Spinning while the economy burns

Written By: - Date published: 1:12 pm, September 23rd, 2010 - 54 comments
Categories: bill english, cycleway, Economy, spin, tax - Tags:

The latest GDP figures are awful. the Reserve Bank had predicted 0.9% growth in the June Quarter. It came in at 0.2% – far worse than anyone expected and slower than population growth, so economic production per person declined. Revisions out previous data show the recession was 0.15 deeper than thought and the recovery has been 0.1% weaker. We don’t know the impact of the Christchurch Earthquake, that’ll be included in the September Quarter figures out in December.

The Key government’s reaction? Peddling more spin on cyclepaths that have been re-announced time and again, and simply don’t constitute a serious response to our economic crisis. A government that wanted to continue to impove the livings standards of its people would not have the delusion that international tourists are going to flock to here to ride on cyclepaths as its central economic policy. Cyclepaths are awesome but they are not an economic plan.

GDP per capita is still 4.2% below where it was when the recession started and has recovered a meagre 0.6% since the recession officially ended a year and a half ago.

Normally, economies bounce back out of recession as quickly as they went down, making use of idle capital and labour to regain lost ground. That’s not happening because the underlying economic problem – peak oil – is a new kind of constraint, one that this government is unwilling to address or even acknowledge for ideological reasons.

A clued-up government would be looking at the oil price trajectory, looking at the trajectory of transport demand and canning all new motorway projects now. It would then put the money into public transport, rail, more efficient shipping, renewable energy, and energy-efficency while we can.

Update: Bill English has tried his hand at some spin too, saying 0.2% growth is a good thing.

“Statistics New Zealand GDP data issued today shows the economy grew by 0.2 per cent in the June quarter. This took annual real GDP growth to 1.9 per cent – its highest level for two years.”

Nope. The annual growth rate is the year to June 2010 vs the year to June 2009 and that was 0.7%, below population growth. English’s 1.9% is the June Quarter 2010 vs June Quarter 2009 – he’s selected it because it looks good but it’s misleading to compare two quarters in isolation and it’s not annual growth, as he claimed.

“Total domestic spending fell slightly. By contrast, export volumes have increased 7 per cent from their lows of 2008 and they had their second strongest quarter on record… This trend towards saving and exporting more, and spending and borrowing less, is what New Zealand needs to build stronger long-term growth.”

See New Zealand, you’re getting poorer but it’s a good thing. Actually, gross national expenditure went down because inventories were run down, not because we consumed less – we exported more but also consumed more and and didn’t produce much more, making up the difference by running down inventories and importing more.

Finally:

“The tax changes will boost New Zealand’s longer-term growth prospects”

And what’s the source for that? Well, there isn’t one. It’s just a claim English made up. The Tax Working Group report makes no statement on any enhancement to growth from the tax scam.

54 comments on “Spinning while the economy burns ”

  1. Zaphod Beeblebrox 1

    What was Australia’s GDP forecast? Nearly 4% as I recall. As a poster on Red Alert commented yesterday- we are likely to become the new Tasmania- that quaint island off the coast where you holiday and some of our friends retired parents live.

  2. roger nome 2

    I’m in retail, and i’m not old enough to remember it being this slow. National could stimulate spending without fear of dangerous inflation. But that’s never been what it’s about to the Nats – that’s obvious now. It was always about giving the already rich a bigger share of the pie.

    • bbfloyd 2.1

      Roger… you would have had to be old enough to have lived through the thirties to remember times like now.

      i know tradesmen in their fifties and sixties who are saying that they havn’t ever been so slow as now.

      homelessness in auckland is the worst i’ve ever seen it. most of them had jobs and homes two years ago.

      • Loota 2.1.1

        Sigh bb.

        The US is going to drag us kicking and screaming back into the 30’s, and the National Govt, prized for its (self-proclaimed) business focus has absolutely no idea what to do about the coming firestorm. Except to shoplift as much stuff as possible out of the store before it hits.

  3. AndyB 3

    sorry if this gets posted twice. my post didn’t show up and i have a feeling that i messed up the link. so here goes again:

    With regards to tax cuts; A review of monetary policy over the past 30 years in all countries by Alberto Alesina at Harvard University clearly shows that Tax cuts stimulate the economy far more effectively than any spending stimulous. It seems at odds but cutting tax actually increases the tax take.

    Link to PDF

    So it would seem that not everybody thinks tax cuts are bad.

    • The Baron 3.1

      You’re not gonna last long here, my friend.

      • AndyB 3.1.1

        he he, thanks for the heads up 🙂

        • Zaphod Beeblebrox 3.1.1.1

          Doesn’t the gov’t claim that the Oct 1 cuts will be revenue neutral when it is argued that they will increase government debt? If so, where is the stimulus? Or is English just desperate and spouting BS?

          If the reduced taxes creates more taxes magic pudding were true why wouldn’t every government have flat 10% taxes. Surely somewhere in the world, this experiment would have worked, at least once.

          Under certain circumstances what you say might be true- but I would think taxes that contribute to R and D or education may have an even greater effect upon GDP and tax take. To say tax is inherently good or bad and public sector spending vice-versa is a bit of a generalisation.

    • Bored 3.2

      Having not come down with the last shower and being a little cynical and long in the tooth inclines me to say about Harvard economists “well, they would say that would’nt they”.

      I recall another eminent economist (Galbraith) mentioning the linkage between peoples opinion and those of the people who paid them to express it.

      Fortunately without reading dry literature from “Think Tanks” and “business schools” that is inclined towards a reality that chooses selective information to back a set proposition, I have a background in history. It too is all very interpretative, lots of schools of thought so a little prudent navigation is needed.

      So what do I remember from history that actually happened….the Great Depression..tax cuts and cost cuts in government were the policy of the day, and they failed to revive the corpse that was free market capitalism. What did revive the economy was spending stimulous, higher taxation and income redistribuition. So where the hell have the Harvard boys been looking if they can so conveniently mis this example?

      Back to Galbraith on Keynes..paraphrased he described his policies as “for a time, but not for all times”. I think Galbraith had the wisdom to see that no one “cure” works all the time or has exclusive “truth”. I always ask qui bono (who benefits)? It serves me well in identifying self interest and paid charlatans.

    • comedy 3.3

      Your are a RWNJ quoting RWNJs unless of course you produce a paper that shows the opposite in which case you’re a fine level headed chap and vice versa of course if you post on a “rightish” blog

    • Mr Magoo 3.4

      “So it would seem that not everybody thinks tax cuts are bad.”

      Thanks for that. A great chuckle for the day. Unlike some ‘others’ on here I know you are taking the piss. Good on you.

      Other pearls of wisdom:
      – Not everybody believes in global warming e.g. oil companies
      – Not everybody thinks the Nazis were wrong e.g. neo nazis
      – Not everybody believes R. Douglas was wrong e.g. R. Douglas.

    • r0b 3.5

      AndyB – see Krugman here and the paper he cites.

      In general I’m afraid the whole “tax cuts cause growth” argument runs up against some pretty major counter evidence from history:
      http://thestandard.org.nz/tax-cuts-dont-cause-growth/

      • AndyB 3.5.1

        i guess it doesn’t matter who we cite, or what documents we find, there is always another person that has an answer to it.

        This is why we will never all agree on anything and why left and right are doomed to squabble for all eternity because they both believe they are correct and neither party will back down or accept they are wrong.

        • Bored 3.5.1.1

          Which is why I ask qui bono???….nobody has an exclusivity on the “truth” (what ever that means)….but somebody always stands to benefit.

          • Carol 3.5.1.1.1

            But watching Parliament question time right now, NACT is spinning so much they are making a big hole in the ground. In answer to opposition questions, NACT just keep attacking the last Labour government’s record. Lockwood keeps pulling them up and telling them to answer the question.

            So, basically, I don’t believe that NACT even believes half of what they say. So it’s not so much a case of competing truths, as one side deliberately distorting and diverting from the “truth” or reality.

        • r0b 3.5.1.2

          i guess it doesn’t matter who we cite, or what documents we find, there is always another person that has an answer to it.

          Yes, which is where the balance of evidence, and the consensus of expert opinion comes in. So for example one can find plenty of climate change denier stuff – but it’s all nonsense.

          Economics is more complicated because there is far less consensus to rely on – Economics is hardly a science at all. So rather than one off studies (which can conclude anything) I always try to look for the broad historical trends over decades – hence my post linked in my comment above. Over decades of some pretty major historical experiments that argument that tax cuts cause growth holds no water at all.

          neither party will back down or accept they are wrong

          That applies to some within each camp, but then there are some who can be persuaded by evidence (they just don’t tend to rant as much on blogs).

          squabble for all eternity

          Nope. Nature is going to hand out a pretty major ass kicking because of the kind of lack of consensus you describe on climate change and sustainable living.

        • bbfloyd 3.5.1.3

          actually andy… people of all ilk can, and do manage to agree on many things. i’ve seen it on this site. it’s only when someone assumes a rigid position that doesn’t allow for interactive dialogue that rejection will follow.

          if you are unable to accept that your arguments, or the opinions you quote aren’t regarded with the same faith you show in them, then possibly you should listen, then consider whether your faith misplaced or not. simply decrying dissent as partisan politics is disingenuous.

        • Pascal's bookie 3.5.1.4

          Well here’s the first sentence from the pdf:

          “As a result of the fiscal response to the financial crisis of 2007-2009 the US will
          experience the largest increases in deficits and debt accumulation in peacetime.”

          Right off the bat, I’m seeing some rather large things that the authors appear to have missed. Can we agree that this sentence does not bode well for the piece?

          • Lanthanide 3.5.1.4.1

            I thought the US were in two wars or something?

            Come to think of it, when are the US *not* in wars of some shape or another, for any sustained period of time?

            • Pascal's bookie 3.5.1.4.1.1

              Yeah, you’d think they mighta noticed at least one of them. 😉

              Not to mention the effects of Bush’s tax cuts and various spending policies on the budget, or the effects of the GFC itself. But no, the deficits are the ‘result of the fiscal response to the financial crisis’.

            • Loota 3.5.1.4.1.2

              The US military industrial complex demands wars. They are a great way of shifting tax payers funds into private corporate hands. And getting rid of some poor folk.

          • Blighty 3.5.1.4.2

            And wasn’t there the worst recession in generations? I think that might result in large deficits.

        • The Baron 3.5.1.5

          See, I warned you Andy. You’re running up against some of the most inflexible fanboys in NZ here – and you think a simple link would be good enough.
          That’ll learn you for bringing a contrary position to a discussion site. All we wanna hear here is “hear hear”.

          • r0b 3.5.1.5.1

            Don’t be a dick TB. You implied that Andy would be kicked off the site for raising an unpopular point of view – which is of course bullshit. People here are keen to debate.

            No, a simple link is not good enough, if you want to make a point you need to be able to defend it. Lots of people lined up to engage with Andy on the topic (politely and constructively) – and you’re whining about it? Perhaps you’d prefer a nice safe hobby like stamp collecting.

    • Bunji 3.6

      The paper you cite gives examples of successful tax cuts including NZ’s 1993 & 1994 tax cuts. Given how well the 90s worked out for most of us (when most of the GDP gap with Australia opened up, the massive increase in inequality and the dropping of most people’s incomes in real terms), one would have to question how they define “success”.

      If you want more examples of the incredibly conservative Harvard economy faculty spinning things their way (particularly on a tax cut or stimulus to move out of recession context), try this:
      A respected economist found a very particular sort of tax cut had a surprisingly large stimulus effect, ergo Harvard economist concludes all tax cuts are good. But that sort of tax cut only worked at time of great growth, not when you’re struggling…
      So unless history shows it to be wrong (and r0b’s link below suggests otherwise) maybe we should stick with the simple Keynesian logic of: government spends $1 in stimulus, $1 is spent, and added to GDP; tax-cuts of $1 – some is saved and less than $1 is spent and added to GDP. Which is more effective, if you want government (rather than private) stimulus?

    • Blighty 3.7

      the ‘tax cuts boost tax revenue’ crap was proven wrong in the 1980s and 1990s.

      worth looking at Zandi’s testimony on the stimulatory effects of different government actions.
      http://www.economy.com/mark-zandi/documents/Senate_Budget_Committee_11_19_08.pdf

      and Marty’s right. Where is the evidence that this tax swap (remember, it’s mostly a swap from income tax to GST with an extra billion borrowed) will boost growth?

  4. Sanctuary 4

    The bottom line is that Labour’s tax cuts were unaffordable, and National’s tax cuts a disaster. By slashing government income to give tax cuts to his rich Tory mates, then pursuing a dry as dust economic orthodoxy of cutting spending in a frantic attempt to vaguely balance the books, Herbert Hoover (err, I mean the double dipper of Dipton himself – Bill English) has given us the worst of both worlds – spooked consumers in an economy where spending by it’s biggest player is contracting rapidly.

    it is the utterly predictable economic prescription of an unimaginative rural nincompomp of a finance minister, suckled on Treasury voodoo economics, and it giving us an utterly predictable outcome.

    The parallel with New Zealand’s “lost decade” of the 1990’s is eerie. Just as the world strongly recovered from the Asian financial crisis, an unimaginative, rural, neo-liberal fool of a finance minister (Bill Birch) in conjunction with a fanatically neo-liberal governor of the reserve bank contrived to stomp on the throat of the NZ economy to detriment of many and benefit of a few…

    Tories don’t change. They are as lethal to the economic prospects of ordinary, hardworking Kiwis now as they were in the 1990’s.

    • comedy 4.1

      ding ding history rewrite in progress

    • Mr Magoo 4.2

      But it was what the greedy little piglets (aka: most NZ voters) wanted while they were busy in a feeding frenzy at the trough of foreign debt?

      Labour denied it at first and tried very hard to show why it was a bad idea to much howling then finally caved. National used it to get elected and stay popular.

      Are you now advocating that politicians should have ignored the will of the people?

      Interesting argument…

  5. Carol 5

    Methinks, Blinglish is losing the plot. In response to Cunliffe questioning English’s figures in the house just now, Blingish began, “Let me explain again to the Minister….” English already conceding the next election?

    • Jim Nald 5.1

      Could be a psychiatric condition?
      Trying to explain to himself … trying hard to convince himself …

  6. burt 6

    So Labour managed the economy into recession and were called prudent, National suffering from the failed policies of the 00’s drag it slowly back to growth and Marty-G thinks they are a failure.

    That Marty-G must love falling productivity and welfare dependence.

    Yet, it’s obvious I’m reading the standard.

  7. bbfloyd 7

    Drawing straws again C?

    • comedy 7.1

      Sucking on politicians turds again bb ?

      IrishBill: dull, poorly punctuated and unpleasant. Keep this up and you’ll be banned.

      • comedy 7.1.1

        “dull, poorly punctuated and unpleasant”

        Eh what ? Surely that should qualify me to be an author on this blog !

  8. roger nome 8

    comedy – is it supposed to be laughing with, at or both? It seems to be mostly the second…

  9. bobo 9

    What I don’t understand is how tax cuts are being touted by Bill English in the house yesterday and on multiple occasions as “encouraging savings”, when they were last in government in the 90s weren’t tax cuts used to “encourage spending” ?? 0.2% GDP is within a margin of error so technically were probably still in recession..

  10. Outofbed 10

    encourage savings by hiking up gst?

  11. Andrew R 11

    Back to the English claim that real GDP growth for the last year was 1.9%.

    Calculating from the Statistics NZ June 2010 GDP tables I get real GDP growth to the year to June 2010 at 0.66%, and real per capita GDP growth for the same period as -0.57%.

    Is the Bill English maths the standard that is found of all ex-Treasury sorts I wonder? Or maybe national standards in maths should be trialled by cabinet?

  12. Roflcopter 12

    Never fear, we’re about to have a new flagship gov’t owned organisation to bring us back from the brink, by putting into practice all those productivity and business plans Labour had saved up for years but never got a chance to realise … NZ Post!

    Grats Mr Cullen, time to put into action everything you’ve been mouthing off about for years…. show us the light, show us the way!

  13. jcuknz 13

    Since increased GDP means more of the earth’s resources being used up then this small figure is good … as far as population increase is concerned that needs to be brought back to zero growth or less as quickly as possible .. people need to use restraint or condoms.

  14. jcuknz 14

    Since increased GDP means more of the earth’s resources being used up then this small figure is good [I fear you lefties are thinking like righties on this matter, quite humorous 🙂 ]… as far as population increase is concerned that needs to be brought back to zero growth or less as quickly as possible .. people need to use restraint or condoms.

  15. Kleefer 15

    Sanctuary, your ignorance of history is frightening and dangerous. Herbert Hoover dramatically increased government spending and ran unprecedented deficits, causing the Great Depression but not in the supposedly “free market” way you imply. Franklin Roosevelt made things even worse with bigger deficits, more government spending and more idiotic policies.

    In 1920 when there was a recession even sharper than the one after the 1929 stock market crash the US government balanced its budget and the Federal Reserve kept interest rates high at 7% and the economy recovered to full health within three years. The politicians of today have chosen to emulate the policies that caused the Great Depression and should be tried for treason as a result.

Links to post

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

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

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-03-28T17:25:28+00:00