Zionism and Anti-Semitism Both Suck

Written By: te reo putake - Date published: 9:30 pm, September 3rd, 2018 - 86 comments
Categories: International, israel, Politics, racism, religion, uk politics, war - Tags: jeremy corbyn, uk labour our, Zionism

In two days time, the UK Labour Party is likely to lose the next general election.

The party is grappling with a self inflicted dilemma; adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of anti-semitism or stick with it’s own version which is looser on criticism of the Israeli Government’s behaviour.

For months now, Jeremy Corbyn, who is clearly not a racist, has steadfastly refused to accept that the party had an anti-semitic element. However, in early August, the Labour leader admitted there was a “real problem“.

For a brief moment, it looked like Labour might be able to move on to the pressing parliamentary business of knocking over the most despised and divided Government in a generation.

Like fish in a barrel, Jeremy, like fish in a barrel.

But, no, footage of Corbyn surfaced a week ago which showed him at his bumbling worst. Referring to English Zionists, he opined that:

“They clearly have two problems. One is that they don’t want to study history, and secondly, having lived in this country for a very long time, probably all their lives, don’t understand English irony either.”

Nah, irony is leading the opposition and failing to land a blow on the weakest British PM since records began.

Corbyn’s response to the video was that he was using an accurate definition of Zionism and that attacking Zionism was not in itself anti-semitic.

And, of course, he’s right.

Zionism is racist. It’s a half arsed nationalist philosophy that claims that adherents of one particular religion are better than all the others and therefore they have a right to treat their neighbours like dirt. In terms of its intellectual heft, Zionism is up there with Scientology; both pseudo religions that appear to have been drafted in crayon.

But being technically correct about the word Zionist does nothing for Jeremy Corbyn’s claims that he is dedicated to weeding out ‘genuine’ anti-semites from Labour.

And if you really, really need to have a go at modern Zionism, it might help if you have skin in the game.

In two days, Labour’s national executive committee will decide whether to adopt the IHRA’s definition of anti-semitism and appease their critics or die in a ditch they’ve dug themselves.

Don’t know about you, but I’m picking they’ll find a way to look hopeless whatever they do.

It’s like Corbyn would rather not be Prime Minister.

Principles, innit!

The shame of it is that there is so much to criticise the right wing Government of Israel about without even needing to mention Zionism. They’re just awful people, doing awful things.

Though we shouldn’t ignore the history of anti-semitism. It goes a long way to explaining why the Israeli right is so inhumane to its fellow semites. Whenever I see another Israeli government atrocity I see a beaten child who has grown up to beat his own children.

Maybe Israel’s next generation will break the cycle of violence, but I’m not optimistic.

In the meantime, let’s hope Corbyn’s Labour Party do the pragmatic thing; adopt the definition in full, expel those in the party who are genuinely racist and make peace with those Jewish Labour MP’s who have been at the sharp end of this debate.

A quick dead rat then get on with the job of dumping the Tories.

How hard can it be?

86 comments on “Zionism and Anti-Semitism Both Suck ”

Comments are now closed

Ed 1

3 September 2018 at 9:39 pm

“Brian Wilson: Anti-semitism is vile – but so is smear against Labour”

https://t.co/7O5tvFdxVQ?amp=1
Stuart Munro 2

3 September 2018 at 11:01 pm

Pretty hard.

You’ve the Israeli state backed LFI behind most of Labour’s problems,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceCOhdgRBoc&vl=en

abetted by agnostic Blairites who will use absolutely anything to oust Corbyn.

Turn about is fair play, Jeremy should unapologetically sack Hodge and fellow travelers.

Tolerating dissent off camera is one thing, allowing sustained gratuitous grandstanding assaults on the Party by sledging the leader is something else altogether.
- Ed 2.1
  
  4 September 2018 at 6:47 am
  
  Totally agree.
- dukeofurl 2.2
  
  4 September 2018 at 11:37 am
  
  “Turn about is fair play, Jeremy should unapologetically sack Hodge and fellow travelers.:
  
  You forget that Corbyn for most of his time as an MP was ‘voting against the whip’
  The Highest number of times in one year the Blair years was 148 .
  
  Corbyn Votes against Labour Whip
  1983: 19 – which made him the 8th most rebellious Labour MP
  
  1987: 36 – 7th most rebellious Labour MP
  
  1992: 72 – 3rd most rebellious Labour MP
  
  1997: 64 – the most rebellious Labour MP
  
  2001: 148 – the most rebellious Labour MP
  
  2005: 216 – the most rebellious Labour MP
  
  2010: 62 – 3rd most rebellious Labour MP
  http://revolts.co.uk/?p=932
  Corbyn cant turn around now and ‘sack dissenters’ as he and others were dissenters during the Blair years.
  - greywarshark 2.2.1
    
    4 September 2018 at 2:21 pm
    
    That doesn’t work dukeofurl. It is not a matter of fairness, ‘I did it so you can too’. It is a matter of how the best person to handle present and future conditions for good results, can attain a position where necessary policies can be decided and implemented. Otherwise it is an echo of David Low’s cartoon with the two baddies, Hitler and Stalin, greeting each other, recognising a kindred spirit. Corbyn must do what is right now to go forward!
  - SPC 2.2.2
    
    4 September 2018 at 3:02 pm
    
    Then there is Barack Obama one of the few in Congress who opposed Bush’s war in Iraq – the only credible candidate for POTUS left standing in 2008.
    
    Blair went with Bush, those who disagreed were right. Blair took in the East Europeans 10 years before required, its resulted in the UKIP growing in strength …
WILD KATIPO 3

4 September 2018 at 12:34 am

To me anti semitism is like any common garden variety bigotry against a group of people, could be the Chinese, could be the Australians , moreover could be based on religion or race… or a number of other slurs…

Whereas anti Zionism ,… well that seems to me to be an ideology of various degrees. It could be a mild believing in Israels simple right to exist right through to the extreme of pan -Israel,… denoting certain historic and present individuals desire for preeminence globally. Such as is reputed to be among certain of the Rothschild’s family who paid for the building pf the Supreme court and Knesset etc… and who undoubtedly finance other groups and pay off other politicians to see things ‘ their way’.

Antisemitism is the race, things pertaining to that race , its history and its people, Zionism is more a political ideology I should imagine.

Therefore detractors of Corbyn are deliberately misleading the tabloids and public by not discerning the difference between the two. Which is more the Machiavellian and evil minded deceit. I think perhaps this point should be made to silence those critics . Seems this sort of confusion has been going on for years and used conveniently when suits by these sorts of opportunists.
- greywarshark 3.1
  
  4 September 2018 at 2:26 pm
  
  I’m not fond of Exclusive Brethren, who are willing to agitate in non-religious ways, let’s say. I consider myself Christian but don’t want to be near their supposed form. I guess Zionism demands the same allegiance to an ideology that could be a step to the side from Jewish religious beliefs.
Andre 4

4 September 2018 at 6:29 am

This debacle raises a question Corbyn fanbois and fangirls should spend some time pondering: if Corbyn is such an abject failure in basic political management, would having him become prime minister actually be a good thing for the left? What came after Jimmy Carter?
- dukeofurl 4.1
  
  4 September 2018 at 12:00 pm
  
  Have you heard of the Trump school of political management
  I bet you think hes doing fine by his supporters and its just his opponents who think hes a political incompetent.
Sanctuary 5

4 September 2018 at 7:23 am

This has to be one of the most wrong headed pieces I have read on this site in a long time. let’s take a look at a post that appears to wish to be a monument to Orwell’s observation that lie repeated often enough becomes the truth.

“…In two days, Labour’s national executive committee will decide whether to adopt the IHRA’s definition of anti-semitism and appease their critics or die in a ditch they’ve dug themselves….”

If the poster could to point to some sort of concrete evidence this is impacting the Labour vote in any substantial way, I would be much obliged. And not some fantasist counter factual about how they should be miles ahead – actual evidence, please. The British public so far appear to be aware the whole anit-semitism “scandal” is completely bonkers fake news, concocted by those who, as Brian Wilson writes in Ed’s link above, “…seek to do as much damage as possible on their way to the exit, while presenting themselves as custodians of high principle…” indeed, I read this morning that Peter Willsman was re-elected to the Labour NEC and pro-Corbyn candidates tooka clean sweep of the NEC positions on offer. Latest polling – http://ukpollingreport.co.uk – indicates no impact whatsoever on Labour support by this ridiculous Westminster bubble soap opera.

So much for disunity, eh TRP? We need to be crystal clear about this point. The “disunity” and the smears are coming from the Blairites in Labour, who have plenty of allies in the establishment media, all of whom are absolutely determined to remove the threat that Corbyn poses to their class privilege and political power. THESE PEOPLE HAVE NO CONSTITUENCY IN THE WIDER ELECTORATE WHATSOEVER. And what is more they know it. The reasons why they haven’t all buggered off to form a centrist party is a) they’d all lose their seats and b) their sole political mission is now a negative one – to destroy Labour in order to deny a Corbyn led Labour power – something they can do best by inflicting maximum damage from inside the party. Once safely re-elected on a Labour ticket in 2020, they’ll then act as a bunch of betrayers and stymie genuine reform for another five years before finally flouncing off to fat salaries in the private sector. These people are traitors, pure and simple.

The revolting (in every sense of the word) Margaret Hodge let the cat out of the bag yesterday – https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/sep/02/margaret-hodge-jeremy-corbyn-problem-labour-antisemitism-crisis – when she said this now an issue about Corbyn’s leadership, as if it ever wasn’t simply a smear campaign to get rid of him.

Which leads us to this doozy from the post above:

“…In the meantime, let’s hope Corbyn’s Labour Party do the pragmatic thing; adopt the definition in full, expel those in the party who are genuinely racist and make peace with those Jewish Labour MP’s who have been at the sharp end of this debate…”

This is the most politically naive thing I have read ina fair little while. It pre-supposes the debate has been honest from the start. In the article linked to above, Hodge reveals the tactics of the Blairites -or more accurately, the smearites – “…Labour MP says adopting IHRA definition not enough as former PM speaks out on issue…” In other words, no matter what Corbyn and Labour do, Hodge and the rest of the pro-Israel, anti-Corbyn political elites will simply shift the goalposts and leak another doctored photo, another “incriminating” snippet. They know Labour isn’t anti-semitic. Their real agenda is to get rid of Corbyn.

And what to make of this?

“…Don’t know about you, but I’m picking they’ll find a way to look hopeless whatever they do…”

Jesus H Christ, TRP. Has it not yet sunk in the British establishment loath Corbyn? The guy could rescue Mary and Baby Jesus from Herod’s soldiers looking to kill the firstborn and the Guardian Zionist brigade would attack him for backing the Romans against a legitimate Jewish government. All in all, I would recommend TE REO PUTAKE spends less time taking at face value anything he’she reads in the British establishment media, which is only different in it’s agendas from the redtops in it’s pious hypocrisy. At least the Daily Mail has the virtue of a certain odious honesty. And the side panel of shame, which I never read of course.
- dukeofurl 5.1
  
  4 September 2018 at 11:40 am
  
  I agree with that.
  The British media is far more partisan than the more broad based NZ media could ever hope to be, even though our crowd slant national.
- te reo putake 5.2
  
  4 September 2018 at 6:17 pm
  
  Hi, Sanctuary. I appreciate your detailed comment, though I disagree with a fair bit of it. There’s a couple of points I’d like to make.
  
  Referring to Corbyn’s opponents as Blairites is part of why Labour are in such trouble. Othering is a form of bigotry. It looks and sounds nasty and it turns people off. The Labour Party used to be a broad church, tolerant of diverse opinions. No more. There is a Stalinist streak to the Corbyn camp that is truly off putting.
  
  You say the British establishment loath Corbyn. That’s not quite right. They loath what he stands for, but he is no threat to them. The real problem is that the majority of voters dislike Corbyn, and the media reflect that antipathy.
  
  In short, the man is currently unelectable; the Neil Kinnock of our time.
  
  On the upside, there is still time to turn it around. Sort out the anti-semitism. Call for a second Brexit referendum. Actively oppose the Tories.
  
  Win.
Sanctuary 6

4 September 2018 at 7:37 am

Another thing to note about British polling, and support for Corbyn. One of the reason Labour did so well last election was that during the election campaign the media is forced by law to offer more balanced coverage – this had the effect of surprising a lot of voters about Corbyn, who had been subject to relentless smears since his election to the leadership. During the campaign, the percentage of those with a positive image of the Labour leader rocketed up.

For all the talk of the youth quake, this was a major reason for Labour doing so well. Given that except for a brief period of shock after the 2017 election, the UK media has resumed smearing Corbyn relentlessly. Therefore, it follows that a similar effect will occur in 2020.
Gosman 7

4 September 2018 at 8:18 am

Zionism in itself does not suck. Indeed it has official sanction from the UN. Israel’s right to exist as a safe haven for Jewish people around the World is a current given. If you believe that Israel does not have a right to exist in such a way then you have to accept all the awful consequences that come with that.

The real issue with Zionism is that it comes up against Palestinian nationalism. You can still support Zionism whilst also supporting Palestinians right to self determination. You just need to accept some compromises such as land for peace. The trouble with Corbyn is he isn’t known for compromising his views very often (if at all).
- Kevin 7.1
  
  4 September 2018 at 8:57 am
  
  If only Palestinians had the same right to a ‘safe haven”…
  - Gosman 7.1.1
    
    4 September 2018 at 9:14 am
    
    Once there is a two state solution in place they will have a right to a safe haven. That stated the Palestinians culture and heritage is very similar to those around them in the Middle East so they aren’t in danger of having their culture wiped out.
    - arkie 7.1.1.1
      
      4 September 2018 at 9:32 am
      
      Except:
      
      The Arab League has instructed its members to deny citizenship to original Palestine Arab refugees (or their descendants) “to avoid dissolution of their identity and protect their right to return to their homeland”.
      
      So Palestinians get no citizenship anywhere in the region, they become stateless, …similar to other historical diaspora.
      - Gosman 7.1.1.1.1
        
        4 September 2018 at 10:22 am
        
        Yes the Arab nations are making a political point in doing that despite Palestinians living in their countries for three or more generations now.
        
        arkie 7.1.1.1.1.1
        
        4 September 2018 at 10:38 am
        
        So how can a two state system develop in your opinion then?
        
        Gosman …
        
        4 September 2018 at 10:46 am
        
        I actually prefer the idea of a Confederation where the Israelis and Palestinians both have a State in their own right but also share sovereignty over elements of the territory. What I think is critical in my mind is that the Palestinian side needs to give up the idea of the right of return to actual land and accept compensation (possibly paid for via the international community). The Israelis in return need to allow the Palestinians a viable space they can have control over which will include the closure of some Settlements and the swapping of land in Israel proper. Jerusalem should be an open city under a joint sovereignty.
        
        dukeofurl …
        
        4 September 2018 at 11:53 am
        
        So irredentism is fine for jews but not for palestinians ?
        
        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irredentism
        
        A large section of the Israeli population doesnt even accept there is such a thing as a Palestinian or Palestine. They consider Jordan is ‘their country’
        
        Gosman …
        
        4 September 2018 at 1:27 pm
        
        That is correct. Just as Polish people can promote Poland for the Poles but the Germans who used to live there can’t do the same for Germans.
        
        dukeofurl …
        
        4 September 2018 at 2:23 pm
        
        Thats how WW2 started.
        Poland has a terrible history of irredentism as they wanted to lord over the Lithuanians and the Ukrainians.
        
        The former Yugoslavia basic problems were mostly due to Serb irredentism- it almost allways leads to various forms of genocide.
        Thats the reason why its wrong.
        
        But at least the Poles and germans were previously resident, the Jews in Palestine were immigrants
        
        Gosman …
        
        4 September 2018 at 4:03 pm
        
        You miss my point. The Poles who now live in what used to be German Silesia and Pomerania can quite happily claim to be living in Poland for Polish people. The Germans who used to be the majority who lived there can’t claim to live there any more because they LOST the War.
- Stuart Munro 7.2
  
  4 September 2018 at 9:07 am
  
  Zionism has proven in the real world to suck utterly.
  
  Israel apparently believes its right to exist eclipses that of the Palestinians.
  
  The real issue is a want of good faith – Israel has none.
  - Gosman 7.2.1
    
    4 September 2018 at 9:15 am
    
    Correction – Some Israelis believe that. A good number of Israelis see no problem with a two State solution. The point being Zionism in itself is not inconsistent with a two State solution.
    - Stuart Munro 7.2.1.1
      
      4 September 2018 at 9:22 am
      
      Never mind what they say Gosman – we’re in the real world here, watching what they do. And what they do is lie, kill and oppress Palestinians, and steal their land. Until they utterly reject such policies no moral person can lend them support, and BDS is a minimum response.
      - Gosman 7.2.1.1.1
        
        4 September 2018 at 10:20 am
        
        How many nations are you going to do that to? China, Russia, Turkey, Indonesia, Armenia, etc etc all do what you accuse Israel of to minorities in their lands. Are you pushing for BDS for them as well?
        
        Stuart Munro 7.2.1.1.1.1
        
        4 September 2018 at 10:47 am
        
        Oh really – shooting stone throwing children? Pirating aid convoys? Sponsoring disgusting pieces of shit like Whaleoil? Forging passports? Israel is a stand out.
        
        Of course China, Russia, Turkey etc. (and let’s not forget Saudi and Syria) deserve condemnation for their worst actions.
        
        But Israel is the subject of this thread, and while I understand your desire to derail it – not having a leg to stand on – they must necessarily each be considered in their own context rather than assembled into a crude and untenable false generalization to excuse your favourite murderers du jour.
        
        Gosman …
        
        4 September 2018 at 10:49 am
        
        The Israelis are not breaking International law by intercepting convoys making their way to Gaza. This was established at an international tribunal chaired by Sir Geoffrey Palmer.
        
        https://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/02/world/middleeast/02flotilla.html
        
        Stuart Munro …
        
        4 September 2018 at 10:58 am
        
        As if Palmer were in any way trustworthy – the scoundrel who cobbled together the Sealord deal in direct contravention of the Treaty.
        
        If Israelis tried to board my ship in International waters I’d fire on them, and I would be entirely within my rights to do so.
        
        Better would be to have one of these though: http://www.spiegel.de/international/spiegel/the-weapon-of-sound-sonic-canon-gives-pirates-an-earful-a-385048.html
        
        Gosman …
        
        4 September 2018 at 11:19 am
        
        I find it hilarious you think you could take on the Israeli military and win.
        
        Stuart Munro …
        
        4 September 2018 at 11:23 am
        
        Count on Gosman to bring a forte main argument to a moral fight.
        
        If Israelis butcher an aid convoy in international waters even long time followers will desert them.
        
        The thing is to oppose their illegal actions. Antipiracy devices would achieve that nicely.
        
        Gosman …
        
        4 September 2018 at 11:30 am
        
        Unlikely to work I would suggest. Give it a go and see where it gets you.
        
        dukeofurl …
        
        4 September 2018 at 11:57 am
        
        “find it hilarious you think you could take on the Israeli military and win”
        
        Well hezbollah have done OK.
        
        Gosman …
        
        4 September 2018 at 1:19 pm
        
        Hezbollah gets a regular pasting from the Israeli airforce and haven’t posed much of a threat to Northern Israel for years.
        
        Stuart Munro …
        
        4 September 2018 at 1:50 pm
        
        “Hezbollah gets a regular pasting”.
        
        Yup – regular and disproportionate use of force – the kind of thing that has made Israel an international pariah.
        
        Celebrate it – you’re a pariah too.
        
        Gosman …
        
        4 September 2018 at 1:56 pm
        
        Just like Israel I care little what you think
        
        dukeofurl …
        
        4 September 2018 at 2:27 pm
        
        https://missilethreat.csis.org/country/hezbollahs-rocket-arsenal/
        
        Stuart Munro …
        
        4 September 2018 at 4:33 pm
        
        “Just like Israel I care little what you think”
        
        The defining trait of pariahs.
        
        Gosman …
        
        4 September 2018 at 4:36 pm
        
        The defining trait of pariahs is that they are shunned by a wide group. Whether or not they care about being shunned is irrelevant.
        
        Stuart Munro …
        
        4 September 2018 at 4:42 pm
        
        Defining traits are extrinsic then? What a strange universe of nonsense you inhabit Gosman.
    - Tricledrown 7.2.1.2
      
      4 September 2018 at 11:51 am
      
      Gosman Corbyn is saying the same thing.
      - Gosman 7.2.1.2.1
        
        4 September 2018 at 1:59 pm
        
        Corbyn probably doesn’t know what he wants on this subject except to be seen to support what he regards as oppressed people.
- dukeofurl 7.3
  
  4 September 2018 at 11:45 am
  
  So wrong again Gosman
  
  United Nations General Assembly Resolution 3379, adopted on 10 November 1975 by a vote of 72 to 35 (with 32 abstentions), “determine[d] that Zionism is a form of racism and racial discrimination”.
  
  This was later revoked as Israel refused to participate in madrid peace process
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_General_Assembly_Resolution_3379
  
  Its hardly a ringing endorsement of Zionism
  - Gosman 7.3.1
    
    4 September 2018 at 1:26 pm
    
    Israel was set up by the UN General Assembly Resolution and this has not been revoked or repealed. Given the very concept of Israel is a Zionist ideal then you cannot say the UN opposes Zionism. It may well oppose the expansion of Zionism but it doesn’t oppose the concept.
    - dukeofurl 7.3.1.1
      
      4 September 2018 at 2:31 pm
      
      Yes the UN took over the league of nations mandate, and the US twisted arms to get the General Assembly to vote on a partition.
      
      That would be great if the original partition could be restored – as the UN wanted.
      That wouldnt suit you would it. As Israel doesnt event want the the cease fire lines after 1948.
      
      Israel wont be happy till almost all of Palestine is permanently under their control, UN be damned.
      - Gosman 7.3.1.1.1
        
        4 September 2018 at 3:50 pm
        
        The US was not a huge supporter of Israel back in 1947
      - Gosman 7.3.1.1.2
        
        4 September 2018 at 3:52 pm
        
        The Arab nations (And Palestinians) rejected the partition in 1947. They declared War on Israel and as a result of losing the war they paid the price. This is no different to the Germans losing territory as a result of starting WWII.
- reason 7.4
  
  5 September 2018 at 11:18 am
  
  Gosman on the subject of Israel and Zionism is either stupid or dishonest …. a good example of this being his statements over Israels deliberate attack and killing of usa sercvicemen on the uss Liberty …. Gosmans misleading statements on the attempted sinking of the US Navy ship the Liberty is an insult to the survivors of this old Israeli war crime.
  
  This good doco belowe shows the views of the survivors involved …..
  
  And it also shows the power of the Israeli lobby over usa politics …. Which would be 100x the electoral influence than Russia ….
  
  Sorry did I say 100x the influence of Russia …. that should have been 1000x …. the Israel lobby owned both the horses in the race for usa president
  
  Even if the war criminal Hillary had won the white-house …. zionist Isreael still won…..
  
  Their meddling in british politics has been exposed before.
  
  Zionism is obviously not a religion …. its a state of bad faith ( ie that steals homes, land, waqteer etc )…. and it feasts out on the “anti-semite” smear.
  - Gosman 7.4.1
    
    5 September 2018 at 11:38 am
    
    There was no logical reason why the Israeli military would have deliberately targetted the US ship. The reaction of the Israeli military and political leadership after the ship was attacked highlights this was a mistake not on purpose. Unless you can tell me what advantage Israel gained from the attack?
    - reason 7.4.1.1
      
      5 September 2018 at 12:50 pm
      
      Your mistaken Gosman …. I was not trying to educate You …. I was educating people about you.
      
      People can watch the documentary and weigh up the evidence of the surviving eye witlessness s
      
      against your statements …..
Dennis Frank 8

4 September 2018 at 8:31 am

I agree with Sanctuary @ 6 & some of the reasoning in 5 while not finding TRP’s analysis problematic enough to take issue with the overall gist. It’s a complex and nuanced situation. When I read commentary (think it was the Guardian last week) about those sections of the IHRA’s definition of anti-semitism Corbyn had rejected, it seemed to me he was right to do so.

Progress will hinge on whether Labour is willing to be defeated by pc conformists. I hope they decide to take a moral stand in support of Corbyn. I’d like to see the principles at issue debated more thoroughly.

It was amusing to see that the UNGA had made fools of themselves by deciding that zionism is racism in 1975 without explaining why (according to Wikipedia, although the lobbyists probably do so during their advocacy). It was good to see that the UNGA revoked that decision in 1991. I was amused that no admission that their original rationale for making that decision was invalid was included! It’s essential that the United Nations demonstrate it’s ongoing lack of credibility via such insults to the intelligence of the world’s people.

Zionism could be defined as racism on a valid basis. That would require the doctrine of racial superiority to be included in the definition. Perhaps this: Zionism is the belief that Jerusalem is Zion, and semites ought to own it due to their innate superiority over other races. I suspect the state of Israel would reject this on at least two counts: hegemony ought to be over the promised land (Canaan) as per divine mandate, plus the explicit advocacy of racial superiority is too honest. A third count would be that not all semites are jews.
Wayne 9

4 September 2018 at 9:41 am

While I have taken an interest in this issue in UK Labour, if one steps back, it is hardly the most important thing going on in Britain at the moment.

The key issue is Brexit, which has to happen by 29 March 2019. There is almost zero chance of an election before then. Brexit is the burden of the conservative government and Corbyn knows that. He has no enthusiasm to take on that burden in the next few months. I suspect he will support any half way plausible Brexit deal that is presented to him, since he won’t want to have an election on Brexit. To do so and to win would mean that the Brexit problem is entirely his to solve. A likely government killer.

Brexit will either be on a formula similar to May’s Chequers deal, or it will be an exit without a deal, ie reversion to WTO rules. Whatever the deal it has to allow the British to do free trade deals with other countries. That limits the EU position as much as it does the British.

Corbyn will want the antisemitism issue well in the past. From what I read, he may well adopt the full IHRA definition simply to get the issue behind him. It won’t be an issue he wants around for the next election.

After all he will want to fight the next election on everything other than this issue and Brexit. Of which there will be heaps.

I am pretty sure that once Brexit is done, support for the Conservatives will slide. The only reason it wouldn’t, is if Brexit proves to be an enormous success. The next election is due in May 2022, three years after Brexit. The Conservatives might need all that time to show that Brexit is a success. Alternatively they may just blow up in the three years following Brexit.
- lprent 9.1
  
  4 September 2018 at 1:10 pm
  
  I also think that this is storm in teacup territory. Internal LP factions waving a cause to settle other scores. Probably with the Israeli government promoting it as an exercise in suppressing any criticism.
  
  Right now it is really hard to see ANY way for Brexit to be a success.
  
  I also can’t see a lot of reason for NZ getting involved in trade agreements with the UK. Outside of low profit and low employment commodity agricultural products we don’t seem to have much potential trade with the UK. It isn’t like their tech and industrial offers much incentive to look their way.
  
  I have no sentiment about the UK. I’m 5th gen here and mostly my ancestry either didn’t come from the UK or didn’t come voluntarily. Politically incompetent mismanagement in the UK has long history.
  
  MFAT should concentrate their limited resources on less tapped out markets.
- OnceWasTim 9.2
  
  4 September 2018 at 1:43 pm
  
  Wayne, Wayne! Hold the ladder steady
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laEwOj5qXNo.
  
  and btw., look for another earn (going forward).
  Political irrelevancy is looming large – even the MSM is getting bored
- SPC 9.3
  
  4 September 2018 at 3:42 pm
  
  It’s Brexit to the WTO, or its one of the existing models, nothing new for the UK.
  
  They can single market, or they can customs union, based on existing arrangments.
  
  May has two choices, she goes the WTO hard Brexit or she brings Labour into consensus on one of the existing model options.
  
  I they go Brexit, Labour will have to choose which of the existing models Labour could go with on becoming government anyhow, unless the hard Brexit works …. because Donald gave them such a great FTA ….ha ha ha.
  
  The EU is looking at their own banking transfer system to trade with the Iran etc – how is London going to continue as is? And their own IMF (just as China has done in Asia) …
  
  Their best option is really TPP and RCEP, but each would also do a deal with the EU …
Kevin 10

4 September 2018 at 10:24 am

Will May put the Brexit deal to the people by calling an election?
- Gosman 10.1
  
  4 September 2018 at 10:32 am
  
  Why would she do that?
  - dukeofurl 10.1.1
    
    4 September 2018 at 11:30 am
    
    As Britain has fixed terms of 5 years, its not soley her call.
    However there are two other methods
    1) Lose a vote of no confidence
    2) 2/3 parliament vote for an early election ( which was the mechanism for the previous election)
    
    The reality is against May repeating her previous early election where she increased the Tory vote by 5% but lost seats ( and they think MMP is weird) as labour increased by 9%
    - Tricledrown 10.1.1.1
      
      4 September 2018 at 12:00 pm
      
      The PM can call an election any time as she did early in her leadership.
      A new Brexit referendum is on the cards
      Boris Johnston destabilising the Tories will lead to an early election.
      The UK economy is suffering because of this debacle.
      Post Brexit the UK economy will go into severe recession.
      - Wayne 10.1.1.1.1
        
        4 September 2018 at 12:18 pm
        
        Pundits also said the UK economy would shrink after the vote. It didn’t. In fact it grew faster. The same will happen post Brexit. Once people/business know the actual deal, they will make the most of it. It can’t be worse than the WTO rules, which is what for instance China does most of its trade under.
        
        If the UK can do a series of FTA’s with countries like NZ, things will move quite quickly. As an example food prices in the UK will reduce significantly.
        
        lprent 10.1.1.1.1.1
        
        4 September 2018 at 1:11 pm
        
        It would probably be useful to the UK.
        
        I don’t think that it does fuckall for us. Why bother?
        
        Wayne …
        
        4 September 2018 at 1:53 pm
        
        It will boost the amount we sell to the UK, and with higher margins than we currently get, since we will no longer have to contend with the EU Common Agricultural Policy.
        
        dukeofurl …
        
        4 September 2018 at 2:36 pm
        
        Yes thats right. EU has very agriculture tariffs . We still have a lot of agriculture exports, or based such as wine.
        
        Stuart Munro …
        
        4 September 2018 at 1:57 pm
        
        Wayne – like most Gnats pines for his halcion days – when unrestricted access to the UK market made our economy work to some degree in spite of his party’s gross incompetence.
        
        Having sold off most of our farms it would interesting to see how far that logic still runs in a new century.
        
        Gosman …
        
        4 September 2018 at 4:01 pm
        
        Governments own very little farms so no Government has sold most of them off. Even if you count allowing farms to be purchased via the OIO most are still in the hands of NZ residents. Once again you make up nonsense.
        
        Stuart Munro …
        
        4 September 2018 at 4:10 pm
        
        Try hard not to be so obtuse you wretchedly backward fuckwit.
        
        OIO (a government agency) approval is required to sell NZ farms abroad.
        
        Under the slavering greed and drooling incompetence that characterised the previous government, the OIO became so lax that they allowed sales willy nilly, ignoring the requirement that such investments produce tangible local benefits.
        
        The rubber stamping of these inappropriate sales was a deliberate government policy and none of your facile lies can make it not so.
        
        Wake the fuck up and lift your game you worthless POS.
        
        Gosman …
        
        4 September 2018 at 4:21 pm
        
        You still have zero evidence that MOST of NZ farms are now in the hands of foreigners
        
        Stuart Munro …
        
        4 September 2018 at 4:29 pm
        
        They are or will be shortly.
        
        The rising generation of farm workers and managers do not accrue, in the course of a lifetime’s work, anything approaching the capital sum required to purchase most farms. Ergo most farms are or will be sold offshore.
        
        Try to keep up.
        
        Gosman …
        
        4 September 2018 at 4:38 pm
        
        Zero evidence Stuart Munro. Zero evidence.
        
        Stuart Munro …
        
        4 September 2018 at 4:51 pm
        
        Try to keep up Gosman.
        
        There are these things called trends.
        
        No, not those sad bell-bottomed corduroy things you mistook for them forty years ago, but tendencies that are expressed in the real world.
        
        NZ farm ownership is moving rapidly offshore, because the factors that kept it local were deemed by a generation of economic incompetents like yourself to be unimportant. So we have Dutch, South African, Chinese and Korean farms all over the place, not to mention those acquired by North Americans.
        
        None of this is evidence of course – if you just keep your head firmly buried in the sand you can ignore it and find your intellectual level at the same time.
        
        OnceWasTim 10.1.1.1.1.2
        
        4 September 2018 at 2:08 pm
        
        I must say @Wayne, I admire your ability to survive in the 21st Century. (It’s probably the only thing I admire).
        Is it because you’ve learned how to ‘fossilise’?
        Any tips would be greatly appreciated
      - dukeofurl 10.1.1.1.2
        
        4 September 2018 at 2:34 pm
        
        Trickle down you didnt read my post.
        “The PM can call an election any time as she did early in her leadership.”
        
        That election was a decision of 2/3 parliament , that didnt end well for her.
Dennis Frank 11

4 September 2018 at 11:05 am

“In Rastafari, Zion stands for a utopian place of unity, peace and freedom, as opposed to Babylon, the oppressing and exploiting system of the materialistic modern world and a place of evil. It proclaims Zion, as reference to Ethiopia, the original birthplace of humankind”. “It originally referred to a specific hill in Jerusalem (Mount Zion), located to the south of Mount Moriah (the Temple Mount). Mount Zion held a Jebusite fortress of the same name that was conquered by David and was re-named the City of David”. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zion]

These two origin myths arose independently, but you see here the linking Zoroastrian frame of good & evil acquired in Babylon by the captive Israelites via race-memories of their home city passed down the generations, juxtaposed with the imperial dominance of the city in which they lived enslaved before being liberated to return home by the Persian conqueror of Babylon, the Emperor Cyrus.
Siobhan 12

4 September 2018 at 11:19 am

Maybe those who see Corbyn as such a great existential threat to the Jewish people and Zionism in general should go create a new party with Frank Field.

And if they could take any Blairites* who aren’t worried about anti semitism with them..that would be great…then maybe we could start talking about Corbyn’s actual policies..heaven forbid..though there is a part of me looking forward to what the mainstream can come up with next to try and sideline Corbyn..first he’s unelectable, next he’s a hogger of train seats, then he’s apparently running a suddenly sexist Labour Party..

Though I’m still curious as to why the Tory’s get a free ride on this issue..

https://www.channel4.com/news/factcheck/factcheck-conservative-party-rulebook-doesnt-mention-antisemitism

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/31/antisemitism-frank-field-resign-jumped-mp-labour

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traingate
- Gosman 12.1
  
  4 September 2018 at 11:22 am
  
  “Look at them! They are just as bad as us (if not more so). Please ignore us and focus on them.”
  - dukeofurl 12.1.1
    
    4 September 2018 at 11:49 am
    
    So having no ‘antisemitism rule’ is Ok while having one thats 90% of a standard one is unacceptable.
    Pointing this out merely shows the ‘antisemitism rule’ in political partys isnt the real issue but using it against Corbyn and Labour is .
    
    A bit Early for the ‘Gosman gallop’ of logic .
  - Gabby 12.1.2
    
    4 September 2018 at 1:32 pm
    
    Come off it gozzer, if I urged you to quit shitting on my lawn while continuing to shit on yours, you’d point out the inconsistency quickly enough.
- Bill 12.2
  
  4 September 2018 at 12:38 pm
  
  Heh – if Corbyn had written this post, then the suggestion of A quick dead rat then get on with the job of dumping the Tories. would have been jumped on as being code for eating Jewish babies or some such.
  
  Anyway, I suspect the British public look on the whole supposed anti-semite stuff in much the same way as the US public look upon the Russian stuff they’re being subjected to – ie, couldn’t give a flying fuck. (Apparently, less than 1% of those polled in the US thought “Russiagate” was important)
  - te reo putake 12.2.1
    
    4 September 2018 at 5:58 pm
    
    You’re dead right about Corbyn and the ‘dead rat’, Bill. The man isn’t going to get a break. Well, at least until he gets a grip on the problems in his party. And, as I suggested in the post, I get the feeling he’d rather stick to some inarticulated principle than actually win the next election.
    
    Re: the UK polls, according to YouGov, 69% of poms think the Tories are ballsing up Brexit. However, they still prefer the Conservative party over Labour.
    
    Corbyn’s failure to lead on Brexit, the sense that the entryists have taken control of the party, the bigotry of some of Corbyn’s supporters, the ‘othering’ of Jewish MP’s by describing them as Blairites and a general feeling amongst the voting population that Labour are hopeless, all spell defeat in the next election, whenever it is.
    
    The amazing thing in all this is that Theresa May is going to win the next election despite being entirely uninspiring and being utterly unable to unite her own party.
    
    It’s not the media’s fault that Corbyn is tanking. The problem is the man himself.
    
    I can’t really comment on US polling, as I’m not that fluent in Russian 😉
    - SPC 12.2.1.1
      
      5 September 2018 at 8:12 am
      
      Whereas I think the liberals/Blairites would rather lose the next election – as a means to win back control of the party (claim membership democracy was a failed experiment).
    - Dennis Frank 12.2.1.2
      
      5 September 2018 at 8:26 am
      
      Within the margin of error: http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/
      
      This site has an excellent comparison display of past poll results so we can see trends: before the two recent ties in late July, mid-July had Labour ahead. Re August: “August is normally a quiet time for polling – partly because the political agenda is often quite bare, partly because both pollsters themselves and the journalists who normally commission public polls will likely be taking their holidays”.
CHCOff 13

4 September 2018 at 2:32 pm

It’s a historical fact that jew baiting issues are political currency, and the use of such is unscrupulous cover for other things and nothing to do with supposed general jewish cultural interests in populations one way or another.

Israel society itself, is quite a discriminatory affair within it’s own jewish population sects i have read variously.

Much of the time it is likely that the fermentation of jewish issues into political spats are due to small groups of stratified jewish interests exploiting a general jewish population culture as it’s political currency for other things.
SPC 14

4 September 2018 at 3:25 pm

This is more about growing pains – the Labour Party becoming a democracy.

First members vote the leader, then members choose the candidates – the coming de-selection feared by Blairites.

So why not go down first by saving the party from anti-semites (left wingers), aided by the Tory and or Blairite media, seems to be the thinking here.

The response to the Blairites be gone is this effort to get their retaliation in first (having lost the leadership to Corbyn) by having left wingers removed by accusation of “anti-semitism”. An “anti-semite” be gone first move.

The Labour Party should tough this out and then leave it to the members to purge the Blairites by de-selection.

The media focus on this invented issue leaves them and the May establishment in post Brexit disrepute – and in fear of real democracy being exercised by both party membership and the public. Labour would be well placed to campaign from outside the corrupt system and win popular support.

The second head of the liberal elite, the Blairites, would be forced to become members of the LD and accept the end of their hostile takeover of the workers party.

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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

Media Link: “A View from Afar” on the moment of friction, and more.
After a hiatus of over four months Selwyn Manning and I finally got it together to re-start the “A View from Afar” podcast series. We shall see how we go but aim to do 2 episodes per month if possible. … Continue reading → ...
KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
1 week ago

Release: Govt’s stubbornness will harm Māori children
Government has remained stubborn and is ramming its Bill into the House today, which the Waitangi Tribunal has said will hurt vulnerable children. ...
Labour Blog
57 mins ago

‘Lucky dip’ process too casual for hearing critical submissions on Fast Track approvals bill
Te Pāti Māori is showing extreme concern over the Environment Select Committees adoption of a lucky dip draw to determine hearings for the Fast Track Approvals bill. Of the 27,000 submissions, 2,900 requested to present. All organisations will be heard; however, the remaining 2,350 submitters will be subject to a ...
Māori Party
8 hours ago

New Zealand First Member’s Bill to protect women’s spaces
Today New Zealand First will introduce a Member’s Bill that will protect women’s spaces. The ‘Fair Access to Bathrooms Bill’ will require, primarily in the interest and safety of women and girls, that all new non-domestic publicly accessible buildings provide separate, clearly demarcated, unisex and single sex bathrooms. This Bill ...
NZ First Press Release
3 days ago

Release: Support for climate adaptation inquiry
Labour supports a Notice of Motion in the House today to move the Finance and Expenditure Committee to conduct an inquiry on climate adaptation. ...
Labour Blog
3 days ago

Greens welcome cross-party approach to climate adaptation
The Green Party is welcoming Climate Change Minister Simon Watts’ continuation of Hon. James Shaw’s cross-party work on climate adaptation, now in the form of a Finance and Expenditure Committee Inquiry. ...
Greens
4 days ago

Release: Sexual violence prevention among hundreds of job cuts at ACC
The National Government plans to cut 390 jobs at ACC, including roles in the areas of prevention of sexual violence, road safety and workplace safety. ...
Labour Blog
4 days ago

Government shows allergy to evidence in benefits crackdown
The Government has been caught in opposition to evidence once again as it looks to usher in tried, tested and failed work seminar obligations for job-seeking beneficiaries. ...
Greens
4 days ago

Minister of Finance reheats austerity politics
This morning’s pre-Budget speech from the Minister of Finance offered no “meaningful” news on the Government’s trickle-down economics based plans. ...
Greens
4 days ago

A win for Wellington – Greens welcome more housing
The Green Party is welcoming the announcement by the Minister Responsible for RMA Reform Chris Bishop to approve most of the Wellington City Council’s District Plan recommendations. ...
Greens
5 days ago

Release: Backtrack on school lunches a win for Kiwi kids
David Seymour has failed to get the sweeping cuts he wanted to the free and healthy school lunch programme, Labour education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
Labour Blog
5 days ago

Release: Hon Willie Jackson to debate at the Prestigious Oxford Union
Hon Willie Jackson has been invited by the Oxford Union to debate the motion “This House Believes British Museums are not Very British’ on May 23rd. ...
Labour Blog
5 days ago

Members Bill will prevent Māori land confiscations
Green Party MP Hūhana Lyndon says her Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill is an opportunity to right some past wrongs around the alienation of Māori land. ...
Greens
6 days ago

TIKANGA IS NOT LAW. IT IS CULTURAL INDOCTRINATION.
A senior, highly respected King’s Counsel with decades of experience in our law courts, Gary Judd KC, has filed a complaint about compulsory tikanga Māori studies for law students - highlighting the utter depths of absurdity this woke cultural madness has taken our society. The tikanga regulations will compel law ...
NZ First Press Release
6 days ago

Release: National won’t commit to full Nelson Hospital upgrade
The Government needs to be clear with the people of the Nelson Marlborough region about the changes it is considering for the Nelson Hospital rebuild, Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said. ...
Labour Blog
6 days ago

Release: Labour calls for fast track list to be released
Ministers must front up about which projects it will push through under its Fast Track Approvals legislation, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour Blog
1 week ago

Release: National gaslights women fighting for equal pay
National has scrapped the pay equity taskforce that fights for equal pay for women and looks at ethnic pay gaps. ...
Labour Blog
2 weeks ago

Release: More job cuts, fewer houses under National
The Government is again adding to New Zealand’s growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...
Labour Blog
2 weeks ago

Release: Children fall deeper through the cracks in Govt cuts
With Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesn’t know or care about the frontline cuts she’s making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...
Labour Blog
2 weeks ago

Release: Labour honours memory of Sir Robert Martin
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
Labour Blog
2 weeks ago

Release: 130,000 cattle saved from live export
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Labour Blog
2 weeks ago

Central Bank makes clear Government is pouring fuel on housing crisis fire
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
Greens
2 weeks ago

New unemployment figures paint bleak picture
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Greens
2 weeks ago

Release: National’s job cuts already starting to bite as unemployment rises
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
Labour Blog
2 weeks ago

Release: National hiking transport costs for families and young New Zealanders
Weekly expenses will grow for more than 1.6 million New Zealanders as the Government ends free and half price public transport fares tomorrow. ...
Labour Blog
2 weeks ago

Release: Labour welcomes EU free trade agreement
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
Labour Blog
2 weeks ago

Surprise: Landlord tax cuts don’t trickle down
The Green Party is renewing its call for rent controls following reports of rental prices hitting an all-time high. ...
Greens
2 weeks ago

Release: $1.7b for no increase in access to medicine
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
Labour Blog
2 weeks ago

Release: National should heed Tribunal warning and scrap coalition commitment with ACT
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Labour Blog
2 weeks ago

Release: More accountability for preventable workplace deaths this Workers’ Memorial Day
Labour is calling for more accountability for preventable workplace deaths because everybody who goes to work deserves to come home safely. ...
Labour Blog
2 weeks ago

Gaza: Aotearoa Must Support Independent Investigation into Mass Graves
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Māori Party
2 weeks ago

Release: Working together on consistent support for veterans this Anzac Day
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Labour Blog
3 weeks ago

Release: Penny drops – but what about Seymour and Peters?
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Labour Blog
3 weeks ago

Another ‘Stolen Generation’ enabled by court ruling on Waitangi Tribunal summons
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
Māori Party
3 weeks 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
1 hour 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
7 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
23 hours 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
7 days 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
7 days 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

Pākiri residents would be 'crushed' if sand mining fast-tracked, committee told
A provision in the proposed fast-track law allowing previous court rulings against consents to be put aside would be a 'travesty of justice', they say. ...
Radio NZ – political
1 hour ago

What causes the different colours of the aurora? An expert explains the electric rainbow
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy Schmidt, Professor of Chemistry, UNSW Sydney Last week, a huge solar flare sent a wave of energetic particles from the Sun surging out through space. Over the weekend, the wave reached Earth, and people around the world enjoyed the sight of ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
1 hour ago

A minute’s silence is fine but when it comes to violence against women, being quiet isn’t enough
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Catherine Ordway, Associate Professor Sport Management and Sport Integrity Lead, University of Canberra Sport has a role to play in creating a culture of respect, yet women in sport are often seen as “less than” on almost every measure: salaries, sponsorship, broadcasting, ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
1 hour ago

Waitangi Tribunal able to summons minister, court finds
The Waitangi Tribunal’s summons to sitting Minister Karen Chhour as part of its inquiry into the Government’s plans to amend the Oranga Tamariki Act was lawful, the Court of Appeal has found. The ruling runs counter to a judgment by the High Court three weeks ago, in which Justice Andru ...
NewsroomBy Marc Daalder
2 hours ago

Court of Appeal overturns decision that blocked Children's Minister from Waitangi Tribunal summ...
But a bill has been introduced to Parliament, meaning the Tribunal no longer has jurisdiction over the case. ...
Radio NZ – political
2 hours ago

Snap Protest Against Archive Cuts On Tuesday 14 May
The PSA is holding a snap protest at 8am, Tuesday 14 May outside the National Library in Wellington against the decision to not continue funding digitising the national archives. ...
Scoop politics
2 hours ago

Goodbye to Fair Go, television’s ‘plucky little battler’
Ahead of the final episode of Fair Go, some of the show’s former presenters look back at what the iconic consumer affairs series meant to them. Fair Go, as former presenter Haydn Jones puts it, was “the show nobody wanted to appear on”. You either had to be ripped off ...
The SpinoffBy Tara Ward
2 hours ago

How a long-lost fish species was brought back to Bendigo
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sean Buckley, Lecturer in Molecular Ecology and Environmental Management, Edith Cowan University Greta Valley Landcare Group, CC BY The southern pygmy perch hadn’t been seen in Bendigo Creek since the mid-19th-century goldrush, when a booming town sprang up around the central ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
2 hours ago

How to cope with not seeing the aurora this weekend when everyone else did
Didn’t see the amazing and exquisite southern lights over the weekend? You’re not alone: Shanti Mathias has some tips on how to cope. Not to gloat, but I had a very lovely weekend. I went for a long bike ride in the sunshine. I read a magazine on the back ...
The SpinoffBy Shanti Mathias
4 hours ago

Roads Over Everything Else Will Cost People And Planet
This morning’s announcement from the Minister of Transport highlights his lack of ideas and lack of appetite to confront the climate crisis ...
Scoop politics
5 hours ago

Auckland Man Sentenced To Home Detention For Pokies Gambling Grant Fraud
At the time of the offending, Mr Ape ran Hoop Star Basketball Academy and submitted fraudulent grant applications that represented over $75,000 in fictitious costs. ...
Scoop politics
5 hours ago

Local Authority Financial Statistics: Year Ended June 2023
Local authority financial statistics provide information on the annual performance of core non-trading activities of all New Zealand's territorial and regional councils. ...
Scoop politics
6 hours ago

Transport Minister announces new 'Roads of Regional Significance'
The government its expanding Roads of National Significance to regional routes, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. ...
Radio NZ – political
7 hours ago

Why public housing is under threat from the debt narrative
Kāinga Ora’s debt problem is serious – but so is the urgent need for more affordable homes, says poverty campaigner Alan Johnson. As Kāinga Ora cancels projects and sells land previously earmarked for development, it’s clear that two issues are set to dominate the public housing narrative over the next ...
The SpinoffBy Alan Johnson
7 hours ago

Watch live: Transport Minister announces new 'Roads of Regional Significance'
The government its expanding Roads of National Significance to regional routes, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. ...
Radio NZ – political
7 hours ago

Fiji Water workers strike almost a week – but union ‘hopeful’ for deal
By Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific journalist A National Union of Workers (NUW) official is hopeful Fiji Water employees who have been on strike for almost a week will return to work shortly. Last Tuesday, a group of workers for Fiji Water went on strike over pay disputes at the multi-million ...
Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report
7 hours ago

Wellington Residents’ Views Being Misrepresented In Long-Term Plan Consultation
True to form, Wellington City Council’s consultation has been a flop. If they’ve been recording residents’ answers incorrectly, then the only option is to go back to the drawing board and start public consultations again from scratch. ...
Scoop politics
7 hours ago

Mayor told about Auckland parking changes in April, Auckland Transport head claims
The head of Auckland Transport is a "little bit surprised" by the mayor's claim he was blindsided by the changes. ...
Radio NZ – political
7 hours ago

15,000 squares, 500 hours, 19 months: how I used embroidery to make sense of Australia’s catastrop...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tracey Clement, Lecturer in Visual Art and McGlade Gallery Director, Australian Catholic University Tracey Clement, Impossible Numbers. Tracey Clement I slip the needle through a small loop of black thread, pull it tight and snip. Done. I have just tied off the ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
8 hours ago

More desalination is coming to Australia’s driest states – but super-salty outflows could trash...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jochen Kaempf, Associate Professor of Natural Sciences (Oceanography), Flinders University Gonzalo Buzonni/Shutterstock From around 1996 to 2010, Australia was gripped by the millennium drought. As water shortages bit hard, most of Australia’s capital cities built large seawater desalination plants – Sydney, ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
8 hours ago

Can university protest camps be removed? What does the law say?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Maria O’Sullivan, Associate Professor of Law, Deakin Law School, Deakin University Students have been protesting on university campuses across Australia for several weeks now, calling on their institutions to cut ties with weapons manufacturers supplying arms to Israel. Some have noted their ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
8 hours ago

Where did money come from?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Steven Hail, Adjunct Associate Professor, Torrens University Australia Wolfilser/Shutterstock This article is part one of The Conversation’s “Business Basics” series where we ask leading experts to discuss key concepts in business, economics and finance. For the most part, economists continue ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
8 hours ago

A record-breaking year for political donations is no cause for celebration
Big business is pouring eye-watering sums into parties on the political right. Max Rashbrooke wonders what it’s getting in return. A couple of years ago, a National Party contact told me it had “never been easier” to get big donations from businesses. Anger about the Covid-era “fortress New Zealand” policy, ...
The SpinoffBy Max Rashbrooke
8 hours ago

AI-assisted writing is quietly booming in academic journals. Here’s why that’s OK
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julian Koplin, Lecturer in Bioethics, Monash University & Honorary fellow, Melbourne Law School, Monash University Glenn Carstens-Peters / Unsplash If you search Google Scholar for the phrase “as an AI language model”, you’ll find plenty of AI research literature and also ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
9 hours ago

What is it about Gaza? Wars are raging around the world, so why are young people so passionate about...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Erin O’Brien, Associate Professor, School of Government and International Relations, Griffith University University campuses around the world have become the site of tiny tent cities in recent weeks, with student activists protesting the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Though the protests on ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
9 hours ago

Too many Australians aren’t getting a flu vaccine. Why, and what can we do about it?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Holly Seale, Associate Professor, School of Population Health, UNSW Sydney Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock Australia’s childhood immunisation program gets very good uptake every year – almost 94% of five-year-olds have had all their routine vaccinations. But our influenza vaccine coverage doesn’t get such a ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
9 hours ago

Announcement From Councillor Ray Chung, Wellington
Wellington City is in the worst shape it’s ever been – economically, socially, and culturally. ...
Scoop politics
9 hours ago

Why the UK parliament is monitoring our fast-track consenting bill
In this extract from The Bulletin, Stewart Sowman-Lund looks at the proposed law and the ongoing concern about it. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. Where we’re at with the fast-track ...
The SpinoffBy Stewart Sowman-Lund
10 hours ago

NZTA tells dealers to repay Clean Car rebates on almost 200 EVs
Waka Kotahi has found almost 200 cases where car dealers pocketed electric vehicle subsidies, then broke the law. ...
Radio NZ – political
11 hours ago

Heath funding fails to keep up with inflation or demand – doctors' union
Some experts argue it's time to consider alternatives ways to pay for healthcare which could take politics out of it. ...
Radio NZ – political
11 hours ago

Can you really provide meals for teens for $3 a pop? And will they eat it?
The revamped school lunch programme is budgeting $3 per lunch, rather than the current $8. But is it really so simple to cut costs? Shanti Mathias investigates. Last week, associate education minister and Act Party leader David Seymour announced the government’s revamped school lunch programme, which will provide food to ...
The SpinoffBy Shanti Mathias
12 hours ago

A Kiwi mermaid in Paris, 100 years ago
Exactly 100 years ago, on the eve of another Paris Olympics, young Kiwi Gwitha Shand was the talk of the swimming world. The 19-year-old from Christchurch had broken the world record in the 440-yard freestyle multiple times leading up to the 1924 Olympics, and was described in newspapers as one ...
NewsroomBy Suzanne McFadden
12 hours ago

Ockhams: Penguin shock on eve of book awards
The New Zealand book trade is still reeling after the shock news that Penguin has axed its head of publishing. The redundancy comes just as the biggest week of the year in New Zealand literature is set to take place. The winners of the Ockham national book awards are announced ...
NewsroomBy Steve Braunias
12 hours ago

The haves and have-nots of aged care
A rest home with a concierge, iced tea fountain, hybrid Jaguars to drive, and caviar on the menu. That’s not imaginary or from some far-flung country – it’s reality here in Aotearoa. Oceania Healthcare just officially opened ‘The Helier’ – a retirement apartment and aged-care complex in the Auckland suburb ...
NewsroomBy Tom Kitchin
12 hours ago

I don’t know what Aukus is and at this point I’m afraid to ask
The USA and China are beefing, Winston Peters is getting sued by some Australian guy, and Helen Clark and Don Brash are friends now? Here’s everything you need to know about Aukus but were too afraid to ask. What is Aukus? Aukus, which stands for Australia, the United Kingdom, and ...
The SpinoffBy Joel MacManus
12 hours ago

Daily crossword, Monday 13 May
The post Daily crossword, Monday 13 May appeared first on Newsroom. ...
NewsroomBy Newsroom Puzzles
12 hours ago

Job seekers feel the pressure as labour market softens again
Business & investing: All regions recorded an annual double-digit percentage decline in job ads The post Job seekers feel the pressure as labour market softens again appeared first on Newsroom. ...
NewsroomBy Andrew Patterson
12 hours ago

No need to shock with a fake crisis
Opinion: The cold weather and spikes in power demand have been well handled by the electricity system The post No need to shock with a fake crisis appeared first on Newsroom. ...
NewsroomBy Rob Campbell
12 hours ago

Auckland’s gravity-defying debt swallows the airport share millions
Auckland’s debt remains stubbornly high, despite a large airport share sale, but the Watercare deal and new limits might start to tame the beast The post Auckland’s gravity-defying debt swallows the airport share millions appeared first on Newsroom. ...
NewsroomBy Tim Murphy
12 hours ago

Explainer: Why new school attendance data doesn’t match the rhetoric
Analysis: The Government has launched its crackdown on truancy, with daily attendance data reporting The post Explainer: Why new school attendance data doesn’t match the rhetoric appeared first on Newsroom. ...
NewsroomBy Laura Walters
12 hours ago

Mining lobby: Fast-track bill’s ministerial powers ‘not unusual’
Ministers make the final decision in many areas, but the ability to control the front and back end of the process would be unique The post Mining lobby: Fast-track bill’s ministerial powers ‘not unusual’ appeared first on Newsroom. ...
NewsroomBy Fox Meyer
12 hours ago

Newsroom daily quiz, Monday 13 May
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A,DIV,A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Monday 13 May appeared first on Newsroom. ...
NewsroomBy Newsroom Puzzles
12 hours ago

1000 protest in Auckland over Israel’s war on Gaza, honour Nakba victims
Asia Pacific Report About 1000 people in Aotearoa New Zealand gathered for a two-hour rally in central Auckland today and marched down Queen Street and returned to Aotea Square to mark the Nakba three days early — and protest over Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza. They called for an immediate ...
Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report
15 hours ago

“A budget for mums and middle Australia’: Jim Chalmers
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra As it looks to an election next year when holding up Labor’s female vote will be vital, Treasurer Jim Chalmers has declared Tuesday will bring “a budget for mums and middle Australia”. “The primary ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
16 hours ago

Justice wins, says Fiji’s acting DPP over jailing of former PM, police chief
By Repeka Nasiko in Suva “Justice has won,” says Fiji’s acting Director of Public Prosecutions John Rabuku following the sentencing of former prime minister Voreqe Bainimarama and former police commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho. Speaking to The Fiji Times, Rabuku said that while they welcomed the judgment by acting Chief Justice Salesi ...
Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report
21 hours ago

Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters meets with new Solomon Islands PM
The foreign affairs minister has landed in Solomon Islands for the first leg of his Pacific tour, and an audience with the newly elected Prime Minister. ...
Radio NZ – political
22 hours ago

Season two of The Boy in the Water
On an unusually hot night in January 2019, a little boy’s lifeless body was found face up in a small town’s sewage oxidation pond. To the police, it was an open and shut case: three-year-old Lachlan Jones had run away from his home in the Southland town of Gore, climbed ...
NewsroomBy Melanie Reid
1 day ago

Pre-budget teasers increase exposure – and scrutiny
Mediawatch looks at how one pre-Budget announcement played well for a minister last week - but this week, one was badly botched. ...
Radio NZ – political
1 day ago

NZ delivers humanitarian supplies to disaster-hit PNG provinces
PNG Post-Courier New Zealand High Commissioner Peter Zwart and PNG Defence Minister Dr Billy Joseph welcomed a C-130 Hercules to Port Moresby this week to support Papua New Guinea’s response to the March 24 earthquake and recent severe flooding. “Papua New Guinea has requested New Zealand’s assistance to transport emergency ...
Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report
2 days ago

An Ode to .. Seymour
Grub Street King Luxon rode through the streets Of King’s Landing, and was troubled By the sight of hungry urchins in the mud. “Who would be the best of my Lords To deal with this negative optic?” He pondered. The answer came to him instantly. “Seymour!” he said to himself. ...
NewsroomBy Victor Billot
2 days ago

Fast Track Bill Should Be Withdrawn
“The Bill does not provide environmental protection, good quality decision making, certainty, public participation or speed. It should be withdrawn.” ...
Scoop politics
2 days ago

TVNZ breached union pact when deciding on programme cuts, ERA rules
RNZ News Television New Zealand has breached its collective agreement with the E tū union when deciding on discontinuing programmes, the Employment Relations Authority has ruled. It was announced in March that 68 staff members who work for news programmes Midday and Tonight, consumer justice programme Fair Go, current affairs ...
Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report
2 days ago

Fast-track Approvals Bill: Chief Ombudsman calls for accountability by law
Democracy will be the "loser" if sweeping executive powers are granted to ministers under the new bill, the Chief Ombudsman warns. ...
Radio NZ – political
2 days ago

NZ’s first Pinoy Green MP Francisco Hernandez talks climate policy and activism
Asia Pacific Report Barangay New Zealand’s Rene Molina has interviewed the country’s first Filipino Green MP Francisco Hernandez who was sworn into Parliament yesterday as the party’s latest member. This is the first interview with Hernandez who replaces former Green Party co-leader James Shaw after his retirement from politics to ...
Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report
2 days ago

Australian Strategic Policy Institute warns AUKUS could 'crush' its defence industry
An Australian Strategic Policy Institute report says Pillar Two could raise the industry to state of the art capability - or "crush" it "under the weight of the globe's biggest player". ...
Radio NZ – political
2 days ago

Indigenous women are most affected by domestic violence but have struggled to be heard. It’s time ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marlene Longbottom, Associate Professor, Indigenous Education & Research Centre, James Cook University Shutterstock This article contains information on deaths in custody and the violence experienced by First Nations people in encounters with the Australian carceral system. It also contains references to ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
2 days ago

UN vote: NZ supports 'enhancing Palestine's status' – Peters
New Zealand has voted in favour of a resolution to broaden the Palestinian role at the United Nations General Assembly. ...
Radio NZ – political
2 days ago

Cold houses to blame for people needing to 'blast the heater' – Green Building Counc...
New Zealand's housing building standards are decades behind most other countries in the OECD, green building advocates say. ...
Radio NZ – political
2 days ago

Austerity For Everyone Except Weapons Dealers
“Instead of following along countries that are investing in death and better ways of killing people faster, we need to invest in life and in making Aotearoa a fair, just and equitable place where everyone has what they need for a dignified life.” ...
Scoop politics
2 days ago

The Secret Diary of .. Te Pāti Māori
MARIAMENO KAPA-KINGI, TPM MP FOR TAI TOKERAU This Government will not waver in its mission to exterminate Māori. CHRISTOPHER LUXON Oh well look you know I don’t think that hard-working Kiwis want to hear language like that. It’s just really unhelpful rhetoric. My Government is genuinely committed to advancing outcomes ...
NewsroomBy Steve Braunias
2 days ago

When body positivity morphs into toxic masculinity
The body positivity movement started with women confronting the unrealistic expectations and unrepresentative portrayals of them in media and advertising. Men weren’t part of it … their bodies hadn’t been sexualised to the same extremes and they didn’t really need it. But now that’s changed. And in a warped sort ...
NewsroomBy Davina Zimmer
2 days ago

‘A curse and a blessing’: Ginette McDonald on how Lyn of Tawa changed her life
The New Zealand comedy legend takes us through her life in television, including the time she hugged Elton John and the unshakeable legacy of a girl named Lyn. In 1981, Ginette McDonald stood on the stage of Auckland’s St James Theatre and directly addressed Queen Elizabeth II. It was a ...
The SpinoffBy My Life in TV
3 days ago

‘Mothering looked beautiful but also chaotic and stifling’: On flatting with a newborn
An essay by Lily Duval from the just-released anthology Otherhood: Essays on being childless, childfree and child adjacent. I was 22 when my friend Alice gave birth in the living room of our pokey Addington flat. She laboured in the blow-up pool for hours. Garish fish swam along the inflated ...
The SpinoffBy Lily Duval
3 days ago

Motherhood: A reading journey
Ella Borrie on the best books about motherhood she’s come across so far. Over the past few years I’ve been drawn to books about motherhood. I’m fascinated by the joys and horrors of becoming a parent. The question of children also feels more pressing than it used to. It’s like ...
The SpinoffBy Ella Borrie
3 days ago

The Steve Awards 2024: Honouring the year’s worst Mother’s Day marketing
Out of gift ideas for mum? You can’t go wrong with a bottle of toilet cleaner and a new squeegee. Emily Writes is the writer and editor of Emily Writes Weekly. This week marks five years since I published a post on The Spinoff about Mother’s Day marketing titled ‘A ...
The SpinoffBy Emily Writes
3 days ago

The Sunday Essay: A buzzy year
My husband is posted overseas for 12 months and I’m armed with an expensive, newfangled vibrator. Will I miss him? The Sunday Essay is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand. A few days after my husband leaves, a new sex toy arrives at the front door. Nestled ...
The SpinoffBy Penny Burrows
3 days ago

Tracing four decades of Wellington street art
Jaimie Baird’s new book Here Today Gone Tomorrow is a record of four decades of graffiti and street art in Wellington, told through more than 1,200 photographs. He spoke with Joel MacManus about what inspired the book. How did you first get interested in photographing street art? I remember ...
The SpinoffBy Joel MacManus
3 days ago

The Weekend: How the woke sausage is made
Editor Madeleine Chapman looks back at a busy week where food of all political leanings dominated. Sometimes you’re just going about your week thinking you’ve got a good handle on what might be coming as far as news topics and then someone (usually a politician) says something so ridiculous that ...
The SpinoffBy Madeleine Chapman
3 days ago

The Boy in the Water: Police caught in ‘zone of uncertainty’
In a week of cold rain and frost, the climate in courtroom four upstairs at the Invercargill courthouse was simmering with restrained indignation. At times it felt like the famous Mexican standoff scene from Reservoir Dogs, or, as someone watching the proceedings described it, there was so much throwing of ...
NewsroomBy Bonnie Sumner
3 days ago

Short story: Message me, by Lucy O’Connor
A banner notification alerts me to the fact that I’ve received an Instagram message from @felicity.loves. She always comments on my posts. I shouldn’t have opened the message, but clicked on the notification before rationalising this. OMG! Are you in Wellys? X I debate not replying, but Instagram will inform ...
NewsroomBy Lucy O’Connor
3 days ago

Callum Donaldson has his head in the game
In Melbourne’s hardscrabble western suburbs where AFL – Aussie rules football – is a state religion, Callum Donaldson has been quietly grafting away, four months into an odyssey that he hopes will take him to another promised land: the NRL. It was a solid 2023 for the softly spoken 20-year-old ...
NewsroomBy Peter Malcouronne
3 days ago

TVNZ Pacific correspondent Barbara Dreaver awarded ONZM for investigative journalism
Pacific Media Watch Television New Zealand Pacific correspondent Barbara Dreaver has been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to investigative journalism and Pacific communities in a ceremony at Government House, reports 1News. She has been the Pacific correspondent for 1News since 2002, breaking many ...
Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report
3 days ago

Budget to pledge billions more in funds and fresh effort to tackle intractable housing crisis
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Tuesday’s budget will respond to the deepening public agitation over Australia’s housing shortages by pouring new money into crisis accommodation for women and children, social housing and infrastructure. A specially-convened national cabinet late Friday ticked ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
3 days ago

Pacific journalists are world’s ‘eyes and ears’ on climate crisis, says EU envoy
By Kaneta Naimatu in Suva Journalists in the Pacific region play an important role as the “eyes and ears on the ground” when it comes to reporting the climate crisis, says the European Union’s Pacific Ambassador Barbara Plinkert. Speaking at The University of the South Pacific (USP) on World Press ...
Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report
3 days ago

Why the Defence Force has been calling for a Budget boost
Failing accommodation, tarmac problems and a deteriorating naval base were all laid bare before a $571 million spend-up was unveiled today. ...
Radio NZ – political
3 days ago

Zionism and Anti-Semitism Both Suck

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