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Worse and worse

Written By: - Date published: 11:07 am, June 4th, 2009 - 77 comments
Categories: richard worth - Tags: , ,

This just gets worse for Key. It has emerged that Worth was offering ‘jobs for favours’ for a young woman. Goff passed her allegations on to Key. According to the Dom (physical version, online is different) Key said “I investigated them and there didn’t appear any truth to them and I accepted Dr Worth’s version of events”.

  • Did he bother to ask the woman, or did he just take the word of his mate?
  • Did he look at the emails and phone-logs? How did he conclude then there was no truth to them?
  • Does Key still believe that Worth wasn’t abusing his ministerial powers in the most corrupt manner in an attempt to gain sexual favours in light of the new sexual allegations against him, which Key believes to be true?

Meanwhile, John Armstrong, desperate for some way to praise Key in all this, runs the National defence line that had so far been confined to the rightwing trolls in our comment threads:

Key is proving to be an even tougher disciplinarian than his predecessor, Helen Clark. She fired plenty of ministers, but in most cases indicated there was a road back into the inner sanctum after a suitable period of penance.

Clark did fire ministers quickly and none of her ministers was accused of what Key believes Worth has done. It is the seriousness of that act and Key’s belief that it happened that have led to Key firmly shutting the door on Worth. There would have been no difference with Clark or any half-competent PM.

Except any half-competent PM wouldn’t have turned Worth’s resignation into a dance of the seven veils, exposing one repugnant layer at a time.

77 comments on “Worse and worse ”

  1. notreallyalawyer 1

    Dover Samuels, – how long did Clark sit on what she knew? About six months. You might not consider the accustions to be just as serious. Others might consider otherwise.

    How long did it take Labour to deal with Fields?

    • merlin 1.1

      Field lost his ministerial portfolios as soon as the allegations came out against him (that was just before the 2005 election). He was never reinstated.

      • notreallyalawyer 1.1.1

        “Field lost his ministerial portfolios as soon as the allegations came out against him”

        how soon was “soon” – less than a week?

        And it took Clark a full year to decide the Field was uinfit to be an MP. About a week for Key.

        But I take it you agree then about Samuels.

        By the way, for the intellectually challenged, this isn’t an attack on Clark, merely pointing out that like it or not PMs have to consider due process and natural justice – which always means taking more time. And they do have to consider how to manage thomgs politically. They are in politics afterall.

        And did National act like Labour is now – yes of course.

        But it is hilarious watching you guys baying for blood. You really don’t see the contradiction do you.

  2. Tigger 2

    According to ACT, Clark was too hard on Samuels…

    http://www.act.org.nz/news/no-good-faith-shown-in-dover-samuels-sacking

    So will ACT be rushing to defend Worth against Key’s dismissal?

  3. Sean 3

    “This just gets worse for Key.”

    No, if anything it gets better because Key has already effectively cut Worthless from the National-led government. As any half decent political junkie would know, it’s not the incident/crisis that causes grief, but how you handle it.

    • calltoaccount 3.1

      Eventually. Even the current episode looks tardy. Until we hear what Key knew, when he knew it and what he did with the information, we won’t be able to draw the conclusion you are jumping to.

  4. tsmithfield 4

    Here is Goff quoted from that article:

    “The allegations were essentially that Dr Worth had offered a number of different positions that were within his gift as minister to this woman, with the overtones that this was in pursuit of romantic ambitions,” Goff said.

    “One was as an adviser and one was as a board member within the responsibilities of Dr Worth but the overtones were that he wanted to develop a relationship with her,” Mr Goff said on Radio New Zealand.

    Note that Goff did not make any accusations about sexual misconduct here. Just that there were overtones of a “pursuit of romantic ambitions”.

    When we are getting into “overtones”, it becomes very difficult to pin down an actual offence.

    For instance, if I e-mailed a female in the context of a job offer with a phrase like:

    “lets meet up to discuss things and see where things go from there..”

    the phrase could clearly be interpreted as a romantic invitation which may well be the intention of the sender. However, the sender is then in a position to deny that any meaning was intended should the shit hit the fan as there is clear ambiguity. With the above quote, it is clear that the statement could be read in the context of a job interview or a romantic liason.

    I suspect this is what has happened in this case because of the way the Goff has couched his statement so carefully.

    This does not excuse the behaviour of Worth who I see as a sleaze of the worst kind. However, if supporting evidence was not available, then there is little option but to accept the senders word about the intent behind the e-mail.

    To be fair to Key, I think he was more than happy to find a reason to sack Worth given past performance and his liability to the government. So, I think he would have certainly pulled the trigger on the basis of this earlier incident if could find solid justification to do so.

    • merlin 4.1

      Trying to seperate romance and sex, t? You’re not the first to try it but i can’t see you succeeding.

      You should watch Goff’s interview on Breakfast this morning. He says Worth asked her to buy see-through clothing. If you’re right and there is a meaningful difference between sexual and romantic in this context then it’s clear what side this is on.

    • Pascal's bookie 4.2

      The emails were personal, they were about ‘do you want to come swimming with me?’ Do you want to take a holiday with me overseas, I want you to buy this see-through clothing. This woman is half Dr Worth’s age, she is a happily married woman with children, she was offended by it.’

      Also from that article I think. At least the version I see. Oversight tsmitty, or selective quotation?

      • tsmithfield 4.2.1

        Actually, I must admit that I didn’t read that far down on the article.

        Certainly very sleazy. Glad to see Worth is gone.

        I guess since the e-mails had come from a political opponent, there would be questions about proof that the e-mails had in fact originated from Worth.
        I wonder if that is the point that was not proved. If Worth had catagorically denied sending them, and it could not be proved they were actually generated by him, then he may have got some wiggle room.

        I don’t think the e-mails were actually illegal. Also, I would expect that this woman would have sent a fairly clear and direct response back to Worth when the first e-mail was received. Is there any indication that this actually happened? Otherwise there could be the suggestion that the woman was leading him on for the purpose making some political capital out of it.

        Afterall, the behaviour, although disgusting, is not technically illegal, especially if Worth had reason to believe she was a willing party.

        • bill brown 4.2.1.1

          Oh what, you mean if she was asking for it?

          • tsmithfield 4.2.1.1.1

            No. It is rather sus that the woman concerned is a member of the Labour Party though.

            What if Worth had a series of e-mails from her saying she was single, keen to get to know him better etc? Would that change your opinion of the situation?

          • felix 4.2.1.1.2

            “Would that change your opinion of the situation?”

            That’s not “the situation”. It’s a completely imaginary situation.

            What if Worth had a fridge full of severed heads? Would that change youropinion of the situation?

          • merlin 4.2.1.1.3

            It’s not a sign of guilt to be a member of a political party, T.

            I think it’s rather ‘sus’ that you are still trying to make excuses for Worth, even going so far as to event a series of emails that exist only in your head and that no-one (not Worth, not Key, not Goff) has suggested exist.

          • Kaplan 4.2.1.1.4

            Nice long drop TS, but it’s time to stop digging now.

          • Pascal's bookie 4.2.1.1.5

            Dude that’s pretty desperate.

            Let’s pretend that those emails don’t in fact exist, and that the one’s from Worth are what they appear to be. Do you think Key should have sacked him?

            You agree that they are sleazy, so is that sleaziness ok?

            If it’s not ok, do you think we are entitled to know why Worth was not sacked ?

            If it was all a set up, and Worth can prove that, then I think we should see that proof. Don’t you?

  5. Hon PHIL GOFF to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his statement at question time yesterday that he lost confidence in Dr Richard Worth as a Minister on Tuesday 26 May 2009?

    This should make for an interesting question time.

  6. Akldnut 6

    John Armstrong “Last week, however, was Budget week – not a time to be sacking ministers unless you really have to.”

    1. Budget week or not Key should’ve sacked him then and there instead of trying to separate this issue from all the other bullshit he inflicted on us.
    2. If this sort of behaviour didn’t fit the “unless you really have to” category then nothing would.

  7. Actually, this could be getting worse and worse for Labour and how ironic is that.

    First, Key has acted cautiously but decisively. HC’s record was likewise patchy and it was her failure to act decisively in a couple of instances that still cast a shadow.

    Keep in mind that any offence is alleged and supposedly Worth is innocent until proven otherwise.

    From a pure Nat perspective, there could be gold in the dirt. Apart from Key taking strong and direct action, the Nats have got rid of a worthless piece of the proverbial and a walking headline.

    • Tigger 7.1

      How is this bad for Labour? Key looked like a bungling idiot as the press pulled details from him. He didn’t act decisively at all – he waited. Key has outed himself as having lost confidence last week in Worth, he’s claimed he finds Worth’s behaviour reprehensible (his tone yesterday was judgemental, as though Key was convicted, not just being investigated). So if anyone is guilty of pre-judging Worth, it’s Key. And if the behaviour was THAT bad, why wait so long to act?

      • Daveski 7.1.1

        The issue of whether Key acted decisively or not is the key one (pun intended). The balance of opinion appears to support Key even with some reservations. I don’t expect that view to be represented here of course.

        The arcane point is that Key’s actions have little to do with what Worth has allegedly done but because of the way in which he didn’t communicate to his leader.

        Assuming that Key comes out with a pass mark (and it’s not unreasonable to assume this given a wider sampling of views than here), National is much much better off without Worth.

    • The Voice of Reason 7.2

      “Actually, this could be getting worse and worse for Labour and how ironic is that.”

      On what planet, Daveski? Here on Earth, Goff is looking like a PM in waiting and John Key is looking like a dithering idiot with serious deficiencies in his team that he is only able to deal with by bullshit, evasion and blind hope that no one will notice.

      And when the reality of the incompetence of one of his hand picked team comes out, he drops them like a whaler drops a baby fur seal. Ask Melissa Lee, she knows only too well.

      captcha; ‘jerkin is’ . Jerkin John?

      • Daveski 7.2.1

        As I said tVoR, your view and the standard view (please note small s) on Goff and Key’s relative performance are shared universally. I agree that Key is damned by the actions of his team but let’s not revisit the past eh!

        Getting rid of Worth is actually good news for National. Whether or not Key acted appropriately and in a timely manner is a matter of opinion and opinion appears to be divided on this. Note I’m not trying to push my position but a reasonable analysis of the media and other comments suggests you’re the one who’s misreading this sad tale of events.

      • Tim Ellis 7.2.2

        VoR, Mr Goff might have looked like a “PM in waiting” for nine years under Helen Clark, but given his party is trailing Mr Key’s party by twenty percent, and he is trailing Mr Key in the preferred prime minister stakes by fifty percent, it would be a very bold call indeed for you to say he is looking like the “PM in waiting” now.

    • Chris G 7.3

      “Key has acted cautiously but decisively
      “Key taking strong and direct action

      A re-hashed National press release / parrots in the media talking about the issue.

      Also it read a lot like what tim ellis would post.

      “Nats have got rid of a … walking headline” Why is Melissa Lee still knockin’ about then?

  8. Pascal's bookie 8

    .

    • Daveski 8.1

      I finally agree with you 100% PB 😉

    • The Voice of Reason 8.2

      Interesting posting, PB. Is it an artist’s rendition of the inside of John Key’s head? Or maybe the full list of contributions to NZ society that Richard Worth has made?

  9. tsmithfield 9

    The complaint about the e-mails has the smell of a set-up to me. Similar to the Nigerian scammers that are now developing romantic relationships with unsuspecting victims in order to scam money out of them.

    Heres why I think this:

    1. The woman was a labour party member.
    2. It appears numerous e-mails had been sent by the gormless Worth. Why didn’t the woman forthrightly tell him to piss off after the first one?
    3. What was the woman telling Worth during all these cosy telephone chats? Why did she keep accepting calls from Worth rather than just hanging up on him?

    It seems to me she was trying to egg Worth on in order to drop him in it later on. Perhaps Worth didn’t even know she was married or a member of the Labour party.
    Worth may have raised these points when discussing the issue with Key. Given Keys own experience with the underhanded tactics labour can stoop to, perhaps he believed him.

    • gobsmacked 9.1

      Why did she keep accepting calls from Worth rather than just hanging up on him?

      Also, why did she wear make-up and a short skirt?

      Defence tactics SOP: let’s get the victim in the witness box. Bet she’s not a virgin either.

    • the sprout 9.2

      an understandable attempt at defence/diversion.

      but IF it were true, what does that say about Key’s gullibility and the chances of him being set-up when it comes to shrewd players like the US on issues like trade deals?

      doesn’t fill me with confidence that we wouldn’t get sold down the river if Key is so naive to possible set-ups.

      • doc whose asking 9.2.1

        ullo ullo ullo !!! suddenly went low! low! low!

        As if they would.. do unto an old buddie.. what hath been done many many times afore.. unless the old buddie be known to hath done unto them.. et cetera..

    • WTF 9.3

      Yeah tsmithfield you are so right!

      Maybe she was also wearing a short skirt? Maybe she was out late at night by herself? Maybe she got drunk and let herself be drunk in public so men could make advances?

      Maybe she was asking for it?

      Maybe she had had advances from lots of other men and Worth thought she was easy?

      Maybe she consented to advances from Key so Worth presumed he would be sweet as well?

      Maybe she secretly wanted it and no meant yes?

      • titter 9.3.1

        Maybe she was Phil Goff in a dress…………. deeeeeeeelightful …. not.

    • felix 9.4

      Wow.

      tsmithfeild, I’m interested to hear more of your theories about this and also on sexual politics in general. Please, keep digging sharing your thoughts.

      • tsmithfield 9.4.1

        It wouldn’t surpise me if it was a deliberate set-up. Can’t prove it. The facts that are known certainly leave that possibility open, thats all.

        I don’t think she wanted it at all, whatever the truth is. I mean, Worth???

        • the sprout 9.4.1.1

          were that the case the facts also suggest Key has handled it very poorly indeed and demonstrated a profound political naivity.

        • Pascal's bookie 9.4.1.2

          If it was a ‘set up’, shouldn’t we see the evidence? After all, in itself that is a pretty serious allegation to make against the complainant no?

          If it wasn’t a set up, shouldn’t Key have sacked him?

        • lprent 9.4.1.3

          Two different women? One from the Labour side and the other a Nat? Yeah right. Why do I suspect that this will merely be the tip of the iceberg? Having two politically active women affected out of the population of all NZ women makes me suspect that these are merely the ones that did something about it.

          BTW: You interested in buying a bridge? The brooklyn one would look good outside your living room. (you credulous fool)

        • The Voice of Reason 9.4.1.4

          Worth set himself up.

          The India trip is a great clue as to how he thinks. Something along the lines of “After a decade in opposition, I’ve finally got the big job. I’m the man! I deserve your fawning.”

          He has a clear sense of entitlement and in both the India trip and the job offer with string bikini’s attached, he has abused his position and authority for personal gain. It should have been obvious to Key after India that he was a liability. If Key wanted to have some ethical authority, that was the time to dump him.

          And then, the second incident, the issue Goff raised, and the appalling emails that were provided as proof, should have seen him sacked. Again, Key sat on his hands. Actually it’s worse than that. He had emails that showed clearly that Worth was an abuser and did nothing. Sick.

          The current incident, whatever it is, was only too much for dithering John when he knew plod was going to be involved. Until that point, Key did not have a significant problem with a minister using his office to curry sexual favours. Worth may be an arsehole, but Key is the arsehole enabler.

  10. Pat 10

    “Did he bother to ask the woman, or did he just take the word of his mate?”

    Key never had the opportunity to question the woman, because she specifically instructed Goff that she did not want to be named or further involved.

    “Did he look at the emails and phone-logs? How did he conclude then there was no truth to them?”

    No and neither did Goff. Who has seen the emails and phone logs? No-one that I’m aware of.

    So what have is an unnamed Labour party staffer phoning Goff with allegations. Goff phones Key with allegations, but there is no supporting evidence and accuser does not want to be involved further. Key questions Worth who categorically denies everything.

    If you think Key should have sacked Worth over this, then I suggest Goff phones Key with allegations from un-named Labour party staffers against all the other National party ministers. By this standard Key would have to sack his entire cabinet.

    • titter 10.1

      Careful Pat if the intellects that thought the trip to Melbourne in an attempt to smear Key was a good idea are still in situ they may run with your suggestion.

    • Pascal's bookie 10.2

      “I checked out her story very carefully before I went to the prime minister, she had emails, she had telephone-logs, and the essence of her story was that she had been offered various positions by Dr Worth but … the overtone was in return for a relationship.”

      “The emails were personal, they were about ‘do you want to come swimming with me?’ Do you want to take a holiday with me overseas, I want you to buy this see-through clothing. This woman is half Dr Worth’s age, she is a happily married woman with children, she was offended by it.

      Sounds like Goff has seen the emails and logs to me, but that he doesn’t have copies.

    • Kaplan 10.3

      So now Worth, who in Pat’s version of the truth is innocent, just resigned because he felt like?

  11. exbrethren 11

    Pat “No and neither did Goff. Who has seen the emails and phone logs? No-one that I’m aware of.”

    Reading the stuff report it’d seem Goff has seen them by his quotes.

    “I checked out her story very carefully before I went to the prime minister, she had emails, she had telephone-logs, and the essence of her story was that she had been offered various positions by Dr Worth but … the overtone was in return for a relationship.”

    “The emails were personal, they were about ‘do you want to come swimming with me?’ Do you want to take a holiday with me overseas, I want you to buy this see-through clothing. This woman is half Dr Worth’s age, she is a happily married woman with children, she was offended by it.”

    If Goff has passed on these emails and Key has done nothing but shrug off the accusations then he’s got problems.

  12. Pat 12

    Goff never passed on the emails. According to Key on Radio Live 1.45pm Goff advised Key during his phone call that he had not seen them.

    • Pascal's bookie 12.1

      thnx.

      Wonder if Key asked Worth to show him any emails. Should have.

    • exbrethren 12.2

      If that’s the case then Goff has been very foolish in stating what was in the emails.

      If however as Espiner is stating that Labour have emails and letters from Worth to the staffer then either;

      Goff had seen the emails before contacting Key then Key is unclear or lying

      or Goff saw them after he contacted Key, in which case his case isn’t that good.

    • calltoaccount 12.3

      Pat: Key’s position hanging by a thread there. Yes, (physical evidence was sited and not properly acted on), and he’s in real trouble.

      Otherwise, it’s on to the issues raised by Cosgrove and Turei in Question Time today (my take being, it seems like Worth was still acting in offical capacities, after having lost the confidence of Key. If so, why?!).

  13. exbrethren 13

    Interesting stuff from Colin Espiner on this

    “But Key said in that interview that the only investigations into the complaint his office made were to talk to Worth about it, who told them it was untrue. Key’s office did not speak to anyone else, including the complainant.

    I understand Labour has emails and letters on ministerial letterhead from Worth to this staffer. I’d imagine that Goff told Key about this.

    Given the seriousness of the complaint, I’m surprised Key was prepared to let the matter rest. Did he not imagine it would come out at a later date?

    There has been much comment about how emphatically Key has dealt with all this, and favourable comparisons to Helen Clark. Sorry, but I don’t agree. The end may have been swift, but it was a long time coming.”

    Really starting to look like a major Key cockup.

  14. sally 14

    The complaint about the e-mails has the smell of a set-up to me. Similar to the Nigerian scammers that are now developing romantic relationships with unsuspecting victims in order to scam money out of them.

    The Labour Party member’s allogations weren’t made public until the second allogations became public. Phil Goff chose to act descretly, and trusted Key to investigate the matter further. Hardly how I would have played a stitch up.

    Compare this with Rodney Hide sitting on allogations about David Benson-Pope (ala tennis balls) for years until DBP became a Minister and then went public.

    • Maynard J 14.1

      Yeah clearly a set up – Phil Goff decided to let Key know discreetly because he knew two things:

      1 – Key would do stuff-all about it
      2 – Worth was guaranteed to get into trouble again.

      Sure. While both are actually fairly likely, especially the first, what would Goff gain? What’s the point?

      Set-up? That is (and this is directed at tsmithfield) the biggest crock of shit to come out of this thread. Poor innocent Worth falling for the honey-trap? Give me a break. I think your option B below looks more likely.

  15. tsmithfield 15

    I am just trying to come up with some logical explanation for how Worth could be so stupid. It beggars belief otherwise. Why would he even contemplate offering her a job if he knew she was a Labour Party member for a start? The only explanations I can come up with was that it was either a set-up by someone within Labour, or that Worth is more incredibly stupid and sleazy than I can possibly imagine.

    Looks like Key wasn’t privy to the e-mails, so never got to see the evidence. On this basis, there wasn’t very far he could go with it, especially if Worth was outright lying to him.

  16. Pat 16

    Everyone seems to be assuming Goff had seen the emails, txts etc when he contacted Key. At no point over the last 2 days has Goff categorically stated this. He has been very careful with his wording.

    • Pascal's bookie 16.1

      How much difference does that make though?

      If Key was told they exist, he should probably have asked Worth to front with them. If even only for later arse-covering political reasons.

      Worth was already on his second last chance at least, why take his word for anything?

      • Pat 16.1.1

        If Worth states they don’t exist, how can Key ask him to produce emails and txts which he says don’t exist?

        If Goff had the physical emails and txts, and the complainant wanted to pursue the matter, then the onus was on Goff to provide the physical evidence to Key. Or for Key to insist that Goff provide them to him.

        Unless of course:
        a) Goff didn’t have the physical evidence (only the details provided verbally by the complainant) and/or
        b) the complainant didn’t want to take the matter further.

        • Daveski 16.1.1.1

          Someone remind me … didn’t Helen take Winston’s word??

          Goff’s undoubtedly deserves some credit for his original actions but since that this has descended into petty political posturing (which I have to say is some of my best alliteration yet!)

        • Pascal's bookie 16.1.1.2

          Unless Worth denied that there were any emails at all, which would be unlikely if there were job discussions going on, then that argument doesn’t work. the problem is what the emails said, rather than whether they exist. I’ve not seen any claims that there are no emails from anyone.

          So, if Worth did deny that emails existed, should Key have asked Goff to front with them? I think he should have, rather than just telling Goff that there is nothing to the claims.

          Daveski. Winnie was a coalition partner and the leader of NZFirst. Worth is a National MP, on his second or third last chance. Not the same circumstances. And yet I seem to recall that even then, Key Hide and others were saying that Clark had obligations to not take him at his word but to actively investigate. Did Key live up to that standard? Seeing you brought it up.

  17. Kaplan 18

    I see Worth has pulled out the old “I have not committed any offence’ line.

    But hang on… Even if it can not be proved that Worth was offering a job for ‘romantic’ favours. Does that really matter? The fact he was allegedly offering job’s outside of the normal procurement process is an issue is it not?

  18. gobsmacked 19

    Key and his spinners: “Goff, put up or shut up! … oh, sh*t, he’s putting up!”

    Statement tabled in Parliament – thwack!

    Worth says he won’t go quietly – thwack!

    Time to Supersize the popcorn … 🙂

  19. tsmithfield 20

    jadbury “Woah .. TV1 news with details on the emails & txts!”

    Calls and txts actually. Nothing said about e-mails.

    I think it was 40 calls and 60 texts or vice-versa since November.

    I wonder how many calls and texts went the other way from her. It is just inconceivable she would have put up with this barrage for soooo long unless she was a willing participant. What did her husband think and do about all this? Afterall, according to Goff she was happily married.

    I can imagine the conversation:

    Husband: Who was that dear?
    Wife: Just Richard Worth again.
    Husband: What did he want this time.
    Wife: Just wants me to do a bit of skinnydipping with him.

    If this was truly harrasment over this length of time, then why on earth didn’t she or her husband do something about it? Surely the only conclusion can be that she was a willing participant or was trying to set him up.

    One possibility is that she and Worth were forming a romantic relationship and her husband found out. So now she is getting all self-righteous and trying to drop Worth in it to preserve her marriage.

    • felix 20.1

      Keep going. They’re getting better all the time.

    • gobsmacked 20.2

      Tsmithfield, do you have any understanding at all of power imbalances?

      Woman: private citizen, from conservative Asian culture, respectful of authority, perhaps a migrant (not known), young.

      Man: government Minister, voice of authority, power to grant favours, make threats, exploit her status and his.

      You think this was a relationship betwen equals? Get real.

      “You wanna call the police? Hell, lady, I am the police.”

      • tsmithfield 20.2.1

        Having read her statement, I have to agree my previous comment was well off the mark.

        I saw Key on Close Up. Apparently Goff came to him on the quiet about a month ago stating the women had some concerns and asked Key to do something about it.

        Key talked to Worth who denied any wrong-doing whatsoever and was prepared to sign an affidavit to that effect. Keys people went back to Goffs people with this report. According to Key it was a case of He said she said with no evidence either way.

        According to Key, Goff has had over a month to come up with the texts etc to prove the womens case. He has not done this even until today. According to Key if had seen the evidence, Worth would have been a gone-burger.

  20. burt 22

    ( this comment originally posted in “slippery” by mistake.)

    I think lprent justifies John Keys so called tardy disclosure in this comment;

    lprent: August 28, 2008 at 12:52 pm

    burt: You are just being silly. Looked at the statement and nothing changes.

    She asked Peters if it was true, and he said no. You take the word of ministers.

    Tell me, do you expect PM’s to have a touch of the divine and to be able to see inside peoples heads?

    Reading what the response was to gives it context. Non disclosure over a period of months and months compared to a few weeks.

    Take the ministers word and do nothing was acceptable for Labour eh, but not National.

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    1. We see here new police minister Ginny Andersen. Which larger than life NZ political figure was her great-uncle?a. Rob Muldoonb. Bill Andersenc. Richard John Seddond. Norman Kirk2. We see here archival footage of Ginny Andersen coming out of her electorate office to ask ex-tobacco lobbyist Chris Bishop if he ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    13 hours ago
  • Nash splashes out with a $900,000 investment in the blue economy (or is it more corporate welfare?)
    Buzz from the Beehive Stuart Nash, speaking as Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, one of his remaining portfolios after he was dropped down the Hipkins Government batting order, has drawn attention to the blue economy and its potential. Nash says the government is investing in the blue economy, or – ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    14 hours ago
  • Ask Me Anything about the week to March 24
    Photo by Josh Mills on UnsplashIt’s that time of the week for an ‘Ask Me Anything’ session for paying subscribers about the week that was for the next hour, including:The runs on Silicon Valley Bank and First Republic Bank on the west coast of the United States that forced the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    17 hours ago
  • Weekly Roundup 24-March-2023
    Roundup is back! We skipped last week’s Friday post due to a shortage of person-power – did you notice? Lots going on out there… Our header image this week shows a green street that just happens to be Queen St, by @chamfy from Twitter. This week (and last) in ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    18 hours ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the Keen-Minshull visit
    After threatening Prime Minister Chris Hipkins of consequences if he dared to bar her entry, Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull has been given her visa, regardless. This will enable her to hold rallies in Auckland and Wellington this weekend, and spread her messages of hostility against an already marginalised trans community. Neo-Nazis may, ...
    18 hours ago
  • BRYCE EDWARDS’ Political Roundup:  NZ needs to distance itself from Australia’s anti-China nucl...
    * Bryce Edwards writes – The New Zealand Government has been silent about Australia’s decision to commit up to $400bn acquiring nuclear submarines, even though this is a significant threat to peace and stability in the Asia Pacific. The deal was struck by the Albanese Labor Government as ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    18 hours ago
  • Wayne Brown's #Auxit moment
    Boomers voted him in, but Brown’s Trumpish moments might spook Aucklanders worried about what a change to National nationally might mean. Photo: Lynn Grieveson/Getty ImagesTL;DR: Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown has become our version of Donald Trump and Boris Johnson, except without any of the insatiable appetite for media appearances. He ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    19 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: NZ needs to distance itself from Australia’s anti-China nuclear submarines
    The New Zealand Government has been silent about Australia’s decision to commit up to $400bn acquiring nuclear submarines, even though this is a significant threat to peace and stability in the Asia Pacific. The deal was struck by the Albanese Labor Government as part of its Aukus pact with the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    20 hours ago
  • Posie Parker vs Transgender Rights.
    Recently you might have heard of a person called Posie Parker and her visit to Aotearoa. Perhaps you’re not quite sure what it’s all about. So let’s start with who this person is, why their visit is controversial, and what on earth a TERF is.Posie Parker is the super villain ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    21 hours ago
  • Select Committee told slow down; you’re moving too fast
    The chair of Parliament’s Select Committee looking at the Government’s resource management legislation wants the bills sent back for more public consultation. The proposal would effectively kill any chance of the bills making it into law before the election. Green MP, Eugenie Sage, stressing that she was speaking as ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    24 hours ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #12 2023
    Open access notables  The United States experienced some historical low temperature records during the just-concluded winter. It's a reminder that climate and weather are quite noisy; with regard to our warming climate,, as with a road ascending a mountain range we may steadily change our conditions but with lots of ...
    1 day ago
  • What becomes of the broken hearted? Nanny State will step in to comfort them
    Buzz from the Beehive The Nanny State has scored some wins (or claimed them) in the past day or two but it faltered when it came to protecting Kiwi citizens from being savaged by one woman armed with a sharp tongue. The wins are recorded by triumphant ministers on the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago
  • Acceptance, decency, road food.
    Sometimes you see your friends making the case so well on social media you think: just copy and share.On acceptance and decency, from Michèle A’CourtA notable thing about anti-trans people is they way they talk about transgender women and men as though they are strangers “over there” when in fact ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Climate Change: More Labour sabotage
    Not that long ago, things were looking pretty good for climate change policy in Aotearoa. We finally had an ETS, and while it was full of pork and subsidies, it was delivering high and ever-rising carbon prices, sending a clear message to polluters to clean up or shut down. And ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago
  • Is bundling restricting electricity competition?
    Comparing (and switching) electricity providers has become easier, but bundling power up with broadband and/or gas makes it more challenging. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The Kākā TL;DR: The new Consumer Advocacy Council set up as a result of the Labour Government’s Electricity Price Review in 2019 has called on either ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Westland Milk puts heat on competitors as global dairy demand  remains softer for longer
    Hokitika-based Westland Milk Products  has  put the heat on dairy giant Fonterra with  a $120m profit turnaround in 2022, driven by record sales. Westland paid its suppliers a 10c premium above the forecast Fonterra price per kilo, contributing $535m to the West Coast and Canterbury economies. The dairy ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    2 days ago
  • BRYCE EDWARDS’ Political Roundup:  The Beehive’s revolving door and corporate mateship
    * Bryce Edwards writes – New Zealanders are uncomfortable with the high level of influence corporate lobbyists have in New Zealand politics, and demands are growing for greater regulation. A recent poll shows 62 per cent of the public support having a two-year cooling off period between ministers leaving public ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • Bryce Edwards: The Beehive’s revolving door and corporate mateship
    New Zealanders are uncomfortable with the high level of influence corporate lobbyists have in New Zealand politics, and demands are growing for greater regulation. A recent poll shows 62 per cent of the public support having a two-year cooling off period between ministers leaving public office and becoming lobbyists and ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    2 days ago
  • A miracle pill for our transport ills
    This is a guest post by accessibility and sustainable transport advocate Tim Adriaansen It originally appeared here.   A friend calls you and asks for your help. They tell you that while out and about nearby, they slipped over and landed arms-first. Now their wrist is swollen, hurting like ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    2 days ago
  • The Surprising Power of Floating Wind Turbines
    Floating offshore wind turbines offer incredible opportunities to capture powerful winds far out at sea. By unlocking this wind energy potential, they could be a key weapon in our arsenal in the fight against climate change. But how developed are these climate fighting clean energy giants? And why do I ...
    2 days ago
  • The next Maori challenge
    Over the past two or three weeks, a procession of Maori iwi and hapu in a series of little-noticed appearances before two Select Committees have been asking for more say for Maori over resource management decisions along the co-governance lines of Three Waters. Their submissions and appearances run counter ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • Secret “war-crime” warrants by International Criminal Court is mischief-making
    The decision of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue war crimes arrest warrants for the Russian President and the Russia Children Ombudsman may have been welcomed by the ideologically committed but otherwise seems to have been greeted with widespread cynicism (see Situation in Ukraine: ICC judges issue arrest warrants ...
    2 days ago
  • How to answer Drunk Uncle Kevin's Climate Crisis reckons
    Let’s say you’re clasping your drink at a wedding, or a 40th, or a King’s Birthday Weekend family reunion and Drunk Uncle Kevin has just got going.He’s in an expansive frame of mind because we’re finally rid of that silly girl. But he wants to ask an honest question about ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • National’s Luxon may be glum about his poll ratings but has he found a winner in promising to rai...
    National Party leader Christopher Luxon may  be feeling glum about his poll ratings, but  he could be tapping  into  a rich political vein in  describing the current state of education as “alarming”. Luxon said educational achievement has been declining,  with a recent NCEA pilot exposing just how far it has ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    3 days ago
  • Climate Change: More Labour foot-dragging
    Yesterday the IPCC released the final part of its Sixth Assessment Report, warning us that we have very little time left in which to act to prevent catastrophic climate change, but pointing out that it is a problem that we can solve, with existing technology, and that anything we do ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • Te Pāti Māori Are Revolutionaries – Not Reformists.
    Way Beyond Reform: Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer have no more interest in remaining permanent members of “New Zealand’s” House of Representatives than did Lenin and Trotsky in remaining permanent members of Tsar Nicolas II’s “democratically-elected” Duma. Like the Bolsheviks, Te Pāti Māori is a party of revolutionaries – not reformists.THE CROWN ...
    3 days ago
  • When does history become “ancient”, on Tinetti’s watch as Minister of Education – and what o...
    Buzz from the Beehive Auckland was wiped off the map, when Education Minister Jan Tinetti delivered her speech of welcome as host of the inaugural Conference of Pacific Education Ministers “here in Tāmaki Makaurau”. But – fair to say – a reference was made later in the speech to a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Climate Catastrophe, but first rugby.
    Morning mate, how you going?Well, I was watching the news last night and they announced this scientific report on Climate Change. But before they got to it they had a story about the new All Blacks coach.Sounds like important news. It’s a bit of a worry really.Yeah, they were talking ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • What the US and European bank rescues mean for us
    Always a bailout: US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the Government would fully guarantee all savers in all smaller US banks if needed. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: No wonder an entire generation of investors are used to ‘buying the dip’ and ‘holding on for dear life’. US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Who will drain Wellington’s lobbying swamp?
    Wealthy vested interests have an oversized influence on political decisions in New Zealand. Partly that’s due to their use of corporate lobbyists. Fortunately, the influence lobbyists can have on decisions made by politicians is currently under scrutiny in Guyon Espiner’s in-depth series published by RNZ. Two of Espiner’s research exposés ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago
  • It’s Raining Congestion
    Yesterday afternoon it rained and traffic around the region ground to a halt, once again highlighting why it is so important that our city gets on with improving the alternatives to driving. For additional irony, this happened on the same day the IPCC synthesis report landed, putting the focus on ...
    3 days ago
  • Checking The Left: The Dreadful Logic Of Fascism.
    The Beginning: Anti-Co-Governance agitator, Julian Batchelor, addresses the Dargaville stop of his travelling roadshow across New Zealand . Fascism almost always starts small. Sadly, it doesn’t always stay that way. Especially when the Left helps it to grow.THERE IS A DREADFUL LOGIC to the growth of fascism. To begin with, it ...
    3 days ago
  • Good Friends and Terrible Food
    Hi,From an incredibly rainy day in Los Angeles, I just wanted to check in. I guess this is the day Trump may or may not end up in cuffs? I’m attempting a somewhat slower, less frenzied week. I’ve had Unknown Mortal Orchestra’s new record on non-stop, and it’s been a ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    3 days ago
  • At a glance – What evidence is there for the hockey stick?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    3 days ago
  • Carry right on up there, Corporal Espiner
    RNZ has been shining their torch into corners where lobbyists lurk and asking such questions as: Do we like the look of this?and Is this as democratic as it could be?These are most certainly questions worth asking, and every bit as valid as, say:Are we shortchanged democratically by the way ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • This smells
    RNZ has continued its look at the role of lobbyists by taking a closer look at the Prime Minister's Chief of Staff Andrew Kirton. He used to work for liquor companies, opposing (among other things) a container refund scheme which would have required them to take responsibility for their own ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Major issues on the table in Mahuta’s  talks in Beijing with China’s new Foreign Minister
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta has left for Beijing for the first ministerial visit to China since 2019. Mahuta is  to  meet China’s new foreign minister Qin Gang  where she  might have to call on all the  diplomatic skills  at  her  command. Almost certainly she  will  face  questions  on what  role ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    4 days ago
  • Inside TOP's Teal Card and political strategy
    TL;DR: The Opportunities Party’s Leader Raf Manji is hopeful the party’s new Teal Card, a type of Gold card for under 30s, will be popular with students, and not just in his Ilam electorate where students make up more than a quarter of the voters and where Manji is confident ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Make Your Empties Go Another Round.
    When I was a kid New Zealand was actually pretty green. We didn’t really have plastic. The fruit and veges came in a cardboard box, the meat was wrapped in paper, milk came in a glass bottle, and even rubbish sacks were made of paper. Today if you sit down ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on how similar Vladimir Putin is to George W. Bush
    Looking back through the names of our Police Ministers down the years, the job has either been done by once or future party Bigfoots – Syd Holland, Richard Prebble, Juduth Collins, Chris Hipkins – or by far lesser lights like Keith Allen, Frank Gill, Ben Couch, Allen McCready, Clem Simich, ...
    4 days ago
  • CHRIS TROTTER:  Te Pāti Māori’s uncompromising threat to the status quo
    Chris Trotter writes – The Crown is a fickle friend. Any political movement deemed to be colourful but inconsequential is generally permitted to go about its business unmolested. The Crown’s media, RNZ and TVNZ, may even “celebrate” its existence (presumably as proof of Democracy’s broad-minded acceptance of diversity). ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Shining a bright light on lobbyists in politics
    Four out of the five people who have held the top role of Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff since 2017 have been lobbyists. That’s a fact that should worry anyone who believes vested interests shouldn’t have a place at the centre of decision making. Chris Hipkins’ newly appointed Chief of ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago
  • Auckland Council Draft Budget – an unnecessary backwards step
    Feedback on Auckland Council’s draft 2023/24 budget closes on March 28th. You can read the consultation document here, and provide feedback here. Auckland Council is currently consulting on what is one of its most important ever Annual Plans – the ‘budget’ of what it will spend money on between July ...
    4 days ago
  • Talking’ Posey Parker Blues
    by Molten Moira from Motueka If you want to be a woman let me tell you what to do Get a piece of paper and a biro tooWrite down your new identification And boom! You’re now a woman of this nationSpelled W O M A Na real trans woman that isAs opposed ...
    RedlineBy Admin
    4 days ago
  • More Māori words make it into the OED, and polytech boss (with rules on words like “students”) ...
    Buzz from the Beehive   New Zealand Education Minister Jan Tinetti is hosting the inaugural Conference of Pacific Education Ministers for three days from today, welcoming Education Ministers and senior officials from 18 Pacific Island countries and territories, and from Australia. Here’s hoping they have brought translators with them – or ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • Social intercourse with haters and Nazis: an etiquette guide
    Let’s say you’ve come all the way from His Majesty’s United Kingdom to share with the folk of Australia and New Zealand your antipathy towards certain other human beings. And let’s say you call yourself a women’s rights activist.And let’s say 99 out of 100 people who listen to you ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • The Greens, Labour, and coalition enforcement
    James Shaw gave the Green party's annual "state of the planet" address over the weekend, in which he expressed frustration with Labour for not doing enough on climate change. His solution is to elect more Green MPs, so they have more power within any government arrangement, and can hold Labour ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • This sounds familiar…
    RNZ this morning has the first story another investigative series by Guyon Espiner, this time into political lobbying. The first story focuses on lobbying by government agencies, specifically transpower, Pharmac, and assorted universities, and how they use lobbyists to manipulate public opinion and gather intelligence on the Ministers who oversee ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Letter to the NZ Herald: NCEA pseudoscience – “Mauri is present in all matter”
    Nick Matzke writes –   Dear NZ Herald, I am a Senior Lecturer in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Auckland. I teach evolutionary biology, but I also have long experience in science education and (especially) political attempts to insert pseudoscience into science curricula in ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • So what would be the point of a Green vote again?
    James Shaw has again said the Greens would be better ‘in the tent’ with Labour than out, despite Labour’s policy bonfire last week torching much of what the Government was doing to reduce emissions. File Photo: Lynn Grieveson/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The Green Party has never been more popular than in some ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Gas stoves pose health risks. Are gas furnaces and other appliances safe to use?
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sarah Wesseler Poor air quality is a long-standing problem in Los Angeles, where the first major outbreak of smog during World War II was so intense that some residents thought the city had been attacked by chemical weapons. Cars were eventually discovered ...
    5 days ago
  • Genetic Heritage and Co Governance
    Yesterday I was reading an excellent newsletter from David Slack, and I started writing a comment “Sounds like some excellent genetic heritage…” and then I stopped.There was something about the phrase genetic heritage that stopped me in tracks. Is that a phrase I want to be saying? It’s kind of ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • BRIAN EASTON: Radical Uncertainty
    Brian Easton writes – Two senior economists challenge some of the foundations of current economics. It is easy to criticise economic science by misrepresenting it, by selective quotations, and by ignoring that it progresses, like all sciences, by improving and abandoning old theories. The critics may go ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: New Zealand’s Middle East strategy, 20 years after the Iraq War
    This week marks the twentieth anniversary of the Iraq War. While it strongly opposed the US-led invasion, New Zealand’s then Labour-led government led by Prime Minister Helen Clark did deploy military engineers to try to help rebuild Iraq in mid-2003. With violence soaring, their 12-month deployment ended without being renewed ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • The motorways are finished
    After seventy years, Auckland’s motorway network is finally finished. In July 1953 the first section of motorway in Auckland was opened between Ellerslie-Panmure Highway and Mt Wellington Highway. The final stage opens to traffic this week with the completion of the motorway part of the Northern Corridor Improvements project. Aucklanders ...
    5 days ago
  • Kicking National’s tyres
    National’s appointment of Todd McClay as Agriculture spokesperson clearly signals that the party is in trouble with the farming vote. McClay was not an obvious choice, but he does have a record as a political scrapper. The party needs that because sources say it has been shedding farming votes ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • As long as there is cricket, the world is somehow okay.
    Rays of white light come flooding into my lounge, into my face from over the top of my neighbour’s hedge. I have to look away as the window of the conservatory is awash in light, as if you were driving towards the sun after a rain shower and suddenly blinded. ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago
  • So much of what was there remains
    The columnists in Private Eye take pen names, so I have not the least idea who any of them are. But I greatly appreciate their expert insight, especially MD, who writes the medical column, offering informed and often damning critique of the UK health system and the politicians who keep ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A chronological listing of news articles posted on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Mar 12, 2023 thru Sat, Mar 18, 2023. Story of the Week Guest post: What 13,500 citations reveal about the IPCC’s climate science report   IPCC WG1 AR6 SPM Report Cover - Changing ...
    6 days ago
  • Financial capability services are being bucked up, but Stuart Nash shouldn’t have to see if they c...
    Buzz from the Beehive  The building of financial capability was brought into our considerations when Social Development and Employment Minister Carmel Sepuloni announced she had dipped into the government’s coffers for $3 million for “providers” to help people and families access community-based Building Financial Capability services. That wording suggests some ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    7 days ago
  • Things that make you go Hmmmm.
    Do you ever come across something that makes you go Hmmmm?You mean like the song?No, I wasn’t thinking of the song, but I am now - thanks for that. I was thinking of things you read or hear that make you stop and go Hmmmm.Yeah, I know what you mean, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    7 days ago
  • The hoon for the week that was to March 19
    By the end of the week, the dramas over Stuart Nash overshadowed Hipkins’ policy bonfire. File photo: Lynn GrieveasonTLDR: This week’s news in geopolitics and the political economy covered on The Kākā included:PM Chris Hipkins’ announcement of the rest of a policy bonfire to save a combined $1.7 billion, but ...
    The KakaBy Peter Bale
    7 days ago
  • Saving Stuart Nash: Explaining Chris Hipkins' unexpected political calculation
    When word went out that Prime Minister Chris Hipkins would be making an announcement about Stuart Nash on the tiles at parliament at 2:45pm yesterday, the assumption was that it was over. That we had reached tipping point for Nash’s time as minister. But by 3pm - when, coincidentally, the ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    1 week ago
  • Radical Uncertainty
    Two senior economists challenge some of the foundations of current economics. It is easy to criticise economic science by misrepresenting it, by selective quotations, and by ignoring that it progresses, like all sciences, by improving and abandoning old theories. The critics may go on to attack physics by citing Newton.So ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • Jump onto the weekly hoon on Riverside at 5pm
    Photo by Walker Fenton on UnsplashIt’s that time of the week again when and I co-host our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kaka for an hour at 5 pm. Jump on this link on Riverside (we’ve moved from Zoom) for our chat about the week’s news with ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Dream of Florian Neame: Accepted
    In a nice bit of news, my 2550-word deindustrial science-fiction piece, The Dream of Florian Neame, has been accepted for publication at New Maps Magazine (https://www.new-maps.com/). I have published there before, of course, with Of Tin and Tintagel coming out last year. While I still await the ...
    1 week ago
  • Snakes and leaders
    And so this is Friday, and what have we learned?It was a week with all the usual luggage: minister brags and then he quits, Hollywood red carpet is full of twits. And all the while, hanging over the trivial stuff: existential dread, and portents of doom.Depending on who you read ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago
  • This station is Karanga-a-Hape, Chur!
    When I changed the name of this newsletter from The Daily Read to Nick’s Kōrero I was a bit worried whether people would know what Kōrero meant or not. I added a definition when I announced the change and kind of assumed people who weren’t familiar with it would get ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Greens don’t shy from promoting a candidate’s queerness but are quiet about govt announcement on...
    There was a time when a political party’s publicity people would counsel against promoting a candidate as queer. No matter which of two dictionary meanings the voting public might choose to apply – the old meaning of odd, strange, weird, or aberrant, or the more recent meaning of gay, homosexual ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 week ago
  • Ask Me Anything about the week to March 17
    Photo by Joakim Honkasalo on UnsplashIt’s that time of the week for an ‘Ask Me Anything’ session for paying subscribers about the week that was for the next hour, including:PM Chris Hipkins announcement of the rest of a policy bonfire to save a combined $1.7 billion, but which blew up ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Slow consenting could create $16b climate liability by 2050
    Even though concern over the climate change threat is becoming more mainstream, our governments continue to opt out of the difficult decisions at the expense of time, and cost for future generations. Photo: Lynn Grieveson/Getty ImagesTLDR: Now we have a climate liability number to measure the potential failure of the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • THOMAS CRANMER: Challenging progressivism in New Zealand’s culture wars
    Thomas Cranmer writes  Like it or not, the culture wars have entered New Zealand politics and look set to broaden and intensify. The culture wars are often viewed as an exclusively American phenomenon, but the reality is that they are becoming increasingly prominent in countries around the world, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 week ago

  • District Court Judges appointed
    Attorney-General David Parker has announced the appointment of Christopher John Dellabarca of Wellington, Dr Katie Jane Elkin of Wellington, Caroline Mary Hickman of Napier, Ngaroma Tahana of Rotorua, Tania Rose Williams Blyth of Hamilton and Nicola Jan Wills of Wellington as District Court Judges.  Chris Dellabarca Mr Dellabarca commenced his ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    15 hours ago
  • New project set to supercharge ocean economy in Nelson Tasman
    A new Government-backed project will help ocean-related businesses in the Nelson Tasman region to accelerate their growth and boost jobs. “The Nelson Tasman region is home to more than 400 blue economy businesses, accounting for more than 30 percent of New Zealand’s economic activity in fishing, aquaculture, and seafood processing,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • National’s education policy: where’s the funding?
    After three years of COVID-19 disruptions schools are finally settling down and National want to throw that all in the air with major disruption to learning and underinvestment.  “National’s education policy lacks the very thing teachers, parents and students need after a tough couple of years, certainty and stability,” Education ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Free programme to help older entrepreneurs and inventors
    People aged over 50 with innovative business ideas will now be able to receive support to advance their ideas to the next stage of development, Minister for Seniors Ginny Andersen said today. “Seniors have some great entrepreneurial ideas, and this programme will give them the support to take that next ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government target increased to keep powering up the Māori economy
    A cross government target for relevant government procurement contracts for goods and services to be awarded to Māori businesses annually will increase to 8%, after the initial 5% target was exceeded. The progressive procurement policy was introduced in 2020 to increase supplier diversity, starting with Māori businesses, for the estimated ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Continued progress on reducing poverty in challenging times
    77,000 fewer children living in low income households on the after-housing-costs primary measure since Labour took office Eight of the nine child poverty measures have seen a statistically significant reduction since 2018. All nine have reduced 28,700 fewer children experiencing material hardship since 2018 Measures taken by the Government during ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Speech at Fiji Investment and Trade Business Forum
    Deputy Prime Minister Kamikamica; distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. Tēnā koutou katoa, ni sa bula vinaka saka, namaste. Deputy Prime Minister, a very warm welcome to Aotearoa. I trust you have been enjoying your time here and thank you for joining us here today. To all delegates who have travelled to be ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government investments boost and diversify local economies in lower South Island
    $2.9 million convertible loan for Scapegrace Distillery to meet growing national and international demand $4.5m underwrite to support Silverlight Studios’ project to establish a film studio in Wanaka Gore’s James Cumming Community Centre and Library to be official opened tomorrow with support of $3m from the COVID-19 Response and Recovery ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government future-proofs EV charging
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