This is the privacy test case we all needed.

    • D'Esterre 2.1

      Ad: “This is the privacy test case we all needed.”

      I agree. As a fellow recipient of National Superannuation, at the time, I was infuriated on Peters’ behalf over this case, and the egregious breach of his privacy.

      As to the public servants who are also the subject of this lawsuit, I’m unsympathetic. Of all people, public servants ought to be conversant with the provisions of the Privacy Act; ignorance isn’t a defence. These people are also supposed to be independent of whichever government is in power: breaching the Act in that fashion, so as to give information to the then Ministers, makes them look pusillanimous. And conniving.

      We the citizens are entitled to rely on the Privacy Act for protections of the sort it confers. Having a public profile doesn’t obviate entitlement to those protections.

      I’d add that, if the intention was to damage Peters, it backfired spectacularly.

  3. AsleepWhileWalking 3

    We need to see privacy as Europe does – as a right.

    That means no more video of vulnerable accident victims at crash scenes.

    • Stunned Mullet 3.1

      No politician from any party should have any right to privacy regarding any failure either willful or accidental on their part regarding public money or services in their private or public life.

      • One Anonymous Bloke 3.1.1

        Be that as it may, MSD broke the law. Neither the Privacy nor State Services Commissions batted an eyelid.

        • AsleepWhileWalking 3.1.1.1

          Media ran with it ..remember the big teaser on Twitter the weekend before late Sunday leak?

      • Ed1 3.1.2

        Who determines fault? And which parties would be prepared to change the law to enable special treatment for politicians?

      • Robert Guyton 3.1.3

        Everybody has a right to privacy, surely? If there are just reasons for that privacy to be over-ruled, then the situation is different, but were there in this case?
        Can’t see it.

        • Stunned Mullet 3.1.3.1

          Where you are an elected politician it should be mandatory that all the benefits and payments you are taking from the public purse are disclosed, there is also a very good good argument that all your private benefits and payments should also be disclosed.

          • Ad 3.1.3.1.1

            We haven’t had that argument yet.
            And even if we did, it would not go well for us.

            We have a punitive culture in New Zealand that would humiliate and degrade people if it were publicly disclosed how much direct subsidy we individually got.

            The indirect subsidies would be an endless minefield of debate which would rip us apart even further.

            • Stunned Mullet 3.1.3.1.1.1

              Nah fuck the politicians, the public have a right to know where and from whom they’re getting funds and koha and most especially so when it’s coming directly from the public purse.

          • Robert Guyton 3.1.3.1.2

            Tried by the media, eh! Nice ethics, stunned. If in fact, there was illegal behaviour that impacted upon the public at large, then perhaps. It’s a case by case thing and in Winston’s case, nah!

            • Stunned Mullet 3.1.3.1.2.1

              I have no problem with the likes of English , Turei and Peters having to disclose what they’re getting from the state and then being tried by media – fuck en all.

          • Hongi Ika 3.1.3.1.3

            Evidently it was MSD who made the mistake. Winston was not aware that MSD had made a miscalculation. When he was made aware he went straight to MSD and settled the amount he had been overpaid ?

            • alwyn 3.1.3.1.3.1

              Very brave suppositions. I really find it hard, even with Winston’s mental decrepitude, to believe that for seven years he never thought about the amount he was getting and whether it was correct.
              I wonder if he will have to allow them to produce his original application with the details he provided to the Department?

              • Tamati Tautuhi

                12/6/18 The Standard Troll Daily Pick Six

                Two legs up already today and it is only 10.00am

                Leg One: Stunned Mullet
                Leg Two: Alwyn

              • dukeofurl

                You mean Winston should have checked the details like John key always did

                “John Key is now admitting he should have been more honest about just how many shares he had in Tranz Rail.
                The National Party leader’s confession and apology comes after ONE News confronted him on Monday with evidence of his portfolio worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. …
                Key says it was his broker who managed the trust’s portfolio and he says he made a mistake by not asking about the full number of shares he owned.
                He says he found that out later and he should have make that public when he found out this year. ”
                http://tvnz.co.nz/content/2097819/2556418.xhtml

                • Richard Christie

                  even if so it’s wotaboutism

                • cleangreen

                  100% so well poimted out there dukeofurl,
                  You may upset the sleeping natz supporters that believe John Key was “as pure as snow”

                • Tamati Tautuhi

                  JK didn’t know what assets he had as they were in a Blind Trust ?

              • dukeofurl

                ‘hard to believe that for seven years he never thought about the amount he was getting and whether it was correct.’

                HE DID !
                “Peters said he never realised the error because his payments were well below that amount which his married friends were getting.

                “Frankly the figure was not high at all and way lower than most of the ones that I was aware of from people I knew who were married or widowed.”
                https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11912314

                So lets hope thats the end of that little canard.
                It seems it didnt include any accommodation supplements other superannuatants might be getting

                I would have been different. If I was a superannuitant I would check every detail as bureaucracies make all sorts of errors like anyone else would.

                • Tamati Tautuhi

                  Mullet head one of the regular trolls on te T/S has really got his ovaries in a twist today over Winston laying charges. MSD were the ones which f’ed up for FFS.

      • D'Esterre 3.1.4

        Stunned Mullet: “No politician from any party should have any right to privacy regarding any failure either willful or accidental on their part regarding public money or services in their private or public life.”

        The Privacy Act applies to all of us, politicians included. Whatever your views about said politicians, there can be no contracting out of it. For anybody.

      • soddenleaf 3.1.5

        Should Winston be overseeing MSD as acting PM. Like Key stood aside over the secret services. Using a mobile on a plane, walking through security at an airport…

        MPs make mistakes, its in the interest of the public that they react appropriately, payback the money, distance themselves from the portfolio. The question of a wide spread abuse of pensions entitlement should have seen someone in the public service explain how it happened. So should the public service have admitted the error long before the election, as this incident was historical at the election.

        Privacy, sure. But also questionable timing. Remembering his partner attended with him.

        • Tamati Tautuhi 3.1.5.1

          Suddenleaf it was very questionable timing when Anne Tolley and Paula Bennett released the information to the Press, right on the eve of the 2017 Election you hit the nail on the head. Dirty Politic 102 however our corrupt judiciary will turn a blind eye, after all they are both blue blooded Tories.

  4. dukeofurl 4

    The reason why Social Development AND State Services are being sued is because they turned the ‘no suprises’ political convention on its head to now include juicy information we are busting to divulge.

    privacy laws and secrecy provisions of the Social welfare act dont have carve outs for political convenience.

    Remember this

    Paula Bennett has this afternoon told Parliament that, apart from reading the Privacy Commission’s website, she did not seek any advice before releasing personal details about the benefits received by two solo mothers.

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10587131

    and then the later one
    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/81062253/paula-bennetts-office-accused-of-smearing-chairman-of-auckland-marae-helping-homeless

    and MSD and SSC involvement?
    MSD can advise that the Chief Executive was first made aware of this issue as part of a routine briefing on operational matters, on 19 June.

    The Chief Executive was further advised on 27 July that the matter had been resolved to officials’ satisfaction.

    The Chief Executive discussed with the State Services Commission (SSC) whether this matter needed to be disclosed to his Minister, under the ‘no surprises policy’. The SSC provided advice that this should be disclosed to the Minister of Social Development under the ‘no surprises’ policy.

    Its unprecedented the the SSC should give advice that this is a ‘no surprises’ matter and I cant see any court allowing them to trample over privacy provisions in this way.

    Of course various public statements which are full of spin can be tested in court under oath and then can reveal a lot more behind the scenes and on different dates than the spin suggest

    MSD didnt contact the Privacy Commissioner to see if such conduct was allowed as of course the answer would no

  5. dukeofurl 5

    Heres SSC Peter Hughes absurd statement that a ‘convention’ overrides the Privacy provisions of the Social Welfare Act.

    The ‘No Surprises Convention’ is set out in the Cabinet Manual and 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 am advised that the convention exists because of Ministerial accountability to Parliament. Ministers are accountable to the Parliament for the conduct of the department they have portfolio responsibility for.

    It is essential that Ministers are aware of significant issues within their portfolios so they can answer to the Parliament. However, they must not become involved in operational matters within Departments.

    The Chief Executive of MSD discussed this issue with me.Mr Boyle and I sought advice from the Solicitor-General on the appropriate way to ensure decisions were made independently and the requirement to ensure Ministers were not surprised was met.

    My advice to Mr Boyle was that MSD should deal with Mr Peters’ case in line with the agency’s standard policies and procedures, in exactly the same way as would happen for any other New Zealander. I am assured that is what happened.
    Briefings were provided to the Minister of Social Development by MSD, and to the Minister of State Services by SSC.

    No briefings were given to Ministers until after all decisions were made. That ensured there could not have been inappropriate involvement in operational decisions, while allowing Ministers to be aware of significant matters in their portfolio.

    There was an expectation that these matters would be held in confidence by Ministers…..

    http://www.ssc.govt.nz/no-surprises-policy-statement-state-services-commissioner-peter-hughes

    Notice how certain items are run together to appear they are part of the same advice -” to act independently”

    Was the Solicitor general asked about the privacy policy or the no surprises and not told it was a single item referring to ONE beneficiary

    “No briefings were given till after all decisions were made”
    As if a Ministers involvement in an operational decision was par for the course

    “allowing Ministers to be aware of significant matters in their portfolio.”
    Really ? Political dynamite but a very small matter as of course many beneficiarys get caught out in the paperwork

    Not a peep about privacy provisions , as of course that would blow their whole fabric of falsehoods out of the water.

    Even more baffling is the decision to notify the Minister for State services – Bennett
    Thats a gross breach of privacy rules as SSC involvement was only peripheral.

  6. dv 6

    Did MSD contact Peters about there mistake re the over payment at all BEFORE telling the ministers?

    • dukeofurl 6.1

      MSD claims that the issue was all resolved before telling ‘Thelma and Louise’

      Although they refer to ‘the Minister’ and my guess is that ‘the office of the minister’ was in the loop early

      • dv 6.1.1

        SO, as Thelma and Louise are not named and only MSD.
        Does that mean the time line is

        MDS told peters
        Peters repaid
        MSD told Thelma and Louise
        Then the leak occured.

        Suspicious even.

  7. Baba Yaga 7

    I’m glad Peters is pursuing this, and I am genuinely interested in the outcome. If Bennet’s fingerprints are on this, she is dumber than dumb.

    • cleangreen 7.1

      This is the perfect time for openning up the “National Party dirty politics investigation” ; – time is right for this now.

    • Robert Guyton 7.2

      Even if they aren’t.

  8. grantoc 8

    The politics of this interest me.

    Peters chooses to lodge these new claims with the high court just as the pm is about to take maternity leave and he is about to become the acting pm. At the very least he puts Ardern on the defensive and she is subject to tough interviews such as the one with Guyon Espinar on Morning Report today. She ends up looking weak and defending the indefensible. Apparently she didn’t know of Peter’s intention until yesterday.

    It also creates an unnecessarily complex web of fraught relationships at the highest level of government with a heightened potential risk that something significant will go off the rails. For instance one of the defendants is Parker the Attorney General; a cabinet minister colleague. Another is the State Services Commissioner.

    There are many possible conflict of interest situations that are now created as a result of this action.

    Peter’s had the choice to delay the lodging of his claim until after Ardern was back at work.

    It is very curious that he has decided to go ahead now where he risks creating significant dysfunction within the coalition and with senior public servants.

    And then just to stir the pot a bit more, he adds the debacle with Little re 3 strikes into the mix……

    • dukeofurl 8.1

      Attorney General is just a generic term here, it doesnt mean the person who holds the office. All the legal details will be dealt with on behalf by Solicitor general

      There is no problem with Peters being Acting PM as any 15 year old who has been aware of US events will know:
      Recusal

    • One Anonymous Bloke 8.2

      These are not new claims.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 8.3

      These are not new claims*.

      Edit: weird: two comments posted, before the one I was intending to post was even finished. In any event, this matter has been before the courts for months.

      *so that’s your entire screed of dribble rendered moot. Did you actually believe it, or were you just spinning bullshit?

    • Ankerawshark 8.4

      Grantor……listened to jacinda talking to Guyon and thought she did exceptionally well.

  9. Hongi Ika 9

    Grunter what you need to realise is NZF is a different party to Labour and Jacaranda and Little are in the Labour Party.

    This is a personal matter between Winston and MSD, it is not a NZF or a coalition issue.

    • cleangreen 9.1

      100% Hongi Ika.

      ‘The Time is nigh’
      The word “nigh” means near, so this phrase means that whatever is going to happen it’s going to be coming soon “also nigh means close for you people.”

      ‘No time to wait for finding who leaked this information’!!!!!

      We need to stop any more “dirty politics” as we need the government to carry out their reforms of running the country that National ruined in the last nine years.

  10. Nick 10

    I hope Winston wins and forces out Paula Benefit from politics , that would be a good outcome for NZ.

    • cleangreen 10.1

      Nick we all want to see justice carried out as we need to stop these criminals trying to subvert our parliamentary system.

      This was a crimainal act by national politicians clearly and we need to bring them to justice now before they do more damage.

      • grantoc 10.1.1

        Better get in there Cleangreen and execute some citizen arrests.

        I wouldn’t rely on any body else or any of the normal agencies to do it, because they won’t. Its over to you and your bunch of merry men to protect the realm from these dastardly criminals.

  11. Puckish Rogue 11

    If something illegal did happen then whoever did it, or authorised it, should be punished to the fullest extent of the law

  12. Good on Mr Peters. First off , it was Paula Bennett who seemed to have a penchant for releasing private information to the media to smear her ‘enemy’s’, – recall the two incidents regarding two female beneficiaries.

    And as MS states , this latest looked all too convenient to be anything else but a set up. A continuation of the Dirty Politics theme. This may send a warning shot across the bows of any future Dirty Politics operators that they will indeed be called to answer for their skulduggery.

    It makes no difference who commits it,.. if its a breach of privacy , its breaking the law.

    And this example may show that whats good for the commoner is also good for the King. There have been countless examples of this breach of parliamentary privilege over the years , and never is anyone sufficiently held to account via the courts, -particularly with regard to the last 9 years of the National party’s govt. What message does that send to the electorate?

    That if you’re a common person you can be hauled before the courts , fined, imprisoned and given a criminal record , – but if your in any way connected to the inner levels of a ruling political party you are immune?

    No. Good on Mr Peters.

    I hope he gets satisfaction.

  13. Michelle 13

    The people that did this need to be held accountable for their actions. I think Winstone is doing the right thing. They should not be allowed to get away with this privacy breach. For 9 years they have kicked a lot of people in the guts and they have treated too many Kiwis like shit. I’m sure we all know who did this and why.

    • … ‘ I think Winston is doing the right thing ‘ …

      Of course he is.

      Of COURSE he is.

      And like I said earlier , the Right Honourable Winston Peters , – soon to be the Right Honourble Winston Peters Acting Prime Minister will be settling old scores ,… and righting a few historic wrongs when Jacinda Adern temporarily steps down.

      And THAT’S what all these neo liberal scumbags are afraid of.

      The man is going to be Prime Minister after all these years of being wrongfully shat on. And a certain bloke called Rob will be smiling down from a better place….

      Bring it on.

  14. cleangreen 14

    I hope Winston takes a hard stand to punish both National toxic MP’s Anne Tolley & Paula Bennett to show how bad these both were complely now because both of these have damaged very many of our citizens in their reckless actions as careless MP’s.

    We in HB/Gisborne all knew about Anne Tolley’s previous lack of care for her consitiuents while a deputy Mayor of Napier City Council, and after that was a National Party Candidate,

    In Gisborne she was named as “No show Tolley” for very good reasons, so these two are very toxic MP’s.

  15. Draco T Bastard 15

    But I am not sure that suing senior public servants is helpful or conducive to good management of the government.

    I’m pretty sure it is. We should not be allowing public servants, especially MPs, to get away with this sort of behaviour.

    In fact, it probably needs to be an actual crime.

    • Hongi Ika 15.1

      DTB what you need to realise is, it is a private matter between MSD and Winston Peters it has nothing to do with NZF or New Zealand Politics.

      • Draco T Bastard 15.1.1

        The release of the information most definitely was to do with politics. It was trying to discredit WP so as to prevent NZ1st from being voted for.

        That was obvious from the time it was reported.

  16. grantoc 16

    AOB

    The actual claims are not new; agreed. There is a change in who the defendants are however.

    As I stated – its the current politics surrounding this issue and the timing that interests me along with their potential significance. These are issues are real – I’m commenting on what I observe.

  17. Hongi Ika 17

    DTB what you need to realise is, it is a private matter between MSD and Winston Peters it has nothing to do with NZF or New Zealand Politics.

  18. patricia bremner 18

    The win by Nicky Hager has perhaps set a marker? Winston is entitled to justice.

    Too many think because he is paid through the public purse that he should “suck it up”

    Why has Bennett shown such disregard for privacy? Oh, that’s right “injunctions” when her privacy is breached…. but “gossip” being in the know” is different? She and Tolley may regret that. IMO.

    • cleangreen 18.1

      Yes Patriicia,

      This day is a great day for justice and the free press!!!!

      So now we can see our ‘investigative journalists come out of the closet again” – to place light on all the bad stuff National party did during the “dark ops” over those last nine years.

  19. Tamati Tautuhi 19

    Are they releasing some political prisoners here in NZ today ?

  20. Treetop 20

    Peters has every right to be treated as an ordinary citizen when it comes to his personal life.

  21. Mark 21

    Winnie protesteth far too much for my liking.

    • patricia bremner 21.1

      This is a case of a personal nature, one apart from a formal recount… which he won!!

  22. ianmac 22

    In QT today the dancing fellow D Seymour used his scarce questions to attempt a go at W Peters who was speaking on behalf of the PM.
    Seymour failed miserably.
    He was pretty sulky. Point of Order? Forget it.
    Seymour tried to raise P of O again after Q8. Forget it David.
    https://www.parliament.nz/en/watch-parliament/ondemand?itemId=200717

  23. Nick K 23

    Mickey, you’re a lawyer so riddle me this. What’s Peters cause of action, and how can he measure his damages?

    • dukofurl 23.1

      read the story:
      “New Zealand First leader Winston Peters is taking legal action seeking $400,000 for breach of privacy over the leaking of his superannuation overpayment details.

      Thats why they give intros.

      • Bg 23.1.1

        So he gets his hand caught in the state cookie jar (again) and it’s everyone else’s fault because he got found out?

        And to matters worse he wants to sue the govt for even more money??? You couldn’t even make this up.

        I wonder if people here would be so forgiving if he went with the Nats

  24. Chris T 24

    In a few days time Winston will be in charge of the people he is sueing and who have to defend themselves in the court against him.

    Nothing dodgy about that at all.

    • John up North 24.1

      Recusal………… you’re a clown and very much trying to push the same stupid line Espiner was plumbing when attempting to create a “what if” hints of corruption/political interference about Peters in his BS line of questioning that Jacinda jammed back down his skinny throat.

      CLOWN!

      • Chris T 24.1.1

        Please link to him saying he is not going to be in charge of those he is sueing.

        Thanks

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    The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts and talking about the week’s news with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on the latest climate science on rising temperatures and the debate about how to responde to climate disinformation; and special guest ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Have We an Infrastructure Deficit?

    An Infrastructure New Zealand report says we are keeping up with infrastructure better than we might have thought from the grumbling. But the challenge of providing for the future remains.I was astonished to learn that the quantity of our infrastructure has been keeping up with economic growth. Your paper almost ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    2 days ago
  • Councils reject racism

    Last month, National passed a racist law requiring local councils to remove their Māori wards, or hold a referendum on them at the 2025 local body election. The final councils voted today, and the verdict is in: an overwhelming rejection. Only two councils out of 45 supported National's racist agenda ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago
  • Homage to Simeon Brown

    Open to all - happy weekend ahead, friends.Today I just want to be petty. It’s the way I imagine this chap is -Not only as a political persona. But his real-deal inner personality, in all its glory - appears to be pure pettiness & populist driven.Sometimes I wonder if Simeon ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Government of deceit

    When National cut health spending and imposed a commissioner on Te Whatu Ora, they claimed that it was necessary because the organisation was bloated and inefficient, with "14 layers of management between the CEO and the patient". But it turns out they were simply lying: Health Minister Shane Reti’s ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago
  • The professionals actually think and act like our Government has no fiscal crisis at all

    Treasury staff at work: The demand for a new 12-year Government bond was so strong, Treasury decided to double the amount of bonds it sold. Photo: Lynn GrievesonMōrena. Long stories short; here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Friday, September ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 6-September-2024

    Welcome to another Friday and another roundup of stories that caught our eye this week. As always, this and every post is brought to you by the Greater Auckland crew. If you like our work and you’d like to see more of it, we invite you to join our regular ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    3 days ago
  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies; Excerpt Four.

    Internal versus external security. Regardless of who rules, large countries can afford to separate external and internal security functions (even if internal control functions predominate under authoritarian regimes). In fact, given the logic of power concentration and institutional centralization of … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    3 days ago
  • A Hole In The River

    There's a hole in the river where her memory liesFrom the land of the living to the air and skyShe was coming to see him, but something changed her mindDrove her down to the riverThere is no returnSongwriters: Neil Finn/Eddie RaynerThe king is dead; long live the queen!Yesterday was a ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Bright Blue His Jacket Ain’t But I Love This Fellow: A Review and Analysis of The Rings of Power E...

    My conclusion last week was that The Rings of Power season two represented a major improvement in the series. The writing’s just so much better, and honestly, its major problems are less the result of the current episodes and more creatures arising from season one plot-holes. I found episode three ...
    3 days ago
  • Who should we thank for the defeat of the Nazis

    As a child in the 1950s, I thought the British had won the Second World War because that’s what all our comics said. Later on, the films and comics told me that the Americans won the war. In my late teens, I found out that the Soviet Union ...
    3 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #36 2024

    Open access notables Diurnal Temperature Range Trends Differ Below and Above the Melting Point, Pithan & Schatt, Geophysical Research Letters: The globally averaged diurnal temperature range (DTR) has shrunk since the mid-20th century, and climate models project further shrinking. Observations indicate a slowdown or reversal of this trend in recent decades. ...
    3 days ago
  • Media Link: Discussing the NZSIS Security Threat Report.

    I was interviewed by Mike Hosking at NewstalkZB and a few other media outlets about the NZSIS Security Threat Report released recently. I have long advocated for more transparency, accountability and oversight of the NZ Intelligence Community, and although the … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    3 days ago
  • How do I make this better for people who drive Ford Rangers?

    Home, home again to a long warm embrace. Plenty of reasons to be glad to be back.But also, reasons for dejection.You, yes you, Simeon Brown, you odious little oik, you bible thumping petrol-pandering ratfucker weasel. You would be Reason Number One. Well, maybe first among equals with Seymour and Of-Seymour ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • A missed opportunity

    The government introduced a pretty big piece of constitutional legislation today: the Parliament Bill. But rather than the contentious constitutional change (four year terms) pushed by Labour, this merely consolidates the existing legislation covering Parliament - currently scattered across four different Acts - into one piece of legislation. While I ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • Nicola Willis Seeks New Sidekick To Help Fix NZ’s Economy

    Synopsis:Nicola Willis is seeking a new Treasury Boss after Dr Caralee McLiesh’s tenure ends this month. She didn’t listen to McLiesh. Will she listen to the new one?And why is Atlas Network’s Taxpayers Union chiming in?Please consider subscribing or supporting my work. Thanks, Tui.About CaraleeAt the beginning of July, Newsroom ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Inflation alive and kicking in our land of the long white monopolies

    The golden days of profit continue for the the Foodstuffs (Pak’n’Save and New World) and Woolworths supermarket duopoly. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short; here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Thursday, September 5:The Groceries Commissioner has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • The thermodynamics of electric vs. internal combustion cars

    This is a re-post from The Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler I love thermodynamics. Thermodynamics is like your mom: it may not tell you what you can do, but it damn well tells you what you can’t do. I’ve written a few previous posts that include thermodynamics, like one on air capture of ...
    4 days ago
  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies: Excerpt Three.

    The notion of geopolitical  “periphery.” The concept of periphery used here refers strictly to what can be called the geopolitical periphery. Being on the geopolitical periphery is an analytic virtue because it makes for more visible policy reform in response … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Venus Hum

    Fill me up with soundThe world sings with me a million smiles an hourI can see me dancing on my radioI can hear you singing in the blades of grassYellow dandelions on my way to schoolBig Beautiful Sky!Song: Venus Hum.Good morning, all you lovely people, and welcome to the 700th ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • I Went to a Creed Concert

    Note: The audio attached to this Webworm compliments today’s newsletter. I collected it as I met people attending a Creed concert. Their opinions may differ to mine. Read more ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    4 days ago
  • Government migration policy backfires; thousands of unemployed nurses

    The country has imported literally thousands of nurses over the past few months yet whether they are being employed as nurses is another matter. Just what is going on with HealthNZ and it nurses is, at best, opaque, in that it will not release anything but broad general statistics and ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • A Time For Unity.

    Emotional Response: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon addresses mourners at the tangi of King Tuheitia on Turangawaewae Marae on Saturday, 31 August 2024.THE DEATH OF KING TUHEITIA could hardly have come at a worse time for Maoridom. The power of the Kingitanga to unify te iwi Māori was demonstrated powerfully at January’s ...
    4 days ago
  • Climate Change: Failed again

    National's tax cut policies relied on stealing revenue from the ETS (previously used to fund emissions reduction) to fund tax cuts to landlords. So how's that going? Badly. Today's auction failed again, with zero units (of a possible 7.6 million) sold. Which means they have a $456 million hole in ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies: Excerpt Two.

    A question of size. Small size generally means large vulnerability. The perception of threat is broader and often more immediate for small countries. The feeling of comparative weakness, of exposure to risk, and of potential intimidation by larger powers often … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Nicola Willis’s Very Unserious Bungling of the Kiwirail Interislander Cancellation

    Open to all with kind thanks to all subscribers and supporters.Today, RNZ revealed that despite MFAT advice to Nicola Willis to be very “careful and deliberate” in her communications with the South Korean government, prior to any public announcement on cancelling Kiwirail’s i-Rex, Willis instead told South Korea 26 minutes ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • Satisfying the Minister’s Speed Obsession

    The Minister of Transport’s speed obsession has this week resulted in two new consultations for 110km/h speed limits, one in Auckland and one in Christchurch. There has also been final approval of the Kapiti Expressway to move to 110km/h following an earlier consultation. While the changes will almost certainly see ...
    5 days ago
  • What if we freed up our streets, again?

    This guest post is by Tommy de Silva, a local rangatahi and freelance writer who is passionate about making the urban fabric of Tāmaki Makaurau-Auckland more people-focused and sustainable. New Zealand’s March-April 2020 Level 4 Covid response (aka “lockdown”) was somehow both the best and worst six weeks of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    5 days ago
  • No Alarms And No Surprises

    A heart that's full up like a landfillA job that slowly kills youBruises that won't healYou look so tired, unhappyBring down the governmentThey don't, they don't speak for usI'll take a quiet lifeA handshake of carbon monoxideAnd no alarms and no surprisesThe fabulous English comedian Stewart Lee once wrote a ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Five ingenious ways people could beat the heat without cranking the AC

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Daisy Simmons Every summer brings a new spate of headlines about record-breaking heat – for good reason: 2023 was the hottest year on record, in keeping with the upward trend scientists have been clocking for decades. With climate forecasts suggesting that heat waves ...
    5 days ago
  • No new funding for cycling & walking

    Studies show each $1 of spending on walking and cycling infrastructure produces $13 to $35 of economic benefits from higher productivity, lower healthcare costs, less congestion, lower emissions and lower fossil fuel import costs. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short; here’s my top six things to note ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • 99

    Dad turned 99 today.Hell of a lot of candles, eh?He won't be alone for his birthday. He will have the warm attention of my brother, and my sister, and everyone at the rest home, the most thoughtful attentive and considerate people you could ever know. On Saturday there will be ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • Open Government: National reneges on beneficial ownership

    One of the achievements of the New Zealand’s Open Government Partnership Fourth National Action Plan was a formal commitment from the government to establish a public beneficial ownership register. Such a register would allow the ultimate owners of companies to be identified - a vital measure in preventing corruption, money ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies: Excerpt One.

    This project analyzes security politics in three peripheral democracies (Chile, New Zealand, Portugal) during the 30 years after the end of the Cold War. It argues that changes in the geopolitical landscape and geo-strategic context are interpreted differently by small … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    5 days ago
  • Tea and Toast

    When the skies are looking bad my dearAnd your heart's lost all its hopeAfter dawn there will be sunshineAnd all the dust will goThe skies will clear my darlingNow it's time for you to let goOur girl will wake you up in the mornin'With some tea and toastLyrics: Lucy Spraggan.Good ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • NLTP 2024 released – destroying pipeline of shovel ready local projects

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Waka Kotahi yesterday released the latest National Land Transport Plan (NLTP) for 2024-27. The NLTP sets out what transport projects will be funded for the next three years, including both central and local government projects. As expected given the government’s extremely ideological transport policy, it’s ...
    6 days ago
  • Can Brown deliver his roads

    The Government’s unveiling of its road-building programme yesterday was ambitious and, many would say, long overdue. But the question will be whether it is too ambitious, whether it is affordable, and, if not, what might be dropped. The big ticket items will be the 17 so-called Roads of National Significance. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago
  • New paper about detecting climate misinformation on Twitter/X

    Together with Cristian Rojas, Frank Algra-Maschio, Mark Andrejevic, Travis Coan, and Yuan-Fang Li, I just published a paper in Nature Communications Earth & Environment where we use the Computer Assisted Recognition of Denial and Skepticism (CARDS) machine learning model to detect climate misinformation in 5 million climate tweets. We find over half ...
    6 days ago
  • Excerpting “Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies.”

    In the late 2000s-early 2010s I was researching and writing a book titled “Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies: Chile, New Zealand and Portugal.” The book was a cross-regional Small-N qualitative comparison of the security strategies and postures of three small … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    6 days ago
  • Hating for the Wrong Reasons: Of Rings of Power, Orcs and Evil

    A few months ago, my fellow countryman, HelloFutureMe, put out a giant YouTube video, dissecting what went wrong with the first season of Rings of Power (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJ6FRUO0ui0&t=8376s). It’s an exceptionally good video, and though it spans some two and a half hours, it is well worth your time. But ...
    6 days ago
  • Climate Change: “Least cost” to who?

    On Friday the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment released their submission on National's second Emissions Reduction Plan, ripping the shit out of it as a massive gamble based on wishful thinking. One of the specific issues he focused on was National's idea of "least cost" emissions reduction, pointing out that ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Israeli Lives Matter

    There is no monopoly on common senseOn either side of the political fenceWe share the same biology, regardless of ideologyBelieve me when I say to youI hope the Russians love their children tooLyrics: Sting. Read more ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago
  • Luxon Cries

    Over the weekend, I found myself rather irritably reading up about the Treaty of Waitangi. “Do I need to do this?” It’s not my jurisdiction. In any other world, would this be something I choose to do?My answer - no.The Waitangi Tribunal, headed by some of our best legal minds, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • Just one Wellington home being consented for every 10 in Auckland

    A decade of under-building is coming home to roost in Wellington. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short; here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Monday September 2:Wellington’s leaders are wringing their hands over an exodus of skilled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Container trucks on local streets: why take the risk?

    This is a guest post by Charmaine Vaughan, who came to transport advocacy via her local Residents Association and a comms role at Bike Auckland. Her enthusiasm to make local streets safer for all is shared by her son Dylan Vaughan, a budding “urban nerd” who provided much of the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    6 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #35

    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, August 25, 2024 thru Sat, August 31, 2024. Story of the week After another crammed week of climate news including updates on climate tipping points, increasing threats from rising ...
    1 week ago
  • An Uncanny Valley of Improvement: A Review and Analysis of The Rings of Power, Episodes 1-3 (Season ...

    And thus we come to the second instalment of Amazon’s Rings of Power. The first season, in 2022, was underwhelming, even for someone like myself, who is by nature inclined to approach Tolkien adaptations with charity. The writing was poor, the plot made no sense on its own terms, and ...
    1 week ago
  • Alcohol debris and Crocodile Tears

    I write to you this morning from scenes of carnage. Around the floor lie young men who only hours earlier were full of life, and cocktails, and now lie silent. Read more ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • When Do We Look Away?

    Hi,The first time I saw something that made me recoil on the internet was a visit to Rotten.com. The clue was in the name — but the internet was a new thing to me in the 90s, and no-one really knew what the hell was going on. But somehow I ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    1 week ago
  • The decades just fly by

    You turn your back for a moment and a city can completely transform itself. It was, oh, just the other day I was tripping up to Kuala Lumpur every few months to teach workshops and luxuriate in the tropical warmth and fill my face with Char Kway Teow.It has to ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago
  • 2024 Reading Summary: August

    Completed reads for August: Aesop’s Fables (collection), by Aesop Berserk: Volume XXV (manga), by Kentaro Miura Benighted, by J.B. Priestly Berserk: Volume XXVI (manga), by Kentaro Miura Berserk: Volume XXVII (manga), by Kentaro Miura Berserk: Volume XXVIII (manga), by Kentaro Miura Berserk: Volume XXIX (manga), by Kentaro Miura ...
    1 week ago
  • Is recent global warming part of a natural cycle?

    Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park from the Gigafact team in collaboration with John Mason. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is recent global warming part ...
    1 week ago
  • White Noise

    Now here we standWith our hearts in our handsSqueezing out the liesAll that I hearIs a message, unclearWhat else is there to decide?All that I'm hearing from youIs White NoiseLyrics: Christopher John CheneyIs the tide turning?Have we reached the high point of the racist hate and lies from Hobson’s Pledge, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • The Death Of “Big Norm” – Exactly 50 Years Ago Today.

    Norman KirkPrime Minister of New Zealand 1972-1974Born: 6 January 1923 - Died: 31 August 1974Of the working-class, by the working-class, for the working-class.Video courtesy of YouTubeThese elements were posted on Bowalley Road on Saturday, 31 August 2024. ...
    1 week ago
  • Claims and Counter-Claims.

    Whose Foreshore? Whose Seabed? When the Marine and Coastal Area Act was originally passed back in 2011, fears about the coastline becoming off-limits to Pakeha were routinely allayed by National Party politicians pointing out that the tests imposed were so stringent  that only a modest percentage of claims (the then treaty ...
    1 week ago
  • Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • The Principles of the Treaty

    Hardly anyone says what are ‘the principles of the treaty’. The courts’ interpretation restrain the New Zealand Government. While they about protecting a particular community, those restraints apply equally to all community in a liberal democracy – including a single person.Treaty principles were introduced into the governance of New Zealand ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • The Only Other Reliable Vehicle.

    An Elite Leader Awaiting Rotation? Hipkins’ give-National-nothing-to-aim-at strategy will only succeed if the Coalition becomes as unpopular in three years as the British Tories became in fourteen.THE SHAPE OF CHRIS HIPKINS’ THINKING on Labour’s optimum pathway to re-election is emerging steadily. At the core of his strategy is Hipkins’ view ...
    1 week ago
  • A Big F U to this Right Wing Government

    Open to all - deep thanks to those who support and subscribe.One of the things that has got me interested recently is updates about Māori wards.In April, Stuff’s Karanama Ruru reported that ~ 2/3 of our 78 councils had adopted Māori wards in NZ.That meant that under the Coalition repeal ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Climate Change: James Shaw’s legacy keeps paying off

    One of the central planks of the previous Labour-Green government's emissions reduction policy was GIDI (Government Investment in Decarbonising Industry). This was basically using ETS revenue to pay polluters to clean up production, reducing emissions while protecting jobs. Corporate welfare, but it got the job done, and was often a ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago
  • Gravity

    Oh twice as much ain't twice as goodAnd can't sustain like one half couldIt's wanting moreThat's gonna send me to my kneesSong: John MayerSome ups and downs from the last week of August ‘24. The good and bad, happy and sad, funny and mad, heroes and cads. The week that ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Ditch the climate double speak and get real

    Long stories short, here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer:The Government announced changes to the Fast-Track Approvals Bill on Sunday, backing off from the contentious proposal to give ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Hoon around the week to August 30

    The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts and talking about the week’s news with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on the latest science of changing sea temperatures and which emissions policies actually work; on the latest from Ukraine, Gaza and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • This Govt’s infrastructure strategy depends on capital gains taxes & new road taxes

    Billions of dollars in value uplift was identified around the Transmission Gully project, but that was captured 100% by landowners and not shared to pay for the project. Now National is saying value capture should be used for similar projects. Photo: Lynn Grieveson/ Getty ImagesMōrena. Long stories short; here’s my ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Roundup 30-August-2024

    Kia ora and welcome to the end of another week. Here’s our regular Friday roundup of things that caught our eye, in the realm of cities and transport. If you enjoy these roundups, feel free to join our growing ranks of supporters by making a recurring donation to keep the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 week ago
  • Table Talk: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.

    That’s the sort of constitutional reform he favours: conceived in secret; revolutionary in intent; implemented incrementally without fanfare; and under no circumstances to be placed before the electorate for democratic ratification.TO SAY IT WAS RAINING would have understated seriously the meteorological conditions. Simply put, it was pissing down. One of ...
    1 week ago
  • Big Norm and Chris Hipkins

    It’s 50 years ago today that “Big Norm” Kirk died of a heart attack in Wellington’s Home of Compassion. Home of Compassion. Although he was Prime Minister for only 623 days, he has an iconic place in New Zealand history, particularly Labour history. When Labour leaders like Jacinda Ardern recite ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 week ago

  • Government progresses response to Abuse in Care recommendations

    A Crown Response Office is being established within the Public Service Commission to drive the Government’s response to the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care. “The creation of an Office within a central Government agency was a key recommendation by the Royal Commission’s final report.  “It will have the mandate ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Passport wait times back on-track

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says passport processing has returned to normal, and the Department of Internal Affairs [Department] is now advising customers to allow up to two weeks to receive their passport. “I am pleased that passport processing is back at target service levels and the Department ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • New appointments to the FMA board

    Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister has today announced three new appointments and one reappointment to the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) board. Tracey Berry, Nicholas Hegan and Mariette van Ryn have been appointed for a five-year term ending in August 2029, while Chris Swasbrook, who has served as a board member ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • District Court judges appointed

    Attorney-General Hon Judith Collins today announced the appointment of two new District Court judges. The appointees, who will take up their roles at the Manukau Court and the Auckland Court in the Accident Compensation Appeal Jurisdiction, are: Jacqui Clark Judge Clark was admitted to the bar in 1988 after graduating ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government makes it faster and easier to invest in New Zealand

    Associate Minister of Finance David Seymour is encouraged by significant improvements to overseas investment decision timeframes, and the enhanced interest from investors as the Government continues to reform overseas investment. “There were about as many foreign direct investment applications in July and August as there was across the six months ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • New Zealand to join Operation Olympic Defender

    New Zealand has accepted an invitation to join US-led multi-national space initiative Operation Olympic Defender, Defence Minister Judith Collins announced today. Operation Olympic Defender is designed to coordinate the space capabilities of member nations, enhance the resilience of space-based systems, deter hostile actions in space and reduce the spread of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government commits to ‘stamping out’ foot and mouth disease

    Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says that a new economic impact analysis report reinforces this government’s commitment to ‘stamp out’ any New Zealand foot and mouth disease incursion. “The new analysis, produced by the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research, shows an incursion of the disease in New Zealand would have ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Improving access to finance for Kiwis

    5 September 2024  The Government is progressing further reforms to financial services to make it easier for Kiwis to access finance when they need it, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says.  “Financial services are foundational for economic success and are woven throughout our lives. Without access to finance our ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Prime Minister pays tribute to Kiingi Tuheitia

    As Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII is laid to rest today, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has paid tribute to a leader whose commitment to Kotahitanga will have a lasting impact on our country. “Kiingi Tuheitia was a humble leader who served his people with wisdom, mana and an unwavering ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Resource Management reform to make forestry rules clearer

    Forestry Minister Todd McClay today announced proposals to reform the resource management system that will provide greater certainty for the forestry sector and help them meet environmental obligations.   “The Government has committed to restoring confidence and certainty across the sector by removing unworkable regulatory burden created by the previous ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • More choice and competition in building products

    A major shake-up of building products which will make it easier and more affordable to build is on the way, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Today we have introduced legislation that will improve access to a wider variety of quality building products from overseas, giving Kiwis more choice and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Joint Statement between the Republic of Korea and New Zealand 4 September 2024, Seoul

    On the occasion of the official visit by the Right Honourable Prime Minister Christopher Luxon of New Zealand to the Republic of Korea from 4 to 5 September 2024, a summit meeting was held between His Excellency President Yoon Suk Yeol of the Republic of Korea (hereinafter referred to as ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Comprehensive Strategic Partnership the goal for New Zealand and Korea

    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Republic of Korea, Yoon Suk Yeol. “Korea and New Zealand are likeminded democracies and natural partners in the Indo Pacific. As such, we have decided to advance discussions on elevating the bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • International tourism continuing to bounce back

    Results released today from the International Visitor Survey (IVS) confirm international tourism is continuing to bounce back, Tourism and Hospitality Minister Matt Doocey says. The IVS results show that in the June quarter, international tourism contributed $2.6 billion to New Zealand’s economy, an increase of 17 per cent on last ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Government confirms RMA reforms to drive primary sector efficiency

    The Government is moving to review and update national level policy directives that impact the primary sector, as part of its work to get Wellington out of farming. “The primary sector has been weighed down by unworkable and costly regulation for too long,” Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says.  “That is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Weak grocery competition underscores importance of cutting red tape

    The first annual grocery report underscores the need for reforms to cut red tape and promote competition, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “The report paints a concerning picture of the $25 billion grocery sector and reinforces the need for stronger regulatory action, coupled with an ambitious, economy-wide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Government moves to lessen burden of reliever costs on ECE services

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