JT, eh?

Written By: - Date published: 5:05 pm, December 2nd, 2012 - 78 comments
Categories: labour - Tags:

I see John Tamihere’s been let back into the party. On one hand it’s just a party membership and Labour’s a broad church. On the other hand he’s professed a desire to stand for Labour in Waitakeri, has made a big show and dance about his attempts to join, and was (still is?) a man who regularly had a wine in Ponsonby with the party leader. Given the evidence on the other hand I think it’s fair to discuss the possibility of Tamihere being brought back into caucus.

First of all let’s dispense with the f*cking ridiculous notion that Tamihere speaks to the working class. Remember this is an aging, privileged man with a chip on his shoulder. When he was young he could get away with his bigoted claptrap because of his “boyish charm”. Now he’s just another has-been bore who believed his own publicity, didn’t live up to his potential, and blames it on teh gayz and the unions.

I think the real issue the “JT” scenario throws up is the fact there’s a group in Labour that think that provincial and/or working class are synonyms for “bigot”. I can tell you from long experience that’s not the case. Getting Tamihere on board is like getting Goff talking about Maori privilege or Shearer trying some bene-bashing – all it will do is piss off the liberals in the party and make working class and provincial people feel even more patronised. It’d also confirm their suspicion that Labour doesn’t even know who they or how to connect with them.

That said, Tamihere’s only just a member and Labour is a broad church. Hell, it now accommodates me and him.

78 comments on “JT, eh? ”

  1. Skinny 1

    Agreed!

    It’s been a while since I attended a LEC meeting so will be going to the next one. Last thing we need is JT championing his own cause during election year & turning voters off in droves. His carry on  supporting Gibson & co at POAL sums him up. Bloggers on here referring to him as an attack dog, as if he is a heavy hitter have to be kidding. I’d rather have his side kick  Willie Jackson at least he fights from a true left corner. 

    Bit of a cross post but saves on typing.

    • karol 1.1

      He has recently made some quite derogatory comments about the LP.  How can they even consider picking him as a candidate?

  2. Aotearoean 2

    I trust the leadership are strong enough to tell him that he should not stand for Waitakere. Carmel Sepuloni did a great job last election with the support of a very dedicated LEC and I know that many of them would walk if Tamihere was the candidate.

    And yeah he brings something to the party but this should not mean that his return to Parliament should be fast forwarded or even pre determined. Let him earn the privilege of being a Labour candidate through work for the party.

    • BillODrees 2.1

      Dear Aotearoan,
      Phil Twyford deliberately supported John Tamihere for that reason: to shaft Carmel and to piss off the Liberals.

      Phil is a bit sore that Carmel was selected over him to replace Lynn Pillay when she retired. Phil was bumped in Auckland Central and Mt Albert before the Waitakere vacancy.  He finally got Te Atatu when Carter threw a paddy over Goff’s loosing ways. 
      Phil was understandable frustrated that it took so long to get a seat: he had done solid ground work. Perhaps the experience has left some scars. He needs to build a bridge and get over it. Unfortunately I suspect he does not have that trait in his make-up: a fatal flaw in a politician. 
      It is a pity that Phil is now alienating all the other West Auckland members.  He is betting heavily that attaching himself to Shearer/Robertson will pay a better dividend than attaching himself to the values and  wishes of the members.  
      Phil is very exposed. Very exposed. 
       

      • Colonial Viper 2.1.1

        He is betting heavily that attaching himself to Shearer/Robertson will pay a better dividend than attaching himself to the values and wishes of the members.

        And he’s not the other one in caucus. As you suggest, not the wisest move.

      • karol 2.1.2

        And Phil is currently my MP.  Word of warning, Phil – right now I am thinking to vote Green (or maybe Mana) for both the electorate and party vote. 

        I will not vote for a candidate that supports a bigot.  And I think Labour needS Sepuloni in Waitakere and the House. 

        • Jim Nald - Once Was National 2.1.2.1

          Hi karol
          Just wondering, and please excuse the lack of knowledge or memory on my part about your background info. Perhaps you need to be a party member and at the Waitakere LEC/branch meetings etc to ensure the correct thing is done for Labour in that electorate.

          • karol 2.1.2.1.1

            Thanks, Jim.  I’m not a Labour Party member.  Never joined a party before.  But I’m giving serious thought to joining the Greens to help with their campaign.  Labour has got to do more to actually look like a left wing party for me to ever consider joining – or party voting for them again.

  3. karol 3

    and was (still is?) a man who regularly had a wine in Ponsonby with the party leader. 

    He was seen yesterday in Henderson doing his come-back interview and photo op for the sun herald, at a (largely pakeha), and probably mostly middle-class eatery in a colonial heritage building.   A place where I suspect most of the customers don’t have much patience with his bigotry.

    • quartz 3.1

      Typical. He’s always been more “flashy Auckland bastard” than “voice of the working man”.

  4. Tanz 4

    He’s very cool, glad he’s rejoined.

    • Tracey 4.1

      If you think that a man who has no respect for women (other than as mothers and wives), is homophobic and considers he is more intelligent and his opinions are more worthy than those of others is “cool”, then I feel for you and your loved ones.

      Before ANYONE suggests y comment is race-based I feel exactly the same way about Damien O’Connor, amongst others.

      No party is perfect and no one person can reflect everyone (although BM constantly tries to here) but he seems to think that being gentlemanly is a swear word because it means you respect the contributions of others. He seems to have made it very clear that he isn’t going into parliament to represent anyone but himself. I recall a similar opinion offered by our PM when he said I came in as John Key, that’s who I am gonna be.” At least with Tamihere we have some fore-knowledge of what being JT means, we didn’t about Key…

  5. lurgee 5

    “First of all let’s dispense with the f*cking ridiculous notion that Tamihere speaks to the working class. Remember this is an aging, privileged man with a chip on his shoulder. When he was young he could get away with his bigoted claptrap because of his “boyish charm”. Now he’s just another has-been bore who believed his own publicity, didn’t live up to his potential, and blames it on teh gayz and the unions.”

    Don’t hold back, tell us how you really feel.

    One News poll putting Labour up to 35% and Greens on 17%. Suddenly the Red-Green alliance looks a lot more feasible.

    • IrishBill 5.1

      Tamihere had it all put on for him, he cocked it up, and rather than accept it he bleats on like it’s everyone else’s fault. I’ve no time for that kind of self-pitying vanity.

      As for the colmar? I’m sure Met and JT will have a great time co-ministering Social Development. 

      • Akldnut 5.1.1

        He has cocked it up with his outrageous comments and innuendo.
        I and many others will definitely leave the Waitakere LEC and Labour party if he’s selected instead of Carmel.

    • Skinny 5.2

      He will struggle in gaining the electorate candidacy of Waitakere. The chickens will come home to roost for JT, as most LEC’s have a workers, women’s & rainbow branches, ‘no votes there.’ Add the elected Executives votes & it simply won’t happen. I know the Labour Council will not support a high enough list ranking. Shearer & his crew will chicken out when push comes to shove from the grunt workers in the Party. Besides he has a battle getting Nash back in if he holds in Feb.

       JT is playing games as his real desire is to Lead his natural ilk the Maori Party. 

      • Benghazi 5.2.1

        Shearer and Robertson are strongly behind this Tamihere bid for Waitakere. The Labour Council couldn’t face them down in Tamihere’s application yesterday. Why would you think they would ‘chicken out’?

        The only way to fight fire is with fire. Sepuloni is now on the defence and this means she needs to get out there and enrol her own new members now.

        Incidentally does anyone know whether such new members would get a vote in February if the trigger is pulled? Does anyone know the answer to that question? Is membership from February 2012 required to vote in February 2013? Or does joining now count?

        • Skinny 5.2.1.1

          Stare him down? Why would they he is only signing up as a member. Later on it’s a sign of purging the Party of crap comeback wannabe MP’s, liken him to Banks when the time is right, which will further garnish support. Let him full his boots trying in that electorate. Easy enough dropping in an affiliate rep into that LEC for voting power & floor numbers, I am sure others can too if directed from there GS.

          No real power for him in Feb unless he turns the LEC upside down which is highly unlikely.

        • Colonial Viper 5.2.1.2

          Incidentally does anyone know whether such new members would get a vote in February if the trigger is pulled? Does anyone know the answer to that question? Is membership from February 2012 required to vote in February 2013? Or does joining now count?

          Joining right now counts for Feb.

          In a few days however it flips over to the 2013 calendar year for memberships, and joining then will NOT count for any post February members vote.

          • deuto 5.2.1.2.1

            Thanks for that as a reminder. Joined online which was quick and easy – but does not guarantee my vote in the actual general election especially if the new membership participation rights are ignored by the parliamentary wing.

            • Tracey 5.2.1.2.1.1

              I bet Matthew Hooten and some of his mates joined too so they can vote for Shearer… Pseudonyms perhaps?

            • lprent 5.2.1.2.1.2

              The nice thing about it is that even if the caucus sew up the Feb election, then it is pretty cheap to stay in Labour and simply wait for a vote to head to the party. Besides it usually isn’t that hard to get to LEC’s, regional conferences, and even conference as a voting delegate. Mostly saying that you’re interested at a branch meeting is enough to get elected 🙂

        • Stephen 5.2.1.3

          Really? That’s a bold claim. How do you know that? Who are you?

          • Akldnut 5.2.1.3.1

            There is another way to bolster members and votes for when the time comes and that is for Centenary club members to have family memberships, where all members of their are registered as voting members at a very reduced cost.

  6. QoT 6

    On one hand it’s just a party membership and Labour’s a broad church.

    On the other, like fuck a self-centred wanker like him would make this much of a fuss about getting his membership back if he wasn’t after a seat.

    • IrishBill 6.1

      Yep. I figure that, come selection time, the LEC vote coupled with the affiliates taking the floor vote should see him off.

  7. Colonial Viper 7

    Too many “fragile” people in Labour, Tamihere promises to give them a “rev-up”

    http://tvnz.co.nz/politics-news/john-tamihere-give-labour-party-rev-up-5253430

    • Saarbo 7.1

      ok, if he is not going to make any changes to his wanky behaviour then he should have NO chance of ever becoming a Labour candidate. We have Hipkins, Mallard…we dont have enough room for another fu$% wit in the party. 

      • Jim Nald - Once Was National 7.1.1

        Such behaviour he has shown actually seems to demonstrate his own fragility that crumbled years ago which he has not seemed to have got over. If anything, he would be better off taking his own medicine, rev up himself and move off.

  8. arants 8

    Another conspiracy? No. A foolish and unprincipled (pragmatic?) decision, probably driven by the fear of trying to apply consistency in dealing with the myriad of other cases involving those who bring the Party into disrepute, even at Caucus level? Yes.

    Nonetheless, complacency about the chances of keeping Tamihere out of Waitakere seems foolish. He has significant numbers, resources & patronage to dispense in Waitakere, while claims about the strength and effectiveness of the ‘incumbent candidate’ and Waitakere LEC are overblown – they would have cruised in in 2011 if they’re that good. If they have the numbers they say they have, they’ll keep him out, but they shouldn’t underestimate him. It will be a good opportunity for the West to front up in terms of its organisational capability.

    I doubt whether Twyford has anything to fear in terms of his selection, seat or left credentials. He has built a growing and effective organisation out of the ruins left by Carter, actually gets things done, and has a coherent left ethos and analysis, which is more than can be said for most of his colleagues on either side of the recent leadership tif.

    • Colonial Viper 8.1

      Why was Twyford vocal in his support for Tamihere’s re-admittance to the Labour Party?

  9. BM 9

    Shearer brought back JT to help clear out the gay and liberal power blocks and return labour back towards it’s more traditional roots.

  10. peterlepaysan 10

    Well put, IRISHBILL. Concise and witty

  11. millsy 11

    Gays, women and unionists are to JT what the Jews and gypsies were to Hitler.

    Yes, the guy is a brown Hitler who uses the evil gays as scapegoats for the nation’s problems.

    He may not be able to recriminialise homosexuality, but we will see a purge of gays from the teaching profession and the public service like we have never seen before if he gets into power. It will be a new pogrom.

    JT must be stopped AT ALL COSTS.

    Get out and protest. Picket his studio, blacklist the bastard. He must be destroyed.

    • Arkonaut 11.1

      Do people like you actually really exist in the Labour Party, or are you a right-wing troll trying to start a flame war?

      [lprent: Read the about, and don’t make assumptions. You can use the search to look at previous comment history. Use @author millsy. Trolls tend to lead short lives here. Read the policy. But moderators will make those decisions, not you. ]

      • Arkonaut 11.1.1

        Hello lynne I was replying to millsy not the standard authors. Comparing JT to Hitler is as disgusting a comparison as it gets. The guy is just a joke.

        [lprent: Moderators mostly read the comments completely out of context. We’re reading them backwards in the order or arrival. This allows us to do things like looking at astroturfing and other troll like behaviours. As a side benefit we look at what people actually write rather than what they think is visible from context. This allows us to give ‘useful’ feedback…

        Often in fast flowing debate your comment may be well down in the responses and no-one else has any frigging idea about what you are responding about either. So if you don’t want moderators on your arse (and other commentators taking it out of context as well), then provide a point to your abuse/attack in the comment.

        Calling someone a troll and not providing a reason for that is usually a precursor to a very dumb style of flamewar. You’ll find that we intervene early.

        BTW: if the godwin factor gets too extreme then I just start adding words like Hitler, Stalin, etc into auto-moderation until people stop using them unless they really mean it. You’ll find that most commentators say one of these godwin style phrases here then they usually do mean it. I looked over millsy’s comment and he did in fact use it in context. You might disagree, so argue on that basis rather than trying to do our job. ]

  12. And Tamihere has just ruled out standing as a candidate in 2014 …

    • BillODrees 12.1

      And he spoke about the importance of always speaking the truth in the same breath!

       

    • Pascal's bookie 12.3

      Wrong link?

      try here:

      http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/122456/john-tamihere-promises-plain-speaking

      Rules out standing in an electorate, ( leaves list spot open).

      Hilarious part is here:

      “That’s the problem we’ve got in the last grey era of New Zealand politics where everything’s dumbed down so nobody upsets any voter demographic lest they don’t win the Treasury benches.

      “That’s not in me. I just come from a community and a region where we like to spell it out in black and white and some people don’t like that.”

      his whole schtick is that the LP has been upsetting a part of the electorate and that’s why they aren’t winning. What he doesn’t like is when people point out that he spouts a load of bigoted horsehit and expects everyone to shut up about it.

      • mickysavage 12.3.1

        Right you are PB.

        As a fellow resident of that wonderful area known as Waitakere can I say that westies do like to speak simply and say what they think.  But out here there is also a generosity of spirit and generally an acceptance of everyone no matter what their gender, sexual preference or if they want to join a collective. There is also support of community.

         Tamihere would do well to obtain this generosity of spirit because without it he will always fail as a politician.

        • gobsmacked 12.3.1.1

          He hasn’t ruled it out in any meaningful sense.

          Dust settles, time passes, he’ll be “reluctantly” putting his hand up “because so many Labour voters have asked me to …”

  13. One Tāne Huna 13

    This sideshow will go on, but the main issue here is our high level of youth suicide and the part that homophobia, and especially homophobic bullying, plays in that.

    The sideshow amounts to little more than the question “Is there a place for bigots on the left?”

  14. vto 14

    “I think the real issue the “JT” scenario throws up is the fact there’s a group in Labour that think that provincial and/or working class are synonyms for “bigot””

    There’s a group on the left wing that think that white, working class, provincial, male, old people are bigots fullstop.

    Ignorance is everywhere.

    As for Tamihere – he is one of those people who think they call a spade a spade, but in my experience when people think they call a spade a spade they are generally simply quite ignorant about the nuances and background and detail of the spade (eg. is the spade plastic or steel, trowel or shovel, new or historic) and they are also just loudmouths who speak too quickly (e.g. everybody see’s that a spade is needed to dig the garden but the loudmouth shouts out “just use the bloody spade, you idiots” whereupon everybody else quietly rolls their eyes)

  15. Sanctuary 15

    My flatmate is a bit of bloke. He dislikes the Greens as fundamentalist luddites and bolshie feminists as troublemakers. He rides a motorbike, works bloody hard in a (skilled) manual job, drinks Heineken and smokes cigarettes like a chimney. He can’t stand managers, white collar workers are all wankers and he thinks John Key is a dick. He used to vote Labour, voted National in 2008, and didn’t bother last time. He even grew up in Swanson.

    He likes David Tamihere and is pleased he is back in the Labour party.

    There is no question that David Tamihere the iconoclast “connects” with a part of the electorate that isn’t just vital for Labour electorally, but vital for it’s self-identitification as the party of working class New Zealanders as well. The real issue is if David Tamihere the person has the work ethic and discipline expected of a person who wants to a MP again.

    • geoff 15.1

      Ah David Tamihere?

    • felix 15.2

      Errrr, I don’t think there’s much chance of David Tamihere getting elected…

    • Rich 15.3

      smokes cigarettes like a chimney

      Oh well, at least we won’t have to put up with him for too much longer then.

    • Johan 15.4

      I think that JT would be a welcomed addition to the Labour hierarchy. At the moment he is probably kite-flying to see how he stands. JT has the ability to remind the Labour Party what it really is about, return to grass root issues, not merely issues that suits Labour caucus members. Many people are confused when sizing up Tamihere, I believe that many people confuse his sense of humour with not being serious or dumb, which certainly is not the case.

      • karol 15.4.1

        You mean serious grass roots issues, like Charter Schools?

        • Johan 15.4.1.1

          Not at all, Charter Schools would be the domain of National and Act party members and certain libertarians. Labour grass root issues, to me would mean affordable housing and food, subsidised health and day care, availability of jobs and retraining/upskilling in education just to mention a few off the top of my head. Cheers

          • felix 15.4.1.1.1

            Perhaps you’re unaware that Tamihere has been a staunch and very vocal supporter of National’s charter schools. He even wants to run some of his own.

  16. Sanctuary 16

    Opps, my mistake… Still, I think you all get the point of my post.

  17. Olwyn 17

    My concern is not whether or not Tamihere appeals to some sector or other, it is rather that the ABC’s seem rather eager to fill any position they can find with their own supporters, so as to subvert any future vote against their chosen one.

    No one has been publicly censured for their continuous run of leaks to Duncan Garner, which seemed intended to undermine Cunliffe, and Hipkins does not seem, in their eyes, to have “brought the party into disrepute” by voicing fabrications on TV. And no one is much concerned about Jones’s unbridled running off at the mouth.

    Would Chris Carter be welcomed back with similarly open arms? I doubt it. It is much worse, so it seems, to clumsily suggest a leadership spill after an unnecessarily harsh public humiliation, than it is to favour charter schools and to side with the POAL against MUNZ.

    Tamihere’s reinstatement suggests that the ABC’s see the Labour Party rather than the National Party as the thing they need to defeat.

  18. Tracey 18

    Olwyn, if you are right I am minded of the following saying

    “be careful what you wish for… you might just get it.”

  19. gobsmacked 19

    Tamihere has been ranting this afternoon on Radio Live about a journalist (female) who asked him questions. Basic summary: “I’m not a misogynist or homophobe, and any lesbo who says I am can fuck off” (er, not verbatim quote).

    He is so utterly narcissistic that it seems never to occur to him that HE is the privileged one, with unfettered access to a talkback microphone for 3 hours so he can spew, while his new colleagues in the Labour Team have to just put up with it.

    Maybe there’s a smart strategy underlying it all … give him enough rope, let him destroy himself so it’s impossible to select him as a candidate. Given the lack of smartness we’ve seen all year from the Great Labour Strategists, it’s hard to believe they could be that cunning, but with any luck that’s how it will pan out.

  20. tracey 20

    Ghe hasnt ruled out standing he said its a long time til 2014.

  21. karol 21

    Way to go, Nanaia!  Tell it!

    • karol 21.1

      Nanaia Mahuta speaks out against JT, Sepuloni is a little more measured.

      • gobsmacked 21.1.1

        Tamihere’s been a big hit on Twitter today.

        Approx 90% think he’s an idiot. The other 10% aren’t so kind.

        • Jim Nald - Once Was National 21.1.1.1

          RadioLive listeners and members of the public would be well advised to make known their views to RadioLive about this thing called Tamihere.

          What would be the best email, fax, snail mail address or phone number? Here: http://www.mediaworks.co.nz/Default.aspx?tabid=267 ?

          Can people note the advertisers as well and share the info, eg here, so that those of us who write to RadioLive can also copy to or address our comments directly to the advertisers.

          • quartz 21.1.1.1.1

            What a fragile ego he’s got.

          • Johan 21.1.1.1.2

            JN, who cares? How many people listen to RadioLive. Many people seem to be getting side-tracked (JT is a minor issue) away from Labour needing to have an effective leader, who is able to match it with John Key in a debate. Also, why isn’t Shearer being more robust in the House, afterall he is the leader of the opposition, who should shame the Nats for their many blunders while in govt.

        • felix 21.1.1.2

          “90% think he’s an idiot. The other 10% aren’t so kind.”

          Annoying idiot or evil fuck?

  22. Paula Bennet is fat. Problem? Labour is too PC. I won’t be voting for them. Ever.

Links to post

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • EV road user charges bill passes
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April.  “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours ago
  • Bill targets illegal, unregulated fishing in international waters
    New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago
  • Reserve Bank appointments
    Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates.  Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago
  • Stronger protections for apartment owners
    Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago
  • Travel focused on traditional partners and Middle East
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend.    “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says.   Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago
  • Keep safe on our roads this Easter
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago
  • Cost of living support for over 1.4 million Kiwis
    About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago
  • Tenancy reviews for social housing restart
    Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago
  • Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary plan halted
    The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago
  • Cutting all that dam red tape
    Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track.  “Dam safety regulations ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago
  • Drought support extended to parts of North Island
    The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Passage of major tax bill welcomed
    The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Lifting economy through science, tertiary sectors
    Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government announces Budget priorities
    The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.  The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government to consider accommodation solution
    The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government approves extension to Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care
    Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says.                                         “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • $18m boost for Kiwis travelling to health treatment
    The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says.   “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • PM’s Prizes for Space to showcase sector’s talent
    The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Concerns conveyed to China over cyber activity
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government.     “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry
    Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function.  The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Brynderwyns open for Easter
    State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Speech to the Infrastructure Funding & Financing Conference
    Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Parliamentary network breached by the PRC
    New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • NZ to provide support for Solomon Islands election
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • NZ-EU FTA gains Royal Assent for 1 May entry to force
    The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union.    “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • COVID-19 inquiry attracts 11,000 submissions
    Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says.  “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Families to receive up to $75 a week help with ECE fees
    Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Unlocking a sustainable, low-emissions future
    A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says.  “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Chief of Army thanked for his service
    Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders
    25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Government commits nearly $3 million for period products in schools
    Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Speech – Making it easier to build.
    Good morning, it’s great to be here.   First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning.  I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Pacific youth to shine from boost to Polyfest
    Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • 2024 Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships announced
    ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to Breast Cancer Foundation – Insights Conference
    Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Kiwi research soars to International Space Station
    New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Speech to the New Zealand Planning Institute
    Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Support for Northland emergency response centre
    The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed.  “Northland has faced a number ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Celebrating 20 years of Whakaata Māori
    New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Some commercial fishery catch limits increased
    Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-03-28T14:36:11+00:00