Phil Goff: The Leader Emerges

Written By: - Date published: 1:22 pm, October 18th, 2010 - 43 comments
Categories: Economy, labour, Media, monetary policy, overseas investment, phil goff, Social issues - Tags:

Phil Goff made an excellent speech yesterday.  One that showed far more direction, and a lot of promise for going forward.  Hopefully Labour can capitalise on this much better than they did on the excellent “The Many, Not The Few” speech.  They should be able to – yesterday’s “Kiwi Dream” speech contained much more meat to chew on that can continue to be processed; and Labour also seem to finally be getting to grips with opposition and improving their organisation.

Goff did well to contrast 2 worlds – both the two worlds that are life under a National Government and the two worlds that are the difference between a Key Government and a Goff Government.  A Key Government where ordinary kiwis are struggling as their reduced pay-packet doesn’t meet rising costs, where even those on 60, 70 or 80k aren’t benefiting, just a tiny elite, who are enjoying more foreign holidays (like Key to Hawaii…), and expanding wealth at the expense of the rest of us.  Or a Goff Government where they wouldn’t be scared to intervene to help kiwis out, that works pro-actively for ordinary New Zealanders – small businesses, farmers and workers alike.

And he got angry at where National, with their laissez-faire lack of a plan are letting us drift.  To a New Zealand where rapidly growing inequality leads to increased prisons, teen pregnancy, drug problems, obesity and physical and mental health problems.  Goff’s at his best when he’s angry – he needs to get angry more often.

Of course such strong leadership brought a reaction from the right – DPF got his National orders and he and Audrey Young immediately focussed on how good Andrew Little was – with implication he was Goff’s leadership rival, to undercut him.  Andrew Little was excellent, but there is no rivalry.  The Sunday Star Times had a bizarre front page about how John Key was too personally popular, and somehow that was bad for National.  All trying to take the air out of the revitalised Labour conference.

In Britain, party conference season is a large media event that gets a lot of news coverage.  They have a week focusing on each of the main parties, and their policies can be properly presented.  Instead of just the foreign ownership issue being excellently discussed, there would be time to focus on other major planks.  Like the rejection of neo-lib laissez-faire economics for a managed exchange rate and more balanced monetary policy; the new evidenced-based child-centred social policy that proposes a massive overhaul in the way our society and government plan for our future; the rejection of the 90 day fire-at-will law and Helen Kelly and the CTU’s proposal for much fairer collective bargaining on an industry-wide basis.  The other parties have an unwritten agreement to keep a low profile (unlike John Key’s visit to Mana), so that for the good of democracy the media can focus on each party and assess them on their policies.  It would be great for us to have that here.

43 comments on “Phil Goff: The Leader Emerges ”

  1. Jum 1

    I heard Goff on RadioNZ this morning. Excellent message, excellent delivery which brooked no dog-whistling distraction by media, Phil O’Reilly, etc.

  2. Jum 2

    Audrey Young has done Phil Goff and Labour/Progressives/Greens a huge favour; not only has Phil Goff been generally well-received by intelligent media, Young has told all and sundry that there is other talent available in Labour. We already knew there were several excellent choices of Leader in Labour and Greens for that matter (Jim Anderton, Progressives, knows how to make a stirring speech as well and insured us with a protector in banking). The Herald was deliberately not telling that story though. Now Young has – wonderful. Things are looking better and better for Labour. Leaders always need to know that they have competition; it makes them fight for both their country and their own future.

    Helen Clark was blamed for leaving the party bereft of a strong legacy of leader to govern. I have news for those detractors. Not only did she leave the party in a strong, cohesive and functioning shape, but there are now about 6 strong leadership-contenders all working hard to take the party and the country forward – all forward, not like NAct, all ‘back to the 90s sell off’, ‘enslave the workers’ boring fart philosophy. Not only did Labour know that they must listen once again to Kiwis and renew their watch on current international politics and global theft by roaming free-marketeers, they have accepted some policies were wrong; I say the majority of their policies were good. Greens has grown up and its policies are being mainstreamed.

    Captcha: circulation – thanks Audrey!

    • RobertM 2.1

      The political journalists are people of the left, in most cases. I won’t comment on Garner because I don’t know. Labour has a good choice of leaders from the political angle- Cunliffe, Little, Goff and possibly Shane Jones. However with the possible exception of Shane Jones they are all far too much keynsian big spenders for NZs stretched economy.
      Goff has simply reverted to the type of left he always was as a matter of class, friends and education. During the Rognernomics era Goff as cabin boy to the stars had no choice but to ape them as Clark did in l988 when she was briefly handmaiden to Roger.
      The anti foreign investment is a type of social credit policy aimed at rural hickdom and the hard left. Corkery and Coddington are intensely critical of the Chinese buyup and crime because of the dissapointment that the Chinese have turned out to be attractive solid citizens and reliable John Key voters. The sour grapes towards Melissa may well be that the Chinese vote has driven the left out at Auckland University. The uni bookshop is now full of good histroy Keegan, Fergusson, Hitchen < Civil War etc, War History- and generally far to the right of Unity.

  3. Sean 3

    Goff turned up on RadioNZ Jum and explained his position! Wow, that’s something John Key doesn’t do for a start.

    Looking at Goff’s performance to date, just his performance, not what the MSM pundits fill their columns with or what David Farrar says in his unindependent way. Goff is clearly a man who can be prime minister, and compared to the current incumbent, an excellent prime minister.

  4. Jum 4

    I am seriously concerned, Sean, that John Key does not answer for his policies. He is ultimately responsible. He signs off everything and will be held accountable.

    In Christchurch Parker was deliberately kept away from debates with Anderton; the National spin doctor service was advising him, that was obvious. Key only relates to Breakfast which does not demand he answer to his policies. Clark certainly was grilled.

    Goff has an experienced background in many portfolios. There is a dignity to the man. Key is Mr popularity. So What. Clowns tend to fall over their size 100 shoes. Key’s already done it once. Luckily the only injury was to himself and while of course I have the standard sympathy for another person’s pain I have no sympathy for his destructives policies.

    BTW Are there two Seans posting on the Standard? The ‘wow’?? If I was word-sensitive I would think you were takin’ the mickey, lad.

    • Bored 4.1

      Jum and Sean, read what I said about the Goff interview on Open Mike this morning, it was bloody useless from both parties. Goff as leader, hmmmmmmmm! He is supposed to be the leader of the left (where most of us Standardistas reside), I cannot take him seriously.

      • gobsmacked 4.1.1

        If you want Goff to be more “left”, give him a strong coalition partner i.e. the Greens.

        After 15 years, it’s time we all grasped the idea that MMP is not Presidential politics.

        In the abstract, Clark was to the left of Goff.

        In reality, Clark did deals with Dunne and Peters, that stopped Labour moving left. But Goff won’t have the Dunne option, and (hopefully) not Peters either. So Goff will lead a Labour Party, and a potential government, to the left of Clark 2002-08.

        Personally, I’m not interested in some idealised litmus test for leaders, while the country is being screwed by NACT. “Holding out for a hero” … who? when? at what cost?

        • Bored 4.1.1.1

          Personally, I’m not interested in some idealised litmus test for leaders, while the country is being screwed by NACT we agree fully on the symptom, not the cure. I cannot see Goff ever holding the publics imagination and “aspirations” like they do with Key. As you note, being “more” left is a collective thing, but who is there in Labour the public will back with their vote?

    • Sean 4.2

      I find myself largely in agreement with you Jum. My ‘Wow’ was taking the mickey, but it was taking the mickey out of a Prime Minister who won’t turn up on National Radio to explain his own budget. Like you wrote, John Key avoids interviews which could be challenging, and it isn’t good enough.

      I’m not sure if there are two Seans commenting on Standard. I don’t read every post. I know I had to distance myself from a different Sean over at Brian Edward’s site.

  5. tc 5

    “Goff’s at his best when he’s angry – he needs to get angry more often….” captures it IMHO and with a carefully managed campaign 2011 is easily winnable for labour as unlike the Nat’s they have talent across the board, a vision most kiwi’s can relate to and a track record of delivery.

    There’s plenty for Phildo to be angry about so let’s hope he stays mad as the NACT have 4 clubs in their bag being privatisation, slash n burn, let the market sort it out and smile and wave…..which’s seeing us catching Oz isn’t it ?

  6. SHG 6

    All the Government has to do is point to the numbers:

    “Lowest inflation in six years good for families”

    http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/lowest+inflation+six+years+good+families

    • Bright Red 6.1

      Why? The government did nothing to cause that. It’s just a result of the previous three quarters of low inflation thanks mainly to oil prices not rising much in the last few months.

      This quarter’s inflation was actually 1.1% – very high, and the next quarter’s will be even higher because of the GST hike.

      Inflation in and of itself isn’t as important as the unemployment rate and real wages, which are getting worse, not better like Key promised.

      captcha – reality

    • Bright Red 6.2

      The ASB’s new economic report is titled ‘Inflation: the only way is up’ and says:

      “Q3 CPI was a touch below our expectations, but stronger than both market and RBNZ forecasts. While the 1.5% annual increase in headline CPI is the smallest annual increase since March 2004, there are signs of a lift in underlying inflation in NZ.
      Government charges helped boost non-tradable inflation in Q3. However, even leaving these Government charges aside, non-tradable inflation show signs of picking up from some weak results over the first half of this year. In addition, the increase in prices is becoming more broad-based.
      Q4 CPI data will be the crucial test of how much businesses have managed to pass on the GST increase on 1st October. We expect this and further Government charges will boost annual headline CPI to over 5% by the middle of 2011.”

      hmm. so National didn’t cause the lwoer inflation and it will bost infaltion next year to over 5%

      • Anthony C 6.2.1

        From what I understood in the NZ Herald article (yeah I know..) the costs of most necessities like food, power etc were well up over 1.1% but were dragged down by something like a 24% drop in electronics.

        • Colonial Viper 6.2.1.1

          Hey thats handy for all those on >$150K p.a. who want to spend their tax cuts on a new 50″ LED LCD TV.

          • Herodotus 6.2.1.1.1

            The inflation has been low over the last 5 or so years due to tradeables, (non tradables those costs that are incurred as the product/service is only available fro NZ e.g. housing, rates etc ) have been stable and the non tradeables have been above the inflation average. This has saved lab embarrassment in their time in power and has resulted in this 1.5% inflation reported today. If it was not for overseas costs being stable, inflation would have been 4-5% over Labs and Nats reigns, interest rates would have been double digit. So we have been saved by the rest of the world for our low inflation.
            It is not the numbers but what “lies” behind them that is important, and the media are uneductated to see behind these numbers, but that fits in well for Key and Goff as both white men speak with forked tougue.
            http://www.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/economic_indicators/CPI_inflation/ConsumersPriceIndex_HOTPJun10qtr/Commentary.aspx

            • Anthony C 6.2.1.1.1.1

              I just wish they had the price of timber in the CPI… went in to by 50×50 clears today for some framing and the price has almost doubled from a few month ago. ETS? GST?

              • Herodotus

                It is funny what is and is not included in the cpi/inflation- Land prices are excluded as is “profit” for builders. Only the inputed costs for the construction of housing. So like today builder makes chippies wages out of spec house yet house price for end user is the same as say 3 years ago, inputs have increased = increased inflation yet house price is the same for 2007 as for Oct 2010.
                Also steel prices have gone down since their peak yet why have steel mesh & reinforcing steel rods not followed? There was a time that every month builders/construction coys etc were receiving price increase notifications due to international pricing. The mail was empty when the prices started to slide !!!
                The synic would believe that the reduced costs compensated for a slide in demand maintaining $$$ profits, the same with banks, try and work out all there add on costs !!!! 🙁

                • KJT

                  The CPI has been played with many times. Mostly to reduce headline inflation to avoid wage demands. Housing mortgage interest rates are not directly included as that would have shown up the embarrassing spectacle of the Reserve bank chasing its own tail.
                  Building materials are an obvious ripoff.
                  The materials price for a house in Australia have been (and probably still are) much lower despite them being supplied by the same companies.

  7. big bruv 7

    Good old Goff…

    He has strongly held belief’s, and if you don’t like them…..well he has others.

    Winston Peters aside, has there ever been a bigger political slut that Goff?

    Was for asset sales…now claims he is against them.

    Was for selling off land….now claims that he is against it.

    Was for lower taxes….now claims that he is against it.

    Goff is unelectable, the people of NZ know that and the people at the standard know that as well.

    [lprent: Wrong yet again. After looking at him during the weekend I think that Key is going to have some problems competing.
    But I see that you’ve been given your spin lines to regurgitate. I guess DPF has been writing posts? ]

    • Vicky32 7.1

      (Wee note – plurals don’t take apostrophes… Sorry, my patience with spelling and grammatical errors has run out – when they come from the Right! :D)

    • Pascal's bookie 7.2

      Winston Peters aside, has there ever been a bigger political slut that Goff?

      I recall some guy going on about how something was “commun1sm by stealth” right up until he decided that that something was actually quite good. Same guy was going to be Don Brash’s finance minister, up until Brash flamed out, then all of a sudden and out of the blue, Brash’s policies became radical nonsense that he wouldn’t touch with a barge poll.

      Although to be fair, that doesn’t just describe the PM, it’s his whole caucus. shall we talk about the parliamentary right wing evolution on the F&S, or civil unions, or the cullen fund, or WFF, or Iraq, or Nuclear weapons, or apartheid, or homosexual law reform, or marital rape, or shall we just quit while your drowning in it?

      • Tigger 7.2.1

        PB – I wish we would talk about that stuff, especially the deep homophobia that still runs through National. Remember, most of this lot voted against civil unions. Including Key. Having him attend The Big Gay Out is like Hitler attending a bar mavitzah.

        • grumpy 7.2.1.1

          Goff is making quite a good impression with middle NZ, the one thing that can derail that is the emergence of Labour’s Rainbow Wing along with the ghost of Chris Carter.

    • gobsmacked 7.3

      Big Bruv, if you’re going to quote the great Groucho, please get it right.

      And I’m afraid Phil Goff got there before you:

      “Steven Joyce stated in the clearest possible terms that he was proposing to cut the SuperGold Card. Yet 24 hours and a phone call from behind a bush later, what do we find from the Minister? He said: “We have made it clear all along that the Government is totally committed to the SuperGold Card, including the transport concession as it stands”. That quote was the absolute contradiction of what Steven Joyce told the country 24 hours earlier. It reminds me of a saying by Groucho Marx, who said: “Those are my principles. If you don’t like them, I have others.”

      (Hansard, Budget Debate 2010)

  8. Daveski 8

    Which of the Standards many posters will dig into the Olympic standard flip flops we have seen over the weekend. This of course is the reality of politics; however, it didn’t stop post after post trying to undermine National prior to the last election.

    Now, Goff does a flip flop worthy of gold at any Olypmics and there is not even a murmur? Where are you, Standardistas??

    • gobsmacked 8.1

      Daveski, let me help:

      1) Moving to the left in a left-leaning party. Makes supporters happy.

      2) Moving to the left in a right-leaning party. Makes supporters grumpy .. but they need the votes.

      OK?

    • Colonial Viper 8.2

      Geeeeez did someone try to bring back the ‘flip flop’ meme from John Kerry’s campaign?

      Fawgawdsakes Righties its 2010 now. Stop living in the past.

      • Daveski 8.2.1

        Surely you can do better than that?? While this policy may sit well with the party faithful, having Goff lead it with these policies is as credible as Winston calling for more honesty from politicians.

        I can understand who such populist policies will help redefine Labour and can even agree that for some, a lurch to the left will resonate with the grassroots. But for Goff to try and sell this is asking for trouble and highlights the problems Labour has with its current leadership.

        It also highlights the hypocrisy of the “flip flop” campaign that was so popular here last time out.

        • Zorr 8.2.1.1

          Let me see if I can break this down for you Daveski because, as far as I can tell, you are ragging along on the meme of “Phil Goff was an MP during the neo-lib revolution and has been a supporter of the philosophy since”

          Well:
          1) The experiment is over. Neo-liberalism has failed us. Please hold while we come up with a new one.

          2) Goff has now, FUCKING FINALLY, decided to announce himself as the leader of the NZ Labour party with policies that are a response to the global situation rather than keeping with the status quo and hoping (just look at the NACT economic plan… x_x)

          Who gives a shit if it is a change in direction for Goff. As far as I am concerned (and from expressed opinions here on the site it is the commonly shared one here) that it is a change in the right direction.

          If you disagree with the declared policys, here is a novel idea for you. Play the ball, not the man.

    • Bored 8.3

      Daveski, have you not read what I have said re Goff? Could not have been more blunt! And Gobsmacked is correct, moving left = happy lefties, we dont give a toss for grumpy righties.

    • Draco T Bastard 8.4

      I’m really not sure you can call it a flip-fop as he’s taken 20 odd years to change his mind. Not the five minutes it takes the right to make the same manoeuvre.

    • Jum 8.5

      Daveski
      The magic word is ‘prior’. We’re not even in the same year as the next election and you’re already attacking – nervous laddie?

  9. Vicky32 9

    Right now, hearing TV3 News giving their version of Goff’s speech – the policy on foreign land ownership is a ‘flip-flop’, and that’s followed by a long speech from JonKey and the 3 News reporter helpfully taking a few shots at Helen Clark…
    Typical!
    (Hamish Clarke, take note of that name…)

  10. Daveski 10

    The point I was making was that this policy shift is most likely consistent with what most here want to see. However, it is not consistent with Goff over the past 30 years. If you don’t like me stating the obvious, then wait until next election.

    @ Bored Sorry, did miss that. I actually kinda like Goff but surely that’s the problem?? To me, this is more about Goff protecting his position than seriously positioning Labour to challenge the Nats next year. Feel free to shoot the messenger but thems the breaks.

    BTW I don’t normally troll and if I was, I’d certainly try harder to inflame. However, I think this has political traincrash written all over it – or at least, that’s how it could well be seen from the left.

    • Colonial Viper 10.1

      Sheeesh geddit already, Goff has realised that change is needed and that the same old formulae will not work in the era of the GFC!

      With his long experience and perspective Goff knows better than most what a disaster the Chicago School neocon economic agenda has been for the people of NZ and he is the man who is leading the Labour party to Government on a platform of fresh new thinking in 2011.

      Hope John and Bill have a few more ideas to offer than tax cuts for the wealthy next year because they are toast otherwise. I guess we’ll have to wait and see what their marketing focus groups tells them about what the country needs 🙄

    • Draco T Bastard 10.2

      It’s consistent with learning from what went wrong (neo-liberalism) over the last 20 years.

  11. Armchair Critic 11

    The problem is he seems to emerge, and then disappears off again.
    Chances are I’ll vote Green. Or spoil my ballot out of disgust for the CERRA. Goff has a year to convince me otherwise.
    anti-spam – ball. Please stop dropping it, Phil.

  12. prism 12

    Goff sounded good. He had something to say about new planned policies that sounded good. That was good. Labour had worked out a cogent answer to the likely remark about why didn’t you do that when you were in government yourselves? They said they had dropped the ball and were determined to do better. That made me feel good. Hope all this goodness lasts.

  13. randal 13

    must be phils turn now.
    thats how national ran their last campaign.
    well the boagey flick and stick has had his turn now move over.

  14. Herodotus 14

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjRtKCKry1c
    So the metromone speaks, I see he swaps from speaking at the start on the left of the screen then switches over to the right then flitters from left:right of the screen then finished up on in the centre, is there a hidden message there on Labs positioning, both past and current ???

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    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 ...
    1 day 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
    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
    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
    2 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
    3 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
    3 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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 ...
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
  • There’s a name for this
    Every year, in the Budget, Parliament forks out money to government agencies to do certain things. And every year, as part of the annual review cycle, those agencies are meant to report on whether they have done the things Parliament gave them that money for. Agencies which consistently fail to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Echoes of 1968 in 2024?  Pocock on the repetitive problems of the New Left
    Mike Grimshaw writes – Recent events in American universities point to an underlying crisis of coherent thinking, an issue that increasingly affects the progressive left across the Western world. This of course is nothing new as anyone who can either remember or has read of the late ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Two bar blues
    The thing about life’s little victories is that they can be followed by a defeat.Reader Darryl told me on Monday night:Test again Dave. My “head cold” last week became COVID within 24 hours, and is still with me. I hear the new variants take a bit longer to show up ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 13
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Angus Deaton on rethinking his economics IMFLocal scoop: The people behind Tamarind, the firm that left a $500m cleanup bill for taxpayers at Taranaki’s Tui oil well, are back operating in Taranaki under a different company name. Jonathan ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • AT Need To Lift Their Game
    Normally when we talk about accessing public transport it’s about improving how easy it is to get to, such as how easy is it to cross roads in a station/stop’s walking catchment, is it possible to cycle to safely, do bus connections work, or even if are there new routes/connections ...
    6 days ago
  • Christopher's Whopper.
    Politicians are not renowned for telling the truth. Some tell us things that are verifiably not true. They offer statements that omit critical pieces of information. Gloss over risks, preferring to offer the best case scenario.Some not truths are quite small, others amusing in their transparency. There are those repeated ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days 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
    4 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
    6 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
    7 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
    20 hours ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
    Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024.  “Lower fruit and vege ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
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  • Speech to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
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    6 days ago
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  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction.   Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
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  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
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  • Government lowering building costs
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  • Trustee tax change welcomed
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  • Minister’s Ramadan message
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  • Minister appoints new NZTA Chair
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  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
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  • Progress continues apace on water storage
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  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
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  • Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity
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