Dr James Allan: And the Legacy Media Wonder Why Nobody Trusts Them

Last year when I was asked to write a chapter for a US book on the incredible inroads and attacks on our civil liberties during the thuggish Covid lockdown years I decided, in part, to rank the worst offending groups. The lawyerly and doctorly castes were bad. They were woeful in fact. But the politicians as a class, the ones who ultimately made the calls, were worse – and there were very few exceptions to that generalised claim, as any Australian knows who looks for politicians who, say, resigned from Cabinet on principle (nada, zero) or who spoke up publicly and loudly against the massive authoritarian over-reach and aping of the policies of the Chinese Communist Politburo (a mere handful at most). So I gave the silver medal for thuggish lockdown commitment and stalwart thuggery to the political class. However, in terms of letting all of us citizens down I reserved the gold medal for the journalists of the legacy media.

Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 7/2/25

Health NZ looks for a new head while Matt Doocey tells how he got a $10m thrill

It’s the resignation that surprised nobody.

As RNZ tells it,

Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 22/11/24

More young offenders will get boot camp, bus drivers will get some protection – and there’s relief for southern farmers

The Government has struck more blows to show it is tough on law and order.

One announcement advised us of a bill introduced to Parliament to deal with young offenders and introduce more boot camps.

Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 1/11/24

Overseas psychologists are ruled out from treating us on cultural safety grounds – so the govt is lowering the bar for Kiwis

When you don’t have enough trained health workers to cope with the demand for help – what should be done?

Pave the way, perhaps, to approve practitioners with lesser credentials than those who now provide services.

Perspective with Heather du Plessis-Allan: The Mike King debate has turned political

I'm not altogether surprised that Mike King’s comments on this show yesterday have sparked a debate.

The reason I'm not surprised is because some of what he said is factually wrong.

King claimed alcohol wasn't a problem for people with mental health issues - but rather, a solution.

Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 24/10/24

Nicola Willis talks about targets to a public service audience – then explains what the Social Investment Agency will do

Andrew Bayly (it is far to suppose) awoke this morning and braced to face further questions about how much liquor he consumed, when he consumed it, and other matters on the day he blundered into calling a worker a loser. How many interactions he had with the complainant in this political drama is among the further questions being pursued by Opposition politicians and the media.

Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 27/9/24

Thanks, Minister – but our wellbeing would be greatly improved if we knew the cost of this mental health initiative

Small Business and Manufacturing Minister Andrew Bayly is among the ministers who contributed to a flood of announcements and speeches to the government’s official website in the past 24 hours.

But we suspect something is missing from his enthusing about the Government and Auckland Business Chamber entering a memorandum of understanding

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

Shooting at targets – and firing rockets into space – have the govt’s blessing but Putin is being further punished with sanctions

It depends on what you do with your armaments that determines the Government’s attitude.

Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine a year or so ago and shows no signs of withdrawing his troops or putting his missiles back in their holsters.

Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 30/8/24

Simon Court’s “biography” is blank on the Beehive website – but he has been busily buzzing about his PPP duties

Go googling for information about Simon Court, an ACT MP since 2020, and – among the first half dozen suggestions – you will find a steer to the government’s official website:

Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 29/8/24

What’s gone on in climate-change talks with China? Watts is coy while Brown buries his news about raising road revenue

Point of Order is disappointed that Climate Change Minister Simon Watts didn’t tell us much more about his chat with China’s Minister of Ecology and Environment, Huang Runqiu.

Watts said the Chinese minister is departing New Zealand today ”after the Fifth Ministerial Climate Change Dialogue between New Zealand and China…”

Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 9/8/24

Making it easier to comply: a respite from quake-remedial requirements and clarification for discharge consents

The headline on one of the latest ministerial press statements generated a bit of conjecture among Point of Order writers.

The government was assuring us of …

David Farrar: Mental Health targets

Mental health Minister Matt Doocey announced:

Dr Sarah Williams, Professor Leon Benade: School-based healthcare

If the NZ government wants to improve student outcomes, it needs to invest more in school-based healthcare

New Zealand’s school achievement is currently front and centre with the government’s plans to invest NZ$67 million into structured literacy. But what has been largely missing from the discussion on education is the impact health can have on learning and academic achievement.

Peter Dunne: Controller and Auditor-General's role

I am always wary when I hear that the Controller and Auditor-General has commented on or made recommendations to the government about an issue of public policy that does not relate strictly to public expenditure.

According to the legislation, the role of the Controller and Auditor-General is to make sure that public sector organisations are spending public resources well and making good decisions. That is as it should be and consistent with what might be expected of good audit practice.

Penn Raine: I have Mental Health Issues

That is, I have an issue with the way the term ‘mental health’ is characterised by the media, social or otherwise, by people with their hands on the handle of the spin machine and everyone else who is using the phrase glibly and, let’s be honest, mostly dishonestly.

Oh, I know that the reductionist argument goes like this:

 

A negative event has occurred in my life.

I used to feel ok and now I don’t.

My mind is confused, depressed therefore unhealthy.

My mind is my mental state.

Therefore, I have mental health issues.

Kate Hawkesby: Public services workers are doing what they can

When you think about all the sectors and industries in this country which have gone to the dogs lately —much of the public service, (electoral commission anyone?), the media, airlines, airports (namely Auckland), Hospitals— there’s an underlying common denominator.  

Within all these sectors there are still amazing people doing amazing things. I hear so often for example from people who, despite all the doom and gloom and horrible news about our Hospitals, have the best experiences with considerate, hardworking, and dedicated nurses. People who say they could not fault the care and attention they received. 

Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 30/8/23

Multi-agency 111 response is among the latest govt initiatives which depend on Labour surviving the general election

Many burning questions (as the general election looms) are answered on the government’s official website today.

Let’s start by checking how ministers are spending (or misspending) our money.

Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 22/8/23

Govt is dishing out free meds and free mental health services – and it looks like truants’ parents can stay free of prosecution

The word “free” has been dubiously bandied by Health Minister Ayesha Verrall in two of her three press statements over the past 24 hours or so.

She has been enthusing about

Kate Hawkesby: When did we just accept every social and mental health issue is fine to pour all over our streets?

I see one of the favourite holiday playgrounds for many Kiwi families, has been hit with a travel advisory over violence.

‘Fiji police to increase presence after reports of violent attacks on tourists’ read the headline.

These attacks apparently include assaults, robberies and sexual assaults, mainly in Suva’s downtown nightspots.

Heather du Plessis-Allan: Kiri Allan should have been fired sooner

I don’t buy this debate about Chris Hipkins’ judgement as a leader and whether he made a mistake bringing Kiri Allan back to work from mental health leave too early.

That wasn’t the mistake that he made. His mistake was that he didn’t fire her last month when he should've.

I'm not convinced mental pressure is the sole explanation for what happened on Sunday night.