Family or Shopping?

Written By: - Date published: 1:38 pm, May 31st, 2016 - 50 comments
Categories: workers' rights - Tags: , ,

National’s Employment Minister Michael Woodhouse has introduced a Bill, The Shop Trading Hours Amendment Bill, to give councils the right to open shops on Easter Sunday. That would mean retail workers all over the country losing one of just three and a half days in the year that’s guaranteed as family time. It’s also not a public holiday so there’s no legal obligation for employers to pay more than standard rates on Easter Sunday.

The Government is relying on Peter Dunne and Te Ururoa Flavell to pass this Bill into law, but the union movement is pushing back by petitioning these two MPs. You can click here to sign and share that petition and help protect Easter Sunday.

 

50 comments on “Family or Shopping? ”

  1. Richard Christie 1

    Shift the date and disassociate the ‘family day’ from its superstitious religious links and I’m with you.

    Until then I decline to promote religious privileges.

    • Colonial Viper 1.1

      Funny how that day’s association with religion is so strong in your own mind.

      You should really let it go instead of carrying it so close to your heart.

      But I do appreciate how some atheists like yourselves are such devout practitioners of your own beliefs.

      Good on ya mate.

      PS just checking you are aware that you don’t have to be a baptised Christian to have that day off?

      • As an atheist I still believe that working people deserve and need days off. If its because of a religious holiday so what !. because this bloody anti- worker tory governmment will not give one ,and with hardly any unions this is the only way to get one. the business people are not going to allow people off whilst there is a chance to make a few bob.
        So until we once again can get strong unions just make use of what we can.

      • Richard Christie 1.1.2

        Funny how that day’s association with religion is so strong in your own mind

        Duh, it’s not funny at all.

        It’s because it has been celebrated as a christian religious festival for approximately 2000 years, before that the date was used for some other ritual purpose.

        I’ll rather take my day off in celebration of something based in reality.

        If that’s OK by you.

        edited

        • Colonial Viper 1.1.2.1

          nah fuck it, it’s not OK by me.

          You haven’t been around for 2000 years (have you?) and the connection with religion is all in your own mind, it is not in the Holidays Act.

          I’ll rather take my day off in celebration of something based in reality.

          And what the fuck would someone like you know about reality? Especially when you can’t be arsed to consider the reality faced by tens of thousands of low paid workers in service and retail jobs who actually would quite like that day off?

          Give you a clue mate, people like you with rigid belief systems like you don’t get to define what reality is and what it isn’t.

          • Richard Christie 1.1.2.1.1

            Reality?

            Where’s the reality in a zombie resurrection myth?

            .Especially when you can’t be arsed to consider the reality faced by tens of thousands of low paid workers in service and retail jobs who actually would quite like that day off?

            Do you struggle with reading or just with comprehension?

            We can all scroll up a re read my initial post. Try it before you create more strawmen to puff yourself up with.

            Reality is not your friend.

            • Colonial Viper 1.1.2.1.1.1

              Nah mate, fuck you, you can go work Christmas day Good Friday Easter Sunday for free all year every year for all I care, don’t make everyone else follow your bullshit oppressive dead inside atheistic beliefs which have zero connection with reality.

              • Richard McGrath

                So you don’t mind that in times past a shop owner who wanted to open on Easter Sunday, earn money, and employ other people, was prevented doing so by politicians?

                • Colonial Viper

                  Yep I’m fine with that. Spend time with your husband and kids, and do your business on Sat and Mon. Business owners have families too you know.

                  • Richard McGrath

                    By all means spend time with your family, but don’t tell me I shouldn’t be allowed to work Sundays.

                    • adam

                      One Sunday a year, Oh the humanity – those Christians – next they will ask for protections for the poor and the weak.

                    • Colonial Viper

                      Are you a moron Richard McGrath?

                      Why would you want to work Easter Sunday when you get paid for it as a public holiday?

                    • Richard McGrath []

                      In my line of work I don’t get paid for not working. If I and all my colleagues took the day off you would not be able to obtain medical treatment on a public holiday. How moronic is that?

                    • McFlock

                      You’re confusing your self-chosen business model for your “line of work”. Salaried doctors would be fine.

                      But more to the point, you’ve basically argued equivalence between urgent medical attention and buying a pair of socks.

                      Fucksake, stat hols already recognise that some things actually need to run 24/7/52. What they don’t accept is that this includes catering to the capricious whims of impulse shoppers who can’t plan ahead when they purchase the next thing your ED colleagues will extract from a cavity.

                • adam

                  The world is not all about money Richard, but then I’m not sure you know what love and humanity look like without putting a price on it.

                  So yes shops should be closed a few days a year, and people should spend time with family or friends. Politicians should but out of telling us when to have these holidays I agree, equally business people should but out as well.

                  • Richard McGrath

                    OK Adam, but you’ll need to accept that hospitals and medical centres will have no medical, nursing or admin staff on public holidays. Good luck with that.

                    • jcuknz

                      Richard McGrath highlights the stupidity of the traditional union position with the sob story of kids with their families.
                      I worked like Richard in an industry which I was liable to work 7/24/365, though mostly I didn’t.
                      The only position I support is that firms should have enough staff so that workers can take a day off to be with their families while maintaining the service to the public.
                      In my case would you have been happy to have no TV to watch with your family 🙂 Far more likely than hospital services LOL.

                    • jcuknz

                      Richard McGrath highlights the stupidity of the traditional union position with the sob story of kids with their families.
                      I worked like Richard in an industry which I was liable to work 7/24/365, though mostly I didn’t.
                      The only position I support is that firms should have enough staff so that workers can take a day off to be with their families while maintaining the service to the public.
                      In my case would you have been happy to have no TV to watch with your family 🙂 Far more likely than hospital services LOL.

                    • adam

                      I love how you always go to an extreme to plug you losing point. So what happens now? And what has happened for the last 50 years?

                      My five year old niece called your argument stupid, She understands that adults do reasonable things. I think she aced it.

              • cricklewood

                I’m with Richard on this one, the ‘religious’ holidays should be abolished and the days added to the current 4 week entitlement with an amendment to the holidays act making it unlawful to refuse leave on the major religious holidays and by that I mean not just dates significant to Christian calendar.
                That leaves the likes of Richard and myself to take the days off as we see fit and others to observe their specific religious holidays.

                • jcuknz

                  ADAM My point is based on the working condition I enjoyed some 25 years ago and earlier when I never worked more than a five day 40 hour week without getting overtime or penal rates. Somewhere in the meantime the unions have sold out the workers to the current bad situation IMO.

    • adam 1.2

      *Sigh* if we really had religious holidays like good Catholics, it be a bit more than you are use to Richard Christie. Indeed your sad anti-Christian rhetoric and anti worker rhetoric in the same short statement is no surprise.

      You just want freedom, to oppress, as you see fit. And religion stands in the way of your spiteful little amoral world.

      • Richard Christie 1.2.1

        (Rolls eyes).

        Ask any christian what the easter sunday holiday is celebrating.
        Recognising history and the blatantly obvious is nothing to do with being an atheist or not.

        Those who hold my viewpoint are not oppressing anybody. We merely object to celebrating a zombie myth.

        • Colonial Viper 1.2.1.1

          Your bullshit intolerance knows no bounds. If you want to go work Christmas, Good Friday and Easter Sun good for you. Don’t make everyone else.

          Idiot.

        • adam 1.2.1.2

          *Sigh* Well religious abuse is the new normal from the whole neo-liberal crowed, it’s OK it’s been like this for the last 30 odd years, we are use to it.

          Feel free to have an atheist celebration, I don’t care. But if you mix you anti-religion gaffs with anti worker hypocrisy, then I’m going to call you on it.

          You keep attacking workers rights, so what is it?

          No ones asking you to celebrate Easter, what we are doing is asking you to recognise our right to celebrate Easter, without it being grubby.

    • I signed. Done deal. Because unions have been gutted systematically around the globe by neo liberals. Thatcherism, Reaganomics , and Rogernomics. There’s even a shot of Maggie the Witch in the vid.

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtiaReNsHOo

    • I signed. Done deal. Because unions have been gutted systematically by neo liberals. Thatcherism, Reaganomics , and Rogernomics. There’s even a shot of Maggie the Witch in the vid.

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtiaReNsHOo

  2. M. Gray 2

    Leave our public holidays alone shops are already opened 7 days, people need to stop being selfish and think of those that work in retail who don’t get paid much and have to work weekends.
    Also it is not acceptable for foreigners to come into our country and expect us to change our Christian based holidays. When in Rome do what the Romans do. We have to conform to other countries beliefs and culture when we travel to their countries. In some countries NZers have been jailed for abusing or mocking other countries cultural beliefs and very little sympathy has been shown by our Government and other NZers.

  3. Colonial Viper 3

    Silly and unnecessary move by National pre-election year. Conservative church going voters are going to hate this.

    • TC 3.1

      Distraction politics

    • adam 3.2

      They already losing conservative Christian voters.

      The housing issues and the war on the poor – it really is a bad look. Something associated with smug atheists and worshippers of cupidity.

    • Richard McGrath 3.3

      It’s a pathetically limp free market gesture that Labour-lite could have made in 2009.

      • adam 3.3.1

        There are no markets Richard – grow up. Capitalism is dead, and the people you and yours got into bed with killed it. The whole neo-con experiment effectively gutter capitalism, and gave us this economic bastard child.

        Your whole ideology has been proven weak and outright wrong. Libertarians like you have been pathetic in the face of corruption, and even worse at the slow corruption of freedoms by business, all in the name of profit.

        It must be gut wrenching to wake up each day and know that Libertarians were used and abused by corporations to gut society. And all your left with is a sad handful of poorly written books.

        • Richard McGrath 3.3.1.1

          You’re partly right there Adam – a succession of statist governments have undermined free speech, free exchange and property rights in NZ

          • adam 3.3.1.1.1

            And people like you helped them do it. The duping of Libertarians is going to go down as one of histories most ironic failures of ideology missing reality.

            • Richard McGrath 3.3.1.1.1.1

              Helped them – yeah right. We were never supported by corporations – they don’t want free markets. They want protection from competition, which the spinelessly conservative National governments gave them.

  4. Kiwiri 4

    Hah. This one is a mild aberration from the Nats but they do have to play to a section of their donors.

    Frankly, shops are open so many good days of the week/month/years that a great majority of us can surely get off our bums and get organised to shop for the things we need just before Easter Day … or wait a few more hours to drop by some shops to check out the stuff on sale.

    Actually, the last time I got caught out when places were closed, that was actually quite a boon. I was forced to go through my fridge, freezer, garage and drawers .. and found quite a lot of stuff that I had forgotten about that otherwise I would have just got into a car and drove to a shop to buy. It felt like I had won more than a Division 4 Lotto ticket!!

    And my wife thought I was being such a good boy starting on that de-cluttering project that she has been constantly reminding me.

  5. Bill 5

    Just as well the word ‘or’ is in the post title because many people would probably look at ‘family shopping’ as a good use of family time – sadly. ‘N fact, some might be a bit confused and unable to process the fact that the post title is tabling a choice.

    • Wainwright 5.1

      Never going to change if we don’t make the point nice and clearly though.

  6. I wonder if anyone among our Standard readers have heard that this government is considering worrying changes to the Gold Card.?. Some of my elderly friends have heard that the gold cards are to be changed for other type cards .
    Anyone heard anything ?.

    • Colonial Viper 6.1

      NATs won’t make negative changes if they are to have any hope of working with Winston.

    • kieron 6.2

      Heard something that you have to get AT hop card to work with your gold card (then the gov’t will take away gold cards at a later stage)

    • Draco T Bastard 6.3

      AT is dropping use of the Gold Card and putting it on their HOP cards as a concession, i.e, the pensioners will need to get a HOP card. The Elders won’t lose anything although it’s irritating that AT are still going to charge for the HOP card.

    • Richard McGrath 6.4

      Platinum cards for everyone!! Don’t worry, the workers will pay for it all.

  7. AmaKiwi 7

    I signed and forwarded the link to family and friends.

    The endless shopping hours we have now are a social disaster, especially for the lowest paid New Zealanders. We no longer have times during the week and year when we know we can get together with all of the family. Someone will always be working absurd hours to generate more profits for the multi-national retailers.

    Please sign this petition.

  8. It’s Minister Michael Woodhouse has shopped here?

  9. ElChapo 9

    You guys do realise that since it’s not a holiday, these retail workers don’t get any pay for the forced day off. It’s a forced unpaid day.

    I would prefer to choose what day I take unpaid leave on, rather than be told by govt.

    • adam 9.1

      We would like you to have the choice too, but the reality is most employers are led by the nose by the bad employers. Coupled with a government hell bent on punishing working people with excess taxes, and poor working condition. You really think people can get days off in this environment?

  10. Here we go again. Shows how we’ve been cowed for too long shafted and spat out …

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwbzxemJZIc

  11. Swap it with Labour day so that the day set aside to celebrate workers rights is also a day where workers get a chance to rest and relax.

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    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
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    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
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    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
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    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
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    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.
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    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
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
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    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
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    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
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    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
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    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    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
    4 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
    9 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
    11 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
    11 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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    5 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 ...
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    5 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 ...
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    5 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, ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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,” ...
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    6 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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    1 week ago
  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
    Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
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    1 week ago
  • Government lowering building costs
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    1 week ago
  • Trustee tax change welcomed
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    1 week ago
  • Minister’s Ramadan message
    Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness.  It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister appoints new NZTA Chair
    Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
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    1 week ago
  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
    Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology.  It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
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    1 week ago
  • Progress continues apace on water storage
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    1 week ago
  • Government agrees to restore interest deductions
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    1 week ago
  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
    Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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