Convoy protest 24/2/22

Written By: - Date published: 6:07 am, February 24th, 2022 - 81 comments
Categories: covid-19 - Tags: , , ,

Day 17

Stuff’s summary from yesterday, including the protestor and police actions late last night.

What you need to know / Kia mōhio mai koe:

* A late-night standoff between protesters and police with riot shields ensured after new vehicles arrived at the protest, entering the area after a bollard appeared to have been moved.

* Covid-19 has emerged among protesters at Parliament, with at least two cases confirmed by the Ministry of Health on Wednesday.

* The occupation continues to disrupt more schools, along with universities and offices in the area. Parents and students have said that Thorndon is “unsafe”.

* A protester has claimed police punched and eye-gouged him during an earlier scuffle.

* A man who who allegedly drove a car towards police this week has been given name suppression.

* Investigations continue into who had sprayed a “stinging substance” at police on Tuesday.

* Free parking at Sky Stadium for protesters is to cease from Thursday, on what will be the 17th day of the protest.

 

Radicalisation in real time (Dr Michael Daubs, Newsroom)

Parliamentary Grounds occupation and mandates: Analysis, and News Reporting lists of articles for 23/2/22 (The Democracy Project)

Figureheads and factions: the key people at the parliament occupation (Toby Manhire, The Spinoff)

Police wave white flag as occupiers dig in – why parliament stalemate won’t end anytime soon (Marc Daalder, Newsroom)

List of reasons for Convoy 2022 NZ (NZ Truckies FB)

Letter of Demand (from protest organisers)

Newsroom: ‘Splintered realities’: How NZ convoy lost its way

Stuff: Inside the disorienting, contradictory swirl of the convoy, as seen through its media mouthpiece,

 

81 comments on “Convoy protest 24/2/22 ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Jenny How to get there 1
    24 February 2022 at 7:12 am

    Hit the Right where it hurts them most.

    Unlike Left Wing protests, Right Wing protests are funded events.

    Realising this might be a weak point the police are looking into targeting the funders.

    …Meanwhile, Police Assistant Commissioner Richard Chambers said the police were having a close looking at the legality of funding the protest – given much of the occupation at Parliament and the blockade of roads is against the law.

    Protest funder working for university forced to close campus (msn.com)

    • Cricklewood 1.1
      24 February 2022 at 7:48 am

      Does Greenpeace not fund direct action? BLM just paid a million dollar bail in the USA after an attempt on an elected officials life?

      Let's not overreact and give a right govt a precedent.

      • Jenny How to get there 1.1.1
        24 February 2022 at 8:08 am

        Cricklewood

        24 February 2022 at 7:48 am

        …..Let's not overreact and give a right govt a precedent.

        Hi Cricklewood, are you really labeling the Ardern administration a "a right govt"?

        • Cinder 1.1.1.1
          24 February 2022 at 8:31 am

          No, he is just making things up…

          It wasn't BLM and it was $100,000 not $1 million.

          https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-60392196

          Pays to do some fact checking with those sorts of claims.

          • Cricklewood 1.1.1.1.1
            24 February 2022 at 10:08 am

            My bad I mis read the number… the point it still remains its alot of money and the guy did try to kill an elected official.

        • weka 1.1.1.2
          24 February 2022 at 9:07 am

          No, they're pointing out the obvious, that if a centre-left govt starts confiscating funds from protests, what will National do for and XR or Māori occupation.

          • DukeEll 1.1.1.2.1
            24 February 2022 at 9:29 am

            and do it more stringently with better messaging as enough time would have passed to perfect the strategy.

            The paucity of intellectual construct some on the left are displaying in their convoluted attempt to use the power of the state to smash this protest is concerning.

            • weka 1.1.1.2.1.1
              24 February 2022 at 9:35 am

              I agree. People are scared and triggered I guess but it's instructional that the response of some is towards left authoritarianism.

            • Andrew Miller 1.1.1.2.1.2
              24 February 2022 at 9:59 am

              That is of course possibility, the other is that the longer this drags on with everything that entails the more it can be used as a pretext not to return to the status quo around protest and access to parliament.
              It also would seem to me to increase the possibility of an ever increasing section of NZers being open to arguments to put measures in place to ensure it ‘can’t happen again’.

              The idea that we should be careful what we wish for doesn’t just play out one way.

          • Jenny how to get there 1.1.1.2.2
            24 February 2022 at 8:05 pm

            Ardern administration threatens to confiscate protest organisation's funds and assets.

            weka

            24 February 2022 at 9:07 am

            ….if a centre-left govt starts confiscating funds from protests, what will National do for and XR or Māori occupation.

            No "if" about it. This "centre-left" govt already do this now.

            The strange case of the Taitu.

            The Taitu was the sea going support vessel Greenpeace bought with crowd sourcing funds solely for the purpose of supporting civil disobedience against deep sea oil drilling and exploration far from land.

            Greenpeace NZ sets out in crowdfunded boat to confront Amazon Warrior

            Greenpeace New Zealand8 April 2017

            Greenpeace has launched its crowdfunded boat ‘Taitu’ this morning from Napier and is heading out to confront the world’s biggest seismic blasting ship.

            Trump-backed oil giant Chevron and arctic driller Statoil are using the 125-metre long Amazon Warrior, dubbed “The Beast”, to search for oil off the Wairarapa Coast.

            https://www.greenpeace.org/aotearoa/press-release/greenpeace-nz-sets-out-in-crowdfunded-boat-to-confront-amazon-warrior/

            After it's highly successful first protest voyage, Greenpeace mysteriously and in secret sold off the Taitu. Without any public notice, without any consultation with the thousands of Greenpeace supporters who had crowd funded this vessel.

            After getting tipped off about the sale, I met with the Greenpeace Auckland manager and asked her why Greenpeace was getting rid of the Taitu.

            She told me that the Labour government had threatened legal action to take legal action against Greenpeace to seize all Greenpeace funds and assets unless they stopped using the Taitu to blockade oil exploration vessels. (An illegal act under the infamous Andarko amendment drafted by the oil companies and passed into law by the previous National government)

            The Greenpeace Auckland manager also told me that this sale was supposed to be secret and quizzed me on how I found out about it. I told her that I was informed of this impending sale of the Taitu by a member of the Greenpeace Board of Executives The Greenpeace Auckland manager told me they weren't supposed to let anyone know and said "They shouldn't have said that."

            I tried to make the argument with her, that Greenpeace should go public and call the government's bluff. But she said the risk of losing their funds and assets, was too high.

            And so the Taitu was secretly disposed of.

            With the disposal of the Taitu Greenpeace effectively ended their campaign of civil disobedience against deep sea oil drilling on the high seas.

            In fear of legal action targeting their funding Greenpeace have distanced themselves from any protesters engaged in civil disobedience against deep sea oil drilling.

            ….Greenpeace has distanced itself from activists who had to be helped off an oil rig in Taranaki, amid calls by business leaders for anyone who supported the move to be prosecuted.

            Calls for prosecution after climate protesters helped from OMV oil rig

            5 Mar, 2020 05:41 PM

            I told the Auckland Greenpeace manager that I was not surprised by the government's tactic of going after Greenpeace funds to get them to give up their (illegal under the Andarko Act) civil disobedience campaign against deep sea oil, because the very same threat against the funds and assets of unions that take illegal actions was enshrined in the Employment Contracts act. This clause has never been repealed and has proved very effective in disciplining the union movement.

            So no surprise that this same tactic would be used against the protest movement.

            The point is, Left oganisations, unions and Greenpeace have been threatened with having their funds seized if they take illegal actions.

            So why shouldn't right wing protesters have their funding threatened in the same way when they take illegal actions?

          • felix 1.1.1.2.3
            24 February 2022 at 9:37 pm

            Is that the centre-left govt that spent the first year of the pandemic bickering with our nurses over paying them a couple of grand a year?

        • Cricklewood 1.1.1.3
          24 February 2022 at 10:03 am

          I mean when you end up with say a Nat govt…

          But if you were to look at housing and wealth growth you could well conclude we have a right wing govt…

  3. Jenny How to get there 3
    24 February 2022 at 8:04 am

    Block the cars, not the people.

    The right to protest is a fundamental right, On seizing power the right to protest is the first thing that autocratic regimes or military coup makers ban.

    From the beginning I have always said we need to move on the illegally parked cars not the protesters.

    (Let's see how long this well funded right wing Glamping protest lasts, if we remove all their camper vans and other vehicles.)

    No Right Turn agrees, and further makes a good argument for permanently removing cars from the parliamentary precinct and turning it into real space for the people. Instead of what Trevor Mallard wants, turn the parliamentary precinct into some sort of forbidding fortress.

    No Right Turn: Pedestrianise the government precinct

    • Andrew Miller 3.1
      24 February 2022 at 9:50 am

      So first in first dibs?

      If freedom to protest needs to = freedom to set up camp so long as your cars don’t block the street, can you explain how that works, given I presume you accept everyone incl people you don’t like have the right to protest.

      • Jenny how to get there 3.1.1
        25 February 2022 at 3:01 am

        “…can you explain how that works, given I presume you accept everyone incl people you don’t like have the right to protest.”

        Sure.

        Under the principal first penned by Evelyn Beatrice Hall

        “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it,”

        Why not?

    • ianmac 3.2
      24 February 2022 at 10:21 am

      Yes Jenny. Wouldn't that be grand. Henry and NRT should be on hand to help plan the pedestrianisation. I'll have a word in Trevor's ear.

    • Barfly 4.1
      24 February 2022 at 1:23 pm

      The woman has asthma and is unvaccinated /sigh

      a future "Herman Cain Award nominee?"

    • felix 4.2
      24 February 2022 at 9:49 pm

      Do you just feel no responsibility at all for your picture to match the caption? Is this now the acceptable standard for links on thestandard?

  5. Jenny how to get there 5
    24 February 2022 at 9:55 am

    It's not finished.

    "Freedom Glamper"

    "Parliament grounds 2022"

  6. Shanreagh 6
    24 February 2022 at 10:25 am

    Presumably the protestors will soon claim those who moved the concrete blocks last night were agents provocateur and infiltrators like those who threw the unknown substance and faeces at the Police. Perhaps they were all wearing hearing aids and that is how they knew.

    \sarc

  7. ianmac 7
    24 February 2022 at 10:44 am

    Very funny but astute too.

    Inspired by Sir Russell Coutts' recent foray into epidemiology and public-health policy, Professor Rod Jackson – who knew nothing about sailing until he did his own research – offers his opinion on how sailing should be done

    The trouble with sailing is that everyone listens too much to what the so-called 'experts' have to say. I mean: yes, the actual sailors have years of experience; and yes, the yacht designers have fancy so-called degrees. But I mean, what's all that worth? ….

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/professor-rod-jackson-an-epidemiologists-expert-views-on-sailing-thanks-to-social-media/CISYDWS4Z7GSGGB2TYTCDNFLYQ/?utm_campaign=nzh_tw&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter&utm_campaign=nzh_tw#Echobox=1645644134-1

    • vto 7.1
      24 February 2022 at 1:05 pm

      bahahaha…

      brilliant, absolutely brilliant…

      and to do it in such a public way

      ..

      in my worldly experience there are two types of people with problematic opinions – one, those who have never experienced serious destitution or proper life loss; and two, those with outsized self-confidence…

      both distort their vision

      coutts would seem to be a classic on both counts

    • Shanreagh 7.2
      24 February 2022 at 1:56 pm

      Brilliant -hopefully supplied directly to Russell Coutts.

  8. Coventrie 8
    24 February 2022 at 10:51 am

    Has anyone involved with this 'protest' considered that a far better source of any supposedly dangerous radiation/radio signals might be their own cellphones …?!

    • Barfly 8.1
      24 February 2022 at 11:36 am

      Sssshh not to be spoken of…

      • Shanreagh 8.2.1
        24 February 2022 at 1:19 pm

        How sad and how deluded.

        What do we do when NZ's children are affected like this?

        They are calling for iodine to counter the ‘radiation’
        .
        Crusty things on lips etc may indicate that this skin infection is spreading in the camp
        https://dermnetnz.org/topics/impetigo

        • Shanreagh 8.2.1.1
          24 February 2022 at 1:29 pm

          NB The treatment for impetigo does include iodine

          General measures from

          https://dermnetnz.org/topics/impetigo

          Specific measures

            • Symptoms are significant or severe (fever, malaise)
            • There are more than three lesions
            • There is a high risk of complications
            • The infection is not resolving or is unlikely to resolve.

          Suitable oral antibiotics in New Zealand are flucloxacillin 500 mg four times daily for 5 days (adult dose), and in case of allergy or bacterial resistance, trimethoprim + sulphamethoxazole 960 mg, twice daily, for five days (adult dose), erythromycin 800 mg twice daily for 5 days, or cephalexin 1 g twice daily for 5 days [2].

          In New Zealand, the use of a topical antibiotic (fusidic acid, mupirocin or retapamulin) is discouraged, due to the potential to develop bacterial resistance and contact allergic dermatitis.

          Preventative measures

          • Treat carrier sites: apply antiseptic ointment to nostrils
          • Wash daily with antibacterial soap or soak in a bleach bath
          • Cut nails and keep hands clean
          • Identify and treat the source of re-infection, usually another infected person or carrier in the household as it is a contagious skin infection.

          To reduce the chance of passing the infection to another person:

          • Avoid close contact with others
          • Children must stay away from school until crusts have dried out or for 24 hours after starting oral antibiotics
          • Use separate towels and flannels
          • Change and launder clothes and linen daily.

          Sounds goofy though blaming the infections on radiation…..most believable NOT
          Best to go home as there would be no chance of being able to isolate at the protest. I had little friends with impetigo as children and one got very sick with it and others infections putting her kidneys under strain processing and clearing the infection.

      • Barfly 8.2.2
        24 February 2022 at 1:50 pm

        The "cray cray" is strong in this one

      • mac1 8.2.3
        24 February 2022 at 2:08 pm

        "I have to admit I felt better once I left the area" says protester Clay Drummond.

        So do we, Clay, so do we.

      • Robert Guyton 8.2.4
        24 February 2022 at 2:38 pm

        From the replies:

        Jombucha 🏴‍☠️@mangetout·15h

        "Should've renamed Molesworth Street to Transmission Gulley."

  9. ianmac 9
    24 February 2022 at 10:52 am

    Are the protesters going down with Covid? Sadly they should be. Maybe the reason that the protesters are said to be more testy now is because they are sick but won't admit it, or ask for help.

  10. Matiri 10
    24 February 2022 at 11:52 am

    Battle of Portaloo – from one of Te_Taipo's tweets in the lead post. Ha ha!

  11. weka 11
    24 February 2022 at 12:24 pm

    At least one brave soul gave their details to the MoH after a positive test.

    https://twitter.com/nzcovidbot/status/1496621912415293441

    • Andrew Miller 11.1
      24 February 2022 at 12:54 pm

      Given that it seems that around three quarters of those on site are unvaccinated, this has the potential to get seriously unpleasant.
      You only hope whatever goes through their heads as to what’s actually making them sick that however many it spreads to they seek help straight away.

  12. Ad 12
    24 February 2022 at 12:57 pm

    Phase 3 is sounding like the nuclear Duck and Cover plan.

    • Cricklewood 12.1
      24 February 2022 at 1:31 pm

      It's moving to fast, already getting caught short on the RAT distribution… we'll find out just how resilient our supply chains and health system are shortly. We're only a week into exponential spread and hospitalizaltions are steadily climbing. The worst cases take at least a week or two develop its going to be a very bumpy ride.

      • Shanreagh 12.1.1
        24 February 2022 at 1:39 pm

        Please provide a link to the 'caught short on RAT distribution'.

        The 12noon press conference provided the updated situation and it did not sound like a caught short situation…..one testing centre ran out earlier today but has already been resupplied from the supplies already in the country with millions more expected over the weekend. .

        • Ad 12.1.1.1
          24 February 2022 at 1:49 pm

          I don't know who in the major construction companies have got them.

          Our health and safety teams are just in panic.

          We're one of the biggest.

          • Cricklewood 12.1.1.1.1
            24 February 2022 at 1:55 pm

            I'm in the same boat… we had 1000 booked. Having to send guys to queue for 2 hours.

        • Muttonbird 12.1.1.2
          24 February 2022 at 1:55 pm

          Screen sector seems to have plenty. I'd have had maybe 20 RATs over the last 4 weeks. From last week all crew are tested daily before going on set.

          Construction simply isn’t a priority for these tests. If workers go down just get more workers.

          Not the same on a TV production.

          Also, the availability of RATs seems to be driven by H&S officers which are very well established in the screen sector. Maybe other industries need to up their game on that.

          • Cricklewood 12.1.1.2.1
            24 February 2022 at 2:01 pm

            They probably managed to get them in privately. The govt purchase has proven to be about a week late in terms of ability to get them out to businesses before it really.kicked off.

        • Cricklewood 12.1.1.3
          24 February 2022 at 1:58 pm

          You can only get them at testing centres with upwards of 2 hour waits. The orders that are meant to be with essential industries havent been delivered as yet. Sounds like next week now.

  13. Corey Humm 13
    24 February 2022 at 3:18 pm

    Is that middle class refugee camp outside parliament still going on?

    Heh.

    The police don't scare anyone if you wanna scare people send an army of MSD workers out … That'd scare the shit out of anyone.

  14. Shanreagh 14
    24 February 2022 at 4:46 pm

    Yes Corey some very expensive Campervans and SUVs. It sure looks like a protest for the people, NOT.. wink

  15. observer 15
    24 February 2022 at 5:25 pm

    Children, scared and crying, are taken out of the camp by a woman wearing a shirt with slogan "hands off our children".

    Protecting children by placing them at the centre of a virus cluster … that's caring.

  16. McFlock 16
    24 February 2022 at 5:48 pm

    Three people claiming mask exemptions got kicked off a bus when they tried to board near parliament.

    One of them claimed masks didn't work anyway, which gives the game away, IMO.

    Pity the bus driver might be in trouble. Half the bus were yelling at them to get off the bus. Clear safety issue to prevent fights between passengers [is what I would put in the paperwork were it me].

    But this is another reason why these fools are actually harmful – what about someone who really does have breathing difficulties that stop them wearing a mask? Everyone looks at them sideways because of the fakers. At least the vaccine pass checks as valid if someone has a genuine exemption. But masks are too obvious – everyone knows if you ain't wearing one.

    • felix 16.1
      24 February 2022 at 10:14 pm

      If anyone actually checks passports that is. At my workplace customers need to present passport which is scanned and ID to match the name on the scanned passport.

      Of the three places I've been to dinner this week, one had no checks at all, one checked and pretended to read my passport and one checked to make sure I had a picture that looked like a passport at a glance. No scanning and no ID. I needn't have had a valid passport at any of them. All had staff in masks and all paid lip service to the passports.

      • McFlock 16.1.1
        24 February 2022 at 10:42 pm

        Visual at most places, work has it on record in such a way that me faking it would get me fired, scanned at pub yesterday and cinema last week.

        Larger corporate chains seem to be better at scanning (vs sighting) than smaller businesses, just my observation though.

    • weka 16.2
      24 February 2022 at 10:54 pm

      Pretty decent shove out the door. Feel sorry for the driver. What a bunch of fuckwits.

      Has the mask exemption process not been sorted to filter out the fakers?

      • McFlock 16.2.1
        24 February 2022 at 11:19 pm

        Nope. It's a definite foul up.

        If the exemptions for the vaccination pass are too tight, apparently some of the places giving out genuine mask exemptions did less than zero checking, and a bunch of folks took advantage of that. Then there's no consistent way to check whether an exemption even exists or identify a pass, and if you kick out the wrong person it's discrimination. And even if you're sure the person is bullshitting 99%, there's that 1% you're wrong and you'll end up with an extended argument with crazy at the very least. So half a planeload of people have "exemptions".

        An almost irrevocable clusterfuck, imo.

        Dunno whether it would even be worth implementing a new system, given that omicron could well be over before the use-case scenarios are even developed.

        Glad it hasn't been so bad with vaccinations – although if I could get paid $200 to get someone else's jab, it would be a definite internal conflict lol

        • weka 16.2.1.1
          24 February 2022 at 11:25 pm

          ten proxy jabs, decent wad of cash.

          If I thought omicron was the end of it, I might agree.

          I don't know what the medical conditions are that mean one can't wear a mask, so hard to tell what a good system might be. I know someone who has an exemption from wearing in an all day situation due to headaches, but they also come from an anti-vax household so hard to know what that's about.

          WINZ have this designated doctor system for making sure chronically ill people aren't faking, and it's a fucking horrible and stupid system. Seems like starting intention would be important.

          • McFlock 16.2.1.1.1
            24 February 2022 at 11:38 pm

            Yeah I can think of loads of reasons for mask exemptions.

            I'm seriously pissed at wankers for sabotaging a system that could have been done in good faith and kept everyone comfortable and mostly safe.

            edit: the eternal phrase comes to mind “this is why we can’t have nice things”.

            • weka 16.2.1.1.1.1
              24 February 2022 at 11:39 pm

              same. My commitment to a protest rights kaupapa is wearing thin in places.

              • weka …
                24 February 2022 at 11:42 pm

                Obviously civil disobedience on a bus has its uses. But these clowns just can't, or more likely, won't read the room. Or they're just so up themselves. Not the first time I feel like we're dealing with obnoxious preteens.

                What's really fucking annoying about that is that the mainstream does need a really big wake up around a bunch of stuff, but this is just socially and politically inept and it's going to ruin protesting for everyone else.

                • McFlock …
                  24 February 2022 at 11:55 pm

                  Call me an old grump, but I've been a bit blah on the "ra-ra march" angry protest thing for a while. Might not just be me after this.

                  Here's something I totally had no idea existed until today: Red Books Day. 21 Feb, people got together for readings and discussion of e.g. the Communist Manifesto.

                  Might be another way to skin the awareness cat.

                  • weka …
                    25 February 2022 at 12:04 am

                    nice. All the tools I reckon, more likely to reach a wider range of people.

                    I was thinking of Rose Parks re the bus. I'm still a big fan of XR in the UK. A big part of their kaupapa is not pissing off the locals (where possible). Plus I do like me a decent march.

                    • McFlock …
                      25 February 2022 at 12:17 am

                      "Not pissing off the locals" is definitely a lesson reinforced by this crowd. Seemed like half the bus was yelling at the three unmasked to get the fuck off the bus.

                      How much of that was an innate overcoming of reluctance to speak out because the mask issue is so serious, vs just a hatred of the campers, who knows. But if it was purely from a generalised concern for public health, I'd be most impressed lol

  17. georgecom 17
    24 February 2022 at 6:28 pm

    anyone here want to buy 1 or 100 tin foil hats? pretty soon there won't be anyone in wellington left I can sell them to, thanks Billy Te Kahika for telling everyone to go home, thanks a bunch.

    since chantelle brunner blocked me from her facebook page or suggesting she was Ronald McDonalds front man, rather than a freemason, I cannot market them there as a remedy for freemasonry.

    And I tried Sue Grey but she has a stock pile of about 1000

  18. Peter 18
    24 February 2022 at 7:25 pm

    Brad Flutey is worried about people getting sick at the protest because of sinister government attacks:

    "Flutey, a known conspiracy theorist and former political candidate, made the baseless claim electromagnetic field (EMF) radiation was being used on protesters to cause COVID-like symptoms."

    It'll be hard to ascertain if brain damage in the protestors is the result of electromagnetic field radiation. The reasons for that are obvious.

    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2022/02/covid-19-anti-mandate-protester-brad-flutey-admits-quite-a-few-getting-really-sick-at-parliament.html

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    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Speech to the Sixth Annual New Zealand Government Data Summit
    It is a pleasure to be speaking to you as the Minister for Digitising Government.  I would like to thank Akolade for the invitation to address this Summit, and to acknowledge the great effort you are making to grow New Zealand’s digital future. Today, we stand at the cusp of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Ceasefire agreement needed now: Peters
    New Zealand is urging both Israel and Hamas to agree to an immediate ceasefire to avoid the further humanitarian catastrophe that military action in Rafah would unleash, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.   “The immense suffering in Gaza cannot be allowed to worsen further. Both sides have a responsibility to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Daily school attendance data now available
    A new online data dashboard released today as part of the Government’s school attendance action plan makes more timely daily attendance data available to the public and parents, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour.  The interactive dashboard will be updated once a week to show a national average of how ...
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    2 days ago

  • Ambassador to United States appointed
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced Rosemary Banks will be New Zealand’s next Ambassador to the United States of America.    “Our relationship with the United States is crucial for New Zealand in strategic, security and economic terms,” Mr Peters says.    “New Zealand and the United States have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • New permit proposed for recreational gold mining
    The Government is considering creating a new tier of minerals permitting that will make it easier for hobby miners to prospect for gold. “New Zealand was built on gold, it’s in our DNA. Our gold deposits, particularly in regions such as Otago and the West Coast have always attracted fortune-hunters. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • NZ and the UAE launch FTA negotiations
    Minister for Trade Todd McClay today announced that New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will commence negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA). Minister McClay met with his counterpart UAE Trade Minister Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Dubai, where they announced the launch of negotiations on a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • New Zealand Sign Language Week an opportunity for anyone to sign
    New Zealand Sign Language Week is an excellent opportunity for all Kiwis to give the language a go, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. This week (May 6 to 12) is New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week. The theme is “an Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhere” and aims to ...
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    2 days ago

  • Next stop NASA for New Zealand students
    Six tertiary students have been selected to work on NASA projects in the US through a New Zealand Space Scholarship, Space Minister Judith Collins announced today. “This is a fantastic opportunity for these talented students. They will undertake internships at NASA’s Ames Research Center or its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • $1.9 billion investment to keep NZ safe from crime
    New Zealanders will be safer because of a $1.9 billion investment in more frontline Corrections officers, more support for offenders to turn away from crime, and more prison capacity, Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell says. “Our Government said we would crack down on crime. We promised to restore law and order, ...
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    2 days ago

  • OECD reinforces need to control spending
    The OECD’s latest report on New Zealand reinforces the importance of bringing Government spending under control, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The OECD conducts country surveys every two years to review its members’ economic policies. The 2024 New Zealand survey was presented in Wellington today by OECD Chief Economist Clare Lombardelli.   ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Agreement delivers Local Water Done Well for Auckland
    The Government has delivered on its election promise to provide a financially sustainable model for Auckland under its Local Water Done Well plan. The plan, which has been unanimously endorsed by Auckland Council’s Governing Body, will see Aucklanders avoid the previously projected 25.8 per cent water rates increases while retaining ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Gaza and the Pacific on the agenda with Germany
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters discussed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and enhanced cooperation in the Pacific with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her first official visit to New Zealand today.    "New Zealand and Germany enjoy shared interests and values, including the rule of law, democracy, respect for the international system ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Decision allows for housing growth in Western Bay of Plenty
    The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Council’s Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Speech to New Zealand China Council
    Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today.    Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Modern insurance law will protect Kiwi households
    The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Government recommits to equal pay
    The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says.  “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Transforming how our children learn to read
    Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says.  “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • NZ not backing down in Canada dairy dispute
    Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
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    7 days ago

  • Stronger oversight for our most vulnerable children
    The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Streamlining Building Consent Changes
    The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says.      “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Minister acknowledges passing of Sir Robert Martin (KNZM)
    New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Speech to New Zealand Institute of International Affairs, Parliament – Annual Lecture: Challenges ...
    Good evening –   Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Accelerating airport security lines
    From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Community hui to talk about kina barrens
    People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Kiwi exporters win as NZ-EU FTA enters into force
    Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Mining resurgence a welcome sign
    There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill passes first reading
    The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government to boost public EV charging network
    Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure.  The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Residential Property Managers Bill to not progress
    The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Independent review into disability support services
    The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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