Opinion pieces on Labour

Written By: - Date published: 12:29 pm, April 17th, 2016 - 51 comments
Categories: Andrew Little, journalism, labour, the praiseworthy and the pitiful - Tags: , ,

Largely prompted by our ongoing need to construct narratives out of the margin of error, there have been two opinion pieces on Labour this weekend. Audrey Young:

Labour’s new focus is all about the leader

I’m not sure the headline is correct, but never mind.

Frustration at fall in polls will blow over and party’s best shot at recovery lies with Andrew Little.

I’m in agreement there.

In another era, Labour’s poll dive this week would have sent the party into a spin. A whispering frenzy would have ensued about Andrew Little, who is the fifth Labour leader to hold the office to National’s one.

He should be more aggressive, some would have said.
He should be less aggressive.
He should go for John Key’s jugular.
He should avoid personal attacks on Key.
He should get rid of that lefty schemer Matt McCarten.
He should bring back that Australian strategist Mike Richards to put a bomb under everyone.
We need to cover our left flank. We need to move to the centre.
What do we stand for? Where are we going?

All these conversations took place this week but among the media, tweeters and observers, not in the Labour caucus. The caucus was disappointed at the poll but it was not spooked.
…
Little is the best leader the party has had since Helen Clark because he has controlled the factions.

This I think is a good assessment of Little’s major contribution, and the platform for moving forward. Little was sold as a negotiator and a unifier, and he has delivered.

The quickest way to deal with Labour’s identity problems over policy is to forget the policy and make it about the leader.

But here I disagree. Labour needs to deliver an coherent and positive vision and set of policies for NZ (preferably in conjunction with The Greens as a government in waiting). Labour’s recent focus on The Future of Work (and the role of Grant Robertson) is an example of this.

Establishing a negative impression of Key is everything; nuance is non-existent and facts are a luxury in this new clobbering approach of Little’s.

Oh please. Up against Key’s full scale embrace of dirty politics, Little’s “clobbering approach” is small-scale push back, and it won’t win any elections. As above, Labour needs the vision and the policies.

Let’s leave Young there and cross live to Heather du Plessis-Allan:

Labour needs a hero and a cause
…
Trouble’s brewing in the Labour Party. They’re talking of cutting Grant Robertson. They’re talking of cutting the chief of staff. Watch this space. That was two weeks ago. That was before the party hit 28 per cent in the latest poll. You can only imagine the plots being hatched involving Little, the candlestick and the drawing room.

HdPA bases this on a couple of claimed conversations, but I think Young has a better informed take!

Your problem is, despite many changes at the top, many years in Opposition, you are still completely unsure of what you believe in.

Oh bollocks – see below.

Labour has it tough. Labour parties across the world have it tough. These were parties formed to save workers from unjust working conditions. The parties have mostly succeeded. Workplaces and employment legislation is a million times better now than in 1916. So what does a political party do when its mission is accomplished?

That’s about as daft a piece of political “analysis” as I have ever heard. The struggle to protect workers is ongoing (see Talley’s and Bunnings for two current examples). And the changing nature of work is going to create huge challenges for the future (hence Labour’s Future of Work focus). Labour’s original mission is as valid as it ever was.

Unfortunately it’s all down hill from there. After some nonsense on the flag fiasco:

Labour told us it stood for free tertiary education for all. But, that just sounded like a crappier version of Helen Clark’s interest-free student loans.

Labour told us it stood for keeping Indian restaurant chef jobs for Kiwis. We pondered why we had never seriously considered a career as a chef in an Indian restaurant.
…
Being authentic is a difficult and brave thing to do. If it was easy, Labour would have nailed it. And yet it’s as simple as this: at its heart, Labour in 1916 stood for making things fairer. Labour in 2016 should also stand for making things fairer.

Gee thanks for the advice! Perhaps you might like to have a look at Labour’s Policy patform, which begins: “Chapter 1: Labour’s values 1.1 Labour’s values are enduring values. Our Party was formed in 1916 by working New Zealanders determined that the contribution of all people to our nation should be respected and valued. They strove then, as we do now, for a fair share for all, support for the vulnerable, and hope for a better tomorrow”…

Free Tertiary education, supporting NZ workers for NZ jobs, both things that you just finished making fun of, are also aspects of working for fairness, if only you could see it.

In the past fortnight, we found out how unfair tax is. Rich people with links to the Panama Papers dodge tax, Facebook pays us less than $50,000 tax in a year. The Government shrugs and looks away. There you go, Labour. Try fixing the age-old inequalities in tax. There’s something you can stand for.

I guess that’s why Labour is calling for crackdowns on tax havens, capital gains tax and the like. Sigh.

In closing, I have some suggestions for the media (fair’s fair eh!). Stop covering politics as if it was a horse race, praising “winners” no matter what their tactics and what the cost. Look outside the game to the purpose of the game, to the state of the county and the world. Less clickbait, more analysis of evidence. We as a country would be better served by better journalism.

51 comments on “Opinion pieces on Labour ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. amirite 1
    17 April 2016 at 12:52 pm

    It must be that the Nats’ internal polling isn’t that flash and that’s why their lapdogs in the media are on a coordinated attack on Labour.

    • Heather Grimwood 1.1
      17 April 2016 at 3:51 pm

      to amirite: I have thought he same, and also, especially in the last fortnight, in the House.

    • Hanswurst 1.2
      18 April 2016 at 2:55 am

      … or simply that they don’t regard around 50% of the vote a bit over a year out from the next election as a position of safety, and thus are keen to keep Labour on the back foot.

  2. The Outrider 2
    17 April 2016 at 12:58 pm

    The laziness and blatant inaccuracy of the HdPA piece in particular are indicative of the rapidly sinking standard of journalism in this country. By labelling it as opinion she has given herself license to report rumours as if they were fact. Name the insider and the heavy hitter. Now that would be fun to see. Until then I won’t be swallowing any of your inanilism, HdPA and co.

    • Brendon Harre -Left wing Liberal 2.1
      17 April 2016 at 4:44 pm

      +1.

    • Saarbo 2.2
      17 April 2016 at 5:50 pm

      +1

      I struggle to see how National will lose many of its 47% – 50% support as long as it has NZME (Herald and 1ZB) doing its PR for it. Impossible for Labour to combat this.

    • NZJester 2.3
      18 April 2016 at 3:48 pm

      I bet the insider and heavy hitter she got all the info from is HdPA herself.
      By insider she means she once saw a Labor party pamphlet in her mailbox that she never read and just tossed out and considers herself a heavy hitter.

    • Rodel 2.4
      18 April 2016 at 8:28 pm

      I read this. Would anyone, even right wingers, take her thoughts (sic) seriously?

  3. mickysavage 3
    17 April 2016 at 1:00 pm

    Good post. My blood also boiled when I read this. Labour has never wanted for policy and HDPA’s comments seem to be completely bereft of any understanding of this.

    • Reddelusion 3.1
      17 April 2016 at 2:37 pm

      Don’t blame the messenger. Like it or not HDA opinion is that which is held by many sensible kiwis, hence the poll results’ wether you like it or not or your blood boils is irrelevant.

      • RedLogix 3.1.1
        17 April 2016 at 4:10 pm

        When ‘sensible kiwi’s’ form their opinions based on reading inane, lying shit like this … what does that really make them?

    • Keith 3.2
      17 April 2016 at 4:55 pm

      HDPA seems embarrasingly light weight all of the time. Her analysis made me think she has no idea what is going on out there with Labour. But who can blame her for being so ill informed and ignorant, the very media she is part of have swooned around Key for years and when they could be bothered simply looked down their noses at the alternatives.

    • TC 3.3
      18 April 2016 at 10:22 am

      She works for murky marks mediawonks mickey as such a natural extension of the DP/CT spin factory.

      Her and hubby from red neck radio ZB baz probably get briefed as a couple to save tIme

  4. newsense 4
    17 April 2016 at 1:50 pm

    Do you think HDPA writes that? Worse for me was Newshub, major policy announcement: tax, no opposition take at all. Little on Shewin. No opposition visuals, flick to Key, it’s all crap he says. 5 mins, 2-3 mins of Key optics. Bill English in parliament and we get an uncaptioned Labour MP in parliament, no interview. That’s a problem. Nats as normal dominant. No or little opposition

  5. Atiawa 5
    17 April 2016 at 2:11 pm

    The greatest loss for the modern day Labour Party occurred in 1991 when the Employment Contracts Act was passed. That Act seriously wounded organised labour by abolishing compulsory unionism.
    I don’t blame the last Labour Government for not reintroducing compulsion as the idea of forcing people to belong to a movement regardless of it’s value to those it represented would not be appreciated or understood by a work force who are obsessed by the mantra of individual choice (see smacking your children, light bulbs & shower heads if you have doubts), which has become further ingrained into peoples thinking through new communications technology, modern day media and advertising.
    The labour movement was the Labour Party’s infantry prior to 1991. Sure, a few of the troops were missing in action or turned traitor and went to the other side, but if for example house prices went out of kilter with incomes, or wages weren’t keeping up with inflation and greater productivity, a well resourced and powerful union movement was there to present the facts and ensure a fair(er) distribution of the country’s wealth.

    • Reddelusion 5.1
      17 April 2016 at 2:38 pm

      Spare me please with such BS

      [RL: I’m very close to sparing the rest of us by banning you permanently. You contribute little beyond sour, sneering and demeaning drivel. This is the only warning you’re getting.]

      • DoublePlusGood 5.1.1
        17 April 2016 at 3:24 pm

        Atiawa’s comment is thoughtful and reasonable. If you disagree, say why you diasgree, rather than just denouncing it as BS. Try harder.

      • reason 5.1.2
        17 April 2016 at 4:52 pm

        Reddelusion should tell us more about the Deranged Key Syndrome that he knows about.

        A disease named after and displaying the symptoms of our prime minister.

        HDPA is a bit of lightweight like Soper and they do exist in the Thorndon bubble … She has to write something or she wont get paid.

    • Mosa 5.2
      17 April 2016 at 5:52 pm

      The hard right revolution would not have succeeded without the 1991 anti union bill which has done untold damage to workers and those in salaried jobs half way up the ladder.
      2016 marks 100 years scince Labours creation to fight against the same scheisters we have today with a modern face and strangle and steal from kiwis with a smile and reasuring voice and promise a brighter future for those with wealth.
      Now with modern methods they are killing all the opposition in NZ that’s a fact.
      In the past this would have precipitated a revolution but the will to stand up has been taken away and our Lord’s and masters wave money instead of guns.

      • Atiawa 5.2.1
        17 April 2016 at 8:56 pm

        Yes you are correct. Sword or pen stuff.
        Labour has a great policy to promote post secondary education.

  6. Mosa 6
    17 April 2016 at 2:38 pm

    What helps keep the status quo is creating the perception that due to negative polling Labour is divided and the leader who ever it is is under threat.
    Its worked a treat,convincing the public that hate disunity that the present govt is safe and stable,yet these polls are suspect in the first place on how they are conducted to skew the figures.
    Labour and the left are trapped.
    When Winston goes up the talk is how National will have to deal with him at the next election which spooks right wing voters to come back and support Key and allow National to govern alone.
    Its manipulation at its best and another reason why you can’t trust the MSM in NZ.

    • ropata 6.1
      17 April 2016 at 4:28 pm

      Yes, it’s called “class war” and the Nats will continue their dream run until the middle class has been hollowed out. One day Kiwis will finally wake up and realise that “our” country has been colonised by wealthy transnational elites, and all formerly public assets are now for profit enterprises owned by soulless corporations. We still have a mass exodus of young people because there’s no future in NZ for most of them. The govt is replacing them with millionaire migrants and their extended families.

  7. International Rescue 7
    17 April 2016 at 4:48 pm

    McCarten is a liability. His plan that put together Dotcom’s moment of truth with Labours last election slogan was a miserable failure, and Labour’s rantings about tax dodging look hypocritical while it continues to employ McCarten.

    But Little is an even bigger liability. His political judgement is non-existence, his likability ratings sub-zero, and he the personality to match.

    Beyond that, the problems Labour have a irreparable. They no longer possess a viable message, even more so now that Little is chasing the hard left vote, which is in decline the world over.

    • Draco T Bastard 7.1
      17 April 2016 at 4:52 pm

      Oh, look at that, another RWNJ giving advise to the Left.

      • Scythe 7.1.1
        19 April 2016 at 6:27 pm

        The irony of you calling anyone else a nutjob is hilarious.

        TBH the problem is that this site’s brand of 1930s leftism is dead, it lost, those who cling to it are the definition of losers.

        If Labour wants to win another election some time in the next 20 years it needs to strip out anyone who’s been in the party prior to the year 2000, guillotine all the union hacks, the retarded school teachers and the career politicians, and throw up a Kelvin Davis/Jacinda Arden ticket.

        Anything short of that means electoral obscurity for eternity.

        • BM 7.1.1.1
          19 April 2016 at 6:35 pm

          Stuart Nash is about the only one out of the Labour ranks who’s got a chance of winning 2017 or probably 2020

          Little’s got about as much likability as weeping butt sores.

          • Scythe 7.1.1.1.1
            19 April 2016 at 6:56 pm

            He’s not brown or female. Gotta tick those diversity boxes for whatever reasons.

            • joe90 7.1.1.1.1.1
              19 April 2016 at 7:00 pm

              Yeah, man’s work.
              /

            • BM 7.1.1.1.1.2
              19 April 2016 at 7:01 pm

              All that internal back office shit has crippled Labour.

              Until they remove all the one issue wankers from all the layers of the labour party it’s going nowhere.

        • Draco T Bastard 7.1.1.2
          20 April 2016 at 11:23 am

          Did you notice the GFC?

          It was caused by the same policies as the Great Depression.

          What this means is that capitalism fails every time. It’s been failing for 5000 years. Hopefully we can learn that lesson this time and finally get rid of it.

    • Mosa 7.2
      17 April 2016 at 5:21 pm

      Go back to sleep !

    • John Shears 7.3
      17 April 2016 at 10:06 pm

      Yawwwwwwnnnnn!!!!!!!

    • ropata 7.4
      17 April 2016 at 10:27 pm

      Ever thought of turning your penetrating insights on to the current pack of wankers in govt? 200+ documented lies, huge property portfolios, scandal after scandal, and yet somehow beyond criticism in the MSM… ever wondered why?

      • International Rescue 7.4.1
        18 April 2016 at 3:12 pm

        The ‘lies’ are not lies at all. And you think Labour MP’s have no property? Remember Sue Moroney?

  8. reason 8
    17 April 2016 at 4:55 pm

    International Rescue likes to have a good rant ….

    reminds me of a wordy Fizziass

    I bet hes a Neville no friends who smells bad

  9. Brendon Harre -Left wing Liberal 9
    17 April 2016 at 4:56 pm

    I made the below comment on The DailyBlog -but it is worthwhile to consider the environment in which HdPA TV3 NewHub is working in. To consider that the entire Campbell Live team of journalists were replaced. That this sort of retrenchment is endemic in the industry so the control and pressures on the likes of HdPA are extremely high.

    This doesn’t make it acceptable but in some ways knowing the nature of the crisis helps.

    MSM is collapsing in NZ. The media industry is like the UK heavy industry (coal mines, steel, shipbuilding….) in the 70/80s. It is imploding. Readership and viewership numbers who pay for media services have fallen off a cliff. The result is journalists are under constant retrenchment of drop losses, higher workload, more superficial research and analysis, less support in editing and layout, whilst working in smaller teams.

    This stress means traditional media is no longer providing a forum for national conversations -in particular moral conversations -such as Panama Papers/tax haven issue and affordable housing boil down to.

    Moral questions like;

    -do we want to be a tax haven?
    -do we want to everyone to contribute their fair share towards the funding of public services?
    -do we want to continue with being an egalitarian, fair-go, jack is as good as his master sort of country? Or do we want to entrench a system that gives legislative advantage and a sense of entitlement to some groups of kiwis and foreign elites?

    The evidence for my explanation is the difference in coverage MSM has done on the Panama papers. Such as RadioLive’s Political Panel with Chris Trotter and Rodney Hide.
    http://www.radiolive.co.nz/Political-Panel-with-Chris-Trotter-and-Rodney-Hide/tabid/506/articleID/118429/Default.aspx#.Vw-z7C86mB0.twitter (first half)

    And alternative media -Waatea 5th Estate
    http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2016/04/15/waatea-5th-estate-the-ongoing-housing-affordability-crisis/ (the end)
    http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2016/04/16/waatea-5th-estate-friday-political-wrap-up/ (the beggining)

    MSM completely missed the moral conversation whilst alternative media gave a forum for many from the Left

    David Parker, Phil Twyford, Rachel Stewart, Tim Selwyn, Efeso Collins, Ricky Houghton, Dr Wayne Hope and other voices/conversation would have been completely missed if not for alternative media.

    The Left need to support/promote alternative media to get more of NZ to engage in this conversation. Luckily now, unlike a few years ago -kiwis can hear directly the voices of those who most effectively communicate this conversation. This is the great hope.

    – See more at: http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2016/04/16/the-new-black-is-blue-nationals-grip-on-the-electorate-remains-a-strong-as-ever/#sthash.7PDL1eF0.dpuf

    Maybe TheStandard could up its game too? Perhaps it could start a not for profit/voluntary internet radio talkback show? Or talk to some PR people on strategies of how best to engage with the FaceBook generation -to include them in the ‘conversation’.

    • Robertina 9.1
      17 April 2016 at 6:16 pm

      ”Readership and viewership numbers who pay for media services have fallen off a cliff. ”
      The operative word is ‘pay’ as readership and viewership per se haven’t fallen off a cliff but subscriptions and advertising have.
      You don’t need to look to the 70s and 80s for comparisons – technology is disrupting multiple industries now.
      I think in the next few years NZ’s media as a whole will further resemble the parlous state of radio in which taxpayer funded content is a small dot in a sea of low quality dross.
      NZ On Air looks set to start funding projects/stories in what used to call itself the print media.

      • Brendon Harre -Left wing Liberal 9.1.1
        17 April 2016 at 8:41 pm

        Agreed Robertina -for us on the Left the only option is to constructively engage with the process and find new ways to communicate with kiwis and on the wider issue -of finding new ways to provide security of employment/income.

        I don’t like what is happening to MSM. I think this is a widely held dislike, but we can’t stop it -certainly not from the opposition benches. Doing nothing is just a recipe for anger, frustration and dissent.

        I believe the only hopefully approach is to constructively engage in finding new communication strategies -new forums to have ‘conversations’ with our fellow kiwis.

        • Robertina 9.1.1.1
          18 April 2016 at 10:34 pm

          I think there will be journos and mainstream news outlets well into the future; what’s happening is that reporting is becoming in large part a job that’s only viable for 2-4 years before burnout occurs.
          You might be interested in this piece from the Guardian about the current state of play: http://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/apr/17/can-internet-save-printed-press-blendle-lumi

          I think the aged care Kristine Bartlett case was a good and underrated example of how a modern union campaign can operate (effecting the goal of communication that you state). It made use of social media and wide sharing of media coverage of the case (and the previous Caring Counts report) and reached a group that’s often not part of political and economic discussion.
          The whole aged care sector (business, NGOs, residents, carers, unions) has been highly aware of the case.
          A couple of stories I heard was rest-home residents bailing up a visiting politician about caregivers’ pay, and of a union organiser offering members the chance to chat to Labour politicians about the case, only to be looked at blankly as they didn’t know who the MPs were.
          Unfortunately discussion of the caregiver pay issue on the Standard has traditionally been dominated by male commenters running the ‘why’d she choose that job then’ line, so it hasn’t been a particularly fruitful discussion here.

  10. maui 10
    17 April 2016 at 5:40 pm

    At least it’s clear now that if du Plessis Allan wants to moonlight as a troll on the Standard she would fit in seamlessly. It’s also no wonder that the public opinion of journalists is plummeting when some represent bias, junk reporting and are effectively working as PR people for certain powerful interests.

    • Kat 10.1
      17 April 2016 at 7:10 pm

      Agree maui, du Plessis Allan played the cunning smoke and mirrors game of establishing a good rep with the public through that TV3 firearms illegally buying on-line beat up, similar to Rodney Hides smoke screen perk buster, get tough on crims image.

      Then sniping from a perceived high moral ground they attack with their corrosive opinion pieces.

  11. Barry Crosbie 11
    17 April 2016 at 7:42 pm

    I feel the problem for Labour is easy to identify but hard to change. In general people have been lead to believe National is better at handling the economy than Labour is and facts to the contrary take time to explain and process and most people aren’t willing to take the time. We are still getting reports of the precarious nature of the world recovery, higher levels of unemployment internationally, Europe seems to be constantly at the edge of tipping over and in the mean time we are told we are doing ok. If you don’t look deeply it is easy to assume this is because of how National is running the books.
    The fact that they inherited a healthy economy with minimal public debt because of Labour’s cautious monetary policy isn’t mentioned. That National were calling for tax cuts in Labour’s second term, which would have put us in dire straights when the GFC hit, isn’t mentioned. National over tripling public debt at a time they are selling assets isn’t mentioned. Even the current surplus seems largely because of the $500 million the reserve bank made through hedging rather than any policy National has put forward.
    But your everyday citizen, head down, working hard and getting by in a world that seems to be precarious to say the least, thinks well things look much worse somewhere else, National must be doing an ok job. I don’t think we will win the next election (the left that is), because there isn’t enough comparative pain for people to want change.

  12. Wainwright 12
    17 April 2016 at 8:13 pm

    Who cares he’s ‘controling the factions’ – if that’s even true – when the party keeps making no progress. The policy is still too detailed. The strategy is nonexistent. How many international examples do we need of the power of visionary powerful unafraid leftwing leadership before Labour takes notice?

    The usual do-nothing crowd will say Sanders and Corben haven’t won any elections yet. But they haven’t lost them, and Labour have over and over again following boring middle of the road orthodoxy.

    • Atiawa 12.1
      17 April 2016 at 9:24 pm

      This Government won’t improve peoples lives. Play the long game. Little will be a great Leader for NZ in 2020. Any earlier will be a bonus. We have become slow learners, but ……..

  13. NZJester 13
    18 April 2016 at 5:23 am

    National’s MSM stooges are doing the death by a thousand cuts trick they have been doing in the past as part of their dirty politics. Trying to build up little made up stories as facts to slowly build upon with more lies to make out that Labour and it’s leader have no real policy or direction when they do. Meanwhile the real party with with no real policy or direction is getting this country into a deeper debt hole and poor Christchurch is still paying for their major incompetence and tinkering with the rebuilt.

  14. Peter 14
    18 April 2016 at 8:52 pm

    I don’t think Labour will do any good the way they are going, they seem not to be out there fighting to be the next government just coasting along. But if I was getting 150 grand a year and in a safe seat would I want to be in government.

    • peterlepaysan 14.1
      18 April 2016 at 10:11 pm

      Your aspirational better future vision is SO inspiring. I am certain that government safe seat holders would happily trade positions with their counterparts.

      No difference?

    • Whateva next? 14.2
      19 April 2016 at 7:20 am

      Are you a paid troll? Try getting a worthwhile job mate, something to be proud of when you look back on your life, selling your soul pays back double dividends

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    18 hours ago

  • The Rings of Power: Season Two Teaser Trailer
    I have hitherto been fairly quiet on the new season of Rings of Power, on the basis that the underwhelming first season did not exactly build excitement – and the rumours were fairly daft. The only real thing of substance to come out has been that they have re-cast Adar ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    20 hours ago

  • At a glance – What ended the Little ice Age?
    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
    1 day ago

  • Talking Reo with the PM
    “The thing is,” Chris Luxon says, leaning forward to make his point, “this has always been my thing.”“This goes all the way back to the first multinational I worked for. I was saying exactly the same thing back then. The name of our business needs to be more clear; people ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago

  • Waitangi Tribunal’s authority in Chhour case is upheld – but bill’s introduction to Parliament...
    Buzz from the Beehive It’s been a momentous few days for Children’s Minister Karen Chhour.  The Court of Appeal has overturned a High Court decision which blocked a summons order from the Waitangi Tribunal for her. And today she has announced the Government is putting children first by introducing to ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago

  • Australia jails another whistleblower
    In 2014 former Australian army lawyer David McBride leaked classified military documents about Australian war crimes to the ABC. Dubbed "The Afghan Files", the documents led to an explosive report on Australian war crimes, the disbanding of an entire SAS unit, and multiple ongoing prosecutions. The journalist who wrote the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago

  • Some “scrutiny”!
    Back in February I blogged about another secret OIA "consultation" by the Ministry of Justice. This one was on Aotearoa's commitment in its Open Government Partnership Action Plan to "strengthen scrutiny of Official Information Act exemption clauses in legislation" (AKA secrecy clauses). Their consultation paper on the issue focused on ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago

  • TVNZ is loss-making, serves no public service due to bias, and should be liquidated
    Rob MacCulloch writes –  According to the respected Pew Research Centre, “In seven of eight [European] countries surveyed, the most trusted news outlet asked about is the public news organization in each country”. For example, “in Sweden, an overwhelming majority (90%) say they trust the public broadcaster SVT”. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • The conflicted Covid Chair
    David Farrar writes –  Kata MacNamara reports:    Details of Tony Blakely’s involvement in the New Zealand Government’s response to the pandemic raise serious questions about the work of the Covid-19 Royal Commission of Inquiry over which he presides. It has long been clear that Blakely, a ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • Attacking the smartest and most resilient people in the room is never a good idea
    Chris Trotter writes – Are you a Brahmin or a Merchant? Or, are you merely one of those whose lives are profoundly influenced by the decisions of Brahmins and Merchants? Those are the questions that are currently shaping the politics of New Zealand and the entire West. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • A fortune-telling failure, surely, if the tarot cards can’t see a bulldozer coming
    RNZ reports –  It’s supposed to be a haven of healing and spiritual awakening but residents of the Kawai Purapura community say they’ve been hurt and deceived. It’s the successor to the former Centrepoint commune, and has been on the bush block opposite Albany shopping centre since 2008. It ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago

  • The climate battleground heats up
    TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. Usually we have a video chat to go with this wrap, but were unable to do one this week. We’ll be back next week.Several reports ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Bernard’ s Dawn Chorus & Pick ‘n’ Mix for Tuesday, May 14
    The Transport Minister has set a hard 'fiscal envelope' of $6.54 billion for transport capital spending. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The economy is settling into a state of suspended animation as the Government’s funding freezes and job cuts chill confidence and combine with stubbornly high interest rates to ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on why anti-Zionism is not anti-Semitic
    To be precise, the term “anti- Zionism” refers to (a) criticism of the political movement that created a modern Jewish state on the historical land of Israel, and to (b)the subjugation of Palestinians by the Israeli state. By contrast, the term “anti-Semitism” means bigotry and racism directed at Jewish people, ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    2 days ago

  • Climate change is making hurricanes more destructive
    This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Because hurricanes are one of the big-ticket weather disasters that humanity has to face, climate misinformers spend a lot of effort muddying the waters on whether climate change is making hurricanes more damaging. With the official start to the hurricane ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • Wayne Brown’s PT Plan
    Yesterday the Mayor released what he calls his “plan to save public transport” which is part of his final proposal for the Council’s Long Term Plan (LTP). This comes following consultation on the draft version that occurred in March which showed, once again, that people want more done on transport, especially ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    2 days ago

  • Potaka's Private Universe.
    And it's a pleasure that I have knownAnd it's a treasure that I have gainedAotearoa’s coalition government is fragile. It’s held together by the obsequious sycophancy of Christopher Luxon, who willingly contorts his party into the fringe positions of his junior coalition partners and is unwilling to contradict them. The ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago

  • Our slow regional councils
    The Select Committee hearing submissions on the fast-track consenting legislation is starting to become a beat-up of regional councils. The inflexibility and slow workings of the Councils were prominent in two submissions yesterday. One, from the Coromandel Marine Farmers Association, simply said that the Waikato Regional Council’s planning decisions were ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago

  • Ministers are not above the law after all
    Back in April, the High Court surprised everyone by ruling that Ministers are above the law, at least as far as the Waitangi Tribunal is concerned. The reason for this ruling was "comity" - the idea that the different branches of government shouldn't interfere with each other's functions. Which makes ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago

  • NZTA takes the wheel after govt gives it the road map for regional roads (and puts a speed governor ...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Tolling was mentioned when Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced the government was re-introducing the Roads of National Significance (RoNS) programme, with 15 “crucial” projects to support economic growth and regional development across New Zealand. All RoNS would be four-laned, grade-separated highways, and all funding, financing, and ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • Change in Catalonia?
    or the past 14 years, ever since the Spanish government cheated on an autonomy deal, Catalonia has reliably given pro-independence parties a majority of seats in their regional parliament. But now that seems to be over. Catalans went to the polls yesterday, and stripped the Catalan parties of their majority. ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago

  • Having an enrolment date is not depriving anyone of a vote
    David Farrar writes –  Radio NZ report: Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins said the Electoral Commission should make sure the system ran smoothly and “taking away the right of thousands of people to vote” was not the answer. “Thousands of people enroled and voted on the day. If ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Perhaps house prices don’t always go up
    Don Brash writes –  There was a rather revealing headline in the Herald on Sunday today (12 May). It read “One in 8 Auckland homes on market were bought during boom, may now sell for loss”. The first line of text noted that “New data shows one in ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Can’t read, can’t write, can’t comprehend – and won’t think…?
    Mike Grimshaw writes –  At a time when universities are understandably nervous regarding the establishment of the University Advisory Group (UAG) and the Science System Advisory Group (SSAG) it may seem strange – or even fool-hardy – to state that there are long-standing issues in the tertiary sector ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Time for some perspective
    Lindsay Mitchell writes –  A lack of perspective can make something quite large or important seem small or irrelevant. Against a backdrop of high-profile, negative statistics it is easy to overlook the positive. For instance, the fact that 64 percent of Maori are employed is rarely reported. For ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Will NZ Herald’s ‘poor journalism’ cost lives?
    Earlier this year, the Herald ran a series of articles amounting to a sustained campaign against raised pedestrian crossings, by reporter Bernard Orsman. A key part of that campaign concerned the raised crossings being installed as part of the Pt Chevalier to Westmere project, with at least 10 articles over ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    3 days ago

  • The Kaka’s diary for the week to May 19 and beyond
    TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to May 19 include:PM Christopher Luxon is expected to hold his weekly post-cabinet news conference at 4:00pm on Monday.Parliament is not sitting this week. It resumes next week for a two-week sitting session up to and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Webworm Popup Photos!
    Hi,Thanks to all the beautiful Worms who came to the LA Webworm popup on Saturday.It was a way to celebrate the online store we launched last week — and it was super special.As I talk about a lot, I really value our community here — and it was a BLAST ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    3 days ago

  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #19
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, May 5, 2024 thru Sat, May 11, 2024. (Unfortunate) Story of the week "Grief that stops at despair is an ending that I and many others, most notably ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

  • The Gods Must Be Woke.
    Last night the largest solar storm in decades resulted in Aurorae being seen across Aotearoa, causing many to ask why?Why was the sky pink? What was all this stuff about the power grid? Have we, as so many have wondered since the election, reached the end of days?I had a ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • More road
    We have been on the road in England, squeezing down narrow lanes, flying up the M6, loving hedgerows and villages and cathedrals, liking the 21st century less.There have been moments when it’s felt like a movie trope. The pub in Exford, lovely seventeenth century bar, almost more dogs than people, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Seeing the Aurora Australis
    There’s a solar-storm on at the moment, and since the South Island is having a day and night with clear skies, that means Aurorae. I have just got back from a midnight visit to Tunnel Beach – southwards-looking over the Sea, and without the light pollution. Quite a few others ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    4 days ago

  • Welcome to the current welfare mess
    Michael Bassett writes – I’m not sure that it’s much comfort to anyone to know that the post-Covid surge in violent crimes, gang activity, ram raids, random shootings, thuggery and stabbings is occurring in other countries as well as New Zealand. These days, wagging school, out-of-control welfare and ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • A shovel-ready autopsy
    Oliver Hartwich writes –  Cast your mind back to mid-December. A new Prime Minister had just been sworn in, the new Government started its 100-day programme, and Christmas was only days away.Amid all the haste, a report landed that would have deserved our attention.I am talking about the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Why we almost blacked out and how to fix it
    TL;DR: An unseasonally early icy blast at the same time as some long-overdue maintenance almost caused Aotearoa-NZ’s electricity system to black out this week. That’s because a quadropoly of gentailers1 have prioritised paying dividends from their rising profits and adding debt over investing in 1.5 GigaWatts of new wind farms ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • What Is Instagram Trying To Sell Us?
    Hi,Before we crack into today’s Webworm, I wanted to acknowledge the fact that Israel is pushing into Rafah. Over 100,000 Palestinians are now attempting to flee the one place that was deemed “safe”.Trouble is, the place they’re fleeing to is already destroyed. Total annihilation is the end goal here.“Israel is ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 days ago

  • Precious Little Excitement: Warner Brothers, Peter Jackson, and Gollum
    Back in February 2023, I made the cardinal mistake of getting my hopes up. Warner Brothers declared that fresh Middle-earth movies were in the works: https://phuulishfellow.wordpress.com/2023/02/24/it-never-rains-but-it-pours-warner-brothers-and-impending-tolkien-adaptations/ My assumption, based on which rights were available, and what had already been done, was that this was a stab at either the Angmar ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    5 days ago

  • Do We Need a Population Census?
    ‘It has been said that figures rule the world. Maybe. I am quite sure that it is figures which show us whether it is being ruled well or badly.’ GoetheI was struck at a recent conference on equity for the elderly, how many presenters implicitly relied upon Statistics New Zealand. ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    5 days ago

  • No, the govt will not be cutting back on every budget – and the Defence vote is among those to be ...
    Buzz from the Beehive Reporting on defence spending late last year, RNZ said the coalition government will have to make some tough calls this term to help the force address staff shortages and ageing infrastructure. “These are huge, huge amounts of government spending. It’s a significant proportion of the government’s ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago

  • The Treasury and productivity
    Late last week The Treasury released a new 40 page report on “The productivity slowdown: implications for the Treasury’s forecasts and projections” (productivity forecasts and projections that is, rather than any possible fiscal implications – the latter will, I guess, be articulated in the Budget documents). In short, if (as it has) ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • The Controller and Auditor-General’s role
    Peter Dunne writes –  I am always wary when I hear that the Controller and Auditor-General has commented on or made recommendations to the government about an issue of public policy that does not relate strictly to public expenditure. According to the legislation, the role of the Controller ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • More harm than good
    How Labour’s and National’s failure to move beyond neoliberalism has brought NZ to the brink of economic and cultural chaos   Chris Trotter writes –  TO START LOSING, so soon after you won, requires a special kind of political incompetence. At the heart of this Coalition ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Real reason Waitangi Tribunal could not summons Chhour
    And why did the Crown not challenge the Tribunal’s jurisdiction?   Gary Judd writes –  Retired District Court Judge, David Harvey, has posted on his A Halflings View Substack an excellent summary of Justice Isacs’ judgment declining to uphold the witness summons issued by the Waitangi Tribunal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Losing confidence in the integrity of NZ elections
    Bryce Edwards writes – Do you believe New Zealand runs its general elections fairly and competently? As a voter, can you be confident that the votes on your ballot will be counted towards the final result?As a political scientist, I’ve been asked these questions many times and ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Macklemore's Pro-Palestinian Protest.
    Macklemore isn’t someone I’d usually think about. Sure I liked his big hit from a few years back, everybody did it was catchy and cool with some memorable lines. But if I was going to think of artists who might speak out on political matters or world events, he wouldn’t ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on miserly school lunches, and the banning of TikTok’s Gaza coverage
    Another week goes by in the Luxon government’s efforts to roll back the past 70 years of social progress. The school lunches programme is to be downgraded by $107 million, and women need bother their heads no longer about pay equity, let alone expect ACC to provide adequate sexual violence ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    6 days ago

  • Weekly Roundup 10-May-2024
    Brrr, the first cold snap of the year. Hope you’re rugged up nice and warm. Here are some stories that caught our eye this week… This Week on Greater Auckland On Monday, we had a post from a new contributor, Connor Sharp, who dug into the public feedback ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    6 days ago

  • The Hoon around the week to May 10
    Almost all of the Wellington City Council’s recommended zoning changes to allow many more apartments and townhouses in its inner-suburbs have been approved.Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for subscribers features co-hosts and , along with regular guest on geopolitics, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #19 2024
    Open access notables A Global Increase in Nearshore Tropical Cyclone Intensification, Balaguru et al., Earth's Future: Tropical Cyclones (TCs) inflict substantial coastal damages, making it pertinent to understand changing storm characteristics in the important nearshore region. Past work examined several aspects of TCs relevant for impacts in coastal regions. However, ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Losing confidence in the integrity of NZ elections
    Do you believe New Zealand runs its general elections fairly and competently? As a voter, can you be confident that the votes on your ballot will be counted towards the final result? As a political scientist, I’ve been asked these questions many times and always answered “yes”, with very few ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    6 days ago

  • The Song of Saqua: Volume VIII
    Thus far May has followed on from a quiet April in the blogging department, but in fairness, it has been another case of doing what I am supposed to be doing, namely writing original fiction. Plus reading. So don’t worry – I have been productive. But in order to reassure ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    6 days ago

  • Pretending to talk other people’s languages
    Fakes can come in many forms.A Rolex, for instance.A tan can be fake. Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago

  • What’s new? A social agency with an emphasis on “investment” instead of “wellbeing” – b...
    Buzz from the Beehive A new government agency will open for business on July 1 – the Social Investment Agency. As a new standalone central agency effective from 1 July, it will lead the development of social investment across Government, helping ministers understand who they need to invest in, what ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Following the political money
    Bryce Edwards writes –    “Follow the money” is the classic directive to journalists trying to understand where power and influence lie in society. In terms of uncovering who influences various New Zealand political parties and governments, it therefore pays to look at who is funding them. The ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Hipkins would rather no one remember that he was Minister of Education
    Alwyn Poole writes –  After being elected to Parliament in 2008 the maiden speech of Hipkins was substantially around education policy. He was Labour’s spokesperson for education 2011 – 2017. He was Minister for Education from 2017 until February 2023. This is approximately 88% of the time Labour ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Fashionable follies
    Eric Crampton writes –  A fashion industry group is lobbying for protections. They make the usual arguments and a newer one. None of it makes sense. An industry group says it pumped $7.8 billion into the economy last year – that’s 1.9 percent of New Zealand’s GDP. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Justice for Bainimarama!
    In December 2006, Fiji's military leader Voreqe Bainimarama overthrew the elected government in a coup. He ruled Fiji for the next 16 years, first as dictator, then as "elected" Prime Minister. But now, he's finally been sent to jail where he belongs. Sadly, this isn't for his real crime of ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago

  • March for Nature in June
    Don't like National's corrupt Muldoonist "fast-track" law? Aotearoa's environmental NGO's - Greenpeace, Forest & Bird, WWF, Coromandel Watchdog, Coal Action Network Aotearoa, Kiwis Against Seabed Mining, and others - have announced a joint march against it in Auckland in June: When: 13:00, 8 June, 2024 Where: Aotea Square, Auckland You ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    7 days ago

  • Bernard’ s Dawn Chorus & Pick ‘n’ Mix for Thursday May 9
    Seymour describes sushi as too woke for school meals. There are no fish sushi meals recommended by the School Lunches programme. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / Getty ImagesTL;DR: The Government will swap out hot meals for packaged sandwiches to save $107 million on school lunches for poor kids. MSD has pulled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    7 days ago

  • The non-woke $3 Lunch.
    I don't mind stealin' bread from the mouths of decadenceBut I can't feed on the powerless when my cup's already overfilled, yeahBut it's on the table, the fire's cookin'And they're farmin' babies, while slaves are workin'The blood is on the table and the mouths are chokin'But I'm goin' hungry, yeahSome ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    7 days ago

  • Labour’s chickens come home to roost
    The Ardern Government’s chickens came home to roost yesterday with the news that the country is short of natural gas. In 2018, Labour banned offshore petroleum exploration, and industry executives say that the attendant loss of confidence by the industry impacted overall investment in onshore gas fields. Energy Resources Minister ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    7 days ago

  • Calvin Reviews Lord of The Rings
    Hi,If you’ve been digging through the newly launched Webworm store (orders are being dispatched worldwide as I type!) you’ll have noticed the best model we had was Calvin.This is Calvin.Calvin.Calvin is 7, and is the son of my producer over on Flightless Bird, Rob — aka “Wobby Wob”. Rob also ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    7 days ago

  • Climate Adam: How to visualise Climate Change (ft. Katharine Hayhoe)
    This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Adam Levy. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). Climate change is everywhere. And when something's everywhere it can feel like it's nowhere. So how do we get our heads ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

  • Pre-Budget speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Ka nui te mihi kia koutou. Kia ora and good afternoon, everyone. Thank you so much for having me here in the lead up to my Government’s first Budget. Before I get started can I acknowledge: Simon Bridges – Auckland Business Chamber CEO. Steve Jurkovich – Kiwibank CEO. Kids born ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago

  • New Zealand and Vanuatu to deepen collaboration
    New Zealand and Vanuatu will enhance collaboration on issues of mutual interest, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “It is important to return to Port Vila this week with a broad, high-level political delegation which demonstrates our deep commitment to New Zealand’s relationship with Vanuatu,” Mr Peters says.    “This ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours ago

  • Penk travels to Peru for trade meetings
    Minister for Land Information, Chris Penk will travel to Peru this week to represent New Zealand at a meeting of trade ministers from the Asia-Pacific region on behalf of Trade Minister Todd McClay. The annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade meeting will be held on 17-18 May ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago

  • Minister attends global education conferences
    Minister of Education Erica Stanford will head to the United Kingdom this week to participate in the 22nd Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers (CCEM) and the 2024 Education World Forum (EWF). “I am looking forward to sharing this Government’s education priorities, such as introducing a knowledge-rich curriculum, implementing an evidence-based ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago

  • Education Minister thanks outgoing NZQA Chair
    Minister of Education Erica Stanford has today thanked outgoing New Zealand Qualifications Authority Chair, Hon Tracey Martin. “Tracey Martin tendered her resignation late last month in order to take up a new role,” Ms Stanford says. Ms Martin will relinquish the role of Chair on 10 May and current Deputy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago

  • Joint statement of Christopher Luxon and Emmanuel Macron: Launch of the Christchurch Call Foundation
    New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and President Emmanuel Macron of France today announced a new non-governmental organisation, the Christchurch Call Foundation, to coordinate the Christchurch Call’s work to eliminate terrorist and violent extremist content online.   This change gives effect to the outcomes of the November 2023 Call Leaders’ Summit, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Panel announced for review into disability services
    Distinguished public servant and former diplomat Sir Maarten Wevers will lead the independent review into the disability support services administered by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. The review was announced by Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston a fortnight ago to examine what could be done to strengthen the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Minister welcomes Police gang unit
    Today’s announcement by Police Commissioner Andrew Coster of a National Gang Unit and district Gang Disruption Units will help deliver on the coalition Government’s pledge to restore law and order and crack down on criminal gangs, Police Minister Mark Mitchell says. “The National Gang Unit and Gang Disruption Units will ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • New Zealand expresses regret at North Korea’s aggressive rhetoric
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today expressed regret at North Korea’s aggressive rhetoric towards New Zealand and its international partners.  “New Zealand proudly stands with the international community in upholding the rules-based order through its monitoring and surveillance deployments, which it has been regularly doing alongside partners since 2018,” Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • New Chief of Defence Force appointed
    Air Vice-Marshal Tony Davies MNZM is the new Chief of Defence Force, Defence Minister Judith Collins announced today. The Chief of Defence Force commands the Navy, Army and Air Force and is the principal military advisor to the Defence Minister and other Ministers with relevant portfolio responsibilities in the defence ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Government puts children first by repealing 7AA
    Legislation to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act has been introduced to Parliament. The Bill’s introduction reaffirms the Coalition Government’s commitment to the safety of children in care, says Minister for Children, Karen Chhour. “While section 7AA was introduced with good intentions, it creates a conflict for Oranga ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Defence Minister to meet counterparts in UK, Italy
    Defence Minister Judith Collins will this week travel to the UK and Italy to meet with her defence counterparts, and to attend Battles of Cassino commemorations. “I am humbled to be able to represent the New Zealand Government in Italy at the commemorations for the 80th anniversary of what was ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Charter schools to lift educational outcomes
    The upcoming Budget will include funding for up to 50 charter schools to help lift declining educational performance, Associate Education Minister David Seymour announced today. $153 million in new funding will be provided over four years to establish and operate up to 15 new charter schools and convert 35 state ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • COVID-19 Inquiry terms of reference consultation results received
    “The results of the public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has now been received, with results indicating over 13,000 submissions were made from members of the public,” Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says. “We heard feedback about the extended lockdowns in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • The Pacific family of nations – the changing security outlook
    Foreign Minister, Defence Minister, other Members of Parliament Acting Chief of Defence Force, Secretary of Defence Distinguished Guests  Defence and Diplomatic Colleagues  Ladies and Gentlemen,  Good afternoon, tēna koutou, apinun tru    It’s a pleasure to be back in Port Moresby today, and to speak here at the Kumul Leadership ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • NZ and Papua New Guinea to work more closely together
    Health, infrastructure, renewable energy, and stability are among the themes of the current visit to Papua New Guinea by a New Zealand political delegation, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.   “Papua New Guinea carries serious weight in the Pacific, and New Zealand deeply values our relationship with it,” Mr Peters ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Driving ahead with Roads of Regional Significance
    The coalition Government is launching Roads of Regional Significance to sit alongside Roads of National Significance as part of its plan to deliver priority roading projects across the country, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “The Roads of National Significance (RoNS) built by the previous National Government are some of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • New Zealand congratulates new Solomon Islands government
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