Dog eat dog on the extreme Right

Written By: - Date published: 12:57 pm, May 8th, 2011 - 46 comments
Categories: act, don brash, rodney hide - Tags: ,

There’s a strange story in the Sunday Star-Times today. The premise is rumours that Don Brash has a love child but that seems to be baseless. The real point of the story is the Brash-ists trying to kill off Rodney Hide now, rather than wait until the election. I wouldn’t be surprised they’re behind the love-child story.

When you look at the story, it’s one long litany of Brash’s people (apart from flat-footed David Farrar, who is brought in for ‘balance’) all attacking Hide for supposedly slipping to a “new low in New Zealand politics” by spreading stories that Brash has a love-child. Except there’s no proof these rumours come from Hide or that they’re even really real.

The first time I heard of the love-child story was from one of the Brash-ists, Matthew Hooton. He dropped it into a Kiwiblog thread back before Brash rolled Hide, which was then reported by one of our commentators:

Matthew Hooton (14) Says:
April 26th, 2011 at 4:42 pm
You are so right that Key and Goff would want to stay away from this. Otherwise they might be involved in something where anything could happen on live TV, something as appalling as one of those mentioned above, say, accusing another of, say, having a love child, which might mean that that person could then be forced to accuse the other of something as equally untrue, like – god knows? – something like sending texts to his girlfriend when his wife was in labour. False and disgusting accusations like these are the last thing NZ politics needs.

Ipredict, which Hooton does the PR for, launched a stock yesterday on Hide losing his ministerial portfolios by June 1. Cameron Slater, who was very much in the camp of the Nats who launched the takeover of ACT, was pumping this stock and the story last night before it went up on SST with the angle that Hide must go for spreading these terrible rumours.

It looks very much like this is an attempt to create ‘facts on the ground’ that make Hide’s position as a minister for ACT untenable.

But it doesn’t answer one question: what does Hide really have over Brash that allowed him to keep his portfolios? It clearly isn’t this love-child story.

46 comments on “Dog eat dog on the extreme Right ”

  1. Hilary 1

    Hide could threaten to resign as Epsom MP and that risks a by-election in which ACT loses the seat and its parliamentary representation. That’s one reason why he kept his portfolios, I guess.

    • felix 1.1

      Or more precisely: That’s why he’ll keep them until six months prior to the election.

    • Treetop 1.2

      Hide is still there because of Key. It will not be known until after 26 May if Key has kept Hide on to avoid a by – election in Epsom. If Key stabs Hide in the back after 26 May then this will be known.

      I suspect that Hide knows a thing or two about the Wongs business dealings and this is what he has over Key. Key took the position over Garrett that it was an Act caucus matter and Hide may have taken the stance that Pansy Wong was a National Party caucus matter.

      I do know that Key flip flops on the criteria he uses to appoint ministers.

      1. Has an agreement with Act.
      2. Has the final say on who is a minister.
      3. Accepts a ministers resignation without disclosing what the reason is.

      • Deadly_NZ 1.2.1

        Any time after May 26 Hide would be best served to wear his ACT Yellow Armoured Undies, with triple ‘between the shoulder blades’ protection.

    • Eddie 1.3

      Pretty sure that ACT doesn’t lose its list MPs if it loses Epsom in a by-election. Number of list MPs is set in stone after the election.

  2. Anne 2

    I love this bit from Matthew Hooton:

    False and disgusting accusations like these are the last thing NZ politics needs.

    Can’t recall the same disgust when his NACT mates spread “disgusting” rumours and accusations about Helen Clark.

  3. BLiP 3

    I nearly bought the Sunday paper today but then saw that “politics hits new low” headline” – I guess the subterranean malice, talk-back taliban, frothing-at-the-mouth commentators spreading lies about the hairy-legged lesbian cabal wasn’t quite as “low” as some horny Jack-the-lad love child rumour. If that’s the level of MSM analysis in regard to politics, I’d rather buy Women’s Weekly The Listener.

    I don’t think Hide has anything over Brash, he’s just keeping the seat warm. While the punters are all distracted with salacious nonsense, no one’s playing much attention to the sorts of policy being formulated in the back room.

  4. ianmac 4

    The Captain didn’t like his First Mate. So he would enter in the log “1st Mate appeared to be sober today when he reported for duty.” Which of course was true. But by seeding the comments in various forms, eventually when the Board considered promotion for the 1st Mate he was passed over because he clearly had a drinking problem.
    Hence Hoots Hooton :”something as appalling as one of those mentioned above, say, accusing another of, say, having a love child…….” By innuendo plant an untrue story in your minds and doubt/suspicion creeps in.
    Maybe it wasn’t Brash he was hinting at? Ahaaa?

  5. ianmac 5

    I reckon Hide would have much more likely/lethal stories at his fingertips than the quaint “love child” story.

  6. I’m somewhat perplexed at what exactly the Rodneyites think they’re doing. In the absence of any evidence to the contrary, one must conclude that this rumour isn’t true, so they’ll probably be impaled on the sharp end of a defamation charge.

    It also goes to show the sheer nincompoopery and archaism of the hardcore ACT neocon agenda. No-one cares a fig about ‘the sanctity of marriage’ or ‘illegitimacy’ outside the miniscule number of such ideologues under the hard right banner. We’re ages away from penal legislation against the ‘illegitimate’ or the social stigma depicted in the Supremes hit “Love Child” (1968), Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Scarlet Letter (1850), Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina (1877) and Thomas Hardy’s Tess of the D’Urbervilles (1891).

    I suspect that any Rodneyite sympathisers are attacking neoconservatism, that bizarre fusion of fiscal and social conservatism at the heart of Brash’s worldview. If it can raise enough doubts in their minds, religious social conservatives will balk at voting for someone who is already (gasp) a “serial adulterer” (!!!). Mind you, Machiavellean hypocrisy also plays a role in the neocon mindset, so the self-annointed elite get to play around while us proles don’t.

    • Pascal's bookie 6.1

      Things is, there’s no evidence been produced that it’s Rodney peeps at all.

      The only people going public are Hooten and Whale tutt tutting. Rodney has nothing to gain from spreading it, Brash has a lot to gain from people thinking Hide is spreading it, and lo and behold, Brash’s two biggest surrogates are there blab blab blabbity blabbing away.

      It’s not so much suspicious as it is brutal.

      • mickysavage 6.1.1

        Aye, it could be two factions within the National Party, the Brash/Joyce win at all costs faction and the Blinglish/Ryall/Smith let’s do things a bit more conservatively.  These are the two factions that brought us the spectacle of the Hollow Men.

        Hollow Men 2: the undermining of Key coming soon to a theatre near you!

  7. It is interesting to watch two factions within the right turn on each other and it is not the let’s have a disagreement then enter into mediation and shake hands and get on with things type of fight.  It is a dog eat dog and whoever is left standing will be the victor type of fight.

    Google “Simon Lusk” and read Trevor Mallard’s blog posts if you want to have an inkling of what is happening.

  8. Incidentally, given that ACT voted against stronger dog control legislation while Prebbo was in charge, does anyone appreciate the irony involved in the headline?

  9. Nick K 9

    This is a very good analytical post on the topic. And I’m no leftie.

  10. Matthew Hooton 10

    There are two “love child” smears and you are confusing them.

    The first, involving woman A and child A, was threatened to be “revealed” by the RodneyBunker during the coup process. That was the one I was referring to in the post on kiwiblog you refer to. It is also the one the HoS (I think) referred to in its gossip column last weekend (I think).

    The second “love child” smear involves woman B and child B (now an adult) and the first I heard about this one was last night when the SST rang me. This also came from the RodneyBunker, I understand (from calls made today). Hide told the SST yesterday that not only had he not passed on the smear involving woman B and child B that he had never even heard of this second smear. That last bit is certainly a lie by Hide and I suspect he’s also lying when he said he never passed it on. So Brash has some big decisions to make over the next few hours – because I think there is clear evidence of Hide lying to him and the media at least about him knowing about the smears and probably over whether he passed them on.

    You are certainly right that it’s nasty and I think the “Hide to go” iPredict stock (which I suggested to iPredict last night after the SST called me) is probably a buy.

    • Eddie 10.1

      it’s hard to keep up with the dirty, smutty stories you’re spreading around, Hoots.

      I’m not in ipredict but my advice to anyone who is simple: if a market participant is trying to boost the price of a stock, they’re probably doing a pump and dump making money off chumps who listen to them both on the way up and the way down.

      looking at the ipredict stock’s history, that’s what’s happened it seems.

      Given that Hide has said he isn’t behind the story, Brash says he believes him, and the story is dead in the water anyone who thinks that this is going to get Hide knocked out is nuts – I include Slater and Hoots in that category.

      • Matthew Hooton 10.1.1

        Your response got me interested and I see from the Herald that Brash is saying he has no reason to disbelieve Hide’s denials. Each to their own I guess!

        • IrishBill 10.1.1.1

          So are you working for Brash, Matthew?

          • Matthew Hooton 10.1.1.1.1

            No. I explained my connection to all these events on N2N last week. I have an idea of what is going on (I know and have spoken to most of the participants) but I’m certainly not working for anyone involved.

            • IrishBill 10.1.1.1.1.1

              I’m pleased to hear that – I know you were uncomfortable with the IWI/Kiwi stuff last time around. I’ll correct a previous post mentioning that rumour. What’s your reading of what’s going on?

    • errr…. in my considered opinon Mathew – it makes NO sense at all for Rodney Hide to spread such rumours about Don Brash.

      Rodney Hide wants to continue his career in politics.

      I believe a lot of decent Kiwis would have been horrified at how ‘money-bag$’ big business interests effectively bought control of ACT by using the corporate ‘Golden Rule’ of ‘Democracy’ – “those who have the gold – make the rules.”

      However, Don Bra$h ‘I’ve got the ca$h – so it’s my way or the highway’ – is now in a rather pivotal leadership position of the ACT party – (which he became ‘leader’ of some two hours after joining?).

      So – how on earth would it be in Rodney Hide’s best interests to p*ss off Don Bra$h – particularly by stirring up personal stuff – which may or may not be true?

      Rodney Hide, in my considered opinion is definitely not stupid.

      I have learned from experience – that sometimes people in the same group as yourself – may take actions that you neither know about, nor agree with.

      Also – Don Bra$h and Rodney Hide have supposedly been ‘friends’ for over 15 years?

      (Heaven help us all if they were deadly and sworn enemies! 🙂

      Of course – it may well be in the best interests of others to help discredit and get rid of Rodney Hide?

      SURELY this wouldn’t include yourself Mathew?

      Penny Bright
      http://waterpressure.wordpress.com

  11. Matthew, I tend to think that this may be confused and muddle-headed ACT populist faction payback for what happened to Hide, seen as their standard-bearer, against Brash. I wondered where they’d gone to after the coup, and now it seems that they may be trying to white-ant Brash and destabilise ACT. Some of the wilder sock con blogs I’ve read certainly don’t seem impressed with Brash’s unfortunate marital history and this could be designed to exacerbate residual tensions within their party. Accordingly, they’ve seized on this hypothesis about the mythical progeny of Dr B.

    • Matthew Hooton 11.1

      Yep, that’s basically what I think

      • Nick K 11.1.1

        Think? I thought you “knew”? Just a few comments earlier you said you “had an idea of what was going on”, after speaking to the participants.

        Who are the participants you have spoken to? To clear this up, why don’t you name them. You’re not breaching any privilege or ethic just saying who you spoke to.

        Because the people I know in the party have not spoken to you and never will.

        Which only leaves a certain crowd, and if you’re talking to them then it’s patently clear where this is coming from.

  12. felix 12

    iPredict is a joke, and not a particularly good one.

    It could have been something but it was doomed from the day they decided to let the National party run it via David Farrar.

    • higherstandard 12.1

      iPredict that all the candidates in this years elections will be asshats.

    • It is not so bad with some issues.  There is an inherent right wing bias so, for instance, early on Len Brown for Mayor was paying 7c in the dollar.  Paid for a good meal that did!

      • felix 12.2.1

        I’m sure it tasted all the better for it too! But what I mean is it seems to have largely become a tool for creating, spreading, and reinforcing political propaganda rather than a barometer of opinion.

        And with guys like Farrar and Hoots working there it was inevitable.

  13. Jenny 13

    Yes it’s true, Rodney Hide is Brash’s love child.

  14. georgecom 14

    Another possibility. Someone, prehaps in the Brash camp, is getting some stuff our early for maybe 1 of 2 reasons:

    1. leak an edited version of a story yourself and then deny it rather than have your opponent leak a dirtier version

    or

    2. leak something small and tame now and deny it so that if bigger stuff is leaked by your opponents you can cry ‘smear’ and a certain % of people will discount the bigger issue.

    Rob

  15. Nah, that’s not genetic linkage, it’s merely the Transnational Baldist Conspiracy to Obliterate Western Civilisation Plc at work. Have you noticed you seem to have to be a follicularly challenged bloke to get anywhere in the ACT Party these days? And that the Iraqi War was all (baldie) Vice Prez Dick Cheney’s fault? And that two consecutive leaders of the UK Tories (William Hague and Iain Duncan-Smith) were bald?!

    Coincidence?! Hah!!!

  16. But it doesn’t answer one question: what does Hide really have over Brash that allowed him to keep his portfolios? It clearly isn’t this love-child story.”

    hmmmm…………. I wonder if the decision to allow Rodney Hide to keep his position as Minister of Local Government could have anything to do with a postcard campaign that I have initiated – addressed to Prime Minister John Key – where the undersigned:

    “.. pledge to consider not paying this proposed Auckland Council 4.9% rate increase.”

    I have widely distributed hundreds and hundreds of these postcards throughout the Remuera, New Market and Parnell shopping centres – in the heart of the Epsom electorate where Mr $upercity supporter from Day One – John Banks – hopes to stand as the ACT candidate.

    Unsurprisingly – most people know nothing about this pending 4.9% rate increase (which covers ALL ratepayers, residential and commercial) – and are somewhat less than delighted – to say the least when this fact is pointed out to them.

    (The wealthier the property – the more rates will have to be paid.)

    It is my considered opinion, that Rodney Hide was kept on as Minister of Local Government in order to keep ‘copping the flak for the $upercity’ (which was 100% supported by National MPs or – quite simply – it wouldn’t have happened).

    Remember – National LIED about the Auckland $upercity:

    They promised to ‘consult with Aucklanders once the findings of the Royal Commission were known’.

    http://www.national.org.nz/files/2008/local_government_policy.pdf

    National didn’t.
    They railroaded through the underpinning framework legislation – the Local Government (Tamaki Makarau Reorganisation) Act 2009 – in another Rogernomic$ blitzkrieg – to enable the corporate takeover of the Auckland region.

    So – as the Auckland anger builds over the ‘$upercity = Super rip off!’ – wouldn’t it make sense to keep Rodney there?

    Penny Bright
    http://waterpressure.wordpress.com

  17. Craig 17

    Yes, but Penny, that would remind irate Auckland voters that it was *ACT* that shepherded local body amalgamation and its associated headaches through Parliament, not Hide per se. In which case, the fallout might spread to whoever is selected to succeed Hide in Epsom…

    • Craig 17
      9 May 2011 at 4:44 pm

      Yes, but Penny, that would remind irate Auckland voters that it was *ACT* that shepherded local body amalgamation and its associated headaches through Parliament, not Hide per se. In which case, the fallout might spread to whoever is selected to succeed Hide in Epsom…”
      _____________________________________________________________________________

      errr…. the reality is that it was National and ACT that shepherded / RAILROADED through the underpinning ‘$UPERCITY’ framework legislation.

      It’s just that it was made to look like a Rodney Hide ACT – but it simply would not have happened without the full support of National Party Cabinet Ministers and MPs.

      It’s time for people to see past the spin?

      Penny Bright
      http://waterpressure.wordpress.com

  18. Craig 18

    Penny:
    Yes, I do agree with you, but National wouldn’t have been able to do so without ACT acting as their willing handmaidens and facilitating the advancement of shared policy interests.

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    This isn’t quite as dramatic as the title might suggest. I’m not going anywhere, but there is something I wanted to talk to you about.Let’s start with a typical day.Most days I send out a newsletter in the morning. If I’ve written a lot the previous evening it might be ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • The PM promises tax relief in the Budget – but will it be enough to satisfy the Taxpayers’ Union...
    Buzz from the Beehive The promise of tax relief loomed large in his considerations when  the PM delivered a pre-Budget speech to the Auckland Business Chamber. The job back in Wellington is getting government spending back under control, he said, bandying figures which show that in per capita terms, the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago
  • Fucking useless
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    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago
  • Setting things straight.
    Seeing that, in order to discredit the figures and achieve moral superiority while attempting to deflect attention away from the military assault on Rafa, Israel supporters in NZ have seized on reports that casualty numbers in Gaza may be inflated … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    2 days ago
  • Far too light a sentence
    David Farrar writes – Newstalk ZB report: The man responsible for a horror hit and run in central Wellington last year was on a suspended licence and was so drunk he later asked police, “Did I kill someone?” Jason Tuitama injured two women when he ran a red ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • Unwinding Labour’s Agenda
    Muriel Newman writes –  Former US President Ronald Reagan once said, “Freedom is a fragile thing and it’s never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by way of inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation.” The fight for ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • Sequel to “Real reason Waitangi Tribunal could not summons Chhour”
    Why Courts should have said Waitangi Tribunal could not summons Karen Chhour Gary Judd writes – In the High Court, Justice Isacs declined to uphold the witness summons issued by the Waitangi Tribunal to compel Minister for Children, Karen Chhour, to appear before it to be ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • The Govt’s Fast-Track is being demolished by submissions to Parliament
    Bryce Edwards writes –  The number of voices raising concerns about the Government’s Fast-Track Approvals Bill is rapidly growing. This is especially apparent now that Parliament’s select committee is listening to submissions from the public to evaluate the proposed legislation. Twenty-seven thousand submissions have been made to Parliament ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • A generation is leaving at a rate of one A320-load per day
    An average of 166 New Zealand citizens left the country every day during the March quarter, up 54% from a year ago.Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The economy and housing market is sinking into a longer recession through the winter after a slump in business and consumer confidence in ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • NZUP RORS back to life
    The government has made it abundantly clear they’re addicted to the smell of new asphalt. On Tuesday they introduced a new term to the country’s roading lexicon, the Roads of Regional Significance (RoRS), a little brother for the Roads of National (Party) Significance (RoNS). Driving ahead with Roads of Regional ...
    3 days ago
  • School Is Out.
    School is outAnd I walk the empty hallwaysI walk aloneAlone as alwaysThere's so many lucky penniesLying on the floorBut where the hell are all the lucky peopleI can't see them any moreYesterday morning, I’d just sent out my newsletter on Tama Potaka, and I was struggling to make the coffee. ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • How Are You Doing?
    Hi,I wanted to check in and ask how you’re doing.This is perhaps a selfish act, of attempting to find others feeling a similar way to me — that is to say, a little hopeless at the moment.Misery loves company, that sort of deal.Some context.I wish I could say I got ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    3 days 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 ...
    3 days ago
  • At a glance – What ended the Little ice Age?
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    3 days 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
    3 days 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
    3 days 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
    3 days 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
    3 days 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
    3 days 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
    3 days 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
    3 days 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
    3 days 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
    3 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
    4 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, ...
    4 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 ...
    4 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 ...
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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 ...
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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 ...
    5 days ago

  • DJ Fred Again – Assurance report received
    "On the 27th of March, I sought assurances from the Chief Executive, Department of Internal Affairs, that the Department’s correct processes and policies had been followed in regards to a passport application which received media attention,” says Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden.  “I raised my concerns after being ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 hours ago
  • District Court Judges appointed
    Attorney-General Judith Collins has announced the appointment of three new District Court Judges, to replace Judges who have recently retired. Peter James Davey of Auckland has been appointed a District Court Judge with a jury jurisdiction to be based at Whangarei. Mr Davey initially started work as a law clerk/solicitor with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago
  • Unions should put learning ahead of ideology
    Associate Education Minister David Seymour is calling on the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) to put ideology to the side and focus on students’ learning, in reaction to the union holding paid teacher meetings across New Zealand about charter schools.     “The PPTA is disrupting schools up and down the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago
  • Craig Stobo appointed as chair of FMA
    Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly today announced the appointment of Craig Stobo as the new chair of the Financial Markets Authority (FMA). Mr Stobo takes over from Mark Todd, whose term expired at the end of April. Mr Stobo’s appointment is for a five-year term. “The FMA plays ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours ago
  • Budget 2024 invests in lifeguards and coastguard
    Surf Life Saving New Zealand and Coastguard New Zealand will continue to be able to keep people safe in, on, and around the water following a funding boost of $63.644 million over four years, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Associate Transport Minister Matt Doocey say. “Heading to the beach for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago
  • New Zealand and Tuvalu reaffirm close relationship
    New Zealand and Tuvalu have reaffirmed their close relationship, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters says.  “New Zealand is committed to working with Tuvalu on a shared vision of resilience, prosperity and security, in close concert with Australia,” says Mr Peters, who last visited Tuvalu in 2019.  “It is my pleasure ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • New Zealand calls for calm, constructive dialogue in New Caledonia
    New Zealand is gravely concerned about the situation in New Caledonia, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.  “The escalating situation and violent protests in Nouméa are of serious concern across the Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says.  “The immediate priority must be for all sides to take steps to de-escalate the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • New Zealand welcomes Samoa Head of State
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon met today with Samoa’s O le Ao o le Malo, Afioga Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II, who is making a State Visit to New Zealand. “His Highness and I reflected on our two countries’ extensive community links, with Samoan–New Zealanders contributing to all areas of our national ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Island Direct eligible for SuperGold Card funding
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has announced that he has approved Waiheke Island ferry operator Island Direct to be eligible for SuperGold Card funding, paving the way for a commercial agreement to bring the operator into the scheme. “Island Direct started operating in November 2023, offering an additional option for people ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Further sanctions against Russia
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters today announced further sanctions on 28 individuals and 14 entities providing military and strategic support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.  “Russia is directly supported by its military-industrial complex in its illegal aggression against Ukraine, attacking its sovereignty and territorial integrity. New Zealand condemns all entities and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • One year on from Loafers Lodge
    A year on from the tragedy at Loafers Lodge, the Government is working hard to improve building fire safety, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “I want to share my sincere condolences with the families and friends of the victims on the anniversary of the tragic fire at Loafers ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    3 days 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
    3 days 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
    3 days 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
    3 days 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
    3 days 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    4 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
    4 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 ...
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    4 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 ...
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    4 days ago
  • New Zealand congratulates new Solomon Islands government
    A high-level New Zealand political delegation in Honiara today congratulated the new Government of Solomon Islands, led by Jeremiah Manele, on taking office.    “We are privileged to meet the new Prime Minister and members of his Cabinet during his government’s first ten days in office,” Deputy Prime Minister and ...
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    5 days ago
  • New Zealand supports UN Palestine resolution
    New Zealand voted in favour of a resolution broadening Palestine’s participation at the United Nations General Assembly overnight, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “The resolution enhances the rights of Palestine to participate in the work of the UN General Assembly while stopping short of admitting Palestine as a full ...
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    7 days ago
  • Speech to the 2024 Infrastructure Symposium
    Introduction Good morning. It’s a great privilege to be here at the 2024 Infrastructure Symposium. I was extremely happy when the Prime Minister asked me to be his Minister for Infrastructure. It is one of the great barriers holding the New Zealand economy back from achieving its potential. Building high ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • $571 million for Defence pay and projects
    Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced the upcoming Budget will include new funding of $571 million for Defence Force pay and projects. “Our servicemen and women do New Zealand proud throughout the world and this funding will help ensure we retain their services and expertise as we navigate an increasingly ...
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    1 week ago
  • Climate change – mitigating the risks and costs
    New Zealand’s ability to cope with climate change will be strengthened as part of the Government’s focus to build resilience as we rebuild the economy, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “An enduring and long-term approach is needed to provide New Zealanders and the economy with certainty as the climate ...
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    1 week ago
  • Getting new job seekers on the pathway to work
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    1 week ago
  • Accelerating Social Investment
    A new standalone Social Investment Agency will power-up the social investment approach, driving positive change for our most vulnerable New Zealanders, Social Investment Minister Nicola Willis says.  “Despite the Government currently investing more than $70 billion every year into social services, we are not seeing the outcomes we want for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Getting Back on Track
    Check against delivery Good morning. It is a pleasure to be with you to outline the Coalition Government’s approach to our first Budget. Thank you Mark Skelly, President of the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce, together with  your Board and team, for hosting me.   I’d like to acknowledge His Worship ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • NZ – European Union ties more critical than ever
    Your Excellency Ambassador Meredith,   Members of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassadors from European Union Member States,   Ministerial colleagues, Members of Parliament, and other distinguished guests, Thank you everyone for joining us.   Ladies and gentlemen -    In diplomacy, we often speak of ‘close’ and ‘long-standing’ relations.   ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Therapeutic Products Act to be repealed
    The Therapeutic Products Act (TPA) will be repealed this year so that a better regime can be put in place to provide New Zealanders safe and timely access to medicines, medical devices and health products, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello announced today. “The medicines and products we are talking about ...
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    1 week ago
  • Decisions on Wellington City Council’s District Plan
    The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop, today released his decision on twenty recommendations referred to him by the Wellington City Council relating to its Intensification Planning Instrument, after the Council rejected those recommendations of the Independent Hearings Panel and made alternative recommendations. “Wellington notified its District Plan on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Rape Awareness Week: Government committed to action on sexual violence
    Rape Awareness Week (6-10 May) is an important opportunity to acknowledge the continued effort required by government and communities to ensure that all New Zealanders can live free from violence, say Ministers Karen Chhour and Louise Upston.  “With 1 in 3 women and 1 in 8 men experiencing sexual violence ...
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    1 week ago

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