My Labour Party Caucus and Rankings

Written By: - Date published: 7:39 am, December 1st, 2015 - 61 comments
Categories: uncategorized - Tags:

I’ve just finished reading all the comments on the reshuffle thread. It gave me an idea.

Post here YOUR rankings of the top 20 Labour Party  MPs, the role you would give them and WHY.

So that is 3 criteria for posting

 

  1. Rank the top 20 of current Labour Party MPs; and
  2. The Role you give them; and
  3. On what basis (WHY) you give them that ranking and role.

 

Easy enough right? You DO NOT get to have people who are not current MPs. I know for my part it is easy to fall into the trap of being critic rather than creator, and I recognise the danger of that here.

http://campaign.labour.org.nz/news

This post will be moderated and is intended for people to have a chance to put forward their alternatives and to back it up.

61 comments on “My Labour Party Caucus and Rankings ”

  1. Cybeny 1

    Front Bench:

    1. Grant Robertson – Leader – Personally, I feel that he is better at speaking on a wider range of issues, and I feel he would be better at managing the various factions at caucus.
    2. Andrew Little – Deputy Leader/Finance – Has a firm understanding of what is needed to make a strong economy, Jobs, Jobs, Jobs. But trips up on other issues.
    3. Jacinda Arden – Social Development – I feel she needs another crack at this, after she was over-promoted by Shearer, and put out of her depth.
    4. Phil Tywford – Housing/Auckland Issues – Has been a strong performer (Asian sounding name debacle aside), and shows that housing is Labour’s top priority.
    5. Chris Hipkins – Education/Shadow Leader of the House – I highly rate his work in Education, and he puts Parata to shame each week in the house.
    6.Annette King – Health – Needs to be on the front bench, as she is currently Labour’s best health spokesperson, but needs to take on an apprentice to take over after the election.
    7. Kelvin Davis – Maori Development/Corrections/Police – Been a strong performer on the Christmas island debacle, and deserves the promotion given to him
    8. Megan Woods – Environment (Inc Climate Change/Conservation) – Has been quite able to take the government to task, and has pulled above her weight as a first-termer.

    Rest of Shadow Cabinet:
    9. David Cunliffe – Economic Development – As many commentators have pointed out, a criminal waste of talent in the backbenches.
    10. Sue Moroney – ACC – Has been one of Labours best performers with her continued efforts on PPL.
    11. David Parker – Shadow Attorney General – I hate this pick, but unfortunately Labour have no one else to take this role. Similar to King, needs an apprentice badly.
    12. Louisa Wall – Foreign Affairs – Desperately needs more to do. Would probably be more respected than Shearer
    13. Damien O’Connor – Primary Industries – It’s glorious to watch him destroy National’s farming credibility.
    14. Carmel Sepuloni – Transport – Like Arden, promoted to Social Development too early. Needs more experience before going to the front bench
    15. Kris Fafooi – Broadcasting – Hasn’t really been given much to do. Not hard to be better than Curran though.
    16. Iain Lee’s Galloway – Workplace Relations and Safety – Underperformer, needs to shape up or be replaced soon. Had a nice easy hit with Nationals Health and Safety laws but failed to land the hit.
    17. Suia William Sio – Pacific Island Affairs – Who else can go here really?
    18. Rino Tirikatane – Assoc Shadow Attorney General – Should replace Parker after the election.
    19. Jenny Salesa – Assoc Health – Should replace King after the election.
    20. Poto Williams – Canterbury Issues/Local Government – New and untested, and deserves a shot over the deadwood.

    • tracey 1.1

      Thanks for taking the time to put this together.

      Poto Williams – Yes she is new and untested but Opposition is the best place to start. She is also 53 years old so has experience on the planet.

      “worked for the Ministry of Education, BirthRight, Healthcare NZ and disability agencies.[1] She moved from Auckland to Christchurch’s suburb of New Brighton in January 2013 to take up a position as regional manager of the St John of God Hauora Trust…

      She has served as a member of the Community Child Protection Review Panel, was involved in the Waitakere Community Law Service and Community Waitakere, and was part of the Living Wage Campaign and the LIFEWISE Big Sleepout” wikipedia

      This a woman who has been working for the vulnerable amongst us for a long time. I would have put her much higher up and given her Associate Health so she could get the necessary political education from Annette King and maybe rolled Christchurch under Economic Development with Cunliffe. As someone who has been working for NFP/NGO’s she will already understand political nuances from one side.

      • Cybeny 1.1.1

        Fair enough.

        To be completely honest, I’m not hugely familiar with the new intake of Labour MPs so I don’t really know what roles they would be best suited for, nor their abilities, so I took a cautious approach to them.

        However, your suggestion seems very reasonable, and I think we can agree it’s a shame that she has been left out of the actual Shadow Cabinet altogether.

        • tracey 1.1.1.1

          I wasn’t criticising your choices, I just was putting in a plug for Poto. 😀

          Yesterday’s opining by everyone has made me go and look for furthe rinformation about many of them. My sense is some people are being very hard on people who are in Opposition, some for their whole career. There is only so much you can do. If you read the LP press releases you start to see what the media doesn’t report.

        • Atiawa 1.1.1.2

          Thanks Grant. However you had your opportunity to win the party leadership last year and were pipped at the post. Perhaps 2023 will be your time.
          Such folly.

          (Tracey: were the 3 criteria for posting on this thread too complex?)

          • One Anonymous Bloke 1.1.1.2.1

            I hope this string of negative remarks about Robertson from various commenters is driven by something other than personal speculation. If anyone has evidence of his alleged perfidy I’d love to see it.

            How many actual real-life corpses have to accumulate before you notice the enemy?

            • weka 1.1.1.2.1.1

              “If anyone has evidence of his alleged perfidy I’d love to see it.”

              Me too. Or at least if people could say that their comment is based on evidence or speculation. For instance if CV comments, I can hazard a guess as to where he might be getting actual information from (and then mixing it with his own perspectives). But with the pseudonymous and unknown commenters there is no way to know what the opinions are based on. I’m not suggesting that people give detail about their real life identities, but I do think it’s reasonable for people to say something about why they believe what they do. Otherwise there’s a big rumour mill going on ts that has no way of being judged as real or not, and that’s counter productive to what most of us are wanting to see happen.

          • One Anonymous Bloke 1.1.1.2.2

            I hope these allegations (and I note you aren’t the only one making them) about Robertson are driven by something more substantial than personal speculation. I’d love to see some evidence of his alleged perfidy, ‘cos, y’know, while you lot attack one another the National Party is accumulating a pile of real-life corpses.

            Priorities much?

          • Atiawa 1.1.1.2.3

            Juggle all you wish, but considering the torturous party leadership changes endured by the voting public and party membership, any list and reasons for that list I produced would begin with Andrew Little at # 1.
            Anything less would be imo an exercise in folly and dare I say it STUPIDITY.

            • Tracey 1.1.1.2.3.1

              And yet here you are commenting… when you could have ignored it or followed the criteria.

              • Atiawa

                I’ve read your post twice before deleting it. There is an Open Mike thread where you can write pretty much anything you like (read our policy first though). As I said in the this thread there are always critics etc. This was a chance for people to put up or shut up (in this thread at least).

                If you are not qualfied to make a list, then don’t make one. Those who did make lists had to give reasons. I have allowed some challenge but you seem to want to use this thread to push a particular viewpoint about Andrew Little versus Grant Robertson. Re-read the Post. This is nOT the place, unless you want to rank your top 20, give them a portfolio and reasons for those rankings/portfolios.

      • Karen 1.1.2

        +1 Tracey
        I was also disappointed by Poto’s backbench position (amongst other).

        Good challenge BTW. I will attempt something later today.

    • Colonial Viper 1.2

      Rino Tirikatane is NOT a David Parker replacement. I’m not a huge fan of Parker due to his orthodox/globalisation leanings but he is capable at what he does.

      • tracey 1.2.1

        Can you list your top 20 as per the above criteria. Genuinely interested to see the list, their roles and your reasons.

      • Cybeny 1.2.2

        Who would you set up to replace David Parker then?

        I’ve got to admit I struggled with that one.

  2. Shona 2

    Grant Robertson would lead Labour to an even greater defeat than Cunliffe. I see the haven’t got a clue why Labour keeps losing section of TS readership still haven’t been to the provinces lately. The NZ news media would run rings around Robertson and nail him flat in a nano second. You see they actually know how kiwis think, unlike the wittering Wellington careerists. Robertson is a poor speaker . He spends a lot of time when speaking saying a lot without conveying ANY meaning. He has the finance portfolio . The economy is in a shambles. Yet we hear NOTHING from him. Because he has nothing to say.He doesn’t have a handle on Finance . He is the wrong person for the job.

    • tracey 2.1

      Can you list your top 20 as per the above criteria. Genuinely interested to see the list, their roles and your reasons.

  3. Wainwright 3

    Fair to say there’s not huge depth on the bench. Ranking the top 22 so idiots like Cosgrove don’t throw their toys is idiocy. Most portfolios are so minor only the policy wonks care who has them.

    For the ones that matter –

    1. LITTLE – LEADER he’s the best option Labour has.
    2. SEPULONI – deputy and social devp. Needs to be a woman to keep the feminists happy, needs to be an Aucklander.
    3. CUNLIFFE – FINANCE because he knows wht he’s doing
    4. ARDERN – HEALTH like I said not a lot of depth on the bench but shes got profile
    5. LEES-GALLOWY – LABOUR despite what Cybeny says he’s worked damn hard and had good success especially compared to the rest of the idiots
    6. MAHUTA – MAORI DEVP you’ve got to keep her up there, Labour doesn’t get anywhere without maori support
    7. ROBERTSON – education – he’s not a bad guy but he sucks at finance
    8. DAVIS – corrections and police. They go together and he’s a natural.
    9. WALL – JUSTICE she deserves a huge boost as a proven campaigner
    10. KING – TRANSPORT AND HOUSING – I reckon these two are part and parcel of the same issue. Can’t address housing in Auckland without addressing transport in Auckland. Call it ‘urban development’ or something wonky.
    11. TWYFORD – AUCKLAND ISSUES to work with King
    12. WOODS – CANTERBURY because she’s the best Chch MP and ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE because like a lot of people said they need to go together.

    You have to keep some of the Thorndon bubble crowd and you can’t shaft all the ABCers but at least it’d make a change. Give the n00bs minor portfoolios and free rein to get some profile. And stick Goff, Mallard, Cosgrove, Nash, Sheaerer and Dyson on a raft in the middle of the Tasman. Then win.

    • Colonial Viper 3.1

      Mahuta led a Maori caucus election strategy last year which was the most successful part of Labour’s dismal election results. That her performance got her bumped down the rankings sends a bad message.

    • Aaron 3.2

      Maybe we could have a second posting for people’s votes on who gets put on the raft and pushed out to sea? That we can the finger pointy stuff out of our system too 🙂

      • tracey 3.2.1

        Every second post here addresses who people think shouldn’t be there, including yesterday’s.

        This post, ,as I thought I had made pretty clear, is about people prepared to list their top 20 current Labour party MPs, in order of preference, assign them a role and state your justifications for havig them in that roll.

        • Aaron 3.2.1.1

          Don’t get me wrong I think this article is an excellent idea and I keep coming back to se of anything new has been added. I don’t consider myself well enouigh informed to contribute my own list but am finding the lists by others to be fascinating.

          I was just amused at the thought of a “put them on a raft and push them out to sea” list for those who are truly a liability.

          • tracey 3.2.1.1.1

            Seriously, why don’t you type up a guest post and submit it around this? Let’s see if it floats 😉

      • seeker 3.2.2

        I agree with the passenger list on Wainwright’s raft and quite liked his ordered top 12 and reasons.

        Maybe more from me later if I feel well enough to do a larger think.

        Great,creative, useful and becoming idea for a post Tracey, thankyou.

      • Michael 3.2.3

        What about the lot of them? A reboot option seems necessary.

  4. Colonial Viper 4

    1) Cunliffe. He’s the highest voltage leadership material in that caucus. No one else comes close. However he needs a completely new staff team in and around the Leaders Office. The Thorndon Bubble strategists need banishing.

    2) Louisa Wall. Provides no holds barred principled backbone to the party and applies discipline accordingly.

    3) Grant Robertson. Grant is a better political operator than either Cunliffe or Wall, but despite the aspirations he has had since university days, he isn’t Leader material. His political skills and foresight will be critical in navigating the difficult course that Cunliffe and Wall need to take the country though.

    4) Annette King. Capable and experienced with solid leadership qualities.

    5) David Parker. Capable and experienced. Need an experienced lawyer in the top 10. Stuck on orthodox monetary and economic policy but no one is perfect.

    6) Chris Hipkins. Capable and experienced; strong potential but has to be careful not to buy into his own PR.

    7) Carmel Sepuloni. Capable and experienced. Successfully campaigned for an electorate seat.

    8) David Clark. Capable but still finding his feet. Pro-TPP and typically orthodox in his economic/monetary outlook…but that’s the Labour Party of today.

    9) David Shearer. Capable, experienced; a pro US/western alliance globalist – but that’s not all bad.

    10) Jacinda Ardern. Has definite potential to be developed. People say she is good in the media but against Nikki Kaye she keeps losing.

    • seeker 4.1

      PS to my previous. Think Hipkins doing well in education, maybe Grant should have Social Development which could be informed by his new learning and experience on finance to combat child poverty and go with his ‘future of work ideas’ and perhaps he could share such a huge, vital, portfolio with Carmel.

    • seeker 4.2

      PS to my previous on agreeing with Wainwright’s list and agreeing with his raft passenger list……I think Hipkins is doing well in education (I’m sure Parata loathes him) maybe Grant should have Social Development which could be informed by his new learning and experience on finance to combat child poverty and go with his ‘future of work ideas’ and perhaps he could share such a huge, vital, portfolio with Carmel.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 4.3

      I can’t help but observe that these are the same people you have been denouncing as unprincipled neo-liberal running dogs. Hyperbole maintenance budget taking its toll?

      Tracey – I wish you had helped but observe cos it is not require din this thread. By all means bookmark it for reference in another discussion but CV has met the criteria for posting on thuis thread.)

    • Tracey 4.4

      The deomgraphics of auckland central have changed alot in the last 30 years CV. You cant get in a house for less than a million bucks otherwise it is an apartment for you and your family. So I dont hold it against Ardern that she struggles to win this very blue seat. That she got so close is worthy of notew

      • Colonial Viper 4.4.1

        if you observe, almost every seat in the country has turned blue or is in the process of doing so. But at the same time, outright poverty in the nation is increasing.

        An interesting paradox to resolve.

  5. Stuart Munro 5

    Cunliffe – leader – the others are weak on the intersection of social justice & economics
    Little – deputy – solid and represents healthy union values
    King – health (but should train a deputy)
    Twyford – immigration, housing, & OIO (knows when to say no)
    Parker O’Connor Tirikatene – to develop a regional reform package (including regulation) to produce finished products, sustainable living practices, services, and employment.
    Parker would probably be a good fit with state services.
    Adern maybe Robertson maybe Hipkins – to develop an urban reform package toward similar ends.

    They have energy this is an opportunity to establish their value.

    Nanaia Mahuta & Poto Williams – know what they’re doing and where they should be.

    I think we should do a list for the Gnats too:

    John Key – [r0b: deleted]
    Bill English – life imprisonment for fraud, asset theft, and gross economic negligence
    McCully – Ambassador to ISIL
    Gerry Brownlee – [r0b: deleted]
    Paula Bennett – given a desk job at Winz [r0b: deleted]
    Judith Collins – employed to sour milk for Fonterra
    Whaleoil – recycled as biodiesel

    [r0b: sorry – amusing but over the line]

  6. rhinocrates 6

    off topic

  7. Dav 7

    We’ll I don’t know them well enough to rank most.
    They shouldn’t have cunliffe so low, he’s capable.

    1 little. He needs to stay on even if they loose the election (like shearer and cunliffe should have been persisted with for a consolidation period. Instead of knee jerk changes.

    Higher ranks for: Davis, Nash, king (been around for ages but eminently capable, lands hits )

    Not certain on: Robertson (was he involved in white anting former leaders?? ), adern – still a lightweight in my book, popular in some quarters. Mahuta- agree with littles move there, but he doesn’t have much to play with ( numbers wise or fresh faces).

    Decent, somewhere in the middle: shearer, Parker.

    Need to be jettisoned: goff (well I guess mayoralty has sorted that choice) cosgrove, dyson, mallard.

  8. rhinocrates 8

    Argh, most embarrassing. WordPress is like the London buses it seems – you wait for ages and then three turn up at once. Feel free to delete redundant posts (including this one).

    • Colonial Viper 8.1

      3 times in this case means 3 times the goodness

      • tracey 8.1.1

        Actually it doesnt. The post was REALLY clear abut what this post was for. And warnings were made to the first few. IF you want to be a destroyer then take it Open Mike or a thread that doesn’t definitively call for creative input.

    • weka 8.2

      It’s not wordpress, it’s that all comments are going into moderation before being published. Good move by Tracey IMO.

  9. weka 9

    Great thread Tracey, thanks.

    • tracey 9.1

      Thanks Weka

      The idea was to, amongst other things, highlight how much people do or do not know about the Labour Caucus and from what basis they criticise (including me). It’s much easier to pick apart Little’s choices than to make an argument for an alternative. Sme peopel have admitted they don’t know enough about the “rest” to make an informed comment. Good on them. Fo rmy part I went and read more abouot a number I knew nothing about.

      I tried to move rhinocrates efforts to OPen Mike rathe rthan delete but could not make the function work. Funny as people may have found them they were not in the spirit of the post which I made explicitly clear.

      Stats are down but I am interested to look at the viewing.

      • weka 9.1.1

        That’s the problem with rhinocrates, you can’t help laughing. But good call on the moderating, I think stopping the Labour-bashing stuff was a great idea.

        I found the rest informative and thought provoking too, much better than the usual bun fight.

  10. tracey 10

    1,311 yesterday

  11. Karen 11

    This was really hard. It was easy enough to be critical of some of the decisions but much harder when you had to pick who gets what and who misses out.

    Anyway, I have made very few changes in the end. Some juggling of order and the elimination of Damien O’Connor , Stuart Nash and Clayton Cosgrove from the top 22. They have been replaced by David Cunliffe, Poto Williams and Louisa Wall. I have dropped David Cunliffe a couple of places because I don’t think he has been doing as much as he could, but I have given him Broadcasting which is a portfolio that has always been neglected by Labour. Cunliffe, of all people, knows the effect of not having well funded public broadcasting. I have also given him Energy as this is also something he can get his teeth into.
    I have given Police back to Davis and Maori Development to Mahuta. I have also pushed Nanaia up two places as it was too big a drop for her. I know a bit about māori politics and this was not a good move.
    I think Jenni Salesa would be a great advocate for social housing so have given her associate housing, and given Megan Woods Conservation as well as Climate Change. I suspect the roles have been split up to allow the Greens to take these roles on in a coalition.
    1. Andrew Little
    2. Annette King
    3. Grant Robertson
    4. Phil Twyford
    5. Jacinda Adern
    6. Chris Hipkins
    7. Kelvin Davis
    #Keep Police, and leave Maori Development with Nanaia
    8. Carmel Sepuloni
    9. David Clark
    10. Nanaia Mahuta
    # Keep Maori Development, drop conservation
    11. Megan Woods
    #Keep climate change, add conservation
    12. David Parker
    13. David Shearer
    14. Iain Lees-Galloway
    15. Su’a William Sio
    16. Sue Moroney
    17. David Cunliffe
    #Give him Broadcasting & Energy
    18. Jenny Salesa
    #Add associate Housing, give assoc. Education to Moroney
    19. Meka Whaitiri
    20. Peeni Henare
    21. Louisa Wall
    22. Poto Williams

    The three left out: Damien O’Connor , Stuart Nash and Clayton Cosgrove.

    • tracey 11.1

      Thanks Karen. I didn’t know enough about 20 Labour MPs to create a list with even adequate justification.

      My impression, and that is all it is, from the last Leadership battle is Nanaia performed very well. I know I was impressed with her when she ran in the previous one.

      • Karen 11.1.1

        The problem for Nanaia is that she has a very low profile in the house and the MSM but she has a lot of support, particularly amongst Tainui and Ngāti Whatua. It may appear to MSM and some other MPs that she is doing nothing, but that is mainly because they don’t understand the importance of mana, or that many Māori still feel a lot of resentment with Labour over the Seabed and Foreshore legislation. Nanaia stuck with Labour and has done a lot to repair relationships.

        Thanks for providing this opportunity, Tracey. It made me realise that the reshuffle wasn’t as bad as I initially thought. Very, very difficult juggling act.

  12. lurgee 12

    1. Annette King. WTF? Yes. She should have taken over from Cunliffe, or perhaps even Goff. Why? Because she’s a capable performer. Because Key’s smart arse routine would look really shoddy being deployed against a granny. Because she’d be a safe pair of hands. No-one would scheme against her, as she would know she wasn’t planning on sticking about.
    2. Andrew Little. Deputy Leader.
    3. Grant Robertson. Health. Big complex portfolio with lots of oportunity for scrapping. Will hopefully keep his attention focused on the enemy.
    4. Jacinda Arden. Education.
    5. Kelvin Davis. Corrections & Police.
    6. Chris Hipkins. Social development. Not impressed with his failure to utterly destroy Parata.
    7. Phil Tywford – Environment. He could have got foreign affairs if he hadn’t done the Asian names thing.
    8. Megan Woods. Primary industries & Christchurch rebuild.
    9. Rino Tirikatane – Maori development.
    10. David Shearer – Foreign affairs.
    11. David Cunliffe – Housing. This is going to be a big issue. See Grant Robertson, above.
    12. Sue Moroney – Workplace Relations and Safety.
    13. Iain Lees-Galloway. ACC. Mostly because he’s my local MP.
    14. Su’a William Sio – Auckland stuff.
    15. Kris Fafooi – Broadcasting.
    16. Louisa Wall. Equality.
    17. David Parker – Shadow Attorney General (nicked from cybeny’s suggestions)
    18. Damien O’Connor. Regional development.
    19. Jenny Salesa – Pacific affairs.
    20. Poto Williams – Associate Health & Associate Equality.

    Some of them are in no particular order. But it was fun bumping David “I am passionate” Parker further and further down the list.

    • lurgee 12.1

      Oooh, I forgot all about Stuart Nash. He can go in instead of David Parker, because he’s got a Law degree or summat.. Which means Parker can go right out of the top 20. Byeeeeee!

      I also seem to have neglected to nominate a finance spokesperson. I think Finance pretty much has to be 2nd or 3rd place, and I couldn’t find anyone who seemed capable of being financially competent AND justifying a high list position. So I suppose it would go to Little by default, just as cybeny had it.

      I suppose if an affable farmer from Dipton can do it not too uselessly, it can’t be that challenging a role.

    • The Fairy Godmother 12.2

      Jenny Salesa has a lot of experience in the health and education field a lot it in the Us so I think it would be better to have her as an associate in either education or health.

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  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' at 10:10am on Tuesday, March 19
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Gavin Jacobson talks to Thomas Piketty 10 years on from Capital in the 21st Century The SalvoLocal scoop: Green MP’s business being investigated over migrant exploitation claims Stuff Steve KilgallonLocal deep-dive: The commercial contractors making money from School ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    12 hours ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things on Tuesday, March 19
    It’s a home - but Kāinga Ora tenants accused of “abusing the privilege” may lose it. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Government announced a crackdown on Kāinga Ora tenants who were unruly and/or behind on their rent, with Housing Minister Chris Bishop saying a place in a state ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    13 hours ago
  • New Life for Light Rail
    This is a guest post by Connor Sharp of Surface Light Rail  Light rail in Auckland: A way forward sooner than you think With the coup de grâce of Auckland Light Rail (ALR) earlier this year, and the shift of the government’s priorities to roads, roads, and more roads, it ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    14 hours ago
  • Why Are Bosses Nearly All Buffoons?
    Note: As a paid-up Webworm member, I’ve recorded this Webworm as a mini-podcast for you as well. Some of you said you liked this option - so I aim to provide it when I get a chance to record! Read more ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    16 hours ago
  • Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6.06 pm on March 18
    TL;DR: In my ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Monday, March 18:IKEA is accused of planting big forests in New Zealand to green-wash; REDD-MonitorA City for People takes a well-deserved victory lap over Wellington’s pro-YIMBY District Plan votes; A City for PeopleSteven Anastasiou takes a close look at the sticky ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Peters holds his ground on co-governance, but Willis wriggles on those tax cuts and SNA suspension l...
    Buzz from the Beehive Here’s hoping for a lively post-cabinet press conference when the PM and – perhaps – some of his ministers tell us what was discussed at their meeting today. Until then, Point of Order has precious little Beehive news to report after its latest monitoring of the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • Labour’s final report card
    David Farrar writes –  We now have almost all 2023 data in, which has allowed me to update my annual table of how  went against its promises. This is basically their final report card. The promise The result Build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • “Drunk Uncle at a Wedding”
    I’m a bit worried that I’ve started a previous newsletter with the words “just when you think they couldn’t get any worse…” Seems lately that I could begin pretty much every issue with that opening. Such is the nature of our coalition government that they seem to be outdoing each ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Geoffrey Miller writes – Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on Dune 2, and images of Islam
    Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture ...
    1 day ago
  • New Rail Operations Centre Promises Better Train Services
    Last week Transport Minster Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre. The new train control centre will see teams from KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Auckland One Rail working more closely together to improve train services across the city. The Auckland Rail Operations Centre in ...
    2 days ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things at 6.36am on Monday, March 18
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in an exit interview with Q+A yesterday the Government can and should sustain more debt to invest in infrastructure for future generations. Elsewhere in the news in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 6:36am: Read more ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than just a happy ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    2 days ago
  • The Kaka’s diary for the week to March 25 and beyond
    TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Bitter and angry; Winston First
    New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • Out of Touch.
    “I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The bewildering world of Chris Luxon – Guns for all, not no lunch for kids
    .“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    3 days ago
  • Expert Opinion: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
    3 days ago
  • Manufacturing The Truth.
    Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet –  is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
    3 days ago
  • A Powerful Sensation of Déjà Vu.
    Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
    3 days ago
  • Can you guess where world attention is focussed (according to Greenpeace)? It’s focussed on an EPA...
    Bob Edlin writes –  And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Further integrity problems for the Greens in suspending MP Darleen Tana
    Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Greens’ transparency missing in action
    For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    5 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    6 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    6 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Government moves to quickly ratify the NZ-EU FTA
    "The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 hours ago
  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
    Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024.  “Lower fruit and vege ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government backs rural led catchment projects
    The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction.   Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
    Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government lowering building costs
    The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Trustee tax change welcomed
    Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister’s Ramadan message
    Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness.  It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister appoints new NZTA Chair
    Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
    Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology.  It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Progress continues apace on water storage
    Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government agrees to restore interest deductions
    Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
    Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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