A Takahe is not a Pukeko

Written By: - Date published: 9:08 am, August 22nd, 2015 - 57 comments
Categories: Conservation, Environment - Tags: ,

Takahe Pukeko

There is a saying amongst public servants that you can squeeze an organisation but when the pips start coming out you know you have gone too far.

The Department of Conservation is showing signs of the pips coming out. It used a local chapter of the Deer Stalkers to use split second judgment before deciding if they were shooting pest Pukekos or priceless Takahes.

Both birds look similar. But Takahes are larger and do not fly. They are also facing extinction. There are only 263 of them left. You would think that DOC would be careful when allowing anyone to shoot guns near them. And a Deerstalker is probably good at spotting deers but may struggle to tell the difference between the two birds.

So a bunch of deer stalkers were allowed onto Motutapu Island and shot some Takahe who look like Pukeko which they were meant to shoot.

Couldn’t DOC afford some professional Pukeko cullers? Are they that lacking in cash that they had to let some good old boys with guns go on a shooting spree?

DOC is reporting that the Takahe were killed by shotgun pellets. You know where you fire a cartridge and pellets get sprayed over a wide area. Whoever though that shotguns and not single shots should be used needs to take responsibility.

The Government’s response is to talk about prosecutions of said good old boys for shooting birds that looked very similar to the birds they should have been shooting but were slightly fatter. While using shotguns and firing shotgun pellets. This is a classic example of an attempt to shift the blame.

I get the strong impression the pips are coming out and the future of the Takahe is being compromised because of a lack of resources meaning that cash strapped DOC is making stupid decisions. And the Government needs to wear this, not a bunch of good old boys allowed to shoot shotgun pellets.

57 comments on “A Takahe is not a Pukeko ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Lanthanide 1
    22 August 2015 at 9:12 am

    Strange that you keep focussing on takahe being fatter but otherwise similar birds.

    There is one very basic difference between them, which would give 100% success rate in avoiding deaths of takahe – only shoot birds that are flying.

    DOC says they told the deer stalkers this. The deer stalkers evidently didn’t listen.

    • mickysavage 1.1
      22 August 2015 at 9:17 am

      The birds were killed by shotgun pellets. The deerstalkers may have shot at Pukeko but the Takahe may have been caught in the spray.

      • Naturesong 1.1.1
        22 August 2015 at 10:04 am

        If the hunters only shot birds that were on the wing, the likelyhood of any Takahe being caught in the crossfire is approximately zero.

        Four birds were killed.

        Until an alternate explanation appears, it looks like one or more of the “hunters” didn’t know what they were doing, and didn’t particularly care.

        Or to quote what a hunter friend of mine said when the news broke: Fucking cowboys!

        • Dave 1.1.1.1
          22 August 2015 at 11:49 am

          Pukeko barely fly either, hence the name ‘bush chicken.’ I’d have thought avoiding shooting the fat ones with bands on their legs would be a better thing to tell these idiot deerstalkers.

          • Naturesong 1.1.1.1.1
            22 August 2015 at 1:18 pm

            I agree, it’s not hard.

            If you see a bunch of birds with blue feathers and you’re not sure which are which?
            The ones acting like assholes are Pukeko.

            Also, the hunters were told to only shoot birds on the wing.

      • cricklewood 1.1.2
        22 August 2015 at 11:47 am

        A Shotgun is the appropriate weapon to shoot what are fast moving mobile birds. Given the effective range and spread of shotgun pellets the chances of accidentally killing a Takahe would be next to zero. The far greater likelihood is misidentification and a deliberately aimed shot.
        Also using a rifle for a mass bird cull with multiple hunters on an island would be ineffective not to mention extremely hazardous.

        The sole issue is the engagement of inexperienced and inappropriate hunters for a bird cull in a sensitive area. Squeezed or not DOC should not have allowed this to happen.

        • Macro 1.1.2.1
          22 August 2015 at 2:19 pm

          The sole issue is the engagement of inexperienced and inappropriate hunters for a bird cull in a sensitive area. Squeezed or not DOC should not have allowed this to happen.

          That it is it in a nutshell – and yes a shot gun is the the appropriate weapon for the pukeko on the wing. But they really only fly when startled. and usually only a short distance.
          They breed like rabbits too. We had about a hundred of the buggers on our block – and they stole practically every persimmon, pear, apple, and peach we ever grew. Whenever I see people with pottery pukeko ornaments in their garden I have a wry smile to myself – if those birds were live, the people wouldn’t be thinking they were so attractive.

  2. Jono 2
    22 August 2015 at 9:47 am

    DOC has had the guts ripped out of it over the last few years so this is not a surprise. In the last six months my partner, their current manager, their former manager, and several equally experienced colleagues have resigned from the same North Island office-more than a hundred years experience gone and all as a result of the 2013 restructure.

    Al Morrison has a shitload to answer for, running the restructure and then bailing for the SSC and leaving the implementation to Lou Sanson who, to be fair, is doing the best with the shut sandwich he has been left with.

    • RedLogix 2.1
      22 August 2015 at 12:09 pm

      Bloody sorry to read that Jono.

      As a life-long keen tramper and ex-club officer I’m vividly aware of how much frontline DoC staff achieve with so little love from their political masters. And what you write merely confirms the stupidity, incompetence and willful arrogance of this govt’s treatment of DoC.

      What absolutely enrages me is seeing political flunkies like Morrison parachuted into DoC – with absolutely no bloody idea what they are doing. Zero professional experience in the work of the department – but plenty of political connection. The result is ALWAYS a fuckup. Which you have to think was the intended outcome.

      Good luck to Lou Sanson. I’ve never met him, but the latest Federated Mountain Club journal speaks well of him. Shit he has a job ahead of him.

      • weka 2.1.1
        22 August 2015 at 12:23 pm

        Morrison was the perfect Trojan horse. All that time previously on RNZ where he was so reasonable and the middle classes loved him. But in reality he was a conduit for some pretty fucked up political maneuverings.

        • Macro 2.1.1.1
          22 August 2015 at 2:24 pm

          So true. I was astounded with the “revisions” he undertook. An absolute disaster, and this tragedy is a direct result.

  3. weka 3
    22 August 2015 at 9:53 am

    “The Government’s response is to talk about prosecutions of said good old boys for shooting birds that looked very similar to the birds they should have been shooting but were slightly fatter. While using shotguns and firing shotgun pellets. This is a classic example of an attempt to shift the blame.”

    Bet that’s going to go down well with the hunting and rural community. And what effect is that going to have on the volunteer community, on which DOC is highly dependent? Is the Deer Stalkers Ass going to want legal contracts next time?

  4. Charles 4
    22 August 2015 at 9:53 am

    Always identify your target. There is no excuse. The birds aren’t shooting back, you can get really close to a puk, and they don’t move all that fast.

  5. dukeofurl 5
    22 August 2015 at 10:12 am

    Deerstalkers Club?

    Since when did deerstalkers use shotguns ?. Or have any experience with shooting birds.

    It was clearly DUCKHUNTERS they were using, the ‘deerstalkers’ is clearly a coverup

  6. meconism 6
    22 August 2015 at 10:19 am

    Or raid the nests of the pukeko and stand on the eggs before they hatch then you don’t have to take guns near critically endangered birds period.

    • Lanthanide 6.1
      22 August 2015 at 10:45 am

      Such approach requires a time machine if it is the adult population they are trying to control.

    • freedom 6.2
      22 August 2015 at 10:59 am

      which nest is which meconism?
      http://i.imgur.com/EYiO9mw.jpg?1

      now imagine different light conditions, weather, physical tiredness of the person involved.
      (and maybe the person compiling the image played around with the number of eggs in the nest to prove a point)

      If the mature bird is being misidentified you really think finger-crossing egg smashing is a solution?

      may as well do this in that case
      http://i.imgur.com/CGCcnfb.jpg

      • Jilly Pendleton 6.2.1
        23 August 2015 at 9:43 am

        Horrified as I am by the ‘accidental’ killings of the takehe. I have heard stories of hunters putting possums on possum free islands just to piss off DoC, felling of native trees just to piss off conservationists, could this have been a deliberate action to damn DoC.
        Also in the UK it is a recognised action to coat eggs in Vaseline, these will not hatch but the birds will still sit on them, preventing them from laying more eggs and hence reducing reproduction rates. So once a year greasing of eggs in Spring may lower the pukeko numbers.

  7. Stuart Munro 7
    22 August 2015 at 11:11 am

    If they were serious they’d’ve picked off the pukekos with a .22 – on the ground, after scrupulous IDing. One takehe fatality might be conceivable human error, four is on a par with National’s economic policy – epic stupidity. It seems reasonable to conclude that Treasury is involved – epic stupidity is their modus operandi.

  8. greywarshark 8
    22 August 2015 at 11:14 am

    How can you trust any bunch of shooters. Even if they are mostly experienced and trying to identify their targets and follow all rules, they still have an underbelly that can shoot each other when out on a weekend sporting trip or the unforgettable situation of a walker being killed while cleaning teeth outside a trampers hut.

    DoC has not kept its quality, experienced and reliable staff as permanents for years. Just use whoever is available when the appropriate time for action comes up. They have forced so many good people to step away because of the lack of continuity from DoC. Their lack of adequate budget, commitment and care in conserving all the animals and birds under their care, with much being needed by volunteer citizens, has led to losing the human skilled workers who are informed and committed to the task.

    It is probably because of the ‘lean machine’ employing contractors idea that has been current so long. What a load of shut. By the time contractors are paid either their inordinate expense has cost twice that of one or two permanent employees or else the job is not done satisfactorily by people who, if they are lucky, manage to contact someone with the requisite background historical institutional knowledge.
    edited

    • weka 8.1
      22 August 2015 at 11:24 am

      Not all hunters are the same. There are plenty of responsible hunters out there who don’t shoot other people because they know what they are doing and they pay attention to the rules.

      Using contracted, experienced hunters rather than training DOC staff to be good hunters makes sense to me. I suspect the problem here was one of supervision (by DOC and/or by the Deerstalkers Ass or whoever). Probably also training re bird ID, and trusting people too early.

      It’s pretty routine for contracted herbicide sprayers to spray native broom because they can’t tell the difference between it and introduce broom. But it’s a pretty easily learned skill, so something else is going on.

      DOC staff make mistakes too. You just have to hang around rural communities with a big DOC presence to hear those stories.

      • RedLogix 8.1.1
        22 August 2015 at 12:19 pm

        Using contracted, experienced hunters rather than training DOC staff to be good hunters makes sense to me.

        Absolutely. What they really needed were some experienced pest-control professionals, the kind of guys who safely put 10,000 rounds through their rifle every year. Most hunters, even good ones, are just keen amateurs by comparison.

      • greywarshark 8.1.2
        22 August 2015 at 1:12 pm

        My point is that DoC don’t try hard to keep experienced workers even if they are employed just over a season. Keeping the past valuable employees on a list for priority for next year is not an automatic system in all the Department.

        And the point of experienced contracted hunters rather than trained DoC staff isn’t strong. Why not have a list of shooter employees available for casual work, who are proved and experienced for DoC purposes? An experienced contract shooter is a step away from someone known and proved to Doc.

        • weka 8.1.2.1
          22 August 2015 at 1:32 pm

          DOC have been seriously underfunded for a long time and relying on volunteers for just as long. I agree that some of their processes are inefficient, but I would see most problems as arising from the funding first (and then other causes after that).

          “An experienced contract shooter is a step away from someone known and proved to Doc.”

          Maybe it varies around the country, but most DOC workers I know aren’t experienced shooters. DOC contract in for various things including pest control, and there is no reason why that can’t be done competently. In this instance I’d want to know if there was a DOC officer on site while the shoot was happening.

          • greywarshark 8.1.2.1.1
            22 August 2015 at 3:34 pm

            I am not saying that regular DoC employees should have to be good gunmen. I am saying that they should have the experienced shooters that are trusted and informed and willing to be employed on a casual basis, on a list and call on them first. Then you don’t get eager beavers who know what they know and don’t know what they don’t know and …..Donald Rumsfeld style.

  9. Stephen Dickson 9
    22 August 2015 at 1:32 pm

    It seems there is a high rate of naive people here.
    If you think doc haven’t done this killing endangered critters before well, another sadly mistaken bunch of people. And it has been happening for a lot if years. Yeh Yeh doc restructure is bad. But they were killing protected animals before that. They have poisoned all kinds of animals but no one seems to give a shit about that.
    Why worry now? Because they were actually shot???

    Then you have to ask yourself, why are they killing off another native bird, namely the Pukeko?

    • weka 9.1
      22 August 2015 at 1:40 pm

      I don’t know the area concerned, but I’m guessing that Pukeko are outcompeting the Takahe for food and nesting sites.

      “But they were killing protected animals before that.”

      I alluded to that above, but didn’t want to get into specifics and DOC bashing as then I’d have to start naming all the stupid shit I’ve seen hunters do and then between them we’d be here all day.

      • Macro 9.1.1
        22 August 2015 at 2:32 pm

        “I don’t know the area concerned, but I’m guessing that Pukeko are outcompeting the Takahe for food and nesting sites. ”

        Yes pukeko breed prolifically, and needed to be culled.

        • Naturesong 9.1.1.1
          22 August 2015 at 4:04 pm

          Also Pukeko will raid nests and eat any chicks and eggs they can separate the parents from.
          They did that to our local duck population.

          They’re bastards.

          • weka 9.1.1.1.1
            22 August 2015 at 5:03 pm

            funny how Pūkeko managed to live ok within their ecosystem until that larger 2 legged arrived and fucked everything up and now likes to blame the Pūkeko.

            Breeding like rabbits… yous could always take the permaculture approach, the problem is the solution.

            • marty mars 9.1.1.1.1.1
              22 August 2015 at 5:17 pm

              lol the hating on Pūkeko is absurd – oh they eat the veges and compete for food with other birds and animals oh they must be EVIL and we must DESTROY THEM.

              • weka …
                22 August 2015 at 5:26 pm

                I’ve always liked them. I seem to remember they are very social within their own species. I would feel gratitude to have some living here, but then they’re rare in many places.

                • marty mars …
                  22 August 2015 at 5:47 pm

                  they are interesting birds in that they can pair bond but also, “In many areas, pukeko live in permanent social groups and defend a shared territory that is used for both feeding and breeding. Social groups can have multiple breeding males and females, but all eggs are laid in a single nest and the group offspring are raised by all group members.”

                  http://nzbirdsonline.org.nz/species/pukeko

                  personally I just like their big feet.

              • Naturesong …
                22 August 2015 at 5:40 pm

                Because I find the habits of Pūkeko distasteful that must be the only reason I support the cull?

                Or, it might be I support DoC’s action as a way to increase the likelihood of Takahe avoiding extinction.

                Killing something because you don’t like it, or find it icky, or other frivolous reason is to be an ignorant child.

                • weka …
                  22 August 2015 at 5:47 pm

                  it’s possible to support the restoration of Takahē without hating Pūkeko or seeing them as bastards. Do you think that Pūkeko were in balance with Takahē and ducks before humans destroyed so much ecosystem? It seems strange to me that we would hate on a bird species for being natural.

                  • Naturesong …
                    22 August 2015 at 5:59 pm

                    I don’t like Pūkeko because used to lived next to a lot of them for a few years.
                    Nothing at all to do with the cull.

                    I’m also not that fond of Tui.
                    They bully the pair of fantails that say hello to me most mornings.
                    This also has nothing to do with the cull.

                  • lprent …
                    22 August 2015 at 6:17 pm

                    Yes indeed, Weka… 😈

    • greywarshark 9.2
      22 August 2015 at 3:29 pm

      Stephen
      In war there is such a thing as ‘collateral damage’. That is where, despite attempts to avoid it, civilians are killed. DoC is conducting a war on small predators and while it would be true to say that they have killed protected species, it is a sweeping statement to imply that it happens regularly, that they aren’t concerned about it and don’t want to keep it to a minimum. I would bet that if they followed whatever your idea is for solving their problems, the outcomes would be better for the protected species and for people in the area.

      It is an emotional argument you make. I guess you are involved in schemes for saving and protecting species. But just seeing DoC as the enemy is not a sensible approach.

      • maui 9.2.1
        22 August 2015 at 5:07 pm

        +1, sadly many of the people pointing the finger at DoC at accidental poisoning have vested interests. i.e. they’re hunters and DoC are on their patch. Improving NZ’s fauna and flora is not the no.1 priority of these people.

        • weka 9.2.1.1
          22 August 2015 at 5:13 pm

          while that may be true, I don’t think we can call 1080 bykill poisoning an accident.

        • greywarshark 9.2.1.2
          22 August 2015 at 6:30 pm

          @maui
          +100

        • weston 9.2.1.3
          22 August 2015 at 9:46 pm

          your last sentance is is just a tad final maui im a hunter and care very much about our fauna and flora but that doesnt mean i agree with throwing all sorts of poison arround to fix the problem for one thing we have our clean green reputation to live up to and for another its extreamly wastefull to throw away valuable resources .doc amongst others are guilty of vast over use of poison in fact would like to use more .i like pooks .i think they are an amirable species especially their ability to live in the noisy mess which we have made of what used to be their own patch.perhaps penning the newcomers for a while might be a good idea while the shooting is going on ….if it has to go on

          • maui 9.2.1.3.1
            23 August 2015 at 12:40 am

            The way I see the facts and the way DoC seems to as well is that 1080 is the best way to reduce pests numbers. I don’t believe it does effect our clean green image, it’s toxicity doesn’t last long in the environment, there are much more longer lasting and unsafe poisons widely used in pest control by our regional councils for example. It’s never been detected in any populations water supply, it doesn’t effect food sources (plants), it doesn’t accumulate in the environment. I would also put a good deal of probability that it is one of our most widely researched chemicals that we use in the environment, considering we’ve been using it for over 50 years now.

            Hunters opposition to it I think is because it effects their sport, which is fair enough to be upset about. But it is not because they understand conservation or how ecosystems work better. I would admit that poisoning animals like deer and morepork isn’t great from an animal welfare point of view, I think it’s deemed as “moderately humane”. Then again without poison, many more indigneous species would have disappeared from certain places in the jaws of a predator so I don’t see that as humane either. I would prefer there were automatic traps setup through the NZ countryside and where pest animals had become a rarity, but I’m not sure if we have the resources to get there.

            • weston 9.2.1.3.1.1
              24 August 2015 at 9:26 pm

              a couple of points maui first i dont hunt for sport i hunt for food .second despite yr cited 50 yrs experience we still have absolutely zero correct me if im wrong reserch on how 1080 affects humans.perhaps 1080 just passes harmlessly through our bodies but through secondary poisoning kills dogs and other animals stone dead . of course id rather eat my meat free of 1080 just in case !1if you compare 1080 with the herbacide roundup the same claims of harmlessness are made roundup breaks down quickly etc etc but i know if i keep applying roundup to the same areas repeatedely that the situation changes its simpley not true that it just breakes down harmlessly the data doesnt fit anymore and it fucks the soil for some time witness the weeds that will and wont grow in that particular environment .so just because the science makes the statement that something is safe doesnt make it safe in actuallity there are such things as vested interests and there are a shit load of vairiables .though many poeple hunt for sport many people hunt to put food on the table and theres a big differance .i also think that theres no such thing as moderately humane as far as poisons are concerned i think that very probably its a horrible way to go

    • Jenny Kirk 9.3
      22 August 2015 at 4:14 pm

      The Pukeko is not native. Its Australian. and it breeds like rabbits do, and eats Takahe eggs and young chicks. Its a pest. Not an endangered indigenous species.

  10. greywarshark 10
    22 August 2015 at 7:11 pm

    Jenny stated that pukeko is not an endangered indigenous species. And she makes some points about its omnivorous? habits. And that it is a pest. And that it breeds fast. Marty Mars had interesting info on their social habits. Those are facts to be going on with. I feel I have learned a lot about the pukeko.

  11. Robert Atack 11
    23 August 2015 at 10:22 am

    So how many native birds do DoC kill with 1080?
    Given the choice I think the Takahe would prefer to be shot.
    DoC – Department of Cruelty

  12. Robert Atack 12
    23 August 2015 at 10:34 am

    I feed about 6 Pukeko each morning, along with my 7 chickens and 2 ducks.
    When the Pukeko get a fright they ‘fly’ about 10 – 20 feet at the most, and about 6 foot off the ground, unless they are flying down into the bottom paddock, when they get a bit higher because of the contours of the land.
    And just like chickens, when/if the gun comes out (a 177 slug gun) you can’t see them for dust. I would guess the sound of a shotgun would ground them for quite a while, These ‘hunters’ would have had to poke around under the scrub, and maybe just shot a blue lumps?
    I have seen them on the roof of the glass house, but not when there are shot guns going off.

  13. hello 13
    23 August 2015 at 4:02 pm

    https://goo.gl/photos/ickVWdtjPCqcQQGLA

    In the Wing, on the Wing, So confusing for those deer hunters to understand.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
    Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector.    "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
    The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
    Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
    Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.   Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ ties
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.  During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Antarctica New Zealand Board appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner.  The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Finance Minister travels to Washington DC
    Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.  “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Pet bonds a win/win for renters and landlords
    The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being considered
    State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • New Zealand condemns Iranian strikes
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel.    “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says.    "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Huge interest in Government’s infrastructure plans
    Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Health Minister thanks outgoing Health New Zealand Chair
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board.   “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti.  “I have asked her to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Roads of National Significance planning underway
    The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Navigating an unstable global environment
    New Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.   “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States.    “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • NZ welcomes Australian Governor-General
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Pseudoephedrine back on shelves for Winter
    Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • NZ and the US: an ever closer partnership
    New Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Joint US and NZ declaration
    April 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • NZ and US to undertake further practical Pacific cooperation
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced further New Zealand cooperation with the United States in the Pacific Islands region through $16.4 million in funding for initiatives in digital connectivity and oceans and fisheries research.   “New Zealand can achieve more in the Pacific if we work together more urgently and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Government redress for Te Korowai o Wainuiārua
    The Government is continuing the bipartisan effort to restore its relationship with iwi as the Te Korowai o Wainuiārua Claims Settlement Bill passed its first reading in Parliament today, says Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith. “Historical grievances of Te Korowai o Wainuiārua relate to 19th century warfare, land purchased or taken ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Focus on outstanding minerals permit applications
    New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals is working to resolve almost 150 outstanding minerals permit applications by the end of the financial year, enabling valuable mining activity and signalling to the sector that New Zealand is open for business, Resources Minister Shane Jones says.  “While there are no set timeframes for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Applications open for NZ-Ireland Research Call
    The New Zealand and Irish governments have today announced that applications for the 2024 New Zealand-Ireland Joint Research Call on Agriculture and Climate Change are now open. This is the third research call in the three-year Joint Research Initiative pilot launched in 2022 by the Ministry for Primary Industries and Ireland’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Tenancy rules changes to improve rental market
    The coalition Government has today announced changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to encourage landlords back to the rental property market, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “The previous Government waged a war on landlords. Many landlords told us this caused them to exit the rental market altogether. It caused worse ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Boosting NZ’s trade and agricultural relationship with China
    Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay will visit China next week, to strengthen relationships, support Kiwi exporters and promote New Zealand businesses on the world stage. “China is one of New Zealand’s most significant trade and economic relationships and remains an important destination for New Zealand’s products, accounting for nearly 22 per cent of our good and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Freshwater farm plan systems to be improved
    The coalition Government intends to improve freshwater farm plans so that they are more cost-effective and practical for farmers, Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay have announced. “A fit-for-purpose freshwater farm plan system will enable farmers and growers to find the right solutions for their farm ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • New Fast Track Projects advisory group named
    The coalition Government has today announced the expert advisory group who will provide independent recommendations to Ministers on projects to be included in the Fast Track Approvals Bill, say RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Regional Development Minister Shane Jones. “Our Fast Track Approval process will make it easier and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Pacific and Gaza focus of UN talks
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters says his official talks with the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in New York today focused on a shared commitment to partnering with the Pacific Islands region and a common concern about the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.    “Small states in the Pacific rely on collective ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-04-18T06:22:56+00:00