Seeing a police officer brought indoors to be treated and cared for by his colleagues as he physically shakes after being assaulted while holding the line outside is one of the most distressing things to witness at your workplace. There really are no words for any of this.
Kiwis stuck abroad for years wanting to see loved one does not equal Kiwis stuck abroad want to let Omicron loose in NZ. Let's not be dicks about this.
Luxon said. "We're running Parliament into that last week before Christmas, which is unusual for Wellington."
The calendar has been set to finish on Dec 22 all year, it was set by the last government. This is not new.
“I think the new New Zealander, particularly those under 40, love the idea of bicultural New Zealand. They love the Māori names and learning the language.”
“I reject the notion that the majority of New Zealanders think we went too far.” - Willie Jackson
TFW you have to yell quite loudly through a mask "I AM 36" to the young supermarket operator who has asked for ID and I don't have it with me. He consulted his manager who said "she's ok, I can tell from her eyes". A compliment and insult all within 10 seconds 😂
Ashley Bloomfield is asked whether he is concerned about people rushing to fast food given obesity stats. Diverts entirely by saying he doesn't want to preach to anyone and instead talks about how much he enjoyed his takeaway coffee this morning. ☕☕
Tonight I spoke to a senior staffer in the beehive who looked like he hadn't slept in weeks. I told him to get home to bed and he said he was rushing home to spend time with his son. So many people are sacrificing so much at the moment ❤️
Labour MP reports assault to police, Te Pāti Māori candidate reports home invasion and threatening letter. This is so far beyond “passionate” debate and a “robust” election campaign. Time for people and political leaders of all stripes to get real and call this crap out.
The strange thing about journalism is at the end of the chaos you have to sit down and relive the whole thing and try and write it in a way that makes sense. There is very little sense to be made of what happened at Parliament today. Mostly it just makes me sad.
Tauranga wastewater positive, more cases in Taupo and Masterton on high alert too. It is coming. If this doesn't prompt mass vaccination this week then people are idiots.
Police are investigating the home invasion of Hana Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, meanwhile some people on here question whether she's telling the truth. Can you not just for a moment put your politics to the side and condemn the violent threat aimed at a young woman?
Looking forward to Kerekere explaining why taxpayers are paying her salary for the next 5 months when she has no ability to represent anyone as an independent list MP, and has no constituents as a list MP.
You can't make this shit up!
"Police are aware of a planned concert on Parliament grounds this evening and have serious concerns around the health and safety of such an event."
Oh god they've hired a media liaison officer and ask that you email before approaching anyone for comment. They've only been here 11 days and they've already picked up the worst bits of the public service.
Random passer-by comments to me: "Look at the cops with their riot shields, making it look dangerous so the media have the photos they want".
Yep, it's definitely that, definitely not because unknown liquids are getting chucked at them.
Say what you like about gang leaders but the fact they front up to be interviewed by Kim Hill on Morning Report is pretty decent imo. It helps to understand what is going on in these communities and they could easily say why should we bother.
Today was a bit tough, particularly the part where my colleagues and I got verbally attacked and made to feel intimidated for simply doing our job. Protests are part of our democracy and it is our job to tell their story, but I hope tomorrow feels a little safer to be at work.
Today in the House David Seymour asked the PM if she'd ever apologised for anything. Well, she just apologised to him for calling him an "arrogant prick" so that settles that.
The prices Air NZ charges to fly between Wellington and Auckland at the moment is utterly ridiculous. I honestly don't know how people with little cash to spare who desperately need to get somewhere in an emergency are managing.
The country’s youngest candidate to run for Parliament has made three separate reports to police after her home was broken into and her rubbish rifled through. Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke says other political leaders have gaslighted her experience.
National and Labour have been talking about better access to free dental care for years. Hipkins says not in this economic climate. I think at this point we can agree no party thinks any climate is right ever, which is mind-blowing when dental care would fix so many health issues
For those just embarking on their Covid journey, hot tip - don't assume you're all g if you get to day four and have only had mild cold symptoms. Turns out day 5 and 6 have put me on my ass (possibly from ploughing on thinking I was totally fine). Take it easy out there.
Luxon jumped behind the bakery stall at the markets and served a young girl who bought a $6 donut. He asked what change she should get from $20, she didn’t know. Luxon told her she’d get $14. Goes to the cashier and proceeds to give her $16. Someone stops him, he blames fatigue.
With news that protesters are now throwing poo at police trying to enforce a border around the protest i think we can all agree it is time to just give them Wellington and once and for all move the capital and Parliament to a better climate.
The PM is standing on her 9th floor balcony waving to her new ministers as they board buses to Government House. Meanwhile a bunch of high school boys are walking by yelling "we love you Jacinda". Standard day at Parliament.
Does this mean if your friends choose non-English names for their babies, rather than simply learning and using them you shrug your shoulders and say, sorry too hard I will just refer to your baby as something else?
Wild.
"It does not constitute a full caucus unless everyone is invited, so, of course, for natural justice, of course Gaurav Sharma would be a part of that meeting.'' - Jacinda Ardern 24 hours ago and approx. 5 hours before a secret meeting not including Sharma.
Me on the phone to AA just now: "sorry, I was meant to be dropping my car off for a WOF this morning but I work at Parliament and the National Party is having a shambles. Can I please rebook?"
AA: "no problem, see you next Thursday...and good luck with that".
A bit of news (after 2 hours of quality speculation, thank you
@tmurphyNZ
) I’m stoked to say I’m heading back to RNZ in February to be their Political Editor. I’ve loved every minute of my time
@NewsroomNZ
and will be sad to leave, but also pumped to join the talented RNZ crew 🤩
Testing centres in Taranaki closed at 1pm today and symptomatic people turned away for two days straight, when there are positive cases in the community. Wonder if TDHB chief exec cares for an interview or whether she thinks there's no benefit revisiting this week's news cycle.
Twice a week for the last five I have bought roti and a bottle of pinot from my local 4-square. Massive respect for the owners who finally broke today and laughed at me when I stepped up to the counter.
MIQ is death by a thousand cuts for Government at the moment. They'd be mad not to just decide a date for border reopenings at tomorrow's Cabinet and get it off their to-do-list.
How in the fifth year of government are we still hearing "nine years of neglect'' as a justification for anything. Five years is basically 50 at the moment.
Just brilliant when a political figure moans about the wall-to-wall coverage of the protest and how convenient it is for the govt to distract from other things, when he chose to go to the protest to get some media attention and deliberately ramp up the protest coverage.
From Police: "Some officers had human waste thrown over them by protestors. Deliberately infecting someone with disease is a serious offence punishable by 14 years imprisonment. Police will be investigating and will hold to account those identified as responsible.''
Incredibly excited to be joining the team
@NewsroomNZ
as political editor. Huge shoes to fill and the best part is
@SamSachdevaNZ
and I get to work together again (watch this space). Have loved my 2.5 years
@radionz
and will miss everyone there so much.
Incredible really that Winston Peters can go to the House without a speech written or prepared, and then deliver a 20 minute speech simply responding to the streams of heckles from the other side.
It's going to be years before we see real change in healthcare in NZ but if the alternative is the status quo for years to come, then yeah nah. Going to throw some optimism at this one and cross all my fingers and toes that today is the beginning of a better system for everyone.
National’s falling into a habit of using race relations to make its point, often at public meetings where it’s easier to keep the audience on side than have a difficult exchange.
In an election year, choosing the easy path only further fractures society
Can’t work out which thing the incoming PM would prefer to talk about less tomorrow, the forgetfulness of a political leader he’s currently in talks with or one of his MPs announcing enforced foundation for gang members with face tattoos
If Jacqui Dean was seriously surprised by how Collins used her complaint against Bridges why was she planning to front a 10am press conference with her. And Goodfellow's denials long after the allegations seem a bit late too. None of this stacks up, they should both front media.
It’s understood Peters saw an offer from National on Friday and not long after packed his bags and headed to the airport.
One source told Newsroom Peters appeared to be “pretty offended by it”.
Labour won on pretty much every level last night except one - the Maori Party comeback is a truly incredible effort and sends a deafening message about the last three years.
Joint statement has landed from Grant Robertson as Welly Central MP, mayors, councillors, Vic Uni, PSA and others calling for an end to the disruption in the city by the protesters. "The people of Wellington have had enough of this illegal activity, harassment and disruption...''
The more I think about it the more it blows my mind two educated men running to be leader of the country don’t have a favourite book they’ve read in their life that has even remotely inspired them. Quite sad, books are amazing!
National blocked Newsroom from interviewing its mental health spokesperson Matt Doocey who has work and lived experience in this area. Instead Luxon and Goldsmith were nominated to speak on Kiri Allan. Luxon described it as “another week discussing drama and personnel issues”
Kiri Allan was calm, competent and across her brief last week at Parliament. As the PM said, she was “on top of her game”. Mental illness is complex and Allan should be judged on the crime, not her mental distress.
Just pulling myself together after watching last night's
@SundayTVNZ
story about pensioners struggling to survive by sitting in the dark and eating only one meal a day to save money. Powerful stuff from
@ConorWhittenTV
- an absolute must watch.
If the National Party truly believes Tauranga voters should have known about Uffindell’s past before casting their votes in June, then surely logic follows that they deserve to know why his name has now been cleared by the party.
So far clean-up job required at Parliament includes:
- reseeding the lawn
- replanting gardens
- replacing broken gates
- replacing broken bollards
- replacing broken security cameras and monitors
- fixing the Seddon statue
....and that doesn't include off precinct damage.
Big efforts going in today from the "it's just some stupid graph that means nothing, who cares if public officials paid by the taxpayer lie and spend months trying to cover it up" crowd. Keep it up team, you're truly an inspiration.
Of the 98 port workers isolating after coming into contact with Covid positive ship in Tauranga only 9 were fully vaccinated and another two had received first jab. How the hell have such few port workers been vaccinated at this point? Mind-blowing.
The Covid positive unvaccinated person who went to Auckland and returned to Christchurch is an example of ongoing
@NewsroomNZ
questions about why there aren't requirements for those crossing the regional border to be vaccinated. Government continuously says it is too hard.
My landlords are the ones who check I have groceries and offer to drop dinner off because they think I won’t have had time to do it myself 😭 the best humans ❤️
Given port workers got made to get vaccinated or face being pulled off the job, probably about time essential workers like truck drivers travelling the length of the country get made to do the same. Makes little sense truck driver was unvaccinated yet his close contacts were.
Men questioning why a woman would feel unsafe in central Wellington - as someone who was groped in broad daylight on Manners Street while walking home from work with a friend, I can comfortably say I have never felt comfortable ever since.
Incredibly excited to be joining the
@radionz
press gallery team after a wonderful eight or so years with
@NZStuff
- will miss my work mates loads but super excited for a new adventure ☺️
Students at Wainuiomata High School yell to Chris Hipkins, “can we get an Up The Wahs?!” Hipkins delivers, they’ve filmed it and the media missed it. Huge celebrations from the boys
The only thing that will fix this day is if Chris Hipkins walks into the 1pm presser and cracks open a coke zero and eats a sausage roll at the podium.
Powerful statement from ACT’s Mark Cameron on having lost stock, going home to milk 300 cows by hand for weeks til power is back and the ongoing impacts mastitis will have that will mean more stock will die. Says despite all that he came to Parliament to speak for his community
Today is a pretty good example of the point having been reached where Bloomfield should do a weekly press conference at the Ministry of Health and stop attending post-Cabinet. Him standing there while PM talks about political donations and the Opposition is just weird.
“I like to hope the fact I’m not willing to use my family as political props, despite the fact it would probably be politically advantageous to do so, I’d hope people would look at that and at least respect me for that decision.” - Chris Hipkins
Big applause for Luxon getting off the party bus in Whanganui quickly followed by a scolding from a local telling Luxon he pulled funding for the air service into Whanganui when he was chief executive and “has no credibility”. Luxon tells him to have a good day and moves on.
Seymour on Thursday re. vaccine incentives for young Māori: “We’ve long supported devolution. If communities know what their needs are better than government departments, and they can do a better job, then it’s money well spent.''
Seymour today: Treat Māori like everyone else.
Breaking: Michelle Boag has stood down as Auckland Central MP Nikki Kaye's campaign chair for the upcoming election. Kaye says she no longer has a role with the party.
@radionz
MPs are going to have sort out these random off the cuff remarks they make at public meetings to suit a particular audience on the day. If not, we're going to have five months of outraged political debate that only gets cleaned up once a more senior colleague corrects the record
Kim Hill wrapping up her sixth show for the week, "and next weekend I'll be doing something really fascinating but I can't remember what it is" 😂 someone give that woman a drink!
‘Mahuta has found her diplomatic groove since Hipkins relieved her of the local government portfolio. She was articulate, clearly expressing the Government’s position in her own terms rather than relying on memorised notes and statements from her ministry’
Last night a ‘not in service’ bus stopped and picked me up and took me into town after the driver saw me desperately run and fail to catch the bus in front. A+ amazing human interaction and restoring of my faith in the little but good things
New: Doctor Ashley Bloomfield has just confirmed at health select committee that the two members of the public who were being sought from the Crowne Plaza public walkway have been found.
Takeaways from that presser with Andrew Coster:
- the cars will be moved but first they need towing companies to say they'll help
- towing companies have been reluctant to help
- NZDF has been asked to help
- NZDF has not yet responded to Coster
- it is day 8