A country to love: a country to fight for

Written By: - Date published: 10:07 am, December 13th, 2012 - 59 comments
Categories: child welfare, class war, Economy, greens, labour, mana, Metiria Turei, news, poverty, quality of life - Tags:

In the MSM-supported mainstream of parliamentary politics it’s been a year of the battle of the men, as NZ becomes more divided and unequal.  Gender equality in the political landscape, like economic, income and life-style equality in NZ, has been going backwards under the NActUF watch.  In all these areas, the country has been turning away from many hard-won gains.

So it was very encouraging to watch Metiria Turei’s Adjournment Speech, delivered in the house yesterday.  She focused on the issues that have so often been marginalised by the male-dominated power-plays of late: issues such as income inequality, diminishing quality of life, decreasing numbers of jobs playing a living wage, increasing child poverty, and the need to work collaboratively and inclusively to counter the downward slide of the country in too many areas.

Recently, on more than one occasion, I have been critical of the way both Labour and the Greens seem to  have been influenced by the misogyny of Key’s government, so that now all the opposition parties seem to have become largely male-dominated.  It is not just that there are more men in the top positions, or contesting them, in the Labour Party.  Dominant voices in the MSM seem to have designated Russel Norman as the de-facto leader of the Green Party.  So, it was great to see  co-leader, Metiria Turei, deliver the lead Green Party speech in the adjournment speeches: all the other leaders’ speeches were by men.

Recently, LudditeJourno posted about the white masculine bias of MSM political journalism, which tends to favour white males when ranking the performances of politicians.  The following is focused on the kind of highly important political efforts that the MSM tends to ignore or marginalise:

Yesterday, Metiria Turei began her speech describing an idyllic NZ childhood experience of Christmas/summer at a bach. Initially, the speech seemed like it was going to be a heart-warming one, wishing us all well over the holiday break.  However, the speech then turned to daily reality for many New Zealanders:

But this is not the Christmas story for an increasing number of New Zealand children, and it wasn’t mine.

Turei told of her childhood experiences of summer holidays.  Her father would arrive home from a hard days’ work at the bread factory in his Holden Kingswood, and take the children swimming in the communal space of the local river.

We didn’t have much, but I did grow up in a family that nurtured and loved me, in a country that made sure I had enough to eat, a good school to go to, and a safe, clean river to spend my summer holidays swimming in.

Aotearoa: A country to love and fight for

That’s a country to love and fight for — a country that protects its most vulnerable, loves our beautiful environment, and empowers all its children to become the best they can be. That’s a country I want my kids to grow up in, and my neighbour’s kids to grow up in too, no matter who they are, rich or poor, Maori or Pakeha, girl or boy.

For I believe that this is a vision we can only achieve together. I believe this is the only way to live with dignity and grace. I believe this is what we, as New Zealanders, in our own modest ways, all quietly yearn for.

But our lucky country is slipping away from us, from right under our feet.

Our country has never been wealthier, yet the swimming hole of my childhood is now at risk of becoming unsafe to swim in, like more than half our lowland rivers that are already polluted.

It’s worth watching the whole speech, that was listened to, largely in respectful silence by those in the House.

Shearer gave a competent speech, but the more impassioned one, dealing most strongly with the political, economic and everyday realities, came from Jacinda Ardern.

In her speech, Ardern also foregrounded the rally opposing child poverty, outside parliament yesterday:  the sort of thing not given a lot of attention by the MSM, because they are more focused on reinforcing the power on the money men now dominating NZ politics.  While finance ministers and spokespeople do play an important role, other men and women in the Green, Mana and Labour Parties (as at the Onehunga rally this week) are putting a major effort into areas of most importance for New Zealanders: ones that the finance people should be servicing.

59 comments on “A country to love: a country to fight for ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. viper shorts 1
    13 December 2012 at 10:17 am

    Turei’s speech was magnificent

    The Greens have been outstanding all year… Labour could learn a lot from them

    • Dr Terry 1.1
      13 December 2012 at 3:11 pm

      Karol, you never fail me/us! Thank goodness for the speech from Metiria! How refreshing and human. As Karol rightly points out, too often Russell Norman is represented as de-facto leader.

      Jacinda Adern restores, at last, my belief in the Labour Party. If you wanted a truly stirring, factual, challenging, magnificent speech, well, here you have it. There has been nothing other to compare with this. Here, one hopes, is a Leader in the making. It cannot be too soon!

  2. higherstandard 2
    13 December 2012 at 10:24 am

    Blah blah blah.

  3. framu 3
    13 December 2012 at 10:25 am

    yes – and compare the tone and subject of turei’s speech to the schoolyard braying of key’s

  4. The Al1en 4
    13 December 2012 at 10:25 am

    Jacinda Ardern best be careful.
    We all know what happens to red champions in waiting.

    • Anne 4.1
      13 December 2012 at 11:19 am

      Will watch later…
      I note the Mallarfia god-father has fallen asleep.

      • fender Viper 4.1.1
        13 December 2012 at 12:22 pm

        He actually died in that cycling accident, but the “wise” caucus decided it best to pretend he was fine and had robotics implanted to keep him looking alive.

        The incompetent Hipkins was given the task of charging the battery, but he’s not even capable of this one simple task because he is only a school bus prefect after all.

    • kiwi_prometheus 4.2
      13 December 2012 at 11:29 am

      “white masculine bias of MSM political journalism, which tends to favour white males when ranking the performances of politicians.”

      Gender feminists like you, Karol, suffer brown feminine bias.

      It’s like you have a ranking system of “victims” and “perpetrators” ( you know Karol, like “binary opposites”), non white = +1, white = -1, female = +1, male = -1000000, gay = +1, straight = -1.

      Women make up the majority of the population, so why don’t you start the Women’s Party and wave your flag, surely if you are the crusader for womens lib you think you are, they will come flocking an you would storm in to power. Even if you got a fraction of them you would be a powerful minor party.

      Then again maybe the vast majority aren’t that impressed with your man hating gender feminist ideology.

      • One Tāne Viper 4.2.1
        13 December 2012 at 11:34 am

        Funny little chap. Karol is not the pain in your mind.

      • karol 4.2.2
        13 December 2012 at 11:38 am

        high k_p.  Do you have an automatic sensor set to detect any posts that mention gender/women?

        We will continue to disagree about this. I don’t need a women’s party.  We already have some excellent opposition women (and men) MPs.  I’m particularly glad that currently we have Mana and the Greens dealing with many of the crucial issues.  Pity the MSM marginalises some of the ones dealing with the most crucial issues.  I favour an inclusive left on all these issues.  

        Why is it you rarely, if ever, comment on my posts that deal with issues other than gender?  There are a few I’m am concerned about, as indicated in the above post: income inequality, jobs paying a living wage, the state of the MSM, anti-worker legislation, TPP, affordable housing, public brodcasting.

        Do you have any concerns about child poverty, income inequalities, etc?  

        • vto 4.2.2.1
          13 December 2012 at 12:15 pm

          I think what kiwi prometheus is getting at is how often times an unnecessary tag is added to some debate or issue.

          Other examples include the tags “middle class” and “middle aged” or even simply “old white men”

          This tendency points to tendencies in thinking as much as tendencies in issues, and that thinking is somewhat bigoted at times. Of course if the issue is old white middle class men then sure bag the hell out of them, they deserve it after all, bloody responsible for so much in society today, which is hardly surprising given they have been in the driving seat the last long whiles and have turned out a country as useless as this one.

          Don’t forget the bouquets as well as the brickbats. Eh. Or were other people responsible for the good bits…

          • karol 4.2.2.1.1
            13 December 2012 at 1:02 pm

            Actually I do give bouquets as well as brick-bats.  I have criticised Ardern’s performance in the House, and Labour’s approach to beneficiaries in the past.  Ardern delivered a very good speech, and she responded to the invite to the Onehunga rally this week, and said some things I support.

            vto: an unnecessary tag is added to some debate or issue.


            I presented some arguments showing that the focus on gender is necessary. I supported this by links to evidence: eg on the way Norman is treated as de facto leader of the Greens by the MSM, and the way the MSM’s rankings of politicians is biased in favour of white males.

            What evidence-based arguments do you have that this focus is not necessary? 

            • vto 4.2.2.1.1.1
              13 December 2012 at 5:58 pm

              Well you may well be right that such a focus is appropriate in this particularity. I was getting at the wider point. I guess the fact that kp bit at the offal tossed over the side illustrates a sensitivity to that wider point – a sensitivity born of recent decades, perhaps necessary at some junctions but overcooked at others. Speaking of which, best get me onions and toms on…

        • King Kong 4.2.2.2
          13 December 2012 at 12:25 pm

          “I’m particularly glad that currently we have Mana and the Greens dealing with many of the crucial issues”

          What exactly have they dealt with? They have done nothing. I think you have incorrectly used “dealing with” instead of “ineffectively, wanked on about” in this sentence.

          • framu 4.2.2.2.1
            13 December 2012 at 12:30 pm

            monkey no like!
            monkey smash!

          • karol 4.2.2.2.2
            13 December 2012 at 12:55 pm

            In opposition, the main things that can be done is draw attention to issues, develop policies, and act where possible.  The Greens and Mana have had some significant private members Bills, fcoused on poverty issues drawn from the ballot.  Turei’s one to extend WFF was voted down by the usual suspects.  Mana’s one on feeding the kids is due in the House in February.

            Mana and the Greens focusing on issues related to low income, child poverty etc, has belatedly drawn Labour, especially Ardern, into joint support of some of these issues.  As Bradford said at the Onehunga rally this week.  We need to keep the pressure on Labour not to sell out on such issues as improving social security, when they once again lead a government.

            The Labour Party also have had a couple of significant Bills voted down, that I posted on at the time, eg on child labour.

            Also, Mana actively supporting the protest and Glen Innes and other places to raise the issue of state housing.

             

      • Dr Terry 4.2.3
        13 December 2012 at 3:20 pm

        kw. You are so dated that you resurrect the term “women’s lib.” Just this tells us all we need to know about you and your kind. Nor is the superb Karol any kind of rabid feminist (but you just do not get it). People of Karol’s worth will simply wash you off like dirt. But this is Christmas, so we must remind ourselves that it takes all kind to make a world, very hard as that is to accept when we read remarks such as yours.

      • QoTViper 4.2.4
        13 December 2012 at 8:48 pm

        So you divide the world into gender, racial, and orientation binaries, huh? Interesting.

        I won’t ask if you bothered to read LudditeJourno’s post. I mean, of course you did. You’re a fairminded commenter of integrity who thinks things through. You don’t just leap into every post made by a woman-identified author to scream randomly about man-hating bitches who won’t worship your cock at all.

  5. bad12 5
    13 December 2012 at 11:52 am

    Yes, an extremely clever and intelligent speech from Green co-Leader Metiria Turei, on the surface a very apolitical Merry Christmas but if you listen carefully there is in that speech one hell of a message imbedded in there for Labour,

    I have to take Jacinda’s passionate speech on behalf of New Zealand children at face value, all the while a little voice in the back of my mind quietly reminds me that it has been on Labour’s watch that parts of that child poverty have been built,

    It was a good speech giving reference to some Labour policy,my problem tho with Labour is that once in Government will such policy materialize into action or will the Party do an Annette King moment where King during the 2011 election campaign promised to extend the Working for Families tax credit to benefit dependent families and then spent the next week qualifying this with such phrases as ‘in time’ etc,

    That election Labour nearly had my vote more on a support the underdog basis than on policy, the treatment of Goff by all and sundry just about had me giving Him a vote for the underdog, that support for Labour became definite upon Kings announcement and was gone in a week as She, (was forced???), back-pedaled at a high rate of knots from her earlier announcement,

    But, the subtle message to Labour inherent in Metiria’s speech???? have another listen i am sure you will ‘get it’….

    • Rhinoviper 5.1
      13 December 2012 at 4:51 pm

      Yes, an extremely clever and intelligent speech from Green co-Leader Metiria Turei, on the surface a very apolitical Merry Christmas but if you listen carefully there is in that speech one hell of a message imbedded in there for Labour

      Quite cunning in fact, because it’s hard to counter her points without seeming churlish as each of her points is attached to something we all hold as positives – ie., every counter to her claims can be matched with “What, you mean that you hate kittens?”

      Contrast that with the ABCs ham-fisted santimony and bullying or the pointy-haired boss’s beltway insider jibes.

      The Greens at least seem to be able to attract and hire people with talent if their speechwriters are a gauge, and their MPs recognise that, seeing her performance. Take note Robertson – your manoeuvring is all very clever in your own terms, but does it sell?

      Edit: noting that the tricks to render something italic or blockquote that used to work aren’t any more…

      Edit 2: Oh hang on, the italic did on a second try… but not the block quote.

    • karol 5.2
      13 December 2012 at 5:49 pm

      bad12: I have to take Jacinda’s passionate speech on behalf of New Zealand children at face value, all the while a little voice in the back of my mind quietly reminds me that it has been on Labour’s watch that parts of that child poverty have been built,

       
      In her blog post today on the Beneficiary impact action this week in Onehunga,  Sue Bradford says something similar about Labour, with reference to Labour’s record in government in the 2000s, and to David Shearer’s roof speech.

      Representatives of all parliamentary parties had been invited to speak to the rally about their welfare policies, but only three showed enough interest and respect to turn up – Labour, Greens and Mana. …

      Bradford also has strong words for Bennett, then says,

      At the same time, those of us who care about what’s happening for unemployed people and beneficiaries cannot afford to let Labour off the hook either.

       And adds,

      So my challenge goes out equally to Labour – please let us know clearly before the next election what your policies on welfare and jobs are going to be. Are you going to overturn all of National’s reforms? Are you going to grant the In Work Tax Credit in respect of all children? Are you ever going to listen to those of us who do know what’s actually happening out here when you formulate your next round of income support and employment policies? 

      • Rhinoviper 5.2.1
        13 December 2012 at 5:58 pm

        Thank you – right to the point again.

      • bad12 5.2.2
        14 December 2012 at 9:19 am

        Aha,all 3 of us,Sue Bradford, Metiria Turei and myself were involved in the same area of activism in the early 1990’s so we tend to see the same picture as far as employment issues and the mis-treatment of beneficiaries by Governments of various hues goes…

  6. TightyRighty 6
    13 December 2012 at 12:31 pm

    The jews / zionists feel the same way about the state of Israel.

    • karol 6.1
      13 December 2012 at 12:56 pm

      Different kind of country, different kind of “fight”, with a different history. 

      • TightyRighty 6.1.1
        13 December 2012 at 1:34 pm

        same feels though.

        • karol 6.1.1.1
          13 December 2012 at 3:31 pm

          Israel is a relatively powerful country supported by a major super power, and sees it’s main militaristic fight as being by the government against a less powerful country.

          Metiria is talking about the struggle against enemies/forces within NZ that would make less fair, equal and livable country. The Greens fight is a political, economic and social one against  destructive forces that currently most strongly embraced by the NAct government

  7. TightyRighty 7
    13 December 2012 at 12:34 pm

    I wonder how much of the run-off from the peroxide in Metriria’s hair contributed to the decline of “her” swimming hole?

    • bad12 7.1
      13 December 2012 at 12:40 pm

      You are as amusing as mud and as boring as a worm…

      • TightyRighty 7.1.1
        13 December 2012 at 12:43 pm

        So i’m still more amusing and interesting than you. Not difficult I know.

        • McFliper 7.1.1.1
          13 December 2012 at 1:47 pm

          A response worthy of Oscar Wilde himself, indeed a veritably crapulous collection of wit and charm.

          • TightyRighty 7.1.1.1.1
            13 December 2012 at 2:33 pm

            take a bow, you’ve managed to elevate the mundane to the interesting. Claim it now, it’ll be one the few opportunities you’ll ever have.

            • Rhinoviper 7.1.1.1.1.1
              13 December 2012 at 5:02 pm

              I would like to claim that my penis has a quite significant girth and length. Does that count?

              • TightyRighty …
                13 December 2012 at 5:03 pm

                Depends, How close do you park to the curb?

                • karol …
                  13 December 2012 at 5:07 pm

                  I would be grateful if you can stay on topic…. as it was somewhere back where this series of exchanges started.  Otherwise the subsequent off topic replies will get moved to open mike.

                  • Rhinoviper …
                    13 December 2012 at 5:10 pm

                    Thank you! My point too – I’m sure you got it, but TR clearly hasn’t.

                  • TightyRighty …
                    13 December 2012 at 6:07 pm

                    I started on topic, but allowed myself to drift off during feeding time. I apologise, so back to topic. Just love the hypocritical grandstanding of the greens. Get the feel they are about to become the victim of their own success.

                    • fatty …
                      13 December 2012 at 6:14 pm

                      What’s an example of their hypocritical grandstanding?
                      Considering they are eco-capitalists, how have they been hypocritical?
                      ..and who is not hypocritical?

                    • karol …
                      13 December 2012 at 7:17 pm

                      fatty: Considering they are eco-capitalists
                       
                      I would describe the Green Party these days as eco-social democrats.  However, some of their MPs are more socialist than the general direction of the party.  Norman has been pulling it rightwards.  Turei is more focused on low income people.  

                      Social democracy is kind of a compromise between socialism and capitalism.

                      ex-Green MP, Sue Bradford describes herself as an eco-socialist on her Twitter profile

                    • Pascal's bookie …
                      13 December 2012 at 7:25 pm

                      Social democracy is kind of a compromise between socialism and capitalism.

                      I’d disagree with that. It kind of implies that social democrats are really ‘socialists’ who are just compromising for the nonce.

                      Most western LW parties are way more influenced by Rawls than Marx, even if they don’t talk about it, or even know it for that matter.

                    • Rhinoviper …
                      13 December 2012 at 7:34 pm

                      “Hypocrisy”

                      Ah yes… is that a dysphemism for “imperfect” – and who, after all, is not perfect? Is it not also a way of dismissing opponents by insinuating that because they are not 100%, pure (to borrow a phrase), everything they say should be dismissed?

                      “The greatest crime is to do nothing because one can only do a little” – Voltaire.

                      The Greens aren’t perfect, and perfection is not possible, but that doesn’t mean that they can be easily dismissed.

                    • fatty …
                      13 December 2012 at 7:38 pm

                      true Karol…I’m not sure if there even exists a term ‘eco-capitalist’ (a quick wiki search shows its something quite different)…it was a preemptive label I used because I knew that tightyrighty would reply with a whaleoil rehash about the Greens being socialists, when they are clearly operate within a capitalist framework.
                      Still looking forward to tightyrighty’s explination…

        • Tim 7.1.1.2
          13 December 2012 at 4:39 pm

          and obviously so far up yourself you can’t see past your sphincter – fcuk mate, just trawl back thru’ what you posted above including resorting to attack. Well….maybe don’t bother – I’ve no doubt you won’t see the bleeding obvious.

          • TightyRighty 7.1.1.2.1
            13 December 2012 at 4:59 pm

            As I sit here and ponder the obvious things that I see Tim, I don’t detect an circular opening restricting my peripheral vision in a way that would seem unusual. While that could be symptomatic of always seeing through a sphincter, my optometrist congratulated me on my excellent eyesight only just the other day.
            Here are some obvious things I can see
            Outside, there is blue sky. It is a beautiful day in auckland
            Left of me there is a scanner / printer / copier. An ugly but neccessary modern appliance
            Even as I consider the obvious things I can see, I doubt you’ll see the most obvious

            • the pigman 7.1.1.2.1.1
              14 December 2012 at 1:58 am

              “Left of me there is a scanner / printer / copier. An ugly but neccessary modern appliance”

              I see a person insecurely gloating about being surrounded by the trappings of a white collar office job. Congratulations, you made it!

              Well, don’t just stare at it, remember that Mr. Jefferson needs 50 copies of the semi-annual report on his desk by 9am tomorrow!

              • TightyRighty …
                14 December 2012 at 4:18 pm

                I don’t have an office job, I have an office that am sometimes in. I’m very mobile defensively and proactively for my job. Having a job/s is more than most commentators in this site regardless. so maybe you should think of it as using neccessary tools to often get paid?
                Try harder next time though for belittiling me for having a job.

    • Dr Terry 7.2
      13 December 2012 at 3:26 pm

      TR. I presume you are referring to Metiria? Misspelling an important person’s name is kind of offensive (without need to refer to your further offensiveness here).

      • TightyRighty 7.2.1
        13 December 2012 at 4:24 pm

        I know it’s offensive. google chrome doesn’t have Maori names in it’s dictionary so it was going to be redlined regardless.

        Good on you for being a complete fuck knuckle over a simple typo. It’s not like I called her Metitira or material girl or any other casually terrible and obnoxious puns. So you are offended on someone elses behalf. want to deny my right to speak in case you get offended again? You really a doctor? or just an internet tough guy?

  8. One Tāne Viper 8
    13 December 2012 at 12:34 pm

    Heh. You’ve stirred up a hornet’s nest Karol. Look at all the little hornets buzzing with outrage.

    Here comes the pesticide 🙂

  9. muzza 9
    13 December 2012 at 3:09 pm

    So we have some more passionate speeches, which will lead to what exactly, been a few decades of them now, with worsening results

    The system can’t/won’t/does not want to change, and those inside of it, no matter how doo their intent might be, will not make any difference.

    Not unless they are prepared to collectively side up, and start rounding on the instituations which have lead to and created the inequality, which amplifies and progresses the porty, and other social ills which is now the norm for large swaths of Kiwis.

    One of the institutions they need to round on, is the one they are currently operating inside of!

    Who are these people that operate inside of our parliament, and why are they not only ineffective, but actively propagating the misery!

    EDIT: These people are stealing the present and future away from all of us, and it is well past time for that to be stopped.
    Wishing/hoping that any future government is going to turn it around is to be responsible for allowing the theft to happen!

    • Dr Terry 9.1
      13 December 2012 at 3:29 pm

      Never despair muzza! Our hopes are kept alive so long as we have people like Jacinda, Metiria, Karol, and David (Cunliffe) to represent our deeper interests and concerns.

  10. lurgee 10
    13 December 2012 at 4:46 pm

    It doesn’t matter how good these speeches are, as they’re only being watched by a dozen MPs.

  11. Olsviper 11
    13 December 2012 at 7:58 pm

    I thought that both women gave excellent speeches. Metiria’s harboured a much needed appeal to the better side of human nature, and Jacinda’s was well-informed and forthright.

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    Brian’s god spoke to him. He, for of course the Lord in Tamaki’s mind was a male god, with a mighty rod, and probably some black leathers. He, told Brian - “you must put a stop to all this love, hope, and kindness”. And it did please the Brian.He said ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago

  • Labour cuts $50m from cycleway spending
    Labour is cutting spending on cycling infrastructure while still trying to claim the higher ground on climate. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Labour Government released a climate manifesto this week to try to claim the high ground against National, despite having ignored the Climate Commission’s advice to toughen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago

  • The Greater Of Two Evils.
    Not Labour: If you’re out to punish the government you once loved, then the last thing you need is to be shown evidence that the opposition parties are much, much worse.THE GREATEST VIRTUE of being the Opposition is not being the Government. Only very rarely is an opposition party elected ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 day ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #39 2023
    Open access notables "Net zero is only a distraction— we just have to end fossil fuel emissions." The latter is true but the former isn't, or  not in the real world as it's likely to be in the immediate future. And "just" just doesn't enter into it; we don't have ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • Chris Trotter: Losing the Left
    IN THE CURRENT MIX of electoral alternatives, there is no longer a credible left-wing party. Not when “a credible left-wing party” is defined as: a class-oriented, mass-based, democratically-structured political organisation; dedicated to promoting ideas sharply critical of laissez-faire capitalism; and committed to advancing democratic, egalitarian and emancipatory ideals across the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    2 days ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • Hipkins fires up in leaders’ debate, but has the curtain already fallen on the Labour-led coalitio...
    Labour’s  Chris Hipkins came out firing, in the  leaders’ debate  on Newshub’s evening programme, and most of  the pundits  rated  him the winner against National’s  Christopher Luxon. But will this make any difference when New  Zealanders  start casting their ballots? The problem  for  Hipkins is  that  voters are  all too ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    2 days ago

  • Govt is energising housing projects with solar power – and fuelling the public’s concept of a di...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Not long after Point of Order published data which show the substantial number of New Zealanders (77%) who believe NZ is becoming more divided, government ministers were braying about a programme which distributes some money to “the public” and some to “Maori”. The ministers were dishing ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • MIKE GRIMSHAW: Election 2023 – a totemic & charisma failure?
    The D&W analysis Michael Grimshaw writes –  Given the apathy, disengagement, disillusionment, and all-round ennui of this year’s general election, it was considered time to bring in those noted political operatives and spin doctors D&W, the long-established consultancy firm run by Emile Durkheim and Max Weber. Known for ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • FROM BFD: Will Winston be the spectre we think?
    Kissy kissy. Cartoon credit BoomSlang. The BFD. JC writes-  Allow me to preface this contribution with the following statement: If I were asked to express a preference between a National/ACT coalition or a National/ACT/NZF coalition then it would be the former. This week Luxon declared his position, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • California’s climate disclosure bill could have a huge impact across the U.S.
    This re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Andy Furillo was originally published by Capital & Main and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. The California Legislature took a step last week that has the potential to accelerate the fight against climate ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • Untangling South East Queensland’s Public Transport
    This is a cross post Adventures in Transitland by Darren Davis. I recently visited Brisbane and South East Queensland and came away both impressed while also pondering some key changes to make public transport even better in the region. Here goes with my take on things. A bit of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    2 days ago

  • Try A Little Kindness.
    My daughter arrived home from the supermarket yesterday and she seemed a bit worried about something. It turned out she wanted to know if someone could get her bank number from a receipt.We wound the story back.She was in the store and there was a man there who was distressed, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago

  • What makes NZFirst tick
    New Zealand’s longest-running political roadshow rolled into Opotiki yesterday, with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters knowing another poll last night showed he would make it back to Parliament and National would need him and his party if they wanted to form a government. The Newshub Reid Research poll ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago

  • September AMA
    Hi,As September draws to a close — I feel it’s probably time to do an Ask Me Anything. You know how it goes: If you have any burning questions, fire away in the comments and I will do my best to answer. You might have questions about Webworm, or podcast ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago

  • Bludgers lying in the scratcher making fools of us all
    The mediocrity who stands to be a Prime Minister has a litany.He uses it a bit like a Koru Lounge card. He will brandish it to say: these people are eligible. And more than that, too: These people are deserving. They have earned this policy.They have a right to this policy. What ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • More “partnerships” (by the look of it) and redress of over $30 million in Treaty settlement wit...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point of Order has waited until now – 3.45pm – for today’s officially posted government announcements.  There have been none. The only addition to the news on the Beehive’s website was posted later yesterday, after we had published our September 26 Buzz report. It came from ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • ALEX HOLLAND: Labour’s spending
    Alex Holland writes –  In 2017 when Labour came to power, crown spending was $76 billion per year. Now in 2023 it is $139 billion per year, which equates to a $63 billion annual increase (over $1 billion extra spend every week!) In 2017, New Zealand’s government debt ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • If not now, then when?
    Labour released its fiscal plan today, promising the same old, same old: "responsibility", balanced books, and of course no new taxes: "Labour will maintain income tax settings to provide consistency and certainty in these volatile times. Now is not the time for additional taxes or to promise billions of ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • THE FACTS:  77% of Kiwis believe NZ is becoming more divided
    The Facts has posted –        KEY INSIGHTSOf New Zealander’s polled: Social unity/division 77%believe NZ is becoming more divided (42% ‘much more’ + 35% ‘a little more’) 3%believe NZ is becoming less divided (1% ‘much less’ + 2% ‘a little less’) ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the cynical brutality of the centre-right’s welfare policies
    The centre-right’s enthusiasm for forcing people off the benefit and into paid work is matched only by the enthusiasm (shared by Treasury and the Reserve Bank) for throwing people out of paid work to curb inflation, and achieve the optimal balance of workers to job seekers deemed to be desirable ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    3 days ago

  • Wednesday’s Chorus: Arthur Grimes on why building many, many more social houses is so critical
    New research shows that tenants in social housing - such as these Wellington apartments - are just as happy as home owners and much happier than private tenants. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The election campaign took an ugly turn yesterday, and in completely the wrong direction. All three ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Old habits
    Media awareness about global warming and climate change has grown fairly steadily since 2004. My impression is that journalists today tend to possess a higher climate literacy than before. This increasing awareness and improved knowledge is encouraging, but there are also some common interpretations which could be more nuanced. ...
    Real ClimateBy rasmus
    3 days ago

  • Bennie Bashing.
    If there’s one thing the mob loves more than keeping Māori in their place, more than getting tough on the gangs, maybe even more than tax cuts. It’s a good old round of beneficiary bashing.Are those meanies in the ACT party stealing your votes because they think David Seymour is ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • The kindest cuts
    Labour kicks off the fiscal credibility battle today with the release of its fiscal plan. National is expected to follow, possibly as soon as Thursday, with its own plan, which may (or may not) address the large hole that the problems with its foreign buyers’ ban might open up. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago

  • Green right turn in Britain? Well, a start
    While it may be unlikely to register in New Zealand’s general election, Britain’s PM Rishi Sunak has done something which might just be important in the long run. He’s announced a far-reaching change in his Conservative government’s approach to environmental, and particularly net zero, policy. The starting point – ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    4 days ago

  • At a glance – How do human CO2 emissions compare to natural CO2 emissions?
    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 ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • How could this happen?
    Canada is in uproar after the exposure that its parliament on September 22 provided a standing ovation to a Nazi veteran who had been invited into the chamber to participate in the parliamentary welcome to Ukrainian President Zelensky. Yaroslav Hunka, 98, a Ukrainian man who volunteered for service in ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    4 days ago

  • Always Be Campaigning
    The big screen is a great place to lay out the ways of the salesman. He comes ready-made for Panto, ripe for lampooning.This is not to disparage that life. I have known many good people of that kind. But there is a type, brazen as all get out. The camera ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • STEPHEN FRANKS: Press seek to publicly shame doctor – we must push back
    The following is a message sent yesterday from lawyer Stephen Franks on behalf of the Free Speech Union. I don’t like to interrupt first thing Monday morning, but we’ve just become aware of a case where we think immediate and overwhelming attention could help turn the tide. It involves someone ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Competing on cruelty
    The right-wing message calendar is clearly reading "cruelty" today, because both National and NZ First have released beneficiary-bashing policies. National is promising a "traffic light" system to police and kick beneficiaries, which will no doubt be accompanied by arbitrary internal targets to classify people as "orange" or "red" to keep ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • Further funding for Pharmac (forgotten in the Budget?) looks like a $1bn appeal from a PM in need of...
    Buzz from the Beehive One Labour plan  – for 3000 more public homes by 2025 – is the most recent to be posted on the government’s official website. Another – a prime ministerial promise of more funding for Pharmac – has been released as a Labour Party press statement. Who ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: The Vested interests shaping National Party policies
    As the National Party gets closer to government, lobbyists and business interests will be lining up for influence and to get policies adopted. It’s therefore in the public interest to have much more scrutiny and transparency about potential conflicts of interests that might arise. One of the key individuals of ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago

  • Labour may be on way out of power and NZ First back in – but will Peters go into coalition with Na...
    Voters  are deserting Labour in droves, despite Chris  Hipkins’  valiant  rearguard  action.  So  where  are they  heading?  Clearly  not all of them are going to vote National, which concedes that  the  outcome  will be “close”. To the Right of National, the ACT party just a  few weeks  ago  was ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    4 days ago

  • GRAHAM ADAMS: Will the racists please stand up?
    Accusations of racism by journalists and MPs are being called out. Graham Adams writes –    With the election less than three weeks away, what co-governance means in practice — including in water management, education, planning law and local government — remains largely obscure. Which is hardly ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on whether Winston Peters can be a moderating influence
    As the centre-right has (finally!) been subjected to media interrogation, the polls are indicating that some voters may be starting to have second thoughts about the wisdom of giving National and ACT the power to govern alone. That’s why yesterday’s Newshub/Reid Research poll had the National/ACT combo dropping to 60 ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    4 days ago

  • Tuesday’s Chorus: RBNZ set to rain on National's victory parade
    ANZ has increased its forecast for house inflation later this year on signs of growing momentum in the market ahead of the election. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: National has campaigned against the Labour Government’s record on inflation and mortgage rates, but there’s now a growing chance the Reserve ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • After a Pittsburgh coal processing plant closed, ER visits plummeted
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Katie Myers. This story was originally published by Grist and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. Pittsburgh, in its founding, was blessed and cursed with two abundant natural resources: free-flowing rivers and a nearby coal seam. ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • September-23 AT Board Meeting
    Today the AT board meet again and once again I’ve taken a look at what’s on the agenda to find the most interesting items. Closed Agenda Interestingly when I first looked at the agendas this paper was there but at the time of writing this post it had been ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    4 days ago

  • Electorate Watch: West Coast-Tasman
    Continuing my series on interesting electorates, today it’s West Coast-Tasman.A long thin electorate running down the northern half of the west coast of the South Island. Think sand flies, beautiful landscapes, lots of rain, Pike River, alternative lifestylers, whitebaiting, and the spiritual home of the Labour Party. A brief word ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • Big money brings Winston back
    National leader Christopher Luxon yesterday morning conceded it and last night’s Newshub poll confirmed it; Winston Peters and NZ First are not only back but highly likely to be part of the next government. It is a remarkable comeback for a party that was tossed out of Parliament in ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago

  • 20 days until Election Day, 7 until early voting begins… but what changes will we really see here?
    As this blogger, alongside many others, has already posited in another forum: we all know the National Party’s “budget” (meaning this concept of even adding up numbers properly is doing a lot of heavy, heavy lifting right now) is utter and complete bunk (read hung, drawn and quartered and ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    5 days ago

  • A night out
    Everyone was asking, Are you nervous? and my response was various forms of God, yes.I've written more speeches than I can count; not much surprises me when the speaker gets to their feet and the room goes quiet.But a play? Never.YOU CAME! THANK YOU! Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • A pallid shade of Green III
    Clearly Labour's focus groups are telling it that it needs to pay more attention to climate change - because hot on the heels of their weaksauce energy efficiency pilot programme and not-great-but-better-than-nothing solar grants, they've released a full climate manifesto. Unfortunately, the core policies in it - a second Emissions ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • A coalition of racism, cruelty, and chaos
    Today's big political news is that after months of wibbling, National's Chris Luxon has finally confirmed that he is willing to work with Winston Peters to become Prime Minister. Which is expected, but I guess it tells us something about which way the polls are going. Which raises the question: ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • More migrant workers should help generate the tax income needed to provide benefits for job seekers
    Buzz from the Beehive Under something described as a “rebalance” of its immigration rules, the Government has adopted four of five recommendations made in an independent review released in July, The fifth, which called on the government to specify criteria for out-of-hours compliance visits similar to those used during ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago

  • Letter To Luxon.
    Some of you might know Gerard Otto (G), and his G News platform. This morning he wrote a letter to Christopher Luxon which I particularly enjoyed, and with his agreement I’m sharing it with you in this guest newsletter.If you’d like to make a contribution to support Gerard’s work you ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • LINDSAY MITCHELL: Alarming trend in benefit numbers
    Lindsay Mitchell writes –  While there will not be another quarterly release of benefit numbers prior to the election, limited weekly reporting continues and is showing an alarming trend. Because there is a seasonal component to benefit number fluctuations it is crucial to compare like with like. In ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • BRIAN EASTON: Has there been external structural change?
    A close analysis of the Treasury assessment of the Medium Term in its PREFU 2023 suggests the economy may be entering a new phase.   Brian Easton writes –  Last week I explained that the forecasts in the just published Treasury Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update (PREFU 2023) was ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • CRL Progress – Sep-23
    It’s been a while since we looked at the latest with the City Rail Link and there’s been some fantastic milestones recently. To start with, and most recently, CRL have released an awesome video showing a full fly-through of one of the tunnels. Come fly with us! You asked for ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    5 days ago

  • Monday’s Chorus: Not building nearly enough
    We are heading into another period of fast population growth without matching increased home building or infrastructure investment.Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Labour and National detailed their house building and migration approaches over the weekend, with both pledging fast population growth policies without enough house building or infrastructure investment ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • Game on; Hipkins comes out punching
    Labour leader Chris Hipkins yesterday took the gloves off and laid into National and its leader Christopher Luxon. For many in Labour – and particularly for some at the top of the caucus and the party — it would not have been a moment too soon. POLITIK is aware ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago

  • Tax Cut Austerity Blues.
    The leaders have had their go, they’ve told us the “what?” and the “why?” of their promises. Now it’s the turn of the would be Finance Ministers to tell us the “how?”, the “how much?”, and the “when?”A chance for those competing for the second most powerful job in the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • MIKE GRIMSHAW:  It’s the economy – and the spirit – Stupid…
    Mike Grimshaw writes – Over the past 30-odd years it’s become almost an orthodoxy to blame or invoke neoliberalism for the failures of New Zealand society. On the left the usual response goes something like, neoliberalism is the cause of everything that’s gone wrong and the answer ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #38
    A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Sep 17, 2023 thru Sat, Sep 23, 2023. Story of the Week  Opinion: Let’s free ourselves from the story of economic growth A relentless focus on economic growth has ushered in ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • The End Of The World.
    Have you been looking out of your window for signs of the apocalypse? Don’t worry, you haven’t been door knocked by a representative of the Brian Tamaki party. They’re probably a bit busy this morning spruiking salvation, or getting ready to march on our parliament, which is closed. No, I’ve ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago

  • Climate Town: The Brainwashing Of America's Children
    Climate Town is the YouTube channel of Rollie Williams and a ragtag team of climate communicators, creatives and comedians. They examine climate change in a way that doesn’t make you want to eat a cyanide pill. Get informed about the climate crisis before the weather does it for you. The latest ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

  • Has There Been External Structural Change?
    A close analysis of the Treasury assessment of the Medium Term in its PREFU 2023 suggests the economy may be entering a new phase. Last week I explained that the forecasts in the just published Treasury Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update (PREFU 2023) was similar to the May Budget BEFU, ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago

  • Another Labour bully
    Back in June, we learned that Kiri Allan was a Parliamentary bully. And now there's another one: Labour MP Shanan Halbert: The Labour Party was alerted to concerns about [Halbert's] alleged behaviour a year ago but because staffers wanted to remain anonymous, no formal process was undertaken [...] The ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago

  • Climate Change: Ignoring our biggest problem
    Its that time in the election season where the status quo parties are busy accusing each other of having fiscal holes in a desperate effort to appear more "responsible" (but not, you understand, by promising to tax wealth or land to give the government the revenue it needs to do ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago

  • New community-level energy projects to support more than 800 Māori households
    Seven more innovative community-scale energy projects will receive government funding through the Māori and Public Housing Renewable Energy Fund to bring more affordable, locally generated clean energy to more than 800 Māori households, Energy and Resources Minister Dr Megan Woods says. “We’ve already funded 42 small-scale clean energy projects that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Huge boost to Te Tai Tokerau flood resilience
    The Government has approved new funding that will boost resilience and greatly reduce the risk of major flood damage across Te Tai Tokerau. Significant weather events this year caused severe flooding and damage across the region. The $8.9m will be used to provide some of the smaller communities and maraes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Napier’s largest public housing development comes with solar
    The largest public housing development in Napier for many years has been recently completed and has the added benefit of innovative solar technology, thanks to Government programmes, says Housing Minister Dr Megan Woods. The 24 warm, dry homes are in Seddon Crescent, Marewa and Megan Woods says the whanau living ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Te Whānau a Apanui and the Crown initial Deed of Settlement I Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me...
    Māori: Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna te Whakaaetanga Whakataunga Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna i tētahi Whakaaetanga Whakataunga hei whakamihi i ō rātou tāhuhu kerēme Tiriti o Waitangi. E tekau mā rua ngā hapū o roto mai o Te Whānau ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Plan for 3,000 more public homes by 2025 – regions set to benefit
    Regions around the country will get significant boosts of public housing in the next two years, as outlined in the latest public housing plan update, released by the Housing Minister, Dr Megan Woods. “We’re delivering the most public homes each year since the Nash government of the 1950s with one ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Immigration settings updates
    Judicial warrant process for out-of-hours compliance visits 2023/24 Recognised Seasonal Employer cap increased by 500 Additional roles for Construction and Infrastructure Sector Agreement More roles added to Green List Three-month extension for onshore Recovery Visa holders The Government has confirmed a number of updates to immigration settings as part of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Poroporoaki: Tā Patrick (Patu) Wahanga Hohepa
    Tangi ngunguru ana ngā tai ki te wahapū o Hokianga Whakapau Karakia. Tārehu ana ngā pae maunga ki Te Puna o te Ao Marama. Korihi tangi ana ngā manu, kua hinga he kauri nui ki te Wao Nui o Tāne. He Toa. He Pou. He Ahorangi. E papaki tū ana ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Renewable energy fund to support community resilience
    40 solar energy systems on community buildings in regions affected by Cyclone Gabrielle and other severe weather events Virtual capability-building hub to support community organisations get projects off the ground Boost for community-level renewable energy projects across the country At least 40 community buildings used to support the emergency response ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • COVID-19 funding returned to Government
    The lifting of COVID-19 isolation and mask mandates in August has resulted in a return of almost $50m in savings and recovered contingencies, Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. Following the revocation of mandates and isolation, specialised COVID-19 telehealth and alternative isolation accommodation are among the operational elements ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Appointment of District Court Judge
    Susie Houghton of Auckland has been appointed as a new District Court Judge, to serve on the Family Court, Attorney-General David Parker said today.  Judge Houghton has acted as a lawyer for child for more than 20 years. She has acted on matters relating to the Hague Convention, an international ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government invests further in Central Hawke’s Bay resilience
    The Government has today confirmed $2.5 million to fund a replace and upgrade a stopbank to protect the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant. “As a result of Cyclone Gabrielle, the original stopbank protecting the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant was destroyed. The plant was operational within 6 weeks of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Govt boost for Hawke’s Bay cyclone waste clean-up
    Another $2.1 million to boost capacity to deal with waste left in Cyclone Gabrielle’s wake. Funds for Hastings District Council, Phoenix Contracting and Hog Fuel NZ to increase local waste-processing infrastructure. The Government is beefing up Hawke’s Bay’s Cyclone Gabrielle clean-up capacity with more support dealing with the massive amount ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Taupō Supercars revs up with Government support
    The future of Supercars events in New Zealand has been secured with new Government support. The Government is getting engines started through the Major Events Fund, a special fund to support high profile events in New Zealand that provide long-term economic, social and cultural benefits. “The Repco Supercars Championship is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • There is no recession in NZ, economy grows nearly 1 percent in June quarter
    The economy has turned a corner with confirmation today New Zealand never was in recession and stronger than expected growth in the June quarter, Finance Minister Grant Robertson said. “The New Zealand economy is doing better than expected,” Grant Robertson said. “It’s continuing to grow, with the latest figures showing ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Highest legal protection for New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs
    The Government has accepted the Environment Court’s recommendation to give special legal protection to New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs, Te Waikoropupū Springs (also known as Pupū Springs), Environment Minister David Parker announced today.   “Te Waikoropupū Springs, near Takaka in Golden Bay, have the second clearest water in New Zealand after ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • More support for victims of migrant exploitation
    Temporary package of funding for accommodation and essential living support for victims of migrant exploitation Exploited migrant workers able to apply for a further Migrant Exploitation Protection Visa (MEPV), giving people more time to find a job Free job search assistance to get people back into work Use of 90-day ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Strong export boost as NZ economy turns corner
    An export boost is supporting New Zealand’s economy to grow, adding to signs that the economy has turned a corner and is on a stronger footing as we rebuild from Cyclone Gabrielle and lock in the benefits of multiple new trade deals, Finance Minister Grant Robertson says. “The economy is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Funding approved for flood resilience work in Te Karaka
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