The extinction of Kauri

Written By: - Date published: 9:00 am, March 29th, 2014 - 36 comments
Categories: Environment, farming, national - Tags:

Kauri Tane Mahuta-1

It has been announced that the Kauri killer disease Kauri Dieback, or Phytophthora Taxon Agathis to use its scientific name, has now been spread to the Coromandel.  The prospects of Kauri becoming extinct have become greater.

It has infected many Kauri out west and throughout much of Northland.  Not a great deal is known about the disease but its effects are clear. It is believed to be spread by people’s shoes or by feral pigs or other animals.  It causes yellowing leaves, thinning canopy, dead branches, and lesions that bleed resin and eventually cause the death of an infected tree.

No Kauri has been found which is immune to the disease.  It appears that once infected a tree faces a gradual but inevitable death caused by the disease’s effects.

The implications are horrendous, involving the possible extinction of Kauri and the weakening of the forest as a whole as an integral part of the forest disappears.  Kauri provide canopy protection and also strengthen the forest against the effects of wind.  Kauri has been described as providing the backbone to the Waitakere forest.

Five years ago Central and Local Government agreed on joint action to address the disease which included scientific research funded by the different agencies.  As part of this action Auckland Council and Department of Conservation officers and scientists have been researching the disease and what can be done to save Kauri.  They have done sterling work and their research and efforts to deal with the disease already show results.

Experiments have been in two areas, the use of phosphoric acid injected into trees to arrest the effects of the disease and the assessment of  holistic and alternative methods to improve kauri health and/or to control PTA as well as using natural enemies of phytophthoras that lessen its effects. 

Field trials are producing positive results.  But this work has to continue to ascertain its effectiveness and cutting funding would pretty well waste all the results from the research.

MAF funding of $4.5 million used primarily for the research was for a five year period from 2009 to 2014.  Despite a request for continued funding the Government decided that no further bid would be considered and the research would finish.  The 2013 budget confirmed the cut to the research funding.  It was willing to spend $3 million saving Wanganui Collegiate but nothing on saving Kauri.

The final funding of $335k is due to be spent in the 2013/14 year and there is no further money.  All of this work faces the chop.

This is very disappointing.  When the likes of Tane Mahuta are facing extinction and with there being some success with the techniques being used you would expect the Government at least try and do something.

Television New Zealand reported on the issue recently.

Conservation Minister Nick Smith says it’s a blow to the prevention programme and that to date it was presumed that the Coromandel forest was free of the disease.

“We have made bids for additional funding in the budget,” he says.

“Those budget decisions are yet to be determined but I’m absolutely confident along with the Minister for Primary Industries that the Government will be stepping up its endeavours to stop Kauri die back ruining these very precious iconic trees.”

The Herald also reported on Smith’s comments.  Referring to the Keep Kauri Standing programme Smith is reported as follows:

“This programme, set up in 2009, was initially established through to June 2014,” Dr Smith said.

It was reviewed last year and we were planning a ramping-up of this work in the next financial year prior to this discovery.

This work will now need to be brought forward with urgency.”

Smith is being cute with the facts in the extreme, within a couple of hairs breaths of telling a lie.  It was his Government that decided to no longer fund research and he is now saying that his department is seeking “additional funding” for prevention and they were “planning a ramping-up of this work”.

The reality is that National is willing to let Kauri face extinction.  It will be a major local issue for the Helensville electorate this year the local Member of Parliament, one John Phillip Key, has better be ready to explain why this Government has been prepared to do nothing.

36 comments on “The extinction of Kauri ”

  1. Ad 1

    Really glad you did this post. Around my area there is massive death.

    The trees Colin McCahon painted in the 1950s and made famous around his French Bay house are now either dead or dying. In fact this Sunday there is an open day with some of the original 1950s paintings if anyone is so inclined in the Auckland area.

    There are about 1500 mature New Zealand Kauri left – and even they are in scattered pockets around about six relatively small forests plus Waipoua.

    Twyford has been reasonably good in this space. Would be a great signal to the big conservation activist groups if a joint press conference were held by the Greens and Labour that they will commit to saving every single tree that is left – just as we have done for over fifty years with endangered bird species. That means their own specific protection and treatment programme for every remaining individual that can be recovered.

    Maybe they could re-brand Arbour Day together as Kauri Day and do it straight after Auckland Anniversary Day for those in Auckland and Northland.

    • greywarbler 1.1

      Yes Arbour Day used to be commemorated with us school kids going out and planting pine. The idea was to recognise the importance of trees, and it was chosen to plant a commercial species, now we need that commitment to saving our beautiful indigenuous forst.

    • geoff 1.2

      Never fear! The market will save the mighty Kauri!

  2. One Anonymous Bloke 2

    They poison entire river systems, show little concern about the approaching mass extinction event, why would they give a fuck about Kauri?

    For the publicity. It would look bad if they did nothing.

  3. cricklewood 3

    The difficulty will be providing mass treatment. Phytophera has been a problem in the nursery industry for years with a lot of money spent and no cure found only management techniques. Phosphoric acid is really effective but needs to be administered with regularity either injected or as a root drench. Trichoderma and Baccilus also provide some control but again regular dosing is required to keep the populations of benifical bacteria high enough to work. In terms of ease you could drop trichoderma pellets from the air.
    I have seen Phytophera in Kauri in nursery settings and is controlled by running phosphoric acid through the irrigation the particular strain has either gone wild quite possibly from well meaning re vegetation projects planting infected stock or its always been there and something has upset the balance of soil fungi. I do wonder if the breakdown of 1080 into the soil is having an unforeseen effect.

  4. You’d think the political parties could agree on this, vote the money, and work bloody hard to save the kauri. That they don’t sickens me and makes me angry.

  5. RedBaronCV 5

    If we need a couple of mill then I know where to find it.

    As the Basin reserve flyover hearing winds into the umpteen day it is clear, even to the uninvolved like me, that the $90m spend isn’t an investment of tax and ratepayer money in anything related to carefully costed transport projects just an investment in someone’s ego.

    Even after a few mill for the Kauri’s there will be pleanty left over.

  6. Populuxe1 6

    I think you are badly misrepresenting Nick Smith – he’s actually always struck me as doing the best he can for his environment portfolio given his own party either doesn’t care or actively tries to undermine it. Any positive work he gets through is undone higher up the National food chain.

    • RedLogix 6.1

      Yes I agree. Nick Smith has always been a bit on an enigma for me.

      On one hand he’s usually been well informed and passionate about conservation and environment issues.

      Yet somehow his political framing and behaviour largely negates any good he achieves.

    • mickysavage 6.2

      I understand the decision to cut funding was made by Nathan Guy and as far as I am aware Nick Smith had nothing to do with this and I agree he may have decided differently. But his spin on the situation was breathtaking.

  7. captain hook 7

    when the trees are gone then the developers can move in and name the subdivsion “Kauri Grove”.

  8. jaymam 8

    Why not plant some disease-free kauri seedlings inside all the predator-proof enclosures, and put a little fence around them to keep humans away? Kauri grow quite fast out in the open.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 8.1

      Is that supposed to be some sort of comforting thought?

    • weka 8.2

      sounds good to me. Better yet, fence off existing forest that is free of the disease.

      • jaymam 8.2.1

        The fence needs to be pig-proof. I also suspect that humans are spreading the disease by inspecting trees.

      • cricklewood 8.2.2

        Doubt it would work, birds will transmit phytopheras as well… Its also possible the Phytophera has always been there and is becoming prevalent for some other reason.
        For example phytoplasma has become far more prevelant in Flax destroying large areas due to an introduced vector (passion vine hopper)and again is uncurable.
        There will be no eradicating it for all the will in the world bit like dutch elm. Treatment will save some trees but once you start you cant stop

        • James Thrace 8.2.2.1

          1500 mature Kauri left says the reason beautifully for why the disease is spreading more prevalently now.

          No herd immunity.

          • cricklewood 8.2.2.1.1

            Doesn’t really work like that. Most Phytopheras are host specific or host to a select number of genus. It pretty indiscriminate and tends to destroy whole crops think Potato famine. Ive seen destroy large plantings as it moves downhill in the ground water.
            One thing I can say with surety is that it presents initially in poorly drained soils where it is able to out compete other more beneficial organisms.
            Something has changed in the environment either the Phytophera has changed or something is materially changed in the soil microbia in the forest upsetting the balance. Leasing to mass critical infection.

    • BM 8.3

      I remember seeing a TV show quite a while a go and there was this old guy on it who shared his knowledge in growing Kauri.

      According to him the key to growing Kauri is to not burying them in the ground when planting but instead just covering the root ball with compost and then staking.

      Apparently you could get up to a meter per year in growth.

  9. Richard Christie 9

    Should they perish the demise of the both the Maui Dolphin and Kauri should be pinned
    on the National Party.

    It should be made to become a permanent part of their baggage, henceforth.

  10. greywarbler 10

    Bugger National’s baggage. just stop it happening. Disease free or resistant seedlings, there is a case for genetic modification here. Technology might save it if allowed.

    • Richard Christie 10.1

      I sympathise but the reality is that it IS happening and you aren’t the only one singing “stop it” .

      The Maui is on the utter brink of oblivion. Only the Govt can set up and enforce the last ditch marine sanctuaries that researchers recommend.

      The current Govt. willfully refuses to go the whole hog and instead offers half measures, essentially gambling that if they lose the bet, well then, memory is short no real shit will stick to them in the long term.

      Fear of being forever branded as facilitating the extermination of a species when well warned of the danger and the available countermeasures might motivate them toward “just stop[ping] it happening”.

      • Populuxe1 10.1.1

        Maui are not a good example, if only because the extent of the proposed sanctuaries would be devistating to many coastal communities that rely on fisheries as well. Most of the South Island would be off limits.

  11. Murray Olsen 11

    I hope someone figures out a way to save the kauri. I could say a few things, but I’m not a specialist, and they’ve probably been thought of already. Therefore the answer has to be in funding the appropriate people before it’s too late.

  12. One hundred years ago a few enlightened people decided that culling the kauri was a bad move, and that the day would come when future generations of New Zealanders would never see a giant kauri. Fortunately, many trees over one thousand years old were saved, so that now we New Zealanders and thousands of tourists from overseas can see Tane Mahuta and other great kauri trees in their natural habitat, but now we have gone full circle. With the decision not to renew funding for research into Phytophthera Taxon Agathis, or kauri dieback disease, the Government may have condemned Agathis australis to the history books. If these huge trees die out, we will have lost a national icon, a tourist attraction and an irreplaceable New Zealander. If later it is decided that this decision was a wrong one, because the giants have died, any young trees will take a thousand plus years to grow to a size that the renewed research could save for the future. Generations of young New Zealanders would never know the majesty of Tane Mahuta and its like. It is imperative that funding for research be continued for this national icon and tourism dollar earner, and for future generations of young New Zealanders. Dennis Scoles

    • greywarbler 12.1

      +100
      Dennis – you make a good case for us to do something. What has Labour said about it I wonder? The Greens would be right up there backing up research I think. I heard on the radio Maori were wondering what their stance would be. The local people were thinking that tourists should be banned. But if pigs are also responsible they’re not so easy to get rid of, and besides they are a food resource.

      It’s another reason why we need to keep fighting for electoral change this year. Who knows what else we will lose out back of the audience watching the Punch and Judy Show with obligatory Policeman and baton? Taonga of all types never to be recovered. Ever.

  13. tricledrown 13

    The Kauri is a symbol of the death of democracy and equality the loss of our egalitarian society .
    Neo liberalization has fucked this country over .

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    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    4 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
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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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    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • 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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    5 days ago
  • 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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    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
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    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
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    5 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
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    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    5 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
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    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
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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...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • There’s a name for this
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    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Echoes of 1968 in 2024?  Pocock on the repetitive problems of the New Left
    Mike Grimshaw writes – Recent events in American universities point to an underlying crisis of coherent thinking, an issue that increasingly affects the progressive left across the Western world. This of course is nothing new as anyone who can either remember or has read of the late ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Two bar blues
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    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 13
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Angus Deaton on rethinking his economics IMFLocal scoop: The people behind Tamarind, the firm that left a $500m cleanup bill for taxpayers at Taranaki’s Tui oil well, are back operating in Taranaki under a different company name. Jonathan ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • AT Need To Lift Their Game
    Normally when we talk about accessing public transport it’s about improving how easy it is to get to, such as how easy is it to cross roads in a station/stop’s walking catchment, is it possible to cycle to safely, do bus connections work, or even if are there new routes/connections ...
    6 days ago
  • Christopher's Whopper.
    Politicians are not renowned for telling the truth. Some tell us things that are verifiably not true. They offer statements that omit critical pieces of information. Gloss over risks, preferring to offer the best case scenario.Some not truths are quite small, others amusing in their transparency. There are those repeated ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
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    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
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    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
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    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
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    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
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    5 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
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    5 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
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    5 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
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    5 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
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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
    Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024.  “Lower fruit and vege ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
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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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    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government agrees to restore interest deductions
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    1 week ago
  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
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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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