Little impact from Hughes affair, NZF on the rise

Written By: - Date published: 9:32 pm, April 8th, 2011 - 50 comments
Categories: election 2011, labour, national, nz first, polls - Tags: ,

The latest Roy Morgan poll shows little impact from the Darren Hughes affair to date. We still don’t know how the investigation will play out but the poll suggests dithering leadership matters less than economic fundamentals. The big news, though, is that New Zealand First would be back under these numbers.

Here are the numbers:

  • National 51% (down 1.5%)
  • Labour 31% (down 1%)
  • Greens 8% (steady)
  • ACT 2% (up 1.5%)
  • NZF 5% (up 1%)
  • Maori Party 1.5% (steady)
  • UF, Prog and other total 1% (steady)

So, little change in the Left vs Right balance but the crucial point is that NZF is on 5% and would be back in Parliament. A Lab/Green/NZF alliance has 44% to Nat/ACT’s 53%. The gap has been smaller in the past but the trend is closing. And it’s NZF doing the work. So far this year, NZF has averaged 4.1% in the Roy Morgan’s compared to 2.5% at the same point last year.

NZF presents a conundrum for National. If the trend continues and they get back in it gives a real chance of a Labour-led government but if National is expends time and resources attacking Winston Peters all it does is give a him larger platform. And exposure is all for his popular messages is all that Peters is lacking at the moment, hampered by not being in Parliament.

Add a Hone-led Left Party to the mix, or Hide losing Epsom, and things get really interesting.

The other measure to watch is the Confidence in Government. This peaked at 155 (that is net 55% think the country is heading in the right direction) in late 2009. Now, the number is 125. In other words, about one in six Kiwis have gone from thinking the country is doing well to thinking it’s going badly in just over a year. This measure is seen as a leading indicator of support for government parties and it’s sinking.

The missing piece of the puzzle for the Left remains Labour. The 4-5% that the Left needs to take from the Right needs to be won by Labour. The asset sale debate alone could turn that many people, if Labour does a good job. If Labour can poll in the mid to late 30s, then Phil Goff can lead a government with the Greens and New Zealand First (and Peter Dunne, as if he counts).

So can Labour win back half or more of the voters that voted for it for three elections from 1999 to 2005 but who voted for the ‘brighter future’ lie in 2008? Why not? It’s not as if they have any reason to vote for John Key’s hollow promises again.

50 comments on “Little impact from Hughes affair, NZF on the rise ”

  1. Rob A 1

    I said a while ago here that I’m a typical swing voter who if asked to vote tomorrow would go for Winston, more out of a jaded lack of faith in the two main  parties than anything else.  I’m wondering if I’m not alone

    And considering Labours track record over the last couple of years I wouldn’t hold my breath for them to do a good job over anything. They have an over abundance of ammunition (asset sales, attacks on welfare, dubious performance in Chch, tax cuts for the rich, the list goes on) and have yet to gain any real traction.

    • PeteG 1.1

      You’re probably right Rob, NZF are doing very little to earn the support, they seem to be picking up some of the protest vote by default.
       
      My pick on the trend towards election day will be voters will want to give National a reprimand but won’t be ready to try Labour again. This might save Act, but Hide will have to raise his game because it would have to be through Epsom.

      • Eddie 1.1.1

        ACT’s support is trending down. sSo far this year, they’ve averaged 1.1% compared to 1.9% same period last year.

        Winston is actually working his arse off with speeches to hundreds of people all the time all over the country. it’s just below the national msm radar. Despite that lack of msm coverage, NZF is polling around 5%.

        If he runs in Epsom, his first electorate, he’ll get all the national exposure he needs.

        • Pascal's bookie 1.1.1.1

          If he runs in Epsom won’t that help Rodney?  

          My ideal sunday after election day reading for Epsom would be finding out that Rodney missed out to a drongo Nat sacrificial lamb because the Lab and Green candidates there got one vote each; and ACT got 4.9% party vote. 

        • Lanthanide 1.1.1.2

          What other electorates could Peter’s run in, to get a high profile? A maori electorate? What about against Peter Dunne? Ideally he’d run in an electorate with a high profile and then win it.

          • Jasper 1.1.1.2.1

            I wouldn’t be in favour of Peters running in Ohariu.
            Chauvel narrowed his margin under Possum to just 1008 votes in 2008. He would have won the seat, but for the Greens candidate (Gareth Hughes) getting just over 3000 votes.
            I hope the Greens this year don’t campaign for the electorate vote, but instead push the party vote – nationwide. Running an “Electorate vote Labour, party vote Green” campaign, could well win them a few extra seats.
            If Peters did run in Ohariu, it’d be likely to split the Shanks/Chauvel vote, giving the Possum yet another term in Parliament.

            • felix 1.1.1.2.1.1

              Yeah Green voters really need to get their shit together in Ohariu. in 2008 there were 2,665 green voters who effectively voted for Peter Dunne.
               
              If even half of them had skipped their Saturday morning cones on election day, Dunne would be gone now. His majority is only 1006 votes. He’s hanging from the cliff edge by his fingernails and Green voters are throwing him a rope.
               
              I know that some Green voters are offended by this suggestion and some genuinely believe that the principle of voting for their preferred candidate trumps strategic thinking. I do have some sympathy for that position. I want to vote for a Green candidate too.
               
              But one of the enduring and admirable traits of the Green party is the pragmatic approach to policy wins, the sense that getting green policy through the house is the important thing even if other parties try to claim the glory.
               
              I urge Green voters – especially in marginal seats like Ohariu – to apply this same pragmatic approach to electoral wins.
               
              Gareth is a good guy, even if he is a pixie. He does deserve your vote. But no matter how much we want it to be so, there’s no way your candidate vote can make Gareth the MP for Orariu in November. It can however wipe Dunne off the political map. Forever.
               
              The realpolitik choice you have is:
              a) Vote Gareth (no gain for Greens) or

              b) Vote Dunne out (win for all progressive people)
               
              Come on Greens, let’s fuck this cat.
               
               

    • Eddie 1.2

      yup. People on the left will generally think he’s too conservative on social issues and indifferent to environmental ones but his economics are good and no-one can deny that, over 20 years, he has fought for his values consistently. He has walked away from government twice rather than contradict his values.

    • Salsy 1.3

      Actually thats not true. Labour are in the process of launching their anti-asset sales message right now, and probably an excellent time to do so. “Tax cuts for the rich” is all Phil Goff ever talks about… The message is getting out there, without a doubt.

  2. deservingpoor 2

    It is a damning indictment of Labour that NACT can run on a platform of asset sales, cuts in social spending and bailouts for the rich, 6 months out from an election and still realistically expect to be returned to power. I had hoped that New Zealand had had enough of those policies in the 90s but apparently not. 
    Labour’s inability to fight this and remind NZ of how badly these policies have already failed, shows that they are either:
    1) Spectacularly useless or (in my opinion more likely)
    2) Complicit.
    Victorian London, here we come.

    • Jum 2.1

      Deserving Poor
      No it is a damning indictment on the greed and selfishness of New Zealanders that still think the moneytrader gives a damn about them and even more unbelievably actually wants to give the workers a decent lifestyle.

    • Deadly_NZ 2.2

      Well its way past time when some one gets in to Phils ear and says “Piss or get off the pot!!!”

    • Colonial Viper 2.3

      Under these deteriorating conditions and this piss poor National leadership, I agree that Labour should be exploding upwards in the polls. That it is not is a question to be very seriously reflected upon.

  3. McFlock 3

    The big question: Is Peters peaking too soon, or will he end up with 10%?
     
    I’d probably like to see him in parliament again, but where lab/greens can muster 51% without giving him the temptation of bargaining for baubles. Maybe lab/green/mp or lab/green/nz1 being governable, but not NACT/nz1 or nact/mp.
     
    Still it’s all early days just yet.
     
     

  4. tsmithfield 4

    Note: National down 1.5% Act up 1.5%
    Labour down 1%  NZ First up 1%

    It looks to me that National is losing votes to the right, whereas the protest NZ First vote appears to be going against Labour.

    • Colonial Viper 4.1

      The Right is forcing National to veer that way and sharply too, especially now that the Right Wing’s former favourite ride ACT has collapsed lame.
       
      At a guess, that’s why Power has left. This is not a party he wants to be involved with any more.

    • Marty G 4.2

      you can’t conclude that from one poll’s changes, ts. you need to look at the trends. as eddie does in the post.

      • McFlock 4.2.1

        Agreed – if this result was in october I might be drinking a bit more and considering emigration, but at the moment it’s a bit like comparing ODI run rates in over #4.
         

        • PeteG 4.2.1.1

          Yep. A one off percent or two variance on thirty or fifty doesn’t mean much at all unless it is confirmation of a trend and it looks like nothing much out of the ordinary is happening here.
           
          Greens and NZF will be happy.
          Party support doesn’t affect the Maori Party.
          Act should still be worried.
          National won’t be worried much.
          Labour may be both relieved and frustrated. I wonder what they’ll do if the anti asset sale campaign is a fizzer, they risk overdoing the dramatics.
           
          One quiet wee number – 7% (unchanged) didn’t name any party.

  5. ak 5

    The march of tides

    The trend’s the thing

    Sweet seismic vibe

    Slow liquefaction

    Of dull reaction

    The Reaper grins

    As Winnie sings

    Oer portaloo alleys

    And anomie valleys.

    The trend’s the thing

    Wherein will crash

    The confidence

    Of the Thing.

     

  6. RobC 6

    What amuses me is Roy Morgan continues not to graph NZ First even though it’s now at 5% 😀

    That will have to change – I agree with Rob A, NZ First may potentially continue to creep up by attracting protest votes from people disenchanted with both major parties. He is right, he is not alone.

    Say what you like about Winston, but he is a very shrewd political operator. Unfortunately NZF holding some balance of power is IMO the second-worst scenario, it just happens to be slightly better than the worst one (an absolute majority for Nat)

  7. Jono 7

    It’s definitely a welcome trend for NZF supporterst to be moving up in polls, but they need to do a lot of work & get very lucky to get back into parliament. As far as I know, there’s never been a party in an MMP system which has re-entered parliament after being voted out. 

    The main things going against them are a lack of institutional & activist support; they don’t have as many dedicated volunteers as labour, national or the greens, and they lack the massive advantage of parliamentary funding that every other party gets to funnel into campaigning. I’d argue they’ll need to be polling more like 6%+ in order to just scrape in, and to do that they need to resist any temptation to moderate their policies (like laws influence on their economic policy in the late 90’s) – people are going to be voting for Winston because he’s loud and brash about what he thinks is wrong, and how to solve it. There’s a few key issues like asset sales etc he can tap into which are black & white issues for most people, if they react to it in a certain way & somebody is offering a really solid (even extreme) policy on that issue they’ll support them. 

    Interesting times ahead!

  8. freedom 8

    slightly off topic but am i the only one wondering where the investigation has ended up?  I am guessing it is sleeping in someone’s ‘tomorrow’ basket as the weeks drag on.  How complex a case can it be for NO CHARGES yet to be laid against Darren Hughes yet his career was absolutely destroyed so at least  the instigator of the leak must be satisfied.  But why are the media not asking a single question?  There was a limited number of witnesses to interview, there is only so much evidence that can be collected from the site of the alleged offence and unless the whole thing was a created event with a stupid political groupie as a patsy then the Police should have had viable charges ready weeks ago.

    Seriously, for the weeks to grind on without advancement it only looks more and more like the alleged offence was non-existent but too many people in power need it to be ignored and they are relying on the fickle public memory to be distracted by the all important Royal Wedding before they quietly sweep it away into the corner with maybe a softshoe press release saying it was all a misunderstanding and no charges will be brought  …

    this is really starting to stink

    • Lanthanide 8.1

      How complex a case can it be for NO CHARGES yet to be laid against Darren Hughes yet his career was absolutely destroyed so at least  the instigator of the leak must be satisfied.

      I don’t think a complainant would be ‘satisfied’ that they had destroyed someone’s career, unless they were actually out to get them in the first place. The only real satisfaction for them would be to see their case go to court.

      Lynn: the quote button is quite strange, it took me quite a bit of fiddling to get the following sentences to be not-quoted. Just pasting in the above text and quoting it, everything following ended up being quoting too (even after making multiple paragraph breaks, or clicking the quote button off). In the end I had to make 3 sections of text, select the middle one (the actual quote) and quote it, and delete the other two. Browser is latest version of Chrome.

      • lprent 8.1.1

        You have to select what you want to be quoted. If you just quote when there is no selection it quotes everything. Then it gets tricky unquoting stuff.

        I think I’d better add a helper page (this afternoon is The Standard update time). But I’ll add the code button back in

      • freedom 8.1.2

        i was not referring to the complainant.  The Police say they only approached him after receiving an anonymous letter as apparently he had not laid any complaint relating to purported events, as i said he is looking like an age old patsy.

        A young political groupie, maybe promised a cruisy career later on down the track if he helps do this one little thing….. I admit the statement is completely without basis except for this gnawing beast in my gut.

        This whole operation sadly highlights how Americanized our Politicians and our media have become.

  9. gobsmacked 9

    One News poll out on Sunday. Taken last week, up to Thursday (Tupperwaka day was Wednesday).

    I’ll try my luck as a horse-race tipster: NZ First over 5%.

    • Colonial Viper 9.1

      I agree. Winston hasn’t even hit his stride yet. NAT is going to look worse and worse as the year wears on and LAB is planning – who the heck knows?
       
      So Winston could easily take up the slack.

      • Draco T Bastard 9.1.1

        I think we’ll see Winston back this year even if it’s with list seats only.

      • Jum 9.1.2

        You still need to watch Winston Peters and get his mark on the words “I will not vote for National because they will sell off our assets.”  Near the 2008 election I am sure he muttered something about maybe selling…
        GreyPower are totally against selling off our assets – it’s in their mission statement; Key’s brought a fight there and no one will trust whatever he says because he made it clear that a vote for him whatever he promises will be a vote for him to sell – that is why he was brought in as leader, after all.

  10. jbanks 10

    Pfft, as if the Huges/Goff incompetence would be shown in the polls yet.

    • gobsmacked 10.1

      The polling period was dominated by the Hughes story. So of course it would show up in public opinion polls, if people cared. But they don’t.

  11. Anne 11

    The polling period was dominated by the Hughes story. So of course it would show up in public opinion polls, if people cared. But they don’t.

    Spoke to a couple of apolitical relatives a week ago. They made it abundantly clear they… didn’t give a damm about the Hughes story!

    • lprent 11.1

      Same around my contacts. It had a minor impact on how Goff was perceived, but not very much.
      Beltway gossip issue..

      • Zaphod Beeblebrox 11.1.1

        The bullying story from Oz was by far the most discussed topic at school and at the football club. Thats why Key sent out his tokenistic letter.

        This week it’s Powerball

  12. With a completely ineffective opposition, and a Government now even being judged as “stupid” and “a failure” by their own big business mates, New Zealand First is the only real option for any decent voter with any sense.  The National fanatics though of course will keep voting National, even as they see the Country dive deeper into a hole it may never escape from.

  13. PeteG 13

    New Zealand First is the only real option for any decent voter with any sense.

    Who is NZ First? A party needs a lot more than one pensioner leader with credibility problems to be a credible option.
     

    New Zealand First is the only real option for any decent voter with any sense.

    Who is NZ First? A party needs a lot more than one pensioner leader with credibility problems to be a credible option.

    On the NZ First website, under About, it has two headings – Winston Peters
    History

    That’s not looking ahead much.

    One old wheezer does not a party make.

    • ianmac 13.1

      Who is National?
      Lead by a celebrity style money-changer who has not produced a single thing – ever. Principles? Philosophy? Dunno.

  14. @PeteG.  Looking at NZ First policy via their website, I would say they are one party who actually have PLANS – unlike National have.  Their policies are sound, they are all people friendly and achievable.  Their record in Government would demonstrate more success in helping the average kiwi than any other party (eg. Free Drs visits for children, 1000 extra Police, extra funding for Maori Wardens, lowering business tax, Gold Card, pay parity for Primary Teachers, etc).  What is National’s achievements?  Um, a National walkway – that hasn’t gone anywhere?  Great job Nat voters!

  15. http://www.nzfirst.org.nz/policies2.html – is where you will see their policies, but nice try to deceive people Pete.

  16. PeteG 16

    I’m not trying to deceive Trevor. At the moment NZ First doesn’t look like a party, it’s one person.

    Winston First.
    No one second (no deputy leader).
    No list.
    No indication if WP will stand in an electorate, nor where.

    Right now it’s the Grey Ghost party.

  17. Steve Withers 17

    The Roy Morgan poll has, for many election cycles, been the most reliable.

    Almost all the others appear to all over-sample areas or groups that vote for National. Colmar-Brunton is the worst of them for this. This has been well documented over the years and it hasn’t changed. The Listener did an excellent article on C-B’s dodgy polling not long before the neo-liberal purge at the Listener when Finlay MacDonald left as editor and was replaced by Pamela Stirling, who hired such luminaries as Joanne Black and Deborah Hill-Cone.

    These pollsters themselves say that whatever sample bias may exist, their polls will reflect the trends – even if particular groups are over or under-represented in any poll (or all THEIR polls in this case).  This is more than disingenuous…..at best….particularly as their polls appear to become miraculously more accurate during the last stages of the official election campaign period, peaking on the night. Then they claim they were on the money….and use that to give legitimacy to their shonky polls through out the rest of the 3 year term. Typically, they (C-B) favour National by 6% to 8%. I have always tended to discount the share they give to National, but where to re-distribute it to isn’t easy to say. 

    It’s worth noting the TNS poll used to also be reliable,  but since the last election they have been bought by WPP,  the same huge US corporate that owns Millward-Brown, who own Colmar-Brunton.

    The last time I researched this, the Roy Morgan poll was the only *major* polling company that wasn’t ultimately tied to WPP. The much smaller “Digipoll” run by the NZ Herald appears to be Hamilton-based with a chunk of function outsourced to India. I have no solid opinion on their results, though I don’t recall them differing much from the Herald’s overt editorial positions on any issue.

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
    2 days 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
    3 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
    4 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
    4 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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 2024-03-29T12:19:40+00:00