Drill baby drill

Written By: - Date published: 8:12 am, April 3rd, 2014 - 40 comments
Categories: climate change, disaster, energy, Environment, greens, Mining, national, same old national - Tags:

Piha no oil sea drilling protest-17

Two days after the IPCC has warned of the dangers posed by climate change and this Government has announced proposals to open up much of New Zealand’s territorial area for exploratory oil drilling.  The timing shows either either stunning ineptitude or extreme belligerence.

National yesterday reaffirmed what is effectively its only economic policy apart from trickle down, and that is drill baby drill.  It released its 2014 block offer of areas for exploratory drilling and an area one and a half times the size of New Zealand’s land mass is available for oil companies to seek the right to drill into.

It consulted previously on what areas should be included and what conditions should be applied.  433 thousand square kilometres of area was up for investigation, following analysis of the submissions that figure has been reduced slightly to 405 thousand square kilometres.

It seems the Herald has missed the boat on the issue.  It posted the New Caledonian Basin block offer map to suggest what was up for tendering and the map used does not look so bad.  The New Caledonial Basin block looks like this:

New Caledonian block offer

But the Herald did not display the Reinga Block offer which is also on offer and which is much more relevant to Aucklanders.  This area looks like this:

Reinga Block offer

You have to wonder why the Herald decided to choose a map that did not show Aucklanders that exploratory oil wells may be popping up within visual sight of the West Coast.

The consultation has resulted in some areas being withdrawn from consideration.  But Auckland’s West Coast?  Despite its immense beauty and despite it being a habit for the extremely endangered Maui’s dolphin the available area has not changed from the draft and requested enhancements have not been approved.

To be frank Auckland Council dropped the ball when considering what to submit and apart from wanting to exclude coastal waters for the protection of Maui’s dolphin its submission was somewhat insipid.  It expressed general support for the proposal although it requested that the 6 nautical mile exploration free zone from the coast be extended to 12 nautical miles.  It suggested that any activities adhered to DOC’s guidelines for minimising acoustic disturbance to marine mammals and asked the Government to take action to ensure that risks of oil spills and other discharges are minimised, particularly in areas close to the coast.

There was only one vote against the proposal, that of Cathy Casey.  Well done Cathy.

The Waitakere Ranges Local Board, of which I am a proud member, was more staunch.  We believed that the area should not potentially be part of an oil field.

The Officials advising Simon Bridges summarised our submission as follows:

The submission from the Waitākere Ranges Local Board opposes the allocation of petroleum permits off the western coastline of Auckland. It opposes the allocation of petroleum permits due to the risk of oils spills, the disturbance caused to the seabed and coastal marine area, and the negative effect of discharges and noises related to petroleum exploration activities.

The submission also notes that much of the coast is part of the Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area, and that the coastal marine area in question contains a number of important ecological features.

The Waitākere Ranges Local Board also notes in its submission that the coastal area is home to the endangered Māui’s dolphin, as well as a marine mammal sanctuary, and that this area contains important populations of fish, shell-fish and seabirds. They also note the important recreation value of this area.

Finally the submission notes that the terrain of the area means there is limited access to the coast, which could be problematic in the event of any land-based oil spill response.

How were our submissions treated?  The officers recommended no change to the area and thought that existing protections are adequate and that the details concerning seismic activity would not threaten Maui’s dolphin.  I hope they are right.  If for instance there was an oil spill then some of the world’s most picturesque beaches could be ruined.

Simon Bridges was interviewed.  Watch the video and wonder why he should be entrusted with a decision making ability on behalf of New Zealand Aotearoa.

The Greens have rightfully wondered why he should be Associate Minister in charge of Climate Change issues.  It speaks volumes of this Government that someone who is so pro drilling should be in charge of our response to what is this world’s biggest environmental threat.

40 comments on “Drill baby drill ”

  1. Philj 1

    Xox
    Why is Simon Bridges Associate Minister for Climate Change? Because he’s a supporter of it. Duh.

  2. logie97 2

    M.S. We needn’t worry. Jokey has it under control. He expressed his deep concerns over dinner in China recently. Apparently NZ scientists are developing new grasses.

  3. Enough is Enough 3

    A Progressive gevernment with a strong Green presence will stop this on day 1. That’s the day after the election.

    If you don’t want drilling off our coast you have only one option. You must vote Green in September.

    Labour’s fence sitting position is not good enough.

    • Tamati 3.1

      Are you sure about that?

      Russel Norman has not committed to stopping oil drilling if they are in government. Having no bottom lines is effectively saying you are willing to sell out on any of your principles.

      • Colonial Viper 3.1.1

        I see Tamati, now you are an expert on moral thought and political philosophy?

        Has John Key expressed any “bottom lines” to do with Winston Peters this year? Or does that mean, according to your view, that Key is effectively saying that he will sell out his principles to work with NZ First?

  4. Jenny 4

    “Two days after the IPCC has warned of the dangers posed by climate change and this Government has announced proposals to open up much of New Zealand’s territorial area for exploratory oil drilling. The timing shows either either stunning ineptitude or extreme belligerence.”

    MICKYSAVAGE

    Couldn’t agree with you more on that one Greg.

    “It seems the Herald has missed the boat on the issue. It posted the New Caledonian Basin block offer map to suggest what was up for tendering and the map used does not look so bad”

    “But the Herald did not display the Reinga Block offer which is also on offer and which is much more relevant to Aucklanders”

    “You have to wonder why the Herald decided to choose a map that did not show Aucklanders that exploratory oil wells may be popping up within visual sight of the West Coast”

    MICKYSAVAGE

    Not so sure about this one Greg

    Don’t you think this looks a bit like nimbyism? Your electorate MP with whom you are purported to have a close relationship with, says he supports deep sea oil drilling the most dangerous and risky form of oil drilling there is. Yet when it looks that oil drilling my be getting a bit close to yours and his electorate you are all up in arms?

    If you were really concerned about climate change, the environment and the survival of the Hector’s Dolphin I think you need to have a quite word with your MP and tell him that he has made a dreadful mistake.

    • mickysavage 4.1

      I express my own opinions Jenny. The Labour Party is a broad church with a variety of views. My own views are heavily tinged with a green approach.

      Labour’s position is quite complex. I posted previously on this to try and tease the issue out. There was a good discussion and the post is at http://thestandard.org.nz/deep-sea-oil-drilling/

      David Cunliffe’s view as expressed this morning is as follows:

      “Labour is not opposed in principle to offshore oil exploration but we are not satisfied with the environmental standards in place.

      New Zealand needed world best practice standards.

      “And we also need full liability and clean-up cover and to make better use of the revenues from that oil and till we have that fixed we should not have a fire sale on exploration permits.”

      • Draco T Bastard 4.1.1

        New Zealand needed world best practice standards.

        As far as I can make out, current world best practice isn’t good enough.

      • Jenny 4.1.2

        “The Labour Party is a broad church with a variety of views.”
        mickysavage

        I can believe that, how else can we explain the long membership of Roger Douglas in the Labour Party? Some have said that the neo liberal takeover of the Labour Party was a coup. But for years beforehand, Roger Douglas had openly voiced his views at every Labour Party forum he attended, of course he was shouted down at every occasion as well, but the fact is that he and his views were tolerated and given a full hearing.

        We see David Parker saying that Labour and National policies on oil, gas and mineral extraction are close to those of the government’s. We see Right leaning Labour MP Shane Jones all over the media and taking the lead, while David Cunliffe has all but disappeared from public view.

        We saw Shane Jones screaming down Russel Norman in parliament for reading out Leb Sano’s plea to the world to cut back on fossil fuels, without even a word of censure from Labour leader David Cunliffe. Leb Sano had made his plea to the world after the terrible humanitarian disaster that struck his home town when it was mown down by the most powerful storm ever recorded.

        Lately we have seen personal attacks from Jones on Green MPs for daring to raise concerns about the environment.

        Maybe instead of standing for everything, maybe Labour needs to be less broad and more focused, so that people actually know what Labour stand for and can cast their vote accordingly.

        The antonym of broad is narrow. If Labour was truly a broad church then the Labour leader would not have closed the door to any counter-views over deep sea oil drilling, by making the statement that Labour supported the continuation of deep sea oil drilling. Not only shutting down discussion in his own party, but torpedoing any future talks over this issue with the Greens.

        If as you say Greg your own views are heavily tinged with a green approach, then you are in a broad party that may tolerate your views, but doesn’t give them any respect.

        In my opinion it is way past time that the Left started acting in the same aggressive combat mode as the Right, to our disadvantage we are far too passive and accommodating.

    • Enough is Enough 4.2

      I agree Jenny, if it is bad it is bad everywhere.

  5. Jenny 5

    “The Greens have rightfully wondered why he should be Associate Minister in charge of Climate Change issues. It speaks volumes of this Government that someone who is so pro drilling should be in charge of our response to what is this world’s biggest environmental threat.”

    MICKYSAVAGE

    Couldn’t agree with you more on that one either Greg

    “There was only one vote against the proposal, that of Cathy Casey. Well done Cathy.

    MICKYSAVAGE

    Presumably none of the Labour Party councilors had the stomach or the will to stand with Casey.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10822510

    “David Parker was Energy Minister during the last Labour Government and said about $20 million was spent on seismic surveys to supply to big oil companies and entice them to New Zealand.”

    Ninbyism now that it has ended up on our doorstep?

    • mickysavage 5.1

      My own personal view is that deep sea oil drilling is far too unsafe. The proposal is especially stupid out west because of the potential threats posed to some pretty stunning landscape. It is not nimbyism.

      • Enough is Enough 5.1.1

        As opposed to what other landscape?

        The whole of New Zealand is stunning.

        The drillers can fuck off from every coast!!!!!!!

      • Jenny 5.1.2

        I think the message is clear Greg, if you want to save the world’s littlest dolphin and the sea’s off your patch, and draw a line in the sand over climate change, then you need to have a word with your candidate. If necessary a hard word over his support for deep sea oil drilling.

        What are you asking with this post?

        Surely you must agree that it would be sheer hypocrisy and sure political suicide for any leader to promise to give protection to only the patch of sea off his electorate?

        Far better and moral would he demand the end of all new off shore oil exploration.

        The Green Party will be bringing a demand for a total moratorium on deep sea oil drilling from all our waters to coalition talks.

        In your opinion Greg, do you think that would be something Labour could agree on?

        Weka has asked Labour party members like yourself, if giving up mining the Denniston plateau, would be that hard for Labour to give up?

        Others have asked, since Andarko found nothing and has departed our waters, surely this would make it easy for Labour to agree to stopping further deep sea oil exploration?

        In age of climate change all new fossil fuel initiatives must be halted.

        So how about it Greg, will you be joining with the Greens and demanding that the Labour Leader reverse his support for Deep Sea Oil?

        After all you are better placed than just about anyone else in the country to do so.

        If he doesn’t agree, you must begin the process of deselection.

        Greg rather than complaining about what is happening just in your little patch, if you are really concerned about the future world our children will inherit, this is the moral challenge you must take up.

        No New Coal Mines!

        No Deep Sea Oil Drilling!

        No Fracking!

        • Jenny 5.1.2.1

          Greg for all your fighting talk about protecting your coast and fighting climate change which you rightly call “this world’s biggest environmental threat”. You as well as everyone else who reads this column knows that words are cheap.

          You need to be ruthless, you need to match your words with action.

          Greg without taking action to match your words you risk coming across as an insipid and impotent whiner.

          Greg if your current electorate MP still insists on threatening your coast and wrecking the climate even under the threat of deselection, then you must do it. In deselecting your current candidate, no need to worry about this affecting his ability to carry out his job or continue in his current role, I hear he is pretty high up the list. (number 1 if I recall correctly) and so should be very safe. The only difference is that you would have a candidate that more represented your and your LEC member’s views. Not only that, but your new candidate’s ranking on the party list will give you a good idea of how well your (and presumably your new candidate’s) views are respected by the Party.

          We have to stop mucking around the stakes are too high, and time is rapidly running out.

          http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2014/04/05/radical-adaptation-how-to-live-in-the-world-global-warming-is-changing/

  6. Once was Pete 6

    I am very ‘green’ in my daily life. I have revegated maybe 40+ha of native plantings, so I care deeply about the purity of the environment. I do wish however, that so many well meaning people would not conflate such wide ranging issues. Climate change, pollution, oil exploration etc may well impact each other, but they are separate issues, and should be dealt with that way.
    The problem I have with the IPCC is that they have a track record in over hyping their announcements and predictions to the point now that the general public probably feels more than a little blasé about their latest summary. When many of the the IPCC’s predictions (glaciers melting, temperature increase, extreme weather events as examples) have either shown to be over hyped or simply not materialised then people can be forgiven for losing the faith and feeling that the IPCC has some other agenda than scientific integrity.
    So in relation to the above, I would infinitely prefer to view the oil exploration in terms of the impact it will have on our environment ( coast line, fishing stocks, etc). I would really like to have access to a lot more of that sort of detailed information, than getting exercised by the IPCC.
    Just saying!

    • Draco T Bastard 6.1

      Climate change, pollution, oil exploration etc may well impact each other, but they are separate issues, and should be dealt with that way.

      No they’re not. They’re inter-related issues and need to be dealt with that way.

      The problem I have with the IPCC is that they have a track record in over hyping their announcements

      Actually, they’ve been doing the exact opposite and under-cooking their announcements which is why what’s happening in the real world is on the upper extremes of the IPCC projections.

      I would really like to have access to a lot more of that sort of detailed information, than getting exercised by the IPCC.

      That’s because you’re living in denial.

      • Once was Pete 6.1.1

        I am not going to get into this cite your references stuff, because I just don’t have the time to get into it with you, but climate change is a subject I have done a lot of reading on, and I cannot recall even one prediction the IPCC has got right (selective memory? Maybe.), but I can recall a large number they have got wrong by a wide margin. In my view they are their own worst enemy, if they hadn’t got so zealous and exaggerated for dramatic effect they might have a more attentive audience.

  7. Doug 7

    The climate models have done pretty well given the difficulties the modellers having in estimating future climate forcings, which are endogenous to the models. Tamino demonstrates for example that Hansen’s 1988 projections are almost on the money once adjustments are made for actual forcings that have occurred (e.g. aerosols, methane, solar).

    http://tamino.wordpress.com/2014/03/21/hansens-1988-predictions/

    Just out of curiosity what have the scientists (not the media) exaggerated?

    • lprent 7.1

      Just out of curiosity what have the scientists (not the media) exaggerated?

      Nothing. They have always been too conservative. Hardly surprising as in many areas the information to be closer to reality simply wasn’t available at the time.

      • Doug 7.1.1

        Yes I have never read anything in the reputable literature which was not measured or even cautious.

        Can’t say the same of the unreputable lit (i.e. E&E).

  8. Well this is what I wrote when Anadarko said they didn’t find oil (which by the way was disingenuous to the max as they can find with 99% certainty what is under the surface with HAARP technology and the drills are just exercises in how or where to get it out)

  9. Wyndham, George 9

    NIMBY
    We import oil that is extracted elsewhere and shipped to NZ.
    Whether that quantity of oil is extracted here or elsewhere does not effect the climate issue to any measureable degree. (The reduced shipping energy consumption is a minor benefit)

    Not drilling and extracting here while encouraging drilling and extraction elsewhere, by buying oil. Is gross hypocracy. Pure unadulterated NIMBY behaviour.

    • Draco T Bastard 9.1

      So you would be supportive of moving our economy off of its addiction to oil?

      • Wyndham, George 9.1.1

        Yes. Any read of of the realities of climate science, history and politics leads to that conclusion.

        How long before we can get to a point that we no not need to import oil?

        • Ennui 9.1.1.1

          Well done gents, we the individuals are the problem and the solution.

        • Draco T Bastard 9.1.1.2

          If we pulled out all the stops I guestimate that we could do it in 10 to 20 years with National and Act whinging all the way.

          • Not a PS Staffer 9.1.1.2.1

            I suspect we have increased our dependance on oil over the past 20 years. We have brought a number of wind farms on stream but no hydro schemes have been built. With the privatisation of generation by National the oil v non oil situation will not improve.

            An aggressive program would take a lot more than 20 years to get us off the oil drug.

            I believe we will continue to consume large quantities of oil. Therefore we should explore on-land and around our coast rather than import it.

            We have no right to feel morally superior by refusing to drill here while relying on others to drill elsewhere.

  10. tc 10

    “The timing shows either either stunning ineptitude or extreme belligerence…”

    Calculated belligerence Mickey, this is fertile ground for act to deny global warming, nat’s to bang on about all the export earnings and jobs and all the other BS that’s been debunked over and over.

    Bet they’ll weave in a narrative about all the protesters being anti NZ and work on the margins…..it worked with the bok tour in 81 so pardon the pun but it’s a well they keep going back to as it produces the good oil for them.

    It’s all timed and calculated to build a narrative they’ll slam home during the GE with the help of hoots, WO, KB and all their other media outlets they influence which includes the ‘refocused’ RNZ now.

  11. Philj 11

    Xox
    Re. ‘Refocused RNZ’. I suspect National Radio will start reflecting its name. With Jim Mora doing drive time interviews, I expect a limp ‘have a nice day’ approach to current affairs. I await with interest. I feel that RNZ is heading down the same route of lowest common denominator of TVNZ. Add the frozen funding and the stacked board with Nats commercial media mates. Not looking good for our only quality, non commercial ,independent public broadcaster.

  12. Jrobin 12

    Espiner did good interview of Contact ? CEO this morning. I was quite surprised as it was definitely not pro status quo and he asked thorny questions. I agree though it is a worry as RNZ is the last bastion of reasonably fair journalism. Miracle of miracles though Audrey Young just reported Roy Morgan Poll in the Herald. Shock horror! And Labour Green bloc now ahead. Nats are down to 43. Labour up to 32 Greens 13 nz first 5.5. Internet 0.5. 🙂

  13. felix 13

    “Simon Bridges was interviewed. Watch the video and wonder why he should be entrusted with a decision making ability on behalf of New Zealand Aotearoa.”

    Seriously, he shouldn’t be trusted to make the tea. He’s a horrible little bogan of the very worst kind.

    ps expect to see many more just like him on National’s list…

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    New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • Out of Touch.
    “I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The bewildering world of Chris Luxon – Guns for all, not no lunch for kids
    .“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    3 days ago
  • Expert Opinion: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
    3 days ago
  • Manufacturing The Truth.
    Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet –  is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
    3 days ago
  • A Powerful Sensation of Déjà Vu.
    Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
    3 days ago
  • Can you guess where world attention is focussed (according to Greenpeace)? It’s focussed on an EPA...
    Bob Edlin writes –  And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Further integrity problems for the Greens in suspending MP Darleen Tana
    Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    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
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    5 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    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 ...
    6 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    6 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    6 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Government moves to quickly ratify the NZ-EU FTA
    "The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 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
    11 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
    13 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
    14 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
    Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024.  “Lower fruit and vege ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government backs rural led catchment projects
    The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction.   Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
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  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
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  • Government lowering building costs
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  • Trustee tax change welcomed
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  • Minister’s Ramadan message
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  • Minister appoints new NZTA Chair
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    1 week ago
  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
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  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
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