NZ deserves better than budget lies

Written By: - Date published: 10:34 am, June 10th, 2011 - 80 comments
Categories: budget 2011, jobs, john key, making shit up - Tags:

The Budget is unraveling at a startling rate of knots. Bill English is floundering to explain his dodgy asset sales numbers that don’t count lost dividends, sale costs, and foregone capital growth, not to mention a billion in unallocated cuts, and the gap between his revenue projections and IRD’s. Now, a senior minister has admitted that John Key’s claim that “there are 170,000 new jobs being created as a result of this Budget” is a lie.

The jobs claim began to come apart earlier this week when Jacinda Ardern pointed out that 35,000 of the jobs that are supposedly a “result of this budget” actually already exist. You see, the 170,000 figure is the projected job growth between March 2010 and 2015. The forecast job growth over the coming four years is actually lower than the four year projection in budget 2010.

Then, Key admitted that 170,000 jobs over five years is actually just the trend rate of job growth – 35,000 per year. Nothing special at all. So why was he skiting about it? Indeed, under Labour, job growth averaged 47,000 per year for nine years (source: Statistics New Zealand’s Infoshare).

Ardern kept chasing Key, asking him which budget initiatives would be creating jobs:

Jacinda Ardern: Which of the three initiatives he listed yesterday as contributing to the creation of 170,000 jobs will have the biggest impact: interest rates, national standards in primary schools, or early childhood education?

Rt Hon JOHN KEY: I would not want to make a prediction as to which one of them, but all of them will make a difference.

Hon Members: Ha, ha!

Jacinda Ardern: Is the job growth number of 170,000 based solely upon the job growth trend of the past 20 years, as he stated yesterday; if so, is that an acknowledgment that his Government has provided no new initiatives to support business, or anyone else, to contribute to job creation?

Rt Hon JOHN KEY: No. Treasury put together the job-growth prediction numbers.

The final nail went into the coffin of this ‘jobs Budget’ myth yesterday when Acting Economic Development Minister David Carter in select committee admitted that there was no analysis on how the budget would be creating jobs and:

“Bear in mind the Government hasn’t said it will create the 170,000 new jobs – the budget said there will be 170,000 jobs”

When challenged to explain which sectors the new jobs would come from, Carter said the “booming primary sector”. The problem is, the primary sector only employs 163,000 people (source: Statistics New Zealand’s Infoshare). Can’t see that doubling in four years, can you?

Hmm. So we started with Key screaming for the cameras that:

“there are 170,000 new jobs being created as a result of this Budget”

and three weeks later the lie ends with a whimper from a minister tucked away in select committee that:

“the Government hasn’t said it will create the 170,000 new jobs – the budget said there will be 170,000 jobs”

We actually really do deserve better than this.

– Bright Red

80 comments on “NZ deserves better than budget lies ”

  1. Colonial Viper 1

    This Government is the same as many across the western world now: colluding with corporate and banking interests to serve the elite, against the interests of the vast majorities of their people.

    And yes sir, this wealthy beautiful country deserves way way better than this incompetent neoliberal lot.

  2. vto 2

    As posted a week or so ago – it is time that government was subjected to the same standards as in the Fair Trading Act. That is, no “misleading and deceptive conduct in (government)”.

    Bloody deceitful bastards.

    • Colonial Viper 2.1

      I personally think having Government leaders subject to courts-martial would be more appropriate.

      • Draco T Bastard 2.1.1

        Should definitely start to look to rehabilitating the charge of treason. Nothing this government has done should be considered anything less.

        • marsman 2.1.1.1

          Been having the same thoughts. They are a treacherous bunch, anti NZ and pro foreign corporates and let’s face it, some of those corporates are the country’s enemies.

          • Colonial Viper 2.1.1.1.1

            Watch Max Keiser for more examples of politicians committing treason against their own peoples.

            http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVbL8eWwER0

            • marsman 2.1.1.1.1.1

              Wonder why we have a former Wall St banker as PM ? Less fuss I guess when we get to be the next Greece.

            • Drakula 2.1.1.1.1.2

              I say line them all up against a brick wall and I will read them my poetry for fifty years. If you put them to death, yes you will end our misary but you could always give them eternity of rest.

              I mean really does hell exist? It’s a great idea and I know exactly where Mr. Key would be accommodated in Dante’s Inferno but after all it was all considered ‘Divine Comedy’.

              In the case of this lot ‘Profane Comedy’.

    • PeteG 2.2

      Should that apply to blogs too vto?

  3. Afewknowthetruth 3

    Lying features prominenetly in the job description for a PM, so I cannot see why people get upset when it happens.

    The real pont is, the monetary system and the economic system are founded on lies, so anything said or done within the framework of mainstream economics is a lie.

    We might deserve better but we won’t get better as long as people support dysfunctional economics.

  4. Peter 4

    TVNZ May 11

    “The economy will create up to 170,000 new jobs over the next four years, the government said today as part of its Budget announcement.”

    Presumably the 17000 includes replacing people who leave a job for another. So they are not talking about additional jobs, or are they?

    • Policy Parrot 4.1

      The economy will create up to 170,000 new jobs over the next four years”.

      Wow, I didn’t realise the Nats were that pessimistic about their election chances in November. Only a Labour-led government could ever deliver that kind of job growth.

  5. queenstfarmer 5

    There’s no inconsistency between the PM’s statements. He is correct that the Govt won’t (and shouldn’t) create jobs. But it does seem that the Govt has taken a leaf out of President Obama’s playbook in making rather “optimistic” projections and “creative” calculation techniques (to put it at its mildest) for getting there.

    • Peter 5.1

      He believes he is creating an environment for job growth via the Private Sector. When, who, how and why are not his concerns apparently.

    • McFlock 5.2

      So now the tories are blaming Obama for Key being a lying prick?

      Funnily enough I recall PM Shipley being equally creative when unemployment reached massive levels, desperately repeating “the market will correct itself”. But then she might just have been stupidly parroting treasury advice, rather than being comlicit in the lie.

    • Draco T Bastard 5.3

      He is correct that the Govt won’t (and shouldn’t) create jobs.

      No, he isn’t. It’s the governments job is to look after the people of NZ and that means creating jobs when necessary rather than leaving it to the market which only ever produces more suffering as more wealth is channelled to the few.

      • ZeeBop 5.3.1

        Surely the type of jobs that National are waiting to return, destroy the environment,
        or at best just create activity on markets for wonks to make money off.
        The jobs we need are in services for each other, as opposed to debt creation
        for bankers.
        There is a huge untapped productive industry waiting to be had, its called
        environmentalism, where people profit from find ways to do more from less,
        better ways to use energy, and arrange society.
        But still when you look at the roads, I see cars with a single occupant, the driver.

    • Colonial Viper 5.4

      There’s no inconsistency between the PM’s statements. He is correct that the Govt won’t (and shouldn’t) create jobs.

      If the private sector refuses to or is unable to create the jobs needed to maintain people in useful, productive roles in society, the public sector shall.

      • side show bob 5.4.1

        “The public sector shall”, how, who’s going to pay them. Meaningless words. You can’t have a public sector without a strong private sector. Of course we could all work for the public sector and we know what that is called, is that what you are really promoting?

        • Jim Nald 5.4.1.1

          Yup, the private sector is our saviour and we’re waiting for the private sector to manufacture our next messiah. We should all work for the private sector and shrink the public sector as much as possible. We should also get the public to bail out and underwrite more of the private sector that is so very indispensable to our lives.

          • side show bob 5.4.1.1.1

            Yes Jim quite correct I await our next messiah to spring forth from the public sector, Tui add . I have nothing against the public sector, some of my best mates work in the public sector but the public sector are as dependent on the private sector as the private sector is dependent on them. For viper to say the public sector “shall” is rather naive. Like it or not we need both but I would point out that the private sector has to provide for both. The government doesn’t pay the bills so the government are but an illusion, the citizens pay the bills. If the citizens do not have the wealth to pay the government the whole system goes belly up.despite Vipers generous offers.

        • McFlock 5.4.1.2

          Hey, sideshow – the necessary existence of X does not imply the exclusive existence of X or the non-existence of Y. Try drawing some venn diagrams, if you have mastered basic geometry.

          Of course, you might not be able to handle such simple logic, and we all know what that is called, is that what you are?

          • side show bob 5.4.1.2.1

            McFlock obviously I’m in the presence of an intellectual giant. If you can make a living drawing “venn” diagrams all power to you man. I’m afraid my logic is rather simple, I get up, I work but if you think Venn diagrams can save me from this burden I’m all yours.. Maybe you should take your X +Y and your Venn diagrams to the government, do the country a favour lead us into geometry heaven.

            • Colonial Viper 5.4.1.2.1.1

              FFS you should have learnt about Venn diagrams by Year Five of primary school. If you got that far.

              If you can’t conceptualise that far how on earth are you going to be able to conceptualise appropriate delineations between the public sector and the private sector?

              • side show bob

                Afraid not Viper just went to school to eat my sandwiches. But there is one thing I can conceptualise, the dribble that passes for informed comment on this site. Tell you what I’m happy to compare our balance sheets, you game, lets conceptualise them.Oh and mine will also have donations made.Just in case you don’t believe I’m “paying my way”.

                • Colonial Viper

                  Tell you what I’m happy to compare our balance sheets, you game, lets conceptualise them.

                  You’re one of those assholes who thinks that US$500K is a lot of money, aren’t you?

                  Don’t make me giggle, go back to school.

              • McFlock

                O. M.G.
                Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the John Key supporter!

        • Draco T Bastard 5.4.1.3

          You can’t have a public sector without a strong private sector.

          You’ve got that the wrong way around. In fact, the private sector wouldn’t even exist without the government setting the rules and regulations that allow it to exist.

          …who’s going to pay them.

          The government. That is, after all, what taxes are for. But even then, that is incorrect as all the resources of the country belong to its people and so it’s just a question of re-prioritising the distribution of those resources. Of allowing the private sector more or less of those resources and, if they aren’t doing anything with them when they already have them, to take them back.

          • side show bob 5.4.1.3.1

            “Who’s going to pay”, the government. Whether the countries resources are not divide up correctly, according to your good self is in material.The country doesn’t have the resources, full stop.Of course you could take more and more but history has shown that this will only lead to total disaster but then your not big on history, are ya..

            • Colonial Viper 5.4.1.3.1.1

              Whether the countries resources are not divide up correctly, according to your good self is in material.The country doesn’t have the resources, full stop.

              you’re an idiot.

              Here, you are pretending that money is a “resource”. its not.

              Its shit printed out of a printing press by the US federal reserve.

              Its free and you can create as much of it out of thin air as you want.

              In the last 3 years the US Government has printed US$600B of brand new money out of thin air. Investment banks then took this fiat money and created tens of billions of brand new bank cash with it, also out of thin air. See how bloody easy it is, dickhead?

              • side show bob

                I never pretended money is a resource, you have. Where have I said that printing money is answer to all our problems? The US can do what they like till the dollar is dropped as the base international currency. They’re the biggest kid on the block but of course it’s all going to end in tears.If you believe NZ could possibly pull the same stunt then perhaps you should talk to McFlock, he’ll have one of those precious graph’s that says it’s possible.

                • Colonial Viper

                  So your statement: “The country doesn’t have the resources, full stop.” is a lie.

                  Thanks for clearing that up.

                  • side show bob

                    No Viper but I’ll think you’ll find that most in this country won’t be to thrilled to live on the generosity of food parcels alone.. Please enlighten me on how you will placate the the masses when they realise it’s all an illusion for that sir is all it is.We can quite easily feed millions but we can only produce so much wealth in doing so. If our dollar was say only 60cents to the yank dollar the country would be rolling in clover, it isn’t.. Things will only get worst as the American dollar declines and sharing the wealth is but but a catch phrase.

                    • Colonial Viper

                      You’re an idiot for thinking that everyone in this country can own a 500 square metre mansion and drive a V12 beamer.

                      And there you go on about dollars again as if its some kind of resource.

                      It’s not. Who gives a shit if the US dollar disappears into a big hole. It doesn’t embody any real wealth or it couldn’t do that in the first place.

            • McFlock 5.4.1.3.1.2

              Doesn’t have the resources? We’re not the freaking Sudan – we’ve got a pretty benevolent climate (if we use the land right), pretty substantial mineral reserves (not all of it under schedule 4 land), a massive EEZ, a low population density, but all of that – which other nations would kill for – is infintesimal compared to our intellectual resources. Something like the highest per capita number of patents, an educated population and resourcefulness. All THAT needs is regular investment in education and R&D by the government and the world is our oyster. Oh, and we’re not in a freaking war zone.
               
              For NZ to plead poverty is a fucking disgrace. But tories love to claim we have no resources because it supports their TINA argument for strip mining Mitre Peak, deep-well oil spills washing up in the Coromandel and turning our economy into the Mexico of Australasia. Piss off.

              • side show bob

                Hay no argument from me McFlock you dead right but you fail to see our countries real problem. SOCIALISM. I’m all for being my brothers keeper but I’m afraid most of us now are our brothers slave.. This country his paid to many to do to little for to long. The country is like a drug addict and the drug of choice is someone else will pay. Bad news guys someone else no longer exists.

                • McFlock

                  Oh so the country doesn’t have a resource problem at all? Well then, I guess your latest argument against NZ’s anaemic form of “socialism” was a bit of a fib.
                   
                  Nice run of bumper stickers there – pity you have nothing to back it up. “Our brothers slave”? On what freaking planet? In this country we now don’t give a shit if our brother drops dead on a hospital waiting list. “Socialism” my arse.
                   
                   
                   

                  • side show bob

                    Not at all McFlock, we mostly want the same thing our problem lies on how to achieve “that thing”.You and your brethren believe in socialism I believe in capitalism. You will claim capitalism is the root of all evil I will say the converse. The point remains you want an all caring sharing society. I would maintain that given human nature this is not possible. The lefts catch cry is all must pay their share, Who determines what a fair share is? Why should someone like
                    I who works seven days a week 350 days a year pay more to someone who can’t get out of bed to scratch their arse. I have no problem paying for someone who needs hospital treatment but if the left believe the answer is to take more and get less they are in noddy land.

                    • McFlock

                      Don’t malign all human nature just because you’re a self-centred prick.
                      So now your a socialist for hospital treatment?
                      What about the couple who by chance have a severely disabled child? So they can’t work 7/52? And can’t afford a teaching assistance to sit beside the child in class every day of their schooling?
                       
                       

                    • Colonial Viper

                      The only people taking more are the big banks, the already extremely wealthy and foreign investors.

                      Did you miss the news that CEOs got average 14% pay increases while workers got sweet FA?

                      And time to ensure all workers get a living wage.

                      Next step after that: ensure that everyone can make a living wage working just 4 day per week.

                      (I know I shouldn’t feed trolls like Sideshow but its so much fun!)

                    • ianupnorth

                      Bob – where is the mythical ‘I’m all for being my brothers keeper but I’m afraid most of us now are our brothers slave.. This country his paid to many to do to little for to long. The country is like a drug addict and the drug of choice is someone else will pay. Bad news guys someone else no longer exists.’

                      http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/eco_wel_sta_the_wel_sta_and_soc_exp_of_gdp-welfare-state-social-expenditure-gdp

                      We are near the bottom of the table for welfare paid as a percentages of GDP; but conversely those countries like Belgium, where income tax is considerably higher and the welfare paid is much higher, have 2000 more prison in-mates despite having double the population; their classes in their schools have approx. 4 less per children, their child abuse stats are half of NZ’s, their infant mortality is far less, they spend 25% more per capita on health than NZ.

                      If you go for a low tax model it is proven that you deprive those in need from the things that actually improve the well-being of the whole country. If you remove safeguards you create other problems.

                • prism

                  side show bob – Sounds like someone you know has some problems and keeps trying to borrow money from you. Just because of a few people you know of that aren’t a good example of reliable NZs doesn’t form the basis of sensible policy making.

                  • side show bob

                    Sorry prism no one borrows money from me, most have more then enough of their own but if anyone asks I’m more then happy to “share the wealth”, hay I’m getting good at this. Never make a lefty they prefer to take.

                    • Colonial Viper

                      Sorry prism no one borrows money from me, most have more then enough of their own

                      Talk about ignoring poverty in your own neighbourhood.

                      Half of all NZ’ers live on less than $29,000 p.a.

                      You’re just living in elitist aristocratic la-la land.

                    • RedLogix

                      Wouldn’t touch ‘your’ money mate. It would come with too many stickies attached.

                • Colonial Viper

                  fail to see our countries real problem. SOCIALISM. I’m all for being my brothers keeper but I’m afraid most of us now are our brothers slave.. This country his paid to many to do to little for to long.

                  More Right Wing idiocy: the elite who hold all the power and wealth in this country blaming the peasants and wage serfs for being the problem.

                  What a moron. Time for you to get put up against a wall.

                  • side show bob

                    Thats all right Viper spit your venom it doesn’t change a thing. I take it I’m one of the “powerful and wealthy” now, love it. I’ll give you my bank managers email, can you inform her of my new status, she will no doubt be highly amused. And why on Gods green earth would you want to put me up against the wall, bloody hell man who’s going to feed you in the morning “duh”. You really should ease off those old commie propaganda clips, shit you might actually hurt yourself one day, you do know what end the bullet goes in, do you?

                    • side show bob

                      ianupnorth. Sorry can’t answer for Belgium. But if Belgium is the be all and end all why don’t all the countries in the world model their system of government off their example?. It’s all so easy to quote figures but I doubt they would have any relevance to our neck of the woods but of course you would know this.

                    • McFlock

                      lol – what’s so weird about Belgium’s government? That it’s a bicameral federal model, or that it’s a constitutional monarchy?

                  • McFlock

                    “Time for you to get put up against a wall.”
                    Being hanging around KB a bit much, CV? Getting close to the flipside of “beni scum”, there, IMO.
                    Besides, everyone knows socialists have re-education camps, not walls. Although “re” would be giving ssb a bit much credit.

                    • Colonial Viper

                      🙂 Well, when I said “up against a wall” I meant just as you do when give a child a “time out” for bad behaviour.

                      What could you have been thinking I meant? 😉

                    • McFlock

                      Ha – guess who doesn’t have to deal with kids. 🙂
                       
                      In that case could we bring back the dunce’s cap for ssb? 🙂
                      So much for the ” this will only lead to total disaster but then your not big on history, are ya..”. I’m sure this is what the Reader’s Digest called “picturesque speach”.
                       
                       

                    • side show bob

                      Oh please the socialist reeducation camp, oh please., what fun. I heard they are opening a branch in Disneyland.. Do you think you can “re” fer me. Someone with you elite academic skills will soon bring me right…..oops sorry left..

                    • Colonial Viper

                      It’s pointless for Lefties to keep trying to “convert” Right Wingers. Its a waste of time and energy.

                      The re-education camp is simply to keep you out of the way while we do real work.

                    • McFlock

                      Didn’t you get the latest Red Terror memo, CV?
                      It turns out that “re-education camps” for folk like ssb have existed for the past 50 years – they’re called “playcentres”

                    • Colonial Viper

                      Do they teach set theory in these “playcentres”? 😀

                    • McFlock

                      Covered in week three
                       

    • Bunji 5.5

      Have we forgotten the job summit and the cycleway queenstfarmer? Key was all about creating jobs then.

      Just because he failed doesn’t mean he gets to rewrite history and say he wasn’t trying…

      • Colonial Viper 5.5.1

        Then there’s all the jobs from that flash new fangled Financial Hub our PM John Key wants to use to turn NZ into the success which is Ireland.

  6. tsmithfield 6

    When challenged to explain which sectors the new jobs would come from, Carter said the “booming primary sector”. The problem is, the primary sector only employs 163,000 people (source: Statistics New Zealand’s Infoshare). Can’t see that doubling in four years, can you?

    The primary sector may not increase by 170000 jobs. However, you forget about the velocity of money through the economy. For instance, expanding dairy farms will be spending money with engineering firms etc on plant and equipment. The engineering firms have to employ more people and so it goes on.

    • Colonial Viper 6.1

      Screw the velocity of money through the economy, the Govt didnt give a shit about that or the multiplier effect when it gave rail jobs from South Dunedin to China so it doesn’t count here either.

    • Draco T Bastard 6.2

      I’m quite aware of the velocity of money through the economy and how over accumulation by the rich actually slows it down eventually causing a recession.

  7. ianupnorth 7

    Sideshow – are you really that dim? Do the hospitals not buy drugs, fuel, power, equipment – yet hey are largely in the public sector… Oh but wait, schools don’t assist the private sector – they must grow their own books, IT, generate their own power.

    Every Ministry has incredible buying power – we aren’t quite Cuba mate

    • Colonial Viper 7.1

      and this is without the massive implosion of large private sector firms over the last few years, many of which have needed (contrived) to be saved by the public sector to the tune of hundreds of billions of dollars.

      Talk about ungrateful.

  8. lefty 8

    Take a look at our economic history. The provision of national infrastructure such as electricity, roading, telecommunications, health, education, railways, shipping and airlines was done by government.

    Then look at our industry. Forestry was planted by government and the first large scale mills built by them.

    Farming was heavily subsidised with rehab loans, state advances loans at low interest rates, marginal lands loans at low interest rates, ballots for farms developed by the Department of Lands and Surveys, research and development done by the DSIR and given free to farmers and free education provided by Massey and Lincoln universities.

    Tourism was developed in remote locations by the government owned THC hotels being built and the Ministry of Works putting in roading.

    Banking and financial services were developed by a government owned bank.

    Our housing stock was brought up to scratch by the huge state house building programme.

    Government departments provided apprenticeships and training to build the skill of our workforce.

    And so it goes through the whole economy.

    What is it the private sector is supposed to have achieved?

    • Colonial Viper 8.1

      What is it the private sector is supposed to have achieved?

      They stole most of the above for a song and diverted the assets and money streams to a few, mainly foreign, shareholders.

      That’s an achievement that they still seem proud of.

  9. Craig Glen Eden 9

    Says it all really Lefty and thats coming from a Managing Director of a private company.

    These right wingers shit for brains!

  10. RedLogix 10

    Just in case anyone missed it, here is Brent Edwards (RNZ) making a total dolt of both Key and Blinglish on this evening’s on ‘Focus on Politics’.

    English is shown up for the lying shit he is, his excuses are weak and evasive and he contradicts his own boss Key who if anything comes across as even more idiotic than he is.

    That sound you hear is wheels all falling off at once.

    Cunliffe by contrast gets in repeated king hits. He keeps getting better everytime I hear him.

  11. HC 11

    170,000 jobs being jobs like us delivering each other pizzas, cutting each other’s hair, cooking each other take-away food and delivering each other newspapers. Yes, the ideas of National and its main ally ACT are great stuff to really advance NZ, are they not.

    Well how many jobs will the primary sector produce, and how many will be seasonal, being for a few weeks picking fruit and grapes? Many of these jobs may just be that, if at all realistic.

    This government takes a dim view of value added production, science and development, and hence NZ will continue to be a largely low skilled, lowly paid and underdeveloped country that produces yet more logs and milk-powder and by doing so increases pollution, erosion and the destruction of our environment.

    We are on the best way to become a 3rd world country.

    • Colonial Viper 11.1

      Stop with the bulls’ eyes dude, you’re making my forehead hurt.

      • seeker 11.1.1

        Talking about foreheads -I have noticed that when John Key is telling porkies or about to tell them, his forehead wrinkles up just as in this post photograph.
        I thought, when I saw it again on Breakfast the other day, that he was trying for the Gordon Ramsay look it was so obvious.
        Watch for the ‘earnest’ forehead design when someone is about to be treated to a rather large amount of ‘trader sincerity’ or bullshit as it’s becoming popularly known.
        John’s forehead is a real tell I reckon, almost true Klingon for those who remember.

  12. Peter 12

    Forget the Hughes issue. Let the Right go to the gutter, as time goes on no one will be bothered. In fact most people by now don’t care. Focus on peoples self-interest – jobs, work, asset sales etc.

  13. ianupnorth 13

    Now here’s one way of looking at it http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10730596
     
    Especially from about the 6th paragraph onwards.

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    It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support for the various parties in ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    6 hours ago
  • Bishop scores headlines with crackdown on unwelcome tenants – but Peters scores, too, as tub-thump...
    Buzz from the Beehive Housing Minister Chris Bishop delivered news – packed with the ingredients to enflame political passions – worthy of supplanting Winston Peters in headline writers’ priorities. He popped up at the post-Cabinet press conference to promise a crackdown on unruly and antisocial state housing tenants. His ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    7 hours ago
  • Will it make the boat go faster?
    Ele Ludemann writes – The Reserve Bank is advertising for a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion advisor. The Bank has one mandate – to keep inflation between one and three percent. It has failed in that and is only slowly getting inflation back down to the upper limit. Will it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    10 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi The fact that a ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    10 hours ago
  • Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Bryce Edwards writes – Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    11 hours ago
  • 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
    11 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
    12 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
    13 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
    15 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
    5 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
    5 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
    4 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
    9 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
    11 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
    11 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
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