Bob Edlin: Game theory, conspiracies and the puzzle....

....of the way the media got a whiff of Penk’s plot

Sacked from the Luxon Cabinet for his role in the National caucus leadership challenge, the hapless Chris Penk – we are supposed to believe – was the sole plotter.

New Zealand first learned of this one-man conspiracy on August 12, after an emergency National Party caucus meeting and a secret confidence vote called by Prime Minister Christophe Luxon to address the speculation.

Damien Grant: Ex-Navy officer Chris Penk can see the iceberg ahead....

......yet National threw him overboard

Last Wednesday I was presenting to the Construction Industry Council. An excellent organisation, despite their lapse in judgement regarding the calibre of their guest speakers.

As I waited my turn, between checking my phone for the revelation on who would emerge as this week’s Prime Minister and silently checking X, a senior executive from the construction division of MBIE was addressing the conference on upcoming and ongoing reforms.

Perspective with Andrew Dickens: The story of the scapegoat

So it's the story that swamped the country this week. And since I have not been on the radio really until today, this is my first, but also my last word about it.

Despite Christopher Luxon's win, there is obviously a significant part of his team that have little confidence in him. It's strongest amongst the backbenchers who can see their list seats evaporating, but it's also present in the front bench no matter what they say. And that is on the Prime Minister. Because all coups happen when MPs lose confidence in their leaders' messaging.

Ani O'Brien: Chris Penk took the fall, but here’s what I know.

A fledgling coup nipped in the bud.

Forget “a week’s a long time”. A day is an eternity in politics. And yet consequences can arrive with brutal speed.

This morning Chris Penk was a Cabinet minister, ranked 14th on National’s newly released party list, with responsibility for Defence, Building and Construction, Veterans, Space, the GCSB and NZSIS, as well as an associate Emergency Management portfolio. Tonight he has announced that he will not contest November’s election.

David Harvey: A Nuclear Conversation

A conversation the Prime Minister would rather not have

There must be something in the air in the Prime Minister’s suite of the Beehive — a virus of omnipotence and omniscience that seems to infect whoever occupies the office. Jacinda Ardern demonstrated it in spades, with her authoritarian kindness and her government’s self-appointment as the nation’s single source of truth. Christopher Luxon now ventures forth in the same spirit, shutting down any debate on the nuclear question before it can begin.

What he does not appear to understand is that the nuclear issue reaches well beyond the Bomb. Nor does he seem aware of the actual limits of New Zealand’s “anti-nuclear” legislation, which does not prohibit the peaceful use of nuclear energy at all. But the more troubling thing is the arrogance of trying to close a conversation down.

Peter Dunne: Unsafe Buildings

In the wake of the Christchurch, Seddon and Kaikoura earthquakes a new lexicon and culture developed about earthquake damaged and prone buildings. Red and yellow stickers became pervasive, and across the country many buildings, old and new, deemed to be earthquake risks were summarily demolished.

Kerre Woodham: Can you have confidence in buying a new build with partial liability?

Two stories in the Herald today - one about the announcement from Christopher Luxon and Chris Penk yesterday, changing the building liability settings so ratepayers aren't burdened with picking up the tab that shonky developers, builders, or architects are responsible for. In the Herald story, they cite a case in Queenstown: the Oaks Shores body corporate filed a $160 million claim for weather type defects.

Wayne Ryburn: Letter to Minister Chris Penk

The Minister for Building and Construction, Land information

The Hon. Chris Penk

Dear Chris,

In the West Auckland area of Taupaki-Kumeu, horticulturists including myself, have to comply with water-bore renewal fees which will cost property owning horticulturists $7000 along with a now separate hydrologist's report of $5000 or more, in addition there may also be a water meter verification fee requirement of over $800, the last two having GST added. Our bore consents, which last for 15 years, are due at the end of May this year. In 2012 the consenting renewal cost was only $2500 including gst.

Chris Penk: Going for Growth: Public Works Act overhaul

The Public Works Act will undergo its most significant reform in nearly 50-years to help unleash an infrastructure boom, Land Information Minister Chris Penk has announced.

“Removing barriers to make it faster and more affordable to build the homes Kiwis need, creating jobs through new projects and providing infrastructure to support better public services is a major part of the Government’s economic growth agenda,” Mr Penk says.

Chris Lynch: Minister overturns visa ban, allowing Candace Owens entry to New Zealand

Associate Minister of Immigration Chris Penk has reversed Immigration New Zealand’s decision to deny entry to Candace Owens, granting her a special direction under section 17 of the Immigration Act 2009.

The decision has been hailed as a victory for free speech by the Free Speech Union.

Damien Grant: Housing market so tightly regulated we’ve created landed gentry

Did you know it costs 50% more to build a house here than it does in Australia? I didn’t, and was surprised to see Chris Luxon promising to do something about it last week.

I mean, I know his party campaigned on housing affordability, but many of his supporters own property and if he does something about high house prices not everyone is going to be pleased.