Serious question: Treasury?

Written By: - Date published: 7:46 am, October 31st, 2013 - 86 comments
Categories: accountability, bill english, class war, democracy under attack, education, Hekia parata, john key, national, slippery, spin, workers' rights - Tags:

Why is Treasury providing the government with advice on spinning and disguising widespread changes to Education?

Treasury urged education minister to keep `ambitious agenda’ for schools low-key

Controversial changes to education should be kept as low-profile as possible, official advice to the Government says.

Documents obtained by the Herald cite Education Minister Hekia Parata’s “ambitious agenda for change in the schooling sector”.

Treasury officials informed Finance Minister Bill English on the scope of the changes and asked him to speak to Ms Parata about how they could be scaled back, and implemented with less attention. Their advice is outlined in a report to Mr English in July last year, obtained under the Official Information Act.

Would Treasury have been asked how to present the information?  Or have they become a branch of John Key’s spin machine?  How they claim sweeping changes to Education should be presented:

“Communicating change across a broad front is difficult,” Treasury officials warned. “Overseas experience in education reform suggests focusing on communicating a positively framed ‘crucial few’ at any one time.”

This can be done “while making smaller incremental changes in a less high profile manner across a range of fronts”.

Themes such as “supporting quality teaching” and “measuring performance to focus support” can be used to help communicate change, the Treasury suggested.

“More harder-edged changes could be pursued in parallel, incrementally and without significant profile.”

A spokeswoman from Ms Parata’s office yesterday distanced the minister from such advice: “It is important to reiterate that the paper contains Treasury advice or comment – this does not mean this advice was accepted, and in this case it was not.”

Averill Gordon, senior lecturer in public relations at AUT, said she was surprised by the approach suggested by the Treasury.

It bothers me that this approach is part of the MO of Key’s government: i.e. developing a raft of changes embedded within different parts of Bills and across several Bills that add up to a significant shift in policy. This way, seemingly small changes mask massive changes that will have significant impacts, as with employment laws.

In this way, NZ’s democracy is undermined, and changes are continually made that benefit the few and make life more difficult for the many.

Has Treasury become an enemy of the people?

86 comments on “Serious question: Treasury? ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Paul 1
    31 October 2013 at 7:56 am

    So will the media ask some tough questions about this?
    Or talk about the Block?

    • Tat Loo (CV) 1.1
      31 October 2013 at 7:59 am

      The media is supposed to challenge the narrative and the facts of those in power. Our media just underlines and repeats.

  2. framu 2
    31 October 2013 at 8:01 am

    “Has Treasury become an enemy of the people?”

    become? – your too generous

    and wouldnt offering advice that has nothing to do with money be somewhat outside their mandate and therefore unsanctioned and technically a bit illegal?

    frankly – if any one in treasury wants to play politics they should get of their arse and run for office.

    I think it high time we label treasury for what they really are “the economic think tank of the people who bought you the act party” – yes the “bought” is intentional

    we need a treasury of course, but an apolitical one,that is required to think beyond narrow neolib style economics is sorely needed

    • richard 2.1
      31 October 2013 at 9:02 am

      +1

      I don’t think this is a new direction for the NZ Treasury. The NZ Treasury have been a law unto themselves for the last 30 years – ever since they persuaded the gullible fools of the Lange government that the abstract pseudo-science of neo-liberal economics can be applied to real life.

      From their narrow ideological base, they continually over-reach themselves – desperately believing that because they have learnt some economic theory, they are suddenly experts in anything that has a balance sheet involved.

      The tragic outcome for New Zealand is that virtually all of their endeavours have resulted in failure. The economic wizards run COMU (http://www.comu.govt.nz/) with this aim: “The Crown Ownership Monitoring Unit (COMU) seeks to ensure that the Crown’s balance sheet is fit-for-purpose and is managed in a way that protects value, enhances performance and contains risk.”. One of the shining examples of how well they have done this is Solid Energy – http://www.comu.govt.nz/portfolio-entities/sector/energy-utilities/solid-energy-new-zealand/

      • Will@Welly 2.1.1
        31 October 2013 at 10:55 am

        Richard, that is right on the money. Straight after New Zealand devalued, millions flowed back into the New Zealand economy, as the currency traders took hold, and Roger Douglas and Treasury began their game of fool the Kiwi. The game continues today.

    • Draco T Bastard 2.2
      31 October 2013 at 11:48 am

      we need a treasury of course, but an apolitical one,that is required to think beyond narrow neolib style economics is sorely needed

      Won’t get one as the training at school and university effectively indoctrinates people into the narrow neo-liberal fold.

      • framu 2.2.1
        31 October 2013 at 12:40 pm

        well chief clown joyce has been trying to get greater influence over unis – perhaps he should be careful what he wishes for?

      • Tim 2.2.2
        31 October 2013 at 1:32 pm

        I’ve never really understood why Treasury has been elevated to such high status – i.e. over and above any other government department that deals with (say) social issues.
        Make it a branch of the Ministry of Economic Development (that is of course when that bugger’s muddle of MoBIE is dismantled) AND decorporatise the entire public service with their pathetic cost accounting/purchase agreement/KPI menatlity – all of which came to pass as part of the neo-liberal agenda.

        • karol 2.2.2.1
          31 October 2013 at 6:51 pm

          Agree, Tim. And thanks for the views from others. I haven’t taken that much interest in the Treasury in the past, seeing them as provide information of financial issues. I knew they had a neoliberal bent, but getting into very political strategic and spin territory is beyond anything I would have expected.

          Needs fixing.

          And should be part of what the things Olwyn reported from the Bruce Jesson lecture last night:

          The key points he made about the toxic effects of neo-liberalism were: 1. The prioritising of economic over community values.

  3. Craig Glen Eden 3
    31 October 2013 at 8:11 am

    Treasury’s actions are outrageous, i could say what the hell is going on here but sadly we all know whats going on, treasury are trying to keep New Zealanders in the dark while Key feeds them bullshit.

  4. red blooded 4
    31 October 2013 at 9:06 am

    These policies (“performance” pay, bulk funding etc) have been put up and knocked back so many times it’s ridiculous for the gnats to keep pushing them. They haven’t made it do far because the arguments used to support them are threadbare and simplistic. They don’t work to raise student achievement (which is already strong in NZ): they do work to disempower and deprofessionalise teachers, lower the level of expertise and experience in the classroom, put the focus on cost rather than quality, narrow the curriculum and negatively impact the learning of students. Put frankly, they are educational sabotage.

    We need to do dump these idiots and hope (against hope) that they FINALLY listen to the experts and look at the research rather than blindly pushing their facile “competition is always best” agenda.

    • Draco T Bastard 4.1
      31 October 2013 at 11:59 am

      Put frankly, they are educational sabotage.

      You’re talking National here. Pretty much everything they do is some of sabotage and all so that they can lower taxes for the rich.

      that they FINALLY listen to the experts and look at the research rather than blindly pushing their facile “competition is always best” agenda.

      To complex, leaving it to the magic of the market is soooo much easier (and more profitable).

  5. ianmac 5
    31 October 2013 at 9:10 am

    That has been the way that this Government has operated all along. Hence the Joyce smirk. While we mortals protest about some “little stuff” the changes collectively are changing the NZ way of life. Tweaking a bit of Employment Law here and a bit over there, a planned distraction over there and presto, we are disadvantaged and poorer.

  6. red blooded 6
    31 October 2013 at 9:10 am

    Urgh! Phone predictions… I meant “DUMP these idiots”.

    Hey, Lynn, I clicked “edit” and it just took me back to the main menu.

    [karol: prediction error above fixed – though “do these idiots” is an interesting way to put it]

    [lprent: I’ll be sitting bored in Christchurch at conference as “media” from tomorrow and over the weekend. I’m intending to have a good look at some of the systems then. Lyn won’t be around to distract me (for my own good 🙂 ). I want to have a good look at the re-edit to see if I can just strip out the bits that I’m interested in. ]

  7. Chooky 7
    31 October 2013 at 9:16 am

    @ Karol …great post

    Is policy being made by private ‘research’ PR companies?…..( advised by American business vested interests in Charter Schools and priivatising NZ education…using NZ taxpayer money?) .

    Are Treasury, the Ministry of Education and the Minister of Education , being CAPTURED….. by these hidden policy ‘research ‘ PR company infiltrators?

    ….Who are they? ….more probing questions and sunlight on this from the MSM please!

    Why is ‘MINNIE ME MOUSE’ Parata …. ignoring NZ experts in education ….Professors of Education and their advice AGAINST privatising NZ Education and Charter Schools ( initially setup with taxpayer money and assets) ………at the expense of NZ State Education?

    Are we going to end up with a MICKEY MOUSE Education System like USA?( which dumbs down the populous and indoctrinates…rather than teaches critical thinking and research excellence)

    ….and led by Messrs Mickey Mouses…..John Banks, Tony Ryall, and John Key? ….all of whom have no qualifications in Education but are puppets, making policy on the hoof to a right wing American policy directed agenda

  8. One Anonymous Knucklehead 8
    31 October 2013 at 9:19 am

    None of this is news. Treasury is a political party masquerading as a government department, and has been for years. It’s time to stop repeating the obvious and propose solutions. I would start by making them all re-apply for their jobs. It will be easy to see which ones are worth re-hiring: they’ll be the ones who can back up their theories with real-world examples of positive results.

    Alternatively, identify all those who have proposed policy based on market fundamentalism and sack them for incompetence.

    • Chooky 8.1
      31 October 2013 at 10:17 am

      ONK…+1…the fact that Treasury hired Goldman Sachs to evaluate Kiwibank says it all !

    • Draco T Bastard 8.2
      31 October 2013 at 12:03 pm

      It will be easy to see which ones are worth re-hiring: they’ll be the ones who can back up their theories with real-world examples of positive results.

      Oh, goody, we’ll be able to fire all of them 😈

      • One Anonymous Knucklehead 8.2.1
        31 October 2013 at 2:44 pm

        Yeah nah, I bet some of them are smart enough to adapt. After all, there are lots of countries and economic situations to choose from, and getting out more might be good for them.

    • One Anonymous Knucklehead 8.3
      31 October 2013 at 2:46 pm

      Correction: by “theories” I mean “notions”.

  9. tc 9
    31 October 2013 at 9:22 am

    How many contractor/consultants have the Nat’s installed into Treasury since taking office whilst slashing and burning through the rest of the public service.

    Blinglish was a career treasury official till he took the blue pill so this should come as no surprise.

    Look at Education with Parata’s sister and Health also with Blinglish’s bro getting a well paid gig too name a few, it’s what they do best this sucking off the taxpayer malarkey.

    • One Anonymous Knucklehead 9.1
      31 October 2013 at 3:46 pm

      Unfair. Let Connor English and Apryll Parata stand or fall on their own merits. Unless you have evidence of nepotism that is.

  10. Philgwellington Wellington 10
    31 October 2013 at 9:57 am

    Xox
    This is exactly the MO of the present facade of a ‘government’ – it’s simply corporate interest, mimicking the USA.
    It’s called death by a thousand cuts. Unless the political opposition can take back government control and start governing, we are in the collective cow pat.

  11. May Ross 11
    31 October 2013 at 10:27 am

    Being an American import, I am reminded of the Republican strategy. First they attacked the education and got control of the news agencies. The Republicans wanted the populous to be ignorant, uninformed and fearful. They wanted first to prime the US people by taking all access to higher education and then feed them up on propaganda from the news agencies (Turner, Fox News) so that the people would believe whatever scheme was put forth, like, “The Patriot Act,” “The Clean Air Act,” “Trickle down economics,” which all do the opposite of what is implied by their name.

    It seems to me that John Key and his buddies are trying to use the Republican Handbook here, in NZ. I’m hoping y’all are too smart for them to get away with it. Cunliffe with the Greens is a huge step in the right direction. It’s time for NZ to teach the US how to fix things. It is so important for us, with such a small population, to educate ourselves, so that we can be players in the world market without selling our precious land, farms, mining rights, and water to the big nasty monsters overseas. The small profit being made is going in to the pocket of the 1%. Let’s stand up, before it’s too late!

    • Saarbo 11.1
      31 October 2013 at 10:53 am

      Hear, hear.

      Just another disturbing case of right wing nutters trying to manipulate democracy for their own means.

  12. Tracey 12
    31 October 2013 at 10:36 am

    Funny how they will follow some treasury advice and not other.

  13. Huginn 13
    31 October 2013 at 11:10 am

    Go to: Philip Mirowski’s Thirteen Commandments of Neoliberalism
    here: http://www.the-utopian.org/post/53360513384/the-thirteen-commandments-of-neoliberalism

    Look up:

    [2] THOU SHALT ERASE DISTINCTIONS

    [4] THOU SHALT RETASK THE STATE TO THY NEEDS

  14. millsy 14
    31 October 2013 at 11:38 am

    This is the government’s intention all along.

    John Key has learned the lessons from Bolger’s government, which tried a rip, shit and bust approach, and almost got tossed out.

    Tony Ryall is showing us all how it is done, knocking away the last vestiges of the public health system bit by tiny bit, the hike in prescription charges for the poor to may for cancer nurses for the middle classes being one example.

    • thatguynz 14.1
      31 October 2013 at 12:56 pm

      Very true. The “How to boil a frog” philosophy in action..

    • Rogue Trooper 14.2
      31 October 2013 at 4:14 pm

      Soimon Says “we can’t have theater nurses taking tea-breaks in the middle of an operation”, don’t you know leaving un-sterile teaspoons everywhere, dunking their biscuits in the wrong vessel, slurping from syringes!

  15. Draco T Bastard 15
    31 October 2013 at 11:46 am

    Has Treasury become an enemy of the people?

    Yes.

  16. Rodel 16
    31 October 2013 at 12:00 pm

    Had a ‘friend’- more of an acquaintance, in treasury who was proud of his T shirt with the big printed caption ‘Treasury Cares
    Down to the last cent’
    Not sure what he was trying to say.

  17. Natwest 17
    31 October 2013 at 1:16 pm

    No Karol, the MSM won’t be covering this at the moment – as you know they are too busy covering Len Brown’s arse!

    • framu 17.1
      31 October 2013 at 1:51 pm

      are you more worried about…

      a) something which isnt a crime and directly affects 2, maybe 3 or 4 people
      b) multiple instances of criminal behaviour that directly affects the biggest city in the country where a third of the population resides

      the two issues are separate you know – weve dealt with the affair, now were onto the political motivations and illegal acts of those who used this for their own personal gain

      Is that simple enough for you?

  18. Natwest 18
    31 October 2013 at 1:23 pm

    Maybe it’s time for a closer look at our Education system – for goodness sake the system is currently failing at least 20% of our kids, who are leaving school illiterate. Stop covering up the obvious incompetence of some in the Education system – namely lame teachers and, stop protecting this union dominated sector.

    • Tat Loo (CV) 18.1
      31 October 2013 at 1:38 pm

      If you were serious about child achievement, you would be looking at eradicating child poverty by immediately increasing benefit levels and the minimum wage by at least 10%.

      Of course, you are not. Just another shill for education privateers.

      • Puckish Rogue 18.1.1
        31 October 2013 at 3:10 pm

        There is no child poverty, theres children living in poverty sure but to say child poverty is disingenious at best also what criteria is used to determine this poverty

        Sounds like the so-called living wage

        • framu 18.1.1.1
          31 October 2013 at 3:19 pm

          “There is no child poverty, theres children living in poverty”

          semantics much?

        • One Anonymous Knucklehead 18.1.1.2
          31 October 2013 at 3:56 pm

          No child poverty eh? Really? Is there an increase in treatable infectious disease admissions to hospitals that is disproportionally affecting people from low income households? Is there a strong correlation between household income and education outcomes? Is there any evidence of overcrowded damp housing? Large prison population drawn mainly from low-income households? High recidivism rates?

          The answer to these questions is “yes”. What do you propose to call it if not “poverty”? My pick is you will make more feeble attempts at denial based on your existing bias.

          • Puckish Rogue 18.1.1.2.1
            31 October 2013 at 4:09 pm

            Poor parenting for a start

            • One Anonymous Knucklehead 18.1.1.2.1.1
              31 October 2013 at 4:16 pm

              Blame the victims. Then punish them, then feel superior, then get dragged screaming to the public square for a date with Madame Guillotine?

              We’ve tried your plan before. It was shit then and it’s shit now. A wingnut humping a zombie.

            • Rogue Trooper 18.1.1.2.1.2
              31 October 2013 at 4:16 pm

              for an outcome

            • framu 18.1.1.2.1.3
              31 October 2013 at 4:47 pm

              doesnt negate any actual poverty though does it

              you can still be a bad parent and live in poverty

              jesus mate – your leaving these doors wiiiiide open

            • One Anonymous Knucklehead 18.1.1.2.1.4
              31 October 2013 at 4:50 pm

              PS: I note that you are arguing that poor parenting increases under a National-led government.

      • millsy 18.1.2
        1 November 2013 at 8:55 am

        Actually the Tomorrow’s Schools reforms have a part to play in leaving a lot of kids behind (not to mention the opening up of our education to international students) Due to the simple fact that school support was effectively privatised and schools cut adrift from any support (apart from a couple of extra bucks), and forced to compete, they pretty much couldnt be bothered with the bottom 20% and cut them adrift, using suspensions and exclusions or simply dumping them in the cabbage classes and hope they go away.

        It doesnt help that middle class types have been shunning their local school for the past 20 years, something that has been encouraged by governments on both sides.

    • framu 18.2
      31 October 2013 at 1:47 pm

      “Stop covering up the obvious incompetence of some in the Education system”

      you mean parata dont you?

      look – this issue has been done to death and your very late to the party.

      We know why kids are failing, we know which kids are failing and we know what will help those particular kids to succeed. Oddly enough its those teachers you demonise who have been trying to tell us whats needed to fix these issues for years

      The 20% figure is bullshit because your lumping in the different reasons for failure and pinning it all on the teachers

      National standards and charter schools wont fix a single fucking thing, they arent designed to.

      Read up about G.E.R.M. – then ask yourself why the same supposed “fixes” are put forward regardless of what country its in an d what the problem is.

      In short stop being so mind bendingly ignorant, and do some basic fucking research before putting your dunce sized foot in your mouth for all to see

    • dv 18.3
      31 October 2013 at 1:47 pm

      Natwest How do you justify the at least 20% number.
      Please point to the evidence.

      Oh Framu that was far too gentle.

      • framu 18.3.1
        31 October 2013 at 1:52 pm

        well – i can get much more robust than that – but then thats letting nobs like natwest feel like theyve gotten a “win”

        • One Anonymous Knucklehead 18.3.1.1
          31 October 2013 at 2:54 pm

          Mr. Parrot and Mrs. Sponge got together, and they called their children Natwest, Chris73, BM, King Kong and Rich the other. All they’re good for is sucking up National Party talking points then repeating them ad nauseam.

          Not an original thought among them. Late to the party indeed.

          [lprent: If they do regurgitate “ad nauseam”, then eventually I ban them for trolling so I have a respite from unthinking fools == trolls. After all I get to scan almost all of the comments on the site. You wouldn’t believe how irritable I can get reading the same crap without any obvious individual intelligence appearing.

          Rich the other got one the other day for some meaningless waffle that was essentially a nice sounding wankfest displaying no actual understanding or thought. ]

    • Chooky 18.4
      31 October 2013 at 3:17 pm

      Natwest….you are uneducated idiot

      Is it too much to ask you to listen to Education Professors and international academic research on the causes of educational under-achievement

      ……not lame teachers, nor union sector …….. but socio-economic underclass DEPRIVATION!

      ….stressed hungry children, malnourished children, unemployed stressed parents , poor housing or no housing, sick/unhealthy children

      Who is to blame?…the immoral National Party and Act Party , and neoliberal policies which create this underclass of deprivation

      …. and who undermine and underfund the state education system that NZ was set up on….a proud state education system which was free and of very high quality and offered remedial education where necessary.

    • dv 18.5
      31 October 2013 at 4:06 pm

      AND Natwest
      Look at this

      Education NZ is 1st in the world
      And the systems the Nats are trying to copy, the US is 5th and England isn’t even in the top 10.

      http://www.prosperity.com/#!/analysis-education

      • chris73 18.5.1
        31 October 2013 at 5:17 pm

        Well if we’re rated as number 5 in the world then Nationals obviously doing a good job

        • McFlock 18.5.1.1
          31 October 2013 at 5:31 pm

          New Zealand has moved down two places since 2009 on overall Prosperity to 5th in 2013.

          Safety & Security has moved down by eight places to 15th, due to increases in demographic pressures, human emigration and group grievances.

          Governance has increased by one place to 2nd, mainly because of an improvement in regulation quality and a decrease in the perception of corruption.

          So not so good performance on prosperity, crap performance in safety and security, but they’ve managed to partially close the stable door after the finance company horse bolted.

          [slow clap at their good job].

    • peterlepaysan 18.6
      31 October 2013 at 9:44 pm

      Statistics always fails whatever percentage a lobbyist wants to promote. That is the nature of statistics.

  19. captain hook 19
    31 October 2013 at 1:59 pm

    treasury is filled with hand-picked prissy little pantywaists with too tight underpants cutting off the supply of blood to the head.
    furthermore they think they know everything and their own thoughts are facts.
    They should all be made to re-apply for their jobs.

    • Puckish Rogue 19.1
      31 October 2013 at 3:08 pm

      Parliment is filled with hand-picked prissy little pantywaists with too tight underpants cutting off the supply of blood to the head.
      furthermore they think they know everything and their own thoughts are facts.
      They should all be made to re-apply for their jobs.

      – fixed it for you

      • Pascal's bookie 19.1.1
        31 October 2013 at 3:14 pm

        If only we lived in a representative democracy where politicians had to reapply for their jobs eh Puck?

        • Puckish Rogue 19.1.1.1
          31 October 2013 at 4:06 pm

          I mean a serious reapply not the sham we have now where you can get turfed out of an electorate but still get back in on the list…

          Maybe only be allowed to either go on the list or as an electorate MP…

          • Pascal's bookie 19.1.1.1.1
            31 October 2013 at 4:14 pm

            You know how you get two votes under MMP? They both count.

            • vto 19.1.1.1.1.1
              31 October 2013 at 4:22 pm

              ha ha, poor old puckish rogue – what a silly noo noo

              • Puckish Rogue …
                31 October 2013 at 4:24 pm

                Yes I know but it just bugs me is all that the people speak and say no we dont want that MP and then that same MP gets in on the list…

                • Pascal's bookie …
                  31 October 2013 at 4:31 pm

                  What on earth are you talking about?

                  eg, the people of Tauranga voted Winston out as rep of Tauranga and replaced him with the Bob the builder idiot. And good luck to them. Winnie was no longer the MP for Tauranga. Instead, they were represented by the Bob chappie, who they elected to do that Job.

                  Winston got back into parliament because lots of people voted for Winston First, and he represented them. The people of tauranga don’t get a veto over that, and why on earth should they?

                  • vto …
                    31 October 2013 at 4:40 pm

                    It astounds me that people like puckish rogue get to vote when they have pretty much no idea about the electoral system. Hate to think how much they don’t know about every other important matter…..

                    • felix …
                      1 November 2013 at 8:39 am

                      They don’t really need to know anything. They have a list of talking points and as each is rebutted they move on down the list, rinse and repeat.

                • framu …
                  31 October 2013 at 4:50 pm

                  electorate vote is equivilant to local vote
                  list vote is equivilant to nationwide vote

                  and nthe list has to be published before the election

                  dont complain to anyone that you too thick to understand how your TWO votes work under mmp

                  to contine PBs analogy – tauranga said we dont want winston representing tauranga, but the rest of the country (well enough to get him into parliament) said yes to winston at a national level

          • One Anonymous Knucklehead 19.1.1.1.2
            31 October 2013 at 4:29 pm

            PR do you have a single original notion that doesn’t come straight out of the wingnut tr*ll playbook? Every topic, it’s like deja vue all over again. Are you trying to bore the Left to death or something?

            We need better wingnuts

  20. Tracey 20
    31 October 2013 at 6:36 pm

    Wow. So rich = good parenting… thats a new one…

    When the children of the rich suffer its not from poverty but drugs… they get good lawyers tho. I recall paul holmes being lauded for his efforts with his daughter yet puckish must believe he was a bad parent for her to get ibto trouble in the first place.

    pretty sure post war rationing didnt result in the kind of poverty we are seeing in some places today.

    • Will@Welly 20.1
      31 October 2013 at 9:52 pm

      No Tracey. Rich = choices. That’s why National sees it as imperative that the wealth be taken away from the middle classes so they have no choice but to comply with the wishes of the ruling elite.
      Morality – drugs and their like – do not come into the equation
      As for the post-war world, most people did not like the idea that rationing continued well beyond what was possibly necessary, but most accepted it. The irony was in 1951 the National Government set out to destroy the very foundations that so many fought for. Returned servicemen, working on the wharves, now found themselves “enemies of the state”. 60 years later the cycle continues.

  21. repateet 21
    31 October 2013 at 7:40 pm

    Short memories. Don’t people remember Gabriel Makhlouf poking his nose in with political comments about education?

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • New catch limits for unique fishery areas
    Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 hours ago

  • Minister welcomes hydrogen milestone
    Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago

  • Urgent changes to system through first RMA Amendment Bill
    The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Overseas decommissioning models considered
    Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Release of North Island Severe Weather Event Inquiry
    Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Justice Minister to attend Human Rights Council
    Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order.  “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Patterson reopens world’s largest wool scouring facility
    Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Speech to the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective Summit, 18 April 2024
    Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing  At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin    Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho    Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today.    I am delighted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Government to introduce revised Three Strikes law
    The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • New diplomatic appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions.   “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says.    “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Humanitarian support for Ethiopia and Somalia
    New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today.   “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Arts Minister congratulates Mataaho Collective
    Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale.  “It is good ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Supporting better financial outcomes for Kiwis
    The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Trade relationship with China remains strong
    “China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says.   Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • PM’s South East Asia mission does the business
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
    Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector.    "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
    The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
    Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
    Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.   Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-04-24T00:05:09+00:00