Justin Lester launches campaign for Wellington Mayor

Written By: - Date published: 8:00 am, April 4th, 2016 - 35 comments
Categories: local body elections - Tags: ,

Current Deputy Mayor of Wellington Justin Lester launched his campaign for the mayoralty yesterday, running on a Labour ticket:

From Stuff:

Wellington mayoral candidate Justin Lester has launched his campaign promising first-home builders a $5000 rates rebate, and children free entry to council pools.

Lester also promised to scrap the fees businesses pay to have outdoor dining on public land, and to tackle the council’s “ingrained sexism” by having more senior female employees, if elected mayor in October.

Labour’s candidate for the Wellington mayoralty laid out his plan for the city in front of a few hundred people at the Wharewaka on Sunday, with his chosen deputy Paul Eagle at his side and party leader Andrew Little in the audience.

WHO IS JUSTIN LESTER?

* Lives in Johnsonville with wife Liz and their daughters Madeleine, 5, and Harriet, 3.

* Has a law degree from Otago University and a Master of Laws from Heidelberg University.

* Has an employment background in property and asset management, as well as commercial real estate.

* Co-founded and owns the Kapai chain of food stores.

* Board member of Wellington SPCA and former board member of Capital Football.

* First elected as a city councillor for the northern ward in 2010 and has been Wellington’s deputy mayor since 2013.

More info at Justin Lester’s campaign website.

35 comments on “Justin Lester launches campaign for Wellington Mayor ”

  1. Northsider 1

    He is Labour but using ACT colours? WTF?

    No wonder the Labour “Party-Vote” is so weak in Wellington Central. They need a new MP there to provide some Labour focused leadership.

    • Rosie 1.1

      Yellow and black are the Wellington City Council colours. I’m guessing that’s why he’s used them.

  2. Ad 2

    Which one is Sanders, which is Clinton, which one is the Trump candidate?

    I don’t know which Wellington candidate to cheer for.

    • Northsider 2.1

      Lister is Not Trump: he has no name recognition.
      Lister is Not Sanders: he has no core to his policies; they are a mishmash of populist blankets and beads.

      Paul Eagle is Lister’s running-mate so therefore Lister is annointed by the Robertson/King clique. That is how Little was invited to attend. Faafoi and Hipkins will be running around supporting him. Clare Curren will give him “Communications” advice. Ardern might make a royal visit to favour him.

      Who to cheer for? Fucking depressing.

  3. DoublePlusGood 3

    Is he one of the bunch that are slimily involved with property developers or not? I can’t find good information about this.
    Also, he doesn’t say anything about PT or the airport in the video. Curious.

    • Rosie 3.1

      He’s on the executive for the Wellington branch of the Property Council New Zealand, an advocacy group for developers.

      http://www.propertynz.co.nz/wellington

      Interestingly, according to the Dominion Post he voted against the proposed new MDH development in Newlands a couple of weeks ago. It still went through however, as there were enough votes.

      • DoublePlusGood 3.1.1

        Right, so entirely not the sort of person the Labour party should be supporting – and Petertoo’s comments in Open Mike further show that Labour should have nothing to do with Justin Lester.

        • Rosie 3.1.1.1

          Well DoublePlusGood, stay curious, is all I’ve got to say.

          I’ve got to “zip it sweetie”. I had a “phone call” a few weeks back…………To this day I don’t how my cell phone number was obtained, or whether my privacy was breached in the way my number was obtained or what the purpose of the call was but as a result I do feel some what discouraged about continuing to speak out against WCC issues. – I probably shouldn’t even have looked at this post.

          All I can say is weigh up your values with those of the candidates when it comes time to vote, not that you need anyone to tell you that 🙂

          • weizguy 3.1.1.1.1

            A phone call? I’m intrigued… Can you say more?

            • Rosie 3.1.1.1.1.1

              I’m intrigued too. I’m not comfortable with going into it but I can say it was weird that it was out of the blue and not related to any of my usual business with WCC to do with the relentless problems on the development where I live.

              btw, weizguy, I’m from the “I want to believe” camp, and in fact I see good progress within the Labour Party at a central government level this year that does offer me hope. But what I would ask you, at the local government level, is have you had any close dealings with the WCC and the way it functions?

              I have. Prior to my development issues arising I was a former CWB supporter and voted for her twice. Out here in the Northern Burbs where Justin is our councillor I was in favour of him too. But to cut 18 months of a very long, and at times traumatic, story short I have been left completely disillusioned with the city’s leadership and their responsibility to the residents and the environment.

              You may have heard things that appealed to you in speeches but I’ve heard other things straight from the horses mouth that leave me disappointed.

              • weizguy

                My engagement through the council has been primarily through the party and I’m generally impressed with the conversations I’ve had. Southside, where I am, I’m intrigued by the “debate” around the cycleway – which seems to be the result of all players taking a position and refusing to see that there might be another side to the story.

                To give context, I’m in favour of cycleways in principle, but I don’t like the aesthetics of the Island Bay version. Having said that, I don’t think the reaction, particularly by the residents association, has been proportionate or particularly productive. Then again, I don’t want to be the tone Police. I think there’s a compromise that will work out for everyone, but it will be that, a compromise. I’d far rather both parties spend time working out what that compromise is.

                • Liberal Realist

                  To give context, I’m in favour of cycleways in principle, but I don’t like the aesthetics of the Island Bay version. Having said that, I don’t think the reaction, particularly by the residents association, has been proportionate or particularly productive. Then again, I don’t want to be the tone Police. I think there’s a compromise that will work out for everyone, but it will be that, a compromise. I’d far rather both parties spend time working out what that compromise is.

                  +1

                  I’m a bay local and completely agree with your comments.

                  I am also in favour of cycleways but find the layout of the IB cycleway has created as many hazards as it was supposed to remove.

                  The reaction from both sides (RA & Lobby Groups) hasn’t been either proportionate nor productive in my view. Neither group appears to be willing to compromise on the matter.

                  Seems to me like the council when ahead with the initiative without understanding the impact of the change.

                  • TTD

                    I wonder what new hazards the Island bay Cycle way has created?.
                    genuine question?
                    I was wandering along the parade Island Bay yesterday and I saw a family going to school/kindergarten, v small kids on pavement riding scooters. The older kid 5ish yrs old on his new bike on the cycleway completely separated from traffic grinning from ear to ear. He would not have done that on old cycle way.
                    When there is a City to Sea bike track in 5 years time and whole families come out to the seaside by bike. Then we can look back and judge the fine vision the cycle track is.

        • weizguy 3.1.1.2

          Petertoo’s comments in OpenMike demonstrated that he hadn’t paid enough attention to the detail of Lester’s rates rebate proposal. The response to his concern about lining the pockets of developers was front and centre in the candidate’s announcement speech.

          Seriously, I have to wonder whether certain parts of the left are the slightest bit interested in getting progressives elected. Some of our brethren seem to spend more time talking down the perceived faults of allies than they do finding a way to help.

          • DoublePlusGood 3.1.1.2.1

            It’s more like we’re not keen on electing people who are just pretending to be progressives to get elected. We’ve had enough of the damage those types do to the country.
            Given Lester’s connections it seems quite likely that he’s one of those.
            Now of course, if we get some progressives that aren’t compromised, we’re generally pretty keen on getting them elected.

            • weizguy 3.1.1.2.1.1

              So because he’s got connections, he can’t be progressive?

              I get annoyed with the suggestion that someone who has business contacts can’t be progressive. It’s a shooting ourselves in the (collective) foot with no true scotsman puritanism. Sure, he might be lying about his motivations for running for mayor, he might be lying about why politics is important, but I’m not prepared to jump to that conclusion because he happens to have links to groups that concern you.

              On that note, I have to profess my ignorance about why the property council is so bad. From a quick scan of their press releases, I disagree with their position on the RMA, but welcome their push for early planning for sea level rises. In essence, I want to know why it is that they’re inherently evil (such that any involvement with them is toxic) rather than just a group that represents a different perspective.

              • Petertoo

                Haven’t been around much eh Weizguy? Instead of accepting the political PR, try joining a few dots.

                • weizguy

                  Lovely – condescending, but content free.

                  I’ve been around long enough to understand spin, I just don’t know anything about this particular group. I’ve also been around long enough to know that it’s a good idea to have information before jumping to conclusions. Hence the question.

                  Do you have any information that would help, or just snark?

              • Rich

                Business != property

                I wouldn’t object necessarily to a councillor being in any other business: tech, hospo, international arms dealing.

                But the interests of the property industry are opposite to the interests of most people who want reasonably priced places to live and work in a functional city – the property industry wants to drive up prices so they make a profit on their (often bad) investments.

                The ‘shake off Wellington’s “lethargy”‘ line is thinly disguised code for “pour lots of concrete”. Wellington works fine socially and economically for most people – we don’t need new runways and highways – those are the agenda of the Jones’ and Morrisons who see council as a source of dollars for their personal companies.

        • Ovid 3.1.1.3

          At least Wellington has STV as its voting system for mayor. He may warrant a middling ranking depending on the other candidates.

  4. swordfish 4

    Thing is: if you want to become Mayor of Wellington City you’re probably going to have to stand on at least a vaguely Centre-Left ticket. Back in 2001, under FPP, Thatcherite Prenders won on just a third of the vote and then managed to get re-elected over the next couple of (STV) Elections through a mix of very weak alternative Centre-Left candidates and, more importantly, the incumbency effect.

    But with STV, it’s difficult to see how a Right-Wing candidate is going to win in the first place (in order for the incumbency effect to then keep them in power over subsequent elections). Along with Dunedin, Wellington City is just about the only remaining centre where the Left continue to beat the Right in General Elections.

    Someone like Lester, with Mayoral aspirations, was probably always going to have make at least a few obligatory gestures in the direction of Social Democracy.

  5. Rich 5

    Gifting money to property developers, free use of public land for bar owners. Labour?

    (I suppose it goes with our allegedly “Green” local mayor failing to oppose airport runway extensions).

    Not that I have anything against bar owners (property spivs are another story,) but if people want to occupy public property, they should pay rent. Would Lester and Eagle let somebody use their own garden as a cafe for free?). The better solution would be to liberalise drinking laws so, like in Europe, it isn’t illegal to take a drink outside a bar.

  6. swordfish 6

    And I have to say Paul Eagle’s a bit of a shocker. Elected as Labour councillor for the staunchly Left-leaning Southern ward, then teams up with Right-Wing National Party doyen, fierce opponent of the living wage, and Lambton ward councillor, Nicola Young, to run on a joint Mayor/Deputy Mayor ticket. He told reporters at the time that he’ll be happy to support Young and will be encouraging Labour voters to follow suit.

    And then, of course, flip flops once Lester announces his intentions. I don’t care where, as long as I’m Deputy Mayor seems to be the philosophy.

    Reminds me of what I’ve heard about my Grandmother’s time as a Labour City Councillor in Wellington during the 1940s-60s. While she and Labour Mayor Frank Kitts and two or three other Labour councillors voted largely in line with the Wellington Labour manifesto on which they were elected, a few other Labour councillors cheerfully voted with the Right on some pretty Tory-friendly policies. Caused quite a storm among Labour activists in the branches around Wellington.

    • TTD 6.1

      Yes ,Paul Eagle A progressive? I don’t think so . I went to the public meeting about the Island Bay cycle way. He was appalling, supporting a very residents dubius survey. And knowing the results before anyone else. There was some dodgy dealings there alright. I shall certainly be campaigning in the Southern ward to have him turfed out

    • Colonial Viper 6.2

      Seems like these issues with the Labour Party are long standing on not just from the 1980s then.

      • swordfish 6.2.1

        Yeah, I think in Britain they used to call it the Duchess-ification of Labour politicians. Probably a reference to Labour leader Ramsay MacDonald.

        The son of a poor Scots farm girl, he rises through the Independent Labour Party to become Prime Minister in 1924 in the first British Labour Government (albeit a minority one dependent on Liberal support), becomes PM again with the election of the second Labour Govt, just as the Great Depression is really starting to bite in 1929. Gives in to enormous Tory and Liberal pressure to ‘balance the budget’ by slashing public sector wages and draconian cuts in public spending, causing a major split in Cabinet and severe criticism from both the Parliamentary Labour Party and the wider labour movement (Riots broke out in Manchester and Glasgow over the betrayal).

        Ramsay MacDonald then forms a National Government with the Tories and Liberals, is expelled from the Labour Party and forms a new “National Labour” Party. On his way to see King George V to tender his resignation as a preliminary to forming the National government, he tells Labour Chancellor Philip Snowden: “Tomorrow every Duchess in London will be wanting to kiss me”

        After his wife’s death, he was in a relationship with Lady Margaret Sackville and
        then, once Labour came to power in 1924, he was introduced onto the society dinner circuit and throughout the 20s and 30s spent most of his leisure time socialising with the English Aristocracy and Upper Middle Classes – frequently entertained by the leading society hostess Lady Londonderry, whose husband was a Conservative Cabinet Minister.

        So there’s this idea that he was captured by the Conservative Establishment and dazzled by duchesses into betraying the people who had brought him to power.

        And that Duchess-ification became a kind of metaphor for all future betrayals and selling-out by Labour politicians who suddenly found themselves rubbing shoulders with the Establishment / Power Elite and increasingly adopting their lifestyles and interests.

        • TTD 6.2.1.1

          Ah so that is why Paul Eagle is hanging out with Nicola Young.

          • swordfish 6.2.1.1.1

            Yip. Can all be traced back to Lady Sackville and, to a somewhat lesser extent, the Duchess of Londonderry. And, what’s more, Eagle knows it. Although, in his case, it’s the Dowager of Miramar.

  7. feijoa 7

    I heard Justin Lester some time ago talk at a meeting about our local library. He came across to me clever and very articulate, and good at relating to his audience. However I had a feeling he may go with the wind depending on his audience, so , to me, he is more a man to be watched, rather than being the golden boy for the left.

  8. Liberal Realist 8

    I am wondering if Justin Lester thinks giving first time home builders a 5k rates rebate is a vote winner?

    How much would it cost? Will ratepayers support shouldering the cost of this subsidy?

    While I am all for supporting first home buyers, councils shouldn’t subsidise FHBs by way of a rates rebate paid for by the majority. Wouldn’t the money be far better spent on social housing to support those in need?

    • RedBaronCV 8.1

      I’m pretty under whelmed by the first home buyer rate subsidy.
      – As far as I can see there are very few sections in Wgtn city that are available for purchase so a home can be put on it – so it looks like an immediate subsidy to the developers of denser housing blocks.
      – it’s available to people who have never owned property in NZ including those with a resident visa. It does not exclude those who own property in other parts of the world. Given that a fair chunk of our migrants come in under the investment category ( buy houses with the $1.5m ) these wealthy migrants are going to get the subsidy ( I wouldn’t object to refugee category residents as much)
      – it’s still only subsiding the smallish group that can raise a deposit – not the bunch struggling to make rent etc. In other words a well off middle class subsidy.

      As to running your business on the footpath – I’m already tripping over enough stuff – there needs to be some restrictions on it before it spirals out of control. Otherwise I could park my car on the pavement and serve coffee out of it??

  9. Rich 9

    Do Labour have a selection process for council and mayoral candidates?

    AFAIK the Greens don’t, and it’s a flaw in their otherwise democratic party organisation – it seems that if somebody puts their hand up, they can become a candidate and if elected, they’re an incumbent forever.

    And Wade-Brown was a Green councillor but when she ran for mayor, became a small ‘green’.

    Of course, the right are totally dishonest and purport to be independents when they’ve previously been National or ACT parliamentary candidates or MPs.

    • TTD 9.1

      The Greens do have a selection process for local body candidates actually
      Put your name forward and see

      • Rich 9.1.1

        Documented anywhere?

        I wouldn’t be interested in being a councillor, too many old people in representative politics. I would be interested, were I a financial member, in having input into who gets selected.

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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    6 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
    7 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
    1 week ago
  • 2024 Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships announced
    ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-03-29T10:43:22+00:00