King Brownlee dips his oar into Chch elections

Written By: - Date published: 9:07 am, March 15th, 2013 - 40 comments
Categories: disaster, Gerry Brownlee, local body elections - Tags:

King Brownlee can do pretty much whatever the hell he likes in Christchurch. And what he wants to do, it seems, is fuck all. When I was in Christchurch recently, I was deeply disturbed by the lack of rebuild, and the vibe. People feel it. People get angry. When people get angry, Brownlee looks for someone else to blame. Now, he’s doubling down by interfering in the coming local elections.

He has identified Yani Johanson, the council’s community, recreation and culture committee chairman who is responsible for overseeing social housing as the main culprit [for the slow rebuild of social housing]

“Councillor Johanson said speeding up the repair and re-letting of these properties would be his priority but the numbers speak for themselves,” he said.

“Perhaps it’s time someone with a bit of can-do attitude relieved councillor Johanson of this burden.”

Bit rich from King Do Nothing to say someone else isn’t working fast enough. And I seriously doubt that the chair of a council committee has much control over the rebuild – it’s not like they’re ministers. You want to look to the council staff if there’s a problem.

Brownlee has previously pretended not to know who Johanson is to belittle him, despite him being one of the most vocal councilors regarding the rebuild, with a strong plan and strong criticism of Brownlee. (Yani’s also got a sense of humour)

Clearly, this latest outburst is a play to get one of his strongest critics in local politics off the council.

Still, at least the portly dictator restrained himself somewhat – he could just cancel the elections and appoint the next council if he wants.

40 comments on “King Brownlee dips his oar into Chch elections ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Coronial Typer 1
    15 March 2013 at 9:19 am

    Was Brownlee’s criticism of Council performance accurate, or not?

    • vto 1.1
      15 March 2013 at 9:33 am

      yes, much as such admission is difficult.

      • fatty 1.1.1
        15 March 2013 at 11:17 am

        yes and no…
        I’ve had some in-depth contact with social service agencies in Chch about their experience over the past 2 years. Although the CCC has been slow with getting their housing stock back in order, this is far more complex than Gerry is making out. The CCC has worked with those at ‘the coal face’ very well. Their communication & response has been very good and they have been far more effective than Housing NZ and the Government.
        I am convinced that the CCC has punched above its weight in regards to helping those who are the most marginalised when it comes to housing. I am also no cheerleader of the CCC, I despise them.
        The housing problem in Chch is a kind of ‘hidden homelessness’ …these homeless people show up in few statistics and the people of Chch have been relying on personal networks to get by – this is where the CCC has been doing good work. As a result the CCC cannot justify or prove their worth and Gerry knows this. Its a calculated attack that is difficult to disprove.
        In a way I feel sorry for the CCC, but they have been licking Gerry’s boots since the earthquake and they get a kick in the teeth every now and then

  2. mickysavage 2
    15 March 2013 at 9:27 am

    Yani is also a good progressive and a hard working representative. The targetting is far too transparent.

    It also reinforces a standard National tactic. If under threat blame, defame and abuse someone else and try and make it sound like it is their fault.

    • Mark Fletcher 2.1
      15 March 2013 at 12:03 pm

      Don’t you mean standard (no pun intended) Politician’s tactic? When was the last time you saw any politician, of any persuasion, put their hand up and volunteer that they were to blame?

    • Andy-Roo 2.2
      15 March 2013 at 4:07 pm

      +1 On that comment. He is hard working, smart and his heart is in the right place.

    • BrucetheMoose 2.3
      16 March 2013 at 1:48 pm

      That was Hitler’s and the Nazis favorite tactic. Worked initially, so that is why they use it. Long term though?….

  3. aerobubble 3
    15 March 2013 at 9:51 am

    Arbitrary govt. On a whim Brownlee decided land owners would only get 50%. When questioned in parliament he was unable to provide any reason for 50%, why not 0%, or 100%?

    The state does have insurance because its so large it self-insures. The state decided what land they cannot reconnect to water, gas, waste water and so took land off the residents. The state will inevitably decide in the future to use that land, either rebuild on it, or leave it as park (and so use other land for parks to build on), so the state is saying they can take 50% off individual land owners
    that should be paid out fully.

    As for the argument of undeveloped, what could be more developed that a lot sold at a premium because of the development of the land around it for the purpose of housing, its subdivided land, its
    developed land!!! The state lost money when its roads to the undeveloped lots was declared red zoned and got back 100% because govt is so large its effectively self insured!!!

  4. Jono 4
    15 March 2013 at 9:54 am

    Much as I agree with the sentiment of the article, the reference to Brownlee’s size in a negative light does it no favours.

  5. Wayne 5
    15 March 2013 at 9:55 am

    But on National Radio this morning even the Council conceded they needed to do a lot more, and that even seemed to include Mr Johanson. And the comparison between the number of repairs done by Housing NZ and the Council was dramatic.

    • vto 5.1
      15 March 2013 at 10:25 am

      The Council has definitely dropped the ball on its social housing repair and replace. Useless. Brownlee is right.

      Which is surprising because Council seem to be dealing with all other matters in this new and hectic post-quake environment very competently.

      • fatty 5.1.1
        15 March 2013 at 11:36 am

        the CCC has been working very well with social service agencies to get marginalised people into some sort of accommodation. The CCC is trying to juggle things as best they can, but they are playing the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff as the Government’s residual welfare pushes more people off the cliff.
        The problem is not the (in)actions of the CCC, the problem is that the CCC have backed the Government’s handling of the housing situation post-quake

        • vto 5.1.1.1
          15 March 2013 at 12:11 pm

          Fair enough. I was referring to the physical state of the social housing stock and have little knowledge of how it is dealing with the people.

          Your assessment doesn’t surprise me as the Council are doing pretty damn well given what they face, including the bully boy brownlie.

      • Robert Glennie 5.1.2
        17 March 2013 at 2:15 pm

        It’s not true that the City Council is going slow on this. Yani’s committee has managed to get at least 109 properties repaired all up, compared to the half dozen that Gerry Brownlee mentioned. Yani pointed to a common problem with all earthquake repairs and that is EQC stalling. He has his head in the right place. I am sure that Yani wants this sorted out for the better of everyone just as we do.

    • Tom Gould 5.2
      15 March 2013 at 10:29 am

      Gerry is always dipping his dinner rolls in the political gravy. I would check the HCNZ numbers if the source – or should that be sauce – is Gerry. I suspect it includes a large number of minor repairs inflated to look much bigger – the old ‘souffle’ treatment Gerry is famous for.

      • MrSmith 5.2.1
        15 March 2013 at 4:24 pm

        It’s like the Million phone calls to EQC they had been shouting about Tom.
        Shit the only reason people have made a Million calls is firstly because you never get the answers you want when you ring. Secondly they never ring you back and replies to emails take months to the point you can’t even remember what the hell they are writing about, then you just say fuck it, get out a bottle and drink the whole sorry mess away.

      • BrucetheMoose 5.2.2
        15 March 2013 at 8:41 pm

        See my comments below on the Housing NZ repairs to their stock

    • MrSmith 5.3
      15 March 2013 at 4:13 pm

      But Wayne that’s just the script they have been given to follow, ‘we need to do more’ easy to say right! but in six months or a year it will be ‘we could have done more’ then later ‘in hindsight ya de ya de ya!’ they are just spinning a line and it’s time people started calling them on their bullshit or how about a little rioting in the street that might get someone attention, at the moment they will want to be choosing there words very carefully as CHCH could go off like a powder keg.

      I entered into a contract for earthquake insurance with the government and I expect that contract to be honored, instead all we get is ‘we need to do better’! but really Brownlee is in-charge, forget about the council, they are broke and have to lick his boots for now, but never forget the buck stops with him Brownlee, don’t let him distract you from that fact!

      • vto 5.3.1
        16 March 2013 at 8:05 am

        MrSmith in his posts up and down here expresses the situation of those in Chch who have damaged homes perfectly. It is exactly as he says.

        Example (and it is just one of many examples) – we have had no communication from EQC for 7 months. We have phoned and emailed the people suppsedly case-managing our repairs on a regular basis, but not a single reply. Not one. No reply. Nada. Ignored. Completely and utterly. Think for a moment what that does to someone………..

        And trust me – that particular example is the norm, not some abnorm. Everybody has the same fucking drama.

        EQC ARE FUCKED IN THE HEAD

  6. Peter 6
    15 March 2013 at 10:28 am

    Yani is consistently one of the highest performing and most well-connected councillors on that Council. He just doesn’t want any criticism.

    Time for the good people of Ilam to vote Brownlee out.

  7. MrSmith 7
    15 March 2013 at 11:22 am

    Fuck Brownlee, I am still dealing with EQC after two years, spending hours on the phone initially just waiting for it to be answered then when it was finally answered having to talk to a paid monkey, two years on, paying for toll calls to CHCH as I no longer live in Brownlee’s shit hole of a town.

    70% of insurance claims still not settled and the companies fighting you for every dollar now along with EQC who are now getting tighter with $ and how far the repairs go, you have to fight every inch of the way and it gets very tiring and I don’t have to live their.

    The rebuild is stalling partly because all the business that moved out of the CBD are in no hurry to move back into a ghost town, plenty of billboards up in-front of empty lots but work wont start till the buildings have tenants and the tenants are all tied into lease agreements they were forced to sign after the Quake in the rush to secure any kind of space.

    Fuck Brownlee, the people of CHCH are getting angry now, EQC workers now getting abused daily.

    Fuck off Brownlee and take Roger Sutton with you!

    • vto 7.1
      15 March 2013 at 11:28 am

      I agree with your sentiments there Mr MrSmith and note rising anger, growing from the rotting stagnation.

      EQC is the most useless government organisation I have ever in my life had to deal with, bar none. Plus the rudest, most arrogant and deceptive one. There is no trust in them. They really are true complete arseholes.

      • Colonial Viper 7.1.1
        15 March 2013 at 9:12 pm

        Keeps a lot of family members, children and good mates employed though.

        • vto 7.1.1.1
          16 March 2013 at 8:18 am

          What it employs is all those useless fuckwits who could never get decent work elsewhere. The little h1tler types. The ones who squirm and squish around.

          Then on top bully boy brownlee is overseeing the pile of worms and slugs.

          It is fucking ugly and lordy does it induce anger.

      • Cantabrian 7.1.2
        17 March 2013 at 8:19 pm

        +1

  8. fatty 8
    15 March 2013 at 12:26 pm

    A couple of blogs focusing on Chch…thenzwire is requesting guest posts for those who are interested – VTO & Mr Smith?
    http://nzagainstthecurrent.blogspot.co.nz/
    http://thenzwire.blogspot.co.nz/

  9. Rogue Trooper 9
    15 March 2013 at 3:33 pm

    Disaster, that is what it is, a disaster (some of the residents in the media have been Very angry and stressed; Stress kills)

  10. Puddleglum 10
    15 March 2013 at 7:07 pm

    This is the latest position of the CCC committee that oversees the social housing (strangely, it falls under the Community, Recreation and Culture Committee – I would have thought its own committee or a committee focused on more obvious forms of welfare and social provision would cover it).

    Of the 300 units to be repaired or built, 202 units are currently occupied and 70 will be repaired by the end of the year. Negotiations over engineering assessments and insurance and EQC settlements are part of the slow process for the remainder.

    One of the steps to be taken is to:

    Invite the Minister for EQC to discuss with the Council how its social housing assessment and insurance settlement process could be sped up.

  11. Colonial Viper 11
    15 March 2013 at 7:16 pm

    Zetetic, still waiting for some numbnuts to complain about you calling Brownlee “portly”.

    From my point of view you were damned restrained.

    • Daveosaurus 11.1
      15 March 2013 at 7:41 pm

      See Jono’s comment no. 4 of 9.50am.

    • Craig Glen viper 11.2
      15 March 2013 at 8:47 pm

      “portly’ Honest Medical term would be Obese which is what he is.

      Sadly I wish his obesity was his only problem then it would be a problem that only effects him ( not the voter). Its his bullying that really pisses me off.

  12. Puddleglum 12
    15 March 2013 at 7:49 pm

    Here is The Press’ rating of councillors in April 2012.

    Johanson is in The Good category with a B+ (along with Tim Carter and Glenn Livingstone). He’s been a very good councillor.

  13. BrucetheMoose 13
    15 March 2013 at 8:39 pm

    Repairs have been done to Housing NZ properties. What the deal was with insurance, who knows, but most likely they would have had preference over joe average or they just went on and repaired them for the all looks good in the public’s eye factor. It helps when the majority were very simple weatherboard duplexes on timber floors and the damage was minimal. Most were fixed in days or a week or two at most. As they were modest size duplexes, fix one, you have fixed two statistically speaking, so all looks good for a media statement. The majority of councils ones are more complex and have multiple structural matters to deal with. Obviously this makes it more complex from dealing insurance and repair strategies. Obviously Brownlee won’t reveal such details. If an individual like Brownlee in such an important position was genuinely concerned about the situation, surely meeting with council members and discussing the matter to come up with a solution would be the responsible course of action. But no. Gerry has to behave like the overblown egotistical thug that he really is. Time to go. Gone ByAugust Brownlee

  14. BrucetheMoose 14
    15 March 2013 at 9:02 pm

    Might I add, I believe Johanson is leading contender for the new Mayoral position this approaching elections and is seen as a threat by Brownlee as someone who will stand up to him and his cronies. Expect more of this nonsense over the coming months from the Lord Fool of Canterbury.

  15. Kevyn 15
    19 March 2013 at 5:13 pm

    One has to wonder if Brownlee is a patsy appointment who will genuinely believe that what he is being directed to do by Cabinet is helping facilitate the recovery when there is actually no genuine Goevernment support being provided.

    For instance, the Government stopped reducing its debt to EQC in November 2011. Without that $1.8bn of revenue from redeeming those Government Bonds EQC will be short of cash if it has to cover the first $1.5bn from each event before reinsurers are required to pay.
    http://www.nzdmo.govt.nz/publications/data

    The “no surprises” system for Government accounts meant that the total estimated costs to Government (including $3.3bn unallocated contingency) were added to the accounts as though all that money had been spent in one year, whereas the revenue from GST and selling EQC investments are counted only in the year the cash is received. That turned a potential $900m surplus by 2022 into an $8.8bn deficit prior to the election. Likewise the gross $13bn cost identified in BPS2013 ignores gains from debt refinancing, GST, EQC reserves and reallocation of existing funds. The Nett cost to taxpayers outside of Canterbury is likely to be no more than $1bn. Add in land sales and it could be, in the immortal words of Arthur Daley, “a nice little earner”.

    Of most concern to The Standard should be English’ statement to the Finance Select Committee (8/6/2011) that the “tradition” of limiting the Crown’s contribution to 60% would not apply because the disaster was too large. That tradition appears to have started with a Cabinet Minute from Ruth Richardson’s time as Finance Minister and it is now being described by English as the Government’s “fair share”. Surely Labour MPs are aware that Aussie’s NDRRA and USA FEMA and Japan’s Act for the Financial Arrangements for Extremely Severe Natural Disasters all require 100% Government funding for repairing damage to ratepayer funded infrastructure which appears to be the common first world definition of fare share.

    Also, FEMA pays for land buyouts for hazard reduction at market value, so what the Government is doing in the redzones is not internationally unique. France also has an act that ensures market value for flood hazard mitigation property purchases.

    Perhaps if Labour had reformed the EQC claims process after problems were revealed in the Manawatu and Matata events some of the current stress on claimants might have been avoided.

    With EQC providing a $100,000 excess on every private insurance policy are the premium increases from private insurers actually justified by actual risk or are they just being allowed to recover costs in the shortest possible time despite having had the same amount of time to build up reserves that EQC had?

  16. Jasper 16
    19 March 2013 at 9:26 pm

    Someone answer me this ….. who’s done more for Christchurch, between that fat bastard, Brownlee or Fletchers?

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  • 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 days ago

  • The wrong direction
    Some good news on climate change today: the energy transition away from fossil fuels is picking up speed, and renewables now make up 30% of global electricity supply. Meanwhile, in Aotearoa, we're moving in the opposite direction, with Genesis Energy announcing that it will resume importing Indonesian coal. Their official ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • National hates democracy
    Its a law like gravity: whenever a right-wing government is elected, they start attacking democracy. And now, after talking to their Republican and Tory and Fidesz chums at the International Democracy Union forum in Wellington, National is doing it here, announcing plans to remove election-day enrolment. Or, to put it ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • No Tikanga Please, We're Lawyers.
    Yesterday Winston Peters focussed his attention on the important matter at hand. Tweeting. Like the former, and quite possibly next, orange POTUS, from whom he takes much of his political strategy, Winston is an avid X’er.His message didn’t resemble an historic address this time. In fact it was more reminiscent ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • Member’s Day
    Today is a Member's Day, and it seems we've entered the slowdown as things emerge from select committee. First up is the committee stage of Greg O'Connor's Child Protection (Child Sex Offender Government Agency Registration) (Overseas Travel Reporting) Amendment Bill, which will be followed by the second readings of Stuart ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • Hurrah for coal – Shane Jones welcomes Genesis Energy’s import plans as natural gas production s...
    Buzz from the Beehive A significant decline in natural gas production has given Resources Minister Shane Jones an opportunity to reiterate his enthusiasm for the mining and burning of coal. For good measure, he has praised an announcement from Genesis Energy that it will resume importing coal. He and Energy ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Following the political money
    “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 political parties are legally obliged to make ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    5 days ago

  • A Left-Right ranking of universities in NZ: a practical guide for students and parents
    Rob MacCullough writes – Here is my subjective ranking on a “most-left” to “most-right” scale of most of our major NZ Universities, with some anecdotal (and at times amusing) evidence to back up the claim. Extreme Left   Auckland University of Technology Evidence The ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  •  Inflation and GST thresholds
    Eric Crampton writes –  I hadn’t thought about this one until a helpful email showed up in my inbox.It’s pretty obvious that income tax thresholds should automatically index with inflation – whether to anchor the thresholds in percentiles of the income distribution, or to anchor against a real ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Green Party grapples with persistent scandals
    Jacqui Van Der Kaay writes –  Parliament’s speaker had no option but to refer Green MP Julie Anne Genter to the Privileges Committee for her behaviour in the House last Wednesday evening. The incident, in which she crossed the floor to wave a book and yell at National ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • A law school to be avoided – Auckland University of Technology
    Gary Judd writes – The Dean of the law school at the Auckland University of Technology is someone called Khylee Quince. I have been sent her social media posting in which she has, over the LawNews headline “Senior King’s Counsel files complaint about compulsory tikanga Maori studies for ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • 17 people in Malaita stand in way of China’s takeover of the Solomons
    Cleo Paskal writes – WASHINGTON, D.C.: ‘Many of us have received phone calls from [the opposing camp] telling them if they join the camp they will be given projects for their wards and $300,000 [around US$35,000] each’, says former Malaita Premier Daniel Suidani. The elections in Solomon Islands aren’t ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the Hamas Ceasefire Offer, and Mark Mitchell’s Incompetence
    With hindsight, it was inevitable that (a) Hamas would agree to the ceasefire deal brokered by Egypt and Qatar and that ( b) Israel would then immediately launch attacks on Rafah, regardless. We might have hoped the concessions made by Hamas would cause Israel to desist from slaughtering thousands more ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    5 days ago

  • Bernard’ s Dawn Chorus & Pick ‘n’ Mix for Wednesday May 8
    Placards and mourners outside the Kilbirnie Mosque following the Christchurch terror attack: MSD has terminated the Kaiwhakaoranga service, which has been used by 415 families since the attacks. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The Government’s pledge to only cut ‘back office’ staff rather than ‘frontline’ services is on increasingly shaky ground, with ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • A few PT announcements
    There’s been a few smaller public transport announcements over the last week or so that I thought I’d cover in a single post. Fareshare I’ve long called for Auckland Transport to offer a way to enable employer-subsidised public transport options. The need for this took on even more importance ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    5 days ago

  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Green Party grapples with persistent scandals
    Parliament’s speaker had no option but to refer Green MP Julie Anne Genter to the Privileges Committee for her behaviour in the House last Wednesday evening. The incident, in which she crossed the floor to wave a book and yell at National Minister Matt Doocey, reflects poorly on Genter and ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    5 days ago

  • At a glance – Tree ring proxies and the divergence problem
    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
    6 days ago

  • Nothing to sneer at
    Who likes being sneered at? Nobody. Worse yet, when the sneerer has their facts all wrong, and might well be an idiot.The sneer in question is The adults are in charge now, and it is a sneer offered in retort to criticism of this new Government, no matter how well ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago

  • Still on their bullshit
    When in government, Labour pushed to extend the Parliamentary term to four years, to reduce accountability and our ability to vote out a bad government. And now, they're trying to do it through the member's ballot, with a Four-Year Parliamentary Term Legislation Bill. The bill at least requires a referendum ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago

  • Drawn
    A ballot for a single Member's Bill was held today, and the following bill was drawn: Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill (Hūhana Lyndon) The bill would prevent the government from stealing Māori land in breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. It ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago

  • A nod and a wink that will unnecessarily cost Aucklanders tens of millions per year
    Simeon Brown, alongside Wayne Brown, is favouring a political figleaf now in exchange for loading up tens of millions in extra interest costs on Auckland ratepayers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Ratings agency Standard & Poor’s is pushing back hard at suggestions from Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • Correcting the Corrections announcement – a fiscal farce that should bother the OECD
     Buzz from the Beehive One headline-grabber from the Beehive yesterday was the OECD’s advice that the government must bring the Budget deficit under control or face higher interest rates. Another was the announcement of a $1.9 billion “investment” in Corrections over the next four years. In the best interests of ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  •  Like it or not, the Kiwis are either going into ‘Pillar 2’ – or they are going to China
    Chris Trotter writes –  Had Zheng He’s fleet sailed east, not west, in the early Fifteenth Century, how different our world would be. There is little reason to suppose that the sea-going junks of the Ming Dynasty, among the largest and most sophisticated sailing vessels ever constructed, would have failed ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • A balanced and an unbalanced article
    David Farrar writes – Two articles give a useful contrast in balance. Both seek to be neutral explainer articles. This one in the Herald on Social Investment covers the pros and cons nicely. It links to critical pieces and talks about aspects that failed and aspects that are more ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Deeply unserious country
    Every bit of this seems insane. And people wonder why productivity is falling through the floor. Energy News reports that the Environment Court finally threw out Allan Crafar’s appeal against a solar farm. From the story: Consent was granted in 2022. Crafar appealed November 2022. On what grounds? That ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Senior King’s Counsel files complaint about compulsory tikanga Māori studies for law students
    The tikanga regulations will compel law students to be taught that a system which does not conform with the rule of law is nevertheless law which should be observed and applied…  Gary Judd KC writes –  I have made a complaint to Parliament’s Regulation ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • https://www.greaterauckland.org.nz/?p=77196
    The future of Te Huia, the train between Hamilton and Auckland, has been getting a lot of attention recently as current funding for it is only in place till the end of June. The government initially agreed to a five year trial, through to April 2026, but that was subject ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    6 days ago

  • Bernard’s pick 'n' mix for Tuesday, May 7
    TL;DR: Hamas has just agreed to Israel’s ceasefire plan. Nelson hospital’s rebuild has been cut back to save money. The OECD suggests New Zealand break up network monopolies, including in electricity. PM Christopher Luxon’s news conference on a prison expansion announcement last night was his messiest yet.Here’s my top six ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • HM Prison Aotearoa.
    A homicide in Ponsonby, a manhunt with a killer on the run. The nation’s leader stands before a press conference reassuring a frightened nation that he’ll sort it out, he’ll keep them safe, he’ll build some new prison spaces.Sorry what? There’s a scary dude on the run with a gun ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • Get Your Webworm Merch!
    Hi,I know it’s been awhile since there’s been any Webworm merch — and today that all changes!Over the last four months, I’ve been working with New Zealand artist Jess Johnson to create a series of t-shirts, caps and stickers that are infused with Webworm DNA — and as of right ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago

  • Top OECD economist puts Willis between a rock and a hard place
    The OECD’s chief economist yesterday laid it on the line for the new Government: bring the deficit under control or face higher Reserve Bank interest rates for longer. And to bring the deficit under control, she meant not borrowing for tax cuts. But there was more. Without policy changes—introducing a ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    7 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
    3 hours 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
    8 hours 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 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
    3 days 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Getting new job seekers on the pathway to work
    Jobseeker beneficiaries who have work obligations must now meet with MSD within two weeks of their benefit starting to determine their next step towards finding a job, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “A key part of the coalition Government’s plan to have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days 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
    4 days 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
    4 days 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
    5 days 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days 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
    5 days 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Smarter lunch programme feeds more, costs less
    Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government will be delivering a more efficient Healthy School Lunches Programme, saving taxpayers approximately $107 million a year compared to how Labour funded it, by embracing innovation and commercial expertise. “We are delivering on our commitment to treat taxpayers’ money ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Report provides insights into marine recovery
    New research on the impacts of extreme weather on coastal marine habitats in Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay will help fishery managers plan for and respond to any future events, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. A report released today on research by Niwa on behalf of Fisheries New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • NZ to send political delegation to the Pacific
    Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will lead a broad political delegation on a five-stop Pacific tour next week to strengthen New Zealand’s engagement with the region.   The delegation will visit Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and Tuvalu.    “New Zealand has deep and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Low gas production threatens energy security
    There has been a material decline in gas production according to figures released today by the Gas Industry Co.  Figures released by the Gas Industry Company show that there was a 12.5 per cent reduction in gas production during 2023, and a 27.8 per cent reduction in gas production in the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Defence industry talent, commitment recognised
    Defence Minister Judith Collins tonight announced the recipients of the Minister of Defence Awards of Excellence for Industry, saying they all contribute to New Zealanders’ security and wellbeing. “Congratulations to this year’s recipients, whose innovative products and services play a critical role in the delivery of New Zealand’s defence capabilities, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Speech to the Minister of Defence Awards of Excellence for Industry
    Welcome to you all - it is a pleasure to be here this evening.I would like to start by thanking Greg Lowe, Chair of the New Zealand Defence Industry Advisory Council, for co-hosting this reception with me. This evening is about recognising businesses from across New Zealand and overseas who in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Speech to the Sixth Annual New Zealand Government Data Summit
    It is a pleasure to be speaking to you as the Minister for Digitising Government.  I would like to thank Akolade for the invitation to address this Summit, and to acknowledge the great effort you are making to grow New Zealand’s digital future. Today, we stand at the cusp of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Ceasefire agreement needed now: Peters
    New Zealand is urging both Israel and Hamas to agree to an immediate ceasefire to avoid the further humanitarian catastrophe that military action in Rafah would unleash, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.   “The immense suffering in Gaza cannot be allowed to worsen further. Both sides have a responsibility to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Daily school attendance data now available
    A new online data dashboard released today as part of the Government’s school attendance action plan makes more timely daily attendance data available to the public and parents, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour.  The interactive dashboard will be updated once a week to show a national average of how ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Ambassador to United States appointed
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced Rosemary Banks will be New Zealand’s next Ambassador to the United States of America.    “Our relationship with the United States is crucial for New Zealand in strategic, security and economic terms,” Mr Peters says.    “New Zealand and the United States have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • New permit proposed for recreational gold mining
    The Government is considering creating a new tier of minerals permitting that will make it easier for hobby miners to prospect for gold. “New Zealand was built on gold, it’s in our DNA. Our gold deposits, particularly in regions such as Otago and the West Coast have always attracted fortune-hunters. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • NZ and the UAE launch FTA negotiations
    Minister for Trade Todd McClay today announced that New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will commence negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA). Minister McClay met with his counterpart UAE Trade Minister Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Dubai, where they announced the launch of negotiations on a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • New Zealand Sign Language Week an opportunity for anyone to sign
    New Zealand Sign Language Week is an excellent opportunity for all Kiwis to give the language a go, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. This week (May 6 to 12) is New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week. The theme is “an Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhere” and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Next stop NASA for New Zealand students
    Six tertiary students have been selected to work on NASA projects in the US through a New Zealand Space Scholarship, Space Minister Judith Collins announced today. “This is a fantastic opportunity for these talented students. They will undertake internships at NASA’s Ames Research Center or its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • $1.9 billion investment to keep NZ safe from crime
    New Zealanders will be safer because of a $1.9 billion investment in more frontline Corrections officers, more support for offenders to turn away from crime, and more prison capacity, Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell says. “Our Government said we would crack down on crime. We promised to restore law and order, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • OECD reinforces need to control spending
    The OECD’s latest report on New Zealand reinforces the importance of bringing Government spending under control, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The OECD conducts country surveys every two years to review its members’ economic policies. The 2024 New Zealand survey was presented in Wellington today by OECD Chief Economist Clare Lombardelli.   ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Agreement delivers Local Water Done Well for Auckland
    The Government has delivered on its election promise to provide a financially sustainable model for Auckland under its Local Water Done Well plan. The plan, which has been unanimously endorsed by Auckland Council’s Governing Body, will see Aucklanders avoid the previously projected 25.8 per cent water rates increases while retaining ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Gaza and the Pacific on the agenda with Germany
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters discussed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and enhanced cooperation in the Pacific with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her first official visit to New Zealand today.    "New Zealand and Germany enjoy shared interests and values, including the rule of law, democracy, respect for the international system ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Decision allows for housing growth in Western Bay of Plenty
    The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Council’s Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Speech to New Zealand China Council
    Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today.    Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Modern insurance law will protect Kiwi households
    The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Government recommits to equal pay
    The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says.  “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Transforming how our children learn to read
    Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says.  “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • NZ not backing down in Canada dairy dispute
    Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Stronger oversight for our most vulnerable children
    The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Streamlining Building Consent Changes
    The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says.      “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

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