Irascible: The Herald and Key duck, scuttle and run as Donghua Liu story loses credibility

Written By: - Date published: 2:19 pm, June 28th, 2014 - 35 comments
Categories: john key - Tags: , , , ,

Reposted from The Irascible Curmudgeon.

John Key - spy vs lieIt looks like the powers that be on the Herald’s editorial board are starting to realise that being a paid shill for the Key owned National Party is not as wise a move as they thought. Particularly as the realisation that the allegations fed from John Key and  those around Donghua Liu are proving to be a quicksand that is sucking the already doubtful credibility of the paper as a crusading, principled record of fact away from it.

The self parodying editorial (27.6.14) was the beginning of the duck strategy and, today, the normally rabid Key adoration puffer, Fran O’Sullivan, began to drop the blame for the fiasco on Key’s desire to extract utu on Cunliffe for daring to reveal the extent to which National Party cabinet ministers have been prepared to go in the quest for largesse from foreign property speculators and “investor immigrants”. Her comments (Irascible’s italics) that:

It was lack of discipline when he recently fuelled the journalistic flames on the so-called Donghua Liu donations scandal from the comfortable distance of the US.

He appeared to have forgotten a basic rule of politics — don’t fan the flames of scandal unless you are sure where it will finish up. It’s understandable that Key was tempted to indulge in some gotcha politics himself after a torrid month where he had to put Judith Collins on Cabinet leave after the Oravida affair and ask for Maurice Williamson’s ministerial resignation after he intervened in a police matter involving the Chinese business investor.

It must have been pure utu to watch while the proverbial was thrown back all over Labour after Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse informed Key there was an 11-year-old pro forma letter in the files that showed Cunliffe wrote to authorities on Liu’s behalf over his residency application.

The Prime Minister wasn’t the direct source of the Liu “revelations” (I use that word advisedly as many of the more hyperbolic Liu claims have since proved to be a mirage).

Herald investigative journalist Jared Savage, who broke the story which led to Williamson’s resignation, had already sought Liu’s immigration file under the Official Information Act. But it isinstructive in that it was sources close to National who shopped the story of Liu’s anonymous donations to Labour elsewhere after Woodhouse had accessed the file.

National has not played a straight bat on this story.

Woodhouse has yet to explain why he initially told porkies by denying he had informed Key about the Cunliffe letter — something that may have been literally true but skated over the fact he had told the prime minister’s staff about the letter (and one from former Labour MP Chris Carter) and his office had provided both letters to Key’s office.

While Cunliffe was obviously stitched up over the Liu letter, the political donor’s subsequent “misstatements” have left thoughtful people wondering whether it was indeed Labour that had proven tricky — as National’s meme invites us to believe — or the governing party.

… reveal some deep disquiet emerging within the party political PR machine behind Key and the National Party.

"Smile, Wave, brain-fade, scuttle and run" The stategists in confrence?

“Smile, Wave, brain-fade, scuttle and run” The stategists in confrence?

The history of the Donghua Liu scandal is revealing, as commented on in earlier postings and by other commentators, because of its obvious links to the scandal spreading blog sites closely connected to the Ninth Floor of the Beehive and the readiness of The Herald to swallow without due diligence the statement given it by, to quote Fran O’Sullivan, those close to National … after Woodhouse had accessed the file.

And, now, as the allegations begin to unravel and there is colder, closer and more focused examination of the apparent deliberate anti-Labour campaign being waged by the opinionista in The Herald the classic Key strategy of “smile, wave, brain fade, scuttle and run” is being followed in an attempt to extricate the news-sheet from the  mess it helped create.

35 comments on “Irascible: The Herald and Key duck, scuttle and run as Donghua Liu story loses credibility ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Gruntie 1
    29 June 2014 at 7:16 am

    Last Sunday, by 3 of my close family members, one a Green voter and 2 NActs tried to smear the shit all over Lsbour and David Cunliffe – I asked for their evidence of any wrong doing by DC – haven’t heard from them yet – still waiting for an apology. I will never buy another Herald as long as I live, and I’m looking forward to those arseholes putting up a paywall – hope they burn in the gutter.

    • Vicky32 1.1
      29 June 2014 at 6:16 pm

      They are deffo putting up a pay wall, I had an online survey about it the other day, asking which perks I would pay for, and what was the lowest price I’d pay for a monthly fee…
      Vicky

  2. tc 2
    29 June 2014 at 7:19 am

    Imo you give the herald far too much undeserved credit.

    they played their role as they do not question or fact check any nat minister and especially the pm, business as usual for granny.

    now they will do like key and diffuse, bluster, spin and drop it all together once the published hand wringing is done.

    Granny is a tawdry shill for this nasty corrupt govt caught out playing their game any contrition is another charade.

  3. Paul 3
    29 June 2014 at 7:24 am

    I will not buy this rag again.

  4. karol 4
    29 June 2014 at 7:50 am

    Herald on Sunday issues an almost and weak apology – buried amidst an article, and under a misleading heading – not good enough. It should be as big front page news as their nasty smear campaign.

    “Labour and Liu: Businessman clarifies spending”

    First the article recaps the smear campaign as though they had no real hand in the smear. Then this:

    We regret reporting the $100,000 was for wine only.

    Labour has said it has no record of any payments from Liu, and that the Yangtze River trip and rowing donation are separate from the party. Labour leader David Cunliffe wishes to make it clear the alleged donations, if they did occur, were six years before his leadership began.

    • veutoviper 4.1
      29 June 2014 at 8:15 am

      As you say, an almost and weak apology. lost in the depths of the Politics section, And with no name to the article.

      They also appear to stand by the statement that Liu contributed about $100,000 – including the donations to the HB Rowing Club ($2k) and the Yangtze river trip ($50k) which were not donations to Labour.

      BUT, in today’s ‘clarification’, they make no mention of the claim by Liu that the Herald originally reported, that Liu had made similar payments to National as he had to Labour. The only Liu donation declared by National is $22k in 2012. So were is the rest?

    • Chooky 4.2
      29 June 2014 at 10:10 am

      Labour Party has very good grounds for suing imo….and the rest of New Zealand will be behind them!

      ….Labour needs to take a very hard stand on this Chinese Lui corruption in the National Party… or either the mud will stick on Labour where Lui, Key and the Herald have illegitimately tried to smear them

      ….. or Labour will appear weak!…and no one wants to vote for a weak Party…least of all the New Zealand working class male!

  5. NZJester 5
    29 June 2014 at 8:11 am

    Strangely one person has not yet ducked for cover as Rodney Hide just put up a story advocating for the Police to be brought in to search for the illusive Liu donations the Herald was unable to find any evidence about.
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11283826
    He seriously wants the police to search to see if any trace can be found of a Liu donation to Labour.
    What does he expect the police to do if they did happen find a donation? Does he seriously want them to prosecute someone even though no law would have been broken? Lets have the police stop investigating actual crimes and have them search for evidence about something that if proved would not be in any way illegal.

    • veutoviper 5.1
      29 June 2014 at 8:27 am

      Haven’t yet read Hide, but this (now somewhat dated) post by Andrew Geddis at Pundit addresses the legal situation and why the Police should noat be involved. In brief, the donations law in place in 2007 had a six month limitation even if any donations were in fact illegal.

      http://pundit.co.nz/content/maybe-it-was-a-bottle-of-armand-de-brignac-nebuchadnezzar-champagne

      The amended legislation that came into force in late 2008 is much stricter in relation to the amounts and declaration of donations etc, so if there were any improper/non-declared donations by Liu, these could be ones that he has supposedly made to National. According to the earlier reports by the Herald, Liu has said that he has made similar donations to National as he made to Labour – yet the only reported/declared donation to National is $22k in 2012.

      • Grumpy 5.1.1
        29 June 2014 at 9:54 am

        As I see it, the call to involve the police is nothing to do with electoral law, it is because if Liu is correct and he has given Labour money, and if Labour is correct in that they have no record of it, then there is a possibility of theft. I would have thought Labour itself would be calling in the police in these circumstances.

        • Chooky 5.1.1.1
          29 June 2014 at 10:17 am

          Liu cant prove it ..or he would have already…he is lying….and the police have better things to do with their time!

          …the onus is on Key and Liu and the Herald to prove their allegations

          …and Labour should sue for defamation and attempted corruption of the New Zealand democratic process and Election by a false smearing campaign

    • Lloyd 5.2
      29 June 2014 at 4:39 pm

      I suspect Rodney’s article was written several days ago, or Rodney has been asleep for several days, as Rodney did not ask for the Police to look for the missing $78,000 donation to National.

  6. Bob 6
    29 June 2014 at 8:42 am

    So now that Granny has to back off the Editorial bias to save the last shred of credibility, they roll out Hide to drag it all up again. Unbelievable!

  7. freedom 7
    29 June 2014 at 8:51 am

    ‘All Blacks All Blacks All Blacks. All Blacks All Blacks All Blacks All Blacks. All Blacks All Blacks All Blacks All Blacks. All Blacks All Blacks. All Blacks All Blacks All Blacks. Boy. we really stuffed up on that Liu fiasco didn’t we?. All Blacks All Blacks All Blacks All Blacks. All Blacks All Blacks All Blacks. All Blacks All Blacks All Blacks All Blacks. All Blacks All Blacks. All Blacks All Blacks All Blacks ‘
    -NZ Herald

  8. cogito 8
    29 June 2014 at 9:15 am

    Has anyone else experienced excessive “moderation” while commenting on this story – and others – on 3News? Seems that pointed comments (as opposed to wordy ramblings) against Key get removed and the poster gets banned. Has now happened to me twice. This sort of gestapo behaviour does 3News no credit at all and does absolutely nothing for free speech.

  9. lurgee 9
    29 June 2014 at 9:26 am

    It’s pretty sad how desperately some on the left are clinging on to this. It’s stupid, as it is just keeping the story in the news and people will be wondering if there is fire where the smoke is. After all, in the public’s mind, Labour haven’t disproven the allegations. It’s our party and our leader that are hurting the more this story is discussed, not Key and National. It also makes us look small, whiney and constantly reactive.

    The media, as I recall, reported the story of the alleged GCSB tape Shearer made, which turned out to be false, or at least unproven, Stop complaining constantly about media bias. It’s reality. It happens all around the world. Look at what the British Labour Party has to put up with – only ejected in 2010, associated with the economic collapse of 2008, Iraq, 1000% more media bias, Ed Milliband – but they’re comfortably ahead in opinion polls. It only seems to be crippling the NZ Labour party. Why not just admit that it isn’t media bias that has us languishing at 28%. It’s because we’re weak, constantly out-foxed, paranoid and failing to talk up positive reasons for voting for us.

    Look at the number of posts and comments about this story, compared to the recent (positive) policy announcements by Labour. This place is clutterred with dross making Labour look shamefully weak, confused and childishly upset about everything.

    Why would anyone vote for such a party?

    • freedom 9.1
      29 June 2014 at 10:00 am

      The Liu story is about influence on our democratic process and Labour is getting many pats on the back for standing up to the Herald’s smear campaign. The public comments that filled the stands plainly show how the public saw through the pre show amateurism and the mexican waves of admonition proves those who think they make the rules have a fight on their hands. Labour’s story has not changed. They have not rewritten answers, twisted statements or trotted out dolled up sycophants to juggle facts like sideshow clowns.

      They have not fabricated flimsy fences to reign in roaming realities. They have stood proudly, they have stood together, they are obviously united when stating what the facts show. If you think they could do more to show how firm a line they currently hold, I am at a loss as to what that might be.
      They cannot control what the media do any more than we can. I am not even a Labour voter but have been impressed by the way they have handled this smear.

      The campaign proper soon begins and the strength shown by Labour this past week was more than just a warm up as they head out onto the pitch.

      The opposition is unsettled to say the least. It is time to see what Labour’s haka has in store.

      • lurgee 9.1.1
        29 June 2014 at 10:16 am

        My point was not so much the Labour response as the constant wailing and gnashing on here about it.

        I don’t think the opposition are all that bothered. They are sitting at 45% in the polls and Labour are praying Winston gets back. Labour, you will recall, are the party of the working class, and on a slightly broader definition, the party that (in theory) represents the interests of about 90% of New Zealanders. But they are only getting 30% of the vote. Something is very utterly stupendously wrong, and it isn’t ll down to the obsession hereabouts with ‘media bias.’

        • Chooky 9.1.1.1
          29 June 2014 at 10:24 am

          @lurgee

          …you dont think corruption, lying and subversion of our democratic system is important?
          ….you dont think corruption in the National Party is important…grovelling for money from a disreputable Chinese business immigrant who buys influence and lies?
          ….you dont think a smear campaign against Labour by the Herald is important?

          …you think it should be dropped ?!…this is a sad reflection on yourself…because many New Zealanders are disgusted!

          • lurgee 9.1.1.1.1
            29 June 2014 at 12:10 pm

            This is not about corruption, influence or what-have-you. It is about the glaring hole where Labour’s vision, passion and policies are meant to be, and the continual wailing here about the ‘media bias’ as if that was the reason Labour were so dismally behind in the polls. Still, feel free to carry on missing the point.

            I notice ANOTHER post has been made on this topic since I checked this morning.

            Just. Get. Over. It.

            • Clemgeopin 9.1.1.1.1.1
              29 June 2014 at 12:47 pm

              But Labour simply can not afford not to react and respond, can they?

              True, we need to focus on our policies too at the same time and more actively from now on.

  10. jaymam 10
    29 June 2014 at 10:02 am

    Since you like the picture above (that I supplied) of Key, DPF and Slater so much, I am prepared to divulge how these pictures can be obtained. I do have a valid email address now, but it’s not getting any replies.

  11. Saarbo 11
    29 June 2014 at 10:13 am

    “the normally rabid Key adoration puffer, Fran O’Sullivan, …”

    Im not sure if Fran O is a rabid Key adoration puffer, but she is free market adoration puffer, anything that might resemble government intervention she will attack.

    When it comes to the leaders she understands David Cunliffes economic/business skills and provides him with positive coverage…it sticks out in the NZH. I think she also understands that Labour has the economic policies that are more responsible and will leave the nation better off in the long term.

  12. tsmithfield 12
    29 June 2014 at 10:32 am

    It seems people here have missed reading this article.

    Note that despite the public comments from Labour that seemed to imply Liu was either lying or wrong, Labour seems to have stepped back from its previous rhetoric. From the article:

    Labour Party general secretary Tim Barnett confirmed that a lawyer for the party had contacted Liu’s legal counsel but was yet to receive a substantive reply.

    “The Labour Party has no dispute with Mr Liu because we have seen no evidence that he has published false information about us.”

    Also, it looks to me that Labour’s attempts to discredit Liu have motivated him to prove his own position in a manner that could prove highly embarrassing for Labour.

    Aucklander Paul Davison, QC, is heading a team of advisers for Liu reviewing the property developer’s records following the comments of David Cunliffe this week.

    The Weekend Herald understands this includes more than 30 photographs taken over 18 months linking Liu to Labour, including a fundraiser at an Auckland restaurant and a trip to China, where he hosted a Cabinet minister in 2007.

    Also a couple of teasing posts from Whaleoil suggest more revelations just around the corner.

    http://www.whaleoil.co.nz/2014/06/tick-tick-tick-tick/

    http://www.whaleoil.co.nz/2014/06/coming-theatre-near/

    Could be an interesting week this week. Perhaps Labour are going to get what they have been asking Liu to provide.

    • Pascal's bookie 12.1
      29 June 2014 at 11:25 am

      roflnui

    • framu 12.2
      30 June 2014 at 8:52 am

      “we have seen no evidence that he has published false information about us.”

      maybe because no-ones shown them any evidence and it was the herald who published it?

      usually the first step in bringing in the lawyers is a standard “weve heard you said this – can you send us the evidence so we can decide if further steps are required?”

      and the article linked to is by jared savage – who is neck deep in the creation of the whole bucket of bullshit in the first place. I wont even bother mocking you for using a whale oil link – its too easy

      jebus TS – your argument was rather full of holes

  13. Tom Bradford 13
    29 June 2014 at 10:40 am

    “The Key owned National Party”?

    Given that Key is himself likely still owned by Merrill Lynch, that makes the National Party what?

    And the Government of New Zealand what?

  14. Tautoko Viper 14
    29 June 2014 at 10:51 am

    The Herald has a chance to salvage something out of this fiasco if it

    1. Reveals WHO gave the Herald the 3 May Liu “statement”
    2. Finds out and reveals WHO actually wrote the 3 May statement

    because this statement was printed by the Herald in good faith that it was true and accurate.
    The Herald should be directing its venom towards those who wrote and gave this misinformation to them. Both the Herald and Labour are the victims here. The Herald should have checked before publishing so any loss of reputation is not the fault of the Labour Party and needs to be taken on board by the Herald. There is little evidence that this has happened to date.

  15. Clemgeopin 15
    29 June 2014 at 11:30 am

    Regarding this Immigration minister, Woodhouse, apart from him dishing out ‘dirt’ on Cunliffe to Key, by way of the 13 year old 2005 letter, another aspect of his behaviour is very shameful and unbecoming: That is that this cabinet minister personally went and met this Liu fellow at Liu’s place in order to take his suggestions regarding immigration rules.

    The more propriety thing would have been to ask Liu to write a submission or at best to invite him to the minister’s office to discuss the issue. How cheap and improper for a cabinet minister to go and meet this party donor instead!

    The following report says this:
    “He even made a special visit, meeting Mr Liu at his hotel — the Boulevard Hotel in New Market, Auckland, the hotel where Mr Liu assaulted his de-facto partner and Mr Williamson interfered in the police case”

    In my opinion, this act alone should be grounds enough to sack this disgraceful minister.
    Don’t you agree?

    Here is the full report of this shameful National episode:

    http://www.3news.co.nz/Woodhouse-discussed-immigration-with-Liu/tabid/1607/articleID/343193/Default.aspx

  16. Tom Gould 16
    30 June 2014 at 8:50 am

    There is something sinister and a bit frightening about the new National Party that Key and his cronies have created. We have not seen its like here in New Zealand before, a massively well funded permanent campaign at every level, including character assassination and personal attack, all carefully coordinated using the resources of government, party, business and media. It could be so easily dismissed as a crazy left-wing conspiracy, but the Herald’s over-reaching has cracked the façade. Could this be the beginning of the end for the myth of that nice man John Key?

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 hours ago

  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago

  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago

  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago

  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago

  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago

  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    15 hours ago

  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago

  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
    Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector.    "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
    The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
    Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
    Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.   Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ ties
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.  During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Antarctica New Zealand Board appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner.  The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Finance Minister travels to Washington DC
    Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.  “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Pet bonds a win/win for renters and landlords
    The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being considered
    State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • New Zealand condemns Iranian strikes
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel.    “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says.    "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Huge interest in Government’s infrastructure plans
    Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Health Minister thanks outgoing Health New Zealand Chair
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board.   “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti.  “I have asked her to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Roads of National Significance planning underway
    The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Navigating an unstable global environment
    New Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.   “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States.    “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • NZ welcomes Australian Governor-General
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Pseudoephedrine back on shelves for Winter
    Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • NZ and the US: an ever closer partnership
    New Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Joint US and NZ declaration
    April 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • NZ and US to undertake further practical Pacific cooperation
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced further New Zealand cooperation with the United States in the Pacific Islands region through $16.4 million in funding for initiatives in digital connectivity and oceans and fisheries research.   “New Zealand can achieve more in the Pacific if we work together more urgently and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Government redress for Te Korowai o Wainuiārua
    The Government is continuing the bipartisan effort to restore its relationship with iwi as the Te Korowai o Wainuiārua Claims Settlement Bill passed its first reading in Parliament today, says Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith. “Historical grievances of Te Korowai o Wainuiārua relate to 19th century warfare, land purchased or taken ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Focus on outstanding minerals permit applications
    New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals is working to resolve almost 150 outstanding minerals permit applications by the end of the financial year, enabling valuable mining activity and signalling to the sector that New Zealand is open for business, Resources Minister Shane Jones says.  “While there are no set timeframes for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Applications open for NZ-Ireland Research Call
    The New Zealand and Irish governments have today announced that applications for the 2024 New Zealand-Ireland Joint Research Call on Agriculture and Climate Change are now open. This is the third research call in the three-year Joint Research Initiative pilot launched in 2022 by the Ministry for Primary Industries and Ireland’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Tenancy rules changes to improve rental market
    The coalition Government has today announced changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to encourage landlords back to the rental property market, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “The previous Government waged a war on landlords. Many landlords told us this caused them to exit the rental market altogether. It caused worse ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Boosting NZ’s trade and agricultural relationship with China
    Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay will visit China next week, to strengthen relationships, support Kiwi exporters and promote New Zealand businesses on the world stage. “China is one of New Zealand’s most significant trade and economic relationships and remains an important destination for New Zealand’s products, accounting for nearly 22 per cent of our good and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Freshwater farm plan systems to be improved
    The coalition Government intends to improve freshwater farm plans so that they are more cost-effective and practical for farmers, Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay have announced. “A fit-for-purpose freshwater farm plan system will enable farmers and growers to find the right solutions for their farm ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • New Fast Track Projects advisory group named
    The coalition Government has today announced the expert advisory group who will provide independent recommendations to Ministers on projects to be included in the Fast Track Approvals Bill, say RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Regional Development Minister Shane Jones. “Our Fast Track Approval process will make it easier and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-04-18T12:33:25+00:00