Latest news with #Mallard
Otago Daily Times
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
'Carnival's over': Peters celebrates Mallard's early exit
By Russell Palmer of RNZ Foreign Minister Winston Peters is celebrating former Speaker of the House Trevor Mallard being replaced as Ambassador to Ireland. Mallard was appointed for a three-year term in Dublin in 2022. But in a statement this afternoon Peters named Angela Hassan-Sharp for the role. Asked about Mallard, he said: "You know that famous song from The Seekers? Carnival's over". He said Mallard was "coming home and he's coming home early". Asked if he had a reason to bring Mallard home, he replied: "Yes, I do". "It's a circus where instead of looking at the national interest, you've got people like Jacinda Ardern appointing politicians to important jobs - and that should not be happening. "Their performance will never be up to scratch for goodness sake. You people surely understand that you train people, you give them decades of experience to get into important jobs, and all of a sudden you put a politician there with no training at all." No politicians should ever be assigned to diplomatic roles, he believed. "I'm saying, that we should not be having politicians in diplomatic jobs, full stop. I've opposed it in all my career, and soon I'll have corrected it for a third time." Asked the last time he spoke to Mallard, he said: "I can't remember ... it's got to be, oh, five years ago." "I cannot believe that Jacinda Ardern sent somebody like him after the way he behaved with respect to the protesters out here, turning up the noise, putting cold water over young children at night. This is a disgrace, and you guys should have been calling it out, not me," he told reporters. In 2022, Peters criticised Mallard's appointment to the role, saying it should never have happened and Mallard did not have the diplomatic judgement required to be an ambassador. "Mr Mallard has never demonstrated any understanding of the most fundamental elements of diplomacy itself," he said at the time. The former Speaker had Peters trespassed from Parliament's grounds after the then-former Deputy Prime Minister attended the protest occupation of Parliament's grounds. Peters sought a judicial review over the matter, and Mallard admitted at the High Court that issuing the trespass warning was "unreasonable and irrational" and that Peters had not acted in a way which would justify the move. Adrian Rurawhe as Speaker apologised to Peters on Mallard's behalf over the trespass when Mallard resigned to take up the role of ambassador. RNZ has sought comment from Mallard.
Scottish Sun
11-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
The FIVE free days out for your kids this summer – and you don't need to be on benefits
THERE are still weeks left of the school summer holidays and many families will be struggling for ways to keep their kids entertained for less. Planning days out and trips can easily cost a small fortune, but many attractions offer free or discounted entry for children. 1 We share the five free days out for your kids that can help you save The accompanying adult may still have to pay entry, but it can help lessen the financial load if your little ones can have fun for free. Better yet, these activities are free or discounted regardless of whether you are on benefits or not. Let's take a look below. National Railway Museum, York The National Railway Museum in York is free to enjoy for the whole family. Both kids and adults can enter the facility for free but you are encouraged to make a donation. The venue is home to a number of historic rail vehicles including Mallard, the world's fastest steam locomotive. Visitors can also get a look at the iconic Japanese "bullet train". Plenty of other museums also offer free entry for kids, including the Science museum in London and the National History museum. Free workshops If your children are animal obsessed then why not apply for one of Pets at Home "My Pet Pals" summer workshop. These events will run until Sunday August 17 in Scotland and Northern Ireland . And will run until Sunday August 31 in England and Wales. You can make school cake in the air fryer with just 6 ingredients - it's ready in minutes & perfect for an after-school snack These workshops focus on the five needs of animal welfare, with a different theme each week of the holidays. Kids will receive a pocketbook full of activities, a My Pet Pals certificate, and have the chance to meet some animals. You can find out more by visiting £1 cinema days Families can head to the cinema for £1 per person at Cineworld locations. These movies are not the latest releases but include big hits from the past year or so including Paddington and the Minecraft Movie. Upcoming films across all Cineworld locations include. Moana 2 – August 8 to August 14 Paddington in Peru – August 15 to August 21 A Minecraft Movie – August 22 to August 28 While a select number are showing: Transformers One – August 8 to August 14 Disney's Snow White – August 15 to August 21 Dog Man – August 22 to August 28 You can find out if your local branch will be home to one of the selected films by visiting You can book your discounted tickets online. Free view of London skyline A day trip to London can be very pricey if you are not careful. For example, a trip to The Shard in London usually costs £28. But if you head to the Sky Garden, which is just a 15 minute walk away, you can see the same view for free. You can book your free tickets online by visiting: Free courses for teenagers Islington Council runs a number of free courses for teenagers and young adults through its Summerversity scheme. In the past, classes have included archery, football camp and photography lessons. You can book a maximum of eight courses to keep your teenager entertained over the holidays. You can sign up by visiting And there are still a number of courses available to sign up for including swimming lessons and kickboxing. Of course you will need to live in the London borough to get access to the scheme. But if you don't it may be worth ringing up your local council to see if it runs a similar event.
Scoop
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Ex-Speaker Trevor Mallard Being Sued By Child Over Parliament Protest Music
Former Speaker of the House Trevor Mallard is being sued by a child over blasting repetitive bad music from loudspeakers during the 2022 Parliament protest and occupation. During the occupation, Mallard used the speaker system to play music and the sprinklers to try and deter protesters and move them on from the lawn. The lawyer for the child, Tudor Clee, confirmed to RNZ the case was filed at the High Court in Wellington naming the attorney-general and speaker as defendants. Clee said the case was in its very early stages and would be before a judge for its first callover on 7 July to deal with the name suppression, given the client is a minor. The case seeks a declaration that the child's rights were breached, as well as damages of $40,000 for three separate breaches. Clee said Mallard was being sued for two breaches of the Bill of Rights - the right not to be subjected to torture or cruel treatment and the freedom of association. The third is a tort - a civil wrong - claiming misfeasance in public office, where a public officer intentionally abuses their power, causing harm to another person. The lawyer said this was an unusual claim to file, but covered the intentional use of what he described as "military torture techniques" when Mallard set up loudspeakers to prevent protesters resting and sleeping. Speaking to Midday Report, Clee claimed the former speaker breached his client's right to be free from torture and cruel treatment and her right to freedom of protest. "We all remember that the speaker had flooded the lawns, and he subsequently said he knew he was flooding excrement into the lawns when he did it." Clee said. "We've got three years later now, and we're looking back with fresh eyes, and the fact is, this is just the wrong way to treat protesters and frankly, unlawful." His client was seeking a declaration that it was wrong to breach her rights in this way and a financial penalty to recognise the harm, Clee said. A spokesperson for the Crown Law Office confirmed the Attorney-General, Judith Collins, had been named as a defendant and was taking advice on how to respond to the claim. Clee said once the other parties had filed a statement of defence, he expected a trial could take place in a year. Mallard declined to comment to RNZ.
1News
27-06-2025
- Politics
- 1News
Ex-speaker sued by child over Parliament protest music
Former Speaker of the House Trevor Mallard is being sued by a child over blasting repetitive bad music from loudspeakers during the 2022 Parliament protest and occupation. During the occupation, Mallard used the speaker system to play music and the sprinklers to try and deter protesters and move them on from the lawn. The lawyer for the child, Tudor Clee, confirmed to RNZ the case was filed at the High Court in Wellington, naming the attorney-general and speaker as defendants. Clee said the case was in its very early stages and would be before a judge for its first call over on July 7 to deal with the name suppression, given the client is a minor. The case sought a declaration that the child's rights were breached, as well as damages of $40,000 for three separate breaches. ADVERTISEMENT Clee said Mallard was being sued for two breaches of the Bill of Rights — the right not to be subjected to torture or cruel treatment and the freedom of association. The third was a tort — a civil wrong — claiming misfeasance in public office, where a public officer intentionally abused their power, causing harm to another person. The lawyer said this was an unusual claim to file but covered the intentional use of what he described as "military torture techniques" when Mallard set up loudspeakers to prevent protesters resting and sleeping. Lawyers for the attorney-general and the speaker of the House have been approached for comment.
BBC News
20-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Plaque unveiled at Doncaster Station for Flying Scotsman creator
A commemorative plaque has been unveiled to honour the engineer behind some of the world's most famous steam Nigel Gresley designed and built more than 2,000 locomotives, including Flying Scotsman and Godfrey, wo revealed the plaque at Doncaster Station on Thursday, said he was "delighted" to see his grandfather's work recognised."His most famous locomotives were built here, so there is a very special family connection to Doncaster," he said. Born in Edinburgh in 1876, Sir Nigel moved to Doncaster in 1905 to work as a carriage and wagon superintendent and then as a locomotive engineer for Great Northern Railway before moving to London in same year Flying Scotsman was built at the LNER works in Doncaster to Sir Nigel's design and used to pull an express service along the east coast main line between London and Edinburgh.15 years later another of Sir Nigel's most famous locomotives, Mallard, was built at the Doncaster Locomotive, Carriage and Wagon Works. It still holds the record for the world's fastest steam locomotive after it reached 126mph in 1938. Mayor Ros Jones said: "Doncaster has a proud connection to the railway industry, and this is another splendid acknowledgment to a man who gave so much to our city."It will be a lasting reminder and attraction, to those who live in and visit Doncaster, of his ongoing influence."Linda Wain, engineering director at LNER, said Mr Gresley's legacy was "deeply woven" into Doncaster and the railway plaque and information board at Doncaster Station is close to an existing display which features the names of locomotives built in the nearby Nigel died at home unexpectedly in 1941, aged 65, while still working for LNER. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North
