Go Annette!

Written By: - Date published: 9:35 am, April 4th, 2014 - 53 comments
Categories: child welfare, class war, election 2014, mana-party, Maori Issues, poverty, sustainability - Tags: , ,

Annette Sykes will be a great voice in parliament for those Kiwis in most need.

Mana Party president Annette Sykes

Mana Party president Annette Sykes

There are reports recently that Annette Sykes has been out door knocking in her Waiariki electorate, and has developed a very effective on the ground organisation: RNZ

Hone Harawira on Waatea News:

Mr Harawira says Ms Sykes, a Rotorua-based lawyer, has been doorknocking since Christmas.

Actually I feel a bit sorry for Rawiri tossing his 10-gallon hat into it this time. There’s bugger-all of a Labour team operating in that area at the moment. The last crew has pretty much given up because the word I get from them is they don’t want to go fighting for something when they know (David) Cunliffe is not cutting it for a lot of them, he’s not providing the kind of leadership and it’s kind of heartbreaking for a lot of them whereas Annette on the other hand, she’s got a team. They’re just rolling,” he says,

Annette gave a fiery and well targeted speech at last weekend’s TPPA protest.  She outlined some of the international aspects of the TPPA, the threat to national sovereignty, and stated clearly and directly how this will impact on people in the Bay of Plenty area.  For instance, she talked about the death bees, the threats to local horticultural industries and “our ability to feed our own”.  She cited the possibility of being sued by Monsanto.  She said the money spent by the government on enabling the TPPA would be better spent on feeding the kids.

And she talked about the need for various parties and organisations to work together to oppose the TPPA.

Some are talking about splits in the Mana Party as Hone weighs up the pros and cons of working with the Internet Party.  He also has talked of being in dialogue with Labour MPs and the Green Party. Furthermore,  Hone has been clear that he also has some concerns and that the Mana Party will consider the possibilities via a democratic processes.

The Mana party membership would make a preliminary decision on working with the Internet Party at the AGM on April 12. However, Mr Harawira doubted that would be the final call.

mana candidates

Hone clearly knows that Annette is a major asset for the Mana Party, and will attend to her views on the Internet Party.

53 comments on “Go Annette! ”

  1. Yes all power to her and wouldn’t it be great to see John Minto in parliament – imagine him as speaker one day – oh how sweet it would be.

  2. weka 2

    Waiariki 2011 election results http://www.parliament.nz/mi-nz/mpp/electorates/data/DBHOH_Lib_EP_Waiariki_Data_3/waiariki-electoral-profile#_71

    Interesting that Hone is hassling Labour when it’s Flavell/Mp that looks like more of an issue. Is that the split vote thing?

    • karol 2.1

      Labour aims to contest it strongly. They won the party vote in the electorate. New Labour candidate.

      Rawiri Waititi, 33, from Cape Runaway in the Eastern Bay of Plenty, will contest the Waiariki electorate.

      Mr Waititi, who is of Te Arawa, Te Whanau Apanui, Whakatohea, Tuhoe, Ngati Awa, Tuwharetoa and Ngati Porou descent, won the nomination over Katie Paul and Ryan Te Wara.

      Mr Waititi said it was a gruelling selection process and he was proud to have made the cut.

      “I will be looking to establish a good team around me and ensure we put a good campaign plan to use the six months we have to do the best we can and get our key messages out there for the party.

      “Nearly 50 per cent of the people in Waiariki did not vote in the last election and that needs to change.

      “I think there is a lot of disenfranchised and disappointed people here who have not been represented well.”

      He said the Labour Party topped the party vote in Waiariki last election.

      “It’s time for them [voters] to put their trust in the party and their candidate.

      • weka 2.1.1

        Just ran the latest RM numbers through the electoral calculator. If Labour stand strongly in Waiariki and take the seat, rather than letting Mana take it, they prevent a L/GP/M win, and instead make Peters the kingmaker. If they let Waiariki go to Mana, they can form a L/GP/M coalition without NZF. Of course, NZF could still choose to go with National (take note leftie voters).

        Hard to know what Labour’s thinking is on this. Winning Waiariki doesn’t get them any more seats. The advantage I can see is that their party vote might go up (which might equate to another seat). Or they want to throw their lot in with Peters – risky I would have thought, and letting Mana have Waiariki doesn’t preclude that anyway.

        • Te Reo Putake 2.1.1.1

          It’s not that hard to know Labour’s strategy. It’s win the seat. It’s win as many seats as possible, actually, just like every other party.

          But I’m encouraged by what I heard from Hone on RNZ earlier in the week, which makes it clearer that mana will positively support a Labour led Government. That makes accommodations with Labour and the Greens, pre or post election, a far more likely thing.

          He also indicated that sitting on the cross benches was the likely place for them*, voting issue by issue, something LP and I were riffing on last week. That probably means voting confidence and supply for a minority Cunliffe Government. He had a perfectly sound reason for not directly joining the Government; it can be kiss of death for minor parties. Here’s hoping he’s right this election.

          http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2591151/hone-harawira

          *Also mentioned manadotcom a few times. There’s your brand, right there.

          • weka 2.1.1.1.1

            “It’s not that hard to know Labour’s strategy. It’s win the seat. It’s win as many seats as possible, actually, just like every other party.”

            But under MMP, getting another electorate seat doesn’t equate to an increase in overall seat numbers ie it doesn’t directly increase the likelihood of forming govt, and in fact could decrease the likelihood if the seat is taken from an ally. So I can only take from your comment that Labour consider getting as many electorate seats as possible more of a priority than winning the election, which you have to admit is pretty daft.

            Thanks for the rest of the comment, good to see that being discussed.

            • Te Reo Putake 2.1.1.1.1.1

              Cheers, weka. Under MMP, Labour aren’t going to win the election. They might be able to form the Government, but numbers within that coalition count. The more seats, the stronger the voice.

              Just a thought; wouldn’t Labour trying to throw a tight 3 way contest to advantage mana, even on a nod and wink, be patronising to their voters? In Epsom and Wigram, the outcomes were predictable, so not so much of an issue. But, in a seat where every vote counts, I think it’d be seen as a bad look, even if the maths added up. It could backfire badly.

              • weka

                Are you suggesting that Labour winning Waiariki gives them an additional seat overall? For that to be true, wouldn’t the Labour list vote have to drop quite a bit? They currently have 34 seats, of which something like 22 are from electorates. How would making that 23 increase the overall number of seats?

                The reason that Epsom is an issue is precisely because it’s ACT not National that takes the seat. That’s my point. National taking Epsom doesn’t increase their advantage.

                “Under MMP, Labour aren’t going to win the election”

                Sorry, but that is such a FPP statement. If the left parties get enough seats to form govt, that IS a win. We really need to get past this idea that Labour are THE main player and might get to form govt with the support of others but are still the govt. The reality that is unlikely to change any time soon is that left wing govts will be coalition govts from now on. Further, the GP can no longer be considered a minor party, and that changes the dynamic again. Labour is going to have to learn how to share.

                • lurgee

                  But ‘left parties’ is a difficult stew to swallow. Can you see a Labour-Greens-NZ First-Mana coalition working? It is possible, but it would be a very dramatic soap opera.

                  Anyway, I would like to see Annette Sykes in parliament. Partly because I like the name Annette (I’m a very deep thinker) and partly because Mana needs to establish a brand beyond Hone.

                  That said, I voted for Mana in 2011 but I’m not sure if I will do so again if there is a link up with the Internet Party. Just don’t do it, Hone!

                  • weka

                    “Can you see a Labour-Greens-NZ First-Mana coalition working?”

                    Of course not, which is why left wing voters should stop voting for NZF and calling it a left wing party (it’s not).

                    • lurgee

                      I don’t think it is either. But it is quite possibly going to be kingmaker after the election. Hence its inclusion.

                      If ‘left wing voters’ are voting for Winston and his hangers on, Labour needs to be asking itself why that is.

                    • weka

                      “But it is quite possibly going to be kingmaker after the election. Hence its inclusion.”

                      If Peters gets to be kingmaker, what makes you think he will offer a coaltion of L/GP/NZF/Mana? That seems extremely unlikely.

                      “If ‘left wing voters’ are voting for Winston and his hangers on, Labour should probably be asking itself why that is.”

                      I assume they already are. More interesting to me is why some people here can’t see the risk in voting for NZF.

                    • lurgee

                      If Peters gets to be kingmaker, what makes you think he will offer a coaltion of L/GP/NZF/Mana? That seems extremely unlikely.

                      Because Labour may not have any choice in the matter, if the numbers work out against them. it might be the only way for Labour to govern is to offer some sort of combination of the above. They already need the Greens and NZF to get to to 50%, and even then it is marginal. Another MP or two from Mana might be the difference.

                      Which, as I’ve pointed out, is not likely to be a stable or happy arrangement.

                      And I agree it is unlikely Peters would go with such an coalition. But it might be all Labour can hope for.

                      I assume they already are. More interesting to me is why some people here can’t see the risk in voting for NZF.

                      Indeed. But if Labour have been ruminating on the NZF factor, it doesn’t seem to have led to much.

                      Still, if NZF is essentially supported by rightwing voters, it offers access to a crucial demographic for Labour. If they are willing to make another treaty with the Devil Winston.

                      (Edited after the Devil complained about having his good name traduced by comparison to Winston Peters.)

                    • weka

                      I was meaning why would NZF include Mana? It’s highly unlikely they’d need the numbers.

                    • Chooky

                      @ weka …yes I can see it working!…and add Dotcom into the mix as well

                      ….and Winston/NZF was once to the Left of Labour over sales of State Owned Assets ….remember?!

                      …..i always do a double take when people suggest that Winston is somehow to the right of the Labour Party…cough cough…Labour has been pretty NOT Left in the traditional sense of a Labour Party for a long time now…….and you couldnt get much more right than Roger Douglas and cronies, some of whom are still in Labour and some the founder/backbone of Act …and then there is Peter Dunne…..

                    • weka

                      That’s a single policy Chooky. And Douglas was never true Labour, he was part of the Trojan Horse for ACT.

                      KDC can’t be an MP so can never be part of a coalition.

                      Are you suggesting that if Peters were kingmaker he would include Mana in a coalition even if he didn’t need to? Why? Out of the goodness of his heart.

                      NZF are not a left wing party, despite their stance on asset sales.

                    • Colonial Viper

                      NZF will not raise the retirement age, if you want a second left wing policy. And it will take a harder line than Labour against foreign buying up of NZ farms and property as a third policy.

                    • weka

                      Good points. I guess it also depends on how much you trust them.

                    • Colonial Viper

                      Not that much…

                • bad12

                  weka, your discussion with TRP is exactly the same one i have had with that one befor,

                  It is obvious that ‘winning’ Waiariki would knock one off of ‘the right’s’ tally but considering the Party vote that is the only plus for Labour, the rest is just the rumblings of the old dinosaur who is still firmly mired in FPP politics,

                  Should Annette Sykes win Waiariki,(which i expect Her to do), then there is one vote gained from Flavell not being there,and, one more vote gained for the ‘left bloc’ from having another Mana party MP in the Parliament,

                  My view is that a strong Labour campaign for the electorate vote in Waiariki might just hand the seat to Flavell, and while i do not agree with the latest Roy Morgan polled level of support for the Maori Party, that poll would suggest another Maori Party MP would come in on the party list…

                  • weka

                    Thanks bad. Do you think it’s inevitable that the Mp would go with National? Or is there now opportunity for the Mp to work with or support a left coalition given the departure of Turia? (either way, I’m hoping Sykes wins too, for Mana and because she would be awesome in parliament).

                    I’m kind of surprised at TRP and am left assuming that he prefers opposition to having to work with a party like Mana (I don’t believe he misunderstands what Labour taking that seat could mean in terms of a left wing govt).

                    • Colonial Viper

                      I’m kind of surprised at TRP and am left assuming that he prefers opposition to having to work with a party like Mana

                      There are still many parts of Labour who don’t fully accept the electoral implications of MMP, it’ s impact on electorate targetting, and what it has wrought upon the Party.

                      Labour is a party which sees its policies and its positioning as a “broad church” as being optimum for addressing the concerns and the needs of the bottom 95% of society…yet it can only muster 30%-33% in the polls.

                      This screams disconnect.

    • Disraeli Gladstone 2.2

      The comments about Cunliffe reads quite harshly.

      • weka 2.2.1

        I thought so too. Hard to see the point of that.

        • karol 2.2.1.1

          Many on the Left and within Labour are pushing for Labour to take a stronger left wing stance.

          Much like Hone also pushing TIP to explicitly support the left.

  3. Tiger Mountain 3

    Not sure who coined it but–“other countries lock up their radicals, but in NZ we put them into parliament” about the time of Keith Locke and Sue Bradford’s entry.

    Sweet indeed if Sykes and Minto made it too. And they would not be there just to warm a leather bench. Mana is active all year round not just in the electoral cycle. Why not talk to Dotcom? It has got more publicity for Mana in a couple of weeks than they have had for months. They have already shifted TIP (The Internet party) to seeking a change of government and not supporting the torys, before much specific policy has even been developed.

    Whats in it for Mana? Without shifting from their social policies one centimetre they could gain some more of the youth vote. Kids understand the tech side of what TIP is on about according to my son and friends. Like an extra internet pipe. Bye bye data caps.

    Whats in it for non Mana supporters but who want to see the Key gang gone? An alliance of some sort could be the tipping point come election day for the key strategical issue of the next few months–denying John Phillip ShonKey and his filthy colleagues another term.

    • Disraeli Gladstone 3.1

      It comes down to whether you believe “the enemy of my enemy is my friend”.

      I don’t. I’d rather the left wins without Dotcom and his baggage.

      • weka 3.1.1

        I can see all sides of this one. But I don’t actually see how this is that different to Labour’s long standing reliance on NZF.

        • Disraeli Gladstone 3.1.1.1

          I don’t like Winston Peters at all. But I don’t see how he’s even comparable to Kim Dotcom. Even with the donation scandal.

          • weka 3.1.1.1.1

            Is it KDC’s criminal convictions that are the issue for you? Because other than that I don’t see much difference in the value of them as political men. The details are very different of course, but if we are looking at individuals who hold balances of power, I don’t get why KDC is so beyond the pale.

            • Disraeli Gladstone 3.1.1.1.1.1

              There are several factors.

              Dotcom’s criminal convictions.

              His time running MegaUpload. I think copyright is out of date. I think a lot of movie studios are making rods for their own backs. I think we can update copyright for the internet. I am also a content creator. Copyright is important to my livelihood. It would be good for me if it was updated, but not good if it was completely ignored. I don’t agree with MegaUpload. I also, personally (and this is just an opinion), find it hard to believe that Dotcom didn’t know what was going on.

              There’s also concerns over Kim Dotcom as a person. He’s seem quite creepy over issues of gender and sex. He’s made rape jokes. His comments of Stephanie Key’s artwork wasn’t particularly respectful.

              Similarly, I actually find the whole Nazi angle of Dotcom unsettling (coming from a half-German background).

              There’s also his attitude to wealth. This is a man who has shown that he’s largely a very rich man-child. He buys boats. He gets girls into his hot tub. He throws foam parties on said boats with said girls. I don’t have a problem with that. It’s his money. If I’m honest, I use my money to buy silly things I probably don’t need, although not to such an extent. But I don’t think that’s the type of person I want involved with the governance of the country.

              Also, while I don’t have a problem with that last bit (I’m a leftist centrist in economic matters), I don’t see how Kim Dotcom ridiculous use of his money gets a free pass from left-wing commenters while John Key’s holiday home is regularly brought up in conversation by people around here. It’s a double standard.

              • Tiger Mountain

                Get past Kim Dotcom and look at the possibilities of Mana/TIP co-operation. No one forced Kim to stand by various lefties in Queen St or the Mt Albert hall meeting. He will never park his rear end in the NZ parliament, more likely in a cell back in the land of the free.

                Mana apparently was the last of the serious political groups to meet with Dotcom and if the members ultimately say no it won’t happen. But why should Mana not meet with rich white folks? Mana has more reasons to be anti SIS/GCSB/Cop special ops etc than this one individual. What if TIP came on board with Mana’s UBI and tax policies? A lot of other people ripped off by mobile plans and ISPs are investigating TIP too.

                Mana operates under the radar for many but they have a thriving branch in Mangere due to a spinoff from John Minto’s Auckland Mayoral campaign where a community cleaving motorway was kicked to touch for the foreseeable future by local action.

          • Chooky 3.1.1.1.2

            I like both Winston and Dotcom

            …..as far as i can see it is the rightwingers who hate them both….because they know both Winston and Dotcom are not for NACT….and will spoil Nacts chances of winning the election.

            • Huginn 3.1.1.1.2.1

              +1 here, Chooky

              Winston is an exceptionally talented Opposition politician and that’s important because democracy is all about Opposition.

              And Kim has done us all a very great service by making the internet a political issue this election.

            • Disraeli Gladstone 3.1.1.1.2.2

              I still think there’s going to be a lot of disappointed people when come October, Winston Peters has decided to go with National.

              • Chooky

                if Winston goes with National it will say he has no integrity….i do not believe this…he hates and despises John Key/NACT and the GCSB spy bill..he hates the selling off of state owned assets…he hates the selling off of NZ farmland and property to foreigners etc etc

                ….i find it amusing that the right wingers are now so keen to court him…to say he will go with National against all the counter indications …..and especailly as he last worked with a Labour govt in coalition and has worked very well with Labour in the past under Helen Clark

                …all the signs are that he will take great pleasure in being able to bring down John Key and his NACT house of cards

                • Disraeli Gladstone

                  It’s relatively simple.

                  If Labour can make Winston the first cab off the rank (with Greens only on confidence and supply), he’ll go with Labour.

                  If Labour can’t make Winston the first cab off the rank (because the Greens quite justifiably want seats in cabinet for being likely 30% of the government), he’ll go to National where he can be the most important partner.

                  Sure, Winston would love to bring down John Key. There’s no love lost there. But he’s not going to do so at expense of his own influence and positioning. He wants to be #2. If Labour can’t give it to him, Key aside, he’ll go with National.

                  Anywhere, there’s more than one way to break a man. Winston will probably take a lot of joy in being the person that John Key has to talk to every time he wants to pass legislation. Extracting his pound of flesh over the course of three long years.

                  That’s why it’s important Labour try and push to 36-37% while the Greens stay at 11-12% so that they don’t need Winston.

                  • Chooky

                    Winston would NEVER recover from a coalition with NACT and he knows it …..his reputation with NZers is very important

                    Winston does have some principles and being able to talk with John Key as adversary /buddies is NOT in the mix………he has better things to do…like bring down NACTs house of cards completely…and get on with the job of being Minister of Foreign Affairs which he excels at ….and which incidentally NACT has made a real botch of by slashing the diplomatic service

                    Winston is no longer in competition with the Greens….they should both pull their horns in and work for the best of Left/ Labour Cunliffe led coalition…. together with Mana / Dotcom

                    • Disraeli Gladstone

                      Who said they will need to recover?

                      I wonder what Winston would prefer. The legacy of having an established political party. Or the legacy of being the only person who made that party work.

                      If the next term is his last term, it might soothe his ego to then see NZ First crash under the 5%. He was the only person who could make NZ First soar.

                      Winston Peters is essentially Sir Alex Ferguson in this hypothetical.

  4. Rosie 4

    To put it plainly, imo, Annette Sykes is an awesome woman.

    The speech she gave at the TICS meeting in Wellington last year was fabulous. All the speakers were very good and presented a unique angle but to my mind she really stood out.

    Mana are a truely people centred Party and to have even one extra seat in a Labour lead Government may provide enough of an influence and steadying hand should Labour start looking over their shoulder at their right wing past. – they could be the conscience of the Left, in power.

    • Jim Nald 4.1

      Would be good to hear a party advocate to keep the same, or argue for a lower, retirement age.

      There is a strong public policy case to take into account the fact that life expectancy (although increasing in recent years) for Maori is generally about 7 years lower than for non-Maori. Will be important to consider Pasifika as well. The issues involved would also have strong socio-economic class aspects.

    • Chooky 4.2

      +100 Rosie…Annette Sykes is an amazing woman!!!! ….and Mana is the conscience of the Left

  5. Tracey 5

    “The last crew has pretty much given up because the word I get from them is they don’t want to go fighting for something when they know (David) Cunliffe is not cutting it for a lot of them, he’s not providing the kind of leadership and it’s kind of heartbreaking for a lot of them…

    …He also has talked of being in dialogue with Labour MPs and the Green Party.”

    does this means the labour mps hone is talking to are disgruntled and he’s looking for waka jumpers? does this add weight (haha) to dotcom’s claim of having a sitting Mp, and they may be from labouor? Even a maori seat?

  6. bad12 6

    Probably not the ‘best’ idea for Hone to be making such comments about David Cunliffe, but, as far as polls go, and yes, i know that the only poll that really counts occurs in September, it can hardly be said that Cunliffe has made a huge impact,

    Not wanting to get into that question i prefer to comment upon Policy that might either help or hinder Labour getting a better % of the vote at the election,(the superannuation one i would suggest as a glaring example of the latter),

    As far as a Mana/Internet Party amalgamation goes i am ‘waiting’ on the membership to pronounce that either dead or alive, but, if it’s alive then, if i believe for a minute that both Annette Sykes along with John Minto are likely to end up in the Parliament alongside Hone i will be voting for that,

    i see no problem between the policy of the parties, it is the carve up of any rewards gained by such an alliance that to me is of all importance, and while i see Annette claiming the Waiariki seat this election it is important for the Mana Party to make allowances in any further negotiations with the Internet Party just in case She does to secure that electorate seat while driving a hard bargain to also have John Minto become an MP…

    • srylands 6.1

      Minto did some good work in 1981, but he is basically an old communist. I recall he proposed a “maximum wage” and a 100% tax rate above that. Absurd stuff. He is also anti Israel. So he opposes the only democracy in the Middle East. If you want the Left to get ahead, forget it. He is toxic. If he surfaces as a candidate he will just drive more voters to National.

      • lurgee 6.1.1

        What an odd idea. I don’t think many people likely to vote for Mana will switch to National because Minto stands as a candidate for them.

        And Israel is not the only democracy in the Middle East. By any reasonable definition of the region, Turkey is in the Middle East, and is democratic. Ditto Lebanon. Iraq is a sort of democracy, or are you suggesting our sterling work in 2003 was all for naught? And Egypt had a brief experiment with democracy, though we didn’t like the results so did something about it.

      • bad12 6.1.2

        SSLands, being fill of the milk of human kindness today i will simply echo the other comment directed at you, ODD, havn’t you noticed yet that everything you publish here is at ODDS with everything else that is published here,

        i can only add, that He is and if the Roy Morgan is anywhere near reality, National’s vote has gone South, So wrong twice in one comment, pretty average for you….

        • alwyn 6.1.2.1

          The Roy Morgan poll is illustrating the political skills of Matt McCarten in a very big way.
          Matt realised that the only way Labour can get anywhere is to keep Cunliffe out of sight, and sound. He just has to keep Cunliffe away from the media and Labour have a chance.
          Where has Cunliffe been for the last month or so? I certainly haven’t seen anything from, or about, him.
          I wonder how it is going to work later in the year though? Will it be possible, when the debates are due, to hit Cunliffe in the mouth, bandage him up and, claiming he has a broken jaw, put Shane Jones into the debates as a substitute?

          • bad12 6.1.2.1.1

            Shane Jones is simply a ‘wing-nuts’ wet dream, he is a leader of nothing except the rights wish to drive the Labour vote ever lower…

  7. Vanessa Rare 7

    Whanau and I are with you, Hone and Mana all the way.

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    It’s a home - but Kāinga Ora tenants accused of “abusing the privilege” may lose it. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Government announced a crackdown on Kāinga Ora tenants who were unruly and/or behind on their rent, with Housing Minister Chris Bishop saying a place in a state ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    8 hours ago
  • New Life for Light Rail
    This is a guest post by Connor Sharp of Surface Light Rail  Light rail in Auckland: A way forward sooner than you think With the coup de grâce of Auckland Light Rail (ALR) earlier this year, and the shift of the government’s priorities to roads, roads, and more roads, it ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    9 hours ago
  • Why Are Bosses Nearly All Buffoons?
    Note: As a paid-up Webworm member, I’ve recorded this Webworm as a mini-podcast for you as well. Some of you said you liked this option - so I aim to provide it when I get a chance to record! Read more ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    11 hours ago
  • Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6.06 pm on March 18
    TL;DR: In my ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Monday, March 18:IKEA is accused of planting big forests in New Zealand to green-wash; REDD-MonitorA City for People takes a well-deserved victory lap over Wellington’s pro-YIMBY District Plan votes; A City for PeopleSteven Anastasiou takes a close look at the sticky ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    22 hours ago
  • Peters holds his ground on co-governance, but Willis wriggles on those tax cuts and SNA suspension l...
    Buzz from the Beehive Here’s hoping for a lively post-cabinet press conference when the PM and – perhaps – some of his ministers tell us what was discussed at their meeting today. Until then, Point of Order has precious little Beehive news to report after its latest monitoring of the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • Labour’s final report card
    David Farrar writes –  We now have almost all 2023 data in, which has allowed me to update my annual table of how  went against its promises. This is basically their final report card. The promise The result Build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • “Drunk Uncle at a Wedding”
    I’m a bit worried that I’ve started a previous newsletter with the words “just when you think they couldn’t get any worse…” Seems lately that I could begin pretty much every issue with that opening. Such is the nature of our coalition government that they seem to be outdoing each ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Geoffrey Miller writes – Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on Dune 2, and images of Islam
    Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture ...
    1 day ago
  • New Rail Operations Centre Promises Better Train Services
    Last week Transport Minster Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre. The new train control centre will see teams from KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Auckland One Rail working more closely together to improve train services across the city. The Auckland Rail Operations Centre in ...
    1 day ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things at 6.36am on Monday, March 18
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in an exit interview with Q+A yesterday the Government can and should sustain more debt to invest in infrastructure for future generations. Elsewhere in the news in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 6:36am: Read more ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than just a happy ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    1 day ago
  • The Kaka’s diary for the week to March 25 and beyond
    TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Bitter and angry; Winston First
    New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day 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 ...
    1 day 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 ...
    1 day ago
  • Out of Touch.
    “I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The bewildering world of Chris Luxon – Guns for all, not no lunch for kids
    .“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    3 days ago
  • Expert Opinion: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
    3 days ago
  • Manufacturing The Truth.
    Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet –  is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
    3 days ago
  • A Powerful Sensation of Déjà Vu.
    Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
    3 days ago
  • Can you guess where world attention is focussed (according to Greenpeace)? It’s focussed on an EPA...
    Bob Edlin writes –  And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Further integrity problems for the Greens in suspending MP Darleen Tana
    Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Greens’ transparency missing in action
    For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    4 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 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
    4 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
    4 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    5 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    5 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 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
  • There’s a name for this
    Every year, in the Budget, Parliament forks out money to government agencies to do certain things. And every year, as part of the annual review cycle, those agencies are meant to report on whether they have done the things Parliament gave them that money for. Agencies which consistently fail to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Echoes of 1968 in 2024?  Pocock on the repetitive problems of the New Left
    Mike Grimshaw writes – Recent events in American universities point to an underlying crisis of coherent thinking, an issue that increasingly affects the progressive left across the Western world. This of course is nothing new as anyone who can either remember or has read of the late ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Two bar blues
    The thing about life’s little victories is that they can be followed by a defeat.Reader Darryl told me on Monday night:Test again Dave. My “head cold” last week became COVID within 24 hours, and is still with me. I hear the new variants take a bit longer to show up ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 13
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Angus Deaton on rethinking his economics IMFLocal scoop: The people behind Tamarind, the firm that left a $500m cleanup bill for taxpayers at Taranaki’s Tui oil well, are back operating in Taranaki under a different company name. Jonathan ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days 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
    4 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
    6 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
    7 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
    20 hours ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    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
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