web analytics

A rort is a rort is a rort

Written By: - Date published: 10:00 am, September 8th, 2009 - 48 comments
Categories: bill english, corruption, housing, national/act government, parliamentary spending, same old national - Tags:

And by any other name it smells as bad.

John Key has annouced a reform of the rules for ministerial accommodation allowance. A fixed, automatic allowance will now be paid to all out of Wellington ministers of $37,500 a year for their Wellington accomodation (or $30,000 if they own the house), slightly less than the highest spending ministers were revealed to have spent in the last six months. 

The important thing to note is this is not an upper limit. Ministers will get this payment automatically regardless of whether their accommodation costs are lower or not. No test of ‘actual and reasonable’ costs. Even ministers living in Crown-owned houses will get the allowance and have to pay rent or something, the report doesn’t decide.

Congratulations. You’ve just just given a pay rise of up to $37,500 a year to David Carter, Murray McCully, Tim Groser, Georgina Te Heu Heu, Pansy Wong, Jonathan Coleman, Kate Wilkinson, Maurice Williamson, and John Carter. All of them are ministers based outside Wellington who previously claimed nothing or less than $37,500 a year for their Wellington accommodation and each of them will now be gifted $37,500 a year, no questions asked. All because some of their colleagues couldn’t be trusted not to rort the system.

Key claims this will save the taxpayer hundreds of thousands of dollars a year, and that would be true if he had followed the Ministerial Services recommendation, which included selling all Crown own houses except Premier House. But Key decided not to sell those properties (something I support) and that eliminates the savings (the media missed that: check the last table in the cabinet paper). If anything, this scheme will cost the taxpayer more.

But what about the man who started all this? Bill English will be able to get $30,000 a year for living in his own family home – less than the $48,000 he was claiming, more than the $24,000 he had promised to reduce it to. The problem with English’s behaviour, as Guyon Espiner noted during the press conference, isn’t the amount he is taking. In fact, the amount he is taking was completely within the rules. It is that he is taking the money as an out of town minister at all when he is Wellington-based that is the problem.

Reducing the rort to $37,500 a year doesn’t make it OK. Try this thought experiment: if when this story had first come to light English had taken $18,500 in six months, rather than $22,000, would it still have been a rort? Of course it would have been. So how does cutting the rort to that amount now make it OK?

It doesn’t matter if English is ripping us off for $50,000, $37,500, or $37.50. A rort’s a rort. He must stop or Key must make him. But Key clearly has no intention of doing any such thing. In fact, he’s allowing that rort to continue and giving a bunch of other ministers a nice bonus at the same time.

48 comments on “A rort is a rort is a rort ”

  1. Tigger 1

    Good post Marty.

    Previously MPs were sort of like contractors, invoicing for expenses. Now they appear to be on fixed, standardised payments – so does that make them beneficiaries?

  2. JohnDee 2

    Tigger.

    I’m sure that most on a benefit would love to have $37.500 on top of their measly income.

  3. By way of comparison, that $37,500 is more than two-thirds of us even earn. Nice, huh?

    • burt 3.1

      That proportion is more a reflection of how low wages are in NZ relative to the cost of accommodation in Wellington. I’m not saying the level is set correctly, just that an emotive reference to average earnings would be better focused on average earnings than accommodation costs in Wellington.

      • blacksand 3.1.1

        My arse it is; it’s a reflection on the manner to which Messrs English et al have become accustomed. How many shipping containers does it take to accommodate a family of 8? There’s a trailer park in the offing close to Parliament at that…

  4. toad 4

    Question 11 in Parliament today:

    Metiria Turei to the Prime Minister:

    Can he confirm that under his proposed new rules Government ministers will be given a lump sum of up to $37,500 a year to pay for accommodation in Wellington; and Ministers will be able to pocket any of the public money they do not spend?

    • burt 4.1

      Question one for toad;

      If I’m given a meal allowance of $12 for working late shift can I keep what I don’t spend on food ?

      • snoozer 4.1.1

        not if you’re a public servant. Public servants get actual and reasonable costs up to a cap for accommodation, food etc when travelling.

        What rules a private business has is their business. This is taxpayer money.

        • Draco T Bastard 4.1.1.1

          And most of them use capped reimbursement rather than giving out lump sums as it’s far cheaper.

      • toad 4.1.2

        burt, your $12 meal allowance is an entitlement that has been negotiated.

        Key’s proposal is like saying all beneficiaries should get $800 a week benefit, just because that is what a few need to meet their essential commitments. From what I’ve read from you about beneficiaries in the past, I’m sure you wouldn’t agree with that. So why is it okay for Ministers?

        • burt 4.1.2.1

          toad

          I never said it was OK, I have assumed that the entitlement to the ‘allowance’ is based on a need rather than just being an minister.

          So perhaps I haven’t understood the draft proposal as clearly as some. One thing I think is good about the idea is that we all know how much it is and who gets it. Not so under the old rules.

          Can I assume that such an allowance system will not be beneficial to operators of trusts that covertly funnel tax payers money for personal gain ?

      • burt 4.1.3

        Oh, BTW I’m impressed with the concern about spending tax payers money – where was that when an unknown amount of money covering a 14 year period was validated for expediency?

        • blacksand 4.1.3.1

          oh yeah, a 14 year period; so presumable all the bullshit about korrupt practice tars the Fourth National Government with the same brush?

  5. mike 5

    Good to see Labour supporting this move to increase transparency and not play politics – welcome change.

    Btw is Phil Goff still alive ?

  6. Researcher 6

    Is that $37500 tax free? If so, it’s a pay increase that is even bigger than we might initially have thought. It’s important, because a person on $50,000 pa takes home just over $39,000 pa. Add a student loan to the equation and we get very close to $37,5000. What percentage of the working population earn less than $50,000 pa?

  7. vidiot 7

    So will this now bugger the Green Party Superannuation Fund housing rort ?

    • a) There are no Green ministers; and
      b) no; as ministers will be responsible for their own housing – so who they rent from is their own business, as with MPs.

  8. grumpy 8

    And it’s still less than what Labour Cabinet Ministers were getting.

    • lprent 8.1

      Yeah prove it. I think that you’re just bullshitting – it really seems to be the only thing you’re good at.

      As far as I’m aware there has never been a minister who has had as much of an allowance towards private accommodation as the double dipper from Dipton. Rather than fix the system, the government has instead made it worse.

    • burt 8.2

      The actions of the Dipton Double Dipper and the Green Party super fund are exactly the same in principle.

      • Pascal's bookie 8.2.1

        Really? Do the greens get extra money by claiming to be living outside wellington when actually they live with their families in wellington, where their spouses have established businesses and their children all attend school?

      • burt 8.2.2

        Here we go… I’m not surprised Labour supporters don’t know what the word ‘principle’ means. Had I said ‘exactly the same implementation’ then the “IT’s OK when we do it” bunch would be right to pull me on the accuracy of my comment.

        If no Green Party MP’s have ever owned property in Wellington while at the same time receiving tax payer funding to live in Wellington then I’ll stand corrected. Same shame for Labour trough-snufflers as National trough-snufflers.

        A rort is a rort is a rort – to quote someone else who you won’t argue with on principle.

        • Pascal's bookie 8.2.2.1

          “don’t know what the word ‘principle’ means”

          Oh I know what the word principle means burt, I was just wondering which particular principle you were talking about. In the Double dipton case the principle is not about owning the house in question, but declaring it to not be your ‘primary place of residence’ when it obviously is.

          that’s what makes it different from what many others have done. That’s what makes it the double dipton case. So when you said:

          The actions of the Dipton Double Dipper and the Green Party super fund are exactly the same in principle.

          I thought the significant principle of the double dipton case was what you were talking about, but given this:

          If no Green Party MP’s have ever owned property in Wellington while at the same time receiving tax payer funding to live in Wellington then I’ll stand corrected.

          I see the principle your initial comment was based on was actually something like:

          It’s ok for burt to just say any damn thing he likes, and if it turns out to be wrong, why, he’ll stand corrected, but it’s up to others to prove him wrong

          That’s just about the shortest high horse I’ve ever seen. Does it do any tricks?

        • burt 8.2.2.2

          Tricks, nah. But it laughs at reptilian brain stem reflexes from people who can’t acknowledge that a rort is a rort is a rort and there are no inherently pure parties in politics and that flag colour has F-all to do with integrity of individuals.

          • Pascal's bookie 8.2.2.2.1

            What are you trying to say Burt? If there’s an accusation against myself in there, let’s here it, with evidence if you don’t mind.

            I seem to recall a certain joker that was all about how political parties should be pure, and if they weren’t then we mustn’t support them. Wasn’t me though.

            In case you think that this means I think we should just let any infraction pass, think again. And if you think that means I judge actions based on flags, then again, think again. Maybe get your little horse to help.

            (Some words you may find useful; ‘cases’, ‘merits’, ‘norms’.)

        • burt 8.2.2.3

          Oh, ACT also use some form of trust that owns property in Wellington and receives tax payer funding for MP’s.

          Is this is a case of English is not the only one working the rules and the rules are confusing so we better validate it all and move on?

          • Pascal's bookie 8.2.2.3.1

            Speaking of autonomic responses from the brain stem, you might want to try teaching that horse at least one other trick.

  9. burt 9

    I actually think the allowance should be based on the average cost of a basic 1 bedroom apartment. Perhaps $250/week. If the MP’s/ministers want to live in bigger places than that then they can fund it themselves.

    It’s not like the trough-snufflers couldn’t afford to pay for bigger properties themselves.

    • Maynard J 9.1

      Al all but giving up on a genuine battler getting into parliament and wanting their families to be with them? Far-fetched I know, but there is a reason for all those perks. (Although the whopping great salary would, I imagine, take care of that problem rather rapidly, but that aside…)

      Maybe we should means or asset test them, to give them a taste of what it is like 😉

      Look, when it comes down to it there is no reason why it should not work like any other decent system – private or public. You claim what you need, you do not lose any, and you do not profit from it. It is as bloody simple as that.

      • burt 9.1.1

        Maynard J

        So you have no issue with English receiving more than others because he has a large family then ? Come on – parliament employs English, not his family etc. I think just cause English wants to breed more than most that should be his problem – we pay him enough for the job he performs and if that’s not enough then he can resign because there a hundreds of people waiting to take his place that don’t think the tax payers should cover the costs of housing his large family.

  10. toad 10

    I’ve been doing a bit of number crunching, and it seems Key’s “reform” will cost the taxpayer an additional $55,488 – and that money won’t even be spent on accommodation; it will end up in Ministers’ pockets.

    • burt 10.1

      toad

      That’s probably less than the cost of debating it for half an hour in parliament. (That’s not to say it’s OK – but just giving it some perspective)

    • Roflcopter 10.2

      Now subtract the dollars saved from not needing Ministerial Services to act as landlords…

      • snoozer 10.2.1

        I think if you look at the last table in the cabinet paper it gets a lot more complicated. Key isn’t selling the crown houses and that’s where nearly all the savings were going from – so the new system is going to work out pretty close to the old one in cost… the cabinet paper doens’t go into enough detail to work it out exactly

    • burt 10.3

      Roflcopter

      I’m getting the picture that the Green Party super fund will be negatively impacted by this? I’ll ask toad that question on his own blog, lets see if he answers it or if it even survives moderation.

      • snoozer 10.3.1

        how has the greens’ setup got anything to do with this?

        They have a superfund that owns some houses, the MPs rent from those houses at market rents. Someone’s got to make a profit from renting out those house, it may as well be the superfund.

        It’s got nothing at all to do with the ministerial housing allowances and isn’t affected in any way by the changes to them

      • burt 10.3.2

        If it’s a condition then I guess as tax payers you lot will be paying for it.

        Seriously, I have no issue with toad or any others from g.blog making a clear equivocal statement that this change of rules will not effect the Green Party Super Scheme (now or in the future). Lets see how the response is worded to my question.

        I never claim to be right all the time and I’ll always apologise if I get it wrong so your reactions are indicating to me that I’m cutting a bit close to the nerve. Lets see what g.blog have to say.

      • toad 10.3.3

        The answer is here burt.

        Stop being mischievous. The Greens are trying to get transparency and accountability brought into this. Do you really think they would be doing that if their MPs or their super fund had something to hide?
        .

      • toad 10.3.4

        Oh, and burt, g.blog is auto-moderated only for spam. Otherwise, it is free expression over there.

        The authors do, however, reserve the right to delete or edit comments that are grossly offensive or defamatory.

        But most commenters (d4j and his alias identities excepted, who has come close to being banned on a couple of occasions there, as he has on most other blogs he has trolled on) respect that and engage responsibly without being abusive.

        And good on you, even though you disagree with the Greens on many issues, for doing that and engaging constructively

        Um, and do you notice the relative silence from Labour on this issue?. Methinks there are a few skeletons in the closet there too.

        • burt 10.3.4.1

          I agree re: Labour. I hear there are circa 5 people employed by PS looking after ministerial properties so I assume there will be savings for parliament re: 5 less salaries as well – that is if 5 an accurate number ?

  11. Herodotus 11

    Why not review all payments to politians, why should they all get of them get about $12k p.a. to cover entertainment, and not submit where this money is being spent. Is that not just another non taxable increase to their packages. Be they be red/blue/green/black or any other colour they ALL know how to represent themselves before anyone else, at our expense.

    • toad 11.1

      No, Herodotus, black (ie NZFirst) knew better how to “represent themselves before anyone else, at our expense” than the rest of the parties – and they had no moral reservations about doing it.

      Which is why NZFirst are no longer in Parliament and Winston isn longer the Minister for Racing.

      But we do need more transparency to expose the rorts, particularly the blatant ones like that of Sir Double Dipton, who is claiming an allowance for his family home in Wellington.

  12. Herodotus 12

    Toad, I agree the lack of noise from many parties (You mention labour) is very interesting. Whenever topics such as this appear, the stillness of the air around Wellington is almost deafening !!
    remember a certain ex MP who stood for Wellington Central, but after that geat man 9Who ever he is I have forgotten) won this person then claimed out of town accomodation, and there were a few others even from the Alliance Party !
    But politicians are no worst than some senior execs (Many in the Forboes 500 come to mind). They both have little in common with the common man and both do thier best to insulate themselve from any meanful contact with such a person.

  13. feddabonn 13

    rather one sided, but i found this song called johnnies boys rather apt! http://www.myspace.com/subversifpoet

Links to post

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Further legislation introduced to support cyclone recovery
    The Government has introduced the Severe Weather Emergency Recovery Legislation Bill to further support the recovery and rebuild from the recent severe weather events in the North Island. “We know from our experiences following the Canterbury and Kaikōura earthquakes that it will take some time before we completely understand the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 hours ago
  • Duty relief for cyclone-affected businesses
    Further assistance is now available to businesses impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle, with Customs able to offer payment plans and to remit late-payments, Customs Minister Meka Whaitiri has announced. “This is part of the Government’s ongoing commitment to assist economic recovery in the regions,” Meka Whaitiri said. “Cabinet has approved the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago
  • Thousands of sole parents to be better off after child support changes
    More than 41,000 sole parent families will be better off with a median gain of $20 a week Law change estimated to help lift up to 14,000 children out of poverty Child support payments will be passed on directly to people receiving a sole parent rate of main benefit, making ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago
  • Green investment fund delivers on climate action
    A major investment by Government-owned New Zealand Green Investment Finance towards electrifying the public bus fleet is being welcomed by Climate Change Minister James Shaw. “Today’s announcement that NZGIF has signed a $50 million financing deal with Kinetic, the biggest bus operator in Australasia, to further decarbonise public transport is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago
  • Tax credit boosts cash flow for Kiwi innovators
    A world-leading payments system is expected to provide a significant cash flow boost for Kiwi innovators, Minister of Research, Science, and Innovation Ayesha Verrall says. Announcing that applications for ‘in-year’ payments of the Research and Development Tax Incentive (RDTI) were open, Ayesha Verrall said it represented a win for businesses ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago
  • Te Awa shared path completed
    Minister of Transport Michael Wood joined crowds of keen cyclists and walkers this morning to celebrate the completion of the Te Awa shared path in Hamilton. “The Government is upgrading New Zealand’s transport system to make it safer, greener, and more efficient for now and future generations to come,” Michael ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Crown apology to Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa Tāmaki nui-a-Rua
    Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Andrew Little has delivered the Crown apology to Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa Tāmaki nui-a-Rua for its historic breaches of Te Tiriti of Waitangi today. The ceremony was held at Queen Elizabeth Park in Masterton, hosted by Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa Tāmaki nui-a-Rua, with several hundred ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Minister of Foreign Affairs meets with Chinese counterpart
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Nanaia Mahuta has concluded her visit to China, the first by a New Zealand Foreign Minister since 2018. The Minister met her counterpart, newly appointed State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Qin Gang, who also hosted a working dinner. This was the first engagement between the two ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government delivering world-class satellite positioning services
    World-class satellite positioning services that will support much safer search and rescue, boost precision farming, and help safety on construction sites through greater accuracy are a significant step closer today, says Land Information Minister Damien O’Connor. Damien O’Connor marked the start of construction on New Zealand’s first uplink centre for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • District Court Judges appointed
    Attorney-General David Parker has announced the appointment of Christopher John Dellabarca of Wellington, Dr Katie Jane Elkin of Wellington, Caroline Mary Hickman of Napier, Ngaroma Tahana of Rotorua, Tania Rose Williams Blyth of Hamilton and Nicola Jan Wills of Wellington as District Court Judges.  Chris Dellabarca Mr Dellabarca commenced his ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • New project set to supercharge ocean economy in Nelson Tasman
    A new Government-backed project will help ocean-related businesses in the Nelson Tasman region to accelerate their growth and boost jobs. “The Nelson Tasman region is home to more than 400 blue economy businesses, accounting for more than 30 percent of New Zealand’s economic activity in fishing, aquaculture, and seafood processing,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • National’s education policy: where’s the funding?
    After three years of COVID-19 disruptions schools are finally settling down and National want to throw that all in the air with major disruption to learning and underinvestment.  “National’s education policy lacks the very thing teachers, parents and students need after a tough couple of years, certainty and stability,” Education ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Free programme to help older entrepreneurs and inventors
    People aged over 50 with innovative business ideas will now be able to receive support to advance their ideas to the next stage of development, Minister for Seniors Ginny Andersen said today. “Seniors have some great entrepreneurial ideas, and this programme will give them the support to take that next ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Government target increased to keep powering up the Māori economy
    A cross government target for relevant government procurement contracts for goods and services to be awarded to Māori businesses annually will increase to 8%, after the initial 5% target was exceeded. The progressive procurement policy was introduced in 2020 to increase supplier diversity, starting with Māori businesses, for the estimated ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Continued progress on reducing poverty in challenging times
    77,000 fewer children living in low income households on the after-housing-costs primary measure since Labour took office Eight of the nine child poverty measures have seen a statistically significant reduction since 2018. All nine have reduced 28,700 fewer children experiencing material hardship since 2018 Measures taken by the Government during ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Speech at Fiji Investment and Trade Business Forum
    Deputy Prime Minister Kamikamica; distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. Tēnā koutou katoa, ni sa bula vinaka saka, namaste. Deputy Prime Minister, a very warm welcome to Aotearoa. I trust you have been enjoying your time here and thank you for joining us here today. To all delegates who have travelled to be ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government investments boost and diversify local economies in lower South Island
    $2.9 million convertible loan for Scapegrace Distillery to meet growing national and international demand $4.5m underwrite to support Silverlight Studios’ project to establish a film studio in Wanaka Gore’s James Cumming Community Centre and Library to be official opened tomorrow with support of $3m from the COVID-19 Response and Recovery ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government future-proofs EV charging
    Transport Minister Michael Wood has today launched the first national EV (electric vehicle) charging strategy, Charging Our Future, which includes plans to provide EV charging stations in almost every town in New Zealand. “Our vision is for Aotearoa New Zealand to have world-class EV charging infrastructure that is accessible, affordable, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • World-leading family harm prevention campaign supports young NZers
    Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment Priyanca Radhakrishnan has today launched the Love Better campaign in a world-leading approach to family harm prevention. Love Better will initially support young people through their experience of break-ups, developing positive and life-long attitudes to dealing with hurt. “Over 1,200 young kiwis told ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • First Chief Clinical Advisor welcomed into Coroners Court
    Hon Rino Tirikatene, Minister for Courts, welcomes the Ministry of Justice’s appointment of Dr Garry Clearwater as New Zealand’s first Chief Clinical Advisor working with the Coroners Court. “This appointment is significant for the Coroners Court and New Zealand’s wider coronial system.” Minister Tirikatene said. Through Budget 2022, the Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Next steps for affected properties post Cyclone and floods
    The Government via the Cyclone Taskforce is working with local government and insurance companies to build a picture of high-risk areas following Cyclone Gabrielle and January floods. “The Taskforce, led by Sir Brian Roche, has been working with insurance companies to undertake an assessment of high-risk areas so we can ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • New appointment to Māori Land Court bench
    E te huia kaimanawa, ko Ngāpuhi e whakahari ana i tau aupikinga ki te tihi o te maunga. Ko te Ao Māori hoki e whakanui ana i a koe te whakaihu waka o te reo Māori i roto i te Ao Ture. (To the prized treasure, it is Ngāpuhi who ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government focus on jobs sees record number of New Zealanders move from Benefits into work
    113,400 exits into work in the year to June 2022 Young people are moving off Benefit faster than after the Global Financial Crisis Two reports released today by the Ministry of Social Development show the Government’s investment in the COVID-19 response helped drive record numbers of people off Benefits and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Vertical farming partnership has upward momentum
    The Government’s priority to keep New Zealand at the cutting edge of food production and lift our sustainability credentials continues by backing the next steps of a hi-tech vertical farming venture that uses up to 95 per cent less water, is climate resilient, and pesticide-free. Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor visited ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Conference of Pacific Education Ministers – Keynote Address
    E nga mana, e nga iwi, e nga reo, e nga hau e wha, tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou kātoa. Warm Pacific greetings to all. It is an honour to host the inaugural Conference of Pacific Education Ministers here in Tāmaki Makaurau. Aotearoa is delighted to be hosting you ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • New $13m renal unit supports Taranaki patients
    The new renal unit at Taranaki Base Hospital has been officially opened by the Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall this afternoon. Te Huhi Raupō received around $13 million in government funding as part of Project Maunga Stage 2, the redevelopment of the Taranaki Base Hospital campus. “It’s an honour ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Second Poseidon aircraft on home soil
    Defence Minister Andrew Little has marked the arrival of the country’s second P-8A Poseidon aircraft alongside personnel at the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s Base at Ohakea today. “With two of the four P-8A Poseidons now on home soil this marks another significant milestone in the Government’s historic investment in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Further humanitarian aid for Türkiye and Syria
    Aotearoa New Zealand will provide further humanitarian support to those seriously affected by last month’s deadly earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria, says Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta. “The 6 February earthquakes have had devastating consequences, with almost 18 million people affected. More than 53,000 people have died and tens of thousands more ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Community voice to help shape immigration policy
    Migrant communities across New Zealand are represented in the new Migrant Community Reference Group that will help shape immigration policy going forward, Immigration Minister Michael Wood announced today.  “Since becoming Minister, a reoccurring message I have heard from migrants is the feeling their voice has often been missing around policy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • State Highway 3 project to deliver safer journeys, better travel connections for Taranaki
    Construction has begun on major works that will deliver significant safety improvements on State Highway 3 from Waitara to Bell Block, Associate Minister of Transport Kiri Allan announced today. “This is an important route for communities, freight and visitors to Taranaki but too many people have lost their lives or ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Ginny Andersen appointed as Minister of Police
    Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has today appointed Ginny Andersen as Minister of Police. “Ginny Andersen has a strong and relevant background in this important portfolio,” Chris Hipkins said. “Ginny Andersen worked for the Police as a non-sworn staff member for around 10 years and has more recently been chair of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government confirms vital roading reconnections
    Six further bailey bridge sites confirmed Four additional bridge sites under consideration 91 per cent of damaged state highways reopened Recovery Dashboards for impacted regions released The Government has responded quickly to restore lifeline routes after Cyclone Gabrielle and can today confirm that an additional six bailey bridges will ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Foreign Minister Mahuta to meet with China’s new Foreign Minister
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta departs for China tomorrow, where she will meet with her counterpart, State Councillor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang, in Beijing. This will be the first visit by a New Zealand Minister to China since 2019, and follows the easing of COVID-19 travel restrictions between New Zealand and China. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Education Ministers from across the Pacific gather in Aotearoa
    Education Ministers from across the Pacific will gather in Tāmaki Makaurau this week to share their collective knowledge and strategic vision, for the benefit of ākonga across the region. New Zealand Education Minister Jan Tinetti will host the inaugural Conference of Pacific Education Ministers (CPEM) for three days from today, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • State Highway 5 reopens between Napier and Taupō following Cyclone Gabrielle
    A vital transport link for communities and local businesses has been restored following Cyclone Gabrielle with the reopening of State Highway 5 (SH5) between Napier and Taupō, Associate Minister of Transport Kiri Allan says. SH5 reopened to all traffic between 7am and 7pm from today, with closure points at SH2 (Kaimata ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Special Lotto draw raises $11.7 million for Cyclone Gabrielle recovery
    Internal Affairs Minister Barbara Edmonds has thanked generous New Zealanders who took part in the special Lotto draw for communities affected by Cyclone Gabrielle. Held on Saturday night, the draw raised $11.7 million with half of all ticket sales going towards recovery efforts. “In a time of need, New Zealanders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government delivers a $3 million funding boost for Building Financial Capability services
    The Government has announced funding of $3 million for providers to help people, and whānau access community-based Building Financial Capability services. “Demand for Financial Capability Services is growing as people face cost of living pressures. Those pressures are increasing further in areas affected by flooding and Cyclone Gabrielle,” Minister for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Education New Zealand | Manapou ki te Ao – new Chair and member
    Minister of Education, Hon Jan Tinetti, has announced appointments to the Board of Education New Zealand | Manapou ki te Ao. Tracey Bridges is joining the Board as the new Chair and Dr Therese Arseneau will be a new member. Current members Dr Linda Sissons CNZM and Daniel Wilson have ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Scholarships honouring Ngarimu VC and the 28th (Māori) Battalion announced
    Fifteen ākonga Māori from across Aotearoa have been awarded the prestigious Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships and Awards for 2023, Associate Education Minister and Ngarimu Board Chair, Kelvin Davis announced today.  The recipients include doctoral, masters’ and undergraduate students. Three vocational training students and five wharekura students, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Appointment of Judge of the Court of Appeal and Judge of the High Court
    High Court Judge Jillian Maree Mallon has been appointed a Judge of the Court of Appeal, and District Court Judge Andrew John Becroft QSO has been appointed a Judge of the High Court, Attorney‑General David Parker announced today. Justice Mallon graduated from Otago University in 1988 with an LLB (Hons), and with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2023-03-27T10:39:50+00:00