350 Day of Action – A media lament

Written By: - Date published: 12:20 pm, October 27th, 2009 - 42 comments
Categories: Environment, Media - Tags:

350-NZ-montage

Scientists say that 350 parts per million CO2 in the atmosphere is the safe limit for humanity. We’re above that limit and we’re climbing fast. 350 Aotearoa is the New Zealand arm of 350.org, an international campaign dedicated to creating an equitable global climate treaty that lowers carbon dioxide below 350 parts per million.

Last Saturday (24 October) was a global Day of Action, the “Most widespread day of political action in history”.  There were 5,248 events in 181 countries, 110 of them in New Zealand alone. Tens, possibly hundreds of thousands of people took part. Check out some of the images from the NZ events here.

Internationally the media coverage wasn’t bad. It made the front page of the New York Times, made the Washington Post, news sites, and so on.

Here the coverage had some notable gaps. There was a piece in the Dominion Post, a piece in the Otago Daily Times. Radio NZ and TV3 covered it. But I can’t find anything (maybe something I missed, I don’t think there was anything prominent!) in The Herald, on TV1, or many of the newspapers.

So those media outlets that didn’t cover it – what’s up folks? They made it easy for you, here’s the press kit. This was a major international event to highlight the greatest global threat faced by humanity, and it wasn’t important enough to cover? Didn’t warrant a brief interruption to the usual diet of celebrity gossip and shock horror crime stories? You people have a platform, you can reach the public, why not use it for good purposes sometimes? Sigh, I know, I know, silly old fashioned r0b. Most of the media exists not to inform, but to sell advertising. It’s just – the cost of our ignorance is going to be high…

42 comments on “350 Day of Action – A media lament ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Peter Johns 1
    27 October 2009 at 12:48 pm

    the turnout looks underwhelming, just like Sydney.
    350ppm is not deadly, we will still breathe at 10000ppm CO2, idiots.

    • lprent 1.1
      27 October 2009 at 2:11 pm

      Sure you can – it is the lack of O2 that causes us to stifle. We routinely have very high concentrations of CO2 in our lungs – all animals do.

      However (and this is where you show yourself to be a fatuous scientific fuckwit), the ambient tempature around you is probably going to either boil water or have so much water vapour in the atmosphere that plants will not grow. Not to mention that the water will be somewhat dangerous to drink

      More limp dick lines from this moronic scientifically illiterate ‘chemist’. It is such a pity that he never actually learnt to learn anything outside his own discipline. Personally I suspect that he burnt his brains out years ago sniffing non-polar solvents in the lab.

      • rocky 1.1.1
        27 October 2009 at 11:46 pm

        Wow that was a bit harsh!

        • lprent 1.1.1.1
          27 October 2009 at 11:55 pm

          Chemist Peter, ummm Blue Peter (probably)… Wanders around the blogs claiming that he is a chemist, and making dipshit comments like the one above. Personally I doubt that he has the education that he claims simply because of some of the really daft comments I’ve seen him make.

          If he is a chemist, it is evident that he has never left his vats for long enough to observe the biosphere. I like being even more sarcastic to him than he is to other people

  2. George D 2
    27 October 2009 at 12:59 pm

    People actually like to hear stories like this, from time to time. The media are just objectively useless.

  3. Scribe 3
    27 October 2009 at 1:21 pm

    This was a major international event to highlight the greatest global threat faced by humanity, and it wasn’t important enough to cover?

    The greatest global threat faced by humanity?!?!?

    Get a grip, man. And you wonder why people tune out when they hear climate change/global warming hysteria….

    • Pascal's bookie 3.1
      27 October 2009 at 1:26 pm

      Heh, go on scribe, tell us again about the holocaust being waged by the liberals and their culuture of death.

      Clearly “The greatest global threat faced by humanity” is opinion. What greater current threat is there, in your opinion?

      • Scribe 3.1.1
        27 October 2009 at 2:10 pm

        Hi PB,

        Well, let’s start with nuclear weapons in the hands of fruit loops like Kim Jong-Il and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (sp?).

        Still think climate change is “The greatest global threat faced by humanity’?

        And, just to throw a left-wing cause in there, what about overpopulation of the planet? Yikes.

        • r0b 3.1.1.1
          27 October 2009 at 2:17 pm

          Well, let’s start with nuclear weapons in the hands of fruit loops like Kim Jong-Il and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (sp?).

          Barring superpower nuclear war (which I now think is unlikely), even nukes only do local damage, compared to climate change.

          Also, nukes may or may not do us damage. It’s a possibility. Climate change is a certainty. It’s going to happen.

          And, just to throw a left-wing cause in there, what about overpopulation of the planet? Yikes.

          Self-limiting, and also part and parcel of climate change in any case.

        • Pascal's bookie 3.1.1.2
          28 October 2009 at 5:17 am

          What r0b said.

  4. Brett Dale 4
    27 October 2009 at 2:16 pm

    How many people took their cars to this event?

  5. Scribe 5
    27 October 2009 at 2:26 pm

    Also, nukes may or may not do us damage. It’s a possibility. Climate change is a certainty. It’s going to happen.

    Yep, the climate will change. It may or may not mean the planet gets hotter, though, melting ice caps and endangering people in places like Kiribati and the Maldives. The climate may change by getting colder, like it has been in recent years according to a recent BBC report.

    • r0b 5.1
      27 October 2009 at 2:46 pm

      Scribe, you claim to be a “journalist” – do some damn research. Evaluate the evidence instead of cherry picking that which you think supports your position of denial. Start here:

      http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn11462-climate-change-a-guide-for-the-perplexed.html

      http://scienceblogs.com/illconsidered/2008/07/how_to_talk_to_a_sceptic.php

      http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/629/629/7074601.stm

      http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg19426041.100

      Read the experts:

      On Feb. 2, 2007, the United Nations scientific panel studying climate change declared that the evidence of a warming trend is “unequivocal,’ and that human activity has “very likely’ been the driving force in that change over the last 50 years. The last report by the group, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, in 2001, had found that humanity had “likely’ played a role.

      The addition of that single word “very’ did more than reflect mounting scientific evidence that the release of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases from smokestacks, tailpipes and burning forests has played a central role in raising the average surface temperature of the earth by more than 1 degree Fahrenheit since 1900. It also added new momentum to a debate that now seems centered less over whether humans are warming the planet, but instead over what to do about it.

      • Scribe 5.1.1
        27 October 2009 at 2:57 pm

        r0b,

        Humans are doing things that are contributing to the recent warming (1 degree Fahreneit only), but who’s to say the planet’s cyclical cooling and warming patterns won’t offset that minuscule change?

        I recycle more than I used to and catch the bus a lot more than I used to because I think those two things help. What I will never accept, though — barring a 3-degree Celsius jump in 10 years or something like that — is the assertion that this is the biggest threat to our existence.

        Saying that I claim to be a “journalist” (which is just a strange construction; either use “claim” or the scare quotes, not both) doesn’t force me to drink Al Gore’s Kool-Aid(TM)

        • r0b 5.1.1.1
          27 October 2009 at 3:00 pm

          What I will never accept, though — barring a 3-degree Celsius jump in 10 years or something like that — is the assertion that this is the biggest threat to our existence.

          Short term thinking Scribe. It’s not the next 10 years (probably). But it is the next 50.

          Got to go for now.

          Ta for the grammar advice though.

        • Con 5.1.1.2
          27 October 2009 at 3:27 pm

          Fahrenheit? You really are a blast from past, aren’t you, Scribe? 🙂

        • lprent 5.1.1.3
          27 October 2009 at 11:41 pm

          The problem is that it is a cumulative effect in a system with considerable buffering. Problem is that we’ve pretty well filled the buffers, hell we’ve even managed to measurably drop the pH in the oceans – which is an incredible (albeit somewhat stupid) feat. The oceans will be releasing the stored CO2 and heat for the next few centuries.

          But on timescales, my educated guess is that we’re getting pretty close to a tipping point where one of the many possible stores of natural CO2, CH4, and other assorted gases will get a heat triggered release. All those warming permafrost bogs in the northern arctic would be my bet, where they have had a 5C or more rise over the last 15 years. Other people are betting on sea-shelf methane, the dissolution of shells and corals, etc etc. But there is a hell of a carbon stored around the arctic circle…

          If we manage to trigger something with our contributions, we’re likely to get a massive natural effect enhancing it and a very short lead time. Of course once one of those tipping points are triggered, then you will probably get your 2-4C jumps in a few decades.

          But hey what do I know? I only studied it for my earth sciences degree. Any moron knows that not understanding anything but belching gas and calling it an argument beats actually trying to understand it anytime. You only have to ask the sewer, politicians, journo’s, talkback radio, …….

          • Scribe 5.1.1.3.1
            28 October 2009 at 11:17 am

            PB,

            My point is that there is conflicting evidence. Some people, including many on The Standard, are unwilling to accept that some reputable scientists are sceptical about the recent trend being anything more than within natural temperature variations.

            As I’ve said, let’s recycle more, drive smaller cars, use alternative fuels (but not at the expense of food production) and utilise public transport. Let’s do our bit to stem emissions and give the planet a longer life.

            • Pascal's bookie 5.1.1.3.1.1
              28 October 2009 at 11:25 am

              “Some people, including many on The Standard, are unwilling to accept that some reputable scientists are sceptical about the recent trend being anything more than within natural temperature variations.”

              Really? I think most are willing to accept that such scientists exist. They happen to think that they are wrong, that the evidence is clearly against that position, and that that position should not be used as an excuse to do nothing.

            • lprent 5.1.1.3.1.2
              28 October 2009 at 2:30 pm

              Actually there are bugger all, and even less amongst people who know what they’re talking about. Have a look at my post from a month or so back. The level of agreement amongst earth scientists is incredibly high.

              Your dissension are just some noisy CCD’s who spread themselves widely, usually have no qualifications in the field, and talk trash ‘science’. Remind me of the idiots in the sewers

    • snoozer 5.2
      27 October 2009 at 2:51 pm

      scribe. for god’s sake, don’t wear ignorance like a badge. if you want to know the temperature of the world, you go to the world authority, which is http://data.giss.nasa.gov/gistemp/ (clue: it’s going up)

      and shruggin your shoulders and saying ‘yup, the climate will change’ is silly. The problem is the climate will change at a catastrophic rate.

      Here’s an analogy, let’s call it ‘speed change’: you and I are driving in a car, over time the speed of the car varies gradually up and down but it’s no big deal. Then I drive the car into a wall, again the speed of the car changes but this time it is a big deal because you and I slam into the inside of the car. Why is this ‘speed change’ dangerous whereas normal speed change isn’t? because it’s so sudden. We should obviously try to avoid something dangerous happening to us, especially when the cause of the danger is our own actions.

      • Scribe 5.2.1
        27 October 2009 at 3:01 pm

        snoozer,

        Want something sudden? Ask the people in Baghdad on the weekend about “sudden”.

        We can actually make contingencies for climate change. How do people in Afghanistan plan for carpet bombings or people in Darfur prepare for genocide?

        • snoozer 5.2.1.1
          27 October 2009 at 3:14 pm

          scribe? What?

          Human-induced climate change is a sudden event in climatic terms.

          How about we avoid changing the climate rather than try to reduce the costs of it later on with massive, expensive mitigation?

        • lprent 5.2.1.2
          27 October 2009 at 11:24 pm

          We can actually make contingencies for climate change.

          Not so far. The Nats version of the ETS looks to me like it will reward companies for doing more greenhouse gas emissions. I’m afraid that I think we’re going to have to scrap cap’n’trade as being a failed kludge. Moving to straight carbon tax without all of the fancy bits seems a lot more viable than this pile of lobbying.

          • Scribe 5.2.1.2.1
            28 October 2009 at 9:11 am

            LP,

            We can argue about the mechanisms, but man CAN make contingencies for climate change.

            You can rubbish National’s plans, but keep in mind that Labour did nothing for several years and then tried to get through its ETS in the last few months in office.

            • lprent 5.2.1.2.1.1
              28 October 2009 at 2:38 pm

              We can argue a lot about numbers. Nationals ETS makes the situation worse, not better. There is every incentive to increase emmissions by the major polluters because then they will be issued with more credits funded by the taxpayers.

              Basically this is subsidies by the taxpayer to polluters – as the treasury pointed out.

              Perhaps you’d care to look at the numbers rather than brown-nosing nationals spin?
              .

    • lprent 5.3
      27 October 2009 at 11:50 pm

      It is an interesting theory (unproven) that will get examined closely over the next few years. However as Levitt was at pains to point out and all of the wingnuts and CCD’s are at pains to ignore – it is a temporary effect for a decade or so (if in fact it exists). It is also a background effect, and at the levels he is pointing out will merely reduce the rate of increase in average world temperatures. It doesn’t stop the effect of heat retention in the biosphere as greenhouse gases rises, it merely postpones the faster rises, and assists idiots who think that it solves the problem.

      What you are foolishly overlooking is that the threat isn’t from warming or cooling – it is from having a changing climate outside of the usual ranges at all.

  6. joeschmoe 6
    27 October 2009 at 6:55 pm

    WTF

    Get a job. All of ya.

  7. Deus ex Machina 7
    27 October 2009 at 9:11 pm

    Peter Johns and Scribe are technically correct – levels of CO2 in the atmosphere higher than 350ppm will not harm the average human being, and it’s almost certainly the case that humanity has survived dramatic climatic changes. Perhaps even prospered as less adaptive competitors were hard-hit.

    But ‘humanity’ then numbered a lot less than a billion, had an average life-span of 30 years and knew how to survive – just – in an extremely hostile environment.

    What the scientists are saying is that “life as we know it, Jim,” won’t survive the climatic changes global warming could bring. But humanity likely will, maybe a billiion or so fighting for and over food and shelter with nary an iPod in sight.

    I wonder if Peter John’s grand-children will thank him for his scientific approach.

    • lprent 7.1
      27 October 2009 at 11:18 pm

      Peter Johns and Scribe are technically correct levels of CO2 in the atmosphere higher than 350ppm will not harm the average human being

      Except (as you point out) that the biosphere that sustains human civilisation may do one of its periodic collapses due to climatic changes. The evidence of catastrophic mass extinctions is pretty clear about what happens when the biosphere gets enough strain.

      …and it’s almost certainly the case that humanity has survived dramatic climatic changes.

      Sure, by the skin of their teeth. The relatively small variations in human mitochondrial DNA make that pretty evident that we have recovered from population implosions as recently as 70k years ago with very very small populations – most likely from climate change in Africa.

      However, that hardly means that the technologically based civilization that we’ve developed over the last 10k years, especially farming, will survive a drastic shift in climate balance. We’ve never seen anything like the conservative least impact projections of the IPCC in human history, so we have absolutely no idea about what the effects will be to out farming systems. Moreover the upcoming IPCC report looks likely to put their worst projections from the last report as being the least projections in the next. Certainly the research areas that were not incorporated in the last report because of insufficient data, now have some very scary data available.

  8. Mike 8
    28 October 2009 at 7:40 am

    It’s weird how there is prominent coverage of a planned ‘smacking’ march next month on the nzh website, yet there was no mention of any of the 350 actions that happened in the weekend….

    • RedLogix 8.1
      28 October 2009 at 7:48 am

      This is why the left needs to understand how propaganda is really done. It’s rarely obvious to most people… and always deniable.

      • Herodotus 8.1.1
        28 October 2009 at 3:15 pm

        Perhaps because there is a direct consequence that CAN BE SEEN by the population from the S59 legislation. And the majority of the people have not been heard and we tallk about democracy. well the plebs are not happy and the senate will not listen.
        Also that within the last 1200 years we have experienced greater temps, ice melts and the likes of inhabitation of Greenland & Iceland by Eric the Red & co. that since about 1300 A.D. has been almost inhospitable.
        Also the 1st World is being told to reduce CO2, how about the developing world, and the likes of Brazil with its deforestation (the other side of CO2 = O2 + C). Sorry but the world politicians are not displaying a great urgency. I wonder why?

  9. prism 9
    29 October 2009 at 10:11 am

    The environment is one thing that one can feel saintly about defending but the churches have real trouble with the need to control population growth. Taking control of our fecund fertility and exponential growth with its inevitable destructiveness is too hard for people vellum-bound in man-made dogma presented as divine. No condoms, no discussion, no last resort of abortion is countenanced by some churches. But starvation and disease and helpless people who find solace in churchy goodness and a future peace when they die.

Links to post

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Defence industry talent, commitment recognised
    Defence Minister Judith Collins tonight announced the recipients of the Minister of Defence Awards of Excellence for Industry, saying they all contribute to New Zealanders’ security and wellbeing. “Congratulations to this year’s recipients, whose innovative products and services play a critical role in the delivery of New Zealand’s defence capabilities, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago

  • Speech to the Minister of Defence Awards of Excellence for Industry
    Welcome to you all - it is a pleasure to be here this evening.I would like to start by thanking Greg Lowe, Chair of the New Zealand Defence Industry Advisory Council, for co-hosting this reception with me. This evening is about recognising businesses from across New Zealand and overseas who in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago

  • Speech to the Sixth Annual New Zealand Government Data Summit
    It is a pleasure to be speaking to you as the Minister for Digitising Government.  I would like to thank Akolade for the invitation to address this Summit, and to acknowledge the great effort you are making to grow New Zealand’s digital future. Today, we stand at the cusp of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago

  • Ceasefire agreement needed now: Peters
    New Zealand is urging both Israel and Hamas to agree to an immediate ceasefire to avoid the further humanitarian catastrophe that military action in Rafah would unleash, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.   “The immense suffering in Gaza cannot be allowed to worsen further. Both sides have a responsibility to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago

  • Daily school attendance data now available
    A new online data dashboard released today as part of the Government’s school attendance action plan makes more timely daily attendance data available to the public and parents, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour.  The interactive dashboard will be updated once a week to show a national average of how ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago

  • Ambassador to United States appointed
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced Rosemary Banks will be New Zealand’s next Ambassador to the United States of America.    “Our relationship with the United States is crucial for New Zealand in strategic, security and economic terms,” Mr Peters says.    “New Zealand and the United States have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago

  • New permit proposed for recreational gold mining
    The Government is considering creating a new tier of minerals permitting that will make it easier for hobby miners to prospect for gold. “New Zealand was built on gold, it’s in our DNA. Our gold deposits, particularly in regions such as Otago and the West Coast have always attracted fortune-hunters. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago

  • NZ and the UAE launch FTA negotiations
    Minister for Trade Todd McClay today announced that New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will commence negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA). Minister McClay met with his counterpart UAE Trade Minister Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Dubai, where they announced the launch of negotiations on a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago

  • New Zealand Sign Language Week an opportunity for anyone to sign
    New Zealand Sign Language Week is an excellent opportunity for all Kiwis to give the language a go, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. This week (May 6 to 12) is New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week. The theme is “an Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhere” and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Next stop NASA for New Zealand students
    Six tertiary students have been selected to work on NASA projects in the US through a New Zealand Space Scholarship, Space Minister Judith Collins announced today. “This is a fantastic opportunity for these talented students. They will undertake internships at NASA’s Ames Research Center or its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • $1.9 billion investment to keep NZ safe from crime
    New Zealanders will be safer because of a $1.9 billion investment in more frontline Corrections officers, more support for offenders to turn away from crime, and more prison capacity, Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell says. “Our Government said we would crack down on crime. We promised to restore law and order, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • OECD reinforces need to control spending
    The OECD’s latest report on New Zealand reinforces the importance of bringing Government spending under control, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The OECD conducts country surveys every two years to review its members’ economic policies. The 2024 New Zealand survey was presented in Wellington today by OECD Chief Economist Clare Lombardelli.   ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Agreement delivers Local Water Done Well for Auckland
    The Government has delivered on its election promise to provide a financially sustainable model for Auckland under its Local Water Done Well plan. The plan, which has been unanimously endorsed by Auckland Council’s Governing Body, will see Aucklanders avoid the previously projected 25.8 per cent water rates increases while retaining ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Gaza and the Pacific on the agenda with Germany
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters discussed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and enhanced cooperation in the Pacific with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her first official visit to New Zealand today.    "New Zealand and Germany enjoy shared interests and values, including the rule of law, democracy, respect for the international system ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Decision allows for housing growth in Western Bay of Plenty
    The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Council’s Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Speech to New Zealand China Council
    Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today.    Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Modern insurance law will protect Kiwi households
    The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Government recommits to equal pay
    The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says.  “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Transforming how our children learn to read
    Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says.  “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • NZ not backing down in Canada dairy dispute
    Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Stronger oversight for our most vulnerable children
    The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Streamlining Building Consent Changes
    The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says.      “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Minister acknowledges passing of Sir Robert Martin (KNZM)
    New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Speech to New Zealand Institute of International Affairs, Parliament – Annual Lecture: Challenges ...
    Good evening –   Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Accelerating airport security lines
    From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Community hui to talk about kina barrens
    People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Kiwi exporters win as NZ-EU FTA enters into force
    Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Mining resurgence a welcome sign
    There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill passes first reading
    The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government to boost public EV charging network
    Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure.  The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Residential Property Managers Bill to not progress
    The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Independent review into disability support services
    The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Justice Minister updates UN on law & order plan
    Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has attended the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and outlined the Government’s plan to restore law and order. “Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council provided us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Ending emergency housing motels in Rotorua
    The Government and Rotorua Lakes Council are committed to working closely together to end the use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua. Associate Minister of Housing (Social Housing) Tama Potaka says the Government remains committed to ending the long-term use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua by the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Trade Minister travels to Riyadh, OECD, and Dubai
    Trade Minister Todd McClay heads overseas today for high-level trade talks in the Gulf region, and a key OECD meeting in Paris. Mr McClay will travel to Riyadh to meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “New Zealand’s goods and services exports to the Gulf region ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Education priorities focused on lifting achievement
    Education Minister Erica Stanford has outlined six education priorities to deliver a world-leading education system that sets Kiwi kids up for future success. “I’m putting ambition, achievement and outcomes at the heart of our education system. I want every child to be inspired and engaged in their learning so they ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • NZTA App first step towards digital driver licence
    The new NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) App is a secure ‘one stop shop’ to provide the services drivers need, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins say.  “The NZTA App will enable an easier way for Kiwis to pay for Vehicle Registration and Road User Charges (RUC). ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Supporting whānau out of emergency housing
    Whānau with tamariki growing up in emergency housing motels will be prioritised for social housing starting this week, says Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. “Giving these whānau a better opportunity to build healthy stable lives for themselves and future generations is an essential part of the Government’s goal of reducing ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Tribute to Dave O'Sullivan
    Racing Minister Winston Peters has paid tribute to an icon of the industry with the recent passing of Dave O’Sullivan (OBE). “Our sympathies are with the O’Sullivan family with the sad news of Dave O’Sullivan’s recent passing,” Mr Peters says. “His contribution to racing, initially as a jockey and then ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Speech – Eid al-Fitr
    Assalaamu alaikum, greetings to you all. Eid Mubarak, everyone! I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and everyone celebrating this joyous occasion. It is a pleasure to be here. I have enjoyed Eid celebrations at Parliament before, but this is my first time joining you as the Minister ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-05-07T15:30:33+00:00