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 ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Hongi Ika 1
    12 June 2018 at 8:21 am

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

    • Stunned Mullet 1.1
      12 June 2018 at 8:51 am

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

      • Robert Guyton 1.1.1
        12 June 2018 at 9:05 am

        “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
          12 June 2018 at 9:21 am

          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
            12 June 2018 at 9:30 am

            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
              12 June 2018 at 11:41 am

              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 …
                12 June 2018 at 1:17 pm

                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 …
                  12 June 2018 at 10:30 pm

                  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 …
                12 June 2018 at 4:23 pm

                Sweet!

          • Hongi Ika 1.1.1.1.2
            12 June 2018 at 9:39 am

            I am interested in knowing who “it” was ?

  2. Ad 2
    12 June 2018 at 8:23 am

    This is the privacy test case we all needed.

    • D'Esterre 2.1
      12 June 2018 at 12:24 pm

      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
    12 June 2018 at 8:41 am

    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
      12 June 2018 at 8:53 am

      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
        12 June 2018 at 9:00 am

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

        • AsleepWhileWalking 3.1.1.1
          12 June 2018 at 3:40 pm

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

      • Ed1 3.1.2
        12 June 2018 at 9:05 am

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

      • Robert Guyton 3.1.3
        12 June 2018 at 9:07 am

        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
          12 June 2018 at 9:19 am

          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
            12 June 2018 at 9:26 am

            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
              12 June 2018 at 10:00 am

              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
            12 June 2018 at 9:34 am

            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
              12 June 2018 at 10:02 am

              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
            12 June 2018 at 9:42 am

            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
              12 June 2018 at 9:54 am

              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 June 2018 at 10:02 am

                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 …
                12 June 2018 at 10:28 am

                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 …
                  12 June 2018 at 10:45 am

                  even if so it’s wotaboutism

                • cleangreen …
                  12 June 2018 at 2:47 pm

                  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 …
                  12 June 2018 at 3:32 pm

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

              • dukeofurl …
                12 June 2018 at 10:51 am

                ‘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 …
                  12 June 2018 at 3:35 pm

                  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
        12 June 2018 at 12:33 pm

        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
        12 June 2018 at 4:47 pm

        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
          12 June 2018 at 9:18 pm

          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
    12 June 2018 at 9:27 am

    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
    12 June 2018 at 9:52 am

    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
    12 June 2018 at 9:53 am

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

    • dukeofurl 6.1
      12 June 2018 at 10:18 am

      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
        12 June 2018 at 10:30 am

        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
    12 June 2018 at 9:59 am

    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
      12 June 2018 at 2:51 pm

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

    • Robert Guyton 7.2
      12 June 2018 at 3:28 pm

      Even if they aren’t.

  8. grantoc 8
    12 June 2018 at 10:02 am

    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
      12 June 2018 at 10:15 am

      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
      12 June 2018 at 10:32 am

      These are not new claims.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 8.3
      12 June 2018 at 10:32 am

      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
      12 June 2018 at 5:06 pm

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

  9. Hongi Ika 9
    12 June 2018 at 10:15 am

    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
      12 June 2018 at 2:58 pm

      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
    12 June 2018 at 10:23 am

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

    • cleangreen 10.1
      12 June 2018 at 3:01 pm

      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
        12 June 2018 at 10:54 pm

        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
    12 June 2018 at 10:52 am

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

  12. WILD KATIPO 12
    12 June 2018 at 11:26 am

    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
    12 June 2018 at 11:40 am

    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.

    • WILD KATIPO 13.1
      12 June 2018 at 12:03 pm

      … ‘ 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
    12 June 2018 at 11:52 am

    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
    12 June 2018 at 12:10 pm

    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
      12 June 2018 at 1:56 pm

      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
        12 June 2018 at 2:11 pm

        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
    12 June 2018 at 12:27 pm

    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
    12 June 2018 at 1:57 pm

    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
    12 June 2018 at 2:36 pm

    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
      12 June 2018 at 3:07 pm

      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
    12 June 2018 at 3:39 pm

    Are they releasing some political prisoners here in NZ today ?

  20. Treetop 20
    12 June 2018 at 3:53 pm

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

  21. Mark 21
    12 June 2018 at 4:09 pm

    Winnie protesteth far too much for my liking.

    • patricia bremner 21.1
      12 June 2018 at 5:17 pm

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

  22. ianmac 22
    12 June 2018 at 4:26 pm

    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
    12 June 2018 at 11:38 pm

    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
      13 June 2018 at 6:47 am

      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
        13 June 2018 at 11:22 am

        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
    13 June 2018 at 8:58 am

    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
      13 June 2018 at 9:44 am

      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
        13 June 2018 at 10:46 am

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

        Thanks

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Chris Bishop: Smokin’
    Yes. Correct. It was an election result. And now we are the elected government. ...
    My ThinksBy boonman
    10 hours ago

  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #48
    A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science  Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Nov 26, 2023 thru Dec 2, 2023. Story of the Week CO2 readings from Mauna Loa show failure to combat climate change Daily atmospheric carbon dioxide data from Hawaiian volcano more ...
    Skeptical Science
    11 hours ago

  • Affirmative Action.
    Affirmative Action was a key theme at this election, although I don’t recall anyone using those particular words during the campaign.They’re positive words, and the way the topic was talked about was anything but. It certainly wasn’t a campaign of saying that Affirmative Action was a good thing, but that, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    16 hours ago

  • 100 days of something
    It was at the end of the Foxton straights, at the end of 1978, at 100km/h, that someone tried to grab me from behind on my Yamaha.They seemed to be yanking my backpack. My first thought was outrage. My second was: but how? Where have they come from? And my ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    17 hours ago

  • Look who’s stepped up to champion Winston
    There’s no news to be gleaned from the government’s official website today  – it contains nothing more than the message about the site being under maintenance. The time this maintenance job is taking and the costs being incurred have us musing on the government’s commitment to an assault on inflation. ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago

  • What's The Story?
    Don’t you sometimes wish they’d just tell the truth? No matter how abhorrent or ugly, just straight up tell us the truth?C’mon guys, what you’re doing is bad enough anyway, pretending you’re not is only adding insult to injury.Instead of all this bollocks about the Smokefree changes being to do ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago

  • The longest of weeks
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.Friday Under New Management Week in review, quiz style1. Which of these best describes Aotearoa?a. Progressive nation, proud of its egalitarian spirit and belief in a fair go b. Best little country on the planet c. ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • Suggested sessions of EGU24 to submit abstracts to
    Like earlier this year, members from our team will be involved with next year's General Assembly of the European Geosciences Union (EGU). The conference will take place on premise in Vienna as well as online from April 14 to 19, 2024. The session catalog has been available since November 1 ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • Under New Management
    1. Which of these best describes Aotearoa?a. Progressive nation, proud of its egalitarian spirit and belief in a fair go b. Best little country on the planet c. Under New Management 2. Which of these best describes the 100 days of action announced this week by the new government?a. Petulantb. Simplistic and wrongheaded c. ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • While we wait patiently, our new Minister of Education is up and going with a 100-day action plan
    Sorry to say, the government’s official website is still out of action. When Point of Order paid its daily visit, the message was the same as it has been for the past week: Site under maintenance Beehive.govt.nz is currently under maintenance. We will be back shortly. Thank you for your ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • DAVID FARRAR: Hysterical bullshit
    Radio NZ reports: Te Pāti Māori’s co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer has accused the new government of “deliberate .. systemic genocide” over its policies to roll back the smokefree policy and the Māori Health Authority. The left love hysterical language. If you oppose racial quotas in laws, you are a racist. And now if you sack ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • ELE LUDEMANN: It wasn’t just $55 million
    Ele Ludemann writes –  Winston Peters reckons media outlets were bribed by the $55 million Public Interest Journalism Fund. He is not the first to make such an accusation. Last year, the Platform outlined conditions media signed up to in return for funds from the PJIF: . . . ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • Weekly Roundup 1-December-2023
    Wow, it’s December already, and it’s a Friday. So here are few things that caught our attention recently. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt covered the new government’s coalition agreements and what they mean for transport. On Tuesday Matt looked at AT’s plans for fare increases ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    3 days ago

  • Shane MacGowan Is Gone.
    Late 1996, The Dogs Bollix, Tamaki Makaurau.I’m at the front of the bar yelling my order to the bartender, jostling with other thirsty punters on a Friday night, keen to piss their wages up against a wall letting loose. The black stuff, long luscious pints of creamy goodness. Back down ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • The Hoon around the week to Dec 1
    Nicola Willis, Chris Bishop and other National, ACT and NZ First MPs applaud the signing of the coalition agreements, which included the reversal of anti-smoking measures while accelerating tax cuts for landlords. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • 2023 More Reading: November (+ Writing Update)
    Completed reads for November: A Modern Utopia, by H.G. Wells The Vampire (poem), by Heinrich August Ossenfelder The Corpus Hermeticum The Corpus Hermeticum is Mead’s translation. Now, this is indeed a very quiet month for reading. But there is a reason for that… You see, ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    3 days ago

  • Forward to 2017
    The coalition party agreements are mainly about returning to 2017 when National lost power. They show commonalities but also some serious divergencies.The two coalition agreements – one National and ACT, the other National and New Zealand First – are more than policy documents. They also describe the processes of the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    3 days ago

  • Questions a nine year old might ask the new Prime Minister
    First QuestionYou’re going to crack down on people ram-raiding dairies, because you say hard-working dairy owners shouldn’t have to worry about getting ram-raided.But once the chemist shops have pseudoephedrine in them again, they're going to get ram-raided all the time. Do chemists not work as hard as dairy owners?Second QuestionYou ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Questions a nine year old might ask the new Prime Minister
    First QuestionYou’re going to crack down on people ram-raiding dairies, because you say hard-working dairy owners shouldn’t have to worry about getting ram-raided.But once the chemist shops have pseudoephedrine in them again, they're going to get ram-raided all the time. Do chemists not work as hard as dairy owners?Second QuestionYou ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Finally
    Henry Kissinger is finally dead. Good fucking riddance. While Americans loved him, he was a war criminal, responsible for most of the atrocities of the final quarter of the twentieth century. Cambodia. Bangladesh. Chile. East Timor. All Kissinger. Because of these crimes, Americans revere him as a "statesman" (which says ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • Government in a hurry – Luxon lists 49 priorities in 100-day plan while Peters pledges to strength...
    Buzz from the Beehive Yes, ministers in the new government are delivering speeches and releasing press statements. But the message on the government’s official website was the same as it has been for the past several days, when Point of Order went looking for news from the Beehive that had ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • DAVID FARRAR: Luxon is absolutely right
    David Farrar writes  –  1 News reports: Christopher Luxon says he was told by some Kiwis on the campaign trail they “didn’t know” the difference between Waka Kotahi, Te Pūkenga and Te Whatu Ora. Speaking to Breakfast, the incoming prime minister said having English first on government agencies will “make sure” ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Top 10 at 10 am for Thursday, Nov 30
    There are fears that mooted changes to building consent liability could end up driving the building industry into an uninsured hole. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Here’s my pick of the top 10 news and analysis links elsewhere as of 10 am on Thursday, November 30, including:The new Government’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on how climate change threatens cricket‘s future
    Well that didn’t last long, did it? Mere days after taking on what he called the “awesome responsibility” of being Prime Minister, M Christopher Luxon has started blaming everyone else, and complaining that he has inherited “economic vandalism on an unprecedented scale” – which is how most of us are ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    4 days ago

  • We need to talk about Tory.
    The first I knew of the news about Tory Whanau was when a tweet came up in my feed.The sort of tweet that makes you question humanity, or at least why you bother with Twitter. Which is increasingly a cesspit of vile inhabitants who lurk spreading negativity, hate, and every ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • Dangling Transport Solutions
    Cable Cars, Gondolas, Ropeways and Aerial Trams are all names for essentially the same technology and the world’s biggest maker of them are here to sell them as an public transport solution. Stuff reports: Austrian cable car company Doppelmayr has launched its case for adding aerial cable cars to New ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    4 days ago

  • November AMA
    Hi,It’s been awhile since I’ve done an Ask-Me-Anything on here, so today’s the day. Ask anything you like in the comments section, and I’ll be checking in today and tomorrow to answer.Leave a commentNext week I’ll be giving away a bunch of these Mister Organ blu-rays for readers in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    4 days ago

  • National’s early moves adding to cost of living pressure
    The cost of living grind continues, and the economic and inflation honeymoon is over before it began. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: PM Christopher Luxon unveiled his 100 day plan yesterday with an avowed focus of reducing cost-of-living pressures, but his Government’s initial moves and promises are actually elevating ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Backwards to the future
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has confirmed that it will be back to the future on planning legislation. This will be just one of a number of moves which will see the new government go backwards as it repeals and cost-cuts its way into power. They will completely repeal one ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago

  • New initiatives in science and technology could point the way ahead for Luxon government
    As the new government settles into the Beehive, expectations are high that it can sort out some  of  the  economic issues  confronting  New Zealand. It may take time for some new  ministers to get to grips with the range of their portfolio work and responsibilities before they can launch the  changes that  ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    4 days ago

  • Treaty pledge to secure funding is contentious – but is Peters being pursued by a lynch mob after ...
    TV3 political editor Jenna Lynch was among the corps of political reporters who bridled, when Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters told them what he thinks of them (which is not much). She was unabashed about letting her audience know she had bridled. More usefully, she drew attention to something which ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • How long does this last?
    I have a clear memory of every election since 1969 in this plucky little nation of ours. I swear I cannot recall a single one where the question being asked repeatedly in the first week of the new government was: how long do you reckon they’ll last? And that includes all ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • National’s giveaway politics
    We already know that national plans to boost smoking rates to collect more tobacco tax so they can give huge tax-cuts to mega-landlords. But this morning that policy got even more obscene - because it turns out that the tax cut is retrospective: Residential landlords will be able to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • CHRIS TROTTER: Who’s driving the right-wing bus?
    Who’s At The Wheel? The electorate’s message, as aggregated in the polling booths on 14 October, turned out to be a conservative political agenda stronger than anything New Zealand has seen in five decades. In 1975, Bill Rowling was run over by just one bus, with Rob Muldoon at the wheel. In 2023, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • GRAHAM ADAMS:  Media knives flashing for Luxon’s government
    The fear and loathing among legacy journalists is astonishing Graham Adams writes – No one is going to die wondering how some of the nation’s most influential journalists personally view the new National-led government. It has become abundantly clear within a few days of the coalition agreements ...
    Point of OrderBy gadams1000
    4 days ago

  • Top 10 news links for Wednesday, Nov 29
    TL;DR: Here’s my pick of top 10 news links elsewhere for Wednesday November 29, including:The early return of interest deductibility for landlords could see rebates paid on previous taxes and the cost increase to $3 billion from National’s initial estimate of $2.1 billion, CTU Economist Craig Renney estimated here last ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Smokefree Fallout and a High Profile Resignation.
    The day after being sworn in the new cabinet met yesterday, to enjoy their honeymoon phase. You remember, that period after a new government takes power where the country, and the media, are optimistic about them, because they haven’t had a chance to stuff anything about yet.Sadly the nuptials complete ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • As Cabinet revs up, building plans go on hold
    Wellington Council hoardings proclaim its preparations for population growth, but around the country councils are putting things on hold in the absence of clear funding pathways for infrastructure, and despite exploding migrant numbers. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Cabinet meets in earnest today to consider the new Government’s 100-day ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • National takes over infrastructure
    Though New Zealand First may have had ambitions to run the infrastructure portfolios, National would seem to have ended up firmly in control of them.  POLITIK has obtained a private memo to members of Infrastructure NZ yesterday, which shows that the peak organisation for infrastructure sees  National MPs Chris ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago

  • At a glance – Evidence for global warming
    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 ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • Who’s Driving The Right-Wing Bus?
    Who’s At The Wheel? The electorate’s message, as aggregated in the polling booths on 14 October, turned out to be a conservative political agenda stronger than anything New Zealand has seen in five decades. In 1975, Bill Rowling was run over by just one bus, with Rob Muldoon at the wheel. In ...
    Bowalley Road
    5 days ago

  • Sanity break
    Cheers to reader Deane for this quote from Breakfast TV today:Chloe Swarbrick to Brook van Velden re the coalition agreement: “... an unhinged grab-bag of hot takes from your drunk uncle at Christmas”Cheers also to actual Prime Minister of a country Christopher Luxon for dorking up his swearing-in vows.But that's enough ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • Sanity break
    Cheers to reader Deane for this quote from Breakfast TV today:Chloe Swarbrick to Brook van Velden re the coalition agreement: “... an unhinged grab-bag of hot takes from your drunk uncle at Christmas”Cheers also to actual Prime Minister of a country Christopher Luxon for dorking up his swearing-in vows.But that's enough ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • National’s murderous smoking policy
    One of the big underlying problems in our political system is the prevalence of short-term thinking, most usually seen in the periodic massive infrastructure failures at a local government level caused by them skimping on maintenance to Keep Rates Low. But the new government has given us a new example, ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • NZ has a chance to rise again as our new government gets spending under control
    New Zealand has  a chance  to  rise  again. Under the  previous  government, the  number of New Zealanders below the poverty line was increasing  year by year. The Luxon-led government  must reverse that trend – and set about stabilising  the  pillars  of the economy. After the  mismanagement  of the outgoing government created   huge ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    5 days ago

  • KARL DU FRESNE: Media and the new government
    Two articles by Karl du Fresne bring media coverage of the new government into considerations.  He writes –    Tuesday, November 28, 2023 The left-wing media needed a line of attack, and they found one The left-wing media pack wasted no time identifying the new government’s weakest point. Seething over ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • PHILIP CRUMP:  Team of rivals – a CEO approach to government leadership
    The work begins Philip Crump wrote this article ahead of the new government being sworn in yesterday – Later today the new National-led coalition government will be sworn in, and the hard work begins. At the core of government will be three men – each a leader ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Black Friday
    As everyone who watches television or is on the mailing list for any of our major stores will confirm, “Black Friday” has become the longest running commercial extravaganza and celebration in our history. Although its origins are obscure (presumably dreamt up by American salesmen a few years ago), it has ...
    Bryan GouldBy Bryan Gould
    6 days ago

  • In Defense of the Media.
    Yesterday the Ministers in the next government were sworn in by our Governor General. A day of tradition and ceremony, of decorum and respect. Usually.But yesterday Winston Peters, the incoming Deputy Prime Minister, and Foreign Minister, of our nation used it, as he did with the signing of the coalition ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • Top 10 news links at 10 am for Tuesday, Nov 28
    Nicola Willis’ first move was ‘spilling the tea’ on what she called the ‘sobering’ state of the nation’s books, but she had better be able to back that up in the HYEFU. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Here’s my pick of top 10 news links elsewhere at 10 am ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • PT use up but fare increases coming
    Yesterday Auckland Transport were celebrating, as the most recent Sunday was the busiest Sunday they’ve ever had. That’s a great outcome and I’m sure the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    6 days ago

  • The very opposite of social investment
    Nicola Willis (in blue) at the signing of the coalition agreement, before being sworn in as both Finance Minister and Social Investment Minister. National’s plan to unwind anti-smoking measures will benefit her in the first role, but how does it stack up from a social investment viewpoint? Photo: Lynn Grieveson ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • Giving Tuesday
    For the first time "in history" we decided to jump on the "Giving Tuesday" bandwagon in order to make you aware of the options you have to contribute to our work! Projects supported by Skeptical Science Inc. Skeptical Science Skeptical Science is an all-volunteer organization but ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • Let's open the books with Nicotine Willis
    Let’s say it’s 1984,and there's a dreary little nation at the bottom of the Pacific whose name rhymes with New Zealand,and they've just had an election.Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, will you look at the state of these books we’ve opened,cries the incoming government, will you look at all this mountain ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago

  • Climate Change: Stopping oil
    National is promising to bring back offshore oil and gas drilling. Naturally, the Greens have organised a petition campaign to try and stop them. You should sign it - every little bit helps, and as the struggle over mining conservation land showed, even National can be deterred if enough people ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago

  • Don’t accept Human Rights Commission reading of data on Treaty partnership – read the survey fin...
    Wellington is braced for a “massive impact’ from the new government’s cutting public service jobs, The Post somewhat grimly reported today. Expectations of an economic and social jolt are based on the National-Act coalition agreement to cut public service numbers in each government agency in a cost-trimming exercise  “informed by” head ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • The stupidest of stupid reasons
    One of the threats in the National - ACT - NZ First coalition agreements was to extend the term of Parliament to four years, reducing our opportunities to throw a bad government out. The justification? Apparently, the government thinks "elections are expensive". This is the stupidest of stupid reasons for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago

  • A website bereft of buzz
    Buzz from the Beehive The new government was being  sworn in, at time of writing , and when Point of Order checked the Beehive website for the latest ministerial statements and re-visit some of the old ones we drew a blank. We found ….  Nowt. Nothing. Zilch. Not a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • MICHAEL BASSETT: A new Ministry – at last
    Michael Bassett writes – Like most people, I was getting heartily sick of all the time being wasted over the coalition negotiations. During the first three weeks Winston grinned like a Cheshire cat, certain he’d be needed; Chris Luxon wasted time in lifting the phone to Winston ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Luxon's Breakfast.
    The Prime Minister elect had his silver fern badge on. He wore it to remind viewers he was supporting New Zealand, that was his team. Despite the fact it made him look like a concierge, or a welcomer in a Koru lounge. Anna Burns-Francis, the Breakfast presenter, asked if he ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • LINDSAY MITCHELL:  Oranga Tamariki faces major upheaval under coalition agreement
     Lindsay Mitchell writes – A hugely significant gain for ACT is somewhat camouflaged by legislative jargon. Under the heading ‘Oranga Tamariki’ ACT’s coalition agreement contains the following item:   Remove Section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 According to Oranga Tamariki:     “Section ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • BRIAN EASTON:  Peters as Minister
    A previous column looked at Winston Peters biographically. This one takes a closer look at his record as a minister, especially his policy record. Brian Easton writes – 1990-1991: Minister of Māori Affairs. Few remember Ka Awatea as a major document on the future of Māori policy; there is ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 days ago

  • Cathrine Dyer's guide to watching COP 28 from the bottom of a warming planet
    Is COP28 largely smoke and mirrors and a plan so cunning, you could pin a tail on it and call it a weasel? Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: COP28 kicks off on November 30 and up for negotiation are issues like the role of fossil fuels in the energy transition, contributions to ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    7 days ago

  • Top 10 news links at 10 am for Monday, Nov 27
    PM Elect Christopher Luxon was challenged this morning on whether he would sack Adrian Orr and Andrew Coster.TL;DR: Here’s my pick of top 10 news links elsewhere at 10 am on Monday November 27, including:Signs councils are putting planning and capital spending on hold, given a lack of clear guidance ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    7 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the new government’s policies of yesteryear
    This column expands on a Werewolf column published by Scoop on Friday Routinely, Winston Peters is described as the kingmaker who gets to decide when the centre right or the centre-left has a turn at running this country. He also plays a less heralded but equally important role as the ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    7 days ago

  • The New Government’s Agreements
    Last Friday, almost six weeks after election day, National finally came to an agreement with ACT and NZ First to form a government. They also released the agreements between each party and looking through them, here are the things I thought were the most interesting (and often concerning) from the. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    7 days ago

  • How many smokers will die to fund the tax cuts?
    Maori and Pasifika smoking rates are already over twice the ‘all adult’ rate. Now the revenue that generates will be used to fund National’s tax cuts. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The devil is always in the detail and it emerged over the weekend from the guts of the policy agreements National ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    7 days ago

  • How the culture will change in the Beehive
    Perhaps the biggest change that will come to the Beehive as the new government settles in will be a fundamental culture change. The era of endless consultation will be over. This looks like a government that knows what it wants to do, and that means it knows what outcomes ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    7 days ago

  • No More Winnie Blues.
    So what do you think of the coalition’s decision to cancel Smokefree measures intended to stop young people, including an over representation of Māori, from taking up smoking? Enabling them to use the tax revenue to give other people a tax cut?David Cormack summed it up well:It seems not only ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago

  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #47
    A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science  Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Nov 19, 2023 thru Sat, Nov 25, 2023.  Story of the Week World stands on frontline of disaster at Cop28, says UN climate chief  Exclusive: Simon Stiell says leaders must ‘stop ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

  • Some of it is mad, some of it is bad and some of it is clearly the work of people who are dangerous ...
    On announcement morning my mate texted:Typical of this cut-price, fake-deal government to announce itself on Black Friday.What a deal. We lose Kim Hill, we gain an empty, jargonising prime minister, a belligerent conspiracist, and a heartless Ayn Rand fanboy. One door closes, another gets slammed repeatedly in your face.It seems pretty ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago

  • “Revolution” is the threat as the Māori Party smarts at coalition government’s Treaty directi...
    Buzz from the Beehive Having found no fresh announcements on the government’s official website, Point of Order turned today to Scoop’s Latest Parliament Headlines  for its buzz. This provided us with evidence that the Māori Party has been soured by the the coalition agreement announced yesterday by the new PM. “Soured” ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 week ago

  • The Good, the Bad, and the even Worse.
    Yesterday the trio that will lead our country unveiled their vision for New Zealand.Seymour looking surprisingly statesmanlike, refusing to rise to barbs about his previous comments on Winston Peters. Almost as if they had just been slapstick for the crowd.Winston was mostly focussed on settling scores with the media, making ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago

  • When it Comes to Palestine – Free Speech is Under Threat
    Hi,Thanks for getting amongst Mister Organ on digital — thanks to you, we hit the #1 doc spot on iTunes this week. This response goes a long way to helping us break even.I feel good about that. Other things — not so much.New Zealand finally has a new government, and ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    1 week ago

  • Thank you Captain Luxon. Was that a landing, or were we shot down?
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.Also in More Than A FeildingFriday The unboxing And so this is Friday and what have we gone and done to ourselves?In the same way that a Christmas present can look lovely under the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago

  • New Zealand welcomes European Parliament vote on the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement
    A significant milestone in ratifying the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was reached last night, with 524 of the 705 member European Parliament voting in favour to approve the agreement. “I’m delighted to hear of the successful vote to approve the NZ-EU FTA in the European Parliament overnight. This is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Further humanitarian support for Gaza, the West Bank and Israel
    The Government is contributing a further $5 million to support the response to urgent humanitarian needs in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel, bringing New Zealand’s total contribution to the humanitarian response so far to $10 million. “New Zealand is deeply saddened by the loss of civilian life and the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2023-12-03T09:58:36+00:00