Category Archives: Jacinda Ardern

Kahu

10 May, 2022 05:00 PM2 minutes to read

The Mori leadership group who met with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern over Oranga Tamariki. Photo / Supplied

OPINION:

When Oranga Tamariki's new operating brief is finally completed, much of the heavy lifting that forced changes to its antiquated and barbaric care and protection system of uplifting Mori babies from young mums and its non-engagement with Mori can be put squarely on the shoulders of this outstanding group of leaders.

Kahurangi Iritana Twhiwhirangi, Lady Tureiti Moxon, Kahurangi Areta Koopu, T Mason Durie, Kahurangi Tariana Turia, Kahurangi Naida Glavish, Merepeka Raukawa-Tait - the magnificent Mori seven.

Each of them has their own mana and needs no introduction.

However, collectively, they are a force to be major reckoned with, as Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern learned during the 2020 Oranga Tamariki debate, and Waitangi Tribunal Claim and ruling.

OT CEO Grainne Moss and her department were running roughshod over Mori, and that forced this team to come together and stand up to the state tyranny.

On behalf of the National Mori Urban Authority (NUMA) of which Lady Tureiti is the Chair, this group supported the Waitangi Claim against Oranga Tamariki practices towards Mori and Moss.

They wanted Moss gone and some OT powers devolved to Mori and community organisations that work with Mori whnau on a daily basis.

Initially, there was reluctance from the Prime Minister's Office to acknowledge or even meet with the group. But through a political intermediary, Ardern agreed to meet over dinner with the Mori leadership team at Government House, Wellington.

"The last thing the PM wanted was Dame Naida and the other dames coming after her," a source told the Herald.

The hui was arranged and the PM wanted to bring senior Mori MPs for support.

On the day of the dinner, Ardern and her then deputy Kelvin Davis made the short walk from the Beehive to Government House.

But the group would not meet with the PM unless she was on her own - leaders to leader.

They met with the PM behind closed doors, outlined their concerns and the rest is history.

Moss was moved to another Government Department and Oranga Tamariki would start to rewrite its charter - this time with Mori input and oversight.

Continued here:

The Magnificent Seven: The Knight and Dames Jacinda Ardern didn't want to mess with - New Zealand Herald

A man posted to Reddit, threatening to assassinate Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. Photo / NZME

A man incensed at the Government's restrictions on people who had not received the Covid-19 vaccination threatened to assassinate the Prime Minister.

The 30-year-old Taranaki man, who has name suppression, was arrested after he posted the threat against Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to Reddit, a social news website and forum comprising user-generated content.

His was one of two separate cases heard in New Plymouth District Court on Friday relating to threats and abuse directed at the Prime Minister and Government officials.

The first man, who has complex mental health issues, lives at his mother's house, where he spends much of his time on his computer.

He has limited interaction with society and struggled to be socially appropriate when he did.

His legs visibly shook and he fumbled for words as he addressed Judge Gregory Hikaka.

"... I use the computer for the internet to keep up-to-date with, um, world topics, um, world events," he told the judge.

His lengthy time spent on the device has become a concern for his mother, who was also worried about her son's "rage", she told police.

Justifying her concern were the man's actions on November 12, 2021, when he made the threat to kill the Prime Minister.

In the post, he called Ardern a number of profanities and said in "assassinating" her, he would be sending a message to other politicians.

The man's post also expressed his anger at the Government's Covid-19 response.

He acknowledged he wasn't being physically forced to have the vaccination but felt he was "being bribed with vouchers and the likes, and being threatened to get vaxxed or face consequences".

At the time, the vaccine pass system imposed restrictions, such as not being able to enter shops and venues, on those who could not provide proof of their vaccination status. Those restrictions were scrapped last month.

When spoken to by police, the man said he had no specific plan to carry out his threat but thought he would approach Ardern, shake her hand and then "bite her throat, aiming for her jugular".

The man was not apologetic for making the threat, he told police.

In court, he faced sentencing on a charge of threatening to kill/do grievous bodily harm.

He was also being sentenced on one charge each of possession of a cannabis plant and wilful damage.

Judge Hikaka asked the man if he would now be prepared to apologise to the Prime Minister.

"No, because I ... what I said was over the line but it wasn't a direct threat. I did overstep, I did go a bit too far with the words I used," he responded.

"It was a momentary lapse of judgment because I was just quite angry with her ..." he said, being interrupted by Judge Hikaka who reframed the question, asking if he would apologise for stepping "over the line".

"Uh yeah ... I um ..." he said, cut off again by the judge.

"You don't need to explain any further because you've already said you went over the line and that's why you pleaded guilty to the charge of threatening," Judge Hikaka said.

On all charges, the man was sentenced to 18 months' intensive supervision.

The judge advised the man to change his behaviour so that when he gets frustrated or angry he doesn't go overboard.

"You know where the line is."

Shortly afterwards, another man appeared before Judge Hikaka for sending more than 240 threatening emails to Parliament.

In the emails, sent between October 2021 and December 2021, Lachlan Cryer threatened to "burn down forests".

Due to the frequency and inappropriate content, which included abuse directed at the Prime Minister, the emails were forwarded to Parliamentary Security.

During that same period, Cryer also emailed the Office of the Commissioner of Police and again threatened to burn down forests.

It was not clear which forests Cryer, who lives 90km north of New Plymouth in Awakino, was taking aim at.

Nor was it clear the exact motivation behind his emails, but Judge Hikaka said Cryer had felt he was not being listened to after his growing frustration over issues with "internet connection", to which Cryer said: "Communication".

But he never intended to act on the threats, the court was told.

On a representative charge of threatening to damage property, he was sentenced to 12 months' supervision.

Cryer offered to write apology letters to those he had offended against at Parliament, but Judge Hikaka advised him to do that through his lawyer.

"Some of these people might not want to hear from you."

See the article here:

Taranaki man charged with threatening to kill Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern - New Zealand Herald

But Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and a former detective disagree.

Speaking with AM co-host Melissa Chan-Green, Jacinda Ardern said accusations from the Opposition and others the Government is soft on crime are unfair.

"Let's just look at the bare facts. None of the penalties, none of the consequences for these crimes have changed. So this idea that somehow there is this weakening is just wrong," Ardern told AM on Monday.

"In fact what you've got to consider is that what we are doing differently is not just dealing with the consequences, if you offend in this country you must be held to account.

"So that's what Operation Tauwhiro and Operation Cobalt. They're all about an approach that is really focused on cracking down on organised crime and some of the reason you see that focus is because we've invested in additional police, including an extra 700 to work on those areas. We've seen over 1000 arrests, forfeiture of assets and so on.

"At the same time, we also need to prevent people from entering organised crime in the first place so you have to do both."

It is a sentiment shared by Australian-based police lecturer and former detective Michael Kennedy, who told AM on Monday that New Zealand's approach to policing is right.

"New Zealand has got an excellent reputation worldwide in terms of its policing. It doesn't overreact, there are no knee jerk responses, they're usually really responsible and New Zealand, generally speaking, has a good reputation within the criminal justice area of dealing with people."

Kennedy said internationally nobody considers New Zealand as being soft on crime.

"It seems to me New Zealand beats itself up a little bit but you're doing a really good job over there," he said. "I don't think anyone considers you a soft touch, I think there's a big balance here in social justice.

"We've moved in the last few years where everyone talks about the victims but social justice is about victims, it's about witnesses and it's about ensuring people get a fair trial And New Zealand has got the right formula there."

It comes after the Government announced on Sunday a $600 million package aimed at addressing the spate of crimes currently ripping through New Zealand. The Government said it will see an increase in police numbers, nearly $100m to tackle gang violence and an extension to rehabilitation programmes.

More than $562m over four years will be invested in the police, the Government said.

Police are also planning to launch a dedicated operation across Auckland, with smaller teams across Aotearoa, to tackle growing gang violence and intimidating behaviour. It's been dubbed 'Operation Cobalt' and will begin in June.

That follows Operation Tauwhiro, which was extended by six months late last year. Operation Tauwhiro focussed on disrupting firearms-related violence by gangs.

Read more:

PM Jacinda Ardern says soft on crime claims 'just wrong' as former detective hails NZ Police's international reputation - Newshub

Politics

11 May, 2022 03:25 AM3 minutes to read

Which Member of Parliament has declared an interest in a research group dedicated to the resurrection of the Moa, Jurassic Park-style? Photo / Mark Mitchell

MPs have lifted the lid on ... themselves with their annual disclosure of how many homes they own, gifts they have received, and any other financial interests they may have.

One MP even declared an interest in a research group dedicated to the resurrection of the Moa, Jurassic Park-style.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has not declared any further property interests from last year - she still owns her single home in Sandringham, Auckland.

As in previous years, Ardern declared gifts and loans of clothing from well-known New Zealand designers. She was given three garments by Emilia Wickstead, as well as loans from Juliette Hogan and Zoe and Morgan.

She was also given a Christmas gift basket by the Embassy of Cuba.

National leader Christopher Luxon continues to be one of the most propertied MPs in Parliament. He owns two residential properties in Auckland, one in Wellington and four investment properties in Auckland.

He did not declare any mortgage, suggesting those properties are owned outright.

Luxon declared no gifts in the register, which was current as of January 31, 2022, when he had been leader for two months. He was also given a telling off by the registrar for submitting his return late - the only MP to do so.

Several MPs declared interesting gifts. Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta declared a "Hajj Box and Al-Jazeera Perfumes gift box" from the Government of Qatar.

Her Labour caucus colleague Ingrid Leary as also the recipient of gifts from abroad. She received a Pakistani office rug from Ashraf Janjua, the high commissioner from Pakistan.

Perhaps betraying the age of the current Parliament, three MPs have declared themselves in debt to the Government they want to be a part of.

Poor James McDowall of Act, and Labour's Naisi Chen, and Gurav Sharma declared they have outstanding student loans to IRD. Last Parliament, only Labour's Kieran McAnulty had a student loan.

Our MPs have been dabbling in the media. National's Paul Goldsmith, Simon Bridges (since retired), and Judith Collins all declared revenue from their book publishing endeavours, as did the Greens' Golriz Ghahraman and Labour's Duncan Webb.

Bridges also declared the income he received from appearing on Paula Bennett's TV show, Give us a Clue.

Bridges donated that to the Homes of Hope charity.

Labour's Tamati Coffey also appeared on Give us a Clue, but he appears not to have donated his fee.

Labour's Anahila Kanongata'a-Suisuiki declared a free vehicle service she got from Mahindra in Papatoetoe.

Which MP declared an interest in reviving the Moa? That would be Speaker Trevor Mallard who sits on The Moa Revival Project Advisory Board, and has done for some time.

Read the rest here:

Rugs, perfume, couture: What PM and other MPs declared - New Zealand Herald

Nurses and midwives say an immigration shake-up privileges male dominated professions, is sexist, and will do little to help fill hundreds of vacancies in New Zealand.

Its a completely sexist model, all the doctors are in the privileged group, hospital midwives union co-leader Jill Ovens said.

Immigration policy changes announced by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Minister for Immigration Kris Faafoi on Wednesday will provide a fast-track residency pathway for people from a green list a group of 85 occupations identified as having critical gaps.

The green list occupations are split into two groups with those in the straight to residence group entitled to apply for residency from September, while those in the work to residence group able to apply for residency after two years of work.

READ MORE:* Migrant doctors lured overseas as immigration woes mount* Renewed hope for migrant fighting to change the ableist system* Migrant students say they feel cheated over residence visa decision

Among the medical occupations, midwives and nurses are in the work to residence group, while medical specialists, including surgeons, GPs, anaesthetists and psychiatrists are in the straight to residence group.

John Kirk-Anderson/Stuff

Sheena Ross, midwife at Rata Midwives, helping deliver a petition to bosses of St George's Maternity Hospital to fight against its potential closure, as a result of staffing shortages.

Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment immigration spokesman Andrew Craig said more people from the work to residence group, including midwifery and nursing, left their job after gaining residence or there are currently other concerns about retention.

The two-year requirement ensures New Zealand is both attractive to migrant workers, and that the skills shortages the Government is seeking to fill will be addressed for at least two years by migrant workers in these.

Accent Health Recruitment co-owner Prudence Thomson said she was dumbfounded as to why midwives and nurses were not in the straight to residence group.

She said there was at least 120 vacancies for midwives and up to 1000 for nurses on a website targeting overseas health workers for jobs in New Zealand.

Other health care professionals, including physiotherapists and social workers, had missed out entirely on a fast track process to residency in the new structure, Thomson said.

I think we need to revisit the list, I dont think a food technologist should be on a fast track to residency over a nurse or midwife...

.

Registered nurses are on a priority list for residency but will still need to work for two years before applying.

Having to wait two years before being able to apply for residency would be the biggest barrier for recruiting overseas staff, Thomson said.

New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) president Anne Daniels said she didnt think the immigration changes would help plug massive staffing gaps and agreed with Ovens the changes were discriminatory against women.

...doctors cant work without nurses, so Im absolutely flabbergasted to try to understand the rationale.

Daniels said there was wide-spread acceptance of huge vacancy rates for nurses across all sectors, which continued to grow.

So, whoever put this list together, I have to ask why were nurses, who are mostly women, not on the fast-tracked straight to residency pathway when the pressures on nurses throughout the country in every sector are beyond belief.

ROBERT KITCHIN/Stuff

Health Minister Andrew Little holds a press conference to discuss the 'U-turn' on the nurse's pay equity deal by the Nurse's Union.

Thomson said employers were concerned about a mass exodus of nurses after the Government settles a pay equity claim.

I know when I was a nurse when I got a pay rise I headed off overseas. I think people will be holding on until they get their money, and they can go and do their big OE.

But Daniels said nurses may not leave to work overseas in large numbers if the pay equity claim, including back pay, was settled.

The deal, to address decades of gender-based pay discrimination, would add more than $520 million each year, to the health payroll.

This is why the equity pay settlement needs to be dealt with sooner rather than later so that young nurses are not forced to make a decision to earn more here or overseas, they will be moving simply because they want to grow themselves as professionals.

Read this article:

Midwives and nurses 'flabbergasted' over 'sexist' immigration changes - Stuff

Defence force Hercules takes off, Ruapehu in its most active state in roughly 15-years and borders open to Australians, all in the latest New Zealand Herald headlines. Video / NZ Herald

The Prime Minister was exposed to Covid-19 when she personally thanked police officers during the Parliament protests in February, internal emails have revealed.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern publicly distanced herself from the operational matters of police activity throughout the Parliament protest, which came to a fiery end last month after a 23-day occupation.

Emails provided to the Herald under the Official Information Act state that a group of police officers were visited by the Prime Minister in their allocated "muster" room in Parliament, while she was "doing the rounds of Police contingents to thank them for their work."

The information was provided to public health officials because five of the police officers later tested positive for Covid-19, and had been infectious on February 16 when they were visited by the Prime Minister.

The exposure was later deemed to be a "casual contact".

A police spokesperson confirmed 92 police staff involved in work relating to the protest tested positive for Covid-19 during this period, although it is not possible to determine exactly where they contracted the virus.

An email on behalf of the Covid-IMT response manager on February 20 said Ardern was in the muster room with the infectious police officers for around 15 minutes, and "the extent of her interaction with the cases is being confirmed."

He also stressed the need for "keeping an air of calm about this event, especially re the nature of the contact with the PM".

The email read that positive test results were returned on February 19 for five police staff, with a sixth awaiting PCR results after a positive RAT.

The officers were part of a contingent that had flown from Auckland to Wellington to assist with the protest on February 14.

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Inquiries had indicated three of the staff were infectious prior to departing Auckland and two others had likely been infected by their colleagues.

The email also stated "the group interacted with crowds at the protest during their infectious period."

A earlier email from Regional Public Health Response manager Scott Martin said there had been no specific QR code for the room that could identify officers exposed, and there had been "initial reports of intermittent mask use".

"Mask use has since been reinforced and QR codes will be created for each room (in addition to entry to Parliament buildings)," the email read.

But he said when the Prime Minister visited, "mask use was adhered to and no case had close contact with the officials present."

An email later that afternoon from Regional Public Health said interviews with the positive cases had determined them only to be "casual contacts" with the Prime Minister.

A police spokesperson said staff associated with the protests were tested at approximately 72-hour intervals, or before returning to their usual districts.

"While a sustainable supply of RATs for all Police staff was secured, the distribution of RATs was prioritised for staff delivering priority essential work functions, major event staff and close contacts for critical workers," they said.

Throughout the 23-day occupation, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern disassociated herself from the police operation to manage protest activity.

On February 14, she said told Morning Report police "ultimately need to be able to make all of those operational decisions."

"It is absolutely for the police to determine how they manage any form of occupation or protests. And you can understand why that is a convention we will hold strongly to.

"I would hate to see in the future a situation where you have politicians seen to be instructing the police on how to manage any type of protest - and that extends to not passing judgement on operational decisions that are for them."

A spokesperson for the Prime Minister told the Herald Ardern had thanked frontline police twice during the parliamentary occupation once on February 16 and again on March 3, the day after the operation ended.

"On both occasions the purpose of the visit was to pass on her appreciation for their service and to check in with how police were holding up."

"Her comments were in line with that."

After the protest the Prime minister and Labour team bought blocks of Whittaker's chocolate as a thank you for police, but Ardern did not distribute this to them directly.

The spokesperson said thanking frontline officers for their service in no way impacts on the operational independence of Police.

"It is not uncommon for the Prime Minister, or other Members of Parliament, to thank and acknowledge frontline Police, for example she did so after the March 15 terrorist attack and post Whakaari/White Island as well."

Ardern was also deemed a close contact of a positive Covid-19 case and forced to self-isolate after an exposure event during a flight from Kerikeri to Auckland in January.

Excerpt from:

Parliament protest: Jacinda Ardern came into contact with Covid-infected cops while thanking them - New Zealand Herald

Life under the orange traffic light setting, the big test for Wellington's Transmission Gully & major road closure for Easter all in the latest New Zealand Herald headlines. Video / NZ Herald

Labour member of parliament Louisa Wall did not go quietly.

The media blitz after her resignation carried claims that Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern did not want Wall in her cabinet or caucus.

These were quickly picked up in the media cycle, spreading across news publications.

Speaking to The Front Page podcast today, NZ Herald political editor Claire Trevett says that neither Wall nor the Prime Minister have come out of this situation looking great.

Follow the Front Page podcast here.

"In the short term it does reflect badly, but I don't necessarily think it will last," says Trevett.

Given that Wall presented her disappointment without resorting to vicious personal attacks, Trevett believes this uproar won't be a lasting stain on the Ardern or the outgoing politician.

Trevett also said that Wall likely wouldn't take things further when giving her valedictory speech this evening, with the politician earlier saying that she'd prefer to focus on her electorate and the work she'd done.

Asked whether the fallout would affect Ardern's perception as a leader who prioritises the idea of kindness, Trevett explained that this balance is always tricky for a Prime Minister.

"The kindness thing is a rod that the Prime Minister made for her own back," says Trevett.

14 Apr, 2022 04:00 AMQuick Read

"It can't always apply in politics or in any workplace when you're the boss. There are always decisions you have to make that aren't kind to people.

"She sacked Iain Lees-Galloway, for example, because of a workplace affair. Not many ministers would get sacked for that. They'd get told off. She's demoted ministers for what wouldn't be considered major underperformance. I don't think it's a matter of being unkind. It's just a part of being PM."

The fallout from the Wall saga did, however, carry a lesson in the value of dealing with disgruntled employees quietly and not allowing it to play out in the public.

"John Key was a master at it," says Trevett.

"He dispatched his ministers very quietly and the reason is that when you're a dominant Prime Minister in the polls, then there's no way a single MP can buck that. The rest of the caucus is always going to take the Prime Minister's side and MPs learn that they either accept that or go out looking like an egg."

On the topic of Key's party, it is notable that the opposition has been relatively quiet as Wall's story has run its course.

"There's been a little bit of commentary on social media by some MPs. I think Chris Bishop has tweeted a couple of things, but not really getting into the stoush around it.

"It's mainly about Louisa because they all worked quite well with her. There's certainly the element of the personal relationship with Louisa.

"But also, remember when National was going through all its troubles, Labour kept their noses out of it. The Prime Minister made a decision and instructed her MPs not to wade in and kick them while they're going through all this because we've been through it ourselves in the past and we know how horrible it is."

Another interesting observation to be gleaned from Wall's departure is that maverick politicians with fierce convictions tend to face challenges operating within the structures of large political parties.

"We are definitely better off having MPs who want to rock the boat and stand up for their communities, but we can't have too many rocking the boat that would be slightly perilous," says Trevett.

"I don't know how a Government would function if there were too many of them because stability in Government is very important and you can't just have MPs willy-nilly refusing to vote for something because they think it goes against their principles."

Trevett said there are very few MPs who are genuinely and totally principle-driven.

"Wall is one and the others are former Greens MP Sue Bradford and the former Mori Party co-leader Tariana Turia, who crossed the floor, left the Labour Party and set up the Mori Party.

"They all put their principles above personal and career gain and New Zealand is better off for all of them having done it."

The Front Page is a daily news podcast from the New Zealand Herald, available to listen to every weekday from 5am.

You can follow the podcast at nzherald.co.nz, iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

See more here:

The Front Page: Why neither Louisa Wall nor Jacinda Ardern look good in departure drama - New Zealand Herald

David Unwin/Stuff

Protesters look on in disbelief as police undertake a major operation at the Parliament occupation site (file photo).

The National Party is concerned the government is trying to cover up any part ministers might have played in the response to the occupation of Parliament in February and March.

A request to bring the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) before the justice select committee to discuss the terms of reference for its investigation into the Parliament occupation was denied by the Government.

And there is no sign of the Government launching its own independent review of the response, weeks after Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern incorrectly suggested the IPCA could look into the actions of Speaker Trevor Mallard.

It comes as a February 12 email to residents at the Kate Sheppard Apartments, opposite Parliament, suggested deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson was aware of tactics to play loud music and health messages all night from Parliament's speakers, in an attempt to deter protesters.

READ MORE:* Parliament occupation: Trevor Mallard will face scrutiny over protest reaction* Covid-19 NZ: Christopher Luxon says wider inquiry of occupation protest needed* Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern backs Labour MPs who blocked Parliament protest hearing, saying police watchdog should review

In seeking to grill the IPCA over its terms of reference, National wanted to determine once and for all whether the actions of the Speaker, and ministers, would be within the investigations scope.

The letter sent to residents said tonight there will be loudspeakers going thru the night telling people they are trespassing and to move on and also loud health messages.

Our local MP, Grant Robertson, has phoned and apologised for the disruptions that there will be and has offered any help needed.

The email was sent at 4.21pm on February 12, roughly two hours before the loudspeakers were turned on.

Ross Giblin/Stuff

The aftermath of dismantled and burnt tents in parliament grounds.

National Party justice spokesperson Paul Goldsmith said the email suggests senior ministers were aware of the Speakers tactics before they happened.

That's a clear conclusion that you draw from the email, Goldsmith said. They were fairly aggressive tactics implemented by the Speaker, and it seems obvious that there were conversations had between the speaker and senior government ministers before that.

These are the questions wed like to ask. All we get at the moment is a wall of silence.

Goldsmith said the purpose of asking to speak to the IPCA at a justice select committee was to better understand the scope of its investigation.

Ginny Andersen, chair of the justice select committee, defended the Governments move to block a hearing.

Its inappropriate for the IPCA to be investigated while they are undertaking an investigation, Andersen said.

If [National] have a problem with it, they should just go to the IPCA and say they don't like the terms of reference. I don't understand why the justice committee is the vehicle to do that.

Goldsmith said the committee wouldnt be investigating the IPCA, but getting clarity over its review. He also said the justice select committee is the appropriate committee to make that request.

ROBERT KITCHIN/Stuff

Paul Goldsmith says there is no clarity over whether ministers or the speaker will be subject to a review of the Parliament protest.

He believes there has been a concerted effort from the Government to block moves to investigate its own part in the occupation and protest.

All were doing is getting them to be available to answer our questions on what is and isnt included in the terms of reference, because, and only because, the Prime Ministers statements have raised doubt about that.

Ardern had said Mallard and the Parliament grounds management teams actions would be within the IPCAs scope, but the terms of reference are sharply focused on police actions.

What we want to get to the bottom of is, what involvement did government ministers have in the whole management of [the protest], Goldsmith said.

Theyve consistently said it was a police matter. We're not getting involved. And then when the Speaker did something, oh, that's a matter for the Speaker. We werent involved.

We don't think thats the case. And now theyve effectively shut down anybody from finding out.

Grant Robertsons office has been approached for comment.

Go here to see the original:

Government blocks National Party bid to grill IPCA over occupation investigation - Stuff

If youre a fan of Fox News, you may be a little upset with a quote going around about its founder, media mogul Rupert Murdoch.

According to social media posts, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern recently said that her country doesnt have an issue with the rage of older white men because it has never allowed Murdoch to start a media company there.

Asked why New Zealand does not suffer from the rage of older white men like in other western Anglo countries, PM Jacinda Adern replied, Because weve never allowed Rupert Murdoch to set up a media outlet here. The guy has wreaked havoc on civil society in (the) US,a tweet re-shared on Instagramsays.

The post was flagged as part of Facebooks efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about ourpartnership with Facebook.)

The tweet, which misspells Arderns name, is wrong. We could find no record of Ardern saying this in searches of news archives or inmeeting transcriptsfrom New Zealands House of Representatives.

Arderns office said the quote lacks legitimacy.

The Prime Minister did not make this statement. I have no idea who made it up, Andrew Campbell, Arderns spokesperson, told PolitiFact in an email.

The quote may have been re-appropriated from a statement about Murdoch made by David Cormack, a former policy and communications director for New Zealands Green Party.

Cormack told the Guardianin October 2020 that a huge reason that our politics is not so extremely polarised and so far out there is because we no longer have Murdoch-owned press in New Zealand, and its never taken a foothold.

The statement wasnt about the rage of older white men. And Cormack didnt claim that New Zealand never allowed Murdoch to set up shop there. The Murdoch-owned News Corphas had stakesin New Zealand media companies in the past.

Cormack acknowledged that his quote was being misattributed on Twitter several times, at one pointwriting, New Zealand, i am @jacindaardern now. Im sorry. I dont make the rules.

Social media posts claim that Ardern said New Zealand doesnt have issues with the rage of older white men because the country never allowed Rupert Murdoch to start a media outlet there.

There is no evidence that Ardern, or anyone else, said this. A similar statement about Murdoch was made by a former New Zealand Green Party communications director, but its not the same quote.

We rate these posts False.

This fact check was originally published by PolitiFact, which is part of the Poynter Institute. It is republished here with permission. See the sources for this fact check hereand more of their fact checkshere.

See more here:

A quote about Rupert Murdoch and white men attributed to New Zealand's prime minister is bogus - Poynter

Photo by Mark Mitchell: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern during her standup at Parliament, Wellington. 05 April, 2022. NZ Herald photograph by Mark Mitchell

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says the sanctions New Zealand has put on Russia are working, and it's important for Aotearoa to play its part.

It comes after Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta and Trade and Export Growth Minister Damien O'Connor announced on Wednesday the Government will apply 35 per cent tariffs to all imports from Russia.

In a press conference on Thursday, Ardern said the Government had stayed in regular contact with Ukraine about what the needs are.

She said economic sanctions were a priority and the Government had moved on that, and was also considering on a rolling basis other requests for assistance.

Ardern was also asked about the Greens call for a rent freeze and said the priority was ensuring there was enough supply because that was a big driver of rent prices. She said more house building had contributed to rental stability prices in Auckland.

She added the Government has already changed tenancy laws and restricted when landlords could increase rentals, and brought in measures to make renting easier for tenants such as the healthy home standards.

"In looking at some of these options in the past, one of the concerns is it could stifle supply and that would make things worse," she said of rent freezes.

The Prime Minister spoke to media today from Auckland as she visits businesses ahead of re-starting her international travel agenda.

She spoke soon after director general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield and director general of Public Health Dr Caroline McElnay started the day's Covid-19 press conference in Wellington.

That will be McElnay's final press conference: her last day at the Ministry of Health is tomorrow.

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6 Apr, 2022 05:00 PMQuick Read

6 Apr, 2022 03:24 AMQuick Read

Yesterday Bloomfield also announced he was resigning and will leave at the end of July, a year before his term was due to end.

Public Health deputy director Dr Niki Stefanogiannis is also leaving on Friday she and McElnay leave a big hole at the top of the Public Health unit. One of the factors in the departures is believed to be burnout after dealing with Covid-19.

In his press conference yesterday, Bloomfield referred to the gendered nature of the negative criticism faced by the women helping lead the Covid-19 response compared to the criticism he had faced, saying it needed to be addressed.

Concerns are also rising about the number of Covid-19 cases that are being missed by rapid antigen tests, as the Omicron outbreak continues.

Ardern could also be questioned about the Government proposal to ban soft drinks and other sugary drinks in schools after Education Minister Chris Hipkins put out a consultation paper on it today.

Ardern will speak while visiting businesses in Auckland as she prepares for her first international travel in more than two years.

Her first trip will be in the Asia region, and Ardern will take a business delegation, followed by export and trade-related trips to Europe and North America.

New Zealand is still in negotiations for a free trade agreement with the European Union.

Meanwhile, the upgraded free trade agreement with China came into effect today. Trade Minister Damien O'Connor said China had continued to be an important market during Covid-19, with goods and services exports reaching $21.5 billion in 2021.

He said the UK free trade agreement would also add up to $1 billion to New Zealand's GDP.

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Covid 19 Omicron outbreak: PM Jacinda Ardern to speak to media after today's Covid update and resignations of Ashley Bloomfield, Caroline McElnay -...