Anti-MMP group white supremacist link

Written By: - Date published: 8:39 am, July 4th, 2011 - 60 comments
Categories: MMP, racism - Tags: , , ,

A good piece of detective work by Martyn “Bomber” Bradbury at TUMEKE! has revealed that one of the founding members of the anti-MMP group “Vote for Change” is a white supremacist:

So the usual list of National and ACT Party right wing money men are in the list of founding members of this anti-mmp front group, but so is the name of Alex Fogerty. …

Ummmm – this isn’t the same Alex Fogerty who was associated with various ultra fascist and racist organizations is it? The same Alex Fogerty who was the site admin for the white supremacist online group, Australia New Nation?

Contributions in our Open mike yesterday gave a link to some of Fogerty’s writings (Google cache here). It’s pretty vile stuff, I’m not going to repeat it here.

“Vote for Change” responded quickly to this development, with a post on Facebook:

Vote for Change is investigating allegations made about a member of its organisation. The allegations of Mr Fogerty’s previous membership of a white supremacist group appear to be true and he will be asked to resign his membership immediately, or have his membership revoked if he chooses not to resign. …

Vote for Change will not be commenting on this unfortunate matter further.

Too late, damage done. The organisation which is working to undermine the most democratic electoral system for NZ is now tainted by association with one of its founding member’s extreme white supremacist beliefs. Want yet another reason to support MMP? “Just look at who opposes it”.

As a quick postscript to this tawdry affair, bonus points if you can guess which National Party MP pops up on Alex Fogerty’s friend list. Labour Party candidate for Dunedin North, David Clark, asks “Please explain”

60 comments on “Anti-MMP group white supremacist link ”

  1. I cannot think of a less suitable person being a founding member of an organisation dedicated to advocating for change of our democratic system than a white supremacist.
     
    Just saying.

  2. KJT 2

    MS. Totally appropriate considering who the other members are.

  3. kriswgtn 3

    haha Kerry Prenderghastly-Act no surprise

    Isnt she working for Environmental Protection Authority (EPA)-appointed by whom? I wonder

    • Blighty 3.1

      hey, she’s a public servant isn’t she? She can’t be publicly representing of a political organisation like this.

  4. Peter 4

    “There are many things wrong with this. SM, the group’s real favourite, would be grossly unfair to the voters. Under it, 90 electorate seats would be chosen by FPP, and 30 list seats by PR. This means that the winning party gets a huge and unfair advantage, which is why SM – such an unfortunate acronym! – is known as a “winner’s bonus” system.

    At the last election, for instance, National would have won 57% of the seats with only 45% of the votes. The Greens, on the other hand, would have won only 1.6% of the seats although they got 6.7% of the votes. Under MMP, on the other hand, the usual pattern is for a party’s share of the seats to reflects its share of the votes. ”

    Quote from the SST which explains what these guys are really after, an unfair proportion of the seats allowing them to rule without regard for anything apart from their own interests.

    • Jim Nald 4.1

      So SM is disproportionate & unfair.
      And MMP is proportionate & fair.

      • Colonial Viper 4.1.1

        If the Greens and Mana want to survive they better turn out for MMP. And Labour needs to be completely unequivocal about pushing MMP every day. (Unlike Labour in the UK who were totally half hearted about their recent piddly attempt at improving proportionality).

  5. Colonial Viper 5

    I reckon Bomber could possibly have waited another month before blowing the lid. All in the timing for maximum effect 🙂

    • Lanthanide 5.1

      Yeah, he should have sat on it. Waited until this group had a bigger media profile, so that when the lid was blown off it would end up on the 6 o’clock news, instead of just being blog material like it is now.

      I would see nothing wrong with that approach whatsoever – this group would be going out to get a large media profile, and the fact that they didn’t bother to background check their own members (founding members even!) would be their own fault.

      • jackal 5.1.1

        I disagree. I think Bomber plucking out the weed before it had a chance to grow bigger was the best thing to do. He would be playing a cat and mouse game otherwise with a chance that the mouse hides the cheese, if you know what I mean.

        The story is mainstream media news worthy. The fact that they have not picked up on it says more about media bias than it does about the story being big enough. There will be more dirt to dig on these idiots who oppose MMP, therefore a metered and sustained campaign is required.

        Bomber’s precision marksmanship is going to be hard to match.

  6. joe90 6

    Looks to me like most of the founding members would fit right in here.

  7. bomber 7

    Grin @ Colonial

  8. grumpy 8

    Yep, read the link. Just sounds like a white Hone, I thought you guys approved of that……….?

    [lprent: Don’t be stupid. Writing broad brush statements like that means that you even include yourself (you’re around here about as much as I am :twisted:). I hardly think that you approve of Hone. Actually, coming to think of it, it is really hard to think of anyone you do approve of….. Apart from yourself of course. ]

    • KJT 8.1

      No. Don’t think Hone is really racist.The mouth overtakes the brain sometimes.
      I don’t think Hone is really a brown supremacist either, though Titiwhai may be.

      • Gosman 8.1.1

        Yes Hone isn’t really racist. He just makes racist statements for political effect. Nothing wrong with that is there?

    • The Voice of Reason 8.2

      Bullshit, grumpy. You’ve been around here long enough to know that Hone’s racism has been rejected by many commenters at The Standard, myself included. I appreciate it’s a monumental task for the dull witted to understand that there are many strands of thought on the left and that there is no one overiding political philisophy, but I would have thought you could have at least slipped your brain out of neutral before making such a stupid comment.

      • grumpy 8.2.1

        Sorry, VoR, but you were not uppermost in my mind when I wrote the comment. Of course I remember your principled views on this issue……now for the other 13 of you……

    • Gosman 8.3

      What is the definition of irony again?

      I’m pretty sure that lprent criticising someone for making broad generalisations about a group of people when the whole point of the attack on the anti-MMP crowd in this article is pretty much doing just that.

      You guy’s do provide a mine of comedy material.

    • grumpy 8.4

      lprent, actually there are heaps of people I approve of, some of who you probably do too.

      At the moment I am nursing a deep and abiding hatred for those who rip off the elderly in the “Resthome” industry. – We might have that in common too?

  9. PeteG 9

    Why the surprise? Hasn’t most organised anti-MMP campaigning been with minority white supremacist motives?

    Labour Party candidate for Dunedin North, David Clark, asks “Please explain”…

    Can David explain all the associations with 455 “likes” on his own Facebook?

    • Colonial Viper 9.1

      Can David explain all the associations with 455 “likes” on his own Facebook?

      Apart from the fact your comment is a derail, I’m pretty sure they are almost all Labour supporters. Also pretty sure that as such they support Labour’s ‘broad church’ approach to encouraging diversity, participation and equality in NZ.

      • McFlock 9.1.1

        The other point being that there’s a difference between somebody liking what you do versus letting a white supremacist be a founding member of your richboy club.

    • bbfloyd 9.2

      that’s just silly pete… i’m starting to wonder if you have any principles at all.. defending the dregs of society just so that you can wave the party flag at all costs… really pathetic…

      so you’d best keep that up… people need reminding why they need to remove any trace of nationals influence from the political landscape.. the fact that they are supported by such dross is ample evidence of their unfitness to govern.

  10. Whistleblower 10

    The fact that he is facebook friends with a National MP is barely worth a mention.

    However, the fact that he is on the National Party Ohariu Electorate executive, and that he used to be employed as out of parliament staff by Katrina Shanks may require some explaining..

  11. Gosman 11

    I like MMP. I think it is great. However I dislike the tactics being used by many members of the pro-MMP lobby in this debate.

    Why can’t you just debate the merits of MMP versus the alternatives rather than enagaging in gutter personality politicking as if that makes a difference to the overall debate?

    • Blighty 11.1

      the merits of the system have been debated to death.

      there have been numerous posts here and elsewhere on that.

      But, if you want to raise the merits of an alternative system over MMP, go ahead and make that argument I’ll happily debate you.

      Right now, the anti-MMP group isn’t even making a serious case against MMP, let alone arguing one of the alternatives would be better.

    • Colonial Viper 11.2

      However I dislike the tactics being used by many members of the pro-MMP lobby in this debate.

      We learnt from the Right. Get used to it.

      • lprent 11.2.1

        Exactly. I even wrote a post just after the election about how we’d have to use the tactics of the right if only to rub their noses in how disgusting and stupid those tactics are. We’d just have to do them better.

        Not to mention the tactics used by Shirtcliffe and co in the 90’s which resulted in us having this stupid referendum based on a fictitious ‘promise’ to have another referendum. Quite frankly identifying that the anti-MMP idiots crap on their own feet is simply identifying why they like FPP – they are too stupid to squat when the situation demands it.

    • KJT 11.3

      Because we already thrashed out the pros and cons ad infinitum when it was first voted in.

      I think we have already established that it is more democratic.

      As someone said “one of the best arguments for MMP is the quality of the people who oppose it”.

      • Gosman 11.3.1

        Ummmmm… I think the term is Bovine Scatology.

        Whether you like it or not we are having a vote on the Electoral system. Just ecause we had a vot on the electoral system around 15 years ago doesn’t mean that we should now be able to dismiss having a rational debate about the merits of the current and other systems.

        Put forward the case for MMP or find fault with the alternatives. Don’t be lazy simpleton’s by engaging in the purile witch hunting nonsense.

  12. randal 12

    why indeed?
    mmp speaks for itself but the anti group needs to be exposed for their motivation.

    • Gosman 12.1

      Why does the anti-MMP group need to be exposed for their motivation?

      And how do you know what this guy’s motivation is anyway? It isn’t clear just from his background activities.

      For example, as stated I support MMP. If I joined a pro-MMP group does my background make a difference to the merits of MMP? Does it mean that MMP is more likely to be supported by right leaning people? Of course it doesn’t make a blind bit of diffence.

      • Colonial Viper 12.1.1

        In a proportional electoral system, cheeky darkie DPB mums, the Maori and Pasifika with huge families and the Asians who are turning up in droves are going to take over the NZ Government don’t you know.

        Pure blood whites are an endangered minority in the future, and in a proportional electoral system they have less and less power.

        That’s why white white supremacists want to get rid of MMP.

        • Gosman 12.1.1.1

          Ummmm… no that is just your paranoid conspiracy theory over why YOU think white supremacists want to get rid of MMP.

        • Vicky32 12.1.1.2

          Pure blood whites are an endangered minority in the future,

          I would add “males” to that…

      • Draco T Bastard 12.1.2

        Why does the anti-MMP group need to be exposed for their motivation?

        Well, considering the fact that they don’t actually have an argument against MMP then we need to check their motivation for getting rid of it. Asking the question Are these guys after democracy or power? will give a better understanding of why they want to get rid of a proportional, more accountable system for an elected dictatorship system that allows a specific minority to govern with no checks or balances. In fact, I think you’d want to do that even if they did have an argument. Same goes for the pro-MMP lobby groups as well.

        Nothing happens in a vacuum and often it’s the motive that will show you the true reason for why something happened.

  13. Craig 13

    Note how hard the anti-MMP lobby is not really campaigning for SM. Why do I suspect it really wants to get FPP back due to the donkey vote factor of nostalgic conservatives? Whereupon, they’ll shrug, dust off their shoulders and campaign for the restoration of FPP as they originally intended.

  14. I just checked out some of Alex Fogerty’s other friends: David Bennett (Nat.), David Farrar, Celia Wade-Brown (:P), Garth McVicar (Nut), Hekia Parata (Nat.), Judith Tizard (Lab.), Melissa Lee (Nat.), Nikki Kaye (Nat.), Paula Bennett (Nat.), Stephen Franks (Nat.).
    I probably missed some, but I imagine they will not be ‘friends’ for much longer,

    • Colonial Viper 14.1

      Ah, FaceBook friends, the most loyal kind :mrgreen:

      • Rich 14.1.1

        That’s why Google+ adds the circle concept as in:
        – Friends
        – Acquaintances
        – Who the fuck are they?
        – Nazi scum

  15. twgmbd 15

    One a side note, whoever made that poster on Tumeke is a dipshit – http://bit.ly/lVokWW – the poster says that if you want MMP that the current system needs to be changed. In fact if you want MMP, the current system needs to be retained. Big difference. Was that poster created by the the FPP lobby to create further confusion? Joe Bloggs doesn’t know how many MPs are currently in our parliament. He just knows there are a lot and they get paid too much.

    • Colonial Viper 15.1

      +1

      C.T. is going to be playing the ‘change’ meme a lot this year, neglecting to mention that ‘change’ can be for the better OR for the worse.

    • Pascal's bookie 15.2

      twgmbd, that poster was one of the main ones from the referendum which got us mmp. Bomber is just showing his age, and assuming everyone will recognise it I think.

  16. BR 16

    “Well, considering the fact that they don’t actually have an argument against MMP then we need to check their motivation for getting rid of it.”

    The worst aspect of MMP is the fact that political parties are able to determine who gets into parliament based on their list rankings. List MPs therefore put the interests of the party before those of their constituents. This is an appalling situation. It could be easily fixed by having FPP type elections, with proportionality being made up out of constituents who lost their seats, starting with those who lost by the smallest margin. MMP in it’s current form allows people into parliament with no public mandate at all.

    Bill.

    • Draco T Bastard 16.1

      List MPs therefore put the interests of the party before those of their constituents.

      Bollocks

      If a list MP pisses off the electorate then the electorate (the entire friggen country) can make enough noise so that the party will remove them. As we found out with Philip Fields though, it’s actually impossible for an electorate to remove an electorate MP.

      As it stands, List MPs are more accountable than electorate MPs.

    • Pascal's bookie 16.2

      Parties determine who electorate mps are as well though BR. The size of the margin in seats is also fairly predictable, so parties would just make sure that the candidates they really want in parliament will be in either safe or close seats.

    • lprent 16.3

      BR: Except that any election based around just geographical seats is also highly susceptible to gerrymandering, and has been gerrymandered throughout our history. It really doesn’t matter if lots of people in the electorate dislike a MP, so long as enough do, and the seat can be twisted like a pretzel to ensure that those wanting a change are rendered ineffective. Almost every electorate MP is voted in by a minority of their electorate.

      Besides, the candidates are still picked by the parties. It is pointless doing what you are advocating unless there are no parties. The politics of selection largely happen inside the party simply because there are relatively few people interested enough in politics to be bothered.

      Is pretty easy to get rid of list MP’s. They serve at the displeasure of the party. If you want to get rid of one, then be a member to exert significiant pressure inside the party, or exert less pressure on that party from outside.

      But it is really really hard to get rid of electorate MP’s.

      I guess that you simply know bugger all about politics from your comment.

      • Draco T Bastard 16.3.1

        Almost every electorate MP is voted in by a minority of their electorate.

        Which is why electorate voting needs to be changed to STV.

        I guess that you simply know bugger all about politics from your comment.

        From reading BR’s comment I figure he only knows what he’s been told over at places like Kiwiblog etc. Hasn’t actually studied or thought about the electoral system and how it works.

        • lprent 16.3.1.1

          From reading BR’s comment I figure he only knows what he’s been told over at places like Kiwiblog etc. Hasn’t actually studied or thought about the electoral system and how it works.

          Yep. That would also tie in with his inability to deal with such complex notions as the Reply button and threaded comments. He replied here. I really can’t be bothered pointing out how superbly stupid his idea is.

          Suffice to say that I’d prefer giving MP’s with safe seats unattainable list rankings as an incentive to win the frigging seat. If they can’t and they’re not in the top tier in cabinet then they should be out of parliament. The people I want to see in the attainable listings are people who I’d want in parliament to try out. If they don’t work out then as a party member, then I’d like to drop them down next time.

          What I don’t want to see is dead wood coming in on the list. We’re slowly getting rid of that idea in Labour. We don’t want some VfC-wits coming up with an idea last used for weaning FPP MP’s to MMP from the 1990’s and trying to say it’d be a good idea.

    • The Voice of Reason 16.4

      List MP’s don’t have constituents, but they do have a public mandate. That mandate is earned by being ranked by party members to fill the positions on the list. The public then choose to endorse those candidates or some other party’s candidates. There are two democratic votes held before a list candidate becomes an MP. Party, then public.
       
      It’s a pretty good system and delivered some excellent MP’s who wouldn’t otherwise be in the house. Ok, it’s also given us David Garrett and Richard Worth, but every system has its flaws.

  17. felix 18

    Ever notice how in the upside-down world of Cameron Slater, David Farrar and their mates, everyone is a racist except for white supremacists?

    • Pascal's bookie 18.1

      Silly felix. Racist is bad, and whites are supreme. It just doesn’t work!

      And anyway, this poor Foggitty chap was quoted OUT OF CONTEXT when he congratulated Australian groups for the increasing attacks on Jews, and when he said that “I’d love to get rid of all Jews, blacks, gypsies, retards and social degenerates, I would love to have genetic cleansing.”

      Out of context see.

      And what’s more, he only thinks that some of the Nazis’ ideas were good.

      “Some” geddit? What’s wrong with that? Of course some of their ideas were good. Who doesn’t think that?

      Racists, that’s who!

      What a beat up.

      http://www.fightdemback.org/2005/09/07/nz-press-investigates-dos-attack/

  18. BR 19

    “Parties determine who electorate mps are as well though BR. The size of the margin in seats is also fairly predictable, so parties would just make sure that the candidates they really want in parliament will be in either safe or close seats.”

    Perhaps, but constituent MPs are accountable to their constituents. A high ranking list MP in either major party risks being thrown onto the opposition benches, a constituent MP risks being thrown out of parliament.

    “But it is really really hard to get rid of electorate MP’s.”

    It is hard for the party to get rid of electorate MPs. It is harder for the voters to get rid of list MPs.

    Some MPs can be both, and this makes MMP even more absurd. Who can forget Chris Carter, who as a high ranking opposition list MP and also a constituent MP, went on a spending spree courtesy of the NZ taxpayer. When this was discovered, he hid from the press for four days. When he was finally flushed out from his spider hole, the only thing he had to say in his own defence was that he was a loyal Labour MP. It seems that Carter was more preoccupied with not annoying the party hierarchy than keeping his constituents happy. He obviously placed a higher value on his list placing than his electorate majority.

    Like I said earlier, and this is not an original idea, it would be better to go back to FPP and correct any lack of proportionality by allowing a few constituent MPS who lost their electorate votes a seat in parliament, starting with the ones who came closest to winning. That way the party could not directly appoint it’s own MPs. The current system is not compatible with a representative democracy. List MPs represent only their parties, and that is where their loyalties lie.

    Bill.

    • Pascal's bookie 19.1

      People vote for parties br. true fact. You know that saying about how a dog could win that seat for party x? Versions of that saying are found in all democracies for a reason. People vote for parties. So those list mps that are representing the party, are therefore representing the people that vote for that party. This is not difficult.

      And anyway, your fix is even more absurd than your problem. If your problem is real, then why should mps that have been chucked out get back in? Isn’t that the problem you are trying to fix?

    • Draco T Bastard 19.2

      It is harder for the voters to get rid of list MPs.

      No you friggen moron. It’s easier to get rid of list MPs as we can kick them out during the term and they won’t be coming back next election because no party is stupid enough (except possibly Act) to put them back on the list or put them in an electorate seat to try and win. Can’t do that reliably with an electorate MP.

      Like I said earlier, and this is not an original idea,

      No it’s not – you’re too stupid to come up with an original idea. What you’re describing is, of course, SM or, as it’s been described as, FPP in drag.

Links to post

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • EV road user charges bill passes
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April.  “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago
  • Bill targets illegal, unregulated fishing in international waters
    New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago
  • Reserve Bank appointments
    Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates.  Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago
  • Stronger protections for apartment owners
    Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    16 hours ago
  • Travel focused on traditional partners and Middle East
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend.    “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says.   Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    16 hours ago
  • Keep safe on our roads this Easter
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago
  • Cost of living support for over 1.4 million Kiwis
    About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago
  • Tenancy reviews for social housing restart
    Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago
  • Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary plan halted
    The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago
  • Cutting all that dam red tape
    Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track.  “Dam safety regulations ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Drought support extended to parts of North Island
    The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Passage of major tax bill welcomed
    The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Lifting economy through science, tertiary sectors
    Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government announces Budget priorities
    The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.  The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government to consider accommodation solution
    The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government approves extension to Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care
    Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says.                                         “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • $18m boost for Kiwis travelling to health treatment
    The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says.   “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM’s Prizes for Space to showcase sector’s talent
    The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Concerns conveyed to China over cyber activity
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government.     “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry
    Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function.  The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Brynderwyns open for Easter
    State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Speech to the Infrastructure Funding & Financing Conference
    Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Parliamentary network breached by the PRC
    New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • NZ to provide support for Solomon Islands election
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • NZ-EU FTA gains Royal Assent for 1 May entry to force
    The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union.    “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • COVID-19 inquiry attracts 11,000 submissions
    Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says.  “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Families to receive up to $75 a week help with ECE fees
    Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Unlocking a sustainable, low-emissions future
    A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says.  “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Chief of Army thanked for his service
    Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders
    25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Government commits nearly $3 million for period products in schools
    Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Speech – Making it easier to build.
    Good morning, it’s great to be here.   First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning.  I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Pacific youth to shine from boost to Polyfest
    Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • 2024 Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships announced
    ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Speech to Breast Cancer Foundation – Insights Conference
    Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Kiwi research soars to International Space Station
    New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Speech to the New Zealand Planning Institute
    Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Support for Northland emergency response centre
    The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed.  “Northland has faced a number ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Celebrating 20 years of Whakaata Māori
    New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Some commercial fishery catch limits increased
    Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-03-28T16:04:04+00:00