John Key’s NZ: the nasty side of the “brighter future”

Written By: - Date published: 8:25 am, May 5th, 2013 - 45 comments
Categories: accountability, benefits, class war, jobs, john key, poverty, slippery, spin, welfare, workers' rights - Tags:

John Key promised a “brighter future” for NZ: one where they wouldn’t wave good-bye to loved ones heading to Australia; one where he would require a higher standard of his MPs; one where he wouldn’t deliberately avoid telling the truth to the public on controversial issues.  Of course this was just well-crafted spin, targeting the insecurity and hopes of of large numbers of Kiwis, living in diverse circumstances around the country.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTVryIfo9jc

So Key opened his 2008 election campaign, claiming Helen Clark had avoided telling the whole truth about the Owen Glenn affair.  Then ended up admitting to a secretive meeting with Lord Ashcroft.

Now that spin is unraveling exposes the deserts of the real that have become increasingly barren under John Key’s watch.  Today the Steve Kilgallon has a further story in the Star Star Times on battling Kiwis who went to Aussie, hoping for a new start, and finding unemployment, nowhere to live, and no access to benefits.

Expat Kiwi Christine Adams, who works with homeless families in south Sydney, says 60 per cent of her clients are New Zealanders.

Almost all are affected by the 2001 law changes in Australia that deny most Australia-resident Kiwis any access to state benefits – and few knew of the rules before they emigrated….

Adams, who moved to Sydney from Auckland in 2007, has advised many recent arrivals simply to stay just for a holiday then return home.

“I’ve talked to several families who have spent every last cent flying their family to Sydney for ‘a new start’ and wonder why another nine people cannot live indefinitely with a family member who has a three-bedroom rented property,” she says.

“There have been families evicted due to overcrowding, because stressed, recently arrived big families are suddenly seeking accommodation with their stable, housed relatives.”

Adams says those who have made a success of the transition have “done their homework” but most of her clients emigrated without guaranteed employment or pre-arranged accommodation or even their paperwork in order, she says.

Many have no family support, while others soon exhaust it, couch-surfing between different homes. This stress can cause domestic violence, relationship breakdowns and financial issues, driving them into homelessness.

This followed Kilgallon’s story last month, on Kiwi Park, and the plight of homeless and jobless Kiwis in Australia.

homeless Kiwis in Sydney Kiwi Park

Not-so-lucky country: So many homeless New Zealanders gather at Sydney’s Bourke St Park, colloquially known as Kiwi Park. Sunday Star Times 14/04/2013

Far from stemming the tide of Kiwis moving to Aussie, the year to September 2012 saw record numbers of Kiwis moving to Australia.  Of course, Paula Bennett is probably happy that this is keeping her beneficiary numbers down.

Meanwhile, Aaron Gilmore continues to show the underbelly of National Party MPs callous sense of entitlement. Some people have come forward to accuse Gilmore of unfair tactics towards his housing tenants.

The Ovendens have lived in the Temple Lane home, in the small South Island ski town of Ohau, for about a year but are moving out. They’ve had enough of Gilmore, who is involved in the trust that owns it. They say he:

• Threatened to tell other landlords they were poor tenants, despite saying in a letter they were good people.

• Recorded their conversations without telling them.

• Emailed their lawyer, telling him to “stop making a fool of himself”.

The Herald on Sunday has emails which appear to show Gilmore and long-term partner Jenny Dickinson disagreeing over which of them has rights to manage the property.

The pair have two children.

Neither could be contacted last night.

This is not the “brighter future” that John Key promised all New Zealanders.  It’s a sleazy world of divisions: a brighter future of entitlement for the callous and privileged elite, and dis-entitlement and Struggle Street for too many honest Kiwis battling to find a way to improve their meagre lot.

45 comments on “John Key’s NZ: the nasty side of the “brighter future” ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Jane 1
    5 May 2013 at 9:12 am

    Should this –

    …on battling Kiwis who went to NZ, hoping for a new start, and finding unemployment, nowhere to live, and no access to benefits…

    Be … went to OZ, hoping….

  2. Colonial Viper 2
    5 May 2013 at 10:55 am

    No wonder Australians laugh at us with disrespect. We beat their rugby union team (a code they don’t care about anyway) but throw away our people.

  3. johnm 3
    5 May 2013 at 11:03 am

    The brighter future is fading in Australia as well. Privatisation, austerity, and assaults on entitlements for the unemployed and disabled are already operating or will do so. Working class Aussies are not so far from dispossed Kiwis. The Gillard government is selling out its Labour constituency just as Labour here did in 1984.
    Of course Yankey is an elite sc*mb*g. The next trick down the line will be: “We don’t have the money cut back public services!” Selling off our Power company assets throwing away much needed tax revenue to the already rich and borrowing to enrich his foreign banker mates and then bringing in draconian welfare persecution is right in his book. If you asked the selfish bastard what is the “Common Good” and offered $50,000 for the right answer the bastard wouldn’t have a clue though the “common good” is the basis of any decent society.

    For those interested in the fading Aussie dream here are numerous links all of which show that the Gillard Government is being wagged by the tail: the greedy mean spirited business class.

    Australia: The fraud of Labor’s NDIS and Gonski “reforms”
    http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2013/05/03/ndis-m03.html
    Australia: Queensland government offensive against public sector
    http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2013/05/04/quld-m04.html
    Australian PM declares “grave” budget crisis as cuts prepared
    http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2013/04/30/gill-a30.html
    Australian youth pushed into unpaid work
    http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2013/04/25/unpa-a25.html
    Australian thinktank demands “tough” health and welfare cutbacks
    http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2013/04/23/grat-a23.html
    Australian big business launches campaign for austerity, market “reform”
    http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2013/04/19/bcaa-a19.html
    Unemployment deepens in Australian working class areas
    By Mike Head
    http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2013/04/17/jobs-a17.html
    Australian business, media step up campaign for austerity cuts
    http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2013/03/12/aust-m12.html

  4. Rogue Trooper 4
    5 May 2013 at 12:07 pm

    “We came across the West Sea
    We didn’t have much idea
    Of the kind of climate waiting
    We used our hands for guidance
    Like the children of a preacher
    Like a dry tree seeking water
    Or a daughter
    Nice ‘n’ sleazy
    Nice ‘n’ sleazy does it
    Does it every time.”

  5. Brian 5
    5 May 2013 at 12:07 pm

    Key and his govt. take hypocrisy to new levels.

    • Ruobeil 5.1
      6 May 2013 at 5:21 am

      Just following the example of the last Labour govt.

      How many MP’s sacked was it? Nine.

      • karol 5.1.1
        6 May 2013 at 8:31 am

        You miss the point. Key’s election claim was that he WASN’T going to following the last government’s example, and be so much better.

  6. DH 6
    5 May 2013 at 12:27 pm

    What bemuses me is both National and Labour still place a large emphasis on more education. We’re spending over $12 billion each year on education already, almost double what was spent 10yrs ago. Our youngsters get qualifications, they can’t find a job here so they head overseas. And they want to spend more on education.

    If that’s not bizzarre enough we end up importing lesser educated workers because our lot have flown the coop. Our universities have turned into factories producing skilled workers for wealthier countries and they want more of it. Too much of what we spend on education ends up benefiting other countries who have more money than us already.

    What the hell is the point in educating people for jobs that don’t exist? They put the cart before the horse & then wonder why it’s not moving. There’s only one thing they should be focussing on. Decent jobs.

  7. infused 7
    5 May 2013 at 4:20 pm

    lol, it’s John Keys fault that New Zealanders go to aussie, without a job, then become homeless? Pretty sure John Key is responsible for the war in Syria too.

    I don’t know when people are going to wake up that the world is never going to be the way it was, ever again. They better soon though.

    • johnm 7.1
      5 May 2013 at 5:58 pm

      Hi infused
      It is Key’s fault that he is following the now completely discredited neoliberal dogma: 1. Privatisation 2. tax cuts for the already wealthy 3. No Capital gains tax 4. harassment of the unemployed and disabled to find jobs that don’t exist, 100000 to be removed in 10 years 5. A refusal to share the wealth of NZ with less well off kiwis. Could go on and on.
      ________________________________________

      In this new age of contraction, peak oil, climate change and environmental destruction requires a sharing, not punitive, social system which drives young kiwis overseas. He takes no responsibility—the market rules all. Yes we need a socialist system not a system that rewards profit and greed.

      ___________________________________________

      Referring Afewknowthetruth. Yes the Industrial system and civilisation is in collapse, growth is over, and we have multiple increasing problems. That’s why it’s criminally stupid to pursue an ideology which is celebrates inequality and the rush to the bottom of the resource pile.

      _____________________________________________

      The greed of the Nacts has been clearly shown to everyone by their wealth grab to privatise MRP. They were virtually slavering at the mouth at the guaranteed rentier incomes they were going to make. Key has -0 vision he’s a mere money trader puppet.

      • Ruobeil 7.1.1
        6 May 2013 at 5:42 am

        1. Privatisation? Remind me how many state assets Labour sold?

        1a. Still no word on whether Labour would buy back the publicly held shares in Air NZ.

        2. What tax cuts for the wealthy? Stop telling porkies.

        2a. The last round were across the board.

        4. Harrassment of the unemployed? No, it’s called accountability. So you get benefits from the taxpayer and do nothing in return? Yeah right.

        4a. Jobs that don’t exist? More porkies.
        I have just checked Trademe and there are over 11,000 jobs available.

        5. Share wealth? Which wealth are you referring to in particular?
        Or do you mean stealing from taxpayers to give to bludgers?

        Privatising MRP?

        At least they campaigned on it and in the infamous words of Michael Cullen, “We won, you lost, eat that.”

        Don’t recall Labour campaigning on scrapping the air combat wing of the RNZAF or numerous other things.

        • Draco T Bastard 7.1.1.1
          6 May 2013 at 7:24 am

          1.) Yes, Labour is just as guilty, if not more so, in the ruination of this nation.
          2.) The tax cuts were for the rich – the increase in GST proved that. GST is regressive and thus mostly falls on the poor.
          4.) What National are doing is abuse.
          4a.) 11000 jobs, 170,000 unemployed. Do you see the difference?
          5.) The nations wealth that the rich have persuaded people actually belongs to them.

        • rosy 7.1.1.2
          6 May 2013 at 7:49 am

          4. Harrassment of the unemployed? No, it’s called accountability. So you get benefits from the taxpayer and do nothing in return? Yeah right.

          People who become unemployed have, by definition, been employed and paid tax. They are accountable to themselves, as previous and probably future taxpayers. Kids who come out of training and can’t get a job most often have parents who have paid tax, these parents are likely to hold their children accountable.

          Let the unemployed get on finding a job (or upskilling, or improving literacy, or whatever it takes) and start harassing the government to improve the climate for employment – including jobs that provide a living wage – and stop bullying individuals.

          • DH 7.1.1.2.1
            6 May 2013 at 12:44 pm

            “People who become unemployed have, by definition, been employed and paid tax. They are accountable to themselves, as previous and probably future taxpayers. Kids who come out of training and can’t get a job most often have parents who have paid tax, these parents are likely to hold their children accountable. ”

            Agree with your comments Rosy and I’ll add a bit. The social welfare system has become an integral part of the economy and peoples’ wealth. If benefits were to stop or even be sharply reduced the residential property market would suffer a catastrophic collapse, imagine what would happen to house prices if 300-400k people could no longer pay their rent. We’d also see consumer spending fall drastically and huge numbers of businesses go to the wall; that would collapse the commercial property market & flow on to big falls in share prices etc.

            The whole tax system is grossly misrepresented by many people. Those who pay more tax get more back by virtue of the welfare system and how the NZ economy works. Spending drives our economy and welfare beneficiaries spend all their money.

            The most striking imbalance in the system at present is property investors. They receive far more in benefits from the state than they pay in tax.

        • karol 7.1.1.3
          6 May 2013 at 8:34 am

          “accountability”? If only John key knew the meaning of the word!

          • David H 7.1.1.3.1
            6 May 2013 at 9:22 am

            “accountability”? If only John key knew the meaning of the word!
            He does how else do you think he keeps the accountants under control that are looking after HIS millions ??

        • freedom 7.1.1.4
          6 May 2013 at 9:01 am

          re 4a: a very large % of those jobs are duplicate postings, have already been filled or are not actual jobs, but ‘opportunities’ to add your details to the ever-growing number of employment agency lists. Do a random sampling of any region and the examples above will be exposed as glaringly as your hollow words.

          If a proper investigation was done of the entire 11,000 job ads on trade me, I predict as many as 10-15% would be found invalid.

    • North 7.2
      5 May 2013 at 8:09 pm

      Get real Infused. ShonKey Python is responsible for NOTHING.

      And ShonKey Python’s world is never going to be the same when the whistleblowers come out darling. When he is denigrated and reviled for the lying, pathologically greedy toad he is.

    • Murray Olsen 7.3
      5 May 2013 at 8:19 pm

      It’s John Key’s fault that he went to Oz, supposedly to address the differences in access to government assistance, and achieved nothing except giving the Queensland government access to official information on Kiwis.
      I wouldn’t say that the parlous state of the Kiwi job market is his fault, although he plays his part.
      It’s our collective fault if we accept your view that change for the worse is inevitable and do nothing to change things.

  8. Clockie 8
    5 May 2013 at 4:26 pm

    But, but, the future was supposed to be brighter wasn’t it? So many people believed lovely Johnny boy when he told them about the brighter future. Was he just making stuff up to get elected when he actually knew that things would “never be the same again”? Or was it just his diction and people misheard him when he actually said “blighted future”..

    • North 8.1
      5 May 2013 at 8:02 pm

      I like your questions Clock. I honestly believe that after the ’99 election a National Party and related think tank (Boag, Roundtable, Gibbs et al) sat down and agreed:

      “We’ve got 6 years to prepare. We’ll import someone we can ‘sell’. Once we’re back we’ll wrought/rort fundamental and not easily reversed change to the psyche and fabric of New Zealand.”

      Their plans were retarded by 3 years but once they got there that’s the vein in which they proceeded. Sadly for them their champion Shonkey Python has proved to be congenitally clay footed and gauche. Even the facile, biddable, cocksucker yuppies comprising 95% of the MSM see that now. Consistent with their contemptible natures they are now hedging their bets and it’ll get worse.

      Brand Key is stuffed. Things are salvagable still. Power to Kiwis. Down with greedy, entitled, “born-to-rule”, bastards ! Slurrin’ Erron Gilmore is emblematic. It’s an exponentially ugly look.

    • Ruobeil 8.2
      6 May 2013 at 5:46 am

      Considering the mess Labour left when they were booted out he’s done a good job.

      What was it? A decade of deficits amongst other things.

      • Paul 8.2.1
        6 May 2013 at 6:22 am

        Evidence?

      • Draco T Bastard 8.2.2
        6 May 2013 at 7:40 am

        A decade of deficits amongst other things.

        That only existed in National’s fevered imaginations. Of course, with National in charge we’ve actually had far worse deficits than even what they predicted.

      • freedom 8.2.3
        6 May 2013 at 10:46 am

        Ruobeil , looks like you could do with a math lesson also
        http://www.treasury.govt.nz/downloads/pdfs/fsgnz-year-jun12-1.pdf
        table 17, page 20 (24 of 36)

        read, learn, digest then go away until you can face up to the truth that you have been lied to by your masters and you are just a rube who wants the oil

      • adriank 8.2.4
        6 May 2013 at 11:33 am

        Slightly off topic, but as a recent arrival in Melbourne it’s fascinating to see the 2008 Crosby-Textor playbook back in action here in preparation for this year’s elections – the opposition here have been frequently shouting about the ‘decade of deficits’ predicted due to the Labor government’s policies. It’s going to be testament to the incredible economic skills of Abbot et al. once the economic outlook magically brightens after they are elected.

  9. georgecom 9
    5 May 2013 at 7:56 pm

    Strange how Mister Key has been unable to apply the same advice to himself which he gave to Clark. Even as he is telling Clark to come clean he displays great reluctance to speak about Ashcroft. Tranzrail shares, ‘blind’ trusts, cup of tea tapes, Dotcom raids, John Banks, appointing Spy chiefs…Even before this we had the EB case which Key slipped out from underneath. Clark needs to tell the truth, everyone else needs to tell the truth. Not him though.

  10. xtasy 10
    5 May 2013 at 9:53 pm

    A media and other information sourced summary of how a ‘BRIGHTER FUTURE’ promised by John Key and his National Party led government looks a bit like this:

    Tax cuts for businesses and individuals, but GST up for all, hitting poor and middle class more than high earners:
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10646047
    http://tvnz.co.nz/business-news/major-tax-changes-take-effect-4095680

    Sickness beneficiaries included into work testing:
    http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1304/S00509/future-focus-continues-to-make-a-difference.htm
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/budget-2011/5013111/Budget-2011-Sickness-beneficiaries-fear-budget-changes

    Harsh new requirements on sole parents to be available for work:
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/6483654/New-work-rules-for-sole-parents
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10820783

    Youth benefits stripped and tight controls on young persons’ spending by introducing “payment cards” and other requirements:
    http://www.3news.co.nz/Youth-benefit-stripped-payment-card-instead/tabid/419/articleID/222119/Default.aspx
    http://www.youthservice.govt.nz/ways-we-can-help/financial-assistance/youth-payment.html

    Student allowance cut for post grad students and those studying longer than 200 weeks, plus increase in expected minimum loan repayments:
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/8136194/Student-allowance-cuts-to-go-ahead

    Highest youth unemployment in 2012 – supposed to be addressed by introduced cut minimum wage to $ 10.80 an hour:
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/8492699/New-wage-scheme-aimed-at-youth-unemployment

    “Social obligations” to be introduced for beneficiary parents, discriminating against them, as obligations do not apply to other parents:
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/politics/7653343/Enrol-kids-in-childcare-or-lose-benefit

    Drug testing of beneficiaries despite of privacy and human rights concerns:
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/8215584/Welfare-drug-tests-may-break-privacy-law

    Major benefit reforms will force sick and disabled to look for work:
    http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1303/S00347/welfare-reform-benefits-an-illusion.htm
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10876614

    Planned work capacity assessments along UK Atos Origin Healthcare style, there done for the Department for Work and Pensions:

    http://www.beehive.govt.nz/speech/speech-medical-professionals
    http://www.ccsdisabilityaction.org.nz/news/687-proposed-work-tests-are-concerning

    Kiwis leaving their own shores in ever larger numbers:
    http://www.berl.co.nz/economic-insights/jobs/migration/kiwis-continue-fickle-affair-with-australia/

    Sadly, so far the agenda has been pushed through relentlessly and ruthlessly, in front of the eyes of a rather powerless, and also partly poorly led opposition in Parliament.

    The public is overwhelmed, does not quite get it due to mostly limited media coverage, most duck, run for cover and play the blaming game, leaving beneficiaries as the scape goats bearing much of the brunt.

    Bennett and Key laugh and smile, dodge real questions and a drunk Gilmore is over boisterous, I do not wonder.

    When hammering and governing becomes so easy, one can easily get drunk, silly and let off more steam than can be excused, on weak, dependent, anxious waiters in a hotel.

    P.S.: I did above not bother getting started on the planned further restrictions and abolition of worker’s rights. Do not get me started, thanks.

    • Ruobeil 10.1
      6 May 2013 at 5:50 am

      And your answer is? Free money (taxpayers money) for all with no accountability.

      That’s why your lot were booted out of power.

      [lprent: Ummm trolling…. Yep. Classic stupid two line trolling. We’re interested in people’s opinions and dialogue here, but you don’t qualify as being a human on the basis of your mechanical and reflexive comments and your apparent inability to deal with replies to date. Read the policy. ]

      • Ennui 10.1.1
        6 May 2013 at 6:47 am

        No Ruo, free tax payers money with no accountability…that’s the preserve of bankers and those legitimate scum who used the SCF to clip the ticket Key guaranteed. You can stick your inverted Mr Moral up your jacksey.

        • Paul 10.1.1.1
          6 May 2013 at 7:01 am

          This person just comes on this site to interfere with discussions about the issues.

          • Te Reo Putake 10.1.1.1.1
            6 May 2013 at 7:41 am

            Person? There’s something oddly robotic about Ruobeil’s trolling that suggests otherwise.

            • freedom 10.1.1.1.1.1
              6 May 2013 at 7:56 am

              Ruobeil is a joke, never gives any detail, any evidence or any examples, just a ‘one lie for all’ kind of banter.

        • Rogue Trooper 10.1.1.2
          6 May 2013 at 9:24 am

          E’s noisy in reverse

  11. BrucetheMoose 11
    5 May 2013 at 11:01 pm

    Yep, the future’s so bright that you need rose tinted shades. The Key’s prescription model that is. The pair he uses during his speeches. In fact, since things haven’t been so great lately, I sent for a pair from the National Party recently. When it’s all looking too gloomy, just slip them on and WOWW everything suddenly looks marvelous. Unemployment is not so bad , tens of thousands leaving the country is a good thing (afterall they won’t be keeping the jobless numbers up or voting for Johnny anyway), kids living in poverty are harder to see (it’s the out of sight out of mind thing) and…I can’t remember what else. They come with built in amnesia. It works on the what you don’t know you won’t worry about it philosophy. You are now viewing the world in rose colour 3D Planet Key

    • xtasy 11.1
      6 May 2013 at 12:28 am

      “You are now viewing the world in rose colour 3D Planet Key”

      Hah, for sure, that is much of the mainstream media journalists and editors for a start, writing the “rose tinted” script for the rest of the public out there. Cooking shows, other contests, infotainment, the newest fad, gig and performance enhanced sporting success.

      Distraction galore, if the glasses are lost, there is always plenty of earth and sand to stick your neck and head in very deep!

    • Ruobeil 11.2
      6 May 2013 at 5:54 am

      Built in amnesia?

      Wasn’t one of Helen Clark’s favourite lines “I have no recollection”?

  12. vto 12
    6 May 2013 at 2:13 pm

    Yep the Nats have been openly shown for the peeps they are – nasty nasty nasty nasties

    Thanks Aaron Gilmore for exposing the true nature of most Nats.

    And now it all makes sense – you can see it all the way back to Key’s first appearance.

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    Submissions on National's corrupt Muldoonist fast-track law are due today (have you submitted?), and just hours before they close, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop has been forced to release the list of companies he invited to apply. I've spent the last hour going through it in an epic thread of bleats, ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    14 hours ago

  • On Lee’s watch, Economic Development seems to be stuck on scoring points from promoting sporting e...
    Buzz from the Beehive A few days ago, Point of Order suggested the media must be musing “on why Melissa is mute”. Our article reported that people working in the beleaguered media industry have cause to yearn for a minister as busy as Melissa Lee’s ministerial colleagues and we drew ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    15 hours ago

  • New Zealand has never been closed for business
    1. What was The Curse of Jim Bolger?a. Winston Peters b. Soon after shaking his hand, world leaders would mysteriously lose office or shuffle off this mortal coilc. Could never shake off the Mother of All Budgetsd. Dandruff2. True or false? The Chairman of a Kiwi export business has asked the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    15 hours ago

  • Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
    Jack Vowles writes – New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    18 hours ago

  • Melissa Lee and the media: ending the quest
    Chris Trotter writes –  MELISSA LEE should be deprived of her ministerial warrant. Her handling – or non-handling – of the crisis engulfing the New Zealand news media has been woeful. The fate of New Zealand’s two linear television networks, a question which the Minister of Broadcasting, Communications ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    19 hours ago

  • The Hoon around the week to April 19
    TL;DR: The podcast above features co-hosts and , along with regular guests Robert Patman on Gaza and AUKUS II, and on climate change.The six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    20 hours ago

  • The ‘Humpty Dumpty’ end result of dismantling our environmental protections
    Policymakers rarely wish to make plain or visible their desire to dismantle environmental policy, least of all to the young. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    20 hours ago

  • Nicola's Salad Days.
    I like to keep an eye on what’s happening in places like the UK, the US, and over the ditch with our good mates the Aussies. Let’s call them AUKUS, for want of a better collective term. More on that in a bit.It used to be, not long ago, that ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    21 hours ago

  • Study sees climate change baking in 19% lower global income by 2050
    TL;DR: The global economy will be one fifth smaller than it would have otherwise been in 2050 as a result of climate damage, according to a new study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and published in the journal Nature. (See more detail and analysis below, and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    21 hours ago

  • Weekly Roundup 19-April-2024
    It’s Friday again. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week on Greater Auckland On Tuesday Matt covered at the government looking into a long tunnel for Wellington. On Wednesday we ran a post from Oscar Simms on some lessons from Texas. AT’s ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    22 hours ago

  • Jack Vowles: Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
    New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’.  The data is from February this ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    24 hours ago

  • Clearing up confusion (or trying to)
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters is understood to be planning a major speech within the next fortnight to clear up the confusion over whether or not New Zealand might join the AUKUS submarine project. So far, there have been conflicting signals from the Government. RNZ reported the Prime Minister yesterday in ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago

  • How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log iPhone Without Computer
    How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log on iPhone Without a Computer: A Step–by–Step Guide Losing your iPhone call history can be frustrating, especially when you need to find a specific number or recall an important conversation. But before you panic, know that there are ways to retrieve deleted call logs on your iPhone, even without a computer. This guide will explore various methods, ranging from simple checks to utilizing iCloud backups and third–party applications. So, let‘s dive in and recover those lost calls! 1. Check Recently Deleted Folder: Apple understands that accidental deletions happen. That‘s why they introduced the “Recently Deleted“ folder for various apps, including the Phone app. This folder acts as a safety net, storing deleted call logs for up to 30 days before permanently erasing them. Here‘s how to check it: Open the Phone app on your iPhone. Tap on the “Recents“ tab at the bottom. Scroll to the top and tap on “Edit“. Select “Show Recently Deleted“. Browse the list to find the call logs you want to recover. Tap on the desired call log and choose “Recover“ to restore it to your call history. 2. Restore from iCloud Backup: If you regularly back up your iPhone to iCloud, you might be able to retrieve your deleted call log from a previous backup. However, keep in mind that this process will restore your entire phone to the state it was in at the time of the backup, potentially erasing any data added since then. Here‘s how to restore from an iCloud backup: Go to Settings > General > Reset. Choose “Erase All Content and Settings“. Follow the on–screen instructions. Your iPhone will restart and show the initial setup screen. Choose “Restore from iCloud Backup“ during the setup process. Select the relevant backup that contains your deleted call log. Wait for the restoration process to complete. 3. Explore Third–Party Apps (with Caution): ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How to Factory Reset iPhone without Computer: A Comprehensive Guide to Restoring your Device
    Life throws curveballs, and sometimes, those curveballs necessitate wiping your iPhone clean and starting anew. Whether you’re facing persistent software glitches, preparing to sell your device, or simply wanting a fresh start, knowing how to factory reset iPhone without a computer is a valuable skill. While using a computer with ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How to Call Someone on a Computer: A Guide to Voice and Video Communication in the Digital Age
    Gone are the days when communication was limited to landline phones and physical proximity. Today, computers have become powerful tools for connecting with people across the globe through voice and video calls. But with a plethora of applications and methods available, how to call someone on a computer might seem ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #16 2024
    Open access notables Glacial isostatic adjustment reduces past and future Arctic subsea permafrost, Creel et al., Nature Communications: Sea-level rise submerges terrestrial permafrost in the Arctic, turning it into subsea permafrost. Subsea permafrost underlies ~ 1.8 million km2 of Arctic continental shelf, with thicknesses in places exceeding 700 m. Sea-level variations over glacial-interglacial cycles control ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 day ago

  • Where on a Computer is the Operating System Generally Stored? Delving into the Digital Home of your ...
    The operating system (OS) is the heart and soul of a computer, orchestrating every action and interaction between hardware and software. But have you ever wondered where on a computer is the operating system generally stored? The answer lies in the intricate dance between hardware and software components, particularly within ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How Many Watts Does a Laptop Use? Understanding Power Consumption and Efficiency
    Laptops have become essential tools for work, entertainment, and communication, offering portability and functionality. However, with rising energy costs and growing environmental concerns, understanding a laptop’s power consumption is more important than ever. So, how many watts does a laptop use? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t straightforward. It depends on several ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How to Screen Record on a Dell Laptop A Guide to Capturing Your Screen with Ease
    Screen recording has become an essential tool for various purposes, such as creating tutorials, capturing gameplay footage, recording online meetings, or sharing information with others. Fortunately, Dell laptops offer several built-in and external options for screen recording, catering to different needs and preferences. This guide will explore various methods on ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How Much Does it Cost to Fix a Laptop Screen? Navigating Repair Options and Costs
    A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How Long Do Gaming Laptops Last? Demystifying Lifespan and Maximizing Longevity
    Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Climate Change: Turning the tide
    The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago

  • How to Unlock Your Computer A Comprehensive Guide to Regaining Access
    Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Faxing from Your Computer A Modern Guide to Sending Documents Digitally
    While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Protecting Your Home Computer A Guide to Cyber Awareness
    In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Server-Based Computing Powering the Modern Digital Landscape
    In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Vroom vroom go the big red trucks
    The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • Jones finds $410,000 to help the government muscle in on a spat project
    Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • Again, hate crimes are not necessarily terrorism.
    Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    2 days ago

  • Despair – construction consenting edition
    Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Coalition promises – will the Govt keep the commitment to keep Kiwis equal before the law?
    Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • An impermanent public service is a guarantee of very little else but failure
    Chris Trotter writes –  The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • What happens after the war – Mariupol
    Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    2 days ago

  • Babies and benefits – no good news
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Should the RBNZ be looking through climate inflation?
    Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours, as of 9:16 am on Thursday, April 18 are:Housing: Tauranga residents living in boats, vans RNZ Checkpoint Louise TernouthHousing: Waikato councillor says wastewater plant issues could hold up Sleepyhead building a massive company town Waikato Times Stephen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the public sector carnage, and misogyny as terrorism
    It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    2 days ago

  • Meeting the Master Baiters
    Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago

  • How extreme was the Earth's temperature in 2023
    This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blog In 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • Backbone, revisited
    The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Ministers are not above the law
    Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • What’s the outfit you can hear going down the gurgler? Probably it’s David Parker’s Oceans Sec...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point  of Order first heard of the Oceans Secretariat in June 2021, when David Parker (remember him?) announced a multi-agency approach to protecting New Zealand’s marine ecosystems and fisheries. Parker (holding the Environment, and Oceans and Fisheries portfolios) broke the news at the annual Forest & ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Bryce Edwards writes  – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Matt Doocey doubles down on trans “healthcare”
    Citizen Science writes –  Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • A TikTok Prime Minister.
    One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • Texas Lessons
    This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    3 days ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links at 6:06 am
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours as of 6:06 am on Wednesday, April 17 are:Must read: Secrecy shrouds which projects might be fast-tracked RNZ Farah HancockScoop: Revealed: Luxon has seven staffers working on social media content - partly paid for by taxpayer Newshub ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Fighting poverty on the holiday highway
    Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago

  • Bernard's six-stack of substacks at 6:26 pm
    Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • At a glance – Is the science settled?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

  • Apposite Quotations.
    How Long Is Long Enough? Gaza under Israeli bombardment, July 2014. This posting is exclusive to Bowalley Road. ...
    Bowalley Road
    4 days ago

  • What’s a life worth now?
    You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Howling at the Moon
    Karl du Fresne writes –  There’s a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere – mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Newshub is Dead.
    I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • Seymour is chuffed about cutting early-learning red tape – but we hear, too, that Jones has loose...
    Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago

  • Was Hawkesby entirely wrong?
    David Farrar  writes –  The Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled: Comments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. It is a fact such patients are prioritised. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • PRC shadow looms as the Solomons head for election
    PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time. A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that won’t compromise Beijing’s plans. Cleo Paskall writes – On April 17th the Solomon Islands, a country of ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Climate Change: Criminal ecocide
    We are in the middle of a climate crisis. Last year was (again) the hottest year on record. NOAA has just announced another global coral bleaching event. Floods are threatening UK food security. So naturally, Shane Jones wants to make it easier to mine coal: Resources Minister Shane Jones ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • Is saving one minute of a politician's time worth nearly $1 billion?
    Is speeding up the trip to and from Wellington airport by 12 minutes worth spending up more than $10 billion? Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me in the last day to 8:26 am today are:The Lead: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Long Tunnel or Long Con?
    Yesterday it was revealed that Transport Minister had asked Waka Kotahi to look at the options for a long tunnel through Wellington. 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 ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    4 days ago

  • Smoke And Mirrors.
    You're a fraud, and you know itBut it's too good to throw it all awayAnyone would do the sameYou've got 'em goingAnd you're careful not to show itSometimes you even fool yourself a bitIt's like magicBut it's always been a smoke and mirrors gameAnyone would do the sameForty six billion ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago

  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    16 hours ago

  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago

  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago

  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago

  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago

  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago

  • 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
    1 day 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days ago

  • Government focused on getting people into work
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  • Antarctica New Zealand Board appointments
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