Joyce’s dirty deals: international convention centre

Written By: - Date published: 8:35 am, February 23rd, 2012 - 57 comments
Categories: capitalism, corruption, Steven Joyce - Tags: , , ,

Steven ‘White Elephant’ Joyce isn’t content with building highways to nowhere with costs that exceed the benefits. Now he wants an international convention centre in Auckland that’s just as pointless. But he doesn’t want the government to pay. So, he’s cutting a dirty deal with more law for sale and more pokie machines blighting our communities.

The Auckland Convention Centre doesn’t make any sense. The big idea is basically ‘build it and they will come’ – construct a honking great convention centre and all this international organisations will just decide to spend a couple more thousand per head flying their attendees to the most isolated country on earth for their international conferences. MED’s analysis (which ignores the affect higher oil prices and better tele-presence technology are already having on the the market for international conferences, and blithely discounts the economic crisis) estimates that for every dollar spent, New Zealand would reap between 67 cents and $1.61 in benefits. The comparator I like to use is that early childhood education has a BCR of better $6 and $10 for every dollar invested.

Now, I guess even Bill English can do the sums on this one, because the government isn’t going to pay for the convention centre itself. Instead,Joyce is cutting a dirty deal to make it worth SkyCity’s while to build it.

The convention centre isn’t an economic proposition itself, so Joyce is planning to give them something they do value – licences for 350 to 500 more pokie machines and some other kickbacks.

The Problem Gambling Association estimates that each additional pokie machine creates an extra problem gambler and Auckland it meant to have a sinking lid on the number of the fucken things but that’s fallen by the wayside (is this shit the reason we all fought for you, Len?) and Joyce is preparing a Bill specifically to give favours to SkyCity. It will be a Bill that will pass by one vote as the Maori Party will almost certainly oppose more pokie machines afflicting their people. That one crucial vote will be that man Peter Dunne – who is well-known to be in the pockets of the gambling industry.

The rich get their convention centre. The poor get addicted to gambling.

Once again, our Parliament will spend its time passing a law specially to benefit a company – one that is already a legislative monopoly so that it will build a white elephant convention centre. Meanwhile, poverty rises, quarter of a million Kiwis are jobless, and the government’s too busy to do anything about it.

57 comments on “Joyce’s dirty deals: international convention centre ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. higherstandard 1
    23 February 2012 at 8:46 am

    As a taxpayer and an Auckland ratepayer can I state how pleased I am that I am not being fleeced to pay for this convention centre.

    • Zetetic 1.1
      23 February 2012 at 8:55 am

      false dichotomy.

      The choice isn’t between the ratepayer paying or Joyce’s dirty ‘law for sale’ deal that will see more people addicted to gambling.

      You could just not build the fucken thing.

    • Kotahi Tane Huna 1.2
      23 February 2012 at 9:01 am

      But it’s ok for gambling addicts to be fleeced instead?

      • higherstandard 1.2.1
        23 February 2012 at 10:01 am

        People have a choice go to the Casino/lotto shop and be fleeced or don’t go to the Casino/lotto shop, it’s a bit like booze and tobacco in my ideal society they wouldn’t exist.

        • Colonial Viper 1.2.1.1
          23 February 2012 at 10:07 am

          the bullshit “choice” argument? either you think some activities are hazardous and need to be controlled/minimised or not. You also just ignored the deliberately designed neurobiologically habit forming nature of some of these activities which means more than ever that the illusion of “choice” is exactly that.

          • higherstandard 1.2.1.1.1
            23 February 2012 at 10:21 am

            Ok let’s close down the Auckland casino then – you can pass that on to whatever political party/mayoral candidate that wants to run on that ticket along with the associated job losses and loss of return to shareholders.

            Oh and let’s ban the lotto as well.

            Alternatively let’s not ban it and put in place some controls to minimise abuse by those who can’t afford to gamble the money away.

            • Colonial Viper 1.2.1.1.1.1
              23 February 2012 at 10:26 am

              You don’t believe its possible to have a modern advanced prosperous nation without casinos? Singapore only got its first casino a couple of years ago.

              Worth bearing in mind that corporate led community wealth extraction mechanisms esp. those which go on to externalise massive social damage, need to be severely curtailed.

              • higherstandard …
                23 February 2012 at 11:01 am

                “You don’t believe its possible to have a modern advanced prosperous nation without casinos? Singapore only got its first casino a couple of years ago.”

                Um what ? Where did I state that ?

                “Worth bearing in mind that corporate led community wealth extraction mechanisms esp. those which go on to externalise massive social damage, need to be severely curtailed.”

                Agreed also worth bearing in mind that government/local body led community wealth extraction mechanisms esp. those which go on to externalise massive social damage, need to be severely curtailed.

                • McFlock …
                  23 February 2012 at 12:14 pm

                  “Agreed also worth bearing in mind that government/local body led community wealth extraction mechanisms esp. those which go on to externalise massive social damage, need to be severely curtailed.”
                     
                  Agreed – cancel the convention centre of doubtful benefit, cut the number of pokies with confirmed costs, and invest in giving our workforce better skills than dealing cards and serving drinks.

              • Fermionic Interference …
                23 February 2012 at 10:09 pm

                And the casino in Singapore is free entry to foreigners but costs (last I heard) $100 SG to enter for SG citizens to protect locals from gambling addiction.

            • Jackal 1.2.1.1.1.2
              23 February 2012 at 10:53 am

              CV Is right… there is no way the “personal choice” argument holds any water. The government has a responsibility to ensure society is not plagued by gambling etc.

              National is meant to be working for the people, not their corporate mates that have little concern for the societal harm their destructive businesses and greed causes.

              • Populuxe1 …
                23 February 2012 at 6:30 pm

                Absolutely – addiction negates free will at the basic level. Something Neolibs never grasp.

            • Kotahi Tane Huna 1.2.1.1.1.3
              23 February 2012 at 10:57 am

              “Some controls to minimise abuse…” Like a maximum number of pokies for example?

              Like not offering regulatory changes in exchange for development projects?

              I cannot see how you can marry your distaste for gambling with your support for this government.

              • higherstandard …
                23 February 2012 at 11:06 am

                Lie alcohol the casino genie has been let out of the bag and exists in our society whether we like it or not.

                To dismantle it now is possible but would be difficult and cost significant jobs etc etc.
                From my perspective to drop another couple of hundred pokie machines into the casino is unlikely to add much to the deleterious effect that already exists.

                Again let me state my original position that was somewhat removed from the discussion you seem keen to have.

                ‘As a taxpayer and an Auckland ratepayer can I state how pleased I am that I am not being fleeced to pay for this convention centre.”

                • Kotahi Tane Huna …
                  23 February 2012 at 11:25 am

                  Ah, but you will, as Peter points out below – in the extra social and economic costs associated with the extra gambling it will bring.

                  “unlikely to add much to the deleterious effect that already exists.” No, that’s not what the Problem Gambling Association says – and Eddie’s original article points out.

                  You have no opinion on the trade in regulatory standards?

                • Ianupnorth …
                  23 February 2012 at 11:53 am

                  But you can force much of the gambling genie back into the bottle by limiting access to Pokies, the TAB, etc.
                   
                  Re. your last line, for once I tend to agree; we already have too many unused convention centres (see my comment at 10)

                  • higherstandard …
                    23 February 2012 at 1:20 pm

                    I agree with your Ian, however, if action is taken to limit such access you will then be howled down by commenters here about the govt. restricting individuals rights to spend money on what they want when they want.

                    • Kotahi Tane Huna …
                      23 February 2012 at 1:34 pm

                      Um, no. Plenty of places have already implemented “sinking lid” policies without any such display of outrage.

                • Jenny …
                  24 February 2012 at 5:40 am

                  You will be, don’t worry. When the thing becomes uneconomic just wait until the delays, cost over runs and other hidden costs all rise to the surface.

        • Fortran 1.2.1.2
          23 February 2012 at 12:45 pm

          I hate being forced to go into a Casino, or to take up smoking.

          • Uturn 1.2.1.2.1
            23 February 2012 at 12:49 pm

            What forces you to comment here?

            • Ianupnorth 1.2.1.2.1.1
              23 February 2012 at 1:09 pm

              I’ll answer that for Fortran; the genetic code that makes RWNJ’s immune to criticism or self-awareness

          • Jenny 1.2.1.2.2
            24 February 2012 at 5:46 am

            Poverty, desperation, forces (some) people into casinos to take an almost hopeless risk. Mostly those made victims by the failed neo-liberal experiment.

    • Peter 1.3
      23 February 2012 at 9:12 am

      But you will be paying for the social cost of problem gambling!

  2. Tom Gould 2
    23 February 2012 at 8:52 am

    After the Warners deal, nothing is off the table with these guys. Didn’t they have their swanky election night party at Sky City? Did they pay for it? Normal commercial rates? And Key now wants to give our tax records to Google for safe keeping? They cannot talk about any of these deals, of course, due to ‘commercial sensitivities’. Hahaha!!! And the MSM let them get away with it. Lazy slugs.

    • marsman 2.1
      23 February 2012 at 9:19 am

      Everything these slimeballs do is destructive to NZ but profitable for their corporate chums. They have no sense of community of fairness or of decency. They are scum of the lowest order.

    • SandFly 2.2
      23 February 2012 at 8:12 pm

      And not forgetting using our security forces to protect Warner n Co’s distribution channels by disrupting Dotcom n Co.

  3. Kotahi Tane Huna 3
    23 February 2012 at 8:59 am

    Fairfax media covered this last year by comparing the Australian response in a similar situation.

    “State treasurer Jack Snelling went scathingly public on the idea last week, describing how he planned to deal with casino officials at a coming meeting.
    “I will tell them they are dreaming,” he said. “There is no way we are going soft on them in our discussions [over the licence] in exchange for them investing in the Riverbank.”
    The whole proposal was “a bit of a try on”, said Snelling.
    So annoyed was Snelling with the attempted linkage, he invoked the spectre of ending the casino’s exclusive licence.

    The National Party is corrupt. It represents foreign interests against the country.

    • Vicky32 3.1
      23 February 2012 at 5:33 pm

      “I will tell them they are dreaming,” he said. “There is no way we are going soft on them in our discussions [over the licence] in exchange for them investing in the Riverbank.”
      The whole proposal was “a bit of a try on”, said Snelling.

      Quite a contrast!

      • Kotahi Tane Huna 3.1.1
        23 February 2012 at 7:20 pm

        Yes. There is no corruption in New Zealand, we just have lower standards.

        • Jenny 3.1.1.1
          24 February 2012 at 5:56 am

          Great link up KTH. And so true.

          With the example you have provided.
          You have skewered this corrupt and immoral politician with a real world contrast with someone with morals.

          Snelling’s sense of moral outrage, not motivated by a single shred of self interest, in contrast to Joyce’s immoral trade off.

          No doubt at the end of his political career Joyce will be well rewarded in the traditional way, with a directorship, or some such.

  4. HappyGoLucky 4
    23 February 2012 at 9:02 am

    An easy way to stop this is to get Len Brown, who is a Labour member and an avowedly left-leaning Mayor, to come out and oppose this deal of pokies for a convention centre.

    C’mon Len, get off the Ports of Auckland fence and do something about pokies!

    • Tom Gould 4.1
      23 February 2012 at 9:29 am

      Another approach might be for the Tories new besties, the Greens, to cut it as part of their coming deal? Now that’s real bargaining power. Come on, Metiria, put your baubles where your mouth is.

    • Jenny 4.2
      24 February 2012 at 6:00 am

      You mean ol’, roll over, Brown. Happy with union busting, and the paving over of the Waitemata Harbour.

  5. Colonial Viper 5
    23 February 2012 at 9:15 am

    NZ law is no more than a business bargaining chip which can be given away for the right NACT deal.

  6. ghostwhowalksnz 6
    23 February 2012 at 9:26 am

    You have forgotten about the reduced casino duty and gambling machine turnover tax that Skycity wants ‘adjusted’ to more in line with their Australian operations. This is the real stickler

    Morrison confirmed that an early renewal of New Zealand licences that fall due in 2021 was still among the issues that were on the table.

    He insists “it’s not worth hundreds of millions of dollars”. But he acknowledged that renewal – avoiding another regulatory review – might be very valuable to the company.

    SkyCity is seeking additional rights to pokie machines and table games. It is seeking removal of any rules in New Zealand that are more restrictive than its casinos face in Sydney or Melbourne.

    The last part is incorrect as Skycity casinos are in Adelaide and Darwin

  7. Macro 7
    23 February 2012 at 9:43 am

    Talking of Australian operations
    Here is an ABC report on Perth’s new (as it was then 2006) convention centre
    http://www.abc.net.au/stateline/wa/content/2006/s1652053.htm
    Latest news is that the folks running it now want an “upgrade” after 8 years. Maybe because there are just too damn many of the things and fewer who can afford them.

  8. Hami Shearlie 8
    23 February 2012 at 10:17 am

    Love the “white elephant” tag for Steven Joyce. I’ve always thought he reminded me of an elephant. The shape of that head! Give him a trunk and huge lobes and there you have a nz jumbo. Without the noble and fine qualities of a real elephant though, you know, like loyalty, protecting the weak, faithfulness, marvellous memory etc!!

  9. The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 9
    23 February 2012 at 10:29 am

    The rich get their convention centre. The poor get addicted to gambling.

    You mean the stupid get addicted to gambling, surely. Or do you consider them to be the same people?

    Mustn’t let the poor make their own decisions.

    • Colonial Viper 9.1
      23 February 2012 at 10:43 am

      Wealthy people get addicted to the pokies/gambling and flush their fortunes away too. They can hid it for a bit longer obviosuly.

      Mustn’t let the poor make their own decisions.

      Musn’t let the poor be manipulated by gambling machine design psychologists, more like. Do you really naively think that the addictiveness of the pokies is an accident???

      • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 9.1.1
        23 February 2012 at 10:48 am

        You had best have that argument with Eddie. He clearly thinks that it is the poor who are addicted to pokies.

        • Colonial Viper 9.1.1.1
          23 February 2012 at 11:01 am

          Mental health problems exist across the income spectrum. More prominent and visible amongst the poor of course, but the number of people from wealthy families who are fully fucked up cannot be underestimated either. Depression, medication/alcohol dependence, drug use, AWOL children etc.

      • Macro 9.1.2
        23 February 2012 at 11:05 am

        As the residents of Upper Hutt can testify pdf.
        Renshaw and Edwards – both prominent Lawyers in Upper Hutt defrauded their clients to the tune of around $30 million in the early 1990’s, to finance gambling, and property speculation.

        • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 9.1.2.1
          23 February 2012 at 11:22 am

          Complain to Eddie. He is the one stereotyping the poor as gamblers.

    • felix 9.2
      23 February 2012 at 10:53 am

      Pokies are nothing but machines for creating money out of misery, and it doesn’t matter to me whose misery it is. They should all be fucking crushed. There’s a job for Collins if she ever decides to do something useful with her life.

      Oh shit, see what I did? I just unwittingly bought into the “wealth creation” bullshit, didn’t I. Of course pokies don’t “create money”, they just take it from the many and concentrate it in the hands of the few.

      lol.

  10. Ianupnorth 10
    23 February 2012 at 11:49 am

    On Convention Centres…..
    Claudelands Events Centre, supposedly losing heaps
    Rotorua Energy Events Centre, supposedly losing heaps
    TECT Events Centre at the Mount, already losing heaps.
     
    Don’t know about Taupo’s ‘Great lakes’ convention centre, but guessing it would be in the same situation.
     
    Who are they built for? presumably the egos of local councillors?

    • Uturn 10.1
      23 February 2012 at 12:41 pm

      If that’s the case, the trick with this deal is that National will ultimately be screwing it’s dumb rich mates, or as one gunnery sargeant put it, they’re the type of guys that would “…fuck a person in the ass and not even have the goddamn common courtesy to give him a reach-around.”

      Lots of complaints here about the damage the Nats and supporters do to people they don’t like – not much to be done about that from here – but there is a certain black humour in that those types hate their friends too. What a souless bunch of zombies; ripping each other apart in a race to be the the most dead inside before they hit the cemetary. Then they come on here complaining about their political enemies stereotyping the poor as gambling addicts, people they stereotype as lazy scum themselves; or crying for the welfare of Indian sweat shop workers that keep them in high fashion each season and that if they didn’t buy the stuff the poor in India would starve. Die starving scum, but not before you finish my next shirt!

      You have to admit, these people are so base in their abilities that they are unintentionally hilarious. Even hamsters get off the treadmill once in a while. Are the Young Nats actually genuine or some kind of ironic satire theatre company?

  11. tc 11
    23 February 2012 at 12:25 pm

    What about the Viaduct events centre that was recently completed and the cloud and the eden park temporary rennovations, Wynyard quarter and then there’s all the work on train stations for RWC now being pulled down and redone for various reasons.

    We totally suck at this long term do it right first time infratsructure stuff and as much as I think mallard’s a tosser he was right about a waterfront stadium or something alongside the CBD where transport hubs are and water access for ferries exist.

  12. shorts 12
    23 February 2012 at 12:30 pm

    why do we even need a(nother) convention centre, seems to me we have too many as it is

  13. Jim in Tokyo 13
    23 February 2012 at 3:06 pm

    Monorail!

    • Ianupnorth 13.1
      23 February 2012 at 3:55 pm

      Better still remove cars from Tamaki Drive and replace it with a modern tram system and safe cycle routes, then Auckland can claim to be a livable place.

  14. lefty 14
    23 February 2012 at 7:16 pm

    If you want to understand any government decision to do with pokies there is just one way to do so.

    Follow the money.

  15. Carol 15
    23 February 2012 at 8:59 pm

    Eddie summarised Joyce’s plan as:

    The big idea is basically ‘build it and they will come’

    Or maybe it’s:

    http://bostonherald.com/news/regional/view/2011_1227if_you_build_it_corruption_may_come_herald_casino_review_finds_

  16. DH 16
    24 February 2012 at 6:25 pm

    There’s a big red flag waving on this. Convention centres are the remit of local Govt, MED should not be involved in this at all. A new convention centre in Auckland would merely pull convention business away from other cities like Wellington, central Govt doesn’t get involved in such municipal economic activity. The flagrant breach of process is concerning & strongly suggestive of ulterior motives.

Links to post

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • PM announces changes to portfolios
    Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 hours ago

  • New catch limits for unique fishery areas
    Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago

  • Minister welcomes hydrogen milestone
    Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    24 hours ago

  • Urgent changes to system through first RMA Amendment Bill
    The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Overseas decommissioning models considered
    Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Release of North Island Severe Weather Event Inquiry
    Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Justice Minister to attend Human Rights Council
    Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order.  “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Patterson reopens world’s largest wool scouring facility
    Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Speech to the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective Summit, 18 April 2024
    Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing  At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin    Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho    Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today.    I am delighted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Government to introduce revised Three Strikes law
    The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • New diplomatic appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions.   “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says.    “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Humanitarian support for Ethiopia and Somalia
    New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today.   “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Arts Minister congratulates Mataaho Collective
    Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale.  “It is good ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Supporting better financial outcomes for Kiwis
    The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Trade relationship with China remains strong
    “China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says.   Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • PM’s South East Asia mission does the business
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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
    5 days 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
    5 days 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
    5 days 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
    5 days 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
    5 days 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
    5 days 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
    5 days 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
    6 days 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 days 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
    6 days 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
    6 days 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
    7 days 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 week 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 week 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 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-04-24T05:09:47+00:00