A random impertinent question about Donghua Liu

Written By: - Date published: 8:30 pm, February 21st, 2015 - 61 comments
Categories: john key, scoundrels - Tags: ,

Donghua Liu John Key

I am writing a post about the Donghua Liu timeline for tomorrow but one question jumps up and I wonder what the answer is.  Crowdsourcing help would be appreciated.

Today the Herald announced that Liu donated to the National Party the sum of $25,000 in August 2013.  It was said that the donation was to Jami Lee Ross’s Botany campaign.

Liu does not appear to be a details person.  His comments about the donation to Labour which includes a rowing club and a Chinese cement factory reinforce this.  Did he intend to donate it to Ross and not National?

The amount, $25,000, is above the the amount that can be donated anonymously to a party.  It has to be declared.

The National return for 2013 donations does not appear to include this particular donation.  It was dated April 30, 2014 and this is after the problems with Liu and Maurice Williamson became public but a day before Williamson’s resignation.

And it does not appear in Lee-Ross’s return of pecuniary interests.

So have I missed something or is National trying to pull a swifty?

61 comments on “A random impertinent question about Donghua Liu ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Gruntie 1
    21 February 2015 at 8:39 pm

    That’s why they “gave it back”
    So they can say they never used it – cos they know it stinks of corruption- again

  2. dv 2
    21 February 2015 at 8:44 pm

    Does giving it back mean they didn’t need to declare it?

    • mickysavage 2.1
      21 February 2015 at 8:47 pm

      If it has been returned immediately I am not sure but according to the Herald it was returned over 12 months later.

  3. joe90 3
    21 February 2015 at 8:48 pm

    First the Hurricanes, now this – (▰˘◡˘▰)

  4. Anne 4
    21 February 2015 at 9:33 pm

    Last night, Jami-Lee Ross said he did not intend to insult Mr Liu and any negative publicity associated to the businessman was not the reason the $25,000 was returned.

    He said the Liu donation was given to be used in the local Botany campaign, but was not spent as a $24,000 donation from the National Party covered his expenses.

    “So when the [donation and expense] returns were being put together after the election, it was decided the $25,000 should be returned to the donor because it was not used.

    Will anyone fall for that load of gobbledygook? The National Party returning money? An amateurish attempt to cover up the existence of the donation I’ll be bound.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11405494

    • mickysavage 4.1
      21 February 2015 at 9:43 pm

      There is a sense of desperation and Crosby Textor designed lines to avoid the proposition that National and/or Lee-Ross should have declared the donation but did not. And I get the feeling Lee-Ross is being offered up as a scape goat.

      • Anne 4.1.1
        21 February 2015 at 9:46 pm

        Don’t forget Lee-Ross figures prominently in “Dirty Politics” – a mate of Slater’s.

        • Lanthanide 4.1.1.1
          22 February 2015 at 8:28 am

          You mean, is mentioned a couple of times in passing?

          • Anne 4.1.1.1.1
            22 February 2015 at 9:15 am

            More than that Lanthanide. He was a regular communicator with Slater. He’s mentioned in email dispatches quite a few times. His candidacy was actively supported by Slater although in the latter part of the book there appeared to be some disagreement or parting of the ways.

        • linda 4.1.1.2
          22 February 2015 at 9:39 am

          he a very good mate of slug boy, as a side note does anyone know anything about the 400 names given to shonkey by the chinas president.

      • Paul 4.1.2
        21 February 2015 at 9:56 pm

        Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy…..

      • whateva next? 4.1.3
        21 February 2015 at 9:58 pm

        yet, I don’t think $25,000 would have been donated if it were only Lee-Ross who went for dinner

      • Clemgeopin 4.1.4
        21 February 2015 at 11:29 pm

        “And I get the feeling Lee-Ross is being offered up as a scape goat”

        He often comes across as bit of a goat in his comments anyway!

        Now may be being readied to be the sacrificial goat in this Chinese year of the goat.

    • Clemgeopin 4.2
      21 February 2015 at 11:13 pm

      These corrupt bastards think that they can fool most of the people all the time.
      Lucky our National party politicians aren’t in China where they shoot the buggers!

  5. whateva next? 5
    21 February 2015 at 9:52 pm

    I think it was returned 14 months later?, accusations around Cunliffe having “supported” him years prior to his charge, fall a bit flat now……no wonder these guys are so loaded with scruples of sewer rats.

  6. Neil 6
    21 February 2015 at 10:05 pm

    Something stinks here & its emanating from this donation not being declared, you’re quite right there Mickey, I looked at that to about it not in their declaration & seen it wasn’t listed. This has surely got to be a major embarrassment to Key that he has been caught out blatantly lying & also goes to show how much The Herald is in the Nats pockets.

  7. Stuart Munro 7
    21 February 2015 at 10:27 pm

    The Herald’s behaviour in this is particularly disgusting – Cunliffe – writes a form letter: told to resign – Key accepts a donation and illegally conceals it: that’s ok, the Herald fully endorses political corruption.

  8. Ovid 8
    21 February 2015 at 10:27 pm

    Did Liu get a receipt? Did he claim the donation with the IRD? If so, did he return any tax refund when he got the donation back?

  9. Upnorth 9
    21 February 2015 at 10:32 pm

    It was returned that what matters – lets be fair here, Labour did retrospective donation law changes, and all parties dont declare time donated in lieu (no pun intended).

    Review the law on donations

    See here is how I see it:
    Anyone who makes a 10.00 or a 1m donation has the same objective – keep the govt of the day in power or help change govt. The motives are the same no matter the value.

    There is zero difference – see PSA donated a huge amount of resources to change the govt and laws at the last election – is that going to be declared by the left bloc – NO.

    Of course the Nats knew and of course Labour knew – the decision was to refund and has been done. If it hadnt then I agree on full frontal assualt.

    Solution
    Monthly returns – that will keep the papework tight and take out any time line conspiracies

  10. irascible 10
    21 February 2015 at 10:34 pm

    The Herald’s story implies that Ross gave Lui back his original cheque – 15 months after the donation was given him…and then, immediately after the HO of the National Party donated the same amount to Ross’s campaign account.
    This has the look of COVER UP and corruption around both Key and Ross. I look forward to John Armstrong and the Herald Editorial calling for the immediate resignation of all involved. (fat chance!)

  11. Rob 11
    21 February 2015 at 10:39 pm

    Where is John Armstrong when you need him eh?
    John key will probably not remember the dinner but that will not be a problem either eh!

  12. tc 12
    22 February 2015 at 7:29 am

    Nothing a little retrospective law under urgency cant fix, gee its good to be king and rule over the land as we please.

    worse case they throw JLR under the bus, hes tainted by DP and botanys due for another dodgy nat mp anyway. Could get a discount down at sockpuppet warehouse while they shop for northland and stash a few away for laters.

  13. mary_a 13
    22 February 2015 at 7:44 am

    Dirty cash, dirty activities, dirty politics, dirty money laundering, all involving one very dirty PM!

    More odious stench of corruption!

    Hardly surprising is it, given John Key is leading a very filthy game?

  14. coaster 14
    22 February 2015 at 8:08 am

    Did they bank the chq?. If they did it should have been declared.

    im starting to think national arnt that corrupt, there just hopeless at managing anything, but are good at covering there arses after they have stuffed up.

  15. Visubversaviper 15
    22 February 2015 at 8:31 am

    The Herald story says that the donation was mde to the “Botany Cabinet Club”. These Cabinet Clubs are part of the Nats atempt to disguise who is giving them $$$$.

  16. john 16
    22 February 2015 at 9:06 am

    If the money was returned after the electoral return was filed them common sense dictates it should have been included in the return. They charged porr old Banksy for the same re Kim Dotcom

    • rawshark-yeshe 16.1
      22 February 2015 at 10:48 am

      Actually John, no, they didn’t. Banks’ prosecution was regarding a mayoral election campaign.

  17. Andrew Geddis 17
    22 February 2015 at 9:08 am

    According to the NZ Herald story:

    Outside court, he told the Herald he gave $25,000 to Mr Ross through the “Botany Cabinet Club” and “subsequently this amount was refunded”.

    We don’t know much about how these “Cabinet Clubs” work, but it is possible that National has set them up so that in theory donations made to them are a “candidate donation” to an individual electorate organisation. As such, they don’t have to be declared until after the next general election (rather than annually, as is the case for party donations) and Lee-Ross doesn’t have to include it in his declaration of pecuniary interests (campaign donations are exempted from this).

    • mickysavage 17.1
      22 February 2015 at 9:23 am

      Thanks Andrew. I was under the impression that cabinet club donations were declared by the party.

      TV3 said the following in an article last year (http://www.3news.co.nz/politics/paying-club-gets-access-to-national-mps-2014050616#axzz3SPdXUirs):

      3 News can reveal details about a fundraising network used by the National Party to get donations in exchange for access to MPs and ministers.

      The Green Party is calling it a secret racket, but because the donations are declared there are no rules broken.

      The first rule of Cabinet Club is you do not talk about Cabinet Club. Four National MPs 3 News spoke with said they were not sure what it was.

      The National Party holds 42 electorate seats which fundraise through functions.

      Supporters pay a fee or donation to the party to attend three or four “informal luncheon/breakfast get-togethers”. They get access to ministers who attend, though the party claims “not in a ministerial capacity”.

      MPs choose how their Cabinet Clubs are run. It’s what National MP Nick Smith calls “pizza politics”.

      …

      The National Party won’t say how much it makes from Cabinet Club. Donations between $1500 and $15,000 are declared but anonymous.

      National received 185 anonymous donations in that threshold last year, raising $866,000.

      The return is here (http://www.elections.org.nz/sites/default/files/plain-page/attachments/national_party_donations_return_2013.pdf)

      I took it from the article that the donations were declared.

      • Andrew Geddis 17.1.1
        22 February 2015 at 9:58 am

        I guess the devil is in this detail:

        MPs choose how their Cabinet Clubs are run. It’s what National MP Nick Smith calls “pizza politics”.

        If Lee-Ross is spruiking for personal donations (rather than party ones) then he can hide them away until after the election. Maybe other clubs are run in a different way?

        (Note, but – $25,000 buys a hell of a lot of pizza!)

      • Clemgeopin 17.1.2
        22 February 2015 at 10:52 am

        Was this latest issue covered by TV1 or TV3 news yesterday or not?

    • Anne 17.2
      22 February 2015 at 9:37 am

      Thanks for that Andrew Geddis.

      I think we can safely say the primary purpose of the “Cabinet Clubs” are/were to effectively ‘launder’ some of their donations.

      They lost much of their previous ‘laundering’ strategy when the Clark government changed the Electoral Act. Large donations were deposited in $9,999 lots and that way they didn’t have to declare them. It was also a strategy practiced by ACT in the 1990s and early 2000s. In those days John Boscawen was in charge of their finances, so it was no surprise to me when he spear-headed the “DEMOCRACY UNDER ATTACK” meme (ably supported by the NZ Herald) later that decade. He would have been sore at having his cosy little number pulled out from under his feet.

    • Stuart Munro 17.3
      23 February 2015 at 1:20 am

      Yeah – it’ll be like the shell fishing companies that employ the slave workers – no NZ company is ever liable for anything. Bad enough at sea, in politics it’s worse.

  18. freedom 18
    22 February 2015 at 9:12 am

    I’ll just leave this here, again

    Want to get some transparency into the funding of politics in New Zealand?

    Perhaps it Is time for an Election Donation Register of New Zealand ?

    THE EDRNZ:
    The EDRNZ is an escrow body which collects and distributes donations for all local and central government election candidates and or political parties.

    Any party or individual standing in local or central government elections registers with the EDRNZ and is paid donated monies minus an administrative tax.

    A handling fee is applied on all donations for administration of the EDRNZ.
    This could be a small tax deducted from the donation itself.

    KiwiBank is an obvious choice to administrate the fund.

    All donations are deposited and logged with the EDRNZ then distributed to the relevant party or individual. With modern banking on-line processes this would be an efficient near instantaneous transaction from donation to EDRNZ to candidate. (especially quick if the candidate banked with KiwiBank)

    it would also be completely transparent and accountable to the current agencies tasked with overseeing the funding mechanisms of NZ politics.

    DONATIONS:

    Private donations below $1,000 can be anonymous but are still declared on a public register.

    Any individual or private donation over $1000 is not anonymous and is declared on a public register.

    Any donations from a business or charity are not anonymous and are declared.

    Donations from a trust, of any amount, would not be anonymous and must be declared on the register. Occasional audits of the anonymous “private donations” should show up attempts to circumvent this.

    Any private donation of any amount not made in the name of a NZ citizen or resident of NZ would not be anonymous and must be declared on the public register.

    All cash donations, bucket collections, electoral office collections and ‘raffle’ sales etc are processed/declared as per origin of funds. -this is an obvious grey area for cases where this total exceeds $1000 but it is hardly an insurmountable obstacle.

    The circumstances of its collection would show the totals were legitimate. E.g. the deposit slip from bucket collections. Large single donations (over the $1000 limit) are very rare from a bucket day (I am confident dodo eggs would be more common).

    If such a donation was made however, a donor’s details could easily be logged by the collector or alternatively the donation can be made using any number of modern technical services such as mobile Eftpos and Square, for example.

    THE PUBLIC REGISTER:
    Your vote is your vote and that should always be private information between you and the relevant electoral body. When it comes to political donations however, I strongly feel if you don’t want people to know you donated to a particular party then why are you donating to that party?

    I am confident NZ could produce a public register detailing the donated amount with an associated donor identity that does so without signing away excessive amounts of private data. The Addresses or locality of the donor for example need not be specific or even public, but would of course be available to the proper agencies if any irregularities had to be investigated. The transfer of data to the EDRNZ Public Register would not need to be instantaneous and a weekly or even monthly update would suffice.

    It would not be difficult to shape a register with the suitable oversights, which also provides the necessary social protections.

    There are numerous opportunities to massively overcomplicate the environment of a body like EDRNZ, and despite the spin-doctored wailing and the gnashing of teeth from some heavily invested interest groups, the actual mechanics of its operation are incredibly straightforward and there is no reason for it not to operate efficiently and most importantly, transparently.

    Transparency in the funding of politics … it is not difficult.

  19. linda 19
    22 February 2015 at 9:50 am

    let not forget the 400 names chinas president give shonkey and shonkey didn’t seem overly happy about in .

  20. adam 20
    22 February 2015 at 12:03 pm

    I’m confused – if you get a gift and it’s worth a lot of money – in this case almost twice the basic income of a single person on a benefit.

    Why would you hold on to said gift for longer than a year with the intention of giving it back?

    Why would you then have to use spin, to explain said gift?

    And finally, how many people can the PM throw under the bus – till his backbench revolts?

  21. Treetop 21
    22 February 2015 at 12:07 pm

    How many names does Donghua Liu go by?

    Have all names been checked?

  22. ropata:rorschach 22
    22 February 2015 at 12:24 pm

    In business, to accept gifts of any kind from suppliers are a huge ethical violation.
    Undeclared conflicts of interest when tendering work are automatic disqualifiers.
    These kinds of deals are called kickbacks and bribes, and totally illegal.

    But ethics for sale seems to be built in to National’s DNA.

  23. scotty 23
    22 February 2015 at 12:32 pm

    Armstrongs ‘ next Herald column should be a beauty.

    His demand for Key to resign ,over the latest Donghua Liu donation scandal – should segue nicely into his overdue apology to David Cunliffe

    • adam 23.1
      22 February 2015 at 2:30 pm

      scotty – If Armstrong apologise to Cunliffe – me who has love of labour – will give the Kelston labour MP a donation.

    • Stuart Munro 23.2
      23 February 2015 at 1:21 am

      Nah, it’ll be an exhaustive critique of Russel Norman’s hairstyle.

  24. SMILIN 24
    22 February 2015 at 1:11 pm

    Appears Chancellor Key is true to form of his tenure as PM
    When is the whole country going to learn the phrase “Sovereign Nation “

  25. Rolf 25
    22 February 2015 at 2:32 pm

    Be a bit more sensitive instead of always throwing dirt on and persecuting China and Chinese. Every piece of dirt slinging means one less kiwi affair with the Chinese, one less bottle milk sold in China and one less can of formula sold in China. etc. In China, if a politician helps a Chinese in business then it is normal, an unwritten obligation, and not corruption to support his party or group. China has today nine political parties. In China, the money is handed to the politician, who hands it to his party. In New Zealand it is different when politicians try to help business. . Kiwis need to understand that all the rest of the world does not follow Kiwi culture or laws. Now kiwis are just freezing themselves out of the entire Asian community, and instead borrowing money to sustain their welfare.

    • Clemgeopin 25.1
      22 February 2015 at 2:47 pm

      Rolf, you unethical idiot. What you are advocating is that we Kiwis should become a corrupt country just like those corrupt countries.

      We DON’T need to do that. We must NOT do that. Instead, let them do business in an ethical manner using our liberal laws and institutions that have good ethical rules and lawful procedures.

      We shouldn’t want to sell or do business with corrupt countries/officials using any dirty/unethical/unlawful means.

      It is astonishing that any worthwhile person of character and integrity will even advocate what you are stating. Unbelievable. Do you know that the Chinese government even shoots their corrupt when found guilty?

      I read that the Chinese president has given Key a list (400?) of Chinese immigrants here to be deported back to face charges!

      No, I do not condone capital punishment. But I most certainly do not condone corruption. You shouldn’t too. No one should.

  26. ianmac 26
    22 February 2015 at 2:55 pm

    Note Mickey has new post up re the Donation.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Anzac Commemorative Address, Buttes New British Cemetery Belgium
    Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service.  It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 hours ago

  • Anzac Commemorative Address – NZ National Service, Chunuk Bair
    Distinguished guests -   It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders.   Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago

  • Anzac Commemorative Address – Dawn Service, Gallipoli, Türkiye
    Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia.   Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • PM announces changes to portfolios
    Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • New catch limits for unique fishery areas
    Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Minister welcomes hydrogen milestone
    Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Urgent changes to system through first RMA Amendment Bill
    The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Overseas decommissioning models considered
    Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Release of North Island Severe Weather Event Inquiry
    Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Justice Minister to attend Human Rights Council
    Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order.  “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Patterson reopens world’s largest wool scouring facility
    Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Speech to the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective Summit, 18 April 2024
    Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing  At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin    Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho    Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today.    I am delighted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Government to introduce revised Three Strikes law
    The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • New diplomatic appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions.   “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says.    “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Humanitarian support for Ethiopia and Somalia
    New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today.   “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Arts Minister congratulates Mataaho Collective
    Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale.  “It is good ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Supporting better financial outcomes for Kiwis
    The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Trade relationship with China remains strong
    “China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says.   Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • PM’s South East Asia mission does the business
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Opinion: It’s time for an arts and creative sector strategy
    I was initially resistant to the idea often suggested to me that the Government should deliver an arts strategy. The whole point of the arts and creativity is that people should do whatever the hell they want, unbound by the dictates of politicians in Wellington. Peter Jackson, Kiri Te Kanawa, Eleanor ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-04-26T05:30:52+00:00