Advocacy is the core of any charity

Written By: - Date published: 5:26 am, May 10th, 2013 - 35 comments
Categories: activism, campaigning, political alternatives, welfare - Tags: ,

An editorial in yesterday’s NZ Herald gave the hard-line conservative and quite stupid view of what a charity should be (and has been). According the anonymous author, charities should and must deal with problems of society without attempting to fix the problem through advocating changes that would fix the problems that they are providing relief for. How else can you interpret the following?

Advocacy is not charity. It might be a selfless unpaid activity undertaken for the greater good as the advocates see it, but it is not serving anybody’s personal material needs.

Yeah right. In your libertarian dreams. It seems to suggest that the only problems that charities should deal with should be limited to the material needs of individual humans.

Charities raise funds to give to the needy or to pay for goods and services for them. When people respond to their appeals, they are entitled to expect that their money will help the needy directly, and that not too much of it will go to the administration of the appeal or the charity. Charities that also indulge in political advocacy put their fund-raising ability at risk.

Huh? This must come as a hell of a shock to the ghost of those who contributed to those charities and non-profit organisations who over the centuries have worked on providing the parks, education, public health initiatives, fire services, public works like sewerage and water systems, preservation of ecologies, the welfare of our associated animals, and even those long-lasting spiritual societies who have provided charitable services of the past few millennia. Many of these services are now provided by taxes and governmental organisations. But in our western systems they were almost invariably started and advocated for by charities.

Sure, some of that was done for the material benefit of individual people. But almost all charitable enterprises of the past were orientated towards structural lacks in society and frequently were not concerned with individuals. But more on that later. Lets establish the position of the editorial.

Advocacy usually involves contentious argument from a clear political position. Charities of course can also be politically contentious – if they appear to be exposing government failure, creating dependence or stigmatising recipients – but they attract a tax rebate because there is general recognition that they meet needs that might otherwise have to be met from public funds.

What a strange view and distorted view of what either charities and politics does in reality. Contrary to the frequently expressed opinion of right-wing nut-jobs, politicians typically lag the general views of society by a decade or more. They don’t tend to lag as much as the overall legal system, especially judges or the police. But all these professions tend towards following the existing consensus  of the wider population rather than leading it.

Charitable organisations usually spring up to provide early relief of an perceived ill of society. They advocate for relief to happen, usually provide it, and advocate for change in the political and legal to redress or to prevent it. Their role in society is to create the “general recognition” of an issue. Of course they frigging well advocate politically or otherwise (is there any difference?)  to bring the issue to the attention of the general population and politicians. They are definitely not the passive pawns that this idiot fantasises about.  If you read back in the history of most charities, there is inevitably a period where even the most currently respected charities were viewed as being dangerous radicals.

The quote describes where charities may eventually may wind up long long after they have done their important work. But it is not how they start… For instance, St John’s ambulance is a relatively recent (by my timesense) charity derived from a much older order. Their history of why they formed is quite clear.

New Zealand in the 1880s wasn’t a good place to have an accident or to get ill suddenly. Even though people were highly susceptible to injury because they were mostly doing manual jobs, medical services were scant.

In April 1885 at a public meeting in St Mary’s Church, Christchurch, Reverend Thomas Flavell and Dr Walter Hacon proposed that the St John Ambulance Association be introduced to the colony. Their initiative led to the rapid establishment of St John throughout New Zealand.

They were part of the general charitable movement in the 19th century that advocated the provision of ambulance and medical services that today we take for granted. They provided the initial services using volunteers and charitable donations and lobbied the people and governments to provide the non-charitable publically funded service that we now take for granted as being part of our infrastructure.

While St Johns may still operate as a charity, these days most of their funding for the basic ambulance services is provided these days by the state. The successful provision of these services by a charity was proved to be of benefit to the population as a whole that we as taxpayers now largely fund it.  After all the ambulance service is part of the reason why I’m able to write this post – their quick service in 2011 got me to the hospital alive.

The charitable contributions given to St Johns largely go to providing and advocating for new services – not those started over a century ago. And they concentrate on providing what society needs not just that of individuals who they see usually only for minutes.

Or look at the provision of the historical services provided by Auckland’s War Memorial Museum. While their governance is no longer a charity, I know that they are supported by charities for the advocacy projects  for the betterment of whole of Auckland.

The museum movement (as anyone who has been around them will testify ) are very strong (ie pretty obsessional) advocates for preserving and curating the knowledge and artifacts of history.  They are quite interested in extracting charitable donations to make that happen and to provide widespread free or near free access to the wider community. But their focus is and was on addressing a need of the broader society rather than providing a individually focused relief.

Contrary to the myopically narrow view of the Herald editorial, if you look around at the cornucopia of services that in our modern society that we currently pay for with our taxes you will usually see something started by a charity.   Invariably you’ll find that they were first proposed, advocated for, and set up as charities using donations and volunteers.

Those charities working in the field continued to advocate both politically and for general acceptance for the more general provision of those services as part of the more general social framework, and usually eventually successful. Charities are the decadal response of societies to problems. They triage problems for society and the political system. Of course they advocate for change…

Quite simply the anonymous writer at the NZ Herald has philosophy of effective and workable charities completely arse about face. There is no point in merely patching the ills and shortfalls of societies if you don’t also try to figure out how to prevent them from happening in the future.

Now I have very little sympathy for the knuckle dragging misogynists at Family First. Nor for the shrill vengeful vindictiveness of the misnamed Sensible Sentencing Trust. I do now have far more respect for current Greenpeace than I had for their antics decades ago. But in all of these organisations they are following the path for most successful charities of the past. They don’t just try to deal with the fallout of a perceived societal ill, they advocate for a change to get rid of the problem. That is their role and about the only reason that people of good will would get involved with them.

 

But the charities of the model that  the NZ Herald editorial seems to prefer are those who did not try to advocate change. Historically they are those who were supplanted by more effective advocates or who have gone into history as perpetuating the problem that they were “relieving”. The charitable workhouses of the 19th century or the charitable adoption factories “caring” for unmarried mothers in the 20th are well and unfondly remembered examples.

These are the types of charities that society does not need nor does it want to encourage. And yet the rules advocated by both the editorial and the old Charities commission’s rulings would favour these parasitical enterprises over those that prefer to work themselves out of a role (and usually into fixing other problems). My view would be that we definitely do not want the state to forgo tax revenue to support organisations who are not advocating for a change in whatever ill of society, local or overseas, that they are working on. It is a pointless waste of our resources. However one of the hallmarks of a effective charity should be the extent to which it tries to eliminate the issue over which it formed – by lobbying, PR, and political advocacy.

Nor is the task of charities to merely provide for the “needy”, “personal material needs”,  and the similar libertarian obsessions with the individual. Most successful current and past charities have advocated for and provided material and services for the betterment of societies.  From libraries, to parks, to museums, to the protection of the natural environment; the history of successful charities of the past is littered with examples.

It beggars belief that even the strange people who write the anonymous editorials at the Herald should be so ignorant of the history charities that they’d write such a silly opinion. But it does make it clear that to write editorials there that a clear lack of understanding of history coupled with a simple-minded unthinking ideological stupidity.

Perhaps they should also consider writing for Whaleoil…

35 comments on “Advocacy is the core of any charity ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Paul 1
    10 May 2013 at 5:48 am

    A charity that questions the system that created the need for the charity. We don’t want that now, do we New Zealand Herald editor writer?
    The government want us to support charities so it does not do its job. It cut the taxes on the wealthy causing most of the problems.
    The wealthy refuse to pay their fair share of taxes; they want us all to thank them for their generosity in supporting Elizabethan (that’s the first one ) style charity.
    How paternalistic of them.

    • lprent 1.1
      10 May 2013 at 6:03 am

      That is essentially what the idiot editorial writer was arguing when it came to “needy” issues. However even those with too much money tend to avoid giving money to ineffective charities for any length of time.

      They like to feel that what they are doing is making a difference. It is hard to do that if you’re just getting hammered for money for the same old same old over and over again. They tend to pour money in if they see progress towards less of a problem. Since that usually involves some kind of advocacy, most wealthy donors who put money into that type of ill usually wind up eventually targeting advocacy charities and non-profits. Chronic systemic problems usually eventually wind up requiring a resource base and coverage far beyond what any charity or group of charities can achieve. Consequently they usually get advocated to the political level.

      But the reality is that most of the wealthier people in society tend towards putting their money towards what are municipal charities, and even then less towards operating costs and more towards new projects.

      Unless they have wealth at the level of small countries (like Bill Gates or the Rockefellers or the Morgans or the Rothschilds) that is more their preference for charity.

      Most of the money for work done on systemic ills for charities comes from much more broad based collections.

      Umm. I’d better get back to bed. Only a few hours to work time.

  2. rosy 2
    10 May 2013 at 6:03 am

    Really, really good post. St Johns is a good example too. They must be advocates for improved emergency services and health initiatives otherwise they are the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff. Actually most health charities (and homeless. family violence etc) must have some sort of advocacy role to question government and society otherwise they are, in the end, simply overwhelmed with needs that cannot be met.

    • lprent 2.1
      10 May 2013 at 6:07 am

      I find I can only write english well when I get irritated… I think that shows through. 😈

      c++ is a lot easier flow

      • just saying 2.1.1
        10 May 2013 at 11:24 am

        Excellent post LPrent.

        I know what you mean. When I get very angry, I often become much clearer and more articulate.

    • Populuxe1 2.2
      10 May 2013 at 1:10 pm

      Yes, but their primary role isn’t advocacy.

    • ghostrider888 2.3
      10 May 2013 at 5:18 pm

      St Johns are getting hammered out of shape in the current funding and demand growth environment.

  3. Ad 3
    10 May 2013 at 6:22 am

    One of the best little charities I know of is Ponsonby Baptist Church’s Community of Refuge Trust. It stepped in and bought a few of the Council houses that Mayor John Banks sold off, back in the day. The Trusts’ intent initially was to support people coming out of mental institutions. The film The Insatiable Moon is based on this whole thing.

    But several years on they are now one of the largest landowners in the Ponsonby-Freemans Bay area, and they concentrate on low rents for all kinds of people who just need it.

    There’s good strong links to its home church, and to me a nice balance between the religious form of Christianity and the practical.

  4. Descendant Of Sssmith 4
    10 May 2013 at 7:07 am

    Wonder then where they see Sanitarium?

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10816412

  5. karol 5
    10 May 2013 at 7:23 am

    This quote from the NZ Herald editorial & cited in Lynn’s pots:

    Advocacy usually involves contentious argument from a clear political position. Charities of course can also be politically contentious – if they appear to be exposing government failure, creating dependence or stigmatising recipients – but they attract a tax rebate because there is general recognition that they meet needs that might otherwise have to be met from public funds.

    My bold.

    This is really the position of our current government, especially Key and Bennett. They won’t to reverse the historical development: the development outlined in the post. The NAct government is cutting services to people and sections of society that are needed: services that have been hard fought for, often by charities. And the government wants volunteers and not-for profit charities to carry out these necessary services. That is, they want services that are required for a stable and economically sound society, to be provided for free or on the cheap, and largely by people doing unpaid work.

    • just saying 5.1
      10 May 2013 at 11:32 am

      Exactly Karol.
      I have direct knowledge of this from a couple of things I’m involved in. I wish I could shout my anger from the rooftops because I feel really strongly about it. But like everyone else with direct involvement, I’m gagged from talking publicly about the jigsaw pieces I know most about.

      We really are heading back to the times of Dickens politically.

    • ghostrider888 5.2
      10 May 2013 at 5:20 pm

      yes karol, that is exactly what this paternalistic tory trash “want”

  6. Descendant Of Sssmith 6
    10 May 2013 at 7:41 am

    They also strongly promulgate the notion of deserving poor and undeserving poor – a move away from a welfare approach based on need.

  7. One Anonymous Knucklehead 7
    10 May 2013 at 7:54 am

    Family First: what charitable function did they perform? Comforting whining bigots who’ve just seen a gay couple?

    The law is clear: advocacy should not be the primary purpose of a charity.

    • lprent 7.1
      10 May 2013 at 1:08 pm

      The law is clear yes. Advocacy should not be the primary purpose of a charity that wishes to have tax breaks.

      Time to either get rid of that qualification or to drop the tax breaks.

      What I was pointing out was that every charity should be advocating or they are by definition effectively useless and not doing anything in the long term for the society giving them the tax breaks. Without a advocacy role, then all they do is get in the way of resourcing people and organisations who are actually trying to get rid of the ill.

      The alternative is to have charities farming and even encouraging problems to maintain their existence – like the 19th century workhouse system (and it’s modern equivalent – the modern day prison system in the US)

      That was rather the point of my post.

      • Populuxe1 7.1.1
        10 May 2013 at 1:12 pm

        Yes, but should their role be exclusively advocacy, it’s hard to see that they are anything more than tax-funded lobbyists.

        • lprent 7.1.1.1
          10 May 2013 at 1:56 pm

          That they are (I assume you’re looking at Family Fist, SST, and greenpeace as examples).

          But distinguishing between “charities” based on function gets into the usual issues of what you’re trying to achieve. Most charities have quite different phases of activity throughout their lives.

          For instance if you used the criteria that the editorial used of requiring direct benefits to individuals then you’d have excluded many of the most important charities in the west from the 19th and 20th centuries. Fire, ambulance, and medical services come to mind. Similarly the advocacy groups that caused national and local parks. Groups pushing for public health initiatives like sewerage and water….. etc etc

          When they started up and often for quite a few years afterward many of the charities that kicked those off didn’t provide anything more than a advocacy – trying to get the damn thing off the ground. Some would have provided support and services, but often only for long enough to get them into the public mind as being useful.

          I’m afraid that in my opinion trying to get too prescriptive about what is and is not a charity is as likely to cause harm to the eventual outcomes as it does any good.

          It is on the same order of inefficiency as spending lots of time and effort hammering the small minority of beneficiaries who abuse those systems while providing less effective assistance to the majority.

          The reality is that with charities it is simpler and more effective to assume and indeed to require that a large part of any effective charity is to advocate change (because the “farming” examples of past “charities” who did not are truly horrendous) or to eliminate the tax breaks altogether to ensure that non-advocating “charities” do not have unfair advantages over effective charities trying to fix the problems.

      • One Anonymous Knucklehead 7.1.2
        10 May 2013 at 1:15 pm

        And again, the law is clear that this is a legitimate ancillary function. Something The Herald‘s anonymous advocate appears to have overlooked.

        • lprent 7.1.2.1
          10 May 2013 at 1:59 pm

          They sure did. Why do you think that I got so irritated.

          You might have gathered that in my view advocacy should be a required function of a charity. Holding a bandaid over a surgical problem is worse than useless. It is usually dangerous.

          • ghostrider888 7.1.2.1.1
            10 May 2013 at 5:30 pm

            compassionate analysis Lynn; Public Health initiatives are competing for dwindling funds. I am very discerning about the “overheads” and expenditure on “marketing” displayed by the organizations I choose to support.

            Furthermore, I am constantly perplexed by the necessary demonstrations of physical endurance etc decided on by fundraisers, like marathons with the associated
            sponsorship; if the need is apparent, why do people not just give the funds, rather than celebrate the achievements of the fundraiser /s?

          • One Anonymous Knucklehead 7.1.2.1.2
            10 May 2013 at 6:05 pm

            Advocacy is an inevitable consequence of charity, so I’m not sure that it should be required, but I get your point.

            It cannot be the only function however; if it were all lobby groups and political parties would qualify.

    • Populuxe1 7.2
      10 May 2013 at 1:08 pm

      One can only hope that the Sensible Sentencing Trust will be next.

  8. geoff 8
    10 May 2013 at 10:15 am

    This trend among publications to have anonymous editorials seems to be just another way to sneak in more right-wing rhetoric. The Listener has been doing it for a while, they’ve shifted significantly to the right in the last 10 years compared to how they used to be.

  9. Marty 9
    10 May 2013 at 10:22 am

    Stop hiding behind that programming keyboard and write some more. This is good stuff.

  10. shorts 10
    10 May 2013 at 10:35 am

    if we had a proper govt and system we’d have no need for charities – the state would provide and assist all its citizens, as it should do

  11. marsman 11
    10 May 2013 at 10:59 am

    I wonder whether Business NZ is registered as a charity. Doug Myers claimed some time ago that the Business Round Table was not a political lobby, he now runs a ‘non-profit’ advisory company for oil companies to get what they want out of Governments. These are the people that shape NAct’s nasty policies which in the usual neoliberal double speak scammery don’t apply to themselves.

  12. Binders full of women 12
    10 May 2013 at 7:43 pm

    Can we agree that FF, Forest & Bird, SST, and Greenpeace are either all charities or none of them are charities?

    • RedBaronCV 12.1
      10 May 2013 at 9:42 pm

      I see differences between the groups above. All have an advocacy role but Greenpeace at least tries to shoo whales out of harm’s way and I’m guessing that F & B also do at least some on the ground stuff.
      On the other hand FF doesn’t offer to come around and beat your kid for you – ugh – and SST doesn’t offer to house people on a prison island they own, they are lobby groups pure and simple.

      Maybe FF and SST should have to declare funding sources especially overseas ones.

      Still charities do need to lobby and there is a sliding line between on the ground services and lobbying so maybe they get so many free years registered as a charity even if they do 90% lobbying and after that they are only a charity if lobbying is not their predominant or only activity. The court’s should be able to come up with a few tests for where the line falls.

    • One Anonymous Knucklehead 12.2
      11 May 2013 at 9:01 am

      Binders full of women, no, we can’t. You’d have to introduce a supporting argument or two. I suggest you visit their respective websites and look for evidence that would falsify your claim if I were you. It’ll be quicker.

  13. Huginn 13
    11 May 2013 at 3:29 am

    But what about the SPCA?????!!!!!!!

    Could Herald’s editorialists

    Please think of the kittens

  14. Huginn 14
    11 May 2013 at 8:51 am

    Sorry about the dud link.
    Here’s another one:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Every_time_you_masturbate…_God_kills_a_kitten

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    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Determining the Engine Type in Your Car
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    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • How to Become a Race Car Driver: A Comprehensive Guide
    Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • How Many Cars Are There in the World in 2023? An Exploration of Global Automotive Statistics
    Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • How Long Does It Take for Car Inspection?
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    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • Who Makes Mazda Cars?
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    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • How Often to Replace Your Car Battery A Comprehensive Guide
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    3 days ago

  • Can You Register a Car Without a License?
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    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • Mazda: A Comprehensive Evaluation of Reliability, Value, and Performance
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    3 days ago

  • What Are Struts on a Car?
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    3 days ago

  • What Does Car Registration Look Like: A Comprehensive Guide
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    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    4 days ago

  • How to Share Computer Audio on Zoom
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    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    4 days ago

  • How Long Does It Take to Build a Computer?
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    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    4 days ago

  • How to Put Your Computer to Sleep
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    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    4 days ago

  • What is Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT)?
    Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    4 days ago

  • iPad vs. Tablet Computers A Comprehensive Guide to Differences
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    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    4 days ago

  • How Are Computers Made?
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    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    4 days ago

  • How to Add Voice Memos from iPhone to Computer
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    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    4 days ago

  • Why My Laptop Screen Has Lines on It: A Comprehensive Guide
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    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    4 days ago

  • How to Right-Click on a Laptop
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    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    4 days ago

  • Where is the Power Button on an ASUS Laptop?
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    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    4 days ago

  • How to Start a Dell Laptop: A Comprehensive Guide
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    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    4 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Serious populist discontent is bubbling up in New Zealand
    Two-thirds of the country think that “New Zealand’s economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful”. They also believe that “New Zealand needs a strong leader to take the country back from the rich and powerful”. These are just two of a handful of stunning new survey results released ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago

  • How to Take a Screenshot on an Asus Laptop A Comprehensive Guide with Detailed Instructions and Illu...
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    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    4 days ago

  • How to Factory Reset Gateway Laptop A Comprehensive Guide
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    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    4 days ago

  • The Folly Of Impermanence.
    “You talking about me?”  The neoliberal denigration of the past was nowhere more unrelenting than in its depiction of the public service. The Post Office and the Railways were held up as being both irremediably inefficient and scandalously over-manned. Playwright Roger Hall’s “Glide Time” caricatures were presented as accurate depictions of ...
    Bowalley Road
    4 days ago

  • A crisis of ambition
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Have 308 people in the Education Ministry’s Curriculum Development Team spent over $100m on a 60-p...
    Rob MacCulloch writes – In 2022, the Curriculum Centre at the Ministry of Education employed 308 staff, according to an Official Information Request. Earlier this week it was announced 202 of those staff were being cut. When you look up “The New Zealand Curriculum” on the Ministry of ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • 'This bill is dangerous for the environment and our democracy'
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    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • The Bank of our Tamariki and Mokopuna.
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    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • The worth of it all
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    4 days ago

  • What is the Hardest Sport in the World?
    Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    4 days ago

  • What is the Most Expensive Sport?
    The allure of sport transcends age, culture, and geographical boundaries. It captivates hearts, ignites passions, and provides unparalleled entertainment. Behind the spectacle, however, lies a fascinating world of financial investment and expenditure. Among the vast array of competitive pursuits, one question looms large: which sport carries the hefty title of ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    4 days ago

  • Pickleball On the Cusp of Olympic Glory
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    4 days ago

  • The Origin and Evolution of Soccer Unveiling the Genius Behind the World’s Most Popular Sport
    Abstract: Soccer, the global phenomenon captivating millions worldwide, has a rich history that spans centuries. Its origins trace back to ancient civilizations, but the modern version we know and love emerged through a complex interplay of cultural influences and innovations. This article delves into the fascinating journey of soccer’s evolution, ...
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    4 days ago

  • How Much to Tint Car Windows A Comprehensive Guide
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    4 days ago

  • Why Does My Car Smell Like Gas? A Comprehensive Guide to Diagnosing and Fixing the Issue
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    4 days ago

  • How to Remove Tree Sap from Car A Comprehensive Guide
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    4 days ago

  • How Much Paint Do You Need to Paint a Car?
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  • Can You Jump a Car in the Rain? Safety Precautions and Essential Steps
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  • Can taxpayers be confident PIJF cash was spent wisely?
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    4 days ago

  • EGU2024 – An intense week of joining sessions virtually
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  • Submission on “Fast Track Approvals Bill”
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    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
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  • The Case for a Universal Family Benefit
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    PunditBy Brian Easton
    5 days ago

  • A who’s who of New Zealand’s dodgiest companies
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    5 days ago

  • On Lee’s watch, Economic Development seems to be stuck on scoring points from promoting sporting e...
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    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago

  • New Zealand has never been closed for business
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    5 days ago

  • Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Minister welcomes hydrogen milestone
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    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago

  • Urgent changes to system through first RMA Amendment Bill
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    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago

  • Overseas decommissioning models considered
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    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago

  • Release of North Island Severe Weather Event Inquiry
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    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago

  • Justice Minister to attend Human Rights Council
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    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Patterson reopens world’s largest wool scouring facility
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    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Speech to the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective Summit, 18 April 2024
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    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    4 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
    5 days 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
    5 days 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
    5 days 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
    5 days 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
    5 days 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
    5 days 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
    5 days 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
    5 days 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
    6 days 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
    6 days 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
    6 days 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
    6 days 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
    6 days 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
    6 days 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
    6 days 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
    7 days 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
    7 days 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
    7 days 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
    7 days 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
    7 days ago

  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
    Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector.    "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
    The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
    Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
    Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.   Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ ties
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.  During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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