Beehive website misses PM’s expression of sorrow after Auckland shootings and praise for heroes who risked their lives
The impression you will get from the government’s official website – if that’s your only source of information about what ministers are doing and saying – is that just one shot was fired in Auckland yesterday.
It was the shot which gave the Football Ferns a 1-0 win over Norway in the opening match of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Sport and Recreation Minister Grant Robertson today saluted the winning team with a press statement headed Historic win for Football Ferns kicks off World Cup.
But news media have been devoting much more time and space to the shooting in Auckland of two male construction workers, the colleagues of a gunman who also is dead.
The New Zealand Herald has reported on a nation in mourning as investigations continue in Downtown Auckland.
A police officer injured in the shootout is in a stable condition in hospital, Superintendent Sunny Patel said today. A second officer was recovering at home.
Three other people injured in the incident remain in hospital with non-life threatening injuries, and two people have been discharged from hospital.
Don’t get us wrong. The Prime Minister was quick to express his deep sorrow at the shootings.
And he reassured Aucklanders about their safety.
Scoop records this Statement From Prime Minister Chris Hipkins, timed at 10:40 am, Thursday, 20 July 2023.
But Point of Order can’t find it at Beehive.govt.nz, “the official website of the New Zealand Government”.
Citizens are welcomed to this website with a cheery:
Kia ora. Beehive.govt.nz is the best place to find Government initiatives, policies and Ministerial information.
Here’s what was posted there yesterday and today.
We have added one Wednesday item – from the Prime Minister – which had not been posted when Point of Order checked yesterday.
This is the news that Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will visit Wellington next week to mark a year of special anniversaries, including the 40th anniversary of Closer Economic Relations.
He’s not the only big-wig headed our way. Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta has announced the visit of American Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
But news media have been devoting much more time and space to the shooting in Auckland of two male construction workers, the colleagues of a gunman who also is dead.
The New Zealand Herald has reported on a nation in mourning as investigations continue in Downtown Auckland.
A police officer injured in the shootout is in a stable condition in hospital, Superintendent Sunny Patel said today. A second officer was recovering at home.
Three other people injured in the incident remain in hospital with non-life threatening injuries, and two people have been discharged from hospital.
Don’t get us wrong. The Prime Minister was quick to express his deep sorrow at the shootings.
And he reassured Aucklanders about their safety.
Scoop records this Statement From Prime Minister Chris Hipkins, timed at 10:40 am, Thursday, 20 July 2023.
But Point of Order can’t find it at Beehive.govt.nz, “the official website of the New Zealand Government”.
Citizens are welcomed to this website with a cheery:
Kia ora. Beehive.govt.nz is the best place to find Government initiatives, policies and Ministerial information.
Here’s what was posted there yesterday and today.
We have added one Wednesday item – from the Prime Minister – which had not been posted when Point of Order checked yesterday.
This is the news that Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will visit Wellington next week to mark a year of special anniversaries, including the 40th anniversary of Closer Economic Relations.
He’s not the only big-wig headed our way. Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta has announced the visit of American Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Latest from the Beehive
United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Aotearoa New Zealand next week for bilateral meetings and to attend the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The Government has given councils new powers to make street changes more easily in pursuit of locally-agreed needs and objectives, Transport Minister David Parker said today.
Minister of Sport and Recreation Grant Robertson has congratulated the Football Ferns on an inspirational performance at last night’s opening match of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.
The Government is partnering with Fonterra to cut coal use at its dairy factories, delivering massive emissions reductions, and future-proofing New Zealand trade and exports.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will visit Wellington next week to mark a year of special anniversaries, including the 40th anniversary of Closer Economic Relations, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins announced today.
So – the PM’s staff (or whoever is responsible for these things) put the Fonterra funding news on the Beehive website yesterday, but not the PM’s response to the shootings.
This response can be found in the statement in which he said:
This morning at 7.23am a witness called Police to report witnessing a man with a gun shooting in central Auckland at a building on lower Queen Street.
At 7.34am Police arrived on the scene and the Armed Offenders Squad was there four minutes later.
It is with deep sorrow that I can confirm 2 people have been killed.
At this stage I’m aware 6 others have been injured, including Police.
They have been taken to Auckland Hospital.
Police have confirmed the shooter is also dead.
The assessment from officials is that there is no national security risk.
There is no change to New Zealand’s security threat level.
The PM proceeded to reveal what was known at that time.
The offender was armed with a pump action shot gun.
He moved through the building site and discharged his firearm.
Upon reaching the upper levels of the building the man contained himself in an elevator and Police engaged with him, shots were fired and he was located a short time later.
Hipkins thanked the brave men and women of the New Zealand Police, some of whom ran into fire from the gunman straight into harm’s way to save the lives of other.
These kinds of situations move fast and the actions of those who risk their lives to save others are nothing short of heroic.
Hipkins also acknowledged ambulance first responders who were there quickly on the scene.
But he emphasised that this was still an ongoing police operation,
… and I have limited further information I can provide at this time.
Police will provide further updates though the day.
He said he would be headed for Auckland to join Police Commissioner Andrew Coster at the scene to provide any support to the response that he could.
He was not oblivious to the big sporting event that was about to kick off.
Clearly with the FIFA World Cup kicking off this evening there are a lot of eyes on Auckland.
The Government has spoken to FIFA organisers this morning and the tournament will proceed as planned.
I want to reiterate that there is no wider national security threat.
This appears to be the actions of an individual.
Aucklanders and those watching around the world can be assured the Police have neutralised the threat and they are not seeking anyone else in relation to the incident.
New Zealander’s safety is our first priority.
But the PM’s staff have not got around to posting that statement on the site described as
“… the best place to find Government initiatives, policies and Ministerial information”.
It can be found on the Scoop website, along with statements from the Governor-General and the ACT party.
Latest Parliament Headlines
Thursday, 20 July 2023, 5:09 pm | New Zealand Government
“I was deeply shocked to learn of the shooting incident in Auckland this morning. My husband and I extend our sincerest sympathy to the families of the victims. Successive Governors-General have had close relationships with NZ Police, and we admire their … More >>
Thursday, 20 July 2023, 11:40 am | ACT New Zealand
“I’d like to offer my, and ACT’s, sympathy to the families of this morning’s victims. I hope those injured are stable and recover soon,” says ACT Leader David Seymour. “The response by Police and Ambulance staff was brave and effective. By … More >>
Thursday, 20 July 2023, 10:40 am | New Zealand Government
Kia ora koutou This morning at 7.23am a witness called Police to report witnessing a man with a gun shooting in central Auckland at a building on lower Queen Street. At 7.34am Police arrived on the scene and the Armed Offenders Squad was there four … More >>
On a much cheerier note, in his statement of congratulations, Sport and Recreation Minister Grant Robertson said:
“The Football Ferns’ 1-0 win against Norway was an historic moment for everyone in the stands at Eden Park to witness. The team played with class, composure and determination to win our first ever World Cup match and start New Zealand’s campaign off on a high,” Grant Robertson said.
“It was an incredible atmosphere last night, with a record 42,137 football fans at Eden Park.
“This was an historic win. As Football Ferns captain Ali Riley said ‘We have had a clear goal to inspire young girls around the country, anything is possible. We believed in ourselves from the very beginning, this is what dreams are made of’.”
Robertson then turned to touting:
“Last night’s match showed why New Zealanders should snap up tickets to a match near them before to be part of this exciting action. It’s not every day we have the opportunity to watch some of the world’s best football players in action right here in our own backyard.
“There is going to be so much amazing talent on display by all teams over the next month, with a further 28 matches taking place in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and Dunedin.”
He wished all the teams the best for their upcoming games.
Point of Order imagines he won’t similarly be wishing all parties the best for the upcomi9ng general election.
Point of Order is a blog focused on politics and the economy run by veteran newspaper reporters Bob Edlin and Ian Templeton
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