Auckland Council and the latest rates rise

Written By: - Date published: 1:40 pm, June 28th, 2015 - 69 comments
Categories: auckland supercity, labour, local government, making shit up, national, public transport, same old national, transport - Tags:

Auckland

The publicity onslaught on Auckland Council this week was somewhat predictable although it could have been handled better.  There were some pretty simple mistakes made.  The spending of $1,296.60 excluding GST on a small celebration after the budget passed was bound to attract attention.  Clearly it did not matter how much or how little the amount was it was always going to be news.  Spending council money on a celebration after rather significant increases had been passed was insensitive and gave the Herald and others the perfect opportunity to attack.  Although I should note that as an employer I regularly put on drinks for my staff and in that regard can see nothing wrong in principle in Council doing the same.

A whole lot of figures have been thrown about concerning the increase and horror stories of $1,000 plus increases in yearly rates have been talked about.  The Herald claimed that tens of thousands of ratepayers would be paying more than a thousand dollars a year in increased rate payments although when it was pointed out to them this figure was wrong they responded by a rather weak retraction.

Herald correction

The basic figure, which no one seems to be talking about, is that there will be a 2.5% increase in the total rate take plus a transport levy on top.  There are winners and losers which mean that for some the increase will be more and for others it will be less.

The increase in Business rates is to be much smaller than the increase in residential rates.  There is a long term policy to reduce business rates.  In July 2013 a business owner paid $2.63 for rateable value compared to $1 for a residential ratepayer.  The plan over 10 years is to reduce this differential to 1.63.  The effect this year will be a 1.4 per cent rates increase for businesses, compared to a 4.2 per cent increase for residential ratepayers.

I have always questioned the rationale for this policy.  Businesses tend to generate considerable use of community resources.  Workers drive to and from their places of work.  Commerce depends on the transportation of goods throughout the region.  And a well designed and functioning city is good for business.  In my view the current level is more than fair.

And besides reducing a business’s rates bill will tend to improve their bottom line and increase their profitability as well as their tax bill.  Conceptually a third of any reduction in rates may be paid to Central Government by way of increased taxes.  Council’s loss is at least in part the Government’s gain.

If it was up to me I would have not reduced the business differential and this would have resulted in residential rates increasing by 2.5%.

Out west local ratepayers also benefit.  From June 1, 2015 the region has finalised a move to rate equally all property of equal value, no matter where it is located.  This benefits out west because on a pro rata basis rates were higher.  But this means that rates in other parts of the city will have to increase to compensate.

The other increase to rates was the transport levy set at a fixed amount of $114 per ratepayer.  Ross Clow opposed the move on the basis that the change was regressive.  Sky City will be paying the same amount as a resident in Piha even though the former’s benefit from an improved transport system is way bigger than the latter’s.

It did not have to be this way.  National has ruled out every attempt Auckland Council has made to establish an alternative funding source.  Auckland’s request for power to impose a regional fuel tax was ruled out as was tolling.  And with Auckland’s commitment to completing the inner city rail link to prevent chaos in 2018 when at current trends Britomart hits peak capacity the Government’s delay in providing support looks like political games being played at the expense of Auckland’s future well being.

One of the government’s preconditions for support, that Auckland city centre employment increases by 25 per cent over current levels, is ridiculous.  If the patronage is increasing then the transport infrastructure needs to be put into place.  It should no matter what particular purpose the infrastructure is being used for.

Generally I support the notion of an increase in rates so that Auckland can fund something that for ideological reasons the Government appears to be incapable of supporting.  And the clock is ticking.  If the inner city rail link is not started now then there will be chaos in Britomart in a few years time.  But this should be paid out of rates and not out of a special levy where the rich and powerful pay the same as the poor.

The politics are fascinating.  The group of councillors who supported the budget were from all parts of the political spectrum.  The Auckland Ratepayers Alliance, a shadowy organisation with links to the Taxpayer’s Union and the National Party have released this graphic.

Auckland Council terrible ten

Of the ten who voted for the budget three have strong National links, list candidate Linda Cooper, former National MP Arthur Anae  and Bill Cashmere, and one, Penny Webster, is a former ACT MP.  Alf Filipaena is the only Labour Councillor to support the budget although progressives Mike Lee and Wayne Walker also voted for it.

Opposing councillors included Labour Councillor Ross Clow and National aligned councillors George Wood, Dick Quax, Sharon Stewart, Cameron Brewer, Christine Fletcher and Denise Crum but also staunch progressive Cathy Casey.  Support for the budget clearly cuts across party lines.  I wonder how the National Party will handle Cooper’s support because as can be seen her vote was crucial.

But to be frank the debate should never have got to this.  The final vote should be pro forma after all the different proposals have been previously debated and voted on.  The repercussions of not passing the budget are very scary.  Are we descending into US Republican type lunacy?

Writing this made me nostalgic for the good old days of Waitakere City where things were simpler, there was more democratic control of the city and we had hopes and aspirations to turning the area into an eco city.  It is time to reconsider super city and consider a more democratic more locally based alternative.

[Edit:  Apologies slightly messy draft published instead of final draft.  Have made some minor corrections to text – MS]

69 comments on “Auckland Council and the latest rates rise ”

  1. ianmac 1

    The original ECan pleaded for the power to carry out progressive actions to develop the Water use policy.
    The Government repeatedly refused to allow any change.
    The Government installed the Commissioners and the first thing they did was enact the power to carry out actions.
    The Auckland City have pleaded for the right to toll and/or petrol Levy but this has been repeatedly refused.
    If this Government gets the change of Mayoralty next year I bet Tolls and Levies will be allowed.
    If the Council wanted to, it could publicise the Government’s obstinacy which would have reduced rates rises. Those complaining about rate rises could direct their venom at the Government. Let Bridges carry the can!

    • Draco T Bastard 1.1

      If the Council wanted to, it could publicise the Government’s obstinacy which would have reduced rates rises.

      That shouldn’t be an if they wanted to bit but an actual legal requirement. Not specifically about obstinacy of course but that every action of a government should be published so that people have the information that they require to make informed decisions.

    • Thomas 1.2

      My rate is creased by 20%. Is there the individual average salary increased by that? Maybe the council officials.

  2. Mike the Savage One 2

    Auckland Council is between a rock and a hard place, one may say, when it comes to funding future transport and infrastructure projects. Central government is reluctant to pay its due share in due time, and simply plays for time. But the rates and extra levy rises now voted for (narrowly) will be hard to digest for many Aucklanders, especially in some areas in South Auckland, where some in Mangere and so will see hefty rises.

    Due to the poor information the media deliver, and due to most continuing to fail to fully understand the need to face the major future challenges for the city and the country now, too many are still only thinking of their immediate, personal costs for their homes, cars and rubbish collections, and lose sight for what is really at stake.

    The central government appears to follow the agenda to further discredit Len Brown and his great ambitions with the City Rail Link and so forth, and hopes for a yet more free market, pro-privatisation mayor, so they can achieve in Auckland, what they wish to continue all over New Zealand.

    More asset sales would be part of the agenda, e.g. selling the Council’s investment in Ports of Auckland, same as Council shares in other enterprises, to finance transport and other projects.

    I doubt whether Len Brown will win another term, and Nat friendly candidates will be groomed already to stand in coming local body elections.

    The effect of the higher than anticipated overall rates and levy increases for ratepayers is one we should all be worried about. Jordan Williams has with others (and the “assistance” of his NZ Taxpayer’s Union) etablished the ‘Ratepayers’ Allance’, which appears to get a fair few members from disgruntled Auckland ratepayers.
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/east-bays-courier/68710799/ratepayers-alliance-reaches-membership-milestone

    There are vested interests at play, well resourced, and they have the means and agendas to further manipulate and influence the Auckland residents, to believe they have a worthwhile “alternative”. They play on emotions, pick “misspending” items here and there, misinform and provide no feasible, longer term solutions.

    Some think Phil Goff will be a suitable, likely contender for the Mayor role, we know, he was one of the supporters of “Rogernomics”, was he not?

    Where will Aucklanders choose to head in future, I wonder?

    • Draco T Bastard 2.1

      They play on emotions, pick “misspending” items here and there, misinform and provide no feasible, longer term solutions.

      That’s because all the feasible long term solutions require them paying more and for them to stop bludging from the poor.

  3. Sacha 3

    “the transport levy set at a fixed amount of $114 per ratepayer.”

    it’s $99 (plus GST). Unless other figures were expressed including GST this is just more deception smeared around by the opponents.

    • Colonial Rawshark 3.1

      The distinction is worth looking at but still it’s only $99 if you are GST registered and can claim the GST back. For normal people the cost is indeed $114.

    • mickysavage 3.2

      Agreed in that it is effectively $114 for the average ratepayer and $99 for Sky City.u

      • dukeofurl 3.2.1

        Remember too for the general rates category

        “9.7 per cent decrease for farm/lifestyle ratepayers.”

  4. dukeofurl 4

    John Banks supported the Inner city rail loop way back when he was running against Brown for mayor and again when he was running for Epsom with ACT.

    Orsman is running all the Heralds council stories and he has a reputation like Glucina of being untruthful, dishonest and a ratbag , based on the stories he prints.

  5. Colonial Rawshark 5

    If National had any electoral sense, it would come in strongly behind Brown’s City Rail Loop project and just make it happen. Do it now and they will have something to show off during the 2017 GE campaign.

    • Lanthanide 5.1

      Yeah, you’re right.

      They’re usually much savvier at this sort of thing, so there must be a reason. I guess the cost is just too much and they dearly want to cling to their surplus promise?

      Once again, their 2009-2010 tax cuts have fucked their choices.

      • Draco T Bastard 5.1.1

        National are all about private profit and good public transport would cut massively into private profit. It would also be a hell of a lot cheaper than private automobiles and when that strikes home people are going to start to question about all the privatisations.

  6. eszett 6

    Is it just me or is the last part of your last sentence missing?

    [Right you are. Last few words were clipped. Now fixed – MS]

  7. Sanctuary 7

    “…The politics are fascinating…”

    The reaction from Auckland’s wealthy suburbs at actually being made to cough up – especially for PT infrastructure, which is for peasants – has been one of fury.

    I bet you dollars to donuts the Auckland Ratepayers Alliance will run as a ticket next year as a stalking horse for those elites – and if they lose, look for the calls for the council to be deposed in a coup and replaced by commissioners to rise to a crescendo.

    • David 7.1

      “Auckland’s wealthy suburbs at actually being made to cough up – especially for PT infrastructure, which is for peasants ”

      Not really true. Wealthy people are more likely to use the train than ‘peasants’, it’s CBD centric nature makes that a certainty.

    • Draco T Bastard 7.2

      A Developed Country Is One in Which Rich People Use Public Transport

      Interestingly, the issue also sparked commentary on the inherent class divisions in Indian society, where the rich minority seems to possess a sense of entitlement over a majority of the public resources.

      That sense of entitlement is true of all the rich in all societies.

  8. dukeofurl 8

    One of the outcomes is

    “Double deckers enabled on a number of frequent bus routes ”

    Does anyone have more information about this ?

    • Visubversaviper 8.1

      A double decker Richies bus whipped past me on the northern approaches to the harbour bridge on Friday evening.

  9. adam 9

    The super city is a joke.

    JOKE!!

    A very sick joke.

    Joke!!

    one which has seen the end of democracy and vision.

    joke!!

    And a victory for the bat crazy right.

    choke!!

  10. Visubversaviper 10

    Unfortunately the Council’s communications team could not communicate to Polly the Parrot. They seem to think the The Herald is there to print Council’s press releases. It is not – it is there to print Cameron Brewer’s press releases and anything from astoturf ‘ratepayers” groups. They don’t know how to use other media, or even their own staff, and no-one there has a “Fox News Filter” = the ability to look at something and think “how would some lying and morally bankrupt spinner twist this, and how do we best prevent that happening?” They were absolutely blindsided by the Unitary Plan and left the field wide open to pressure groups and NIMBYs. To the detriment of the gowth of Auckland for the next 20 years.

  11. Penny Bright 11

    Where is the ‘cost-effectiveness’ / proven ‘value for money’ of public subsidy of privately owned, operated and managed passenger transport?

    Shouldn’t this have been properly investigated before the imposition of this Auckland ‘transport levy’?

    Got speaking rights at the Auckland Council Governing Body meeting on 25 June 2015 – exposed how there is no such thing as ‘public’ transport in Auckland, and asked why should the public subsidise that which we no longer own, operate or manage?

    http://councillive.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/video/250615-governing-body-i

    (Scroll to 7.30 for the start of my presentation …)

    There are 10 private bus companies, 4 private ferry companies and a French multi-national company operating and managing Auckland trains.

    How much do Auckland citizens and ratepayers subsidise PRIVATELY owned, operated and managed ‘passenger transport’ services?

    If the private sector got to own, operate and manage passenger transport services because they were purportedly ‘more efficient’ – then why do they need public subsidies?

    Where’s the ‘cost-benefit’ analyses that PROVE that public subsidy of private passenger transport services is a more ‘cost-effective’ use of public money than providing PUBLIC transport, under the ‘not for profit’ PUBLIC SERVICE model?

    Why aren’t the Mayor, Councillors and Auckland Council staff asking these questions?

    Why are Auckland citizens and ratepayers being told to pay a $114 per year ‘transport levy’ – when the question of the ‘cost-effectiveness’ of public money being used to subsidise privately owned, operated and managed ‘passenger transport’ apparently has never been asked?

    Auckland Transport are supposed to have this OIA reply by 3 July 2015.

    Penny Bright

  12. Paul Campbell 12

    Here in Dunedin we’ve had rates increase above inflation or over a decade now, including several in the 10% range – people on fixed incomes, especially the elderly with their own homes are stuck paying this.

    Why is it only a big deal when it happens in Auckland?

    • tc 12.1

      Yes infrastructure under investment over many years isn’t confined to jaffaland.

      • adam 12.1.1

        Sure isn’t – but Auckland is the powerhouse of the economy – like it or not. I think most of us jaff’s wish we weren’t.

        I also think like Micky said at the start – much of the ambitions/hopes/desires for Auckland are being crushed under the Super anti-democratic city. I hope this model does not get rolled out across the country – it just means you pay more, for less.

        One positive – corruption appears more obvious in the super city.

        • tc 12.1.1.1

          Corruption is out in the open under team key and like his idol Muldoon will take many many years to unwind and recover from.

    • Chch_chiquita 12.2

      Same can be said now about Christchurch. We have already had rate increase after the earthquake and now we are facing 33% over the next four years.
      If anyone had a pay increase, these rates increase have not only taken them but also chewed into the already tight budget. I wonder when will the breaking point come.

  13. Penny Bright 13

    Time for a ‘cost-benefit’ of this disastrous forced Auckland a amalgamation?

    This ‘Supercity’ for the 1%?

    At least facts and evidence about Auckland have helped stop the proposed Wellington and Northland ‘Supercities’.

    Penny Bright

  14. James Thrace 14

    Businesses should not have to pay rates. The owner of the building from which the business operator rents, should be the one that faces big rates.

    The building owner will receive such designated “business premises rates”. While they would pass any increase onto their tenant, business operators “should be” savvy enough to negotiate their rental rates. It’s capitalism borne free.

    Right now, the current method of rating businesses that operate from a premise is unsustainable. The owner of the premise should receive the total rates bill for a property, and because it is a commercial property designation, and not residential, rates will be higher.

    Tldr; rates should only ever be levied on land and buildings with owners of such receiving rates bills, not business tenants as a separate council bill. That’s double dipping.

    • Lanthanide 14.1

      How are rates levied on companies? I’m completely unfamiliar with it.

      But the problem of charging rates based purely on physical occupancy, is that companies that have minimal requirements for building space, but generate huge amounts of revenue, would have lower rates builds compared to a similar revenue company that requires much more land/plant to achieve their revenue. That doesn’t seem fair either.

      • RedBaronCV 14.1.1

        The building owner is liable for the rates but most commercial tenancy agreements pass the rates charges onto the tenants who may be companies, sole traders, trusts etc.

        • dukeofurl 14.1.1.1

          A central city office block used to be rated by ‘annual rental value’ which was connected to a sort of ‘QV rent’.
          Each tenant would receive a rates bill based on floor area rented. The owner was fairly distant in all this unless the rates werent paid.

          When they changed to value of building and land, what each tenant paid wasnt the concern of council.
          Before top floor paid more than say 3rd floor, while ground floor shop would be higher as well.

          Houses were ‘rental value’ as well which wouldnt go up as steeply as land value,
          and pricey properties may 10x a low value house but only 6x rent.

          This land and house value means the wealthy areas are at the sharp end for a change and they are hating it (the rates) but loving it ( total value).

  15. RedBaronCV 15

    We have a government that will do nothing about slowing foreign ownership or immigration into Auckland. They won’t dig in the national pocket for the funds to provide infrastructure for the migrants, they won’t allow Auckland to have tolls or levies specifically for cars.
    Then they expect the ACC to fix all the problems they have caused without rates rises and when the rates go up they try to pin this on poor manangment by the council no doubt with the hope that they get a real right winger in. Then watch government funds flow.

    Well most of the companies that have major contracts with the ACC owned companies (the ones with the expensive managers and directors) return at least 10% on sales so if you want rates to go down 5% stop all the privatisation and reclaim that profit margin.

  16. Ad 16

    Those Aucklanders who own houses through this astonishing property boom, hold your rates bill in one hand, and your Capital Value notice in the other:

    Rates are your tiny little tax on becoming millionaires.

    • Lanthanide 16.1

      Which doesn’t help you if you’re on a fixed income and can’t afford to pay the rates and don’t care that you’re a paper millionaire.

      • Visubversaviper 16.1.1

        It is difficult – I will sell my house when I retire and buy something smaller. The problem is that we have built monomorphic suburbs so if you live in St Heliers or Sandringam your choices of something to replace your big house are quite limited. My parents looked for 2 years for a townhouse to retire to in Mission Bay/Kohi so that they could sell the 4br house we had all moved away from, but stay in the area with their friends and services.
        Unfortunately it was the people in suburbs like St Heliers that bitterly resisted any thought of intensification. They seemed not to care that their kids could not buy in the suburb they grew up in, or that they would not have choices when they came to retire.

        • Ad 16.1.1.1

          any smaller town appeal?
          take half a mil with you.

          • Sabine 16.1.1.1.1

            no services,
            no friends
            no support network when a partner dies away etc.

            people do like to live in their neighbourhoods that they lived most of their lives in. So to go from Auckland to somewhere middle the country where they have to reestablish their lifes might not be what they are after.

            But hey, they have got half a mil on paper so they should just move out of auckland….to somewhere.

            Christ, i find it adorable how so many think that moving out of Auckland is the solution to everything, as long as you have money. Shortsighted selfish little intellectual gimps.

            • Ad 16.1.1.1.1.1

              And we wonder why people complain here about the regions shrinking.

              Plenty of regions that are more attractive to those on fixed incomes. People actually can retire, make clear decisions about new lives, and do move towns.
              It sure ain’t a panacea – but shifting towns to release capital is a perfectly natural and logical response.

              • Colonial Rawshark

                I find it odd that people think of NZ south of the Bombay Hills as some kind of social, amenities and facilities desert.

                Also if you are elderly, in Auckland, and suspect at 5pm on a Friday that you are having a serious cardiovascular incident, how long would it take you to reach the nearest hospital? An hour? I suspect people in Nelson or Napier have it better.

                The thing about downsizing to a smaller town is to do it by 50 or 60, and not in the last few years of life where it is more difficult to rebuild social contacts and get involved with local activities.

                • Ad

                  Precisely.

                • dukeofurl

                  Its nothing like that. There is an ambulance station around the corner from me, one of about 6 in Auckland.
                  heading into a major hospital on Friday night ( usually less traffic than say Mon Tues) would be around 15 min.
                  A lot of traffic is trying to get on motorways so if you dont do that it moves freely and of course emergency vehicles have priority and travel quickly past bottlenecks.
                  A major arterial is closeby, standstill traffic in one direction only, but ambulances pass along centre fairly easily.

  17. Draco T Bastard 17

    The increase in Business rates is to be much smaller than the increase in residential rates. There is a long term policy to reduce business rates. In July 2013 a business owner paid $2.63 for rateable value compared to $1 for a residential ratepayer.

    For this I’d need to see the figures but I’ve worked in a position before to have a general idea that businesses cost the council far more than a house does. What we’d need to ask is:

    1. How much, in terms of costs, does the business require in services?
    2. Same question for the house.
    3. Which way is the subsidy flowing?

    There is a subsidy, make no mistake about it, and if it follows the same mode as everything else then it’s the businesses that are being subsidised by the residents. That means that the reduction is business rates is ideological and not based in fact.

    If the patronage is increasing then the transport infrastructure needs to be put into place. It should no matter what particular purpose the infrastructure is being used for.

    If there was excellent public transport in the city centre people would be more inclined to move there and this would decrease demand for for more spread on the outskirts of the city. This would drive the amount of capitals gains for Nationals’ land banker mates down and they can’t have that now can they?

    Are we descending into US Republican type lunacy?

    Yes, yes we are as the actions of the NZ version of the US Republican Party usually referred to as the National Party, prove quite conclusively.

  18. Sable 18

    So called super cities juts make it easier for interest groups and shifty politicians to seize control of local government through engineered elections and in so doing control larger groups of ratepayers. I’m deeply opposed to this idea for Wellington and have made submissions to that effect.

    That said, I do think councils in general, like central government, are less and less representative of the public they were, in theory, put in place to serve. They act more like interest groups representing the needs of specific and often small groups, at the expense of the wider community. It is definitely time for urgent reform of all types of government in this country, as it slowly becomes more and more untrustworthy and adversarial.

  19. Ad 19

    Anyone who thinks that raising taxes is a good political idea, think again.

    That “terrible ten” have a real chance of all being town out.

    • Sabine 19.1

      I agree with you. Lets cut taxes, lets stop funding roads, lets stop funding schools, lets stop funding healthcare, lets stop funding public spaces such as parks and libraries, lets stop funding the police, lets stop funding the army, heck lets all set up ourselfs as a Destiny Church and live lavishly from donations of the poor that are tax exempt. Then we are all having a few more dollars in our pockets to buy some shovels and start digging a few dirt tracks.

      again, it seems we are surrounded by selfish, shortsighted intellectual gimps.

      • Ad 19.1.1

        You might want to get to know a few Councillors to understand the volume of stress that they have to operate under.

        In terms of intellectual analysis, Auckland Council’s LTP was subject to extreme scrutiny, including:
        – the largest public consultation in local government history
        – Office of Auditor General scrutiny
        – scrutiny from the Prime Minister and all relevant departments, amplified at high volume through the media
        – Independent 5,000 person polling
        etc etc

        Lefties need to understand that taxing is politically costly.

        • Sabine 19.1.1.1

          and rightwingers need to know that without taxes nothing gets done because at the end of the day no – one wants to spend money.

          go have a look at certain US States, Kansas, Wisconsin, Florida, Texas etc all come to mind.

          How long do you think that infrastructure is gonna last if one does not spend a bit of money every now and then.

          but I can see where you come from, you would have no issues with taxes being raised, as long as it is not your taxes.
          You should joint the National Party and stand for office….you don’t have to do anything, get to sell what does not belong to you, cut the tax rate on your earnings, and when it does not work, cry that its all Aunty Helens fault.

          Poor poor thing. Work, its hard, n dusty, n unpleasant.

          • Ad 19.1.1.1.1

            Nope. Very pleased to pay taxes, and happy to pay more under an alternative government, within reason.
            Just a reminder: In the last election Labour stood on a comprehensive raise-taxes policy platform, and was creamed. I mean worst in multiple generations creamed.

            Lefties that do not understand the political cost of raising taxes are not going to be in power to change the city/country/world.

            • Tracey 19.1.1.1.1.1

              they need to be like righties, lie about intending to do it, do it and then lie and obsficate about whether it is a tax, oh and blame Labour, right Ad?

    • her 19.2

      Add Penny Hulse and John Walker to the terrible twelve for doing nothing.

  20. northshoreguynz 20

    I went onto the Auckland Ratepayers Alliance Facebook page. Made some mildly anti remarks, and got some ferocious type replies. Very WO.

  21. Old Mickey 21

    “I regularly put on drinks for my staff and in that regard can see nothing wrong in principle in Council doing the same.” –

    What was missing was a little bit of sensitivity about the timing. Even if the increase was only 2.5%, this does not look good when spending public money.

    • Clean_power 21.1

      Sensitivy is an unknown word to mr Brown, who has the hide of a rhino and the fine taste of a Chardonnay socialist.

      • Sabine 21.1.1

        same as all the other Torys? Nope?

        and yes, bosses do put out drinks for staff.

        • dukeofurl 21.1.1.1

          And the US Embassy provides the drinks for the year end bash in parliament !

          Go figure ?

  22. Save NZ 22

    While I agree many of the problems are caused by the SuperCity, Len Brown has not helped himself by his Sky City freebies and worse, backing with rate payers money, the Ports of Auckland and voting to cut down the Kauri trees.

    Out of touch with public opinion and allowing extreme rot within his own council officers (with the CEO).

    As usual Auckland’s are between a rock and a hard place, as there is very little alternative to vote for.

  23. Tracey 23

    Corrections ought to have to headline on the front page…

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    The Detail this morning highlights the police's asset forfeiture case against convicted business criminal Ron Salter, who stands to have his business confiscated for systemic violations of health and safety law. Business are crying foul - but not for the reason you'd think. Instead of opposing the post-conviction punishment and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    8 hours ago
  • Misremembering Justinian’s Taxes.
    Tax Lawyer Barbara Edmonds vs Emperor Justinian I - Nolo Contendere: False historical explanations of pivotal events are very far from being inconsequential.WHEN BARBARA EDMONDS made reference to the Roman Empire, my ears pricked up. It is, lamentably, very rare to hear a politician admit to any kind of familiarity ...
    9 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Scoring 4.6 out of 10, the new Government is struggling in the polls
    It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support for the various parties in ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    10 hours ago
  • Bishop scores headlines with crackdown on unwelcome tenants – but Peters scores, too, as tub-thump...
    Buzz from the Beehive Housing Minister Chris Bishop delivered news – packed with the ingredients to enflame political passions – worthy of supplanting Winston Peters in headline writers’ priorities. He popped up at the post-Cabinet press conference to promise a crackdown on unruly and antisocial state housing tenants. His ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    11 hours ago
  • Will it make the boat go faster?
    Ele Ludemann writes – The Reserve Bank is advertising for a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion advisor. The Bank has one mandate – to keep inflation between one and three percent. It has failed in that and is only slowly getting inflation back down to the upper limit. Will it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    14 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi The fact that a ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    14 hours ago
  • Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Bryce Edwards writes – Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    14 hours ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' at 10:10am on Tuesday, March 19
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Gavin Jacobson talks to Thomas Piketty 10 years on from Capital in the 21st Century The SalvoLocal scoop: Green MP’s business being investigated over migrant exploitation claims Stuff Steve KilgallonLocal deep-dive: The commercial contractors making money from School ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    14 hours ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things on Tuesday, March 19
    It’s a home - but Kāinga Ora tenants accused of “abusing the privilege” may lose it. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Government announced a crackdown on Kāinga Ora tenants who were unruly and/or behind on their rent, with Housing Minister Chris Bishop saying a place in a state ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    16 hours ago
  • New Life for Light Rail
    This is a guest post by Connor Sharp of Surface Light Rail  Light rail in Auckland: A way forward sooner than you think With the coup de grâce of Auckland Light Rail (ALR) earlier this year, and the shift of the government’s priorities to roads, roads, and more roads, it ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    16 hours ago
  • Why Are Bosses Nearly All Buffoons?
    Note: As a paid-up Webworm member, I’ve recorded this Webworm as a mini-podcast for you as well. Some of you said you liked this option - so I aim to provide it when I get a chance to record! Read more ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    19 hours ago
  • Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6.06 pm on March 18
    TL;DR: In my ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Monday, March 18:IKEA is accused of planting big forests in New Zealand to green-wash; REDD-MonitorA City for People takes a well-deserved victory lap over Wellington’s pro-YIMBY District Plan votes; A City for PeopleSteven Anastasiou takes a close look at the sticky ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Peters holds his ground on co-governance, but Willis wriggles on those tax cuts and SNA suspension l...
    Buzz from the Beehive Here’s hoping for a lively post-cabinet press conference when the PM and – perhaps – some of his ministers tell us what was discussed at their meeting today. Until then, Point of Order has precious little Beehive news to report after its latest monitoring of the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • Labour’s final report card
    David Farrar writes –  We now have almost all 2023 data in, which has allowed me to update my annual table of how  went against its promises. This is basically their final report card. The promise The result Build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • “Drunk Uncle at a Wedding”
    I’m a bit worried that I’ve started a previous newsletter with the words “just when you think they couldn’t get any worse…” Seems lately that I could begin pretty much every issue with that opening. Such is the nature of our coalition government that they seem to be outdoing each ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Geoffrey Miller writes – Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on Dune 2, and images of Islam
    Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture ...
    2 days ago
  • New Rail Operations Centre Promises Better Train Services
    Last week Transport Minster Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre. The new train control centre will see teams from KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Auckland One Rail working more closely together to improve train services across the city. The Auckland Rail Operations Centre in ...
    2 days ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things at 6.36am on Monday, March 18
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in an exit interview with Q+A yesterday the Government can and should sustain more debt to invest in infrastructure for future generations. Elsewhere in the news in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 6:36am: Read more ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than just a happy ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    2 days ago
  • The Kaka’s diary for the week to March 25 and beyond
    TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Bitter and angry; Winston First
    New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • Out of Touch.
    “I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The bewildering world of Chris Luxon – Guns for all, not no lunch for kids
    .“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    3 days ago
  • Expert Opinion: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
    3 days ago
  • Manufacturing The Truth.
    Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet –  is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
    3 days ago
  • A Powerful Sensation of Déjà Vu.
    Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
    3 days ago
  • Can you guess where world attention is focussed (according to Greenpeace)? It’s focussed on an EPA...
    Bob Edlin writes –  And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Further integrity problems for the Greens in suspending MP Darleen Tana
    Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Greens’ transparency missing in action
    For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    5 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    6 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    6 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    6 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Government moves to quickly ratify the NZ-EU FTA
    "The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago
  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    15 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
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