National’s achievement: Highest ever inequality

Written By: - Date published: 12:55 pm, August 23rd, 2012 - 50 comments
Categories: class war, economy, equality, national, poverty - Tags: , , ,

In highlighting the record exodus to Australia and the failures of the Key government to live up to its campaign promises, Claire Trevett wrote:

The Department of Statistics is usually a benign presence on the political landscape, but over the past few months it has entered National’s nightmares like the grim reaper.

Each month, the relentless tread of Statistics New Zealand’s updates on migration echo through Parliament, haunting National with the ghosts of campaigns past.

Here are some more statistics that shame this appalling National government:

NZ inequality at highest level

Wages dropped and inequality rose to its highest level ever in New Zealand last year, a Ministry of Social Development report shows.

The Household Incomes Report measuring the wellbeing of New Zealanders by their after-tax incomes has revealed a fall in average wages for the first time since the early 1990s.

It shows the gap between rich and poor widened substantially in 2011, putting inequality at its highest level ever.

Middle and lower class workers saw their incomes fall sharply, while wages rose for high earners.

Incomes for the richest New Zealanders – named as decile 10 earners – rose the most sharply.

Inequality is socially corrosive and damaging. National is steering this country straight down the drain. No wonder so many of us are leaving.

50 comments on “National’s achievement: Highest ever inequality ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. AmaKiwi 1
    23 August 2012 at 1:00 pm

    What does it take for the people to have no confidence in their government? Obviously facts are not enough.

    • Lanthanide 1.1
      23 August 2012 at 1:14 pm

      It takes a media that is actually interested in the facts to disseminate them.

      • TheContrarian 1.1.1
        23 August 2012 at 3:11 pm

        “It takes a media that is actually interested in the facts to disseminate them.”

        Yeah, when will a media organisation, The Herald for example, report on these statistics?

        • Draco T Bastard 1.1.1.1
          23 August 2012 at 3:25 pm

          When a left coalition is in government as part of their job to get that coalition out of government and put the NACTs back in.

          • TheContrarian 1.1.1.1.1
            23 August 2012 at 3:27 pm

            So you mean The Herald won’t report on these stats?

            • Lanthanide 1.1.1.1.1.1
              23 August 2012 at 3:49 pm

              See Lynn’s previous statements about newspapers not influencing public debate any more.

              Also, one instance of one newspaper reporting statistics isn’t what I was suggesting…

                • Andrew Scobie …
                  23 August 2012 at 4:01 pm

                  +1

                  • Colonial Viper …
                    23 August 2012 at 4:06 pm

                    Lets see what position it gets on the 6pm News 🙂

                    • TheContrarian …
                      23 August 2012 at 4:11 pm

                      I agree that the TV news is garbage and has been for a long time.

                    • blue leopard …
                      24 August 2012 at 11:48 am

                      @ Contrarian

                      I don’t accept that your examples of the media’s coverage of this matter comes under “a media that is actually interested in the facts to disseminate them”

                      The examples you provide are simply rote reporting and very little to do with an investigative nature. They are simply regurgitating what some politicians have given them.

                      There is a debate raging world-wide as to what is causing the income-gap, whether this has negative consequences and what can be done to create more equity-the list of information and topics that this type of story could be used as a spring-board into is nearly endless. Our media could raise matters such as informing the public which political views are represented in this argument, what stances they take and the historical precedence of such a debate-famous minds’ views on the matter… etc

                      Our journos, however, choose simply to report by rote and not bring information to the table on the matter.

                      Information, astutely mentioned by one as being the currency of democracy, is being withheld from the majority by the style of lazy reporting which your examples provide good evidence of.

              • lprent …
                23 August 2012 at 4:25 pm

                I did? Not really.

                I would have said that they were having a rapidly diminishing effect. Largely because their readership of the hardcopy is increasingly elderly and ever more conservative. But you don’t need me to point that out. The massive fall in pulp from Kawerau being used in NZ and Aussie shows that up quite clearly. TV is having less of a drop off. But even their news has been getting falloffs in viewership.

                Newspapers have an online presence, but it has some pretty severe limitations like people not paying for the reporting. They also haven’t really got to grip with this whole idea of interaction with readers. The number of times I have seen Herald authors actually comment on their own articles is minimal. But the best test is to look at where kids get their news from, and mostly they get it direct from the net.

                I have rather noticed that reporters are kind of thin skinned as well. Fran is a good example. Good at dishing criticism out to all and sundry in a non-interactive medium but take offense at criticism.

                • TheContrarian …
                  23 August 2012 at 4:36 pm

                  “Good at dishing criticism out to all and sundry in a non-interactive medium but take offense at criticism.”

                  You mean kinda like people at The Standard when they are criticised by, say, the Paganis?

                  • lprent …
                    23 August 2012 at 5:00 pm

                    The authors didn’t bother responding apart from a few comments and a post from The Sprout. I think he just likes kicking John.

                    Personally I don’t really value John’s opinions because they are somewhat shallow, don’t appear to involve much thought, and are really kind of similar to his friends and allies on the right. They appear to be based more on some kind of mythical populism than anything rational. Reminded me of Mike Moore with their lack of coherence.

                    I don’t know Josie at all apart from hearing her on the radio a few times. But she sounded kiwiblog as well – right down to putting up a strawman of single commentator so she could demonize the site. I guess that is so that she didn’t have to pick a fight with individuals. It is easier to demonize an abstract like a site name or “beneficaries” than real people. Just stupid and quite gutless…

                    Commentators – well they state their own views. Authors state their views. The site doesn’t have a view. However Josie appeared to be too ignorant of the online world to realise that programs don’t have editorial opinions.

                    What was fascinating was where they were getting support. Perhaps they should join the National party? Maybe they could improve their effectiveness rather than dealing with the ungrateful people on the left?

                • lprent …
                  23 August 2012 at 4:46 pm

                  I’d also add that watching the dynamic of the stories in the NZ Herald site is one of my amusements. Apparently it is actually a largely readership driven procedure what stories get maintained on the pages – which is why all of the opinion pieces tend to be somewhat more prominent than they are in the pulp.

                  However you can usually clearly see the editorial stickiness of some stories as well, especially when the morning crew take over from the overnight

                • fender …
                  23 August 2012 at 4:59 pm

                  Fran gets especially upset at criticism from people who use names that can’t be found in the phone book. It would be so much easier if the right-wing heavy’s had an address they could visit to crack a few kneecaps.

                  • lprent …
                    23 August 2012 at 5:39 pm

                    I haven’t been in the phone book since about 1990. Why exactly would I want to get harassed by telemarketers? Not being in the whitepages was the obvious solution to that problem.

                    The whole tizzy that Fran and some of the other slow and conservative people have about anonymous/pseudonymous (where they don’t seem to realize the difference) is rather boring. The same discussion can be seen in usenet and BBS archives. In fact you can see it in publications ever since the printing press went into widespread usage in the 16th century if you care to go back that far.

                    In the end it is weight of the someone’s opinions and argument that counts. There is a handle attached to that and that carries the weight regardless if it is a persona name or a pseudonym. Everyone has an opinion and how that is valued doesn’t depend who their damn parents were – unless of course someone is stupid enough to feel that genetics is that important (is a species with almost as little genetic diversity as cheetah).

                    There are many people on this site who have maintained their handle for at least the 5 years that this site has been running. If they started commenting under their real name, their opinion would be as worthless as any other newbie. Handles have value, and in some areas have far more value than peoples real names.

                    I have been using lprent as a handle for over 30 years on network forums of various types. Most of the people who I have communicated with me over those years about anything from programming to business to politics only know me by that handle. The only reason I bothered to make my name “public” this time around was because someone was required to do it to register the domain name.

                    The only time a real name is of any particular relevance is when you are relying on something that is dependent on it. Drivers license, work experience and degrees are pretty much the only thing that come to mind for me. I use the degrees here on the odd occasion when arguing about a topic related to one of mine. But usually that is when an idiot says something that violates basic science.

                    Fran is a just a bit sluggish about this whole network thing. Hopefully she will catch on to the basics before she blows a valve somewhere.

    • Johnm 1.2
      24 August 2012 at 11:57 am

      Hi AmaKiwi
      It’s my honest belief not polemic that we’re a divided society now with a great deal of inequality. Those, a large minority who are doing well see National as protecting their position and will always vote National despite the Socially Destructive policies they put in place, they really don’t care about their fellow less fortunate Kiwis.
      This attitude has been nurtured by the Neoliberal greed machine of everyone for themselves and Bene bashing Bennies as second class citizens plus the low wage economy:
      we have of lots of working poor as well. Poorer Kiwis have no confidence but the better of do have confidence.

  2. Graham 2
    23 August 2012 at 1:08 pm

    I cannot believe what morons the bene-bashing bigots are! They are clearly incapable of critical thought and don’t even bother getting their facts straight. They are simply regurgitating the neoliberal mantra of hate and entitlement.
    It has been established that a vast majority of beneficiaries’ claims are legitimate – this is a very easy fact to research. As for the few that are cheating the system, many of them are dealt with, but more importantly there are far more significant and concerning rorts taking place – from the top. This government’s agenda is to draw our attention away from these white collar criminals (corrupt bankers, greedy CEO’s) who are the real leeches in our society by institutionalising hatred of the most vunerable, whether they are genuine or not.

    • mike 2.1
      23 August 2012 at 2:13 pm

      “This government’s agenda is to draw our attention away from these white collar criminals (corrupt bankers, greedy CEO’s) who are the real leeches in our society by institutionalising hatred of the most vunerable, whether they are genuine or not.”

      Indeed I just saw an interview with Naomi Klein where she said she believes that the reason the US is cracking down on any form of dissent in an increasingly Orwellian/Stalinist way, is that the elites are truly afraid of the books being opened and the public seeing just how massively we are being financially butt-fu*ked by them.

      Oh but look over there! What about them pot smoking dole bludgers eh? What else? Euthanasia! That always gets ’em going. Oh look there’s a dog in Rotorua that can do tricks with a tennis ball…

      • AmaKiwi 2.1.1
        23 August 2012 at 2:50 pm

        In the USA they have done a fantastic job of convincing the public irrelevant distractions are what are really important. Abortion. Gay Marriage. Unlimited access to guns. Pot. Wow! These are really important issues compared to such trivia as endless wars, a failed economy, increasing gap between rich and poor, an unaffordable health system, and climate disaster. I forgot. This year’s devastating drought has nothing to do with human caused climate changes.

    • Johnm 2.2
      24 August 2012 at 12:00 pm

      Graham
      100% right! 🙂

  3. fender 3
    23 August 2012 at 1:28 pm

    Despite his BS “campaign promises” Keys actual intentions are working out exactly the way he intended. Nobody believed his crap did they? He certainly didn’t intend to create a more equal society, theres no fun in that for the elites who like to have poor scum to kick around.

    • AmaKiwi 3.1
      23 August 2012 at 1:43 pm

      “Nobody believed his crap did they?”

      Obviously they did, not once but twice.

      My faith in rational decision making is fading. It’s the salesman’s personality, not the facts, that makes the sale.

      Which is why David Parker as finance spokesperson is a cruel disservice to the rank and file. If you are hopeless at winning a safe electorate seat, you ain’t no salesman. What was Shearer thinking?

      • Bunji 3.1.1
        23 August 2012 at 1:54 pm

        Erm, the only seats David Parker’s contested have all been safe – but safely right-wing, not Labour. He turned Otago red for the only time in its history, but has unsurprisingly failed to win Waitaki and Epsom since.
        You may contest his charisma, but his record on contesting electorate seats isn’t a particularly good example. More just shows him willing to put the hard yards in…

        • AmaKiwi 3.1.1.1
          23 August 2012 at 4:23 pm

          David Parker has faced three electorate contests, each time against Jacqui Dean.

          2003, Parker beat Dean by 684 votes.

          2005, Parker lost to Dean by 1,995 votes.

          2008, Parker lost to Dean by 11,035 votes

          Eleven thousand votes is a dismal performance.

      • Te Reo Putake 3.1.2
        23 August 2012 at 1:59 pm

        “If you are hopeless at winning a safe electorate seat, you ain’t no salesman.”
         
        Not sure what you mean by this. Parker has never stood in a safe electorate seat. He once narrowly won Otago, but that’s a seat that’s usually been a National stronghold, not Labour. And with a boundary and name change (Waitaki), it’s now solidly blue.

        • Colonial Viper 3.1.2.1
          23 August 2012 at 3:58 pm

          David Parker has no interest in being an electorate MP.

          • AmaKiwi 3.1.2.1.1
            23 August 2012 at 4:26 pm

            If my campaigning results were as dismal as Parker’s (see 3.1.1.1 above), I’d give up on trying to be an electorate MP, too.

            • Te Reo Putake 3.1.2.1.1.1
              23 August 2012 at 4:52 pm

              Don’t let the facts get in the way of your prejudice Amakiwi. His results are pretty damn good, as Bunji and I have pointed out. He took the Tory seat of Otago for starters, then lost it narrowly in the next election. The seat then had a name and boundary change which made it a blue ribbon Tory seat, which is reflected in the 2008 result.
               
              If you have anything of substance to say about Parker, I’d be interested. But you’re pretty unconvincing so far.

    • King Kong 3.2
      23 August 2012 at 2:10 pm

      In reply to Fender-
      That is certainly in line with what John Key told me and my monocle wearing, corpulent and dinner suited bretheren at the secret meeting of fat cats we had prior to the last election.

      He also promised that we would have small children cleaning our chimneys before the term was out.

      • Gosman 3.2.1
        23 August 2012 at 2:27 pm

        Have we decided how to allocate them yet? I would like to specify my exact requirements up front rather than wait for the lolly scramble that surely will occur later on. Wouldn’t want to get the wrong sort of sweep now.

      • SpaceMonkey 3.2.2
        23 August 2012 at 4:27 pm

        Now that’s a very different kind of asset sale. I guess if we only sell 49% of our children into chimney-cleaning servitude, the majority of our children are still ok. Furthermore, if we hold on to our chimney-cleaning children for a year, will we be eligible to receive more? And how soon can we sell them to foreign corporations?

        • Colonial Viper 3.2.2.1
          23 August 2012 at 4:41 pm

          Plus, you can never be sure what the exact price your children will fetch on the international world markets, nevertheless we’re assured that it will be worth your while.

        • jcuknz 3.2.2.2
          24 August 2012 at 11:15 am

          What with Christchurch banning open fires and the like will there be enough chimneys for 51% of our children? Obviously we need fewer children to match the chimneys availability.

    • Johnm 3.3
      24 August 2012 at 12:04 pm

      fender
      100% right In asia the poor scum have to sell their bodies to survive! sort of economic slavery, Go to Bangkok ,there’s lots of poor scum wanting to sell their bods to you to stay off the street. Makes the shit pile leaders feel really powerful, fantastic ego boost: who wants an = society?

  4. Polish Pride 4
    23 August 2012 at 3:30 pm

    But this is just the first part of the plan. We now need to wait for the trickledown effect.. 🙂

    • Colonial Viper 4.1
      23 August 2012 at 3:48 pm

      That warm yellow pitter-patter

      • fnjckg 4.1.1
        23 August 2012 at 5:54 pm

        hee hee. When i first began to read your site and was truly horrified by the verifiable content i went to the Statistics NZ site and amongst many things read the findings re people in poverty across time in ol gZ-which Jacindy i think raised in the house (again?) this week

    • Colonial Viper 5.1
      23 August 2012 at 7:21 pm

      Thats just the start. Its going to turn uglier. (BTW it will be his constituents who raised these concerns to him initially).

      Curiously, this particular MP doesn’t get the idea that the NZ tax payer pays hundreds of thousands of dollars apiece to educate these Kiwis, provide medical and dental care, and that Australia gets them as skilled literate workers without having to pay a cent.

      He should be saying more more more more

      • Te Reo Putake 5.1.1
        23 August 2012 at 7:36 pm

        I guess you didn’t read the last para, CV! Thompson cites an anecdote that notes “… it is a mistake for New Zealand to educate and train young New Zealanders only to see them gravitate to Australia, which has higher wages and lower unemployment”.
         
        I’d say Thompson has an internationalist streak; the sort of thing that used to be quite fashionable in Labour/Labor MP’s back in the day.

  6. North 6
    23 August 2012 at 7:33 pm

    And we’re all meant to clap Bennett for her stout defence of her government on the score that these are hard times – unspoken – “get real…….of course people will get poorer.” Typically pathetic focus of the NZ media on the story about the story. Too gutless or dull to focus on the actual story and what it means for NZ.

    How about telling us how it is the rich are getting richer in these hard times Bennett ?

    • Tombstone 6.1
      24 August 2012 at 1:05 am

      That’s a great question – I’d like to hear Paula respond to that.

    • jcuknz 6.2
      24 August 2012 at 11:19 am

      But the rich are feeling the pinch … only two Mazzarati instead of one for each child as well as mum and dad. The kids always feel the pinch.

  7. Heidi Brickell 7
    27 August 2012 at 11:05 am

    Hi, Anthony… I agree with the claims made in this article about inequality rising, and I would like to share the article, except the claims aren’t really quantified, and I know that that is what all it’s antagonists will say? Who are the middle income earners? How much have their wages fallen? What are the statistics that define who these higher earners are, and how much have their earnings risen? If those sort of stats and definitions were published it would make this a much more effective arguement to the unconverted, in my opinion. Be great to hear back from you,
    Heidi

Links to post

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • 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
    5 hours 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
    8 hours 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
    14 hours 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
    20 hours 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    2 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
    4 days 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
    4 days 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
    4 days 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
    4 days 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
    4 days 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
    4 days 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
    4 days 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
    4 days 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
    5 days ago

  • Government redress for Te Korowai o Wainuiārua
    The Government is continuing the bipartisan effort to restore its relationship with iwi as the Te Korowai o Wainuiārua Claims Settlement Bill passed its first reading in Parliament today, says Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith. “Historical grievances of Te Korowai o Wainuiārua relate to 19th century warfare, land purchased or taken ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Focus on outstanding minerals permit applications
    New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals is working to resolve almost 150 outstanding minerals permit applications by the end of the financial year, enabling valuable mining activity and signalling to the sector that New Zealand is open for business, Resources Minister Shane Jones says.  “While there are no set timeframes for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Applications open for NZ-Ireland Research Call
    The New Zealand and Irish governments have today announced that applications for the 2024 New Zealand-Ireland Joint Research Call on Agriculture and Climate Change are now open. This is the third research call in the three-year Joint Research Initiative pilot launched in 2022 by the Ministry for Primary Industries and Ireland’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Tenancy rules changes to improve rental market
    The coalition Government has today announced changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to encourage landlords back to the rental property market, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “The previous Government waged a war on landlords. Many landlords told us this caused them to exit the rental market altogether. It caused worse ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Boosting NZ’s trade and agricultural relationship with China
    Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay will visit China next week, to strengthen relationships, support Kiwi exporters and promote New Zealand businesses on the world stage. “China is one of New Zealand’s most significant trade and economic relationships and remains an important destination for New Zealand’s products, accounting for nearly 22 per cent of our good and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Freshwater farm plan systems to be improved
    The coalition Government intends to improve freshwater farm plans so that they are more cost-effective and practical for farmers, Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay have announced. “A fit-for-purpose freshwater farm plan system will enable farmers and growers to find the right solutions for their farm ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • New Fast Track Projects advisory group named
    The coalition Government has today announced the expert advisory group who will provide independent recommendations to Ministers on projects to be included in the Fast Track Approvals Bill, say RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Regional Development Minister Shane Jones. “Our Fast Track Approval process will make it easier and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Pacific and Gaza focus of UN talks
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters says his official talks with the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in New York today focused on a shared commitment to partnering with the Pacific Islands region and a common concern about the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.    “Small states in the Pacific rely on collective ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Government honours Taranaki Maunga deal
    The Government is honouring commitments made to Taranaki iwi with the Te Pire Whakatupua mƍ Te Kāhui Tupua/Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill passing its first reading Parliament today, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “This Bill addresses the commitment the Crown made to the eight iwi of Taranaki to negotiate ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Enhanced partnership to reduce agricultural emissions
    The Government and four further companies are together committing an additional $18 million towards AgriZeroNZ to boost New Zealand’s efforts to reduce agricultural emissions. Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says the strength of the New Zealand economy relies on us getting effective and affordable emission reduction solutions for New Zealand. “The ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • 110km/h limit proposed for Kāpiti Expressway
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed news the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) will begin consultation this month on raising speed limits for the Kāpiti Expressway to 110km/h. “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and this proposal supports that outcome ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • New Zealand Biosecurity Awards – Winners announced
    Two New Zealanders who’ve used their unique skills to help fight the exotic caulerpa seaweed are this year’s Biosecurity Awards Supreme Winners, says Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard. “Strong biosecurity is vital and underpins the whole New Zealand economy and our native flora and fauna. These awards celebrate all those in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Attendance action plan to lift student attendance rates
    The Government is taking action to address the truancy crisis and raise attendance by delivering the attendance action plan, Associate Education Minister David Seymour announced today.   New Zealand attendance rates are low by national and international standards. Regular attendance, defined as being in school over 90 per cent of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • World must act to halt Gaza catastrophe – Peters
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has told the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York today that an immediate ceasefire is needed in Gaza to halt the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe.    “Palestinian civilians continue to bear the brunt of Israel’s military actions,” Mr Peters said in his speech to a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Speech to United Nations General Assembly: 66th plenary meeting, 78th session
    Mr President,   The situation in Gaza is an utter catastrophe.   New Zealand condemns Hamas for its heinous terrorist attacks on 7 October and since, including its barbaric violations of women and children. All of us here must demand that Hamas release all remaining hostages immediately.   At the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government woolshed roadshow kicks off
    Today the Government Agriculture Ministers started their national woolshed roadshow, kicking off in the Wairarapa. Agriculture Minister Todd McClay said it has been a tough time for farmers over the past few years. The sector has faced high domestic inflation rates, high interest rates, adverse weather events, and increasing farm ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • PM heads to Singapore, Thailand, and Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will travel to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines this week (April 14-20), along with a senior business delegation, signalling the Government’s commitment to deepen New Zealand’s international engagement, especially our relationships in South East Asia. “South East Asia is a region that is more crucial than ever to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Prime Minister launches Government Targets
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced further steps to get New Zealand back on track, launching nine ambitious Government Targets to help improve the lives of New Zealanders. “Our Government has a plan that is focused on three key promises we made to New Zealanders – to rebuild the economy, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Natural hydrogen resource should be free of Treaty claims entanglement
    Natural hydrogen could be a game-changing new source of energy for New Zealand but it is essential it is treated as a critical development that benefits all New Zealanders, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones is seeking to give regulatory certainty for those keen to develop natural, or geological, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government responds to unsustainable net migration
    ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • New Zealand on stage at global Space Symposium
    Space Minister Judith Collins will speak at the Space Symposium in the United States next week, promoting New Zealand’s rapidly growing place in the sector as we work to rebuild the economy. “As one of the largest global space events, attended by more than 10,000 business and government representatives from ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-04-16T04:55:42+00:00