Adapting to the oil endgame

Written By: - Date published: 10:53 am, March 14th, 2008 - 52 comments
Categories: economy, election 2008 - Tags: ,

Today oil broke US$111 a barrel. Two weeks ago the record price was $101. Just six months ago the price broke $80 for the first time. Oil prices are rising at an accelerating pace. That flows into New Zealand fuel prices, predicted to top $2 a litre this year.

220What can the Government do to lessen the effect of international oil prices on New Zealanders?

Calls to reduce petrol tax would increase demand when supply is already tight, leave a billion dollar hole in the roading budget (if that is covered from general taxation that is just a transfer of wealth from those who drive little to those who drive a lot), and, as with all tax cuts, provide only temporary relief leaving the underlying problem unaddressed (cf. the wage gap with Australia). Queensland has been subsidising petrol for the last few years: it hasn’t stopped prices rising and has put the burden on to taxpayers rather than heavy users of petrol.

The Government needs to invest heavily in alternatives to oil-intensive transport. It needs to buy back the rail stock from Toll and invest in much better rail infrastructure to get freight and passengers off the roads and into more fuel efficient trains. It also needs to realise that spending a billion dollars a year on motorways when petrol is getting unaffordable is not a sensible policy. Money should be diverted from these uber-expensive motorway plans into building comprehensive and affordable public transport networks in our major cities. Over the last five years rail passenger numbers in Auckland have tripled. Demand is there, capacity isn’t. Good progress is being made, but the motorway budget still dwarfs the public transport budget. That needs to change.

Labour has shown it is open to public transport but has been too timid as the crisis builds. National, well who knows what National’s transport policy is? But given its head in the ground attitude to sustainability there is little hope they will be willing to take the leadership needed to help New Zealanders avoid the crushing cost of petrol price increases. Only the Greens seem to have the vision to give New Zealanders less oil-intense options. Their challenge is to articulate an inspiring programme for the election, containing enough new spending to really confront the problem.

52 comments on “Adapting to the oil endgame ”

  1. higherstandard 1

    Steve

    I live on Auckland’s North Shore can you tell me where my nearest train is ?

  2. r0b 2

    Speaking as an active member of the Labour Party, I think you are dead right on all points here Steve.

  3. Steve Pierson 3

    higherstandard.

    yes, there is too little commuter rail service, you could take the bus, of course. But, that’s the entire point of the post – more investment needs to be made so that you have choices other than driving to work.

    but in reply to your question. we’re a political blog, not a train timetable service.

  4. higherstandard 4

    Steve

    I think you misinterpreted I agree with you on this issue

    Nth Shore and LTSA and ARC have dropped millions into a bus lane which is carrying very few paasengers not to have put in light rail at the same time or instead of this seems like an opportunity lost

    As an aside from 42 years ago !!

    Forty years ago Auckland missed the chance to build ‘Robbie’s Rapid Rail’. In 1976 the Muldoon government vetoed the Auckland Regional Authority’s plans to build a modern rail network. Aucklanders have been paying for those missed opportunities ever since.

    (In 1976 dollars this would have been well payed for by now)

  5. andy 5

    HS,

    They should have built a train/monorail system with feeder buses instead of that silly bus way!

    Bring on the onehunga spur and a line to the art I say!

  6. andy 6

    DOH: art should read airport, better alternatives than more roads.

    More roads = more congestion…

  7. Steve Pierson 7

    higherstandard. sorry for misreading you. we do fall into these traps of assuming the worst.

    I haven’t seen any figures about the buslane’s usage but I heard it was going well. I’ll have to check it out with my transit source.

  8. Ari 8

    Gosh, that graph looks almost like peak oil projections… I wonder why? 😉

  9. gobsmacked 9

    Don’t expect any principled, long-term policy from National.

    Remember their breathtaking flip-flop just days before the last election:

    “Don Brash, the fiscal Presbyterian who ruled out a cut in GST on petrol on 25 August as prices were rising almost daily at the pump, suddenly metamorphosed into a value-free campaigner with a promise to do just that on 12 September.” (Colin James)

  10. Eddie 10

    Note to Cullen. Thinking of buying back Rail? Now’s good.

  11. Policy Parrot 11

    It seems now that the era of the internal combustion automobile is on approach to its nadir.

    Practical (and economic) alternatives exist to fossil fuels in almost all sectors.

    Now is the time to front up with the one-off cost of changing to renewables.

    This should include subsidies for hybrid/electric private cars so that more are introduced to the market and therefore become afforable to all drivers more quickly.

    Moving transportation to rail wherever possible – this must include government renationalisation of all rail assets. Perhaps further development of new rail links where feasible/likely to be economic when oil at US$200 per barrel.

  12. Tane 12

    Eddie, you’re still alive!

  13. Phil 13

    Your headline is misleading. Oil is not approaching an “endgame” by any stretch of the imagination. What we’re seeing in the price movements now is a combination of demand from new international players like China, and speculative trading – no different to aspects of the housing market ‘getting a mind of its own’.

    I personally don’t see crude oil prices going too much higher in the short term, especially with the N.Hemisphere approaching summer and a probable US recession. There are also old wells being re-opened in Texas, now that the price is sufficiently high enough to generate a profit from them.

  14. r0b 14

    Eddie, you’re still alive!

    Cue motorcycle bursting from the vault, cue saxophone solo…

  15. lprent 15

    “Nth Shore and LTSA and ARC have dropped millions into a bus lane which is carrying very few paasengers not to have put in light rail at the same time or instead of this seems like an opportunity lost”

    I have no idea about how many passengers it is carrying. But there are a lot of buses moving up it in the afternoon peak traffic. I notice it when I’m going home from Albany to town every evening.

    Typically in the 10-15 mins it takes to get to the bridge at about 6pm (I’m going against the traffic), I see at least 10 buses heading to the shore very fast. Meanwhile the other side of the moterway is crawling. It must have cut considerable time off the trip.

    I’ve been considering using it myself, but I’ll have to look at the bus routes from Ponsonby road to Albany and vice versa. No point if I have to drive to town to park, or spend more time on the link than the trip to Albany.

    It isn’t a full solution, but at least it is a start (which as you say, should have been done 30 years agao).

  16. HS – that was thirty years ago, not forty.

  17. Steve Pierson 17

    Phil. a US recession would have negible effect, it’s oil demand is falling anyway, all the growth is in Asia and that shows no signs of abating. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23577888/

    With the point approaching where demand strongly exceeds supply, I”m happy with my title. we’re hoping to have a guest column from a peak oil researcher next week who write on the issue more fully.

  18. Santi 18

    Steve Pierson, not only Professor of English but Prophet of Doom as well.

    Even if the world’s oil reservers fall (nobody know exactly how much is left, despite claims of the peak oil conspirators), human inventiveness will come up with a new development and capitalism will make it happen.

    I look forward to the expert’s column next week.

  19. Steve Pierson 19

    When you say ‘conspirators’ do you think there’s a conspiracy? If so, who is involved? to what ends? and do they have a secret handshake?

    I happen to be a bit of a techo-optimist myself, hence why the post talks about moving to less fuel intense alternatives, rather than abandoning our current socio-industrial paradigm altogether in a luddite fashion.

  20. ghostwhowalks 20

    Well look who is laughing in Norway.
    When oil was discovered in the North Sea, Norway did not just sell exploration licenses for a one off gain( plus some royalties) they continued to own all oil produced as they used Statoil, a government owned company to extract and sell the oil.

    This from 2005 the Aftenposten
    Oil revenues spark surplus
    Norway looks set to log another huge state budget surplus this year amounting to NOK 270 billion (about USD 38 billion). The windfall, fuelled by high oil prices, marks another record and further pumps up the country’s oil fund, which acts like a national savings account

    I imagine that 2008 oil revenues will exceed the cumulative value of the Oil fund in 2005

    THis is an approach Nz should use.

  21. Santi – when it come to energy density fossil fuels are very hard to get past. Biofuels probably can’t be produced in quantities anywhere near those needed to meet current energy demand and hydrogen is a storage system not a fuel system and only delivers 40 – 60% of the energy back that it takes to produce. The truth is the answer is going to have to be reduction in demand.

  22. Steve Pierson 22

    I agree ghostwhowalks, we need to keep better control over our oil reserves.

    That US$38 billion surplus is US$8000 per person in Norway. Imagine that in your kiwisaver.

  23. insider 23

    Two things,

    1) History is littered with the wrong predictions of oil prices and reserves. Just make sure your proclaimed ‘expert’ actually is, and critically review his track record in predictions or the track record of those he quotes.

    2) The Crown gets 20-25% of the value of oil sales by doing absolutely nothing. It just sits and rakes in the money (you might prefer to call it asset stripping). So it is great if you want to take the risk to get 100% of the profit, but 25% for doing and spending nothing is not too bad either. It’s an interesting choice.

  24. Uroskin 24

    Regards Northern Busway patronage:
    ARTA’s Chief Executive, Fergus Gammie, says, “Early busway patronage figures show February 2008 was a record month for the popular Northern Express service, which carried 82,373 passengers, which is 66% ahead of last year and 38% ahead of the 2008 forecast. Albany and Constellation Station feeder services on the North Shore were 40% ahead of 2007 figures, these are very pleasing results”.
    http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK0803/S00144.htm

  25. Certainly reducing petrol taxes isn’t the answer. In the next 5 years we need to be well on our way to adapting to a world with ever increasing oil prices. This means becoming less, not more dependant on it. Any how, we already the 5th lowest fuel tax rate in the OECD (27 countries).

    see the 4th graph on the following link..

    http://www.med.govt.nz/templates/ContentTopicSummary____20094.aspx

  26. Phil:

    “What we’re seeing in the price movements now is a combination of demand from new international players like China, and speculative trading – no different to aspects of the housing market ‘getting a mind of its own’.”

    You forget that there’s almost zero spare capacity left in non-OPEC countries, and a lack of political will in OPEC countries to increase production. That’s what we’re seeing here, and as production flattens off in non-OPEC countries (as the International Energy Agency is predicting), suddenly OPEC (read dictators) is put into a very powerful position. This puts our energy security in a very tenuous situation, and leaves us wide open to economic shocks, resulting from the whims of petty dictators. The less reliant we are on foreign oil, the more energy security, and therefore economic stability on oil. Presently we use much more oil, per unit of GDP than all other OECD countries (excluding the US and Australia). Consequently we are one of the most vulnerable economies in the world as far as oil shocks are concerned.

  27. Sorry about the poor writing by the way – got a bad cold.

  28. r0b 28

    Sorry to hear it nome. Be careful in that sunny Dunedin weather!

  29. Vic 29

    Looking at the whole thread here, something that isn’t necessarily being taken into consideration is the influence of oil on the cost of living and well, nearly everything we do. Almost everything we eat, wear, build and use has involved a contribution of fossil energy, whether its the petrol in the header used to harvest the wheat in your bread, to the petrochemicals in your cheap-ass polyester hoodie transported from China in a container ship. While considerations of increased public transport and the economic impact of scarcity are relevant now, there are times when I wonder if we’ll all end up having to eat each other before science can deliver a viable alternative to oil. And to any free-marketeers out there who have faith that this will happen, all I can say is, it won’t happen till there’s a demand, but who can say if by then it’s just going to be too late – these things take time. Now seems like a reasonable time to invest in some R&D on alternatives for a whole lot of reasons.

  30. djp 30

    that is a meaningless graph considering the US dollar is tanking (the fed seems to print currency 24/7 these days).. you might as well quote the oil price in Zimbabwean dollars (or whatever currency they have)

    I would like to see oil graphed against gold or a mixed basket of (stable) currencys

  31. Cheers r0b. Yep sunny old Dunedin is a beautiful place to live, but sure does have its draw backs.

  32. r0b 33

    Vic, djp, some relevant stuff in these articles, including passing reference to moves to move oil trading away from the dollar:

    http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/031108I.shtml

    http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/112007R.shtml

  33. screwed up the captcha – can’t be bothered re-writing the post. Have a look at the PhD theses any how – makes for rather bleak reading.

  34. Steve Pierson 35

    djp. Are you seriosuly arguing the price of oil isn’t rising?

    I did address the falling dollar aspect in a paragraph I cut for space but basically, it’s only a tiny part of the reason for the increase in $US.

    And it would be utterly ridiculous to graph oil vs gold as if gold is a steady measure. ideally you would have a basic of currencies measure – but i was unable to find one becuase oil is still traded nearly exclusively in us dollars.

  35. Thanks for the link rob. In case you miss it DJP – the price of oil is now at at an all time inflation-adjusted high. Equal to when the world was thrown into depression and stagflation.

    http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/04/business/worldbusiness/04oil.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

    This doesn’t mean that the current price will do the same thing though. i.e. we are richer now, so can afford more expensive oil, and we have more flexible economies which adapt to external shocks better.

    Still though if it gets much higher, (say $20 a barrel) and stays there for a while it’s going to really start to hurt.

  36. The NZ government’s plan to deal with peak oil. What do you all think?

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/4233171a13.html

  37. Insider:

    “Two things,

    1) History is littered with the wrong predictions of oil prices and reserves. Just make sure your proclaimed ‘expert’ actually is, and critically review his track record in predictions or the track record of those he quotes.”

    Ok -let’s have a look at that PhD thesis then hey?

    The frequent mentions and debates over peak oil suggests that it is a fairly new topic. On the contrary, it is pretty old. The topic of a future global peak production of oil was first discussed in 1949 by M. King Hubbert, a geophysicist employed by Shell Oil (Hubbert, 1949). He developed a method, based on a bell curve, that he used to model the annual production and ultimate recovery of oil and gas in the world and the USA. His method is usually referred to as the Hubbert model and the Hubbert curve, respectively. In 1956, Hubbert predicted, using the bell curve and two different estimates
    of ultimate recovery of oil in the USA, that the oil production of the lower 48 states of the USA would have a peak between 1965 and 1972 (Hubbert,1956). This prediction turned out to be true, since oil production in the USA peaked in 1970. Modified versions of his theory have been used by Campbell and Laherrère (1998), Ivanhoe (1996) and Deffeyes (2001) to name a few. However, the Hubbert model is heavily debated, see for example Lynch (2003).

    The most mature oil area, i.e. the USA, and the latest big oil region
    discovered, the North Sea, are both in decline and have passed their respective peak. The conclusion is that all oil regions, mature as well as newer ones, will peak and then decline. For both regions, this has taken place despite a strong demand for oil and a high oil price. Thus, high production rates were motivated but apparently not possible.

    So everywhere the hubbert methodology has been applied thus far it has been accurate. What makes you think it won’t be this time?

  38. lprent 39

    February 2008 was a record month for the popular Northern Express service, which carried 82,373 passengers, which is 66% ahead of last year and 38% ahead of the 2008 forecast. Albany and Constellation Station feeder services on the North Shore were 40% ahead of 2007 figures, these are very pleasing results’.

    Excellent. I thought that they looked pretty busy. There is a lot of spare capacity in those bus lanes. Just need to boot cars off a lane on the bridge (or build another crossing). But they also need to build much bigger parking spaces at the terminals.

  39. higherstandard 40

    Iprent

    On the face of it I’d hardly call an average of 2840 passangers a day excellent – if as the release suggests these results are pleasing they must be aiming very low indeed I would think they should be aiming for several times this uptake.

    Agreed there is copious spare capacity in the bus lanes and the parking space issue at the terminals which fill up to capacity very quickly.

  40. Ari 41

    Just a note on peak oil- if you’re unfamiliar with the term, it basically says that demand for oil doesn’t drop anywhere near as easily as demand for other goods as the price goes up, so oil demand doesn’t taper off as supply tapers off- rather demand exceeds supply rather badly, driving prices up ridiculously and leading to over-dependence on oil when it begins to run out, as oil use essentially keeps on growing with minimal regard to its price.

    The issue isn’t even necessarily when oil will peak so much as the fact that we will need to interfere before then to switch over to less oil-intensive transport if we want the switch to be in any way comfortable.

  41. lprent 42

    Sure I’d agree. They are starting from a really low base. After all using public transport to and from the North Shore used to be an exercise in futility. Just like the cars you got stuck in slow crawl traffic, and then get from the terminal to home. But it was the percentage increase that was pleasing.

    The same thing happened when they double tracked the western railway. Started from a low low base, but now has a steady increase in passengers.

    I don’t have the material accessible, but look at mass-transit systems that were setup in other cities around the world in the past. You usually find it takes between 10 and 20 years before they can be considered to be fully functional. A large chunk of that is because you have to slowly fix the feeder systems, park and ride, buses going direct moving to trains and so on. Takes quite while to get all of the infrastructure in place.

    But I just looked at http://www.maxx.co.nz. If I leave at 07:50 from home, I can now get to Albany in 1 hour and 12 minutes, taking 3 buses for $7.50. Last time I looked at the start of last year, I’d have to leave at 0700 to get to work about 0900. In either case that is unacceptable – takes too long.

    But the problem is that the first bus goes from Newton to town and wastes 30 mins doing that. But I’m right next to the motorways. If they did what I do driving, they’d hop directly on the motorway just down the road from here. Assuming that happened, the trip would take about 45 minutes and 2 buses ($5.90), or 1 bus at 30 minutes and a 10 minute walk at the far end ($4.30).

    Remember that the traffic is nowhere as bad in my direction as it is in the other. But if I leave at 8:20, I take about 35 minutes to get to work, and a car is lot more expensive – once you factor all of the costs in.

    It will take time to get the routes adjusted to getting people where they need to go rather than just running in and out of town.

  42. RedLogix 43

    “It will take time to get the routes adjusted to getting people where they need to go rather than just running in and out of town.”

    No public service, neither train nor bus, can expect to emulate the private motor car. The relationships go like this:

    Car: Low density; high diversity.

    Bus/Light Rail: Medium density; medium diversity.

    Train: High density; low diversity.

    As Auckland grew around a “car only” model, people adopted a high diversity travel mode, ie they lived, worked and entertained wherever they pleased. This worked as long as cars remained at a low traffic density, and fuel was cheap. In order to transition to using buses or trains, that work best at higher traffic densities and fuel costs, the inevitable trade off is a lower diversity of efficient routes.

    In other words, it will take time for people to get adjusted using the available effective public transport, rather than just running all over town.

  43. lprent 44

    “As Auckland grew around a “car only’ model, people adopted a high diversity travel mode”

    Buses in Auckland currently use the central city as the transport hub for mainly historical reasons. It is the worst possible place to have it. It has massive congestion problems at peak hours, and for that matter, through most of the day. The bus hub’s are away from the motorway systems which are outside the city centre. Because of that hub to town, any journey has an extra 1/2 hour added to it if you are not going to town.

    There isn’t much in the central city apart from corporate services and retail. The number of people employed there is minor compared to the industrial and export industry areas. Most of the industrial areas are clustered close to the motorway systems. This is both for shipping goods, and also for employees.

    These days the area just outside of central Auckland is high density residential, with an increasing number of people going out from the outer central city to their work. If you look at the newer bus hubs, you’ll find that they are right next to the motorway systems, and are park and ride – except of course for the city. They need to locate the central bus hub outside the central city, on the motorway, and as a park and ride.

  44. RedLogix 45

    lprent,

    I’m not disagreeing with your observations, but my point it that Auckland had been BUILT around motor cars, and it is no longer an easy matter to change this. There is far more to it that just plonking in a whole lot of new public transport infrastructure, because no matter how much of it you provide, if people’s travel/living/working patterns are still locked into “low density/high diversity” private car mode, then it will never feel or work right.

    By contrast if you’ve lived in a city that was historically built around subways and good bus routes, then it “works”. You can live in these places for years and never feel the need to own a car. Public transport works just fine in the right context, but for decades Aucklanders have refused to examine their increasingly locked in commitment to a now dysfunctional car only legacy.

    I grew up in Auckland in the 60’s and 70’s. I will always remain fond of those memories, but my visits to the city nowadays are tinged with sadness and anger at how a lack of civic vision and leadership has given free reign for the motor cars to ravish the land.

  45. ghostwhowalks 46

    80,000 passengers a month for the busway.??

    Well a single tram line in Melbourne ( the busiest) gets 35,000 A DAY

    http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/tram-96-travels-tracks-to-glory/2008/03/07/1204780065938.html

  46. randal 47

    buy a sword and start taking archery lessons…watch out for rugged individuals!

  47. ghostwhowalks 48

    Just expanding on the Queensland fuel ‘subsidy’. It seems it was indroduced as a rebate on Federal Government tax charges.
    http://www.racq.com.au/images/documents/Policy_Qld_Fuel_subsidy.pdf

    But the subsidy of around 8.3 cents a litre may have meant the oil companies have been charging higher wholesale prices

  48. randal 49

    just an aside but all this whining about a cent here and a cent there and bagging the oil companies takes no notice of how much they have to spend to get the stuff out of the ground and then what the idiotconsumers do with it when they have got it is basically a pain in the bum. some people should just go for A WALK! For the rest it is just a drug…wake up.

  49. lprent 50

    I grew up in Auckland in the 60’s and 70’s. I will always remain fond of those memories, but my visits to the city nowadays are tinged with sadness and anger at how a lack of civic vision and leadership has given free reign for the motor cars to ravish the land.

    I know exactly how you feel. Those short-sighted git’s who turned down Dove-Meyers proposals in the 60’s….. If they’d put it in and let it grow with the city, it would have been so much easier.

    I have lived in various cities with good public transport – makes life a lot simplier. It is going to be an uphill battle to get the public transport running effectively in Auckland.

    For the first time since the 50’s or 60’s it is actually being worked on. But it will probably take 20 years to get working well. At present they’re working on getting the bulk-feeder routes operational again. The stuff I’m looking at won’t be feasible for at least 5 years – sigh.

  50. “Over the last five years rail passenger numbers in Auckland have tripled. Demand is there, capacity isn’t.”

    The demand wouldn’t be there if rail passengers had to pay the full cost of running the trains of course, but then you can ignore all other factors of production if all you are worried about is oil.

    Worshipping the rail fetish – even though unlike road transport, it needs heavy subsidies to survive. Even with record oil price, the must touted fuel efficiency of rail doesn’t offset the cost of triple handling, the cost of maintaining underutilised duplicate infrastructure and inflexible assets.

    Ignoring also that coastal shipping is typically much more fuel efficient than rail, and can carry trucks from one destination to another – but when you catch the rail fetish, who cares about facts!

    Also ignoring that rail in Auckland can, at best, service less than 10% of commuter trips, as only 7% of commuters terminate trips in the CBD, and the remaining 3% corresponds to those who live and work within reasonable access of rail.

    The idea that expensive petrol will kill off private motoring is laughable – it will shift fuels.

  51. RedLogix 52

    LibertyScott,

    We have crossed swords before on this.

    You repeatedly get it wrong and I’ve proven it before. Try and tell jam packed commuters on the Wgtn commuter rail network that it doesn’t work and that they should be using their cars. Yeah but if they did that you would be hitting them for “congestion charges” or road tolls, to ensure they were not taking advantage of any subsidy of the motorways they would have to be using. You cannot have it both ways.

    Roads only survive because the taxpayer pays for them to be built. Buses only survive because the ratepayers subsidise them. Train only survive, because the govt owns and maintains the rails.

    Get the picture? ALL forms of transport only work because the public sector provides for the essential infrastructure. It has ALWAYS been like this since Roman times and always will be. Your libertarian ideal that somehow it can be done privately is a fantasical nonsense.

    “Also ignoring that rail in Auckland can, at best, service less than 10% of commuter trips,as only 7% of commuters terminate trips in the CBD, ”

    And that is simply because Auckland has never had a decent rail system, the city has been BUILT without a proper CBD. Instead it is a patchwork collection of small towns exclusively designed around car use.

    Small towns only need cars because the traffic density is low. As most normal cities grow they become more dense. City leaders with some basic vision and understanding, realise that in order for the small town to become a small city they need to provide public transport modes (buses and trains) that will work effectively in the denser environment. In the late 1950’s Auckland, in love with it’s newly affordable motor cars, made the conscious decision to build lots of new motorways and to kill off it’s existing trams, trolleys and trains by not spending any money on them.

    It was a monumental failure. As a result Auckland has simply sprawled outward, popping up small town centers like Manakau, Newmarket, Albany, etc, while the CBD was allowed to atrophy. As a result commuter trips terminate all over the place… because they had NO CHOICE.

    All my adult life I’ve listened to Aucklander’s making weasel excuses as to why public transport wouldn’t work in Auckland, and at the same time you also get to listen to the same people whining about the traffic grid lock. Sometimes in the same sentence. And they don’t even realise how stupid they sound.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Decision allows for housing growth in Western Bay of Plenty
    The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Council’s Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago
  • Speech to New Zealand China Council
    Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today.    Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours ago
  • Modern insurance law will protect Kiwi households
    The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Government recommits to equal pay
    The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says.  “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Transforming how our children learn to read
    Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says.  “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • NZ not backing down in Canada dairy dispute
    Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Stronger oversight for our most vulnerable children
    The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Streamlining Building Consent Changes
    The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says.      “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Minister acknowledges passing of Sir Robert Martin (KNZM)
    New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Speech to New Zealand Institute of International Affairs, Parliament – Annual Lecture: Challenges ...
    Good evening –   Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Accelerating airport security lines
    From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Community hui to talk about kina barrens
    People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Kiwi exporters win as NZ-EU FTA enters into force
    Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Mining resurgence a welcome sign
    There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill passes first reading
    The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government to boost public EV charging network
    Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure.  The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Residential Property Managers Bill to not progress
    The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Independent review into disability support services
    The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Justice Minister updates UN on law & order plan
    Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has attended the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and outlined the Government’s plan to restore law and order. “Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council provided us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Ending emergency housing motels in Rotorua
    The Government and Rotorua Lakes Council are committed to working closely together to end the use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua. Associate Minister of Housing (Social Housing) Tama Potaka says the Government remains committed to ending the long-term use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua by the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Trade Minister travels to Riyadh, OECD, and Dubai
    Trade Minister Todd McClay heads overseas today for high-level trade talks in the Gulf region, and a key OECD meeting in Paris. Mr McClay will travel to Riyadh to meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “New Zealand’s goods and services exports to the Gulf region ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Education priorities focused on lifting achievement
    Education Minister Erica Stanford has outlined six education priorities to deliver a world-leading education system that sets Kiwi kids up for future success. “I’m putting ambition, achievement and outcomes at the heart of our education system. I want every child to be inspired and engaged in their learning so they ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZTA App first step towards digital driver licence
    The new NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) App is a secure ‘one stop shop’ to provide the services drivers need, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins say.  “The NZTA App will enable an easier way for Kiwis to pay for Vehicle Registration and Road User Charges (RUC). ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Supporting whānau out of emergency housing
    Whānau with tamariki growing up in emergency housing motels will be prioritised for social housing starting this week, says Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. “Giving these whānau a better opportunity to build healthy stable lives for themselves and future generations is an essential part of the Government’s goal of reducing ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Tribute to Dave O'Sullivan
    Racing Minister Winston Peters has paid tribute to an icon of the industry with the recent passing of Dave O’Sullivan (OBE). “Our sympathies are with the O’Sullivan family with the sad news of Dave O’Sullivan’s recent passing,” Mr Peters says. “His contribution to racing, initially as a jockey and then ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech – Eid al-Fitr
    Assalaamu alaikum, greetings to you all. Eid Mubarak, everyone! I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and everyone celebrating this joyous occasion. It is a pleasure to be here. I have enjoyed Eid celebrations at Parliament before, but this is my first time joining you as the Minister ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Government saves access to medicines
    Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced Pharmac’s largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff.    “Access to medicines is a crucial part of many Kiwis’ lives. We’ve committed to a budget allocation of $1.774 billion over four years so Kiwis are ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Pharmac Chair appointed
    Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Taking action on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
    Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says.  “Every day, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • New sports complex opens in Kaikohe
    Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Diplomacy needed more than ever
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges.    “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-05-03T07:14:42+00:00