Newshub reports:

National MP Paula Bennett says she will not be seeking re-election as MP for Upper Harbour in next year’s election.  
Bennett has been appointed as National’s campaign chair for the 2020 election and said being the party’s campaign chair will be a “massive commitment” and one that she wants to give “100 percent” of herself to. 
“As such I won’t be seeking re-election as the MP for Upper Harbour but will be on the National Party’s List,” Bennett said in a statement Wednesday. 

That’s a smart decision. You can’t really be an effective campaign chair and also running an electorate campaign.

Upper Harbour is a very safe seat – a 9,556 majority. Paula won 56% of the electorate vote and National 54% of the party vote.

There should be considerable interest in such a blue seat.

The Herald reports:

A bid to rename the Basin Reserve has fallen at the first hurdle but Olympic female athletes aren’t giving up.
Last month they launched a campaign to call the iconic cricket ground the Support Women’s Sport Basin Reserve.
They needed a minimum of $50,000 to get naming rights for one year.
But only $10,874 dollars were pledged when the PledgeMe page closed last night.

So they got an average of 2 cents per person in Wellington Region. I’m amazed it was even that much.

The Basin Reserve Trust has struggled to find a naming sponsor for some time.
When the rename campaign was launched mayor Justin Lester said it was brilliant and something everyone should support.

It was pathetic and inane and would have made the Basin a laughing stock.

If you want to promote women’s sports, then name it after a famous female cricket player. Call it the Amelia Kerr Basin Reserve or the Debbie Hockley Basin Reserve.

Barry Soper writes:

First of all the Labour Party dodged answering questions about allegations of sexual assault and rape by one of its workers because “the process” involved in the investigation exonerating him was under way.
Now that they’ve set up an appeal process for the complainants they’re not commenting because that process is underway. It’s a convenient shield for the party to hide behind.
And all of this from a party leading a Government that Jacinda Ardern promised would be the most transparent in our history.

And this is not a one off. This is the second time they have done this when it comes to victims of sexual assault or harassment.

The latest scandal is more serious, with allegations ranging from sexual assault through to rape.
If a rape did occur, why didn’t the complainant go to the police? That’s the most frequently asked question. A complainant told me her friend was admitted to hospital with mental health issues after being traumatised by what happened to her.

Also why was this dealt with as a Labour Party internal matter, rather than a workplace issue? Why did Labour not notify The Parliamentary Service?

The so called employment strategy announced by the Government seems to have won an internal competition for the most meaningless buzzwords you can use in one statement. Let’s list a few of them:

• achieve their potential
• fulfilling careers
• sense of purpose
• feeling of community and belonging
• wellbeing of all New Zealanders
•  joined-up approach
•  long-term challenges
• significant investment
• meaningful work
• more inclusive employment outcomes
• unlock people’s potential 
• resilient and adaptable
• a stronger pathway
• kick-start their career prospects 
• contributes to their identity

I really don’t know how the press secretary who wrote this managed to do so without vomiting a little in their mouth.

Footage from Sydney appears to show a man on a stabbing rampage was stopped by members of the public using chairs and even a milk crate to pin him down. Great brave Aussies to take on a guy with a blade with a milk crate and a chair!

Meanwhile you have to sigh at the Police being unwilling to state the obvious.

News.com.au reported:

Police said the man attempted to stab “multiple people”, but they did not yet know the offender’s motivations.
“We don’t know the causation or the rationale for his actions today,” he said.

Really?

Video obtained by 7 News shows the man yelling “Allahu Akbar!” as he jumps on the hood and roof of a Mercedes, before he is confronted by a man with a chair.

I could take a wild guess at the motivation!

Stuff reports:

Almost 50 rush-hour Wellington bus services will be cancelled every day from August 25

I didn’t think they could make it even worse than they have, but they have managed it.

Voting for the Wellington Regional Council should be easy. Do not vote for any of the incumbents. There must be accountability for this.

Greater Wellington Regional Council’s sustainable transport committee chairperson, Barbara Donaldson, said the changes were made to provide certainty for commuters.

That is magnificent spin. Closing down a factory gives certainty for employees also. Being told you have terminal cancer also gives certainty.

People want buses, not the certainity of no buses.

“The past few weeks have been an uncertain time for customers across the network not being sure if their trip will happen or not.
“This was not acceptable, so we have worked with Tranzurban to identify routes across the city that could be temporarily suspended or replaced with the least amount of impact on customers.”

How about you pay what you need to, to get more drivers and have regular bus services like we had for several decades before the Regional Council decide to “improve” the network.

Fewer morning and afternoon peak services meant buses would be fuller and more commuters would need to stand, she said.
“We know this will impact on the level of comfort for customers.”
It was hoped subsequent services would run to schedule and provide enough room for all passengers.

So they merely “hope” there will be room for enough passengers.

Again don’t get mad, get even – vote the Regional Council out and vote for a Mayor who will actually be an effective advocate for Wellington bus users.

Stats NZ reports:

The Government Statistician and Chief Executive of Stats NZ, Liz MacPherson has resigned following the release of the Report of the Independent Review of New Zealand’s 2018 Census.
“As leader of this organisation, I take full responsibility for the shortfalls identified in the report,” said Ms MacPherson.
“We were too optimistic, placed too much emphasis on the online census, and did not have robust contingency plans in place for when things started to go wrong. When that happened, problems were not escalated to a higher level. We also failed our Treaty partners because we did not convert engagement with Māori into actual census responses.
“Put simply, we didn’t make it easy enough for everyone to take part and that will be a key focus for the next census.
“As the reviewers say, we got some things wrong at a time of great change during the switch to a more digitally-focused data collection approach. I accept the findings. We let ourselves and New Zealand down.

Kudos to the Government Statistician for taking accountability for this. It is the right thing to do.

The independent report notes:

To do so, respondents must be provided with the tools they need to participate. In cases where mail service is not available, a census worker visits the household and leaves the material that allows respondents to participate in the census (list-leave). As such, paper is an important component; however, its value was underestimated. There was too much focus placed on the digital-first approach due to factors described above. This is evidenced by the decisions to remove paper and then contact from list-leave operations. This made it difficult for a significant portion of the targeted sub-population groups and special dwellings to complete the census.

Also a key finding:

Leadership at the programme level lacked strategic direction and effective programme management. The programme struggled with project integration throughout the census life-cycle. There was a strong operational focus with optimism bias in reporting to external reviews and within the census governance. We could not find evidence of escalation of key decisions beyond the programme team to the relevant governance boards, including the ELT.

Hopefully the next census will go much better.

Stuff reports:

A teenager was spared jail for rape after a court heard he had a promising career as a sportsman ahead of him.
The now 18-year-old, who has previously represented New Zealand on the world stage, admitted charges of rape and sexual violation in the Auckland Youth Court.
But he will not be jailed after a judge took into account his “outstanding talent” when sentencing him for sex attacks on two teenage girls.
The teenager has automatic name suppression and, aside from his record noting the Youth Court appearances, faces no punishment.

He’s raped and assaulted two girls and he gets permanent name and not even a slap on the wrist – all because he is good at sports.

That is sickening.

I’m not saying he should go to prison. But to face no punishment at all is terrible, and no one should get name suppression for serious violent or sexual offending if they have been found guilty. How can other girls or women be protected from him, if they don’t even know what he has shown a propensity for?

The victims must feel terrible that after what he did to them, he gets off totally. Not even community service, a fine, home detention etc. He gets zilch all because he is good at sports.

The Crown must appeal this travesty of a sentence.

The Herald reports:

The Associate Transport Minister will also be looking to spruce up her stationery to avoid confusion over whether she’s corresponding in her ministerial capacity or as a transport spokesperson for the Green Party.
The letter Genter sent to Transport Minister Phil Twyford in March this year regarding Let’s Get Wellington Moving has landed in the House again this week.
The biggest, and somewhat confusing, revelation to come out of Question Time today was when Genter confirmed the letter was written in her capacity as Transport spokesperson for the Green Party.

For days she’s been answering questions in the House about the letter in her capacity as the Associate Transport Minister. Not to mention previous answers to written parliamentary questions in that capacity too.
Today she said the letter “highlighted the Green Party’s position on aspects of the transport project”.
The water was further muddied when National’s Transport spokesman Chris Bishop asked whether or not the letter was sent on ministerial letterhead.
“As it happens I had only one type of letterhead but that is something I will be changing”, Genter eventually conceded.

Firstly that is incorrect. All MPs have unlimited supplies of standard parliamentary letterhead which they can use when corresponding as an MP.

Genter both used ministerial letterhead but also signed it as Associate Transport Minister. Yet she refuses to accept any accountability for this.

Contrast that to Nick Smith. Nick Smith in 2012 resigned as as a Minister. Why? Because he had written a letter of support for a friend in her ACC claim. And he wrote it on his ministerial letterhead, instead of his parliamentary letterhead. That mistake was enough to have him lose all his portfolios.

Genter however won’t accept any accountability for her actions. She wrote to Twyford as the Associate Minister on ministerial letterhead, yet still won’t release the letter,

Stuff reports:

A Hamilton teenager having an argument with his mother gave expression to his anger by going to the house next door and punching a 71 year old to the ground.
Damien Kayden Collins, 17, was sentenced to four months of home detention when he appeared in the Hamilton District Court on charges of assault with intent to injure, threatening behaviour, wilful damage and common assault.

He has a fight with his mum, and his response is to assault the 71 year old living next door.

He’s damn lucky to get home detention. It does show though that prison is generally a last resort, despite people claiming NZ sends too many people to prison for minor offences.

The wilful damage and common assault charge stemmed from an incident in Hamilton on March 3 involving Collins’ uncle and his uncle’s girlfriend.
The teenager had demanded his uncle drive him to the shops, but his uncle refused. Collins responded by walking over to his uncle’s car and kicking the tail light out.
As the couple tried to drive away, the teenager kicked the car again. The girlfriend got out and confronted him, and Collins threw his bag at her and pushed her. 
Eventually the couple managed to drive away. Collins later told the police he kicked the car because he thought they were trying to hit him with it, and he pushed the woman because she was attacking him.
Two weeks before his sentencing date Collins breached his bail conditions and he had spent the last two weeks in custody.

I suspect that sadly we will be hearing more about Mr Collins in future.

Results to date have the Clintons in 1st place, Epstein 2nd, The Trumps 3rd, His victims 4th and God last.

The Herald reporting:

The Government will consider overturning a ban on prisoners from voting in light of a scathing report that said it had disproportionately hurt Māori and breached the Crown’s Treaty of Waitangi obligations.
But any change would need the support of New Zealand First, which has previously stymied justice reforms, blocking Justice Minister Andrew Little’s plans to repeal the three strikes legislation.

I really hope the Government does try and overturn the ban. The campaign against it will be devastating to Government parties.

Imagine scores of ads profiling particular prisoners, their heinous crimes, and all reminding people Labour, NZ First and Greens want to give them the vote.

Imagine the interviews with victims of those in prison, and what they think of their assailants being given the vote despite having committed dozens of crimes.

Newshub reports:

Simon Bridges has called on Ihumātao protesters to go home so houses can be built.
The National leader claims Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern set an appalling precedent by halting construction and needs to right the wrong.

There were several tense moments on the front line at Ihumātao this week, including protester Anikaaro Harawira-Havili caught racially abusing an officer after police numbers swelled and things turned sour.

Shows that racism has many homes.

Bridges believes Ardern has given protesters the wrong idea.
“The fact that the Prime Minister has halted the building, she’s allowed things to escalate. Yes it was happening before but she’s given it a profile and significance,” he says. …

So as the protest enters its fourth week, the Opposition leader is making his views on the Ihumātao dispute clear.
“It’s time to go home so we can see houses being built,” Bridges says.

Including houses for members of the local Iwi.

The Herald reports:

John Tamihere says as Auckland’s mayor he would create an 0800 JACINDA hotline to call if residents see rough sleepers or beggars.
Anyone who called the number would find a “person all loving and caring that knows everything about your wellbeing” on the other end, he said. A social worker would then be sent to work with the beggar.
Homeless people causing a “nuisance” by sleeping rough would be asked to go with the social worker – or find themself in breach of the law, Tamihere said this afternoon as he released his begging and homelessness policy in the run-up to October’s election.

I’m laughing at calling it 0800 JACINDA. I’d bet a large amount of money Matt McCarten came up with that idea.

The breakdown by ethnicity of how people voted on the abortion legislation is interesting. It was:

• Asians 50% for, 50% against
• Europeans 84% for, 16% against
• Maori 81% for, 19% against
• Pasifika 50% for, 50% against

So very similar proportions in favour amongst European and Maori MPs, while Asian and Pasifika MPs were split 50/50.

The Herald reports:

Suppression orders handed out in New Zealand courts could soon be enforceable overseas, Justice Minister Andrew Little says.
Discussions with counterparts from Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States in London were constructive, he told Newstalk ZB.
“I had very positive conversations with the relevant ministers … about finding a way that New Zealand court orders can be enforced in those countries,” he said.
“We’re in the position now where officials in New Zealand will work with officials in those countries to see if we can find a mechanism by which those orders can be upheld.

This is not necessarily good news. What we shpuld focus on is the quid pro quo which will be making it an offence in New Zealand to breach overseas court orders. This means New Zealanders will face prosecution because of a US or Canadian court order.

Susan Edmonds and Rebecca Stevenson write:

If New Zealand wants to make sure to stave off a recession, the answer isn’t with the official cash rate. It’s with tax cuts. …

But if the Government really wants to pump up the economy and avoid the downturn that some predict is on the horizon, it does have options.
One of them would be to reduce taxes. The other would be to spend up large, and stimulate the economy through big projects. …

Tax cuts can be more effective than the OCR in several ways.
Lower-income people tend to spend the extra money they get, which then boosts businesses around them. 
They’re more likely, as economist Brad Olsen says, to choose to get pizza for dinner once every so often or to buy a present for the kids if they have a little more in their pay each week.

Very sound advice but this is a Government that hates allowing people to keep more of their own income. It would never do tax cuts.

Politik reports:

Greenpeace last night took a UN climate change report as a mandate to call for the halving of the New Zealand dairy herd — a move that would cost the country approximately $8.3 billion in lost exports.

No limits to their ambitions for destroying our economy.

Also if NZ did halve our dairy herd, it would increase global greenhouse gas emissions. You see demand for dairy is global, and will not reduce if NZ produces less. Other countries would merely produce more, and as we are more efficient it would in fact lead to greater emissions.

Newshub reports:

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters says Māoridom must address issues of abuse towards children and women instead of accusing Oranga Tamariki of institutional racism.
Speaking at a New Zealand First public meeting in Tauranga on Thursday evening, Peters addressed calls for an end to the uplift of Māori children from their families by Oranga Tamariki.

“Oranga Tamariki is being accused of institutional racism for uplifting Māori children from their parents. Social workers are being harassed and threatened,” he said.
“The children uplifted from these circumstances are being called ‘New Zealand’s own stolen generation’. That is an insult to the Aboriginal Australian experience. An utter and total insult.”

Finally someone calling it straight. Of course any other MP saying this would be denounced as a racist.

But while Peters said “the odd [uplift] went wrong”, Māori children aren’t just randomly pulled from their families.
“The facts are that these children are being uplifted because they face perilous dangerous situations.
“There should be no apologies when Oranga Tamariki uplifts a child from an abusive, dangerous or otherwise neglectful environment,” Peters said to applause from the crowd.

Clap clap.