RMA backdown?

Written By: - Date published: 12:43 pm, March 30th, 2015 - 32 comments
Categories: Conservation, sustainability - Tags:

If this is accurate it is good news for the RMA and good news for NZ…

Key to ‘rip up’ RMA plans

Prime Minister John Key says there is no doubt the Government will have to go back to the drawing board on its Resource Management Act changes following the Northland by-election loss.

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters’ win in the weekend by-election means the number of National MPs will drop to 59.

Only ACT leader David Seymour supported suported proposed changes to sections six and seven of the RMA, so the government no longer has a majority for that proposal.

“There’s just no question that you’ve got to rip up what we’ve got now, go back to the drawing board and have another go,” Mr Key told Morning Report. …

32 comments on “RMA backdown? ”

  1. Kevin 1

    And all Winston had to do was get out of bed this morning…

    Off to a flyer!

    • Kiwiri - Raided of the Last Shark 1.1

      Yes.
      Northland did vote out John Key and his fellow puppets, and vote in Winston.
      There must be further groundswell on critical issues like TPPA, spying laws, …

  2. Clemgeopin 2

    My instinct is that there must be a few National party MPs in the caucus who have seen the writing on the wall about the beginning of the end for Key and have privately withdrawn their support for RMA reforms and other pro wealthy. pro capitalist stupid policies.

    • Lanthanide 2.1

      “and have privately withdrawn their support for RMA reforms and other pro wealthy. pro capitalist stupid policies.”

      Which means what, exactly? You’re saying that suddenly National MPs are going to cross the floor?

      • Tracey 2.1.1

        Good call on Winston not going further with the name suppression issue.

        • Skinny 2.1.1.1

          No Key is already putting distance between himself, Joyce and Osborne. There was a high enough percentage of kept in the dark nat voters that protest voted Peters or refused to vote altogether.

          Best drag slippery Key back to the pig pen with Osborne, Joyce and Bennett, hog tied if he continues ‘squealing its all Osborne’s fault’,as he is already doing about the 40 hours at ever single opportunity.

          • Tracey 2.1.1.1.1

            how does that relate to my congrats to Lanth for predicting Peters wouldn’t go further on the name suppression issue?

            • Skinny 2.1.1.1.1.1

              Oh well I can’t read between the lines can I. A slight reprieve it is firmly on the cards.

              • Tracey

                Thought I was quite clear about what I wan congratting lanth for, sorry to confuse you.

        • Lanthanide 2.1.1.2

          The only place where he wouldn’t break the law in doing so, made it very clear that no such discussion would be permitted.

      • Clemgeopin 2.1.2

        “You’re saying that suddenly National MPs are going to cross the floor?”

        While there is a remote possibility of that happening, I think in the short term, it would be more likely to be in the form of pressure being put to change direction in terms of some policies and agenda.

        • Lanthanide 2.1.2.1

          You think National caucus members have influence over the party policy?

          Only the front bench of the cabinet would have any real sway.

      • Tracey 2.1.3

        A couple, 1 even, who now see joining NZF as a possibility to stand up against National but not lose a career perhaps? Nats have been involved in leaking stuff to Hager for many years, the notion that all 59 sit on the Joyce/Key side of the party is a little statistically unlikely. Peters is conservative in the traditional National sense, there may still be some of that ilk in there.

      • Clemgeopin 2.1.4

        It would be interesting to see how Key and National deal with or deal to Northland during this term.

    • mary_a 2.2

      @ Clemgeopin – undoubtedly there has to be. Can’t see all of Key’s minions agreeing with him. Of course unless under threat of a fate beyond their imagination will befall them if they don’t go along with him!

      All it would take to see the demise of John Key as PM, is one, only one Natsy MP to turn against his/her boss, spill the beans and speak out about the deception, lies and duplicity which has been consuming this country over the past seven years of this odious government!

      The prospect of this becoming a reality, grows as Key, Joyce & Co begin the much anticipated decline back into the sewers from which they came! No MP, Natsy or otherwise will want to be associated with these sewer rats, once they have seen the signs that there is “trouble at the mill.”

      Sabin issue
      Winston taking the Northland seat from National with a good majority
      The proposed backdown from the RMA change plans

      The Natsies are losing it. Not looking too good for the scurrilous Key and his henchmen is it? Great. Bring it on 🙂

  3. Tom Gould 3

    I get the sense that Key is playing politics as usual. Neither he nor his henchmen have discussed the proposed RMA changes with Winston, according to Winston, so the National Herald’s “Winston won’t play ball” headline looks to be more 9th floor spin dutifully reported. What would Key and his cronies do without scapegoats and craven chooks?

    • weka 3.1

      The announcement today also makes National look reasonable and congenial (rather than a bunch of losers that just got smacked down).

      • Kiwiri - Raided of the Last Shark 3.1.1

        True and like Tom, many will roll their eyes and pick up that Key is on his usual auto-pilot mode of deception, convenient forgetfulness and other bullshit.

    • mac1 3.2

      Worth a question in the House. On what occasions had the PM or his ministers had talks with Mr Peters about the RMA and what discussion lead them to the conclusion that Mr Peters “won’t play ball.”

      The trouble for National is not that Winston won’t play, it’s that Mr Peters has got the bloody ball, and is in front of an empty goal, ready to shoot.

      To continue the football analogy, Key and National scored an own goal with their succession of poor decisions which led to the by-election and Winston fielding a team with himself as striker.

      Team coach Stephen Joyce got his team out late onto the paddock, pissed off the local supporters and tried to bribe the ref instead of getting in some training and a decent team. Even the flash harry ring-in off the bench late in the second half, John Key, blew his chances with poor footwork and took off for an early shower and a new location. He didn’t stay for the awarding of the Northland Cup and support his team in its choking defeat.

      Of course, it was the fault of the opposition that they won, six goals to four.

  4. Skinny 4

    Yeah Cosby Textor straight into attack mode setting up the bait, wait for it when Key regroups on the 6pm news. ” well actually it makes it hard for us too improve people’s lives in Northland when the changes to the RMA we have been trying to make are flushed down the toilet now the jacked up NL by election see’s all our good work undone. ”

    Dumping the further mining exploration rights in the North & New Plymouth is timed so the Nat’s can spin to a gullible Kiwi public. I hope they don’t buy it.

    Peters will go “now lets get back on the real topic and stop these diversions, what was the reason for the by election.”

  5. Rosie 5

    It’s really hard to trust that Peter ‘willing seller, wiiling buyer’ Dunne won’t change his mind and go ahead and support RMA reform, even if he has signalled in the past that he won’t support it.

    Here’s a crack appearing already, couched in his typical sensible shoes style

    “Mr Dunne said he and other parties were prepared to support changes to the law to make it easier for affordable homes to be built.”

    And

    “Mr Dunne said he was still willing to talk but had not heard from the Government on that since January.”

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/269693/dunne-suspects-secret-agenda-on-rma

    Or maybe he just like the sound of his own voice.

    Even if the RMA reforms don’t end up going through we have another potential disaster in the form of the Special Housing Areas Accord. This is a government accord that a number of councils around the country have signed in an attempt to speed up the process for intensified housing developments:

    “Special housing areas will have fast-tracked consenting conditions, no or limited public notification and limited appeal rights.”

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/67443896/Full-council-to-vote-on-adding-13-housing-areas-after-mayor-steps-in.

    I don’t know enough about the accord yet but this sounds like a localised version of removing RMA protections for the environment and communities.

    Either way, our government has already scored a win for it’s developer mates in the form of the SHA accord.

  6. McFlock 6

    That sounds a bit like key is performing manual labour.
    The only reason key would rip up the RMA plans is if he is terrified of having cutting tools anywhere close, for fear a loyal cabinet colleague will place them firmly in his back…

    • Tracey 6.1

      remind me of national’s ideas/policy for NZ over the next few years???

      • Kiwiri - Raided of the Last Shark 6.1.1

        nats govern secretly, with hidden agenda, and bullshit press releases along with cronies in the media.

        Wake up, Aotearoa New Zealand!

  7. Sacha 7

    The worst of the RMA changes they proposed won’t get through now, which is a relief. Even Labour has said they will back other ones. There will be some sharp backroom dealing going on with several parties about how far the Nats can go.

  8. AUDNZD 8

    On the RMA issue: Peters is completely irrelevant, the problem is with Dunne, who needs to be convinced, read bought out.

  9. ianmac 9

    There are some elements of the RMA that need improving. Wealthy firms who want to block opposition to their own company can mount challenge after challenge. Sometimes over 10 years of obstruction for selfish purposes.

    • vto 9.1

      I agree. And large corporates that intimidate small councils. And large public organisations that intimidate people. Sometimes even in cahoots with large corporates. All using big loopholes in the current RMA. These parts definitely need patching up.

      • ianmac 9.1.1

        Agreed vto as long as the patches do not diminish the Envronmental protections. It seemed that National wanted to make the commerce./industry needs trump the environmental needs. No way mates!

  10. Sookie 10

    The RMA is not working properly in a number of areas, and there is too much leeway for Councils to write crap, lazziez faire plans that locals, reasonable developers and environmentalists don’t have the power, interest or money to challenge. However Part 2’s fundamental principles do provide a last ditch means to stop inappropriate garbage getting consented, so I am very pleased the Nats are backing down on that.

  11. Saarbo 11

    LITTLE/LABOUR’S VICTORY…WELL DONE.

  12. saveNZ 12

    Good news already.

    The RMA is a scape goat for the corruption and incompetence in council which must stop.

    The RMA needs to be strengthened to protect the environment and to make polluters MORE accountable.

    Look at the headlines yesterday. Mobil heavily contaminated the tank farms in Auckland but got off and the public is PAYING COSTS to Mobil of 1million, because they claimed that other groups also contaminated it.

    Anyway very sad news for the environment. You can pollute for years, (but like tobacco) just avoid responsibility by claiming you were not the only polluter!

    Not to mention the Ports of Auckland just got consent to steal approx 1km of Harbour with the blessing of the Auckland Council.

    The debacle with Kaipara council also helped Winston as the rate payers are left with the legacy of debt from that failed secret council venture (all audited with flying colours by the National government),

    I hope NZ First, Labour and Greens get together to work out how to protect our country from polluters and also put in legislation to protect the environment and polluters MUST pay to clean up their mess not get away Scott free with the tax payers paying for the clean up.

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  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
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    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
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  • The return of Muldoon
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    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
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  • It’s not a tax break
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
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  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
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  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
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    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
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  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
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    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
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    5 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
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    5 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
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  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
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    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
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    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
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    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • There’s a name for this
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    6 days ago
  • Echoes of 1968 in 2024?  Pocock on the repetitive problems of the New Left
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Two bar blues
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  • 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
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  • Christopher's Whopper.
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    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
    3 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
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    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 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
    6 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
    19 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
    23 hours 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
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    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
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    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
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    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
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  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
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  • Government delivering on tax commitments
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    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
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    5 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
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    5 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
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    5 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
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    5 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
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    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
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    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
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    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
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    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 ...
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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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government backs rural led catchment projects
    The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
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    6 days ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction.   Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
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    7 days ago
  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
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    1 week ago
  • Government lowering building costs
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    1 week ago
  • Trustee tax change welcomed
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    1 week ago
  • Minister’s Ramadan message
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    1 week ago
  • Minister appoints new NZTA Chair
    Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
    Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology.  It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Progress continues apace on water storage
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    1 week ago
  • Government agrees to restore interest deductions
    Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
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    1 week ago
  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
    Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
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    1 week ago
  • Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity
    This year’s Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity and the contribution of Pacific communities to New Zealand culture, says Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti.  Dr Reti announced dates for the 2024 Pacific Language Weeks during a visit to the Pasifika festival in Auckland today and says there’s so ...
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    1 week ago

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