$7.5 billion surplus

Written By: - Date published: 2:08 pm, October 8th, 2019 - 101 comments
Categories: budget 2017, Economy, grant robertson, Politics - Tags:

 
The government has just unveiled a $7.5 billion surplus.
 
Treasury announced today that:
 
  • The Government’s surplus has increased $2b to $7.5b
  • Net Government debt has fallen to 19.2 per cent of GDP, down from 19.9 per cent a year ago
  • The total DHB deficit widened to $1 billion
  • Total Government revenue increased $6.2 billion to $86.5 billion.

The surplus unveiled today is $4b higher than what was expected in May’s Budget – and $2b higher than the actual surplus unveiled this time last year.

The NZ Herald notes that:

Part of the reason for the $2b increase in the surplus is largely down to a revaluation of New Zealand’s railway. A change in the way the government-owned rail assets were valued contributed to the surplus being $2.6 billion higher than expected.

One-off changes to the way tax was calculated also contributed to the surplus.”

What should they spend it on?

Or is this a bit smoke-and-mirrors?

101 comments on “$7.5 billion surplus ”

  1. Booker 1

    Good luck to National trying to spin this one. Labour = good economic management, and they consistently produce the numbers to back that up.

    • Chris 1.2

      "Labour = good economic management, and they consistently produce the numbers to back that up."

      Yes, but the nats and their mates still successfully spin the opposite story, and it's the lie that Labour is hopeless at economic management the right rely upon to claim "business confidence is low". This manufactured "fact" of low business confidence is then used to counter Labour's good economic management. The truth seldom suits the right hence it's MO of using lies as the basis for almost everything it says and does.

      Labour needs to strike while the iron's hot and use this current surplus to bust the myth once and for all that historically blows the right out of the water when it comes to the economy. There needs to be a concerted effort to do this because not only is the general belief is the opposite, the effect this myth has on the public psyche is significant.

      • Booker 1.2.1

        All good points. That voxy story Clive linked to above cracks me up – National just can't drop talking about measly tax cuts and roads. What a broken record.

  2. Stuart Munro. 2

    I think some of this is Cullen's legacy, and revaluing assets can be misleading. Nevertheless it's a strong result, a vast improvement on the Gnat omnishambles, and a spike in some of those attack memes they're trying to build like "part-time" and the broken ruler pics.

  3. alwyn 3

    Perhaps Robbie will find the nerve to tell Genter where to get off.

    Wellington needs the money to fix its transport woes now rather than putting off things like the second Mt Vic tunnel for a decade or so as Genter has apparently demanded. We can't be absolutely clear about that of course as she refuses to release the information to OIA requests. When is the Ombudsman going to come to a decision?

    We could also do with getting a proper, safe, highway through from Otaki to Levin. We want it now.

    Come on Robertson. You are meant to represent Wellington. Well do so. Stop spending your time trying to cover up for your mate who was in the Labour Party Leader's Office. Do what we elected you to do.

    • Dukeofurl 3.1

      Road Transport funding isnt done from the Consolidated Revenue. Where is the 'surplus' from the Land Transport Fund and why should Wellington be 'getting it'

      Robertson is a wellington MP, the money spent is allocated by the Board of LTNZ according to broad government guidelines , not the whim of the Finance Minister

      • cleangreen 3.1.1

        Dukeofurl I heartily agree with you as Wellington was eager to allow all their freight to be trucked through to our region waking us up all night with 24/7 truck movements though to Napier Napier port instead of using rail so Wellington can get stuffed.

        Has anyone woken to why roads carrying legions of logs and freight are being destroyed by truck vibrations?

        The facts are in now.
        http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1910/S00094/nz-roads-will-never-cope-with-heavier-trucks.htm

        So best we use rail as the reconstruction of rail is far cheaper than resurrecting roads as the land use is so small by comparison.

        • Ad 3.1.1.1

          If Labour get in next year, they can open a good few of the new motorways National started.

    • Sacha 3.2

      Wah, I want a road and a tunnel!

      Evidence-based policy says the next stage of improving transport in Wellington is about reliable public transit from railway to airport, not more lanes for cars with the odd bus jammed between them. Get used to it.

    • Ad 3.3

      The Greens are substantially boxed in by Labour and NZF.

      I'd even be surprised if there's an all-gases climate bill now.

  4. Enough is Enough 4

    Why the fuck are they sticking with their austerity strategy?

    This is a neo-liberal government if they are holding onto surpluses this large while we have record waiting lists for social housing, child poverty has increased and we have an infrastructure deficit.

    We have unprecedented cheap credit and should be taking advantage of that.

    FFS – Stop acting like a Tory Government and start spending that surplus where it is needed

    • Peter 4.1

      Spend the money so the defectives on the other side can go berserk about election bribery and/or say they wasted the money. Then go and vote for National so the Proper World order can be restored and they can bitch about the cupboard being bare.

    • Dukeofurl 4.2

      You havent read the notes, there is NO CASH surplus 'to spend', revaluations of assets arent spending money.

      Where is the austerity you talk about?

    • Adrian Thornton 4.3

      "FFS – Stop acting like a Tory Government and start spending that surplus where it is needed"…you forget that these people (Labour) are Free Market Liberal Capitalists not some sort of left leaning Socialist do gooders who would stupidly put housing and health and education first..their ideology has more in common with Nationals (or the Tories ) than it does with that espoused by Corbyn or Sanders.

  5. Herodotus 5

    So at the time there were strong valid reasons for pay increases, the govt stated they had no money. Yet just now they have found $2b to add to the surplus thru changes in nzrail valuations. They did not know that when these pay demands were made. How DISHONEST is that !!🤥 any changes in accounting treatment would have been known well before this disclosure. I hope those with outstanding pay claims make the most of this announcement.

    • Dukeofurl 5.1

      Most of the pay increases came through, the changes in working conditions werent all improved which was a big demand

  6. I think they're on a hiding to nothing. Nat supporters will find ways to claim it's all smoke and mirrors to conceal the serious lasting damage these commies are doing to the country's economy, and Labour/Green supporters will mostly be highly pissed off that the government's building up a surplus instead of spending the money on whatever is that individual's primary concern.

    I'm surprised The Chairman isn't here expressing concern that this looks very bad for "Jacinda" – did they cop a ban or something?

  7. If I didn't pay all my basic housing costs, my medical and dental expenses, maintenance and update on my mode of transport, etc..resulting in even greater costs down the track..then ran around crowing about how much money I had sitting in my bank account people would think I was deluded.

    ditto…a Labour lead Government.

    You'll never get Transformative Change under Austerity rules.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/400491/women-denied-treatment-for-gynaecological-conditions

  8. McFlock 8

    The surplus unveiled today is $4b higher than what was expected in May’s Budget

    lol even if the rail revaluing was $2B, Treasury was out by 100% in a prediction for just a few months later. Economics is bunk.

    Personally, I'd put more money towards health and benefit levels. And tell the business confidence surveys and tory economists to go spin.

    • The Al1en 8.1

      I was just going to mention the business confidence surveys and how negative they are… And these people are the comptrollers in the engine room of our economy? Heavens help us all.

    • Adrian Thornton 8.2

      "Personally, I'd put more money towards health and benefit levels. And tell the business confidence surveys and tory economists to go spin"…totally agree with that comment, except that won't happen ( or if it does, it will be incrementally introduced of course) because Labour is guided in it's every move by it's Liberal/Free market/Capitalist economists and ideology…they talk a lot, put on a shit load of 'working groups', pay a ton of consultants, but actually do sweet fuck all.

      Will quite possibly be remembered as one of the most ineffectual Labour govt's of the modern period, against some other pretty lackluster contenders.

      Turn Labour Left!

      • McFlock 8.2.1

        🙄

        If Labour were a little bit further Left they'd not have gone into coalition with NZ1 and we'd have a nat/NZ1 govt at the moment. I'll take "ineffectual" over "outright harmful".

        • lprent 8.2.1.1

          Generally my opinion as well.

          Personally I'm always amused when I see people complaining that the centre-left or centre-right aren't going far enough left or right respectively, when there simply isn't the support amongst the bulk of the voters for going that far.

          Of course the real issue is that the complainants haven't been able to convince enough of their fellow citizens to drive the politicians there.

          Politicians are always the weather vanes of public opinion rather than the producers of weather.

          In a MMP environment or anything that is even moderately representational they don't (as a group) hew to what a majority of the public are willing to accept, then they don't get voted in. That governs their lives. You see this even in a caucus. They don't demand changes if they can't get enough of their caucus members to agree.

          And that is before you look at coalition politics.

          Really they have to have a damn good story that resonates with enough of the public, caucus, and coalition before something even slightly extreme will happen. And complaining about it seldom does anything. Coming up with a good idea and a story tat sells it is far more efficacious.

      • observer 8.2.2

        Count to 61, Adrian.

        Ardern is no fool. She is on track for a Labour-Green majority at the next election. She understands (even if some on the "left" do not) that the best way to get lasting left government is to wait for NZF to die. Odds are that will happen in 2020.

        In the meantime the PM plays nice with Winston. She is killing him with kindness, and it's very smart … too smart for some, I fear.

        • Dukeofurl 8.2.2.1

          Labour will aim to have both Greens AND NZF on side in a broader coalition.

          Thats the method Clark and Key used sucessfully over 18 yrs.

          Having two party coalition will both blow apart the major party and the minor one. Multi party coalitions hep diffuse the issues and pressures.

          • McFlock 8.2.2.1.1

            A solid likelihood, to be surebut I think the other lesson coming to the fore is that even if you leave someone out of the coalition, give them space for policy wins and don't alienate them – if the nats hadn't tried to fuck Winston, Bill English might still be PM today.

  9. karol121 9

    What to spend it on?

    It's already pre-spent is it not? And that 7.5 bill would not likely have even touched the sides.

    Ledgers black are vogue, until they become a dark, black ledger splotch.

    Maybe Graeme Hart might be prepared to chip in a billion for and on the behalf of government so as to more effectively improve our national adult dental health scheme. The non-subsidised retail, dental practice scheme, that is.

    Well, at least the dental health subsidy for children in NZ is about to turn 100 years of age.

  10. ianmac 10

    "Of course we left the strong economy in such a good state that it is shameful that all that Robertson could manage was a miserable $7.5 billion surplus. If we were in our rightful place as Government the surplus would be at least $15billion. Disaster as usual by this Ardern shambles," said Bridges with Prime Ministerial aplomb.

  11. Ken 11

    Spend most of it on wild women and liquor…..squander the rest.

    • Karol121 11.1

      Agreed Ken.

      If you've got it, spend it like there's no tomorrow, and when that's finished, CHARGE IT.

      devil

  12. observer 12

    If NZ had high inflation, high unemployment, high interest rates and a big deficit, the "Business Confidence Survey" would be bad.

    Fortunately, we have low inflation, low unemployment, low interest rates and a big surplus. So naturally the "Business Confidence Survey" is … oh.

    In other news, a survey of All Blacks fans shows a very low level of confidence in Australia winning the rugby world cup. It's almost as if they don't like the other team.

    • Ken 12.1

      I think "business" is having a crisis of confidence.

      Perhaps they need to see a therapist.

  13. mac1 13

    “This is $7.5B stolen from the pockets of ordinary Kiwis.

    This money should be returned to the off-shore accounts of ordinary Kiwi mums and dads. Further rebates should be returned to those 10% of hard-working Kiwis who pay more than one set of rates for owning Sounds baches, holiday homes and capital gains ghost houses which they don't live in…….

    Did I mention also the discounts payable to owners of high petrol use vehicles to offset the road user charges not paid by EV owners?” continued Simon Bridges. “This money could build bridges in Northland, too, as the goverment promised,” Bridges went on.

  14. Can the old guys shift off the pot. Knock knock – When are you going to come out of the money closet? Can't hear anything, are you still alive in there? Perhaps the song goes 'It's now Orr never.'

    We will swing and sway if Labourcan only get tuneful – and think of the children and the future. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hli1fuk8zQQ

  15. bwaghorn 15

    Any one on the left that cant see this as a good thing is to stupid to comment on politics.

    You cant do fuck all from opposition and part of winning elections in nz is showing sound fiscal management.

    Oh and now they get to open the throttle a bit more on all the good things a functioning democracy can do.

    • mike 15.1

      Couldn't have put it better myself.

    • Nic the NZer 15.2

      Government surpluses (or deficits) are neither good or bad things. The appropriate surplus or deficit depends on the surrounding economic context. There are some general implications of surpluses which may provide a more nuanced view however.

      The net shrinkage of government debt has by accounting matched the net shrinkage in non government savings. You can decide if its presently a good thing for NZers to be finding it tougher to save.

      Also of relevance here, as the monopoly currency issuer the NZ govt can't save in its own currency.

    • Herodotus 15.3

      Are you for real, anyone on the left how is labour any different from national ? Different faces same direction for NZ. So we have a nice face now as PM, so 10,20 or 50 years time how will history differentiate John Key from Helen Or our current PM ?

      At least the greens early 2000 were consistent to following their ideals now we have a girls can follow a leftist policy (fletcher land) boys are establishment and the 2 cannot co-exist.

      Don’t divert from the centre. How will that allow NZ to progress we go with how the current flows 🤢good or bad

      • Dukeofurl 15.3.1

        How many votes did your party get . 1500?

        If labour needed to be 'more left' there would a lot of votes in that area. There isnt. Power comes from the centre

        • Herodotus 15.3.1.1

          unfortunately I am not our deputy pm, nor Colin craig or Gareth Morgan so I don’t have a party that follows the cult of personality.

          So following your comment we only marginally sway from moderately left or right ? No wonder we are fu$&@/. So don’t bother to comment should you think we need to venture more than the middle of the road, because jacinda will not take us any other direction the John took us. I am thinking lemmings and cliffs 🤔

          [Corrected typo in user handle]

    • Naki man 15.4

      They will probably wait until election year

  16. David Mac 16

    I'm struggling to understand what our position is. Have we got 7.5 billion in our wallet or have we just said 'Lets value Kiwirail at this much.'

    • Nic the NZer 16.1

      Its neither. As a currency issuer the NZ govt always has the same spending capacity regardless of its present debt, surplus or deficit position.

      • David Mac 16.1.1

        Do they have an endless supply of disposable dollars? Sounds like a free lunch to me.

        • Nic the NZer 16.1.1.1

          Yes, the reserve bank is part of the government and is legally the sole issuer of $NZ. We (should) actually judge the governments spending for its effects on the economy, not for a spurious accounting balance.

          • David Mac 16.1.1.1.1

            Hmm yeah. We need to keep our currency geared to the global money-go-round Nic.

            I'm many miles from a bank that can help me Nic and I've arrived home with a pocketful of South American currencies, I don't spose you could convert some Bolivar for me could you sport?

            • Nic the NZer 16.1.1.1.1.1

              Not sure what this means. The reserve bank doesn't target the exchange rate, that is allowed to float in most cases. In fact tieing the exchange rate to the US is one causes of Venezuela importing inflation.

              • David Mac

                I'm sure you're smart enough to see the ramifications for a government that decides to create a bank balance that will fund their extended wish-list.

                I'm not sure why you're ignoring the voice that is whispering to you 'We can't just put 2 zeroes on the end of our bank balance bro."

                • Nic the NZer

                  Good, you agree then its all about the economic outcomes. As I said,

                  "We (should) actually judge the governments spending for its effects on the economy, not for a spurious accounting balance."

              • Pat

                it may not "target the exchange rate" but it dosnt ignore it.

                • David Mac

                  Being geared to all the other currencies of the world is a good thing. We're just useless at making the most of our situation. I think our logs should be Ikea desk-tops and our tonnes of milk powder 500 ml tubs of Kiwi household fridge ready goodness.

                  A log is worth $1000. As matches $100,000.

                  • Pat

                    easier said than done…..especially when the buyer wants to support their own industry…..which is not to say it shouldnt be the goal but there are contradictory forces at work and by and large our exports are available elsewhere so we have little in the way of leverage

                    • David Mac

                      So quit? OK, I'm going fishing…

                      Or how about we make a concerted effort to live up to our 100% Pure handle, cut herd levels by 25%, clean up waterways and create markets for a premium priced ethical product, surf on the back of our ever enhanced reputation.

                      It's hard not to wonder why it appears Fonterra couldn't organise a thickshake in a milkbar.

                  • Pat

                    read what I wrote…did I say quit?….I believe I said we have little leverage. There is one area we have a unique product and weve been flogging that for all its worth for 20 odd years…care to guess what that might be?

                    • David Mac

                      There is an open cast mine quite close to me in the Far North. It employs a few people and basic infrastructure. They extract clay suitable for the finest ceramics in the world. I believe most of their shipments go to Wedgewood. Are you referring to the extraordinary properties of possum fur Pat? Yeah, huge potential. They and Polar bears are the only animals that have the fabulous natural insulation qualities of hollow fur fibres. I have a jersey that is as soft as cashmere and is like wearing an electric blanket.

                  • Pat

                    No David…your guess isnt even close, and I must self correct, we havnt been flogging it for all its worth, weve been having a bargain basement sale….and the product is residency

                    • David Mac

                      Ahhh yes. A popular product sold on our behalf.

                      The better life we can create for New Zealanders the more attractive we become as a place to migrate to.

                      It's a Catch 22 situation highlighted by things like refugees that had no intention of settling along the way, they were Sweden bound. Who can blame them, it's exactly what I'd do. It's human to thrive.

                      While we can't be bothered picking our own apples and need to get a man in, I think we construct our own diminishing resources. We get what we ask for.

                  • Pat

                    curiously I dont recall being asked whether I wanted a population of 15 million or not

                    • David Mac

                      We vote em in. They make the calls on our behalf. If enough of us feel ripped off, we chuck em out.

                    • Descendant Of Smith

                      Should have taken that up with the last government who was letting them in and allowing them to work more than the previous one.

                  • Pat

                    and if they both have the same undeclared policy?

  17. David Mac 17

    Kiwirail assets are worth more money. Immense land holdings, lots of it in prime locations.

    As a business proposition the collective assets are a money pit. Worth heaps but run at a chronic loss. We choose to live with the fiscally disastrous rail network. Viva la Choo Choo.

    As a business, a million a week loser. As an appreciating asset, yep but for it to be money in our wallet I think we'd need to turn the downtown shunting yards into Waitemata Harbour-side apartments

    • Dukeofurl 17.1

      No its not . The asset base is the albatross as its depreciation is the large majority of the accounting loss. Not a large cash loss. Operationally it might even be cash positive. Cant afford new capital expenditure though, especially for Interisland ferries.

      Same goes for DHB 'losses' , depreciation covers most of it and actual cash losses are fairly small ( apart from this year for one off holiday pay correction)

      • Dukeofurl 17.1.1

        Kiwirail 2018 revenue $615 mill

        Expenses $567 mill

        Operating surplus $48 mill

        For some reason there was a $220 'Earthquake impairment'.

        Government contribution was only $40 mill capital grants

        How old are you? Downtown shunting yards went 30 years ago.

    • Worth heaps but run at a chronic loss.

      The loss pales into insignificance compared to sewerage and wastewater systems, roads, pretty much any infrastructure you care to name. Is there any particular reason the rail network should be looked on simply as a business rather than infrastructure?

      • David Mac 17.2.1

        Yeah, we could add the increased value of the sewerage infrastructure and make it a 9 billion surplus.

        I'm making a bit of a Chairman of myself here but I don't think we're as rich as we think we are.

        • Psycho Milt 17.2.1.1

          Accountants move in ways that make God's mysteries seem mundane, their wonders to perform.

          • lprent 17.2.1.1.1

            Ah but the language of accountants is the most opaque of all of the old professions. I did an MBA just to learn the language because I was tired of trying to figure out what they were saying when I was running a factory.

            Turned out to be both straight forward and easy to learn. The language was just short-hand (and way less esoteric than the computing babble that I learnt later).

            If you really want obtuse, then try law. Balancing legal principles to a judgment is an artform rather than something as simple as accounting.

  18. Grant not Robertson 18

    Well good for Nic the NZer – I’m glad that someone here has a rudimentary grasp of economics.

  19. SPC 19

    Only two real figures

    1. Net Government debt has fallen to 19.2 per cent of GDP, down from 19.9 per cent a year ago.

    So the debt target (under 20% debt to GDP by 2020/2021) has been easily achieved and given the looser target for 2023 is not a constraint (assisted by Housing Corp doing some of is own borrowing – balanced by its growing land and housing asset value).

    2. The total DHB deficit widened to $1 billion.

    Given the cash deficit this is a bit of a problem and indicates the government is not in a position for a spend up. In that sense, “$7.5B budget surplus” misleads most of the public.

    While the government is able to borrow to finance a budget deficit (and remain within 20% debt to GDP), it will remain constrained by its commitment for government to spend less than 30% GDP (until after the 2020 election when the Labour-Green agreement on this comes to an end – and Greens do not want to continue with it).

  20. Descendant Of Smith 20

    This is just a game that the two parties play and is about as useful as pissing on a sand castle.

    National comes in writes down the value of Kiwi rail, Labour comes in values it back up.

    Been going on for ages. One of the things I've noticed over the years. Seen this happen with lots of government assets – national often lowering the valuation when they want to sell stuff off. Economics – pretty much as scientific as astrology.

    2019

    "The final valuation of KiwiRail was $369 million – more than half the price the Government paid for it.

    The Labour government bought TranzRail from Toll on July 1 last year for $690m. A provisional valuation in the government financial statements in September 2008 put the value at $442m. Today Transport Minister Steven Joyce said the final valuation by PriceWaterhouseCoopers was $388.29m.

    A Treasury report said a fair value for KiwiRail at the purchase date would have been $369.54m."

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/2553607/KiwiRail-only-worth-369-million

    2012

    "BUSINESSDESK: KiwiRail is to be restructured and its land holdings shifted to another entity, with a writedown of some $6.7 billion that will result in $1.8 billion being added to the government’s operating deficit this financial year."

    https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/kiwirail-loses-land-wiping-67-billion-asset-base-wb-122170

    • Dukeofurl 20.1

      Thanks for getting the numbers.

      With the DHB they too have 'valuation' issues. Open a brand new hospital building , say worth $900 mill and depreciation suddenly turns your balance deep into the red…..oh woe.

      There really needs to be better public accounting measures for non profits that are owned by government and local bodies. Railways , DHBs arent really in the 'red' as headlines suggest for the general public

  21. belladonna 21

    They could fix up rest homes with the surplus, they are a disgrace but who cares about the sick and elderly. Another broken promise from Labour.

    • David Mac 21.1

      The Baby-boom bubble are now 55 -74 years old. I think over the next 15 years we might see demand for rest home beds climb and the family house market ease. We should be preparing for this now and I agree Bella, a sensible area in which to invest some of any surplus. Statistically, older people vote more.

      This from a Senior net website…

      "By 2036, it’s projected:

      • Around one in 4.5 New Zealanders will be aged 65-plus
      • That's 1,258,500 million people
      • It's an additional 547,300 over 65's, up from a total of 711,200 in 2016.
      • Or a 77 per cent increase

      Contrast that with the under 14s:

      • There will be 991,900 children by 2036
      • It's an extra 70,400 under 14s, up from 921,500 in 2016
      • It represents only a 7.6 per cent increase"
    • Sacha 21.2

      If you put another billion into rest home subsidies tomorrow, much of it will disappear into only a few corporate accounts in foreign banks.

      In-home care needs more funding to keep older people out of expensive facilities. However there is more money to be made from property investment so corporates are snapping up sprawling retirement villages, pocketing govt care subsidies, paying themselves a tidy profit and putting their hands out for more. Let's not be taken for mugs.

  22. belladonna 22

    REST HOMES>

    $1.60 a day I have heard is the allowance for food, carers are overworked and underpaid b ut do their best and the reports in the paper of residents with maggots in their wounds just disgusts me. What on earth can you buy for $1.60 a day for food in this day and age. Labour dId say they would sort it but havent, at the expense of what. I have voted Labour all of my life, helped out at elections&; but never again

  23. A 23

    Pay for full costs of disabilities. That's the best use of money other than paying down debt.

  24. cleangreen 24

    Another labour coalition Government awaits.

    Good action from Minister of transport reigning in the toxic NZTA again.

    Minister of Transport Phil Twyford is now appropriately putting the heat on NZTA quote; ‘obstructive tactics”

    • CEAC and NHTCF has never been fairly treated by NZTA through all our attempted efforts to have NZTA give fair urban mitigation from traffic.
    • CEAC under OIA requested documents from NZTA two months ago and was refused our request for OIA documents for NZTA activities 1995 to 2019, a reasonable request as we were beginning a study of NZTA activities inside our ‘Napier urban zones to Napier port.’

    Also today we heard a statement on ‘Magic – drive at 4.40pm with news hubs Ryan Bridge interview with Phil Twyford.

    Mr Twyford stated that he is directing NZTA policy to begin a slowing down of all transport speeds for road safety, – to lowered settings in cities and rural areas and this will be positive for us all. We will be following this policy as it unfolds.

    http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1910/S00094/nz-roads-will-never-cope-with-heavier-trucks.htm

    The ‘Road Transport Forum, (RTF) does not want lower speeds.
    Response from the trucking lobbyist Nick Leggett quote;
    Road Transport Forum chief executive Nick Leggett said those proposals, which included recovering a fairer proportion of costs from a wider group of road users, could see the a pendulum swing into over-regulation and more expense put on road users
    “We’re concerned that throwing more money into regulation will see investment in road maintenance suffer.”

    https://www.magic.co.nz/home/shows/talk/magic-drive.html – The Bridge/Twyford audio pod is not appearing on their website yet.
    https://www.magic.co.nz/home/shows/talk/magic-drive.html
    Earlier press on this policy was in the press February and June. Here are those sites.
    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2019/02/revealed-the-auckland-roads-set-to-get-lower-speed-limits.html
    https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-country/audio/jacinda-ardern-lower-speed-limits-part-of-reducing-the-road-toll/
    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2019/10/former-nzta-worker-frustrated-by-agency-s-failure-to-follow-regulatory-process.html

    [Where did you get the quote from Nick Leggett from? Why did you not put this in block-quote nor did you use quotation marks? You can correct your omission until 12 noon tomorrow. Because you have been warned about this before, this is your last one and next time, if there’s one, you’ll receive an immediate ban – Incognito]

    [Banned until Monday 2019-10-14, for failing to provide proper attribution of quote and not making clear which text has been quoted, e.g. by using quotation marks or block-quote. Because of your history of this behaviour, subsequent bans for the same behaviour will escalate – Incognito]

    • Incognito 24.1

      See my Moderation note @ 10:17 PM.

    • Ad 24.2

      If I get the time I will do something on this announcement.

      There are a lot of gradual accumulative factors to the road toll increase, across the entire transport regulation field.

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Recent Posts

  • At a glance – Does CO2 always correlate with temperature?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    2 hours ago
  • Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6.06 pm on Tuesday, March 19
    TL;DR: In today’s ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Tuesday, March 19:Kāinga Ora’s dry rot The Spinoff DailyBill McKibben on ‘Climate Superfunds’ making Big Oil pay for climate damage The Crucial YearsPreston Mui on returning to 1980s-style productivity growth NoahpinionAndy Boenau on NIMBYs needing unusual bedfellows Urbanism SpeakeasyNed Resnikoff's case ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 hours ago
  • Relentlessly negative
    Negative yesterday, negative today. Negative all year, according to one departing reader telling me I’ve grown strident and predictable. Fair enough. If it’s any help, every time I go to write about a certain topic that begins with C and ends with arrrrs, I do brace myself and ask: Again? Are ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 hours ago
  • Scoring 4.6 out of 10, the new Government is struggling in the polls
    Bryce Edwards writes –  It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 hours ago
  • Promiscuous Empathy: Chris Trotter Replies To His Critics.
    Inspirational: The Family of Man is a glorious hymn to human equality, but, more than that, it is a clarion call to human freedom. Because equality, unleavened by liberty, is a broken piano, an unstrung harp; upon which the songs of fraternity will never be played. “Somebody must have been telling lies about ...
    6 hours ago
  • Don’t run your business like a criminal enterprise
    The Detail this morning highlights the police's asset forfeiture case against convicted business criminal Ron Salter, who stands to have his business confiscated for systemic violations of health and safety law. Business are crying foul - but not for the reason you'd think. Instead of opposing the post-conviction punishment and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 hours ago
  • Misremembering Justinian’s Taxes.
    Tax Lawyer Barbara Edmonds vs Emperor Justinian I - Nolo Contendere: False historical explanations of pivotal events are very far from being inconsequential.WHEN BARBARA EDMONDS made reference to the Roman Empire, my ears pricked up. It is, lamentably, very rare to hear a politician admit to any kind of familiarity ...
    6 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Scoring 4.6 out of 10, the new Government is struggling in the polls
    It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support for the various parties in ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    7 hours ago
  • Bishop scores headlines with crackdown on unwelcome tenants – but Peters scores, too, as tub-thump...
    Buzz from the Beehive Housing Minister Chris Bishop delivered news – packed with the ingredients to enflame political passions – worthy of supplanting Winston Peters in headline writers’ priorities. He popped up at the post-Cabinet press conference to promise a crackdown on unruly and antisocial state housing tenants. His ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    8 hours ago
  • Will it make the boat go faster?
    Ele Ludemann writes – The Reserve Bank is advertising for a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion advisor. The Bank has one mandate – to keep inflation between one and three percent. It has failed in that and is only slowly getting inflation back down to the upper limit. Will it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    11 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi The fact that a ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    11 hours ago
  • Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Bryce Edwards writes – Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    11 hours ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' at 10:10am on Tuesday, March 19
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Gavin Jacobson talks to Thomas Piketty 10 years on from Capital in the 21st Century The SalvoLocal scoop: Green MP’s business being investigated over migrant exploitation claims Stuff Steve KilgallonLocal deep-dive: The commercial contractors making money from School ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    12 hours ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things on Tuesday, March 19
    It’s a home - but Kāinga Ora tenants accused of “abusing the privilege” may lose it. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Government announced a crackdown on Kāinga Ora tenants who were unruly and/or behind on their rent, with Housing Minister Chris Bishop saying a place in a state ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    13 hours ago
  • New Life for Light Rail
    This is a guest post by Connor Sharp of Surface Light Rail  Light rail in Auckland: A way forward sooner than you think With the coup de grâce of Auckland Light Rail (ALR) earlier this year, and the shift of the government’s priorities to roads, roads, and more roads, it ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    14 hours ago
  • Why Are Bosses Nearly All Buffoons?
    Note: As a paid-up Webworm member, I’ve recorded this Webworm as a mini-podcast for you as well. Some of you said you liked this option - so I aim to provide it when I get a chance to record! Read more ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    16 hours ago
  • Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6.06 pm on March 18
    TL;DR: In my ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Monday, March 18:IKEA is accused of planting big forests in New Zealand to green-wash; REDD-MonitorA City for People takes a well-deserved victory lap over Wellington’s pro-YIMBY District Plan votes; A City for PeopleSteven Anastasiou takes a close look at the sticky ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Peters holds his ground on co-governance, but Willis wriggles on those tax cuts and SNA suspension l...
    Buzz from the Beehive Here’s hoping for a lively post-cabinet press conference when the PM and – perhaps – some of his ministers tell us what was discussed at their meeting today. Until then, Point of Order has precious little Beehive news to report after its latest monitoring of the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • Labour’s final report card
    David Farrar writes –  We now have almost all 2023 data in, which has allowed me to update my annual table of how  went against its promises. This is basically their final report card. The promise The result Build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • “Drunk Uncle at a Wedding”
    I’m a bit worried that I’ve started a previous newsletter with the words “just when you think they couldn’t get any worse…” Seems lately that I could begin pretty much every issue with that opening. Such is the nature of our coalition government that they seem to be outdoing each ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Geoffrey Miller writes – Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on Dune 2, and images of Islam
    Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture ...
    1 day ago
  • New Rail Operations Centre Promises Better Train Services
    Last week Transport Minster Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre. The new train control centre will see teams from KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Auckland One Rail working more closely together to improve train services across the city. The Auckland Rail Operations Centre in ...
    2 days ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things at 6.36am on Monday, March 18
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in an exit interview with Q+A yesterday the Government can and should sustain more debt to invest in infrastructure for future generations. Elsewhere in the news in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 6:36am: Read more ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than just a happy ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    2 days ago
  • The Kaka’s diary for the week to March 25 and beyond
    TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Bitter and angry; Winston First
    New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • Out of Touch.
    “I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The bewildering world of Chris Luxon – Guns for all, not no lunch for kids
    .“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    3 days ago
  • Expert Opinion: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
    3 days ago
  • Manufacturing The Truth.
    Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet –  is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
    3 days ago
  • A Powerful Sensation of Déjà Vu.
    Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
    3 days ago
  • Can you guess where world attention is focussed (according to Greenpeace)? It’s focussed on an EPA...
    Bob Edlin writes –  And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Further integrity problems for the Greens in suspending MP Darleen Tana
    Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Greens’ transparency missing in action
    For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    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
    6 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    6 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    6 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 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...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    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

  • Government moves to quickly ratify the NZ-EU FTA
    "The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 hours 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
    10 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
    12 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
    12 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, ...
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    1 day 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. ...
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    1 day 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, ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
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    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
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    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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    6 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 ...
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    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
    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 ...
    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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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    6 days ago
  • 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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    1 week ago
  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
    Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
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    1 week ago
  • Government lowering building costs
    The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
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    1 week ago
  • Trustee tax change welcomed
    Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister’s Ramadan message
    Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness.  It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
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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
    Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
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    1 week ago
  • Government agrees to restore interest deductions
    Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
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    1 week ago
  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
    Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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