The shameless Nick Smith

Written By: - Date published: 10:43 am, May 24th, 2013 - 31 comments
Categories: ACC, accountability, auckland supercity, Conservation, greens, housing, john key, labour, Mining, same old national, slippery, sustainability - Tags:

The current MP for Nelson and government Minister of Conservation and Housing has a shameful record.

He has been a Bill English supporter amidst National Party leadership struggles, resulting in accusations of irrational, self-aggrandising behaviour when English became leader in 2003.   He was found guilty of contempt of court in 2004 for breaking court confidentiality rules and pressuring a witness.

In 2010 he was involved on a defamation case.  According to Michael Forbes in the Dominion Post, in June 2010, Smith used thousands of taxpayer dollars in defending himself against the accusations made by Osmose New Zealand, the local branch of a US corporate. Osmose accused Smith and Robin Wakelin, timber preservation scientist of making libelous statements in 2005, when they linked the leaky homes debacle with a product made by Osmose.  This looks to be part of Smith trying to shift the ultimate blame for the shameful building of leaky homes away from the 1991 National government onto the Building and Housing Department, under Labour’s watch.

Forbes reported on the outcome of the case, in which Smith backed down and settled in return for Smith making a sizeable payment and an apology. Ultimately, in spite of the back down, Smith denied any culpability, putting it down to “politics”:

Then there was the Bronwyn Pullar, ACC case, which resulted in Smith resigning from cabinet in March 2012. A Stuff article on March 2012 by a clutch of journalists says that he admitted that he “messed up”:

His voice choking with emotion, Nick Smith resigned his Cabinet portfolios, telling Parliament he was guilty of two ”errors of judgment”.

Summonsed to Wellington for a grilling over sending a letter on ACC ministerial letterhead to help a female friend with an ACC claim, Smith spent his flight penning his resignation.

He had only hours before tried to front it out, adamant he wouldn’t resign, but eventually I guess even John Key reluctantly realised he was a liability.  Smith went as far as to admit that he should have avoided the appearance of a conflict of interest.

Labour and the Greens were highly critical of Smith falling well short of Cabinet Manual standards, and asks for an inquiry.  However, Key was quite relaxed about it and rejected the call for an inquiry.  Green co-leader Metiria Turei was very critical when Smith was tipped to return to Cabinet earlier this year.

“I think Nick behaved unethically as a Cabinet minister. He misused his ministerial powers,” she says. “I don’t think he should be brought back at all. I’m surprised John Key is prepared to do that.”

Last week we saw that Nick Smith was involved in negotiating in bad faith with Auckland Council over its draft Auckland Unitary Plan, as outlined in my post ‘When an “accord” is not’ and micky savage’s ‘The Government’s not so good faith bargaining on affordable housing’.

Then yesterday, as I posted in ‘Cynical’, Nick Smith rushed to allow an Australian mining company to mine on conservation land.  He did this the day before an amendment to the Crown Minerals Act would require public consultation on negotiations prior to giving such approvals.

On RNZ’s Checkpoint yesterday (Thursday) evening, Smith’s slippery twists and turns catch up with him, exposing his and the government’s true intent as regards mining on conservation land.  First he acknowledges that the approval was given to avoid the public consultation process that becomes necessary on Friday (today).  However, he justifies this by saying that the last Crown Minerals Act amendment would make it harder to protect conservation land, and would give more weight to “economic benefits”.  By giving approval yesterday, Smith argues he was able to get a bigger monetary package in compensation for damage to conservation land: money that would go towards preservation of other areas.

Nick Smith on checkpoint

Smith adds that anyway, people had had plenty of opportunities to have their say about the mining before it was approved.  he argues that enabling more public consultation would have made not difference to the outcome.

Smith then, confusingly, repeats the “positive” outcomes for making the approval before the Crown Minerals Act amendment goes live on Friday. Wilson sense a contradiction:

Wilson: So in fact the changes under the Crown Minerals Act are worse for conservation?

Smith: Oh indeed.  The government has made quite plain that those changes for the conservation act is to get a more balanced decision making process, where economic benefits and conservation are aligned together. A future decision would not be a decision by me as Minister of Conservation, but a joint decision with the Minister of Energy and Resources.

Wilson: And so we can expect more conservation land to be mined. We can expect more conservation land to be mined

Smith: Well indeed, it has been the very up front view of the government in 2 election campaigns is that the government takes a view that there is more economic opportunity for New Zealand from [using?] its resources.  I as a Minister of Conservation tend to take a firm view that there are some very special areas that we should not mine.  This is not one of those. There are areas of the Denniston Plateau that I do not want to see mined. I’ve made that plain in my announcements today. It is a very constructive process going on ….

Wilson lets him continue with his PR speak about his “practical” decisions.  She  then asks about Bathurst  stating earlier in the week that it is laying off staff and withdrawing two of it’s drilling rigs from the Denniston Plateau. She asks if this has put pressure on Smith’s decision   Smith replies that he had not been under  aware of such announcements from Bathurst being made this week.

Nick Smith, slippery is, as slippery does:  and with no sense of shame at his own dodgy dealings. However, in doing this, he’s not as skillful as his PM.

NickSmith forked tongue

31 comments on “The shameless Nick Smith ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. marty mars 1
    24 May 2013 at 11:21 am

    the doublespeaking is strong in this one – smith is a tool, a dangerous tool, a malicious and duplicitous tool, a tool in a gnat toolbox filled with blunt and useless tools. nick smith minister of conservation is an oxymoron – his pathetic legacy is sealed now.

  2. ianmac 2
    24 May 2013 at 11:22 am

    “Wilson: So in fact the changes under the Crown Minerals Act are worse for conservation?
    Smith: Oh indeed. “
    That is the devastating killer blow to our Conservation.
    That plus Dr Smith’s betrayal of the Auckland City Transport Accord recently seems to indicate a bullying stampede of democracy.

  3. Te Reo Putake 3
    24 May 2013 at 11:47 am

    I heard the interview and it was excellent work from Mary Wilson to get Smith to fess up.

    “Wilson: So in fact the changes under the Crown Minerals Act are worse for conservation?

    Smith: Oh indeed.”

    My immediate reaction to this question and answer was that Smith had unintentionally joined the endangered species list himself, being one of the few remaining honest Tories.

    But, on reflection, it’s not like he’s even bothered that the new legislation is worse for conservation; after all, he voted for it. It’s actually just a reflection of his smugness and his patronising attitude to those of us who want NZ 100% clean and green.

  4. BLiP 4
    24 May 2013 at 11:50 am

    ‘

    Classic ideology cognitive dissonance minimisation via use of embedded logical fallacy:

    – government cannot run a mining company ∴
    – solid energy must be eliminated ∴
    – allowing for only private enterprise to run a mining company ∴
    – the Minister of Conservation states:

    the new legislation will have a negative impact on conservation because it will have to give consideration to the economic benefits, therefore, I have decided to grant a foreign-owned multi-national mining company permission to dig up the Denniston Plateau the day before the new legislation comes into effect because of the economic benefits.

    . . . thus, shareholder of the company which owns Bathurst, John Key, opens celebratory bottle of wine produced by the vineyard he doesn’t know he owns. You can’t make this shit up.

  5. muzza 5
    24 May 2013 at 11:55 am

    It’s not really, *The Governments agenda*, though.

    The governments agenda, is to lie/deceive and deliver the agenda of the *sponsors*, as such, are only the implementors of any *agenda*!

    The agenda appears to be, control the, *real wealth*, which is natural resources!

    Global game this one, there is nothing of value in it for NZ, or its people!

    • Draco T Bastard 5.1
      24 May 2013 at 12:51 pm

      The agenda appears to be, control the, *real wealth*, which is natural resources!

      And thus make the rest of us serfs.

    • Ugly Truth 5.2
      25 May 2013 at 10:43 pm

      “The agenda appears to be, control the, *real wealth*, which is natural resources!”

      Land being the primary natural resource. Smart move to negotiate a monopoly on land sold by Maori, selling it off again as estates in fee simple.

  6. Peter 6
    24 May 2013 at 12:28 pm

    I dunno Karol. Easy to attack I guess, but Smith is playing a complex game, and you could argue that he’s achieved a lot better for conservation here than any of his predecessors would have done. Imagine Kate Wilkinson handling this mine. She would have signed it without any hard negotiation to get cash for other projects… $25m for predator control is phenomenal.

    Nick Smith is a National Party MP – his government was always going to approve this access arrangement, and encourage the mine. Labour probably would have done the same. Despite that plateau having some ecological values, they don’t outweigh the economic value. This is leaving aside climate change arguments, which can’t be considered under the RMA at present.

    There’s also another deeper game going on here, between Cabinet moderates and hardliners. Smith is a member of the former, and what I read into this is him slowly getting control of the environmental agenda again. If so, I suspect worse things will be averted, but that’s only faint praise.

    Posters on this site have criticised Smith for announcing it one day before the new Crown Minerals Act comes into effect, but that’s ignoring one vitally important thing – the new Act makes it a joint signoff between the Minister of Conservation and the Minister of Energy. Nick Smith trumped Simon Bridges on that…

    • karol 6.1
      24 May 2013 at 12:37 pm

      You make some good points, Peter. There are long term tensions between the English/Smith & Key factions in the National Caucus. But, as you say. if he’s taking a more moderate line than Bridges, it is faint praise.

      • Peter 6.1.1
        24 May 2013 at 12:44 pm

        We are in deep blue waters, and you have to take the wins that you can get. It’s on this that I think that F&B has gone a little bit far out in opposition I think, especially when there are far worse proposals out there on conservation land (i.e. monorails, tunnels, Haast Hollyford road, private roads in national parks etc). These projects are far more damaging than a mine on land that has been mined for over a century.

        That collaborative process running to determine which parts of the plateau to set aside as reserves will be crucial in resolving this in the long run, and that will announce soon.

        Smith also got $20million extra for conservation before the budget, that saved about 80 odd jobs from the chop, and most of my colleagues in conservation back him as their Minister. Intriguingly, they rate his ability higher than most former ministers, including the Labour ones. In my lifetime, Sandra Lee has been the best Minister of Conservation, most of the others seemed more interested in cool trips to see wildlife.

        • karol 6.1.1.1
          24 May 2013 at 1:00 pm

          Actually, I might have agreed with you a few years back, Peter. But these days, each new compromise pulls us further to the right. In this we lose far more than we gain.

          The Denniston Plateau is high value conservation land that F&B and others have been trying to get the under-resourced services to designate schedule 4 for a long time.

          • Peter 6.1.1.1.1
            24 May 2013 at 1:19 pm

            Well, we had nine years under Labour to tory-proof these things, and we did nothing. On Schedule 4, we only have ourselves to blame really 🙂

          • ghostrider888 6.1.1.1.2
            24 May 2013 at 1:25 pm

            the commentary on RNZ identifies the Denniston as having ‘low-value’ conservation values.

            • karol 6.1.1.1.2.1
              24 May 2013 at 4:49 pm

              And that is disputed by the Federated Mountain Clubs and others, who say it is high value conservation land.

            • Jono 6.1.1.1.2.2
              24 May 2013 at 8:43 pm

              Stewardship and Conservation Areas are to some extent a holding pattern management category for parts of the conservation estate that have yet to gazetted as reserves, parks and so on. Gazettal takes forever and involves lots of consultation and is relatively low priority. Some Cons. and Stewarship areas will be of legitimately low conservation value but others will have high values and will ultimately be gazetted to reflect this. I don’t know enough about Denniston to have an opinion on which side of the ledger it falls except that the historic and landscape values are probably high based on my own knowledge and experience of them. It’s an amazing landscape with a fascinating industrial history. The Incline and DOCs recent historic focussed visitor development there is top notch.

    • Draco T Bastard 6.2
      24 May 2013 at 12:59 pm

      $25m for predator control is phenomenal.

      And is money that should have been coming directly out of our taxes but this government went around cutting them for the rich and now taxes won’t cover the needed expenses. We shouldn’t need to negotiate with multi-national corporations for the money to protect our environment.

      • Peter 6.2.1
        24 May 2013 at 1:18 pm

        We shouldn’t need to no, but those species under threat right now have no time for us to debate the finer points of principle. They could very well be getting predator control to protect them next rat season, whilst we debate the finer points of principle about funding them whilst they go extinct.

        So, no time for arguing about the mechanisms.

        • marty mars 6.2.1.1
          24 May 2013 at 1:59 pm

          I struggle with that line of argument Peter, I mean is there anywhere/one you wouldn’t accept money from? bathurst have paid the minimum they could get away with in negotiations with a government determined to mine the conservation estate. Bathurst have got access to destroy a habitat that is unique – there has to be lines somewhere, doesn’t there? Therefore the mechanisms are the point and the government has declared via smith that the mechanism they’ll go with is negotiations with mining exploitation groups that align with their agenda of mining conservation areas.

    • marty mars 6.3
      24 May 2013 at 1:22 pm

      “you could argue that he’s achieved a lot better for conservation here…”

      The facts say that on Tuesday August 28, 2012 bathurst said

      Bathurst has agreed to a range of environmental initiatives intended to offset or mitigate the impact of the Escarpment mine

      http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/bathurst-hopes-be-mining-escarpment-next-july-bd-126980

      and

      On 22 January 2013, Smith was returned to the Cabinet and given the Housing and Conservation portfolios.[18]

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Smith_%28New_Zealand_politician%29

      Without access to the negotiations it is fair to say, “who knows?” – bathurst had already indicated they would be doing something ($$$) to mitigate the destruction their open cast coal mine will cause.

      • Peter 6.3.1
        24 May 2013 at 1:24 pm

        Quite probable. The access negotiations for these things take some time.

        • ghostrider888 6.3.1.1
          24 May 2013 at 1:28 pm

          overheard, this 22M for predator control is across 35 years of operation, while the mine, or company, may fold for one reason or another in the interim.
          I too, believe that Forest and Bird have overplayed the issues.

        • marty mars 6.3.1.2
          24 May 2013 at 2:02 pm

          Indeed they do take time and the final timeframe is usually devoted to creating the spin especially when both negotiating partners are in alignment and both know there is opposition from the public against what they plan/have agreed to do.

    • ghostrider888 6.4
      24 May 2013 at 1:30 pm

      Smith appears both complex, and weak, of character.(par for the party).

      • David H 6.4.1
        24 May 2013 at 4:02 pm

        Maybe the Flashing red Rudolph nose he has could have something to do with it??
        Because you should never trust a lush, they are only out for themselves. No wonder he and Key get along so well, it’s those long taxpayer paid liquid lunches they enjoy before the next debacle to hit their party.

      • prism 6.4.2
        24 May 2013 at 5:04 pm

        Smith has been in politics a long time – compare the fresh faced young Turk to the raddled face of the present – takes a lot of liquid lunches, and a good bit of animal cunning to overcome those problems.

  7. vto 7
    24 May 2013 at 12:53 pm

    .
    eat

    the

    earth

    there’s plenty of it

    fuck those in the future

  8. HG 8
    24 May 2013 at 3:52 pm

    Most of you people would barely know where Denniston is and even fewer would have actually been there. The only reason people go up to the plateau is because of mining, the incline and the history of the place.

    Mining is the West Coast, the West Coast is mining. I would pay to watch Debs Martin and her lot go down the local pubs in Westport and tell them why they shouldn’t have a mine, jobs and a future in the region. Then she can go down to Greymouth and whinge at them too.

    If F&B want something to legitimately whinge about then take a look at what is happening to the kauris in Northland. That is a tragedy. 100 hectares of a 2200 hectare plateau with dubious conservation credentials for $22 million conservation fund and hundreds of jobs is an absolute no-brainer.

    • vto 8.1
      24 May 2013 at 4:13 pm

      are you from there? have you been there? do you know anyone from there? do you live west?

    • Draco T Bastard 8.2
      24 May 2013 at 4:47 pm

      Mining is the West Coast, the West Coast is mining.

      Ah, the lack of imagination of RWNJs shows itself.

    • Jono 8.3
      24 May 2013 at 8:51 pm

      I had the pleasure of getting drunk with some young adults in Westport a few years ago. Early 20s, male and female and worked at Stockton (couple of drivers, and a survey technician. They saw no life outside of the Coast or outside of the mines and they were miserable. They were also being asked to make big balls calls about health and safety on a regular basis and were extremely uncomfortable with the situations they found themselves in on the jon and felt there was nothing they could do about it.

      Arguing from anecdote is always a poor second to solid research but I really felt for those kids.

  9. xtasy 9
    24 May 2013 at 11:53 pm

    An excellent summary of Nick the Smith and his dealings, Karol!
    Yes, I am astonished, but then again not so, about this man, the one of a few “brains” as they proclaim, to be worthy of mentioning amongst the Nat Brigade.

    If that was true, I would perhaps take him a bit more seriously.

    Nick Smitherines, or Nick Shit I call him. A man with no principles, but his own, always desperate to please his party and party bosses, selling anything not nailed down, and still pretending he is so caring. He did it with ACC, while they slashed, targeted the high cost claimants, who also had complex health issues, and they threw thousands of them down the gutter.

    Just visit ACC Forum to get a taste of it:
    http://accforum.org/forums/

    They all remember and just “love” “Nick the Dick”, I suppose.

    We get this deal and one must sink the lower chin in dibelief. Is this what a Minister for Conservation does? I suppose under this government that has a totally new meaning, what conservation means.

    They are more occupied with extracting the “conserved coal and oil reserves” under the grounds , than anything else.

    While I can live with some extraction, when it is just a moderate expansion of more fossil fuel extraction, and when it is not in conservation land (not necessarily a national park), then I consider it. Otherwise I take issue. In this case I take issue. this is not necessarily highly protected land, but it is still conservation land.

    Nick the Dick, get your dick out, take it home and pleasure yourself with pulling it, without pulling one over our heads, thanks.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • 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
    16 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
    22 hours 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
    23 hours 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
    24 hours 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
    5 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
    7 days 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
    7 days 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

  • PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ ties
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.  During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-04-23T20:51:18+00:00