Open mike 01/03/2013

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, March 1st, 2013 - 60 comments
Categories: open mike, uncategorized - Tags:

Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner).

Step right up to the mike…

60 comments on “Open mike 01/03/2013 ”

  1. Gee who would have guessed this? The CTU have released emails confirming that Warners sat on drafting the press release announcing the lifting of the Hobbit don’t sign advice. Warners agreed in an email the dispute was over but did not release the agreed press release.

    New Zealand you have been had.

    Epping Road, Gosman et al care to apologise?

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/129382/warner-bros-emails-reveal-deal-announcement-delay

    • geoff 1.1

      Epping Road, Gosman et al care to apologise?

      I like your optimism micky.

    • Chris 1.2

      Why have these emails only been released now? Surely this whole thing could have been avoided if they had released this email at the time?

      • McFlock 1.2.1

        At the time?
        What, you mean while they were negotiating in good faith?
        With people who wanted the emails kept secret even after the OIA request?

        • Chris 1.2.1.1

          I understand that – but when they went public saying that the union did this and that I would’ve thought that the good faith was destroyed particularly given these emails they had already received.

          If it had been me as soon as they tried to blame me for potentially losing the hobbit and effectively turned public opinion against me I would’ve released that email. What did they have to lose at that point – releasing emails that are sent to you has nothing to do with OIA requests etc.

          Colonial Viper – I agree with you I just don’t see why the union also effectively covered it up by not releasing anything till now. I feel like I am missing something that was stopping them.

          • McFlock 1.2.1.1.1

            Wel, if you had released the email jacko would have dragged out the issue much longer, and so much mud would have been flung around that he still would have had dropkicks protesting for him.

            Unions want workers to work too, remember?

            But now the govt side has been released, the unions releasing their own side of it demonstrates nicely who was telling the truth at the time, and the movie’s been made. Middle-case result for the actual hobbit workers, but puts workers in a better position for next time.

            Between wacko jacko and POAL’s dodgy math, employer credibility is scraping the bottom.

            • Chris 1.2.1.1.1.1

              But this email from the union demonstrates immediately that they were telling the truth the whole time. They could drag the issue out as long as they want but at the end of the day I think it has been suitably shown noone working would have been affected by the whole thing (thats the whole point no?).

              How would releasing this email showing the union was not taking action against the film have stopped people working?

              At the end of the day just because you agree with the union cause doesnt mean they did everything right, I think its pretty obvious both parties screwed this up and to be honest its looking more like the union screwed up more.

              They had a position where the other party was obviously lying and they did nothing about it. Good work? Yes Peter Jackson et al lied but they did so to achieve the ends they wanted which they got (not saying this is good but from their point of view was great) – the union came across as anti-everything yet apparently they were sitting on something that showed the other party was full of shit and did nothing. What the fuck?

              • McFlock

                At the end of the day just because you agree with the union cause doesnt mean they did everything right, I think its pretty obvious both parties screwed this up and to be honest its looking more like the union screwed up more.

                lol
                Funny thing about negotiations. Calling someone a liar while they’re still going on isn’t always productive. Given the description of Jackson in the emails from both sides, if the union had released these emails at the time and showed him to be a liar there might well have been a real risk that he’d up stakes out of general fuckwittedness.

      • Colonial Viper 1.2.2

        This whole thing could have been avoided if Jackson, Key and Brownlee had acknowledged the truth, instead of covering it up.

    • Good on you Greg!

      You have struck a nerve on Kiwiblog with your post on this issue!

      WELL DONE!

      Cheers!

      Penny Bright 🙂

  2. uke 2

    Congratulations to Dame Anne Salmond: New Zealander of the Year.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/8366898/Dame-Anne-wins-NZer-of-the-Year

    A good choice.

  3. AsleepWhileWalking 3

    Noooo!

    IRD considering taxing personal use of employee laptops etc. Time to get tech smart and find a loophole here folks.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10868425

    • AsleepWhileWalking 3.1

      And clearly the IRD hasn’t thought about the environmental impact => can’t use work laptop at home, have to buy one for myself = more ewaste = Fstupid.

      Quote from above article: But Mr Peterson said the additional tax would cause some employers to think twice about allowing personal use of the devices.

      “They’ll say you can’t take it home, it’s just too much trouble.”

      Mr Peterson also said the suggested tax would be an administrative nightmare and “there will be all sorts of fiddling around with people trying to avoid it”.”

      • Draco T Bastard 3.1.1

        And clearly the IRD hasn’t thought about the environmental impact => can’t use work laptop at home, have to buy one for myself = more ewaste = Fstupid.

        But they’d have a higher tax revenue from all the extra sales!!111

        /sarc

      • AsleepWhileWalking 3.1.2

        Oh, and way to encourage the use of technology.

      • Colonial Viper 3.1.3

        Laptops must be where all that multi-billion dollar tax evasion and income hiding is happening.

  4. gobsmacked 4

    Last night Peter Dunne announced a bold new immigration policy, on Twitter …

    https://twitter.com/PeterDunneMP/status/307043305865228289

    When quizzed further, he fell silent. I guess he hadn’t thought it through.

    (context: TV3 coverage of housing affordability in Auckland last night. The coverage WAS racist – memo to TV3, “looking Asian” and “absentee landlord” are not synonyms – but a discussion about spiralling house prices is not).

  5. johnm 5

    The artist taxi driver on the outrageous bank corruption in the U$K , the same ones bailed out by the public who are having austerity imposed on them.

    RBS Scandal of Banking thieves criminals and govt embezzlement
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPo_cB0cdDU&list=UUGThM-ZZBba1Zl9rU-XeR-A&index=2

    Scandal-hit RBS pays out ÂŁ600m in bonuses
    Asked why RBS can afford to pay bonuses to its staff but not what the public spent in bailing it out, Sir Philip described the bonus situation as “toxic for everybody”.

    RBS fined ÂŁ390m for ‘widespread misconduct’ in Libor-rigging scandal
    Royal Bank of Scotland bankers continued to rig Libor rate until November 2010 – two years after it was bailed out by taxpayer

    RBS fined ÂŁ390m for ‘widespread misconduct’ in Libor-rigging scandal

    Royal Bank of Scotland bankers continued to rig Libor rate until November 2010 – two years after it was bailed out by taxpayer

    Jill Treanor, City editor
    The Guardian, Wednesday 6 February 2013 20.27 GMT

    Royal Bank of Scotland was handed a ÂŁ390m fine on Wednesday for “widespread misconduct” in rigging the Libor rate until as recently as November 2010, two years after it was bailed out by the taxpayer and even after regulators had begun to investigate the key benchmark rate.

    Regulators found that corrupt payments of more than ÂŁ100,000 were made to those involved and that the bailed-out bank had “abetted” Swiss bank UBS – fined ÂŁ940m – in manipulating the rate used to set prices on ÂŁ300tn of financial contracts around the world, from ordinary household mortgages to business loans.

    “This is another day of shame for Britain’s banks,” Greg Clark, the financial secretary to the Treasury, told MPs.

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2013/feb/06/rbs-fined-libor-rigging-scandal
    http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/business/business-news/scandal-hit-rbs-pays-out-600m-in-bonuses-1-5454195

  6. yeshe 6

    Dear Jonkey et al .. if you think the environment doesn’t really matter, try holding your breath while counting your money …

    This is a frightener ….

    http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2013/02/14/1594211/death-spiral-bombshell-cryosat-2-confirms-arctic-sea-ice-volume-has-collapsed/?mobile=nc

  7. shaz 7

    Our government commissions a report on economic development and city competitiveness – the report shows that Auckland’s planning approach is broadly right – brownfield developments, rail and public transport etc.

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2547838/competitiveness-expect-backs-auckland-council-plans.asx

    However our Government fails to ensure that the report has an evidence base according to Minister Joyce whose Ministry commissioned the report and he then slates the report for having this. He cannot say :
    a) how much the report cost
    b) why his officials were allowed to commission a report so poorly scoped and lacking supporting research that he as Minister could discount it before publication.

    despite being invited onto Radio NZ to talk about the research his Ministry commissioned.

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2547839/steven-joyce-critical-of-report-on-nz-competitiveness.asx

  8. Socialist Paddy 8

    Chris Trotter on the events of the 2011 Labour Conference and what has happened since.

    The winners and the losers of the reshuffle depended on how loyal they were to David Shearer.

    Pretty scary stuff.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/opinion/8367976/Dishing-out-rewards-to-hungry-enforcers

    • karol 8.1

      Interesting. Thanks for the link, SP.

      • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 8.1.1

        Lucky no-one is prepared to vate for them. They are unfit to run a country.

    • Skinny 8.2

      Great post Paddy which has me thinking I don’t know why David Cunliffe doesn’t push on and form a new left wing party. He has been treated very poorly indeed & I really think there is room, with a good following that would ensue, including current Labour MP’s. Take Nanaia Mahuta she would win her Waikato seat hands down as would a number of others like Dalziel,   however I also believe a new left party would easily pass the 5 % threshold with a possible 9 to 10 MPs all up. I just don’t like the current direction, when you have 
      a former General Secretary bailing after a relatively short stint you have to think all is not ‘left.’ within the current Labour Party line up. And arguably policies that have come out are far too right/centralistic in my view. 
      Crunch the numbers & make a move DC, the sooner the better. 

      • The Al1en 8.2.1

        “Great post Paddy which has me thinking I don’t know why David Cunliffe doesn’t push on and form a new left wing party.”

        He told me he won’t. I think it’s because he’s committed to the party, or something like that.

        • Skinny 8.2.1.1

          Thanks The Allen very loyal of him all things considered.

          • The Al1en 8.2.1.1.1

            I always work on if you don’t ask you don’t get.
            Sometimes I win, sometimes I lose.
            This time we all lose.

            • Colonial Viper 8.2.1.1.1.1

              My friend. Getting the response “No” to your question is some marvellous progress.

              • The Al1en

                Of course I couldn’t and wouldn’t quote from a private email, but he’s a nice bloke.
                I do believe, at the end, he’ll be the one that got away from us all.
                Though I did say it was going to get messy and soon, so maybe too soon for epitaphs.

                Who really knows?

  9. Elizabeth Bourchier Real Labour 9

    Dear Chris Trotter reminds us of that black day in Labour History. His deccription of that angry boy Chris Hipkins is so correct. I’ve a vivid recollection of his distorted hate filled face a screaming into the mike. The wretched have taken control. Shame too on Darien Fenton. She has a black name in the annals if the NZLP.
    http://bowalleyroad.blogspot.com/2013/03/running-dogs.html?m=1

    “The Pack are well rewarded. Ms Fenton and Ms Curran both rise two places in the pecking order, while Mr Twyford goes up three to take a seat on the front bench. Megan Woods enters the top twenty – a back-bencher no longer. Andrew Little rises with her. Mr Shearer’s chief swordsman, Chris Hipkins, climbs five places to claim the shadow portfolio of Education from Mr Cunliffe’s running-mate, Nanaia Mahuta.”

    As my dear mum said, don’t waste time with bad people, fight fire with fire.

  10. Rogue Trooper 10

    RNZ-Council for Educational Research-“secondary schools have deteriorated over the last three years.”

    Diabetes-7% per capita, 19% showing early signs; Cheque anybody?

    yes, the Hong Kong commissioned study STRONGLY SUGGESTS, tax reductions and rapid inter-city rail; overall marks for poor competitiveness like the 100’s of cops off the front-line of poor fitness. Yep!, but that’s ok, the US are going to “directly fund the Syrian opposition.”

    so lets enjoy a SNickers Jah,
    I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings until she was Unchained from the squared circle of Le Mans disasterous latitudes. Her father projected that the eastern provinces could be reorganized, the lion placated; The Argo saga naught but another fleecing; “it’s the end of the Middle Earth as we know it.”
    More foot-in-mouth due to poor preparation. The heel of Pegasus was as quenching as Na Drini Cuprija; At a Hungry meeting 63% wish to ban foreign property buyers (above 30.9C no increase in pressure is going to liquify CO2 of Gauss) Still, try telling anechoic chamber that Tiberius freed both slave and lion. Gnaeus either / found an Island or an Ogygian deluge.(what else are you gonna do when it’s hot outside, little shade and freakin sport’s on the box)

  11. DH 11

    Steven Joyce has been pushing the foreign investment angle again, seems to have a fixation on it….

    “We must welcome more foreign investment – Joyce”

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10868108

    As of March 2012 NZ had $304 billion of foreign investment already. Joyce wants to take that up to $500billion yet no-one can even demonstrate that we’ve benefited from the existing investment.

    In the 2011/2012 year NZ exported $62billion and imported $60billion, our terms of trade were good. It’s the investment positon which caused our last current account deficit of $9billion, NZ sent $16billion offshore in dividends to those foreign investors and collected only $5.4billion from offshore investments.

    If we take in another $200billion like Joyce wants we can extrapolate that to an extra $10billion in dividends, sending $26billion offshore. It’s real headbanger stuff.

    • Rogue Trooper 11.1

      Motorhead-“Ace of Spades” (not Whisky In The Jar)

      • DH 11.1.1

        Heh, yep that’s a headbanger…

        But seriously, I think there needs to be more examination of orthodox economics on the left. Our international trade is all foreign exchange related. In simple terms NZ sold $76billion worth of $NZD and bought back only $68billion. We can’t carry a $9billion differential in our foreign currency dealing, the $NZD would crash bigtime. So we take in more overseas investment in order to buy back all the $NZD we sold.

        IMO all the talk about intervening in the forex market to bring down the $NZD is completely on the wrong track, because we’re already intervening to keep the $NZD up. If we want to get the $NZD down we’d be better off looking at cutting back on the foreign investment and/or overseas borrowing instead of trying to play the forex markets.

        • Rogue Trooper 11.1.1.1

          Hold your breath and one turns blue. (appreciate your analysis, like Poission)

  12. How appropriate/ proper/ LAWFUL is it for Auckland Council CEO Doug McKay to investigate himself, when it is HIS actions which are the subject of the complaint???

    DUH?

    ANTI-CORRUPTION ‘WHISTLE-BLOWERS’ EXPOSE HOW AUCKLAND COUNCIL CEO DOUG MCKAY HAS AUTHORISED THE ‘BLOCKING’ OF EMAILS TO ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES WITHOUT THEIR KNOWLEDGE OR AUTHORITY

    Gary Osbourne http://www.allaboutauckland.com/video/1907/accusations-of-corruption-within-councils
    Grace Haden http://www.allaboutauckland.com/video/1907/accusations-of-corruption-within-councils/1
    Penny Bright http://www.allaboutauckland.com/video/1907/accusations-of-corruption-within-councils/2

    Also – what Bernard Orsman wrote about it in today’s NZ Herald:

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10868429

    Penny Bright

    ‘Anti-corruption campaigner’.
    2013 Auckland Mayoral Candidate.

    (For more background information exposing the, in my considered opinion, dodgy role of the CEO of Auckland Council, and the General Counsel for Auckland Council – see the following ten new ‘Items fo Evidence’ which I was allowed to ‘adduce’ in the Occupy Auckland vs Auckland Council Appeal (in which I defended myself as a ‘Named Respiondent’).

    http://www.occupyaucklandvsaucklandcouncilappeal.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/OCCUPY-AUCKLAND-APPEAL-APPLICATION-BY-APPELLANT-BRIGHT-TO-ADDUCE-NEW-EVIDENCE-pdf.pdf

  13. Colonial Viper 13

    Duncan Garner just played Chauvel’s speech on radio. Said it was a slap in the face for half the Labour caucus.

    • Skinny 13.1

      Can not say I blame him as he gave up a very successful legal career for what? I had dinner with him once it was a great night out and we were all buoyant with Labour’s future, a different era to now!

  14. muzza 14

    Seems Aucklanders is going to get the same treatment as ChCh/Dunedin when it comes to bailing out the rugby heads.

    *Council votes to accept Eden Park ‘gift’ *

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/auckland-city-council/news/article.cfm?o_id=13&objectid=10865550

    Anyone like to open a book on the liklihood of a positive outcome!

  15. Rogue Trooper 15

    just to reiterate,
    19% (1 in 5) New Zealanders has Glucose Metabolism Disorder (precursor)
    215000 people live with diabetes which is to double in the next couple of decades; sticky mess.
    Campbell- “Third most obese nation in the world.”

    Family Court changes
    -“domestic violence will increase” -a Real Judge, Murfitt, speaks across the bench.
    (HB already ranks #1for Wrath in a national survey by police into provinces Seven Deadly Sins; Lust and Envy not far behind; Greed, not as Bad here…)

    the freakin MSM; gold prices dropping, with a tailing that “the Central Banks of Russia and China” have sluiced ” Enormous purchases of Gold.” ya don’t say, where you been the last couple of years?
    Moria?

    • Colonial Viper 15.1

      Get rid of all sources of added sugar and fructose from the diet. That generally sorts things real quick. (Typing as I sip my JD & coke…)

      • Rogue Trooper 15.1.1

        “Big Fat Lies” 🙂
        by the age of 20 was onto Jim’s Black, and back then there was also Jim’s Rye; Absolutely Fabulous in Wainuiomata, strangely enough (some Diesel Progress), yet you probably already ran that up on the Test Bench. (just quaffed a non-diet Sprite; gonna burn now)

      • xtasy 15.1.2

        Colonial Viper:

        Haha: I read that Japanese women believe in the power of beer, naturally brewed and without additives that is (“Reinheitsgebot”), they even bathe in it, as it keeps their skin smooth and young. No need for sugar there, aye.

  16. geoff 16

    It’s getting interesting on Chris Trotter’s blog.
    Here’s a response to his latest post:
    Felix Marwick said…

    “Even from the Media Table, the animosity directed towards caucus members who spoke in favour of the rank-and-file’s resolutions (the most effective of whom, by far, was Lianne Dalziel) was unmistakeable.”

    Really Chris?

    I recall us being surprised (and for news purposes) quite happy that MPs and delegates were expressing the views that they were. Generally we’ve been excluded from such debates in the past.

    I certainly don’t remember any of my colleagues expressing animosity at those that were critical of the hierarchy.

    I do, however, recall you going and high fiving with delegates when the 40% caucus vote remit was passed. I also recall you telling a political editor to “get f**ked” when they joked that perhaps the remit should have had support of 60% of the conference.

    And I do wonder how it’s consistent that the Shearer camp, which had been derided at the time by its critics inept and incompetent, suddenly became Machiavellian enough to co-opt the entire press gallery to their cause?

    For the record; I do not give a flying bollock as to who leads the Labour Party. I, unlike you, am not a player in that game.

    Felix Marwick
    Chief Political Reporter
    Newstalk ZB

    • xtasy 16.1

      “Felix” is latin for the “happy one” or “lucky one”, I suppose, and the surname sounds like “Marmite” to me. Combining the two gives me a messy impression, of perhaps a brownish smeared face after attempted eating, reminding me of guess who, Adolphus H., ruling 1933 to 1945.

      NZ media are to me mostly gutter media, that is most, not all, and 1ZB qualifies for “gutter”, hence not to be taken seriously.

      • McFlock 16.1.1

        Your first paragraph dramatically lowers any value your second might have had,

        • Colonial Viper 16.1.1.1

          Interesting. If Marwick is “not a player in the game” why is he injecting himself on to the playing field now?

          If Trotter’s recollections of Conference did not match his, it would have been a simple matter of stating his own experience for the record.

          I wonder, did NewstalkZB also run with the story that a Cunliffe takeover bid had been imminent at Conference?

          If so…how did Marwick reach that conclusion?

          • McFlock 16.1.1.1.1

            Actually, I was merely suggesting that saying any particular journo is reminiscent of AH lowers the credibility of other statements.

            As to Marwick, it seems to me that he was already doing what you suggested: commenting on the bits that he personally was acquainted with. The clue is in the use of phrases like “I recall us being surprised”… and “I certainly don’t remember “… and “I do, however, recall you going”… and “I also recall you telling”…

            Without simply repasting what has already been posted, Marwick seems to be suggesting that Trotter’s claim of animosity from the media table was possibly skewed by Trotter’s own animosity towards the media table.

  17. xtasy 18

    Chris Trotter exposes more about the scheming and back-stabbing at the last Labour Conference in November last year.

    “Running Dogs” is the title of his blog post today:

    http://bowalleyroad.blogspot.co.nz/2013/03/running-dogs.html

    Now if this does not open the eyes of more now, I do not know what will!

    It shows that Labour MPs have in large numbers totally lost their ways, and they had their knives out, disliking “democracy” from the party members. They were “working” on members and colleagues, so no wonder we got the Cunliffe “hanging” and demotion after all that. It is disgusting from my point of view.

    I trust that someone of the TS team or moderating collective may feel up to write a post on it. I am too worn out for now, so have a read and reflect perhaps.

  18. Rogue Trooper 19

    ‘Despite the high dollar…”
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10868511
    “women are not doing enough housework” (please don’t shoot the messenger Queenie, just the piano player’s been thinking…)
    Suffer the little children and at least let them pee
    http://shine.yahoo.com/parenting/transgender-girl-s-parents-sue-for-her-right-to-use-the-bathroom-201415013.html
    cutting through the waves
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/international-politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503226&objectid=10868418

Links to post

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • EV road user charges bill passes
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April.  “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago
  • Bill targets illegal, unregulated fishing in international waters
    New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago
  • Reserve Bank appointments
    Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates.  Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    15 hours ago
  • Stronger protections for apartment owners
    Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago
  • Travel focused on traditional partners and Middle East
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend.    “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says.   Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago
  • Keep safe on our roads this Easter
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Cost of living support for over 1.4 million Kiwis
    About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Tenancy reviews for social housing restart
    Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary plan halted
    The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Cutting all that dam red tape
    Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track.  “Dam safety regulations ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Drought support extended to parts of North Island
    The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago
  • Passage of major tax bill welcomed
    The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Lifting economy through science, tertiary sectors
    Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government announces Budget priorities
    The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.  The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government to consider accommodation solution
    The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government approves extension to Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care
    Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says.                                         “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • $18m boost for Kiwis travelling to health treatment
    The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says.   “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM’s Prizes for Space to showcase sector’s talent
    The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Concerns conveyed to China over cyber activity
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government.     “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry
    Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function.  The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Brynderwyns open for Easter
    State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Speech to the Infrastructure Funding & Financing Conference
    Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Parliamentary network breached by the PRC
    New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • NZ to provide support for Solomon Islands election
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ-EU FTA gains Royal Assent for 1 May entry to force
    The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union.    “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • COVID-19 inquiry attracts 11,000 submissions
    Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says.  “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Families to receive up to $75 a week help with ECE fees
    Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Unlocking a sustainable, low-emissions future
    A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says.  “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Chief of Army thanked for his service
    Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders
    25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Government commits nearly $3 million for period products in schools
    Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Speech – Making it easier to build.
    Good morning, it’s great to be here.   First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning.  I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Pacific youth to shine from boost to Polyfest
    Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • 2024 Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships announced
    ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Speech to Breast Cancer Foundation – Insights Conference
    Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Kiwi research soars to International Space Station
    New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Speech to the New Zealand Planning Institute
    Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Support for Northland emergency response centre
    The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed.  “Northland has faced a number ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Celebrating 20 years of Whakaata Māori
    New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Some commercial fishery catch limits increased
    Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-03-28T17:10:52+00:00