Local Bodies: Let’s Bring Our Banking Home!

Written By: - Date published: 10:45 am, June 30th, 2014 - 76 comments
Categories: greens, russel norman - Tags: , , ,

Russel+Norman+New+Zealand+Gears+Up+General+srkwBzF8K4XlReposted from Local Bodies.

In the 1980s and early 90s the wisdom of the day dictated that our small (in a global sense) New Zealand owned banks were unsustainable. We lost the BNZ to the National Australia Bank group and our Trust Banks to Westpac. All 600 PostBank branches around the country were closed down by 1988. The consequences of those decisions saw huge profits and dividends head across the ditch, contributed to our huge Current Account deficit and allowed the Australian banks to become the most profitable in the world at a time when many were being bailed out.

These same banks have shown their gratitude by maximizing their profits through dubious means and paying local CEOs excessive salaries. Inland Revenue managed to claw back billions of avoided tax through legal action and exorbitant default fees (that have cost New Zealanders about $1 billion) are being challenged through a class action.

Russel Norman revealed an unhealthy relationship between our Reserve Bank and Westpac (the Government’s sole banker) when the Reserve Bank Governor was caught out attempting to play down Westpac’s profits to smooth through an ongoing relationship that hadn’t been tendered for.

Ongoing pressure from the Greens has finally seen both the Reserve Bank and the Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment agree that the Government’s master banker should be decided by a fairly tendered process.

Russel Norman was pleased with this decision because, “Ideally, our Government’s banking should be done by a New Zealand bank. This now becomes a possibility.”

Banks should be supporting our economy but over the last twenty years the Aussie ‘big four’ have been sucking it dry. It’s about time we restored some real competition and brought more of our banking home!

76 comments on “Local Bodies: Let’s Bring Our Banking Home! ”

  1. blue leopard 1

    Good idea – it beggars belief that this is not the case already. What have successive NZ politicians been thinking? Time for New Zealanders’ interests to be prioritized by NZ politicians. It is not that hard is it?

    • Chooky 1.1

      +100…just one reason why i will be voting Green!

    • Tracey 1.2

      and why people need to move their accounts, if they want money in nz banks…

      Kiwibank
      Tsb
      Coop bank, formerly psis

      Lets not forget fay richwhites involvement in the sale of bnz, only to pull out and become a buyer.

      • Once was Tim 1.2.1

        +1
        except that temporarily, PSIS still has an unfortunate relationship with BNZ which I hope will end as soon as poss.

        • Tracey 1.2.1.1

          What is the relationship cos the website states

          ” That means that we’re not owned by a big overseas company or the Government. We’re owned by our customers—

          • Once was Tim 1.2.1.1.1

            They’re currently paying them fees – they use BNZ as an interbank facility. For every PSIS account number, there is an equivalent BNZ one.
            This will eventually go as far as I know, when interbank/gateway facilities are properly set up.

            E.G. if I want to transfer money from say ANZ or Westpac to the PSIS, one specifies the BNZ account number.
            PSIS at one time also had their own ATMs. They’ve recently signed a contract with Westpac for PSIS customers to use Westpac ATMs (previously ANZ/NAT ones). Unfortunately it means that Westpac clips the ticket.

  2. Jack 2

    Mindless Government handling of our Banking Institutions, BNZ was basically raped and pillaged and went down the gurgler in no time after being privatised and somehow the Government still held onto liability.

    We did have a strong Banking & Insurance Sector at one stage with the likes of BNZ, National Bank of NZ, Auckland Savings Bank, NZI Insurance & South British Insurance, now all gone.

    Unfortunately NZ can not repair the damage done by poor Government decision making.

    • blue leopard 2.1

      “Unfortunately NZ can not repair the damage done by poor Government decision making.”

      Where there is a will there is a way.

      There is never only one option available there are always alternatives.

      The damaging consequences of poor government decisions can be rectified.

    • Gosman 2.2

      National Bank was owned by Lloyds bank from the UK. Why was that different than an Aussie owned bank?

      • mikesh 2.2.1

        NBNZ originally had a predominantly NZ shareholding. Lloyds aquired a small holding in 1919, and obtained full control in 1966 as NZ shareholders sold their shares to them in order to obtain the overseas funds necessary to purchase Holden Kingswoods.

  3. Chooky 3

    @ Jack..”.BNZ was basically raped and pillaged and went down the gurgler in no time after being privatised and somehow the Government still held onto liability”

    ….we dont want this to happen to Kiwi Bank!…Key’s Govt has already had Goldman Sachs do an evaluation of Kiwi Bank!

    • infused 3.1

      Kiwibank is hopeless.

      Couldn’t get a mortgage with them. Pain in the ass to see a banking manager, who is generally just a teller at the post shop.

      Even more useless for business.

      TSB went out of their way for me. However, TSB are useless for business as well.

      Currently with ANZ for business, but I will be looking around soon.

      • blue leopard 3.1.1

        The bank didn’t give you a mortgage so it is useless?

        Give us a break

        ‘TSB are useless for business as well’

        No reasons supplied

        • infused 3.1.1.1

          Their rates were higher, higher deposit. You can’t just walk in there and talk to someone.

          Then you get TSB who basically bent over backwards for us.

          Reasons? The fact that no system can integrate to their bank feeds is a killer right there, and that the web banking interface is like something from the 1980s.

          Just read, can now integrate with their bank feeds for Xero.

          • blue leopard 3.1.1.1.1

            Your criticisms seem to be about superficial issues.

            My understanding of local banks is that having such is more likely to keep the money – and profits – in the country, is more likely to have expertise of local conditions and more likely to support and encourage local businesses.

            I have, however, been looking around for information on the advantages of local banks (banks in a country rather than foreign ones) to support my case and have been completely unsuccessful in finding relevant sites (!) – they are all about why local banks are good for the individual (or not) rather than the advantages to the country. 🙁

            This article: ‘The Top 5 Reasons to Choose a Community Bank or Credit Union” whilst not about national vs foreign banks lists the types of advantages I see accruing to New Zealand from having people invest in a NZ Bank as opposed to an overseas one.

            • infused 3.1.1.1.1.1

              Not really superficial issues. They were key issues to me. I guess they are different to everyone.

              My main issue was that TSB was more interested than Kiwibank. Which blew my mind at the time. I went to TSB next as it’s a NZ based bank and was quite amazed with their service.

              I’ve already banked with most of the rest, so I know what they are like.

              I’d happily use Kiwibank if it was any good… thus far that hasn’t been the case.

              • blue leopard

                Yes, sorry, service is important! Only superficial in relation to arguing the point as to whether having New Zealanders using a New Zealand bank is advantageous over them using a foreign bank.

                I somewhat agree re your criticisms re service – I think the fact that Kiwibanks are positioned in shops tends to distract from the service aspect of banking. The bank staff are often swapping roles between shop assistant and bank teller – although to put a good word in: Kiwibanks are open way later than other banks – they are very much more assessable than other banks (where I live, you are hard pressed to catch other banks open …ever!)

              • Chooky

                …for big loans/transactions you have to deal directly with bank managers in the city ….but once this is negotiated the interest rates are very good( way better than Oz banks) ….and the service is very good in the provinces… in the little Kiwbank /PO shops….also for travelling overseas Kiwibank provides the best most easy secure cards and travel banking rates and safety/guarantees….way better than the Oz banks which are a rip off imo

              • Tracey

                what do you mean you were amazed by their service?

        • infused 3.1.1.2

          Good discussion though. Just emailed TSB to ask for a meeting to look at the pros/cons of moving my business to them.

          • blue leopard 3.1.1.2.1

            Hope you choose to go local – my link above may provide you some food for thought. (Not sure whether TSB is a ‘community bank’ but it is certainly a locally (NZ) owned one.)

          • Macro 3.1.1.2.2

            I’ve banked with TSB for years. I lived in the country, and had little access to any banking facilities. If you need to deposit cash which occasionally is the case then you can do that thru any Post Office. Other than that I don’t go near any bank. All on line and any ATM works. They are just a phone call away if you need assistance and there is never any waiting and always resolve the issue there and then. I cannot recommend them highly enough.

      • Chooky 3.1.2

        We had no difficulty with Kiwibank….and a much better deal than with the Oz banks!

        ….Kiwibank needs to be govt guaranteed so that it can support NZers with more risky business ventures

        • infused 3.1.2.1

          I find that hard to believe since Kiwibank always had a higher interest rate a few years ago.

        • Nakiman 3.1.2.2

          “….Kiwibank needs to be govt guaranteed so that it can support NZers with more risky business ventures”

          Government guaranteed banks is not clever. The risk to the bank is the only thing that keeps them honest and realistic. Take the risk away and they will lend money to any idiot because they cant loose. We don’t want to waste more tax payers money bailing out banks that make poor lending decisions.

          • Chooky 3.1.2.2.1

            Nakiman…you show no faith in a people’s bank run by bankers committed to serving the people of the country they represent to make wise decisions on who to lend to and who not to lend to

            …for you banks are ‘dog eat dog’…hence you say “The risk to the bank is the only thing that keeps them honest and realistic”

            ….however predator banks as we have seen in the USA which are controlled by private interest groups to maximise their profit …. use this risk to lure people and institutions into unwise loans and then turn it around on the people and gut them…the people carry the risk and the losses not the banks ….and when the whole house of cards falls over the banks expect governments and taxpayers to bale them out.

            • Gosman 3.1.2.2.1.1

              The people who work at Kiwibank are pretty much the same people who work at any other bank in New Zealand.

              • framu

                so what – the staff at many businesses are pretty much the same thing at any other business – the staff

                • Gosman

                  I’m responding to Chooky’s rather naive assumption that the people who work for Kiwibank are more committed to giving a decent banking experiences than perhaps other banks employees.

                  • Chooky

                    @ Gosman

                    …..banks should be a public service and bankers public servants…it shows how far the capitalist West has become corrupted to think otherwise

                    ….now ordinary people and whole countries have to protect themselves from predatory banks and bankers!

                    • Gosman

                      Why is it that not many left leaning political parties in NZ, not even IMP and The Greens are taking the same line as you?

                    • Chooky

                      @ Gosman re: Commitment to “Decent Banking Experiences”:

                      LEARNING FROM ISLAMIC FINANCE
                      October 22, 2013 Finance 0 Comments
                      By Dr Kamal Munir, Reader in Strategy and Policy at Cambridge Judge Business School

                      By the manner in which they managed to weather the global financial crisis and outperform conventional banks, the stability of Islamic banks has triggered a lively debate on the nature of the conventional system overall and the risks it entails.

                      Islamic finance represents one of the fastest growth fields in global finance – since 2006, the asset base has grown by 150% and is forecast to reach $1.8 trillion this year. Given the stability that Islamic banks offer, and the strict constraints under which they function, this is a tremendous achievement. Going forward, the growth rate is likely to remain steady while opportunities will multiply. Above all, the sector is likely to avoid the crises that have become the norm in conventional finance. So what is it that makes the sector so socially desirable and stable? It comes down to three key features:……

                      http://www.globalbankingandfinance.com/learning-from-islamic-finance/

                    • Chooky

                      More on banks as a public service and bankers as public servants…and it seems that such banks weather the global financial meltdowns better..reports from the IMF and World Bank:

                      GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRISIS
                      Islamic Banks: More Resilient to Crisis?
                      IMF Survey online

                      October 4, 2010
                      Islamic banks fared differently from conventional banks during global crisis
                      Weaknesses in risk management hurt Islamic bank profitability in 2009
                      Crisis revealed important regulatory and supervisory challenges
                      A new IMF study compares the performance of Islamic banks and conventional banks during the recent financial crisis, and finds that Islamic banks, on average, showed stronger resilience during the global financial crisis……

                      https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/survey/so/2010/RES100410A.htm

                      http://blogs.worldbank.org/growth/what-can-we-learn-islamic-finance

        • Wreckingball 3.1.2.3

          That is a terrible idea. I don’t want the Government to guarantee dodgy investments of others. Every bank should only lend money if the risk is right. Such a policy just creates moral hazard.

          I completely agree with Nakiman.

          If a bank wants to lend someone money, it will offer them an interest rate. If another bank is willing to lend to them at a lower rate, it will do so. They are using risk vs reward analysis to work out whether to lend.

  4. infused 4

    The tender is 10 years. So why hasn’t TSB or another bank gone for it?

    That’s the question you should ask.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 4.1

      They’ve lost the Waitemata Trust’s phone number?

      They won’t touch ex-National Party MPs with a barge-pole and if you don’t offer them a directorship or two you don’t get the contract?

      It’s a red herring offered in bad faith?

    • alwyn 4.2

      I can’t find an unambiguous statement on-line at the moment, probably because I am not putting the right question into Google but I don’t think either Kiwibank or TSB could handle the contract. It really is a huge amount of processing and splitting it up would probably just end up costing more.

      I do remember a couple of years ago the CEO of Kiwibank saying that they could not handle the work and that they wouldn’t be tendering if it was opened up. I doubt if that has changed in the interim. Kiwibank is much larger than TSB so there is no way that TSB could do the work either.
      It is an enormous contract and only the major banks could take it on.

      • infused 4.2.1

        Is Kiwibank bigger than TSB? Where can I find the info?

        • alwyn 4.2.1.1

          You can find the accounts on line if you want to.
          Just google something like “New Zealand TSB balance sheet” or something similar for Kiwibank.

          In 2013 end of year Kiwibank had about $12.5 Billion in deposits while TSB had about $5.1 Billion reported in their 2014 Annual Report.
          I realise that that is only one number but it is indicative of their relative size.

          Westpac New Zealand were about $50 Billion.

  5. mikesh 5

    Overseas banks are “sucking us dry” because they have the right to create money, a right which strictly speaking should belong to the state. The benefits from money creation come from the fact that though the process is costless the money can be lent at interest. That interest, or at least a portion of it, should go to the state.

  6. DH 6

    Has Labour said anything about Kiwibank….?

    For Kiwibank to expand it needs more capital, from what I’ve read it’s growth is constrained by the RBNZ rules on capital adequacy for trading banks. It could easily be double its present size if National hadn’t turned off the tap, they knowingly curtailed Kiwibank’s growth.

    • Chooky 6.1

      Safeguarding from overseas predators and supporting Kiwibank growth in NZ needs to be Labour Party issue….

      • Chooky 6.1.1

        …it would be interesting to hear what Jim Anderton has to say about Kiwibank as it is now ….and as he envisioned it when he set it up….it was a very popular move on his part to set it up

        • DH 6.1.1.1

          I’d think he’d feel both vindicated and disappointed.

          Kiwibank bruised a lot of overblown egos so it was probably inevitable that National would sabotage it. I can still recall when it was set up. The avalanche of jeering, sneering & snide remarks about “Jim’s Bank” was quite vomit inducing. Those muppets all got egg on their faces when Kiwibank made a profit so it’s a safe bet they’d be keen on seeing Kiwibank’s demise. The Nats can’t sell it, even they’re not that stupid, so they just hobbled it.

  7. vto 7

    “Banks should be supporting our economy but over the last twenty years the Aussie ‘big four’ have been sucking it dry”

    Exactly.

    • Draco T Bastard 8.1

      ^^ that is a must read

      This strategy on the part of the TBTF banks is what they try to pass off as the normal “business cycle,” which is nothing more than a means of acquiring the fruits of labor at fire sale prices. There have been 19 recessions since the creation of the Federal Reserve System, all designed with this result in mind, just as the financier Andrew Mellon notoriously proclaimed, “During depressions, assets return to their rightful owners.”

  8. Chooky 9

    Seems like there are changes afoot for Australian Banks..big Oz banks under Tony Abbott’s govt could be allowed to merge……how will this affect New Zealand?

    ‘Big banks could be allowed to merge’ June , 20,2014

    …. the Finance Minister has unveiled his changes to Labor’s reforms to the financial planning industry.

    And on another front, the four pillars policy that has restricted our big banks from merging or taking each other over could be set to crumble.

    WikiLeaks has revealed the Federal Government is involved in secret trade negotiations with the United States, Europe and a host of smaller nations that could swing open the doors on deregulation of the sector.

    http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2014/s4030010.htm

    • Colonial Viper 9.1

      Seems like there are changes afoot for Australian Banks..big Oz banks under Tony Abbott’s govt could be allowed to merge……how will this affect New Zealand?

      NB the Ruling Elite WANT “too big to fail” to continue.

      When GFC 2 hits, these huge merged banks will come crying to the taxpayer for bailouts, holding a gun to our heads saying if they don’t get the money they want, they will crash the economy.

      • Chooky 9.1.1

        “they will crash the economy”…or takeover and own the country!….poor Greece and its experience with Goldman Sachs

        …….all the more reason for a New Zealand government backed Kiwibank for New Zealanders ….which is insulated from the overseas predator banks and their thieving funny money…not so funny men!

        • srylands 9.1.1.1

          “poor Greece’s ” Government should not have developed a sense of entitlement and lulled the population into thinking their crazy policies of the last 30 years could continue without awful consequences. Simple as that.

          • Chooky 9.1.1.1.1

            @ srylands……Greek govt certainly helped by Goldman Sachs to dupe the people

            ‘Greek Debt Crisis: How Goldman Sachs Helped Greece to Mask its True Debt’

            By Beat Balzli

            Goldman Sachs helped the Greek government to mask the true extent of its deficit with the help of a derivatives deal that legally circumvented the EU Maastricht deficit rules. At some point the so-called cross currency swaps will mature, and swell the country’s already bloated deficit.

            http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/greek-debt-crisis-how-goldman-sachs-helped-greece-to-mask-its-true-debt-a-676634.html

            • Tracey 9.1.1.1.1.1

              slylands doesnt link concepts. He doesnt “get” that a country of people who had no mortgages and no credit cards until the 80’s became an overspending government by 2008 but the two are not connected by a single feature: banking system he champions. Pity him but thank god his wife is a greenie so the children have a chance at humanity

            • Gosman 9.1.1.1.1.2

              That is like blaming the person who lent a car for the crime that was committed using it. The Greeks were the ones responsible for getting in to debt. Noone else spent the money.

          • Draco T Bastard 9.1.1.1.2

            http://rwer.wordpress.com/2014/06/24/why-europes-austerity-experiment-is-doomed-to-fail-7-graphs/

            Growing government debt thus appears to be more a symptom of the crisis than a cause. Its rise began after the crisis in both countries, not before; and the one that hasn’t deliberately attempted to reduce government spending by austerity is the one whose public debt ratio is no longer rising.

            Greece got fucked over by the ECB putting in place policies that you advocate for.

          • Colonial Viper 9.1.1.1.3

            “poor Greece’s ” Government should not have developed a sense of entitlement and lulled the population into thinking their crazy policies of the last 30 years could continue without awful consequences. Simple as that.

            Actually, the Greek elites were bought and paid for by international banking, and they subsequently sold out their fellow citizens. Further, Greece signed away its currency sovereignty, and allowed itself to be subject to debt in a foreign currency that it did not control.

            You really should update your pro-German pro-EU propaganda, they’re a couple of years out of date.

          • Chooky 9.1.1.1.4

            @ Sryslands …too simple to just blame the Greek people and their government

            From the Guardian and the USA:

            ‘Goldman Sachs faces Fed inquiry over Greek crisis’

            The investment bank’s work with the Greek government in the early part of the decade is now under scrutiny as Athens struggles with huge debts

            http://www.theguardian.com/business/2010/feb/25/markets-pressure-greece-cut-spending

            From Aljazeera : ‘The Bank that Rules the World’

            http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/specialseries/2014/06/goldman-sachs-bank-rules-world-2014613175932453607.html

            From alternet: ‘ “The Role of Goldman Sachs

            Greece was able to “hide” its deficits thanks to Goldman Sachs, which had sold financial derivatives called credit-default swaps to Greece between 2002 and 2006. The credit-default swaps operated a bit like subprime loans, enabling Greece to lower its debts on its balance sheets, but at very high borrowing rates. Goldman Sachs had sales teams selling these complicated financial instruments not just to Greece, but to many gullible municipalities and institutions throughout Europe (and the United States), who were told that these deals could lower their borrowing costs. For Greece, the loans blew up in 2008–2009, when interest rates rose and stock markets collapsed. Among those involved in these deals included Mario Draghi (now President of the ECB), who was working at the Greece desk at Goldman Sachs at the time. While these sales generated huge profits for Goldman Sachs, the costs are now being borne by ordinary Greek people in the form of punishing austerity programs. (For more on Goldman Sachs’s role, see part four of the PBS documentary “Money, Power, Wall Street.”)”

            http://www.alternet.org/economy/which-way-out-greek-nightmare-and-crisis-europe

          • framu 9.1.1.1.5

            no its not as simple as that – but we know you like things to be simple – its all you can cope with

            or is this more of your “listen my opinion – its self evident fact” language fuckwittery?

            Ever thought your ideas are so powerful they dont need to be debated?

            Oh – thats right, still waiting for you to respond to my challenge over on the roading post – go on, give us an answer

        • srylands 9.1.1.2

          Well you have it, don’t you? It is a dog but you have it nevertheless.

          • Chooky 9.1.1.2.1

            …are you saying Kiwibank is a ‘dog’ ?

            • blue leopard 9.1.1.2.1.1

              …rather a nice loyal dog than a money grubbing fat cat cross two-headed snake GM hybrid thing

            • felix 9.1.1.2.1.2

              Chooky, if Kiwibank was sucking billions out of our economy srylands would be in favour.

              • Chooky

                yes agreed….and going into whose pockets?…theft from the people!….we have to watch our Kiwibank ….where is Labour on this and where is Jim Anderton?

              • Gosman

                Kiwibank has sucked 10 ‘ s if not 100’s of millions of dollars out of the NZ economy. You just aren’t aware of it.

                • Draco T Bastard

                  The Australian banks pull billions of dollars out from the NZ economy every year.

            • srylands 9.1.1.2.1.3

              Yes. It has never paid a dividend.

              Also, compared to the other banks it has a high proportion of low margin customers. So it has had two impacts:

              1. Sucked up a vast amount of taxpayer capital without returning a dividend (the taxpayers have no choice – charming)
              2. Increased the profitability of the Australian owned banks.

              ANZ shareholders have much to thank Jim Anderton for. As a test – when did you ever hear of ANY of the big Australian banks whinging about “unfair” competition from the “Government owned” bank? That’s right never. Because they all want it to remain.

              The unintended consequences of socialism writ large 🙂

              • MrSmith

                Kiwi bank have 1.39% of market share SS, so why would the ozzies banks be worried, now if Kiwi bank had 10-20% of the market share then we could start to compare them.

                Should we trust the ozzies though? Probably not and after reading the papers today I see one of their most trusted is just about to go to jail, tie your kangaroo down sport .

              • KJT

                Why are they working so hard to remove Kiwibank, then!

                Hint. All bank fees dropped, and all the extra little charges that banks apply in Australia have not been used here..

                • MrSmith

                  Actually the truth is KJT kiwi bank have over 10% market share now , not bad for a bank that was set up 12 years ago, that’s what they are worried about.

  9. greywarbler 10

    Jim Anderton is trying to save a white elephant in Christchurch ie the ancien cathedral.

    That’s a very interesting image of Russel Norman. Pieces of him stand out from the dark background, shows off his green tie well.

  10. Gosman 11

    Kiwibank was in no position to take on the work of being the banker to the government even if it wanted to at the last time the contract was renewed. Even now it is not really able to do so as the core banking application is not robust enough. They are currently looking to upgrade to SAP which is a major undertaking. This will take a couple of years and cost over 100 million dollars likely. Only then could they tender for the job.

    • dimebag russell 11.1

      @grossman
      you are the one that needs an upgrade from being a SAP.
      Kiwibank can do what ever it is directed to do.

  11. MrSmith 12

    The current banking system should be burned, then buried along with religion and then only talked about in history books, when this finally happens people will look back in wonder, as we do now, at those who once thought the world was flat.

    Another thing that bugs me is the media asking the local banking economists for their opinions. For fucks sake, apart from the fact they have know bloody idea, what’s going to happen, and if they did will just spin you a line, because these people don’t work for the general public , for christ sake it’s like asking the fox how things are going since he moved into the hen house.

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    TL;DR: The podcast above features co-hosts and , along with regular guests Robert Patman on Gaza and AUKUS II, and on climate change.The six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    10 hours ago
  • The ‘Humpty Dumpty’ end result of dismantling our environmental protections
    Policymakers rarely wish to make plain or visible their desire to dismantle environmental policy, least of all to the young. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    11 hours ago
  • Nicola's Salad Days.
    I like to keep an eye on what’s happening in places like the UK, the US, and over the ditch with our good mates the Aussies. Let’s call them AUKUS, for want of a better collective term. More on that in a bit.It used to be, not long ago, that ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    11 hours ago
  • Study sees climate change baking in 19% lower global income by 2050
    TL;DR: The global economy will be one fifth smaller than it would have otherwise been in 2050 as a result of climate damage, according to a new study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and published in the journal Nature. (See more detail and analysis below, and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    12 hours ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-April-2024
    It’s Friday again. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week on Greater Auckland On Tuesday Matt covered at the government looking into a long tunnel for Wellington. On Wednesday we ran a post from Oscar Simms on some lessons from Texas. AT’s ...
    13 hours ago
  • Jack Vowles: Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
    New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’.  The data is from February this ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    14 hours ago
  • Clearing up confusion (or trying to)
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters is understood to be planning a major speech within the next fortnight to clear up the confusion over whether or not New Zealand might join the AUKUS submarine project. So far, there have been conflicting signals from the Government. RNZ reported the Prime Minister yesterday in ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    16 hours ago
  • How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log iPhone Without Computer
    How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log on iPhone Without a Computer: A StepbyStep Guide Losing your iPhone call history can be frustrating, especially when you need to find a specific number or recall an important conversation. But before you panic, know that there are ways to retrieve deleted call logs on your iPhone, even without a computer. This guide will explore various methods, ranging from simple checks to utilizing iCloud backups and thirdparty applications. So, lets dive in and recover those lost calls! 1. Check Recently Deleted Folder: Apple understands that accidental deletions happen. Thats why they introduced the Recently Deleted folder for various apps, including the Phone app. This folder acts as a safety net, storing deleted call logs for up to 30 days before permanently erasing them. Heres how to check it: Open the Phone app on your iPhone. Tap on the Recents tab at the bottom. Scroll to the top and tap on Edit. Select Show Recently Deleted. Browse the list to find the call logs you want to recover. Tap on the desired call log and choose Recover to restore it to your call history. 2. Restore from iCloud Backup: If you regularly back up your iPhone to iCloud, you might be able to retrieve your deleted call log from a previous backup. However, keep in mind that this process will restore your entire phone to the state it was in at the time of the backup, potentially erasing any data added since then. Heres how to restore from an iCloud backup: Go to Settings > General > Reset. Choose Erase All Content and Settings. Follow the onscreen instructions. Your iPhone will restart and show the initial setup screen. Choose Restore from iCloud Backup during the setup process. Select the relevant backup that contains your deleted call log. Wait for the restoration process to complete. 3. Explore ThirdParty Apps (with Caution): ...
    17 hours ago
  • How to Factory Reset iPhone without Computer: A Comprehensive Guide to Restoring your Device
    Life throws curveballs, and sometimes, those curveballs necessitate wiping your iPhone clean and starting anew. Whether you’re facing persistent software glitches, preparing to sell your device, or simply wanting a fresh start, knowing how to factory reset iPhone without a computer is a valuable skill. While using a computer with ...
    1 day ago
  • How to Call Someone on a Computer: A Guide to Voice and Video Communication in the Digital Age
    Gone are the days when communication was limited to landline phones and physical proximity. Today, computers have become powerful tools for connecting with people across the globe through voice and video calls. But with a plethora of applications and methods available, how to call someone on a computer might seem ...
    1 day ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #16 2024
    Open access notables Glacial isostatic adjustment reduces past and future Arctic subsea permafrost, Creel et al., Nature Communications: Sea-level rise submerges terrestrial permafrost in the Arctic, turning it into subsea permafrost. Subsea permafrost underlies ~ 1.8 million km2 of Arctic continental shelf, with thicknesses in places exceeding 700 m. Sea-level variations over glacial-interglacial cycles control ...
    1 day ago
  • Where on a Computer is the Operating System Generally Stored? Delving into the Digital Home of your ...
    The operating system (OS) is the heart and soul of a computer, orchestrating every action and interaction between hardware and software. But have you ever wondered where on a computer is the operating system generally stored? The answer lies in the intricate dance between hardware and software components, particularly within ...
    1 day ago
  • How Many Watts Does a Laptop Use? Understanding Power Consumption and Efficiency
    Laptops have become essential tools for work, entertainment, and communication, offering portability and functionality. However, with rising energy costs and growing environmental concerns, understanding a laptop’s power consumption is more important than ever. So, how many watts does a laptop use? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t straightforward. It depends on several ...
    1 day ago
  • How to Screen Record on a Dell Laptop A Guide to Capturing Your Screen with Ease
    Screen recording has become an essential tool for various purposes, such as creating tutorials, capturing gameplay footage, recording online meetings, or sharing information with others. Fortunately, Dell laptops offer several built-in and external options for screen recording, catering to different needs and preferences. This guide will explore various methods on ...
    1 day ago
  • How Much Does it Cost to Fix a Laptop Screen? Navigating Repair Options and Costs
    A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
    1 day ago
  • How Long Do Gaming Laptops Last? Demystifying Lifespan and Maximizing Longevity
    Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
    1 day ago
  • Climate Change: Turning the tide
    The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago
  • How to Unlock Your Computer A Comprehensive Guide to Regaining Access
    Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
    1 day ago
  • Faxing from Your Computer A Modern Guide to Sending Documents Digitally
    While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
    1 day ago
  • Protecting Your Home Computer A Guide to Cyber Awareness
    In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
    1 day ago
  • Server-Based Computing Powering the Modern Digital Landscape
    In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
    1 day ago
  • Vroom vroom go the big red trucks
    The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago
  • Jones finds $410,000 to help the government muscle in on a spat project
    Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • Again, hate crimes are not necessarily terrorism.
    Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    1 day ago
  • Despair – construction consenting edition
    Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • Coalition promises – will the Govt keep the commitment to keep Kiwis equal before the law?
    Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • An impermanent public service is a guarantee of very little else but failure
    Chris Trotter writes –  The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • What happens after the war – Mariupol
    Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
    1 day ago
  • Babies and benefits – no good news
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • Should the RBNZ be looking through climate inflation?
    Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours, as of 9:16 am on Thursday, April 18 are:Housing: Tauranga residents living in boats, vans RNZ Checkpoint Louise TernouthHousing: Waikato councillor says wastewater plant issues could hold up Sleepyhead building a massive company town Waikato Times Stephen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the public sector carnage, and misogyny as terrorism
    It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
    2 days ago
  • Meeting the Master Baiters
    Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • How extreme was the Earth's temperature in 2023
    This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blog In 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
    2 days ago
  • Backbone, revisited
    The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Ministers are not above the law
    Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago
  • What’s the outfit you can hear going down the gurgler? Probably it’s David Parker’s Oceans Sec...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point  of Order first heard of the Oceans Secretariat in June 2021, when David Parker (remember him?) announced a multi-agency approach to protecting New Zealand’s marine ecosystems and fisheries. Parker (holding the Environment, and Oceans and Fisheries portfolios) broke the news at the annual Forest & ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago
  • Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Bryce Edwards writes  – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • Matt Doocey doubles down on trans “healthcare”
    Citizen Science writes –  Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • A TikTok Prime Minister.
    One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Texas Lessons
    This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    3 days ago
  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links at 6:06 am
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours as of 6:06 am on Wednesday, April 17 are:Must read: Secrecy shrouds which projects might be fast-tracked RNZ Farah HancockScoop: Revealed: Luxon has seven staffers working on social media content - partly paid for by taxpayer Newshub ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Fighting poverty on the holiday highway
    Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • Bernard's six-stack of substacks at 6:26 pm
    Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • At a glance – Is the science settled?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    3 days ago
  • Apposite Quotations.
    How Long Is Long Enough? Gaza under Israeli bombardment, July 2014. This posting is exclusive to Bowalley Road. ...
    3 days ago
  • What’s a life worth now?
    You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Howling at the Moon
    Karl du Fresne writes –  There’s a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere – mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Newshub is Dead.
    I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Seymour is chuffed about cutting early-learning red tape – but we hear, too, that Jones has loose...
    Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago
  • Was Hawkesby entirely wrong?
    David Farrar  writes –  The Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled: Comments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. It is a fact such patients are prioritised. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • PRC shadow looms as the Solomons head for election
    PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time. A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that won’t compromise Beijing’s plans. Cleo Paskall writes – On April 17th the Solomon Islands, a country of ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Climate Change: Criminal ecocide
    We are in the middle of a climate crisis. Last year was (again) the hottest year on record. NOAA has just announced another global coral bleaching event. Floods are threatening UK food security. So naturally, Shane Jones wants to make it easier to mine coal: Resources Minister Shane Jones ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • Is saving one minute of a politician's time worth nearly $1 billion?
    Is speeding up the trip to and from Wellington airport by 12 minutes worth spending up more than $10 billion? Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me in the last day to 8:26 am today are:The Lead: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Long Tunnel or Long Con?
    Yesterday it was revealed that Transport Minister had asked Waka Kotahi to look at the options for a long tunnel through Wellington. State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the ...
    4 days ago
  • Smoke And Mirrors.
    You're a fraud, and you know itBut it's too good to throw it all awayAnyone would do the sameYou've got 'em goingAnd you're careful not to show itSometimes you even fool yourself a bitIt's like magicBut it's always been a smoke and mirrors gameAnyone would do the sameForty six billion ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • What is Mexico doing about climate change?
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The June general election in Mexico could mark a turning point in ensuring that the country’s climate policies better reflect the desire of its citizens to address the climate crisis, with both leading presidential candidates expressing support for renewable energy. Mexico is the ...
    4 days ago
  • State of humanity, 2024
    2024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?When I say 2024 I really mean the state of humanity in 2024.Saturday night, we watched Civil War because that is one terrifying cliff we've ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • Govt’s Wellington tunnel vision aims to ease the way to the airport (but zealous promoters of cycl...
    Buzz from the Beehive A pet project and governmental tunnel vision jump out from the latest batch of ministerial announcements. The government is keen to assure us of its concern for the wellbeing of our pets. It will be introducing pet bonds in a change to the Residential Tenancies Act ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • The case for cultural connectedness
    A recent report generated from a Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) survey of 1,224 rangatahi Māori aged 11-12 found: Cultural connectedness was associated with fewer depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms and better quality of life. That sounds cut and dry. But further into the report the following appears: Cultural connectedness is ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Useful context on public sector job cuts
    David Farrar writes –    The Herald reports: From the gory details of job-cuts news, you’d think the public service was being eviscerated.   While the media’s view of the cuts is incomplete, it’s also true that departments have been leaking the particulars faster than a Wellington ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On When Racism Comes Disguised As Anti-racism
    Remember the good old days, back when New Zealand had a PM who could think and speak calmly and intelligently in whole sentences without blustering? Even while Iran’s drones and missiles were still being launched, Helen Clark was live on TVNZ expertly summing up the latest crisis in the Middle ...
    4 days ago
  • Govt ignored economic analysis of smokefree reversal
    Costello did not pass on analysis of the benefits of the smokefree reforms to Cabinet, emphasising instead the extra tax revenues of repealing them. Photo: Hagen Hopkins, Getty Images TL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me at 7:26 am today are:The Lead: Casey Costello never passed on ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • True Blue.
    True loveYou're the one I'm dreaming ofYour heart fits me like a gloveAnd I'm gonna be true blueBaby, I love youI’ve written about the job cuts in our news media last week. The impact on individuals, and the loss to Aotearoa of voices covering our news from different angles.That by ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is running New Zealand’s foreign policy?
    While commentators, including former Prime Minister Helen Clark, are noting a subtle shift in New Zealand’s foreign policy, which now places more emphasis on the United States, many have missed a key element of the shift. What National said before the election is not what the government is doing now. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #15
    A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 7, 2024 thru Sat, April 13, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week is about adults in the room setting terms and conditions of ...
    5 days ago

  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 hours ago
  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago
  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago
  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago
  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago
  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago
  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago
  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago
  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
    Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector.    "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
    The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
    Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
    Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.   Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ ties
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.  During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Antarctica New Zealand Board appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner.  The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Finance Minister travels to Washington DC
    Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.  “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Pet bonds a win/win for renters and landlords
    The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being considered
    State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • New Zealand condemns Iranian strikes
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel.    “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says.    "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Huge interest in Government’s infrastructure plans
    Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Health Minister thanks outgoing Health New Zealand Chair
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board.   “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti.  “I have asked her to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Roads of National Significance planning underway
    The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Navigating an unstable global environment
    New Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.   “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States.    “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • NZ welcomes Australian Governor-General
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Pseudoephedrine back on shelves for Winter
    Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • NZ and the US: an ever closer partnership
    New Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Joint US and NZ declaration
    April 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • NZ and US to undertake further practical Pacific cooperation
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced further New Zealand cooperation with the United States in the Pacific Islands region through $16.4 million in funding for initiatives in digital connectivity and oceans and fisheries research.   “New Zealand can achieve more in the Pacific if we work together more urgently and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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