Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 18/9/24

Reti discusses his health portfolio challenges (and draws attention to the flexibility of those who serve as a kaiwhakahaere)

It’s hard to be cheered by Health Minister Shane Reti’s speech to the New Zealand Nurses Association. But he did give us a good idea of what must be done in his ministerial bailiwick.

Point of Order: Climate change activists worry about “cow in the room”

But doesn’t NZ need a different answer to the problem?

What they call “the cow in the room” is the focus of climate change activists. They are attacking both National and Labour for what they see as the failure to have a credible plan to cut climate pollution from Big Dairy. They are calling on all political parties to step up and commit to bold and urgent climate action.

Greenpeace spokesperson Christine Rose says as we get closer to the 2023 election, people are calling for strong leadership on climate action.

Thomas Cranmer: EPA recommends a model of co-governance which 'may set the lawyers hair on fire'

Amongst the seemingly constant stream of ministerial missteps of late, it’s easy to forget that in March Rob Campbell was fired from the boards of Te Whatu Ora and the Environmental Protection Authority over comments that he made criticising National’s Three Waters policy.

Immediately following his axing, Campbell hit back by claiming that ministers had “targeted” him after he stood up for co-governance.

Point of Order: Campbell kicked out for speaking up on LinkedIn.....

.....Parker, too, preaches need for political impartiality in public posts

This time it’s official – or rather, this time the announcement was posted on the Government’s official website as well as being emailed to news media, handed to political scribblers in the Parliamentary Press Gallery, couriered to whoever by pigeons, or whatever.

It’s the news that Environment Minister David Parker has kicked Rob Campbell off the board of the Environmental Protection Authority.

Health Minister Ayesha Verrall was quicker to the draw. She sacked Campbell as the chairperson of Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand two days ago.

The reason?