One Question Quiz

LIVE UPDATES

Mar 15 2023

Take a look at your loan structure

Many New Zealanders are feeling the impacts of higher home loan rates and day-to-day expenses creeping up. It’s always good to take the opportunity to have a look at your loan structure and make sure it’s right for you. If you have any questions on financial budgeting or just aren’t sure where to start, ANZ are here to help. Whatever your situation, there may be  options they can explore to help you get ahead or relieve the pressure.

Find out how ANZ can help with managing your home loan.

ANZ lending criteria, terms, conditions and fees apply. 

QUIZ: Match the MP to their first job

WW_MPquiz-image-1.png

This week we asked a bunch of MPs to tell us all about their first jobs. By now you should have read that piece (but you can find it here if you haven’t) and now it’s time to see how well you were paying attention.

Who used to peel onions? Who was an educational educator? Who worked in a timber yard?

Test yourself in our special Work Week quiz.


All week on The Spinoff we are delving into our relationship with the world of work in Aotearoa. For more Work Week stories, click here.

Listen: Gone By Lunchtime cosies up to the policy bonfire

Gone By Lunchtime (Image: Tina Tiller)

Fresh from round two of Chris Hipkins’ “reprioritisation” (but pre-Stuart Nash’s resignation as police minister), Toby Manhire, Annabelle Lee-Mather and Ben Thomas got together to wade through the long list of culled policies. What is the meaning of the ever-shrinking government programme? Have the Greens been shafted? Is Christopher Luxon’s role as leader of the National Party in trouble? This week’s Gone By Lunchtime breaks it all down.

Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favourite podcast app.

Hipkins on Nash resignation: the full statement

PM Chris Hipkins fronts a press conference (Photo by MARTY MELVILLE/AFP via Getty Images)

PM Chris Hipkins’ comments on Stuart Nash, in full:

This morning I was made aware of a media interview in which Minister Stuart Nash criticised a decision of the Court and said he had contacted the Police Commissioner to suggest the Police appeal the decision.

The phone call took place in 2021 when he was not the Police Minister.

Minister Nash has assured me he has no connection to the case in question or any individuals involved.

He also assured me this was the only occasion that a conversation of this nature occurred with the Police Commissioner.

Nevertheless, it’s my view Minister Nash’s action in contacting the Commissioner in relation to a possible appeal was unwise.

It is also my view that his comments, both at the time on the judiciary and subsequently in defending his actions are inappropriate and represent an error of judgement.

The Cabinet Manual sets out an expectation that Ministers exercise a professional approach and good judgement in their interactions with the public and officials, and in all their communications, personal and professional.

Minister Nash’s comments on this occasion do not meet these standards.

The Manual also sets out that Ministers should not comment on or involve themselves in the results of particular cases. Again Minister Nash’s actions do not meet this expectation.

The Minister has reflected on his actions and agrees it is no longer tenable for him to hold the Police portfolio.

As such Minister Nash has offered me his resignation from the Police portfolio, effective immediately. I have advised the Governor General to accept it and she has done so.

Minister Megan Woods will be the acting Minister of Police for the time being.

Nash resigns as police minister over phone call he disclosed on radio

Stuart Nash delivering the speech on immigration in place of Kris Faafoi. (Radio NZ/Dom Thomas)

Stuart Nash has resigned as police minister after admitting on national radio that he had once called up the police commissioner over a court ruling he disliked.

The call was first disclosed by Nash himself during an interview with Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking today. He said he rang up Andrew Coster over a home detention decision. “This bloke didn’t have a license, had illegal firearms, illegal ammunition… and got home detention – I think this was a terrible decision by the judge,” Nash said.

“Unfortunately police don’t determine what happens to them once they are in court.”

Mike Hosking started his next question with “yes that is true” – but the issue of the phone call was brushed over. It was subsequently picked up by the Act Party, with leader David Seymour saying Nash had gone too far.

Nash was earlier defiant, saying the call wasn’t made during his tenure as police minister.

But prime minister Chris Hipkins has this afternoon confirmed Nash had offered to give up the portfolio.

Hipkins called the original phone call “unwise” and the decision to defend it as “poor judgment”.

In a statement, he added that Nash’s actions did not meet the standards of the cabinet manual.

“The minister has reflected on his actions and agrees it is no longer tenable for him to hold the police portfolio,” said Hipkins. “As such minister Nash has offered me his resignation from the police portfolio, effective immediately. I have advised the Governor General to accept it and she has done so.”

Megan Woods will be the acting minister of police for the time being.

PM: ‘New Zealand will never forget March 15’

Flowers and tributes hung on the fence of the Botanic Gardens (Photo: Carl Court/Getty Images)

Four years on from the Christchurch mosque attack and prime minister Chris Hipkins has reiterated that New Zealand will never forget those who lost their lives and the families of those impacted.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Hipkins said while there is no formal parliamentary marking of today’s anniversary, March 15 will always remain close to the hearts of New Zealanders.

“The prime minister met with families and members of the Muslim community when he visited Masjid An-Nur in Christchurch on March 3. This was a significant event for the prime minister who was deeply moved by the opportunity,” the spokesperson said.

Hipkins has recorded a personal video message for survivors and their families.

Nash denies interfering over call with police commissioner

PM Chris Hipkins, flanked by ministers Stuart Nash and Kieran McAnulty, speaks to media in Hawke’s Bay

The police minister has denied he interfered with police matters after admitting he once called up the police commissioner to lobby for an appeal after a court ruling he felt was unfair.

Stuart Nash told Newstalk ZB today he “phoned up the police commissioner and said surely you’re going to appeal this” after the court gave home detention to an alleged illegal gun owner.

The minister’s defended his actions, telling Newshub he wasn’t police minister at the time of the phone call and adding that he never followed up with what happened.

“I am not interfering in any way shape or form,” Nash said. “I was chewing the fat with a guy who was a mate about a decision that I thought was very bad in the circumstances that I had been involved in when I was the minister of police and buying back firearms and I’m going to leave it at that.”

Nash was minister of police in the government’s last term of office, before he was replaced by Poto Williams and then Chris Hipkins. He regained the role a few weeks ago after Hipkins became prime minister.

PM Chris Hipkins, flanked by ministers Stuart Nash and Kieran McAnulty, speaks to media in Hawke’s Bay

NZ-shot Netflix series Sweet Tooth returns next month

Christian Convery as Gus in Sweet Tooth (Photo: Kirsty Griffin/Netflix © 2021

Season two of the New Zealand-shot Netflix series Sweet Tooth will debut on April 27, the streamer has announced.

The post-apocalyptic science fiction series first launched almost two years ago, drawing rave reviews. Filmed entirely in New Zealand, the series featured many recognisable faces (including Marlon Williams) and locations (like, weirdly, that vine-covered building in central Auckland).

“In season 2, Gus and his fellow hybrids are held captive by the Last Men in order to find a cure for the Sick,” a synopsis released by Netflix reads. “To save his friends, Gus must find new strength as he uncovers the origins of The Great Crumble.”

And here’s a first look.

 

Auckland City Rail Link blows its budget, pushes back completion date

A proposed CRL train station design

The cost of Auckland’s City Rail Link transport connection has ballooned by over $1 billion. And it’s now not expected to be finished until the end of 2025.

In a statement today, City Rail Link said it had submitted a funding request to the government and Auckland Council, reflecting revised costs caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, lockdowns and ongoing associated impacts.

The cost of the project is now estimated to be close to $5.5 billion – about $1.074 billion more than the last estimate in May 2019.

Following the predicted end of construction in November 2025, City Rail Link will then hand over the infrastructure to KiwiRail and Auckland Transport for any additional work – meaning the first passengers may not be onboard a train until even later.

“People need to remember that in Auckland we endured two level four lockdowns, a further 280 days of restricted working conditions… and we lost 3.2 million hours through illness among staff, with 800-plus workers infected,” said chief executive Dr Sean Sweeney.

“The request for extra funding has not and will not delay continuing work on the project, which is progressing well.”

A proposed CRL train station design

Police minister reveals phoning up commissioner over ‘terrible’ court decision

Stuart Nash delivering the speech on immigration in place of Kris Faafoi. (Radio NZ/Dom Thomas)

The police minister has admitted phoning up the police commissioner to encourage he appeal a court decision.

Speaking to Newstalk ZB this morning following further reports of gang crime overnight, Stuart Nash referenced court decisions that he appeared to think were too lenient. “Actually one I phoned up the police commissioner and said surely you’re going to appeal this,” he said.

“This bloke didn’t have a license, had illegal firearms, illegal ammunition… and got home detention – I think this was a terrible decision by the judge.”

It’s a revelation that’s angered the Act Party, with leader David Seymour saying it’s a step too far for a minister. “Former minister Maurice Williamson resigned in 2014 for allegedly interfering in a police investigation into businessman Donghua Liu, but Stuart Nash this morning boasted of calling the police commissioner to influence prosecution decisions,” said Seymour.

“Stuart Nash needs to answer, did this conversation really happen, have there been any other similar conversations, and how on earth does he think such political interference in prosecutions is acceptable?”

The police minister and prime minister have been approached by The Spinoff for comment.

The Bulletin: As many as 50,000 educators will strike on Thursday

Talks between the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa, the union representing 46,000 principals, teachers and support and specialist staff, and the Ministry of Education failed to avert planned strike action on Thursday. The strikes have been organised by the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) and NZEI Te Riu Roa.

Rallies and demonstrations  are planned in towns and cities across the country and most schools have advised parents they will be closed. NZEI president Mark Potter said a wide range of teacher claims were discussed at the meeting and “while the discussions were worthwhile, there was no formal offer movement on the government’s pay offer.”

Teachers aren’t just striking over pay, but staffing levels, support for students and relief for the profession. Those concerns, and the demands of the job, have been summed up in this anonymous piece for Stuff where a teacher writes: “Don’t pay me more. Just provide me more time, and fewer students in my classroom.”

Want to read The Bulletin in full? Click here to subscribe and join over 36,000 New Zealanders who start each weekday with the biggest stories in politics, business, media and culture.

Jacinda Ardern could continue Christchurch Call work post-politics

Jacinda Ardern speaks at a media conference in Auckland to discuss the Christchurch Call.  (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

Former prime minister Jacinda Ardern could remain involved in the Christchurch Call initiative that she shepherded in the wake of the 2019 terror attacks.

Today marks four years since a terrorist massacred 51 people at two mosques.

The Christchurch Call was a summit co-chaired by Ardern that aimed to bring both countries and tech companies together to examine how future acts of radicalised violence could be prevented. More than 100 companies alongside major firms like Twitter and Meta have signed up to the summit.

But with the change of prime minister earlier this year, there are questions around whether or not the political initiative will be maintained.

RNZ has reported today that current PM Chris Hipkins has hinted that Ardern could continue her work with the Christchurch Call. “There’s potential for Jacinda Ardern to continue to be involved in that work and in due course we will explore what that might look like,” he said.

It’s something that could have support from the opposition. National’s Nicola Willis said her party would be supportive of Ardern remaining “an ambassador” for New Zealand.

But, according to Stuff, both National and Act expressed some scepticism as to whether the Christchurch Call had managed to achieve anything.

Jacinda Ardern speaks at a media conference in Auckland to discuss the Christchurch Call. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)