“A creeping authoritarianism from the current government”

Written By: - Date published: 4:17 pm, October 28th, 2015 - 37 comments
Categories: Abuse of power, Dirty Politics, human rights, journalism, police, Spying - Tags: , , , ,

The reaction to Westpac handing over Nicky Hager’s data to police is still playing out. Dita de Boni writes:

Privacy right is not a right when not ‘right’

I don’t know about you, but in my life I seem to recall hearing numerous times that all sorts of information cannot be given to me “for privacy reasons”.

Whether it be information about our household digital television account, or my child’s ear infection medication, or a text message, say, sent by a Prime Minister to a highly prominent sportsman or blogger, “privacy” is often the reason trotted out for stonewalling.
…
It seems the main reason a journalist – or even a citizen – is denied ‘official’ information much of the time is either that releasing it is going to unleash a torrent of (metaphorical) excrement, or getting the information you’re after would be a pain in the posterior for the person being asked for it.

The exception to this is if the police are asking. It now seems as though certain institutions are more than happy to hand over incredibly personal financial and other information if the plod request it, even if they’ve skipped the part where they’re supposed to get the proper legal documentation to do so. Some institutions actually wait for a formal, legitimate request before complying with police fishing expeditions. Others, notably Westpac Bank, do not.
…
It now emerges Nicky Hager has complained to the Privacy Commissioner about what’s happened and also wants a ‘full and frank’ disclosure from Westpac.

It will be more than anyone else has had. Westpac say they won’t comment on what they do with customer information because it’s an ‘internal policy’.

Again, you may think Nicky Hager deserved the treatment he’s had. You may not agree with him in general. But remember that whatever treatment’s been handed out to him can be handed out to anyone with the ‘wrong’ connections, the ‘wrong’ information, and the ‘wrong’ intentions.

Privacy increasingly seems to be only your right if you are on the ‘right’ side.

Rob Hosking (let out from behind the paywall) is similarly forthright:

Hager, toadying and the ‘company policy’ copout

There are many troubling aspects to the revelations activist author Nicky Hager had his personal financial details handed over to the Police, without so much as a by your leave, by Westpac Bank.
…
This whole business should disturb anyone who believes in governments maintaining a certain restraint. This goes to the core of liberal-conservative political philosophy. Governments have to justify themselves to citizens – not the other way around.
…
There is, as noted here many times over the past couple of years, a creeping authoritarianism from the current government – and, in fact, across the political culture, with government support partner the Maori Party, as well as Labour and Green parties, moving in more authoritarian directions.
…
It is about, in the end, free citizens versus over-reaching, arrogant officialdom.

“A creeping authoritarianism from the current government”. Yes, yes there is.

In other Hager related developments “Court decision puts Hager back in frame” – this is loopy, I might try and write on it tomorrow.

37 comments on ““A creeping authoritarianism from the current government” ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Tracey 1
    28 October 2015 at 4:39 pm

    Who else does the SC have implications for?

    Journalists having to be extra careful about verifying where i fo has come from?

  2. Tracey 2
    28 October 2015 at 4:50 pm

    Summary of SC Decision.

    ” Supreme Court of New Zealand
    Te Kōti Mana Nui
    85 Lambton Quay, Wellington
    P O Box 61 DX SX 11224
    Telephone 64 4 918 8222 Facsimile 64 4 471 6924
    20 October 2015
    MEDIA RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLICATION
    DIXON v R
    (SC 82/2014) [2015] NZSC 147
    PRESS SUMMARY
    This summary is provided to assist in the understanding of the
    Court’s judgment. It does not comprise part of the reasons for that
    judgment. The full judgment with reasons is the only authoritative
    document. The full text of the judgment and reasons can be found
    at Judicial Decisions of Public Interest http://www.courtsofnz.govt.nz
    The appellant, Jonathan Dixon, worked for a company which provided
    security services to a bar in Queenstown. During the 2011 Rugby World
    Cup, members of the English rugby squad visited the bar, including the
    vice-captain Mike Tindall. Mr Tindall was seen socialising, then leaving,
    with a female patron. This was recorded on the bar’s closed circuit
    television (CCTV) system. Mr Dixon obtained a compilation of the
    relevant CCTV footage and attempted, unsuccessfully, to sell it to
    overseas media interests. He eventually posted it on a video-sharing
    site, where it was picked up by various media outlets.
    Mr Dixon was charged with accessing a computer system for a dishonest
    purpose under s 249(1)(a) of the Crimes Act 1961. Section 249(1)(a)
    provides that a person commits an offence if he or she “directly or
    indirectly, accesses any computer system and thereby, dishonestly or by
    deception, and without claim of right … obtains any property, privilege,
    service, pecuniary advantage, benefit, or valuable consideration.” The
    Crown case was that the digital footage that Mr Dixon had obtained was
    “property”. At trial in the District Court, Judge Phillips accepted that the
    footage was “property” and directed the jury accordingly. Mr Dixon was
    found guilty, and sentenced to four months’ community detention and
    300 hours of community work.

    Mr Dixon appealed to the Court of Appeal against both conviction and
    sentence. The main ground of the conviction appeal was that
    Judge Phillips had erred in finding that the digital files were “property”
    under s 249(1)(a). After the hearing, Mr Dixon also raised complaints
    about his trial counsel and about the Judge’s summing up. The Court of
    Appeal accepted that the files were not property within the meaning in
    the Crimes Act because they were simply “pure information”, the
    orthodox view being that information is not property. However, the Court
    considered that Mr Dixon was guilty of accessing a computer to obtain a
    benefit, which is also an offence under s 249(1)(a). Exercising its power
    to substitute a verdict under s 386(2) of the Crimes Act, the Court of
    Appeal quashed Mr Dixon’s conviction and substituted a conviction for
    obtaining a benefit. The Court was satisfied that none of the other
    matters raised by Mr Dixon justified quashing his conviction. The Court
    also dismissed Mr Dixon’s sentence appeal.
    The Supreme Court granted Mr Dixon leave to appeal on the question
    whether the Court of Appeal erred in dismissing his appeal.
    Prior to the hearing in this Court, Mr Dixon dismissed his counsel and
    presented submissions for himself. Those submissions focussed on
    errors which he argued had been made by the trial Judge, resulting in a
    miscarriage of justice. Written submissions filed on his behalf by counsel
    before they were dismissed supported the Court of Appeal’s finding that
    the digital files were not “property” but argued that the Court of Appeal
    was wrong to exercise its power to substitute a conviction.
    The Crown argued that the digital files were not “pure information” but
    were “property” within the meaning of the legislation as they were things
    which could be owned and dealt with in the same way as other items of
    personal property.
    The Supreme Court has unanimously dismissed Mr Dixon’s appeal. The
    Court has held that Judge Phillips was right to find that the digital files
    which Mr Dixon acquired were “property” for the purposes of s 249(1)(a),
    and that the Court of Appeal was wrong to quash Mr Dixon’s conviction
    for obtaining “property” and substitute a conviction on the basis he
    obtained a “benefit”.
    The Court has reached this conclusion taking account of the fact that the
    word “property” does not have a fixed, technical meaning but must be
    interpreted in context. Here, “property” was defined broadly, to include
    both tangible and intangible property. Considering both statutory
    purpose and context, “property” in s 249(1)(a) included the data files at
    issue. Those data files were identifiable, were capable of being owned
    and transferred and had an economic value; they fell within both the
    popular and legal meanings of “property”. The Court was satisfied that it
    is a more natural interpretation of s 249(1)(a) to say Mr Dixon took
    “property” when he acquired the digital files, than it is to say that he
    acquired a “benefit”.

    The Court also considered whether Mr Dixon’s trial miscarried. The
    Court has found that Mr Dixon had the opportunity to put his explanation
    for his conduct before the jury and there is no risk of a miscarriage of
    justice resulting from the way the case was left to the jury by trial counsel
    or the trial Judge.
    Accordingly, the Court has reinstated Mr Dixon’s original conviction for
    obtaining property contrary to s 249(1)(a) and has quashed the Court of
    Appeal’s decision quashing that conviction and substituting a conviction
    for obtaining a benefit contrary to section 249(1)(a).
    Gordon Thatcher, Supreme Court Registrar (04) 471 6921.”

    • McFlock 2.1
      28 October 2015 at 5:05 pm

      Interesting. Ha, so Dixon represented himself and fluffed it.

      So assuming that the police will try to do Hager for receiving (s240), I suppose it comes down to the value of the “property”. I suspect the value would be less than $500 dollars, but they might try and claim the book sales as benchmark, ignoring the added value of actually writing the book.

  3. veutoviper 3
    28 October 2015 at 4:52 pm

    Thanks for the post. There is a lot going on in various media on the complex issues which have surfaced as the result of Hager’s court proceedings.

    Rob Hosking’s NBR article appears to now be behind the paywall unfortunately. I presume it was out for a while from comments on Twitter.

    Matt Nippert on Twitter provided a link to this very relevant Herald article by David Fisher in March this year. (Here is the tweet and thread – https://twitter.com/MattNippert/status/659189661915463681

    A taste of the Herald article below – full article at https://t.co/FXz5rgF5Da

    “Broad swathes of people’s personal data are being sought regularly by police from airlines, banks, electricity companies, internet providers and phone companies without search warrants by officers citing clauses in the Privacy Act.

    Senior lawyers and the Privacy Commissioner have told the Herald of concerns over the practice which sees the companies voluntarily give the information to police.

    Instead of seeking a legal order, police have asked companies to hand over the information to assist with the “maintenance of the law”, threatened them with prosecution if they tell the person about whom they are interested and accept data with no record keeping to show how often requests are made.

    The request from police carries no legal force at all yet is regularly complied with.”

    The full article is well worth reading as it gives good background to the Westpac release.

    Katie Bradford TVNZ has been doing follow-up on this release, and earlier today tweeted that Westpac had now “clarified its policy, will confirm a named individual as a customer, any further information requires an appropriate order/warrant”.

    https://twitter.com/katieabradford/status/659167015685394432

  4. Tracey 4
    28 October 2015 at 4:52 pm

    s249 crimes act

    Accessing computer system for dishonest purpose

    (1)

    Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years who, directly or indirectly, accesses any computer system and thereby, dishonestly or by deception, and without claim of right,—

    (a)

    obtains any property, privilege, service, pecuniary advantage, benefit, or valuable consideration; or

    (b)

    causes loss to any other person.

    (2)

    Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years who, directly or indirectly, accesses any computer system with intent, dishonestly or by deception, and without claim of right,—

    (a)

    to obtain any property, privilege, service, pecuniary advantage, benefit, or valuable consideration; or

    (b)

    to cause loss to any other person.

    (3)

    In this section, deception has the same meaning as in section 240(2).

    • Tracey 4.1
      28 October 2015 at 4:58 pm

      hmmmmm Slater might need to take his own advice?

      • Rosie 4.1.1
        29 October 2015 at 8:32 am

        It’s hard to think of how Hager has been treated by the Police and not compare it with how Slater has been been treated by Police. One is a friend to Key, one is not. (Although Hager’s only concern with Key is political, not personal) Simplistic thinking but it’s impossible to not to see that connection.

        E.g: ” s249 crimes act

        Accessing computer system for dishonest purpose

        (1)

        Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years who, directly or indirectly, accesses any computer system and thereby, dishonestly or by deception, and without claim of right,—”

        So, Slater accesses the Labour Party’s membership database complete with credit card details and doesn’t get charged? What ever happened there?

  5. Tracey 5
    28 October 2015 at 4:54 pm

    ContentsPrevious sectionNext sectionTag sectionRemovePrevious hitNext hit

    Crimes involving deceit

    Heading: replaced, on 1 October 2003, by section 15 of the Crimes Amendment Act 2003(2003 No 39).

    240Obtaining by deception or causing loss by deception

    (1)

    Every one is guilty of obtaining by deception or causing loss by deception who, by any deception and without claim of right,—

    (a)

    obtains ownership or possession of, or control over, any property, or any privilege, service, pecuniary advantage, benefit, or valuable consideration, directly or indirectly; or

    (b)

    in incurring any debt or liability, obtains credit; or

    (c)

    induces or causes any other person to deliver over, execute, make, accept, endorse, destroy, or alter any document or thing capable of being used to derive a pecuniary advantage; or

    (d)

    causes loss to any other person.

    (2)

    In this section, deception means—

    (a)

    a false representation, whether oral, documentary, or by conduct, where the person making the representation intends to deceive any other person and—

    (i)

    knows that it is false in a material particular; or

    (ii)

    is reckless as to whether it is false in a material particular; or

    (b)

    an omission to disclose a material particular, with intent to deceive any person, in circumstances where there is a duty to disclose it; or

    (c)

    a fraudulent device, trick, or stratagem used with intent to deceive any person.

  6. ianmac 6
    28 October 2015 at 5:10 pm

    As an amateur, the Court seemed to be saying that the context was important. To steal material from a computer for monetary gain is a crime. Hence the barman who tried to make money by selling the tapes was in trouble.
    The context for Nicky was quite different as the Public Interest is a very long way from stealing for profit.
    I therefore reckon that the Court will not sentence Nicky for theft. I hope!

    • Draco T Bastard 6.1
      28 October 2015 at 7:04 pm

      No one stole the information. In fact, the people who had it in the first place still have it. This is because the information was copied and not stolen.

      Thing is, Hager didn’t even do that bit – someone else did and then handed it to him which he then used in the Public Interest.

      • Tracey 6.1.1
        29 October 2015 at 8:32 am

        well, the deception bit confuses me t be honest, cos I am not sure how Hager was being deceptive?

        “Every one is guilty of obtaining by deception or causing loss by deception who, by any deception and without claim of right,—

        (a)

        obtains ownership or possession of, or control over, any property, or any privilege, service, pecuniary advantage, benefit, or valuable consideration, directly or indirectly”

        and did he access a computer system? I mean Ede did and Slater did with the Blomfeld thing…

        Accessing computer system for dishonest purpose
        (1)
        Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years who, directly or indirectly, accesses any computer system and thereby, dishonestly or by deception, and without claim of right,—

    • Tracey 6.2
      29 October 2015 at 8:29 am

      I’ve been wondering about Jason Ede. Sure the source was Labour Party website was “open” to people looking but none of the property owners gave permission for their data to be “taken” let alone passed on to Slater? Each person whose credit card details were looked at and passé don to Slater would need to have given permission before others taking it or using it would be lawful?

      Then there is the Blomfeld situation. Again involving Slater. Slater had an onus to ensure the data was coming into his hands with permission. Even IF the Director said it was his hard drive, that doesn’t mean the data relating to other people held on that drive were his to give to Slater? I would imagine then publishing said data for personal vendetta, boost ratings (money fro advertisers)?

      I am just surmising, don’t fully understand those situations or the deepest implications of the Dixon ruling.

  7. weka 7
    28 October 2015 at 6:00 pm

    Don’t know if this has been covered yet, but are we sure this is a Westpac issue, or is it a banking industry issue? Anyone asked their non-Westpac bank what their policy is? Any other bank offered any comment?

  8. Smilin 8
    28 October 2015 at 6:32 pm

    “You need no experience, credentials, or even common sense to be a financial pundit. Sadly, the louder and more bombastic a pundit is, the more attention he’ll receive, even though it makes him more likely to be wrong.”Cant give the source I didnt ask permission
    Pinched for a good reason to exaggerate and to help explain how corrupt this Key bastard is .

  9. Dave 9
    28 October 2015 at 8:11 pm

    Radio NZ……put 2 and 2 together…. kind of makes you wonder if they have been patted on the back….

    Updated at 4:23 pm on 5 October 2015

    Westpac has been retained as the government’s main banker.
    The Australian-owned bank will continue to provide transactional banking services for the Crown, after the lucrative contract was put up for tender for the first time in 25 years.

    • ianmac 9.1
      28 October 2015 at 10:48 pm

      And Simon Power became the CEO when he left Parliament.

      • Tracey 9.1.1
        29 October 2015 at 8:25 am

        Not CEO I don’t think. he is now in Australian head office I think

        • Tracey 9.1.1.1
          29 October 2015 at 8:36 am

          ” Cabinet minister Simon Power will be taking over as the head of Westpac Private Bank, it was announced today” 2011

          That is the part of a bank where you generally can only get access if you have funds exceeding half a million. That’s where you can access returns which in the public bank get described as “if they are too good to be true…”

          “Simon Power was appointed General Manager, Consumer Banking & Wealth in May 2015. The business unit incorporates Westpac’s retail network, together with small business and the Private Wealth Management division.

          Prior to his current appointment he held the roles of General Manager, Business Bank, Private Bank, Wealth & Insurance; Managing Director, Private, Wealth & Insurance and before that, Head of Private Bank for Westpac New Zealand Limited.

          Simon joined Westpac in 2012 following a 12 year career as a Member of Parliament in New Zealand. Between 2008–2011 he served as Minister of Justice, Minister of Commerce and Minister of State Owned Enterprises, among other portfolios.

          During that period he led significant reform and change in financial market oversight and regulation in NZ.”

      • Smilin 9.1.2
        29 October 2015 at 8:33 am

        Yeah he set up the machinery that allows this govt to do what they do when he was Minister of Justice

  10. James 10
    28 October 2015 at 10:09 pm

    and Green parties, moving in more authoritarian directions

    Come again?

    • Smilin 10.1
      29 October 2015 at 8:36 am

      Yes cant see that

    • Lara 10.2
      29 October 2015 at 10:50 am

      Yeah… that was the only bit in the article which surprised me.

      As a Green Party member I’m not seeing it. Not at all.

      • arkie 10.2.1
        29 October 2015 at 11:04 am

        The misrepresentation of the Greens is a national pass time it seems.

        • Murray Simmonds 10.2.1.1
          29 October 2015 at 1:06 pm

          This statement struck a discord with me too. Where’s the evidence ??

          Put up or shut up.

          Or even better, (on this blogsite will do) publicly withdraw the statement if you are unable to justify it.

  11. vaughan little 11
    29 October 2015 at 5:33 pm

    managerialism leads directly to authoritarianism.

    the healthy flow of information through a society is as important as the healthy flow of cash. if people try to build dams everywhere so it backs up into nice little swimming pools, you get a sick, stagnant society.

    resentment, resentment everywhere!

Links to post

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Anzac Commemorative Address, Buttes New British Cemetery Belgium
    Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service.  It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago

  • Anzac Commemorative Address – NZ National Service, Chunuk Bair
    Distinguished guests -   It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders.   Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Anzac Commemorative Address – Dawn Service, Gallipoli, Türkiye
    Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia.   Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • PM announces changes to portfolios
    Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • New catch limits for unique fishery areas
    Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Minister welcomes hydrogen milestone
    Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Urgent changes to system through first RMA Amendment Bill
    The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Overseas decommissioning models considered
    Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Release of North Island Severe Weather Event Inquiry
    Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Justice Minister to attend Human Rights Council
    Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order.  “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Patterson reopens world’s largest wool scouring facility
    Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Speech to the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective Summit, 18 April 2024
    Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing  At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin    Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho    Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today.    I am delighted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Government to introduce revised Three Strikes law
    The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • New diplomatic appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions.   “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says.    “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Humanitarian support for Ethiopia and Somalia
    New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today.   “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Arts Minister congratulates Mataaho Collective
    Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale.  “It is good ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Supporting better financial outcomes for Kiwis
    The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Trade relationship with China remains strong
    “China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says.   Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • PM’s South East Asia mission does the business
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Opinion: It’s time for an arts and creative sector strategy
    I was initially resistant to the idea often suggested to me that the Government should deliver an arts strategy. The whole point of the arts and creativity is that people should do whatever the hell they want, unbound by the dictates of politicians in Wellington. Peter Jackson, Kiri Te Kanawa, Eleanor ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-04-26T11:51:16+00:00