A letter to Chris Hipkins

Written By: - Date published: 2:57 pm, July 30th, 2023 - 31 comments
Categories: act, chris hipkins, Christopher Luxon, climate change, covid-19, Environment, housing, labour, national, poverty, Unions, workers' rights - Tags:

Dear Chris

I can’t say that you were my preferred choice as Labour leader but that is the position that you hold.

A great deal hangs on how you perform in the next few months and can I wish you the best and all strength.

The country is in a precarious position and there is a huge amount at stake.

I thought last election when Labour won 50% of the party vote that this election would be a walk in the park and we would win it easily.

But obviously things have not worked out as hoped and things are obviously very closely balanced.

National has got itself into shape.  It was a laughing stock last election but it has knuckled down and Christoper Luxon has given it some discipline and shape.

Rich supporters who strangely think their privilege is not sufficient and needs to be further enhanced beyond their current ridiculous levels have poured huge amounts of money into National’s and Act’s coffers.  And farmers who are incandescent with rage at attempts to make them farm in a more sustainable way even though their business model depends on a sustainable environment have added to the feeling of malise.

And Luxon has flooded the zone with shit.  Every day National is completely and utterly negative.  His comment that New Zealand was a negative, wet and whiny country was clearly his intent, and not a criticism.

There is a strong sense of grumpiness, emanating from those with power and privilege but it has fuelled into ordinary people’s feelings.

Even though this Government handled a one in 100 year pandemic extraordinarily well.

Or has put into place reforms that have caused Greenhouse emissions to peak and which have been declining for a while.  As commented on by Marc Daalder:

A drop in greenhouse gas emissions due to Covid-19 measures was sustained well beyond the end of movement restrictions and lockdowns, new data shows.

In fact, climate pollution continued to fall through all of 2022, with the December 2022 quarter delivering the lowest figure in at least nine years barring the period covering the first lockdown, Statistics New Zealand reported on Thursday. While the pace of the decline isn’t yet sufficient to meet New Zealand’s climate goals, it suggests we have well and truly bent the emissions curve and are on our (slow but steady) way to a net-zero economy.

Add to this the formation of the Climate Change Commission and recently announced deals with New Zealand Steel and Fonterra which are the equivalent to taking off the road 300,000 and 120,000 cars respectively.  These are deals which National would have no inclination or desire to make.

Or housing.  Housing prices which have been a scourge have stabilised and started to decline.  Record number of new houses being constructed and an impressive 12,000 new Kainga Ora houses being provided in the past five years are causes for celebration.

Or child poverty.  It is accepted that recently reductions in important indicators have stalled, but overall there has been a reduction in these most important of measurements.  From 2018 to 2022 the percentage of kids living in households with less than 50% of the median household income after deduction of housing costs have reduced from 22.8% to 15.4%, and the percentage of children living in households with material hardship have decreased from 13.3% to 10.3%.  And benefit levels have improved significantly.

Or free school lunches for kids which Act wants to scrap.  This is a programme that the Government should be really proud about.  After all it results in significantly happier and healthier kids an overall better health quality of live. The most underserved kids benefitted even more than the others. I have no doubt that in the long term the programme will lead to positive lifelong benefits and more equitable outcomes.

Or fair pay agreements.  On top of record increases of wages for nurses the introduction of the Fair Pay Agreement system will provide the best change for workers in decades. They will set minimum standards across whole industries so we can win decent work – better pay, hours of work, health and safety, training, and worker input in decision making.

More needs to be done but we need a Labour Government to continue with work in all of these areas.  What it has achieved is something that the Government should be proud of.

So what I am asking you to do is be proud about these achievements and be brave with future announcements.  Rather than use political tactical reasoning to make policy decisions do what is best and argue the point.

Previous Labour leaders who succeeded have shown what is required.  Micky Savage was loved by all for his generosity and understanding, Peter Fraser admired for his direct leadership, Norm Kirk was revered for his desire for New Zealand to be a proud and independent state, David Lange gave us hope and made us smile, Helen Clark was admired for her complete mastery of the job and Jacinda Ardern showed us all that Politics can and should be conducted in a kinder and more generous fashion.

No pressure but you also need to give us hope and confidence and pride.  A Labour Party that has these emotions can do anything.

All the best and I will continue to do what I can to make sure that you remain Prime Minister of Aotearoa New Zealand.  The alternative fills me with utter dread.

31 comments on “A letter to Chris Hipkins ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Anne 1
    30 July 2023 at 4:10 pm

    So what I am asking you to do is be proud about these achievements and be brave with future announcements. Rather than use political tactical reasoning to make policy decisions do what is best and argue the point.

    Hear hear!

    When you look back over the decades, the Labour PMs who made the most notable changes to the modern political landscape – Michael J Savage, Norman Kirk and David Lange (on the foreign affairs front anyway) – did so out of a firm belief that what they were doing was essential and right. To this day, they are admired for doing so.

    Strategy and tactics have their place but it seems to me that some politicians and their lackeys have allowed them to dominate all political thinking. This of course is particularly noticeable on the political right. The left have neither the resources nor the stomach for the kind of tactics adopted by the right, so they have to rely on different approaches.

    Please stop the pussy footing around and say it how it is. Please stop letting NAct get away with the lies, half-truths and innuendo. Call them out. Show the voters we aren't a bunch of 'woke' namby pambies which is how the left are being painted and it is succeeding.

    Above all, be yourselves and if you feel like throwing a wobbly over something throw it. Because that's what the rest of us do and we like to vote for people like ourselves.

    • Thinker 1.1
      31 July 2023 at 11:29 am

      Yep, that's the key I think.

      Not everyone has read Dirty Politics and not everyone will see through the games that are being played.

      There's everything wrong with playing dirty games back, but there's absolutely nothing wrong with explaining to the voters at large "This is what is happening. Luxon's saying anything he can to make the present government look bad, but where's his party's policy?"

      TODAY, we can start by telling the public that:

      1) $6billion for new roads has to come either from borrowing (which Luxon criitcised Labour of doing to excess) or by cutting back on social services which much of NZ is relying on to help us get out of the post-pandemic global financial crisis. Which do you prefer, voters?

      2) And, to demonstrate Luxon's short-sighted policy that has been pulled from the shelf of traditional National policy instead of being researched and developed for current times, the roads that do need developing are those that were wiped out by Cyclone Gabrielle.

      3) As for National's "natural MMP partner" ACT, even one of the primary founders has said it is no longer fit for purpose and he plans not to vote for it.

      None of the above is Dirty Politics, but it needs saying.

    • PsyclingLeft.Always 1.2
      31 July 2023 at 11:37 am

      Aye Anne ! Labour needs to front foot this. No use moaning about "msm" and the "Tova, Jenna, Andrea, Jessica etc" anti-Labour doomers.

      Labour have done heaps. Much to be proud of. Tell it !

  2. ianmac 2
    30 July 2023 at 5:08 pm

    Some have called "Where is the Labour Policy? Are they so shattered and disorganised that they cannot decide on what their policy is?"

    Then someone here pointed out that Labour, on the same previous timeline, published their policy from about the 9 August.

    So here is hoping that the GST call was a silly unfounded Nicola call, and that challenging Labour policy will appear.

  3. Reality 3
    30 July 2023 at 5:09 pm

    Agree Anne that the PM should be sharpening up his attack on Chris Luxon's negativity and lack of empathy towards people and let NZ see his natural personality, in contrast to Luxon who is boring, and personality-free. We can all recall Hipkins' delightful moments during the pandemic and his mischievous smile.Voters do want to like their PM even if they have differing opinions.

    To digress, on RNZ today there was a podcast from Todd Muller commenting on mental health and how he worked through his mental health issues. My observation was that he is now a much stronger and better person. I hope Kiri Allan will likewise be stronger in time. It was so good to hear a Nat show decency and empathy and understanding and he even criticised some of his own party for their callous behaviour.

  4. Anker 4
    30 July 2023 at 5:23 pm

    https://www.newsroom.co.nz/we-are-bending-the-climate-curve

    The article you mention Mickey Savage, but I note you left this bit from the article out.

    “The figures from Stats NZ are provisional and calculated using a different methodology than New Zealand’s official emissions reporting. But they offer a much quicker and more regular look at the country’s decarbonisation progress than the official annual tallies, which are released on a two-year lag. They also don’t include the carbon-sucking impacts of forestry.”

    Still good news if emissions have come down. Anyone know anything about how NZ Stats calculate it?

    • mickysavage 4.1
      30 July 2023 at 7:09 pm

      You are right Ankler. I did leave that part out. I should have included it because it suggests the situation is even better although the use of forests is a temporary not a permanent solution.

      There is a fair bit of science behind the calculations. More than my brain can handle …

  5. Patricia Bremner 5
    30 July 2023 at 5:27 pm

    We do have much to be proud of. We live in a remarkable country,

    All Labour Greens (and now Te Parti Maori) wished to complete was held back by Winston, then covid.

    Chris Hipkins please unite Labour and coalition partners around getting back into Government to do many of the following things… Not only are we "In it for you… we plan to do the following with you…)'

    continue the path to lower carbon and methane.

    More Research and Development funding

    bring in further Health reforms ie dentistry and more primary health reforms.

    Education with even more support for challenged learners and diminishing student loans as a vehicle by providing more free courses. Free Maori Language courses.

    Employment rights legislation to address fair pay equity and tax issues. Devising 3 types of basic legal employment contract that protect the worker from bad practice. More work place inspections. Fines as in Aus for bad employers ie instant $50 000 fines.

    Housing, devise even more schemes to assist in home ownership. One came out today( $150000 equity partnership with Govt)

    Planning for funding models for large infrastructure and Environmental protections

    These Policies need banners and back up online.

    Give us hope, something to want to vote for, and belief we can overcome the attacks and unite to win. We really can't afford to lose. surprise

    Behind the facade of Luxon is Willis scheming, and all that same horrible group like Woodhouse, who think they are entitled to put someone's picture on a toilet seat. Many have done pretty awful things, yet they want us to vote for them. Their whining nasty put downs are just undercover, not changed.

    Regardless, please vote.

  6. Hunter Thompson II 6
    30 July 2023 at 6:23 pm

    Even if the PM discards the Three (Five?) Waters policy, the damage has already been done because of the massive opposition it provoked.

    Couple that with Labour ministers jumping ship or needing to be disciplined and it's a question of trust, or the lack of it.

    • mickysavage 6.1
      30 July 2023 at 7:10 pm

      Three waters is one of the most rational justifiable policy positions this Government has taken.

      Want to unpick your comment without the manufactured narrative?

      • MickeyBoyle 6.1.1
        30 July 2023 at 11:06 pm

        It is also from the polling I have seen, overwhelmingly disliked by the NZ public, as is co-governance.

        But sure keep on plowing ahead with it and wonder how we lost the election after the fact…

        https://www.1news.co.nz/2022/01/29/poll-more-voters-against-three-waters-than-support/

        • Mac1 6.1.1.1
          31 July 2023 at 9:24 am

          Three questions. First, how much of that 40% against 3 waters are usually Nact voters? Second, how many people are single issue voters and is 3 Waters/co-governance that issue?

          And thirdly, has there been research done on why people voted as they did in 2020, or is this all people's 'reckons'?

      • Chris 6.1.2
        31 July 2023 at 10:46 am

        "Three waters is one of the most rational justifiable policy positions this Government has taken."

        Almost all of Labour's now abandoned policy positions are rational and justifiable. The problem is that Labour doesn't bring the general population along with them.

        Too little, too late…

  7. adam 7
    30 July 2023 at 8:20 pm

    Sorry mickysavage but I get the feeling he's doing a normal for a labour party leader – losing an election, rather than lose control.

    mickysavage you too can party vote Te Pāti Māori or Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand. Keep the left, left.

  8. Grey Area 8
    30 July 2023 at 9:13 pm

    More needs to be done but we need a Labour Government to continue with work in all of these areas. What it has achieved is something that the Government should be proud of.

    So what I am asking you to do is be proud about these achievements and be brave with future announcements. Rather than use political tactical reasoning to make policy decisions do what is best and argue the point.

    They can't be brave. They can't be transformative. They can't be progressive. It is not in their DNA. They are irredeemably neoliberal. This is the NZ Labour Party which has been betraying New Zealand since 1984.

    We're totally stuffed if Labour is the solution. They are a huge part of the problem. They are incapable of saving us.

    • Thinker 8.1
      31 July 2023 at 11:41 am

      If Labour is "irredeemably neoliberal", how would you describe National?

      The elements of Labour that betrayed NZ since 1984 largely subsequently decamped and formed ACT. I fail to see how you can liken the current Labour party to Douglas's policies.

      • arkie 8.1.1
        31 July 2023 at 11:49 am

        One of the fundamental issues that Labour no longer seems to care about is the inherent contradiction of capitalism; workers want to work the least amount of hours for the most amount of money, the employers want workers to work the most amount of hours for the least amount of money. A party that calls itself Labour should side with workers, not try to pretend that they can represent the interests of workers and bosses both; it's not possible.

  9. SPC 9
    30 July 2023 at 10:38 pm

    Think big, nickle and dime it. And leave the Eagle/Krugerrand to the real left, for now.

    The 2020 50% vote was based on two things, the residue of common cause during the pandemic (the polls were tight 2018-2020) and a desire to prevent a Labour-Green coalition. The second part is the real problem for progressive politics – our media is middle class bound and neo-liberal centred.

    The conservative conformity to the process, rather than the issues facing the nation – even RNZ quotes Edwards, Soper and Henare saying Labour was losing swing voters because of management appearances unrelated to policy impacting the people.

    Real change requires a manifesto programme set by the party, not by those in the parliamentary caucus – otherwise the technocrats will operate a poll driven government after the first term in compliant obedience to the middle class media. Once this change is made, it's much easier to work with other parties on the left, but until then the PM will be inclined to rule out any compromise to concord with the manifesto policies of future coalition partners (let lone let Labour party members). All because it's seen as the job of the party leader to win, not to lead the way to realise transformative change.

    That's the problem.

    It's best resolved by Labour winning this one, with a larger vote share to Greens and TPM. Labour as a minority government receiving confidence and supply from Greens and TPM – the reason why, the alternative is NACT.

    And during the three years, take back the Labour Party – demand it develop a 2026 campaign based on real transformative change.

  10. MickeyBoyle 10
    30 July 2023 at 11:14 pm

    This government was heading to be a one term government before Covid-19 saved them. They then benefitted massively from the rally around the flag effect in 2020 and a push from center right voters to keep the Greens out.

    Take that historic period out of the picture and this government hasn't been very popular. Labour won 37% of the vote in 2017 and by the looks of the polling, will struggle to hit the mid 30s this year. In comparison to Sir John Key's governments, they are struggling.

    Hipkins knows he needs to toe the center line as much as possible and it suits him. Like Grant and Dame Jacinda he is an incrementalist, not a transformative PM. Kiwis generally like that, they aren't as politically invested as most of us here are.

    Those of us looking for big left wing transformative policy will not get it from this generation of Labour. If you truly want that TPM is your party.

    • Muttonbird 10.1
      31 July 2023 at 8:18 am

      They then benefitted massively from the rally around the flag effect in 2020 and a push from center right voters to keep the Greens out.

      I'll give you the 'rally around the flag effect', but the 'keep the Greens out' theory is rubbish, which is rather a face saving exercise from the political right:

      This is the case with the theory currently being circulated by some Federated Farmers branch presidents and others that a large contingent of the rural vote backed Labour in order to keep the Green Party from being needed to govern.

      At this point there is no evidence this happened at sufficient scale to seriously change the election result.

      But the theory is very useful for people in the sector and on the political Right who need to explain why a Government supposedly at war with the regions got so much support from them – and to pressure Labour to not give the Green Party an inch of power.

      https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300138283/election-2020-there-is-no-evidence-national-voters-backed-labour-to-keep-the-greens-out

    • Anne 10.2
      31 July 2023 at 9:57 am

      This government was heading to be a one term government before Covid-19 saved them.

      Really? Your grasp of recent history is a little tarnished.

      Jacinda Ardern was at the pinnacle of her popularity before Covid reared its ugly head. So much so, she was mobbed wherever she went. Covid merely cemented in her government's high standing among a majority of voters. Since then natural political attrition has set in combined with an hostile right wing press and NAct dirty politics.

      • Belladonna 10.2.1
        31 July 2023 at 10:20 am

        Jacinda Ardern was at the pinnacle of her popularity before Covid reared its ugly head.

        That's actually not true, Anne. Ardern's popularity peaked in 2020 during the pandemic (May 2020 when she was at 60%), and was dropping (though still at significant levels) during 2019.

        https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/131015136/jacinda-arderns-prime-ministership-explained-in-six-charts

        • Anne 10.2.1.1
          31 July 2023 at 11:16 am

          She became an MP in 2008 and retired in April 2023.

          She was at the pinnacle of her political popularity between 2017 and 2021.

          So she "peaked" in May 2020 according to some poll. Polls are only reflections of trends. The fact is, she was extraordinarily popular throughout her first term in government and only started to trend noticeably downwards when the mis and disinformation and relentless abuse set in.

          Perhaps I should have said "she began the pinnacle of her popularity before Covid" but one doesn't expect such pedantry over the most trivial of expressions.

          Off you go and have your last word as is your wont…. 😉

          • Belladonna 10.2.1.1.1
            31 July 2023 at 11:33 am

            The fact is, she was extraordinarily popular throughout her first term in government and only started to trend noticeably downwards when the mis and disinformation and relentless abuse set in.

            Did you even look at the graph? She was trending "noticeably downwards" during 2019.
            There was a noticeable reset of her popularity during 2020.

            These are trends – not an example of a single rogue poll.

      • Phillip ure 10.2.2
        31 July 2023 at 10:54 am

        @anne..

        You left out one of the main causes of that political attrition..

        ..namely the non-delivery from j.ardern of those transformative promises she made…

        She just slumped back into incrementalism..

  11. Darien Fenton 11
    31 July 2023 at 6:01 am

    Out of interest who was your "preferred leader"? Labour of course is stuck in that weird space between governing and electioneering. Expect a lot of announcements from when Parliament rises in a couple of weeks and all the valedictories are done. Party List is out today which no doubt give the media hounds lots to chew on.

  12. Tiger Mountain 12
    31 July 2023 at 9:16 am

    On several occasions have commented on NZ Labour’s squandering of a once in a generation 2020 MMP majority. Monetarism is so embedded in the Labour Caucus and HQ that they were unable to move beyond the neo liberal Parliamentary consensus and do what needed to be done in so many areas. (I acknowledge the literally hundreds of useful incremental reforms they have made–including some significant ones–PPL to 26 wks, FPAs, biggest minimum wage ever, Super rise, winter energy etc.)

    But…Natzos will gleefully remove most of what Labour has done, so Labour need to get up on their hind legs get out the megaphone and tell the electorate–but that is unlikely as Cap’n Chipkins navigates the middle of the channel.

    So, the answer is pretty clear; Labour loyalists and other centrists that cannot tolerate Natzo/Act–vote Labour, Leftys and New Gens vote Te Pāti Māori or Green. Vote for what you actually support for once rather than a “lesser evil”.

  13. Bruce 13
    31 July 2023 at 9:22 am

    Legalize cannabis and establish sustainable industries building, cloth, and endless list to counter reliance on poisonous plastic.

    Get voters out in the same way the referendum did.

    • arkie 13.1
      31 July 2023 at 9:37 am

      The Greens are campaigning on these:

      “As a Party we strive to create a more connected, compassionate and equal Aotearoa, free from structural biases that discriminate against groups and individuals.”

      Actions in this policy that will help achieve this include:

      • Treat substance addiction as a health problem, by implementing and sufficiently resourcing approaches that are found to be the best to reduce the suffering of people with addictions and other problematic use. (3.1)
      • Require the Ministry of Health to develop integrated, effective, evidence-based legislation and regulation to reduce harm and cost to society, individuals, and the environment from drug use and abuse, and enhance people’s capacity for informed choice. (2.1)
      • Support policies to minimise harm caused by drug use – for example needle and syringe exchange schemes, and safe consumption spaces. (2.3)
      • Legally regulate cannabis for personal use (…). (4.1)
      • Phase out all broadcast, billboard and print (excluding point of sale) advertising of alcoholic beverages, and sponsorship by alcohol brands. (4.14)

      https://www.greens.org.nz/drug_law_reform

      “Aotearoa will be in transition, creating green work and broad prosperity while moving Aotearoa away from carbon-dependent, extractive and resource-intensive industries.”

      Actions in this policy that will help achieve this include:

      • Encourage circular business relationships, where the outputs of one business are the inputs to another business, and engage in planning for the future siting of such businesses near/next to each other where appropriate and practical. (1.18)
      • Promote a fair competitive environment for Aotearoa New Zealand businesses that removes outright competition with products and services from countries with poor human and worker rights records and with poor environmental practices. (2.1)
      • Identify new business opportunities in sustainability sectors and practices. (3.5)
      • Provide ongoing support for Māori and Pasifika business service providers to support Māori and Pasifika-led businesses. (5.1)

      https://www.greens.org.nz/sustainable_business_policy

  14. Blazer 14
    31 July 2023 at 11:20 am

    Onya Chris…NO wealth tax,NO CGT,NO action on supermkt duopoly,NO action on banks excessive profits,NO rent relief policy.

    'nothing'…in it…for…YOU.

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    It looks like the new ministerial press secretaries have quickly learned the art of camouflaging exactly what their ministers are saying – or, at least, of keeping the hard news  out of the headlines and/or the opening sentences of the statements they post on the home page of the governments ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • Xmas  good  cheer  for the dairy industry  as Fonterra lifts its forecast
    The big dairy co-op Fonterra  had  some Christmas  cheer to offer  its farmers this week, increasing its forecast farmgate milk price and earnings guidance for  the year after what it calls a strong start to the year. The forecast  midpoint for the 2023/24 season is up 25cs to $7.50 per ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • MICHAEL BASSETT: Modern Maori myths
    Michael Bassett writes – Many of the comments about the Coalition’s determination to wind back the dramatic Maorification of New Zealand of the last three years would have you believe the new government is engaged in a full-scale attack on Maori. In reality, all that is happening ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • Dreams of eternal sunshine at a spotless COP28
    Mary Robinson asked Al Jaber a series of very simple, direct and highly pertinent questions and he responded with a high-octane public meltdown. Photos: Getty Images / montage: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR The hygiene effects of direct sunshine are making some inroads, perhaps for the very first time, on the normalised ‘deficit ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • LINDSAY MITCHELL: Oh, the irony
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – Appointed by new Labour PM Jacinda Ardern in 2018, Cindy Kiro headed the Welfare Expert Advisory Group (WEAG) tasked with reviewing and recommending reforms to the welfare system. Kiro had been Children’s Commissioner during Helen Clark’s Labour government but returned to academia subsequently. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Transport Agencies don’t want Harbour Tunnels
    It seems even our transport agencies don’t want Labour’s harbour crossing plans. In August the previous government and Waka Kotahi announced their absurd preferred option the new harbour crossing that at the time was estimated to cost $35-45 billion. It included both road tunnels and a wiggly light rail tunnel ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    3 days ago

  • Webworm Presents: Jurassic Park on 35mm
    Hi,Paying Webworm members such as yourself keep this thing running, so as 2023 draws to close, I wanted to do two things to say a giant, loud “THANKS”. Firstly — I’m giving away 10 Mister Organ blu-rays in New Zealand, and another 10 in America. More details down below.Secondly — ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    3 days ago

  • The Prime Minister's Dream.
    Yesterday saw the State Opening of Parliament, the Speech from the Throne, and then Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s dream for Aotearoa in his first address. But first the pomp and ceremony, the arrival of the Governor General.Dame Cindy Kiro arrived on the forecourt outside of parliament to a Māori welcome. ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • National’s new MP; the proud part-Maori boy raised in a state house
    Probably not since 1975 have we seen a government take office up against such a wall of protest and complaint. That was highlighted yesterday, the day that the new Parliament was sworn in, with news that King Tuheitia has called a national hui for late January to develop a ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago

  • Climate Adam: Battlefield Earth – How War Fuels Climate Catastrophe
    This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Adam Levy. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). War, conflict and climate change are tearing apart lives across the world. But these aren't separate harms - they're intricately connected. ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

  • They do not speak for us, and they do not speak for the future
    These dire woeful and intolerant people have been so determinedly going about their small and petulant business, it’s hard to keep up. At the end of the new government’s first woeful week, Audrey Young took the time to count off its various acts of denigration of Te Ao Māori:Review the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Another attack on te reo
    The new white supremacist government made attacking te reo a key part of its platform, promising to rename government agencies and force them to "communicate primarily in English" (which they already do). But today they've gone further, by trying to cut the pay of public servants who speak te reo: ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • For the record, the Beehive buzz can now be regarded as “official”
    Buzz from the Beehive The biggest buzz we bring you from the Beehive today is that the government’s official website is up and going after being out of action for more than a week. The latest press statement came  from  Education Minister  Eric Stanford, who seized on the 2022 PISA ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • Climate Change: Failed again
    There was another ETS auction this morning. and like all the other ones this year, it failed to clear - meaning that 23 million tons of carbon (15 million ordinary units plus 8 million in the cost containment reserve) went up in smoke. Or rather, they didn't. Being unsold at ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell On The Government’s Assault On Maori
    This isn’t news, but the National-led coalition is mounting a sustained assault on Treaty rights and obligations. Even so, Christopher Luxon has described yesterday’s nationwide protests by Maori as “pretty unfair.” Poor thing. In the NZ Herald, Audrey Young has compiled a useful list of the many, many ways that ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    3 days ago

  • Rising costs hit farmers hard, but  there’s more  positive news  for  them this  week 
    New Zealand’s dairy industry, the mainstay of the country’s export trade, has  been under  pressure  from rising  costs. Down on the  farm, this  has  been  hitting  hard. But there  was more positive news this week,  first   from the latest Fonterra GDT auction where  prices  rose,  and  then from  a  report ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    3 days ago

  • ROB MacCULLOCH:  Newshub and NZ Herald report misleading garbage about ACT’s van Veldon not follo...
    Rob MacCulloch writes –  In their rush to discredit the new government (which our MainStream Media regard as illegitimate and having no right to enact the democratic will of voters) the NZ Herald and Newshub are arguing ACT’s Deputy Leader Brooke van Veldon is not following Treasury advice ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Top 10 for Wednesday, December 6
    Even many young people who smoke support smokefree policies, fitting in with previous research showing the large majority of people who smoke regret starting and most want to quit. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s my pick of the top 10 news and analysis links elsewhere on the morning of Wednesday, December ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Eleven years of work.
    Well it didn’t take six months, but the leaks have begun. Yes the good ship Coalition has inadvertently released a confidential cabinet paper into the public domain, discussing their axing of Fair Pay Agreements (FPAs).Oops.Just when you were admiring how smoothly things were going for the new government, they’ve had ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • Why we're missing out on sharply lower inflation
    A wave of new and higher fees, rates and charges will ripple out over the economy in the next 18 months as mayors, councillors, heads of department and price-setters for utilities such as gas, electricity, water and parking ramp up charges. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Just when most ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • How Did We Get Here?
    Hi,Kiwis — keep the evening of December 22nd free. I have a meetup planned, and will send out an invite over the next day or so. This sounds sort of crazy to write, but today will be Tony Stamp’s final Totally Normal column of 2023. Somehow we’ve made it to ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    4 days ago

  • At a glance – Has the greenhouse effect been falsified?
    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

  • New Zealaders  have  high expectations of  new  government:  now let’s see if it can deliver?
    The electorate has high expectations of the  new  government.  The question is: can  it  deliver?    Some  might  say  the  signs are not  promising. Protestors   are  already marching in the streets. The  new  Prime Minister has had  little experience of managing  very diverse politicians  in coalition. The economy he  ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    4 days ago

  • You won't believe some of the numbers you have to pull when you're a Finance Minister
    Nicola of Marsden:Yo, normies! We will fix your cost of living worries by giving you a tax cut of 150 dollars. 150! Cash money! Vote National.Various people who can read and count:Actually that's 150 over a fortnight. Not a week, which is how you usually express these things.And actually, it looks ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Pushback
    When this government came to power, it did so on an explicitly white supremacist platform. Undermining the Waitangi Tribunal, removing Māori representation in local government, over-riding the courts which had tried to make their foreshore and seabed legislation work, eradicating te reo from public life, and ultimately trying to repudiate ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • Defence ministerial meeting meant Collins missed the Maori Party’s mischief-making capers in Parli...
    Buzz from the Beehive Maybe this is not the best time for our Minister of Defence to have gone overseas. Not when the Maori Party is inviting (or should that be inciting?) its followers to join a revolution in a post which promoted its protest plans with a picture of ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • Threats of war have been followed by an invitation to join the revolution – now let’s see how th...
     A Maori Party post on Instagram invited party followers to ….  Tangata Whenua, Tangata Tiriti, Join the REVOLUTION! & make a stand!  Nationwide Action Day, All details in tiles swipe to see locations.  • This is our 1st hit out and tomorrow Tuesday the 5th is the opening ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Top 10 for Tuesday, December 4
    The RBNZ governor is citing high net migration and profit-led inflation as factors in the bank’s hawkish stance. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s my pick of the top 10 news and analysis links elsewhere on the morning of Tuesday, December 5, including:Reserve Bank Governor Adrian Orr says high net migration and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • Nicola Willis' 'show me the money' moment
    Willis has accused labour of “economic vandalism’, while Robertson described her comments as a “desperate diversion from somebody who can't make their tax package add up”. There will now be an intense focus on December 20 to see whether her hyperbole is backed up by true surprises. Photo montage: Lynn ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • CRL costs money but also provides huge benefits
    The City Rail Link has been in the headlines a bit recently so I thought I’d look at some of them. First up, yesterday the NZ Herald ran this piece about the ongoing costs of the CRL. Auckland ratepayers will be saddled with an estimated bill of $220 million each ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    5 days ago

  • And I don't want the world to see us.
    Is this the most shambolic government in the history of New Zealand? Given that parliament hasn’t even opened they’ve managed quite a list of achievements to date.The Smokefree debacle trading lives for tax cuts, the Trumpian claims of bribery in the Media, an International award for indifference, and today the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • Cooking the books
    Finance Minister Nicola Willis late yesterday stopped only slightly short of accusing her predecessor Grant Robertson of cooking the books. She complained that the Half Yearly Economic and Fiscal Update (HYEFU), due to be made public on December 20, would show “fiscal cliffs” that would amount to “billions of ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago

  • Most people don’t realize how much progress we’ve made on climate change
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The year was 2015. ‘Uptown Funk’ with Bruno Mars was at the top of the music charts. Jurassic World was the most popular new movie in theaters. And decades of futility in international climate negotiations was about to come to an end in ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • Of Parliamentary Oaths and Clive Boonham
    As a heads-up, I am not one of those people who stay awake at night thinking about weird Culture War nonsense. At least so far as the current Maori/Constitutional arrangements go. In fact, I actually consider it the least important issue facing the day to day lives of New ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    5 days ago

  • Bearing True Allegiance?
    Strong Words: “We do not consent, we do not surrender, we do not cede, we do not submit; we, the indigenous, are rising. We do not buy into the colonial fictions this House is built upon. Te Pāti Māori pledges allegiance to our mokopuna, our whenua, and Te Tiriti o ...
    Bowalley Road
    5 days ago

  • You cannot be serious
    Some days it feels like the only thing to say is: Seriously? No, really. Seriously?OneSomeone has used their health department access to share data about vaccinations and patients, and inform the world that New Zealanders have been dying in their hundreds of thousands from the evil vaccine. This of course is pure ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • A promise kept: govt pulls the plug on Lake Onslow scheme – but this saving of $16bn is denounced...
    Buzz from the Beehive After $21.8 million was spent on investigations, the plug has been pulled on the Lake Onslow pumped-hydro electricity scheme, The scheme –  that technically could have solved New Zealand’s looming energy shortage, according to its champions – was a key part of the defeated Labour government’s ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago

  • CHRIS TROTTER: The Maori Party and Oath of Allegiance
    If those elected to the Māori Seats refuse to take them, then what possible reason could the country have for retaining them?   Chris Trotter writes – Christmas is fast approaching, which, as it does every year, means gearing up for an abstruse general knowledge question. “Who was ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago

  • BRIAN EASTON:  Forward to 2017
    The coalition party agreements are mainly about returning to 2017 when National lost power. They show commonalities but also some serious divergencies. Brian Easton writes – The two coalition agreements – one National and ACT, the other National and New Zealand First – are more than policy documents. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Climate Change: Fossils
    When the new government promised to allow new offshore oil and gas exploration, they were warned that there would be international criticism and reputational damage. Naturally, they arrogantly denied any possibility that that would happen. And then they finally turned up at COP, to criticism from Palau, and a "fossil ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago

  • GEOFFREY MILLER:  NZ’s foreign policy resets on AUKUS, Gaza and Ukraine
    Geoffrey Miller writes – New Zealand’s international relations are under new management. And Winston Peters, the new foreign minister, is already setting a change agenda. As expected, this includes a more pro-US positioning when it comes to the Pacific – where Peters will be picking up where he ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the government’s smokefree laws debacle
    The most charitable explanation for National’s behaviour over the smokefree legislation is that they have dutifully fulfilled the wishes of the Big Tobacco lobby and then cast around – incompetently, as it turns out – for excuses that might sell this health policy U-turn to the public. The less charitable ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    6 days ago

  • Top 10 links at 10 am for Monday, December 4
    As Deb Te Kawa writes in an op-ed, the new Government seems to have immediately bought itself fights with just about everyone. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Here’s my pick of the top 10 news and analysis links elsewhere as of 10 am on Monday December 4, including:Palau’s President ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • Be Honest.
    Let’s begin today by thinking about job interviews.During my career in Software Development I must have interviewed hundreds of people, hired at least a hundred, but few stick in the memory.I remember one guy who was so laid back he was practically horizontal, leaning back in his chair until his ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • Geoffrey Miller: New Zealand’s foreign policy resets on AUKUS, Gaza and Ukraine
    New Zealand’s international relations are under new management. And Winston Peters, the new foreign minister, is already setting a change agenda. As expected, this includes a more pro-US positioning when it comes to the Pacific – where Peters will be picking up where he left off. Peters sought to align ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    6 days ago

  • Auckland rail tunnel the world’s most expensive
    Auckland’s city rail link is the most expensive rail project in the world per km, and the CRL boss has described the cost of infrastructure construction in Aotearoa as a crisis. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The 3.5 km City Rail Link (CRL) tunnel under Auckland’s CBD has cost ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • First big test coming
    The first big test of the new Government’s approach to Treaty matters is likely to be seen in the return of the Resource Management Act. RMA Minister Chris Bishop has confirmed that he intends to introduce legislation to repeal Labour’s recently passed Natural and Built Environments Act and its ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago

  • The Song of Saqua: Volume III
    Time to revisit something I haven’t covered in a while: the D&D campaign, with Saqua the aquatic half-vampire. Last seen in July: https://phuulishfellow.wordpress.com/2023/07/27/the-song-of-saqua-volume-ii/ The delay is understandable, once one realises that the interim saw our DM come down with a life-threatening medical situation. They have since survived to make ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    6 days ago

  • Chris Bishop: Smokin’
    Yes. Correct. It was an election result. And now we are the elected government. ...
    My ThinksBy boonman
    6 days ago

  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #48
    A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science  Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Nov 26, 2023 thru Dec 2, 2023. Story of the Week CO2 readings from Mauna Loa show failure to combat climate change Daily atmospheric carbon dioxide data from Hawaiian volcano more ...
    Skeptical Science
    7 days ago

  • Affirmative Action.
    Affirmative Action was a key theme at this election, although I don’t recall anyone using those particular words during the campaign.They’re positive words, and the way the topic was talked about was anything but. It certainly wasn’t a campaign of saying that Affirmative Action was a good thing, but that, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    7 days ago

  • 100 days of something
    It was at the end of the Foxton straights, at the end of 1978, at 100km/h, that someone tried to grab me from behind on my Yamaha.They seemed to be yanking my backpack. My first thought was outrage. My second was: but how? Where have they come from? And my ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    7 days ago

  • Look who’s stepped up to champion Winston
    There’s no news to be gleaned from the government’s official website today  – it contains nothing more than the message about the site being under maintenance. The time this maintenance job is taking and the costs being incurred have us musing on the government’s commitment to an assault on inflation. ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 week ago

  • What's The Story?
    Don’t you sometimes wish they’d just tell the truth? No matter how abhorrent or ugly, just straight up tell us the truth?C’mon guys, what you’re doing is bad enough anyway, pretending you’re not is only adding insult to injury.Instead of all this bollocks about the Smokefree changes being to do ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago

  • The longest of weeks
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.Friday Under New Management Week in review, quiz style1. Which of these best describes Aotearoa?a. Progressive nation, proud of its egalitarian spirit and belief in a fair go b. Best little country on the planet c. ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago

  • Suggested sessions of EGU24 to submit abstracts to
    Like earlier this year, members from our team will be involved with next year's General Assembly of the European Geosciences Union (EGU). The conference will take place on premise in Vienna as well as online from April 14 to 19, 2024. The session catalog has been available since November 1 ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

  • Under New Management
    1. Which of these best describes Aotearoa?a. Progressive nation, proud of its egalitarian spirit and belief in a fair go b. Best little country on the planet c. Under New Management 2. Which of these best describes the 100 days of action announced this week by the new government?a. Petulantb. Simplistic and wrongheaded c. ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago

  • While we wait patiently, our new Minister of Education is up and going with a 100-day action plan
    Sorry to say, the government’s official website is still out of action. When Point of Order paid its daily visit, the message was the same as it has been for the past week: Site under maintenance Beehive.govt.nz is currently under maintenance. We will be back shortly. Thank you for your ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 week ago

  • Ministers visit Hawke’s Bay to grasp recovery needs
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon joined Cyclone Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell and Transport and Local Government Minister Simeon Brown, to meet leaders of cyclone and flood-affected regions in the Hawke’s Bay. The visit reinforced the coalition Government’s commitment to support the region and better understand its ongoing requirements, Mr Mitchell says.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • New Zealand condemns malicious cyber activity
    New Zealand has joined the UK and other partners in condemning malicious cyber activity conducted by the Russian Government, Minister Responsible for the Government Communications Security Bureau Judith Collins says. The statement follows the UK’s attribution today of malicious cyber activity impacting its domestic democratic institutions and processes, as well ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Disestablishment of Te Pūkenga begins
    The Government has begun the process of disestablishing Te Pūkenga as part of its 100-day plan, Minister for Tertiary Education and Skills Penny Simmonds says.  “I have started putting that plan into action and have met with the chair and chief Executive of Te Pūkenga to advise them of my ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Climate Change Minister to attend COP28 in Dubai
    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will be leaving for Dubai today to attend COP28, the 28th annual UN climate summit, this week. Simon Watts says he will push for accelerated action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement, deliver New Zealand’s national statement and connect with partner countries, private sector leaders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • New Zealand to host 2024 Pacific defence meeting
    Defence Minister Judith Collins yesterday announced New Zealand will host next year’s South Pacific Defence Ministers’ Meeting (SPDMM). “Having just returned from this year’s meeting in Nouméa, I witnessed first-hand the value of meeting with my Pacific counterparts to discuss regional security and defence matters. I welcome the opportunity to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Study shows need to remove distractions in class
    The Government is committed to lifting school achievement in the basics and that starts with removing distractions so young people can focus on their learning, Education Minister Erica Stanford says.   The 2022 PISA results released this week found that Kiwi kids ranked 5th in the world for being distracted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Minister sets expectations of Commissioner
    Today I met with Police Commissioner Andrew Coster to set out my expectations, which he has agreed to, says Police Minister Mark Mitchell. Under section 16(1) of the Policing Act 2008, the Minister can expect the Police Commissioner to deliver on the Government’s direction and priorities, as now outlined in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • New Zealand needs a strong and stable ETS
    New Zealand needs a strong and stable Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) that is well placed for the future, after emission units failed to sell for the fourth and final auction of the year, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says.  At today’s auction, 15 million New Zealand units (NZUs) – each ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • PISA results show urgent need to teach the basics
    With 2022 PISA results showing a decline in achievement, Education Minister Erica Stanford is confident that the Coalition Government’s 100-day plan for education will improve outcomes for Kiwi kids.  The 2022 PISA results show a significant decline in the performance of 15-year-old students in maths compared to 2018 and confirms ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Collins leaves for Pacific defence meeting
    Defence Minister Judith Collins today departed for New Caledonia to attend the 8th annual South Pacific Defence Ministers’ meeting (SPDMM). “This meeting is an excellent opportunity to meet face-to-face with my Pacific counterparts to discuss regional security matters and to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to the Pacific,” Judith Collins says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Working for Families gets cost of living boost
    Putting more money in the pockets of hard-working families is a priority of this Coalition Government, starting with an increase to Working for Families, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says. “We are starting our 100-day plan with a laser focus on bringing down the cost of living, because that is what ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Post-Cabinet press conference
    Most weeks, following Cabinet, the Prime Minister holds a press conference for members of the Parliamentary Press Gallery. This page contains the transcripts from those press conferences, which are supplied by Hansard to the Office of the Prime Minister. It is important to note that the transcripts have not been edited ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Lake Onslow pumped hydro scheme scrapped
    The Government has axed the $16 billion Lake Onslow pumped hydro scheme championed by the previous government, Energy Minister Simeon Brown says. “This hugely wasteful project was pouring money down the drain at a time when we need to be reining in spending and focussing on rebuilding the economy and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • NZ welcomes further pause in fighting in Gaza
    New Zealand welcomes the further one-day extension of the pause in fighting, which will allow the delivery of more urgently-needed humanitarian aid into Gaza and the release of more hostages, Foreign Minister Winston Peters said. “The human cost of the conflict is horrific, and New Zealand wants to see the violence ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Condolences on passing of Henry Kissinger
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters today expressed on behalf of the New Zealand Government his condolences to the family of former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who has passed away at the age of 100 at his home in Connecticut. “While opinions on his legacy are varied, Secretary Kissinger was ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Backing our kids to learn the basics
    Every child deserves a world-leading education, and the Coalition Government is making that a priority as part of its 100-day plan. Education Minister Erica Stanford says that will start with banning cellphone use at school and ensuring all primary students spend one hour on reading, writing, and maths each day. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • US Business Summit Speech – Regional stability through trade
    I would like to begin by echoing the Prime Minister’s thanks to the organisers of this Summit, Fran O’Sullivan and the Auckland Business Chamber.  I want to also acknowledge the many leading exporters, sector representatives, diplomats, and other leaders we have joining us in the room. In particular, I would like ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Keynote Address to the United States Business Summit, Auckland
    Good morning. Thank you, Rosemary, for your warm introduction, and to Fran and Simon for this opportunity to make some brief comments about New Zealand’s relationship with the United States.  This is also a chance to acknowledge my colleague, Minister for Trade Todd McClay, Ambassador Tom Udall, Secretary of Foreign ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • India New Zealand Business Council Speech, India as a Strategic Priority
    Good morning, tēnā koutou and namaskar. Many thanks, Michael, for your warm welcome. I would like to acknowledge the work of the India New Zealand Business Council in facilitating today’s event and for the Council’s broader work in supporting a coordinated approach for lifting New Zealand-India relations. I want to also ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Coalition Government unveils 100-day plan
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has laid out the Coalition Government’s plan for its first 100 days from today. “The last few years have been incredibly tough for so many New Zealanders. People have put their trust in National, ACT and NZ First to steer them towards a better, more prosperous ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • New Zealand welcomes European Parliament vote on the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement
    A significant milestone in ratifying the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was reached last night, with 524 of the 705 member European Parliament voting in favour to approve the agreement. “I’m delighted to hear of the successful vote to approve the NZ-EU FTA in the European Parliament overnight. This is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

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