Bill English unaware that GST is a tax shock!

Written By: - Date published: 11:25 am, June 26th, 2016 - 69 comments
Categories: bill english, gst, tax - Tags: , , , , ,

There’s no lie like an old lie:

A table from Finance Minister Bill English’s office shows 663,000 households – or 40 per cent – receive more in tax credits and other benefits than they pay in tax. Thousands more are neutral contributors, or are close to it.

An old lie oft repeated: 40% of households paying no net tax.

Maybe I’m too cynical to call this a politically convenient lie. Perhaps Bill English is genuinely unaware that GST is a tax that everyone pays. But now that we’ve cleared that up, hey Bill, how do the calculations look when you factor GST in?

69 comments on “Bill English unaware that GST is a tax shock! ”

  1. Pasupial 1

    It’s not just GST being omitted either, does this putative taxfree percentage include; ACC, fuel taxes, import tariffs (plus any other skimmings that go into governtment slush funds). And these supposed “benefits”, do they include; NAct MPs salaries, limosines & helicopters; private prisons & hospital food; and irrigation schemes for cow farmers?

    If so, that is akin to; calling a slave’s whipping, a perk of the job.

    • Lanthanide 1.1

      Don’t forget alcohol and cigarette excise taxes, which surely all these lowlife beneficiaries are spending all their ill-gotten gains on.

      • Greg 1.1.1

        Think when TPPA kicks in with no tariffs, custom duties=+GST, etc,

        Bill will have to swap all these to Sales Tax, or introduce a differentiated GST, probably using a sugar tax to piggy back the new GST tax system on for it.
        Just as to soften up the peasantry for more silver to extort.

        Government cant afford to lose tax revenue because its linked to there debt payments 10 year cycle.

        Bill understand tax, most farmers pay little, except to councils,
        they get their GST refunded.

    • Bearded Git 1.2

      Some of those people will own houses/property and pay local body rates too, which is a tax.

      • Greg 1.2.1

        National really believe in there own bullshit propaganda, thats the irony,
        and why they can say pretty much anything now with a straight face.
        And the media print it as fact.

        Any Farms as registered GST businesses get all costs back.

        • Molly 1.2.1.1

          Bill English knows very well how much PAYE tax farmers pay:

          Inland Revenue Department figures provided to Labour MP Stuart Nash show the average tax paid by dairy farmers in the 2008/09 year was NZ$1,508, despite the average Fonterra payout being over NZ$500,000, the Dominion Post reported.

          Finance Minister Bill English this morning moved to defend farmers who were operating within the rules, saying that year was particularly bad in terms of a low Fonterra payout, but signalled changes will be made in tomorrow’s budget to “specifically tighten the taxation of farmers further,” although he would not go into more detail.

          May 2011 – interest.co.nz

    • Ralf Crown 1.3

      Add all user pay, and the heavily loaded electricity bill, water bill, rates, etc.

  2. KJT 2

    Bill English is perfectly aware of what net taxes comprise.

    Welfare to Sky city, banks and Dairy farms and the effect on the tax take from those on low incomes of GST, hidden taxes and charges do not fit the narrative, so they are simply ignored.

    Only 1 in 6 people read past the headlines. http://www.getspokal.com/if-you-only-read-one-post-about-headlines-read-this-one/

    National’s PR team are perfectly well aware of this.

    Hence all the headlines with “John Key says”.

    • Pasupial 2.1

      KJT

      I see what you did there. Clever, but the 2006 copyblogger site that your link in turn links to as reference, only says:

      Here are some interesting statistics.

      On average, 8 out of 10 people will read headline copy, but only 2 out of 10 will read the rest.

      Interesting isn’t the same as accurate.

      This Slate article is hopefully both (I got to the end, but only because I skipped most of the middle except the graphs):

      http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/technology/2013/06/how_people_read_online_why_you_won_t_finish_this_article.html

      • KJT 2.1.1

        Except I got the 1 in 6 from several references including some journal ones as well.
        As always I do not rely on just one source.

        • Pasupial 2.1.1.1

          I thought you were demonstrating your point that only a small proportion read past the headlines by; typing “1 in 6”, but linking to an article that says 1 in 5 (if you read past the headline).

          Either proportion is suspect to me because; they are only reported to one significant figure, and make no mention of who the study group is.

  3. Ross 3

    Bill English and David Farrar are honest and sincere on this issue. Yeah nah.

    http://pundit.co.nz/content/tax-burdens-some-facts-for-a-change

    • Draco T Bastard 3.1

      Ah, Blinglish and National lying again.

    • miravox 3.2

      Very informative, and that’s only on the income tax arithmetic. Ta for the link.

      This group earns 30% of the income, has 50% or more of the wealth, and pays 43% of the net tax. Is that an outrage?

      Now for the real top income/wealth earners, adding in the GST component and including other user-based taxes…

  4. Ross 4

    Susan Edmunds doesn’t even understand basic stats. 1 in 4 equals 25%, not 40%. Moreover, she doesn’t give readers the courtesy of viewing English’s table, so it can’t be checked for accuracy.

    More than one in four households are contributing nothing to New Zealand’s tax take.

    A table from Finance Minister Bill English’s office shows 663,000 households – or 40 per cent – receive more in tax credits and other benefits than they pay in tax.

  5. stunned mullet 5

    English is a career trougher and a mendacious git.

    i would direct anyone interested to the first graph in the attached link…

    http://www.ird.govt.nz/aboutir/external-stats/revenue-refunds/revenue-collected/

    • One Anonymous Bloke 5.1

      I, Simon William English, being chosen and admitted of the Executive Council of New Zealand, swear that I will to the best of my judgement, at all times, when thereto required, freely give my counsel and advice to the Governor-General for the time being, for the good management of the affairs of New Zealand. That I will not directly nor indirectly reveal such matters as shall be debated in Council and committed to my secrecy, but that I will in all things be a true and faithful Councillor. So help me God.

      Has Section 110 of the Crimes Act ever been invoked? It should be. Sweep the lying dogshit out of the House.

  6. AmaKiwi 6

    So why isn’t Grant Robertson calling him a liar?

    Wake up, Grant. You’re supposed to be Labour’s finance spokesperson.

    • Ross 6.1

      To be fair, the article was published only this morning. 🙂

    • One Anonymous Bloke 6.2

      Why didn’t the journalist check the liar’s assertions? Is she a little bit shit at being a journalist much?

      “Senior Cabinet Minister gets caught lying again”.

    • infused 6.3

      Grant’s still going through his Economics 101 books.

      • One Anonymous Bloke 6.3.1

        …and when he’s finished them, he’ll know more about economics than Double Dipton.

  7. Keith 7

    Is he finally acknowledging that our housing investors who are some of the most financially comfortable are not only paying no tax as they bludge off the taxpayer claiming tax deductions on their property investments, but they are also being paid to line their own pockets at our expense?

    Or will he tilt it at Nationals favourite strawmen the unemployed or solo parent beneficiary?

    And anyway Key has us set up nicely as a tax haven so isn’t this to be applauded?

  8. It’s quite deliberate. If this wasn’t about mendacious propaganda, they’d trouble themselves to put the word “income” ahead of the word “tax” because to do otherwise is misleading.

    I get why Bill English issues mendacious propaganda, but don’t have any explanation for why professional journalists just publish it without correcting him.

    • Draco T Bastard 8.1

      I get why Bill English issues mendacious propaganda, but don’t have any explanation for why professional journalists just publish it without correcting him.

      Because the ‘professional’ journalists haven’t got a friggen as to what they’re talking about. Can’t pull someone up on their lies when you’re an ignoramus.

  9. seeker 9

    What about the emissions tax which landed on every unit of electricity I used on July 1, 2010 I think. I am still paying it as far as I know, and I believe farmers and industries/businesses not so much.

  10. NZJester 10

    They have always tried to deny G.S.T. is a tax.
    There was that time when they moved the tax burden more onto the poor by lowering P.A.Y.E. but then upping G.S.T. to pay for it effectively hitting the poor harder than the rich. At the time they tried to claim then G.S.T. was not a tax even though its full name is Goods and Services Tax. Unless you were in the higher wage brackets like most National supporters you lost out big time in the tax swap.
    That is what actually helped start us more quickly down the road to an increase in the working poor as the extra money from the reduction in P.A.Y.E. was very small compared to the increase in the amount of G.S.T. added to most people’s basic weekly needs like housing, food, and transport.
    The copper line tax to pay for the ultra-fast broadband that is being charged to us using ADSL still is also a bit of a ripoff as we are subsidising others to have faster broadband than us. It is sort of the poor paying for the rich again too.

  11. Greg 11

    Lets look at this another way.

    Bill and Key, claim workers and household incomes are rising on their economic performance,
    They have made this claim repeating in Parliament.

    Is this statement an admission that 40% of workers and household incomes are not rising?

    Its a serious breach of Parliamentary rules for MPs to lie in Parliament.

  12. Graeme 12

    And in the other rag today, this can of worms / chalice of electoral suicide,
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11663459

    Looks like there’s going to be an all out assault next week. Having a crack at Working for Families and pensioners

    • Draco T Bastard 12.1

      Our superannuation scheme is a brilliant example of a UBI in practice.

      • Graeme 12.1.1

        Yeah, and quite a substantial one too. The political challenge is how it’s modified to become universal, without absolutely shafting some sectors, like young families and the elderly. Once it’s entrenched and society adjusts we could be in a very good place, but getting there does my head in. I’m not far away from it myself, and the way it changes my thinking around what we could do in our business makes me very interested in a UBI from an entrepreneurial and creative perspective.

        WFF and NZ Super are political minefields for any government who tries to cut them back, and will affect a lot of mobile voters. I really can’t see the current lot having the balls to go there.

        Another distraction?

    • b waghorn 12.2

      That’s why we should take on the Maori parties policy of people being able to retire any were from 60 to 70 , the earlier you retire the less your pension is , and if you work to 70 you get more.

      • Gabby 12.2.1

        Sort of a punishment for those bastard manual workers, then.

        • b waghorn 12.2.1.1

          I’m a bastard manual worker and if my body is buggered by 60 (which is looking likely) I’d rather have the option of getting the pension than having to go pump gas on the night shift .
          I’m planning on working till I’m dead if I can but plans and what happens can be two entirely different things.

    • Greg 12.3

      People getting Super and working pay 30% tax on extra earnings.

      With high youth unemployment why make people work until they are dead,
      then wonder why their is a skill shortage.

      Immigration isnt a economic factor when immigrant arrive in NZ with qualifications employers wont recognize.

      Good for employers paying minimum wage ad lower.

  13. mosa 13

    I tell you what Bill English is very aware of and thats the fact that corporates DONT pay their fair share of tax in this country.
    He would rather steal it from hard working and destitute kiwis than enforce the hugely wealthy too pay their contribution to our society.
    He prefers to cut back on a kiwisaver kickstart to incentivise people too save for retirement and not increase the employer contribution too make it just that bit more equitable like the Aussie super scheme does for Australians.
    Or review the tax paid on kiwisaver contributions and do the right thing and eliminate it.
    And the unfairness of paying GST on our rate payments to local councils.
    Or reduce the huge amount of tax paid on the fuel we put in our cars.
    But Bill English is a lot of things but being progressive and fair and equitable is not among them.
    Protecting donors and influential friends by keeping the status quo the National party and their friends love so much is all you can ever expect if you vote for these people.
    And they consider themselves New Zealanders !!!!

    • Greg 13.1

      You can bet most employers are signing up the 167k working visa holders in the county. IRD should have a figure on rejected Kiwisaver applications. You can bet the employers keep the 300$ sign up grant

  14. Jack Ramaka 14

    The majority of NZers are being booted down the garden path, however they don’t actually realize.

  15. b waghorn 15

    I’ve been reliable informed by a national voter that poor people can avoid gst by growing veges and getting stuff from opshops , so national s disciples will swallow englishs’ lines hook line and sinker.

  16. Smilin 16

    The right always contend they represent the people by addressing every political situation as if they have worked it all out before they go into political double speak to explain it ,but in fact very rarely do and they don’t have any real justification to do what they do but go ahead with their department of coercion and lobbying plus the media and CT working flat out shutting down any rights the masses have to question the validity of the govts position or decisions
    Like this govt should have been gone by lunch time last election but it just shows how corrupted the voters thinking is in believing any of the shit this govt does is ultimately good for this country in say 30 yrs
    apart from dealing with what any govt would have had to fix in the last 8 yrs the majority of their governance has been to keep the working masses from being able to seen their way to what used to be possible to earn in housing education and a sense of nationality which applied to all

  17. infused 17

    I’ve been harping on for a tax-free threshold on here for years.

    Working for families is wasteful. Someone needs to cost out scrapping these benefits vs lowering tax and creating a tax-free threshold (think up to 8-10k).

    This is better for everyone.

    • Pat 17.1

      do the numbers…WFF costa around 2.8 billion per annum and is targeted by income to those likely in need (and is temporary in nature)..whereas an across the board tax free threshold of 10k would cost approx 3.8 billion in lost revenue and is provided whether needed or not (and is permanent)

      we could increase taxation in other areas to make up the one billion plus shortfall (likely in the immediate next band) in revenue or we could reduce public service provision.

      better for everyone?

      • Molly 17.1.1

        “is targeted by income to those likely in need (and is temporary in nature)”

        Not really. It is a blunt instrument that was created in order to assuage those “worthies” who were feeling the pinch, that something was being done.

        Read the articles about this couple who own a business mortgage free that gives them a low enough personal income to get WFF.

        “Orchid growers Joe and Annemieke Sonneveld have received $20,000 from Working for Families in some years because, with six children, they qualified for partial subsidies as long as they earned less than $172,425.

        Even with their eldest, 17-year-old Suzanne, now at Manukau Institute of Technology, they still received partial subsidies on income up to $148,991 before the Budget.

        The Budget decisions to claw back the tax credits at a faster rate of 25c in each $1 above $35,000 a year will cut their family support drastically, but Mr Sonneveld is not worried.

        “I’m happy with the higher incomes being targeted for less family support,” he said. “That’s a good move – people who can afford less Government help will feel it, and I’m quite happy … Lower incomes will still have access to it.”

        How many people do you think this applies to? I can think of a few among my personal acquaintances, who are successful business owners (with many of the offsets including vehicles, some utilities and mortgage payments reductions) who also qualify for a community services card etc. I’m guessing farmers, on their low personal income, also have a benefit for their children going to tertiary study.

        Also nowhere in those articles, including the fawning editorial – did it mention that WFF has to be applied for. So, despite their personal views and values being given a public platform, their actions do not match.

        The way WFF is set up allows for these anomalies, where families in need are not necessarily those who qualify.

        • Pat 17.1.1.1

          whats your point?

          Selecting a single case study that may or may not be real and then presenting woolly figures like” have received $20,000 from Working for Families in some years because, with six children, they qualified for partial subsidies as long as they earned less than $172,425.” means what?…because to receive 20 k in any one year their income would have to be less than 70K and all six children would have to qualify.

          How many people do i think it applies to?….greatly less than you infer given that only 6.1% of NZ families have 4 or more children and WFF is not claimable for children receiving student allowance regardless of age.

          Is it manipulated by the self employed, undoubtably but that is a compliance issue and would suggest if income is being manipulated for WFF purposes is also being manipulated for tax purposes….the solution is the same, stronger enforcement.

          And Oh dear “it has to be applied for” (once, after unsolicited notification you qualify)……thats terrible.

          • Molly 17.1.1.1.1

            My point was that WFF is a blunt instrument, and does not reach all those who are in need of tax rebates because of the design for qualification and delivery.

            I don’t understand what your point is – from what I can gather it is a purely WFF costs the government this, and the tax-free threshold would cost us that.
            A very silo approach which ignores the other costs bourne by the government and families who are struggling but do not qualify for WFF. One of the reasons I would support a UBI.

            (BTW, I’m in the home education community so I know the people in the story from there. Lovely family, but indicative of the mindset that only looks at wider issues from a personal perspective. And… woolly figures? That $20,000 was a direct quote from the person interviewed and shown as such).

            • Pat 17.1.1.1.1.1

              “My point was that WFF is a blunt instrument, and does not reach all those who are in need of tax rebates because of the design for qualification and delivery.”

              It may be blunt but is considerably sharper than a tax exempt threshold of 8-10k

              “…….One of the reasons I would support a UBI.”
              Say what? where in the previous exchange has UBI been raised?

              “And… woolly figures? That $20,000 was a direct quote from the person interviewed and shown as such).”

              It was indeed a direct quote….and very woolly given that they cannot receive 20k in WFF UNLESS their income is less than 70k…NOT 172k

              I am at a loss to understand what your preferred form of redistribution of tax is and to what purpose?

              • Molly

                “I am at a loss to understand what your preferred form of redistribution of tax is and to what purpose?”

                Stop apologies for schemes such as “working for families” until they work for ALL families, especially the most vulnerable.

                Working for Families is a misnomer – it more accurately should be – “Working for Some Families – of whom some are vulnerable, some are not.”

                Not to mention, creating a longer breathing space for low wages to cause havoc amongst the working population.

                “I am at a loss to understand what your preferred form of redistribution of tax is and to what purpose?”

                That’s probably because I didn’t propose one. I just put forward some criticism of the WFF scheme, and you respond by asking me for a comprehensive tax reform?

                • Pat

                  “Stop apologies for schemes such as “working for families” until they work for ALL families, especially the most vulnerable.”

                  so you think WFF is inequitable, OK lets scrap it….what would you like to replace it with? or don’t we replace it?

                  • Molly

                    “so you think WFF is inequitable, OK lets scrap it….what would you like to replace it with? or don’t we replace it?”

                    If this dialogue is going to continue – the question is: do you think it is inequitable? If you don’t you will continue to jump on any comment I make.

                    An immediate fix would be to make this available to all families with children – whether working or not.

                    A long-term fix, would be to support workers to raise wages and incomes, instead of subsidising businesses to keep wages low and sort out the cost of housing our people.

                    • Pat

                      “If this dialogue is going to continue – the question is: do you think it is inequitable? If you don’t you will continue to jump on any comment I make.”

                      Assume you are referring to the IWTC portion of the WFF package, or do you object to only those with children receiving it? If the former then , yes it is inequitable but with justifiable reason. There are significant costs associated with paid employment that are not incurred if not in paid employment and there is also an incentive factor.

                      “A long-term fix, would be to support workers to raise wages and incomes, instead of subsidising businesses to keep wages low and sort out the cost of housing our people.”

                      There is no improvement in living standards to be gained by raising wages if there is a commenserate increase in costs, particularly if those costs are not discretionary.
                      The housing affordability issue is driven by quite different factors in the current circumstances and giving private landlords a greater proportion of revenue, irrespective of its source will not improve that situation.

                    • Molly

                      ” If the former then , yes it is inequitable but with justifiable reason. There are significant costs associated with paid employment that are not incurred if not in paid employment and there is also an incentive factor.”

                      OK. Your use of “justifiable reason” and “incentive factor” gives me an indication of why we are disagreeing on this issue, when I usually agree with your comments on other posts.

                      From a purely personal perspective, when we have people living in poverty, we should look towards picking them up – without dividing them into “justified” and “non-justified” groups. Otherwise we are ignoring a whole demographic of NZers.

                      As for the “incentive” factor – incentive for whom?

                      ” There is no improvement in living standards to be gained by raising wages if there is a commensurate increase in costs, particularly if those costs are not discretionary.”

                      Agree. Which is why I raised the issue of increasing housing costs. But you are right there are multiple factors alongside this that are important to resolve. But once again, it seems you are asking me for a full tax and policy package, as a response to criticism of WFF. The point is, no other significant policy exists to meet those who fail to meet the WFF criteria. We ignore them, and hide behind the WFF flagship of “helping families”.

                      Successive governments have failed to create policy that ensures every NZ has access to safe, adequately paid employment, and safe, affordable housing.

                      (As for cost? The $20 billion towards the MoD can be slashed to bring this to the table, as well as removing the tax rebates that National brought to the higher earners when they took office. Policy in multiple areas that would address the rising cost of living, inequality and climate change would be better than continually chasing rises in GDP).

                      It is not the cost that is stopping any progress, it is honest appraisal and political will.

                    • Pat

                      “But once again, it seems you are asking me for a full tax and policy package, as a response to criticism of WFF. The point is, no other significant policy exists to meet those who fail to meet the WFF criteria. We ignore them, and hide behind the WFF flagship of “helping families”.”

                      Not at all….my original discussion began with an assertion by Infused where he expressed a preference for a tax free threshold of 8-10K over WFF…….I argued WFF was a better use of funds, not that it was perfect or even necessarily desirable….you entered at this point and broadened the discussion to areas outside WFF and thereby created a “full tax and policy package” requirement for yourself.

                    • Molly

                      “.my original discussion began with an assertion by Infused where he expressed a preference for a tax free threshold of 8-10K over WFF…….I argued WFF was a better use of funds, not that it was perfect or even necessarily desirable….you entered at this point “
                      So we disagree on the “better use of funds”. I have no problem with that.

                    • Pat

                      you believe a tax exemption on the first 8-10k costing approx 3.8 billion is a better use of funds than the current WFF program at a cost of 2.8 billion….so in effect a tax break of around 15 – 20 dollars a week for everyone is better than what WFF provides…AND it removes a billion p.a. from other services?……right.

                    • Molly

                      “you believe a tax exemption on the first 8-10k costing approx 3.8 billion is a better use of funds than the current WFF program at a cost of 2.8 billion….so in effect a tax break of around 15 – 20 dollars a week for everyone is better than what WFF provides…AND it removes a billion p.a. from other services?”……right.

                      I don’t play the false dichotomy game. If an extra billion is needed to fund a tax-free threshold or more for a UBI, then it can come from a variety of other sources.

                      Money given to the poorest of us, is spent immediately and locally and circulates around the community, more than $2 billion annually in tax breaks – which is more likely to be spent overseas or out of the NZ economy.

                      My criticism of WFF remains – it does not help those who are most in need of it. And you haven’t addressed that point – or even acknowledged it.

                      Where do they go in terms of societal or government help to deal with rising costs of living, and the negative effects of that constant stress?

                      This lack of acknowledgement by political parties (sans Mana) for the most vulnerable NZers, will continue if commentators like you use WFF as an example of hardship relief – especially accompanied by a – “what else can you expect?”

                    • Pat

                      forget about the UBI for now, considering it isnt likely anytime soon and if it is its level of support will likely be a great disappointment to its proponents and also given it isn’t part of the original discussion…..who (and how) do you think will be better off with a tax free threshold of 8-10K in place of the current WFF regime? A case example?

    • simonm 17.2

      I agree. I was working in Australia last year and the 2015 tax-free threshold for all working adults, regardless of their marital status or family situation, was $18,200. That means no-one pays any tax on any of their income below $18,200. Therefore working people in Australia receive substantially more net income than their New Zealand counterparts.

      I don’t doubt that Working for Families was implemented with the best intentions to to help families on low incomes survive in an NZ’s increasingly expensive society. In reality however, the programme has ended up being a costly taxpayer funded subsidy that allows NZ employers to get away with paying low wages to their workers.

      • Pat 17.2.1

        Australians in fact get both…no tax on the first 18k AND a WFF type payment called Family Tax Benefit.

        https://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/services/centrelink/family-tax-benefit

        “In reality however, the programme has ended up being a costly taxpayer funded subsidy that allows NZ employers to get away with paying low wages to their workers.”

        Although I am inclined to agree that it is a form a wage subsidy it obviously hasn’t held Australian wages down to the same extent so think it reasonable to seek the cause of low wages elsewhere…and as noted earlier if choosing between the either a tax free threshold and WFF then given the examples cited the WFF is considerably cheaper.

  18. fisiani 18

    A whole post about Bill English’s failure to use the word INCOME. How deep is the barrel that is being scraped?

    • Stuart Munro 18.1

      Really we’re trying to help Bill understand that his comprehensive economic failures can be improved upon. Today’s word is ‘income’, and for non-troughers and tax income minimisers it is an important term that even nepotistically appointed dusfunctional finance ministers should know.

    • left for dead 18.2

      Don’t worry fisi, you’re there, at the bottom admittedly, smelly but there, none the lest.

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    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
    5 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
    6 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
    9 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
    9 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
    9 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
    9 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
    10 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
    11 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
    14 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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 ...
    1 day 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 ...
    1 day 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
    2 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
    3 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
    3 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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 ...
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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 ...
    5 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
    5 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
    2 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
    7 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
    9 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
    10 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
    23 hours 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
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
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